potential overwieght MT student

[Allen]

Hi

I have been really interested in massage therapy for close to forever. The only thing holding me back from going to school is my weight. I'm in good shape so i'm not worried about being able to be on my feet for extended periods of time or actually doing the physical work. I'm just big (5' 7" and 240lbs) and I was wondering if you guys had any advice or think that it would be as big of a deal as I'm making it out to be in my head.

Thanks

 

[cjporterjr54]

Well, I'm overweight and I do very well! The only problem I have is that I wish I was thinner!

Steph!

 

[and improved!]

we come in all shapes and sizes. jump right in

 

[-Mitch]

What exactly is your concern?

I am overweight and I was a complete basketcase before school started. I was soooooo worried about it. I worried over nothing.

MT students come in all shapes and sizes, so don't worry.

The only thing I wish I had known before starting school was how physically demanding it is. Had I known, I would have started exercizing for strength and endurance and do some yoga for flexibility and strengthening my core. I'm doing that now though and do notice a difference. Sounds like the physical aspect won't be a problem for you.

 

[Jiji]

Ya know, I wasn't really worried about my weight interfering with my performance as a MT. I was more worried about getting naked in class, well not IN class, you know what I mean! LOL It's kinda funny, I've always been really shy about my body because I have always been somewhat heavy. I'm the heaviest I've ever been (and was when I started school) and after the first month or so, I had no problem getting on the table! I had skinny-minies in my class but there were also a few of us bigger gals.

I know that my weight puts strain on my legs and low back. I need to get my butt on the machines at work. I do have a free membership to our gym, I think I'm just a bit screwed in the head!

Steph!

 

[julie j]

One of the things I asked massage schools about when I was choosing where to attend was how the issue of body image was treated in the classroom... it's a perfectly valid line of questioning to ask, because some of the schools seemed to have very little consciousness around it. I wanted a school that treated the body as sacred, regardless of form.

 

[Andrea Vanessa]

I don't think you should worry about the weight... you'll be taught good bodymechanics and then once you get into practice, you are going to tweak that to work for you even more.

Jump in!

As a "big guy", you may really like this thread regarding lotion holsters:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=677

 

[sweetheart]

I am a big girl myself. We were talking about this sort of thing during down time in student clinic way back when. The clinic supervisor said that often times upscale salons want their employees to have "a look." Meaning they are thin. She was a bigger gal, I am bigger, my friend who I went to school with was bigger, and then their were some thinner girls hanging around listening too. She said the name of a posh salon and pointed to herself, me and my big friend and said, "we would never get hired in a place like that." Then she also made some comment about places like that being snooty.

Well, that kind of set my attitude for the rest of school. In school, I didnt know if I wanted to be independent or an employee. Kinda thought I would be passed over by the skinnier MT's. After a while, I decided I would open up my own place and start from scratch.

Never looked back. Here I am 16 months out of school and 15 months after opening my own business. I am moving to a more spacious 2 room suite in January and my appointment book is darn near full for the rest of the year. I am taking the first week of January off to take a break and get my new room ready to go. I average at least 17 hours of massage and/or reiki a week in spite of being a chunk and a half.

My clients love me!! They really do. I totally love my job. It frees me to do other things. I have time for church activities, social events, and my kids. I love the marketing as much as I like the actual massage work, and sometimes a little more!! :

I didnt keep my new years resolution last year, and I suppose I have nothing to lose but weight if I make it again. I have less stress and money problems than a year ago so I think it will be easier.

I hope I can give the same massage at a lower weight. I have a lot of weight behind me, and when I use my weight and lean in.... its a good hearty lean!! :

 

[Monica]

from a client perspective

I have absolutely no problem with the size of my MT. Actually, the MT who solved a back problem that I'd had for 10 years and had thrown several thousand dollars at was big woman. She not only solved the problem but gave me exercises to help prevent its return...she was certainly one in a million! (I say "was" only in the sense that I live across country from her now.) Don't let it bother you in the least, no one in his/her right mind would pass up a good MT over anything that is totally irrelevent.

Good luck to you!

 

[Kardinal]

oh man, I am totally with you on being nervous about that! I too am 5' 7" and 240, and the thought of being naked in front of classmates on a table is terrifying and absolutely mortifying to me! It's kept me from starting massage school, and I have been trying to put it behind me. I am attending an open house next sunday, and am really excited, but the fear still stands!

 

[Darn]

I'm 5'10" and over 300 lbs.

I'm thinking of specializing in "big clients" --

- Sturdy, large table.
- Plenty of available bolster pillows.
- Large draping materials.
- Good rates on 90 min. massages. (i.e. $60 for 60 min/$75 for 90)

 

[Questionarre]

If you can help people handle pain and stress or get rid of it with massage, people dont care what you look like. Sure, that first impression when they see you is important. So, even if you are large, dress nicely and smile. Once you get your hands on the clients and help them, they dont care what you look like. Trust me. I have been doing this for almost 2 years. Been big for a long time and my business is doing wonderful. It is more important what you can do for your clients instead of how heavy you are.

 

[soccer <3]

Gosh...this post really took me back in time. I had the same apprehension about starting massage school.

Please believe all of us when we tell you that your size doesn't matter! Clients will accept you no matter what your size. They just care about feeling better not looking at their therapist. At our clinic we have 12 therapists and out of those 12, 7 of us would be considered overweight, 2 would be mid-sized and only 3 are skinny. So....I'm actually in the majority.

:wink:

In massage school you will gradually build up the stamina you need. It certainly would be a good idea (but not a requirement) to start exercising now even before starting class. Not necessarily for weight loss but so that you do have the energy to do physically demanding work and so that you feel good while doing it.

And as has already been mentioned, on advaneforum.xxxe of being "oversized" ourselves it that it helps with clients who are overly self-conscience regarding their own physical "flaws." I was doing a scrub on a client last week and when I asked if it was ok to scrub her abs, she said "oh, but I'm so fat" to which I replied "oh please......look at me" and after that, she was ok with the thought of someone seeing and touching her belly. It would have been a shame for her to have missed out.

Good luck in school!
Angie

 

[Nay]

I feel your pain--really! But DO NOT allow how you feel about your body to in any way hamper your desire to do massage. If anything, at 5ft 7, you have a very distinct advaneforum.xxxe over a short and somewhat voluptous person like myself, b/c it is hard working on people when you're short! I, too, loathed being half dressed in class. If anything, use the fact that you are conscious about your own body to the advaneforum.xxxe of your clients. You would obviously NEVER judge a client based on his or her body type, right? So why expect to be judged? And honestly, all most people, myself included, want, is a compassionate and healing treatment, not a hot MT. Why would I want someone to make me feel BAD about myself when I'm on the table? I've also found that people who are more body-conscious are just that--consious--of things like draping and positioning of clients in order to ensure their physical and emotional comfort during a session. A lot of the uber-skinnies in my class seemed to be somewhat careless about their treatment of other bodies, given that they did not have those concerns about their own. Anyway--allow the focus of your energy and intention to be on your client, and that's what they'll be thinking about!

 

[Jippee]

massage school is such a personal journey, alot more than just learning massage.

perhaps meeting and resolving your FEAR over getting naked on a massage table will help you to understand the many, many people who would love to have a massage, but their FEAR regarding their body weight or whatever stands in their way.

accepting yourself first and foremost, will help you be a caring, kind and compassionate massage therapist, and one who judges not...

best of luck on your journey..

 

[h m]

A lot of the uber-skinnies in my class seemed to be somewhat careless about their treatment of other bodies, given that they did not have those concerns about their own.

It's probably a good thing, then, if they have to work on some "real bodies" in massage school.

(Not to imply that skinny bodies aren't "real", but I use the term to reflect the reality that a great many Americans carry extra weight, and don't always reflect what people see in advertising.)

 

[intrigued]

I just want to give some insight on the other side of this issue.

Did anyone ever stop and think that there are plenty of "uber skinny" people that have issues with ther bodies as well?
And just as people that carry extra weight don't like to told they are "overweight" some thin people don't like to told that they are "skinny".

 

[carolinexdrofl]

I just want to give some insight on the other side of this issue.

Did anyone ever stop and think that there are plenty of "uber skinny" people that have issues with ther bodies as well?
And just as people that carry extra weight don't like to told they are "overweight" some thin people don't like to told that they are "skinny".

Yup. *applause*. I've been on both sides: "uber-skinny" and overweight. Neither one is a happy place. I was equally self-conscious. The only difference in my body consciousness between too thin and too fat was that it is easier to find clothes that will be okay and not uncomfortable when I was too skinny. Didn't make me feel any better about taking them off though.

 

[YANGA CHIVAS MEXICO]

Most of my experience with skinny folks who have body image issues are those who think they're too fat.

Body Dismorphic Disorder

 

[jfiannaca]

Try these on for size

Being told you are bulimic
Being told you are Anorexic, Which by the way you aren't. Never was never will be.
Being told you look like a stick.
People constantly shoving food in your face cause they don't think you eat enough.
Hearing people in passing going "god does she ever eat"
Then getting on a massage table wondering what the hell the MT is thinking.....Is she thinking everything else I have already heard?
Or them ACTUALLY saying I am scared to massage you cause you are so skinny I am afraid I will break you!

For the record I am 5'8' and weigh between 110-115. So yes I am that skinny girl. I eat and trust me I eat. I do not think I am fat, no reason to think I am. But just as it hurts some of size to hear stuff it hurts us "petite" ones as well.
we have the same issues just its on the oppoiste side of the spectrum.
And trust me it is not a blessing to be thin it is just as mucha curse as being overweight.