EEEEK! First week of Swedish Massage class

[Taylor Marie]

Ok so I knew that massage wasn't going to be easy. I just thought that I wasn't going to have to sweat it so bad till I got to A&P!

Took my first 2 classes of Swedish Massage last week and WOW! The way I would describe it is like watching someone who can draw really well and they make it look so simple, then they hand you the pencil and you are like a little kid trying to copy their work of art.

I guess I am feeling the weight of all I have to learn stretching out in front of me and I am really feeling nervous about the upcomming hands on exams. Will I be ready??? Can I really do this?? AHHH!!

I've got a table and I am going to get all the practice I can. Good thing there is no shoreforum.xxxe of people wanting to 'help' me with my homework lol

Thanks for listening and any tips or advice always greatly appreciated!!!

 

[BiGstylin]

You will do just fine! I think we have all been where you are right now!

I remember feeling overwhelmed with all the new information and techniques -- just take it step by step! It will all come together and you will have those great "Aha!" moments and realize exactly why you have chosen this profession.

Come here anytime . . . you will find caring, listening ears from MTs who understand exactly how you are feeling.

We all started in pretty much the same place! And following through is something you will never regret.

Keep us posted! :dancingparty:

Sherry

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks Sherry

I'll be sure to come here and read up and practice practice practice!

Thanks for listening to my vent!

 

[lilylake]

Don't worry. You are going to absolutely look back a year from now and laugh. Its pretty normal to feel like a klutz in those first seforum.xxxes. There is just so much to absorb. You will get there. Don't sweat it. Do your best and try to enjoy it as much as possible.

 

[Yellowdog]

EEEEK! First week of Swedish Massage class

Ok so I knew that massage wasn't going to be easy. I just thought that I wasn't going to have to sweat it so bad till I got to A&P!

Took my first 2 classes of Swedish Massage last week and WOW! The way I would describe it is like watching someone who can draw really well and they make it look so simple, then they hand you the pencil and you are like a little kid trying to copy their work of art.

I guess I am feeling the weight of all I have to learn stretching out in front of me and I am really feeling nervous about the upcomming hands on exams. Will I be ready??? Can I really do this?? AHHH!!

I've got a table and I am going to get all the practice I can. Good thing there is no shoreforum.xxxe of people wanting to 'help' me with my homework lol

Thanks for listening and any tips or advice always greatly appreciated!!!

I am a new graduate and I would like to encourage you to know that you will be ok. People would say things like that to me when I first started school but it is totally true.

If you study and pay attention in class you will do well. Hang out with those people in class that are seriouse about learning.

Don't be too hard on yourself and remember to breathe. You can do it! Hope that helps a little.

 

[shine on benevolent sun]

Thank you, everyone.

Your advice really does help me to feel more confident.

Having a friend come over tonite to practice on her. I know that that more bodies I get my hands on the more natural it will feel for me.

I really do appreciate the encouragement!

 

[SupR]

Hey Green,

As everyone's said above, everyone goes through that. Take your time, step back and pay attention to what your hands feel. Pacing that part is one of the most important things early on. As you have more hands-on time, you'll become much more sensative and things will open up.

You're off to a fun and exciting journey!

 

[Pompal 09.]

I know where you are now...

Believe me I understand. I graduated 2 weeks ago and I take my National Board exam tomorrow but all I can tell you is to let your fingers and hands "see" for you.

Exam update - I passed!

After a little while I closed my eyes to force my hands to do the visualizing. I don't know if others do that but I still do it and it allows me to get beneath the tissue to look around.

Hang in there! The next thing you know you will graduating.

 

[starcraftstrategist]

You can do it. There's no real way to prove that to you, but every one of us here knows the process and knows you can do it. Hang onto us!

 

[Sudhir S]

Way back in the day..... the first thing we learned back in massage school in our A&P class was the permeable wall theory of cellular structure as well as all about anions, cations, etc. Well, since I hadn't been in any kind of higher education for over 20 years at the time, that stuff was pretty daunting...... Went home hit myself over the head with a Nerf bat a few thousand times till it wore out and just said, "well, it can't get much worse....." LOL FOF

If you worry about what's clear down the road for you, you will drive yourself crazy with stress. Take a deep breath, do one day at a time, and the end will be with you sooner than it seems possible now......... and if all else fails, go get a Nerf bat............ just teasing.....

 

[Paige F]

Oh dear heart - we have ALL been there.

In fact, just earlier this month I was there when taking an intro to lymphatic drainage class. *laughing* It was SO frustrating!

And then suddenly - your fingers get the hang of it and your body is in "the zone" and it's like a full body "Ah ha!" moment. **laughing**

Practice! Get your hands on as many bodies as possible! And then - if you can - don't overthink it. Just start trying to feel the breath of the person you're working on.

Angela

 

[Jeff will come back!]

You know, I DO tend to 'overthink' and obsess.

I thank you all very much for your insight and it helps to put things into perspective and helps me remember to PAUSE and BREATHE!

Got class tonite and our first hands on test on Tuesday next week! I can do this

 

[bearsma90]

My best advise as a long time teacher... When you are stressing over school test and grades.... keep in mind there will never be a time a client or employer is gonna look at your grade point average. It's strickly a pass or fail deal in the big picture. Move past each hurdle with heart and gusto but pace yourself on the straight "A" thing. This is massage and we understand your abilities to pass standardized test don't reflect on your ability to be a great massage therapist. Peace and good luck. ~peter


Besides... you'll retain more if you are relaxed.

 

[Robert J]

Oh dear...(laughing)...I so remember that feeling. I recall watching my instructor and thinking she looked like she was dancing, more so with her hands. So graceful. And then I put my hands on someone, hoping to mimic her.... :shock:

You get there. You'll get to a point where you don't think about the next move, or what your hands are doing. They learn the dance on their own and go smoothly from one move to the next. Your body learns where it's supposed to be, when to shift your weight or to step around this way and that. It seems like bits and pieces and then all the sudden it all falls into place and you'll realize you didn't even have to think about what to do next.

 

[My Bastard Son Has AIDS]

As a matter of fact, do you ever think that you should be fantastic at creating sculpture?

I mean, think about it. Stored away in our brains and in our hands are the memories of the shape and form of hundreds of humans?

And much of the time it's like we're doing some form of sculpture, smoothing and rearranging.

I've often wondered if I sat down with a big lump of clay and closed my eyes, could I transform that memory into another form of art?

Hmmmmmmmmm. savannah