Please be honest

[heybulldog]

Has anyone been doing MT for 10+ years? Is it possible to do MT for a long stretch of time without breaking down your own body? My family is seriously putting a damper on this whole going to school thing.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Many of the MT's I know have been practicing for 10+ years, many I know stopped after 3-5.

I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at a ceremony celebrating a gentleman who had be practicing in my area for 50 years. He was in his 70's and still going strong. He was quite the character. It can be done.

I think it is all in listening to your teachers and your body. Practice good body mechanics, and look after yourself. Get massage for you very regularly, see a chiro, exercise regularly, and generally look after yourself.

 

[shit.kicker]

I'm a newbie also, just started school in July, but I have the same thoughts/concerns. My plan is to address it with diversity. Not only can your body be hurt by a long massage career, but for me I know I'd also get burned out quickly if I did the same type of work day in and day out. So, here is my plan and maybe my ideas will help you. I'm talking long-term career here, not everything all at once ;-)

Massage (circ, deep tissue, the "standards")
Thai massage, hot stone, pregnancy specialties
Birth & Postpartum doula
bodywraps
equine massage & possibly canine
And any other specialties or modalities that I come across and feel drawn to!

I can also see myself working different part-time jobs, perhaps some that don't include bodywork but are of an interest to me.

Good luck and follow your dreams!!

~Robin

 

[johnb693]

I personally haven't been in the industry that long, however one of my Reiki Masters has been massaging since the early 90's. As said above, if you keep yourself healthy and in check it can be done.

On the flip-side, sometimes things happen to you that you can't help. My other Reiki Master is a massage therapist also, and she was in a bad car accident several years ago, shattering her arms and wrists. She never thought she'd work again. Well, even though she still can't life heavy things, she is back to massaging! She sees a few personal clients throughout the week, and spends the rest of the time either doing oncology massage in a hospital or teaching various massage classes at a college.

The spectrum of opportunities for a massage therapist are vast...there are a million different routes you can take. Don't let your family give you a hard time. If the dream is yours, then let the decision be yours. Maybe you can tell them about some different modalities out there that may "legitimize" massage to them? Such things like medical based programs, working in hospitals, working for university sports teams, etc.

 

[Scabs]

I've been a therapist for 19 years and have had pretty significant OA for about the last 10. Doing this work is what keeps me going, so I'll continue for as long as I am doing a good job. If being an MT is your hearts desire then do it.

wellnessgarden

 

[P.U.M.A]

I've been a therapist for over 15yrs now. If you take care of yourself, you can make it in this business for a long time. I know several other therapists who are also at or over the 15yr mark.......one who has been doing massage for over 20 now.

Angie

 

[sheloves_dablues]

I know one who worked as an MT for 20 years AFTER he retired from being a university professor.

Why do so many people think doing massage is going to be so much harder on a body than hundreds of other professions? We're generally not lifting these people - nurses aides do heavy lifting (sometimes while being fought!) bending over a bed to dress/undress, etc. all day long, and they can last years and years. Think of the body mechanics of a hairdresser, dental hygenist, brain surgeon........some get carpal tunnel, some don't last, but that doesn't make those professions something to discourage. Just learn the best way for YOU to work.

 

[Anni Apple +Midnight]

11 years, 9 months, 4 days and counting as a massage therapist for humans. Before that, while married to 2nd husband, did bodywork on harness race horses for 13 plus years [no special classes, just good old fashioned horsemanship and guess work].

WOULDN'T TRADE THIS PROFESSION FOR ANY OTHER!!!! You can do the work till you die, IF you take the time to learn to take care of yourself, set boundaries with your time so you can take days off, etc.

My mother was ashamed of the fact I was going to become a massage therapist because her friends thought I was studying to become a prostitute! Once she experienced a few of my practice massages while I was in school, she quickly set about educating her friends and anyone else who would listen about what massage could do for you and how smart I was for picking a profession where I could work till I croaked if I wanted to. It was for me a matter of education for my family to come around and understand the fabulousness of this profession. Hopefully that will be what turns your family around as well.

 

[jennifer31]

24 years and going strong.

 

[Dragon]

18 years full time but phasing down into writing and creating websites and sharing what I learned in all that time!

It is hard not to let friends and family members get in your way and figuring out what you really want is the key as others have said.

Julie

 

[Shazia Khan]

I've been in practice now for 17 years, and have loved this career like no other. Yes, you have to take of your body in order to do it. (not a bad thing in my book !)

You also have to develop your personal style, and keep adding "tools to the toolbag" to keep it interesting. It's also a great idea to practice enough modalities that you not only have plenty to draw from depending on the needs of the clients, but also alternate ways to work if you have any
injury or other issues (like pregnancy, if you're female) going on in your body.

Also be careful as you work, with your body mechanics, and find alternate ways to work that do not involve your thumbs to any large degree. Use those forearms, they can do amazing things ! And the work recieved with forearm techniques feels incredible too !

Learn some different forms of energywork, and then use it during the course of a session as it gives you a break physically and can really add a great dimension to your work. Last & not least don't be afraid to add in other treatments, or some retail items to your practice as another avenue of income to your services.

May you have a long, & wonderful career in this field.

 

[J.A.]

I've only been practicing for 3 years myself, but 3 of my profs in school had practiced for over 20 years, and two of them were still massaging part time while teaching.

My dad kind of had a hard time with me going into this profession. When I told him I was going to school for massage therapy, I think his exact words were 'no daughter of mine is going to work in a bikini' :roll: Luckily, all my other family members and friends were very positive and supportive. He's just starting to come around now, like he made me a CD last year of relaxing music for my clients, and he even let me do one assessment on his shoulder a few months ago. So I'm sure your family will come around too! If this is what you want to do, then go for it!

 

[shopaholic95]

rub

Started massage in 1971, have done as many as 117 05 -10 min massages in a 3 day perod (this past summer)and as many a 9 1 hr massages/day(1995). Broke both wrists playing tennis @3 yrs ago so can not do some strokes without pain and have torn both lateral and medial menicus (dancing and playing volleyball so sometimes my knees ache.

The point being that I love massage (giving and receiving)
and the injuries are non-massage related, still do @ 5 full massages/week and 5-25 brief massages. I walk 45min daily, swim, do sit ups, weights, push-ups regularly and artribute longevity to this regime. If bodywork is a pasion let nothing turn you aside. If you just want to make a buck skip massage, find where your passion is and do that.

I sometime do massage in a bathing suit (gasp).

 

[Natalie P]

If your heart is really in it and you take care of yourself, you will last a looong time. I heard somewhere that the average MT lasts about 2 years in the field (dunno if those were national or local stats or what). Pretty sad. But, I must say that many of the ppl I know who are no longer doing massage therapy usually fell into the category of their hearts not being in it. For them, they were young, immature, and massage therapy seemed to them to be a good way to make a decent living without having to "go to college". (I think they underestimated the energy investment that our work requires!) And they burned out, not wanting to do it anymore.

I've also been doing this for only 3 years, but I'm having a blast. For me, it came down to scheduling intelligently (not packing too many clients into one day,) and other things such as not trying to exert more pressure than I'm physically capable of, and listening to my body when some joint or muscle group gets sore and then laying off it or switching techniques. Even adding new decorative accents to the studio or a new batch of music can throw a whole new spin on the day. Something else that also helped me was to get into some gentler specialty work, such as Lymph Drainage and Prenatal massage. It help to know a few techniques that differ grealy from each other so that each session is different and you're fresh for each one.

And last but not least, take care of yourself. Vitamins, good nutrition, icing your wrists, good stretching, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, scheduling yourself time off, getting massage, and getting your wrists/elbows/shoulders adjusted (a chiropractor or perhaps osteopath thing) will all do WONDERS for both your longevity in the field and your quality of life outside of the studio

Hugs,
~Jyoti

 

[Layna <3]

And last but not least, take care of yourself. Vitamins, good nutrition, icing your wrists, good stretching, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, scheduling yourself time off, getting massage, and getting your wrists/elbows/shoulders adjusted (a chiropractor or perhaps osteopath thing) will all do WONDERS for both your longevity in the field and your quality of life outside of the studio

Hugs,
~Jyoti

So very important indeed.

 

[Lu-chan]

I graduated from massage therapy school just over 10 years ago,
(August 25th). And I have a co-worker at the spa who has been doing massage for 14 years.

The last continuing education I took was in Milwaukee area and the instructor, I believe also concerned about the latest AMTA statistics indicating that the average student is in the field less than 3 years asked those attending to all stand up (and I am guessing we had over 100 in attendance)... and he said, "If you've been practicing 3 years or less sit down."
And we lost about 1/3 of the people.
"If you have been practicing 5 years or less sit down."
We lost a few more.
"If you have been practicing 10 years sit down."
We lost a few more.
"If you have been practicing for 15 years or less sit down."
We lost a couple more.
"If you have been practicing for 20 years or less sit down."
We lost a couple more.
"If you have been practicing for 25 years or less sit down."
There were now a couple standing in the very center of the room.
With grayed hair, but looking healthy and standing tall next to their table.
And he asked them, "How long have you been practicing massage?"
They answered, "Thirty one years."
And the room broke into applause. :

Hey, you gotta respect that kind of endurance!

 

[GaryRichards]

Seven almost eight years here.

AND I practiced massage therapy all the way through two (so far) pregnancies. I had NO swelling, no bleeding, no complications of any kind. I think massage is such a healthy career choice - I focus on staying grounded, I'm up and moving around, I'm stretching and active instead of cramped behind a desk like so many of my clients......

....there's no reason why a massage therapist would fall apart physically unless they aren't following basic body mechanics and protecting themselves in terms of staying grounded.

Angela

 

[Kalaz]

anyone can be successful in any field. however, it's all about people skills and who you know. you can be a top therapist but if no one knows about you, you can't get paid. so it's more about marketing that makes you successful rather than about skills. however, you have to have decent skills atleast.

 

[massage therapist]

I've been doing massage professionally for 15 yrs, 8 as an LMT and before that 7 as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

I think it is possible for this to be a long standing career, but it depends a lot on the choices you make along the way.

Most LMTs are NOT going to be able to work 20+ hours per week long term.

Most LMTs will have issues from time to time that will require them to take time off.

Many LMTs don't get the care they need in order to sustain the longer term practice, which includes bodywork but also as others have said - proper nutrition, exercise, stretching, etc.

 

[Come to Chat! its fun!]

Massage Therapy in the long term

Its a good topic, as a side note I think if you've been doing MT for over 10 years you're probably well qualified to teach!

I personally don't think most people could physically handle purely deep tissue massage over a 10 year career unless they have very solid joints and use their bodies exceptionally well. Having said that, if you spread out your skills so that you're doing things like cupping, pregnancy massage, gua sha (spooning), lymphatic drainage, METs, even body scrubs/wraps e.t.c ... these are all comparatively easy on the body.

I think if you get a good mix of business its quite possible to have a long career. Good luck with it all!