The best thing about massage school

[prettypriyanka]

Lately I've been pondering a lot on social perceptions about people going back to school. I get a lot of calls from prospective students who are maybe single moms, parents whose children have all moved out of the house, people looking for a career change... and all of them over 40. I get the same question from most of them:

"Am I too old to be a massage therapist?"

My answer? A firm, resounding, universe-quaking (or so I'd like to think) NO!! I'm sure many of you here may have gone to massage school as older students. I look back on my gigantic class of 45, about 10 of my classmates were older (that's 20%!). As a massage educator and school administrator, this is what I've come to embrace as the single greatest thing about massage school. Sure, some will have admissions requirements like a H.S. diploma/GED, but no matter who you are, what your age is, what your religion is, your race, who your parents were, what end of town you grew up on, even your reasons for going to school, there's no restriction on who can find their path in massage and bodywork. It's never too late to pursue your dream and nothing that anyone tells you should EVER stop you!

Just felt like sharing this. Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?

 

[Merry Christmas! :)]

The best thing about massage school

I decided to enroll in massage school while working a lucrative career with nice benefits and regular hours. Part of the benefit package was an education reimbursement program. Unfortunately, my work schedule partly conflicted with the class schedule. I was a top performer, had some seniority, blah-blah-blah... none of it mattered. HR wouldn't even discuss varying my work schedule, and my superiors wouldn't go to bat for me. They wanted me right where I was, and no where else. t013

So I enrolled in classes anyway, took some paid days off during the first week, and quit my job the moment they refused to let me take any more days off. Given a choice between (A) newfound unpaid passion and (B) lucrative drudgery, I felt no hesitation about walking (running?) away from that job. :mrgreen: There are days when I fondly remember the paychecks and benefits package, but it'll be a long, cold day in hell before I go back to that line of work.

One other satisfying thing: Before I took the final step out their door, I had found a loophole in the education benefit. They ended up paying for over $2000 of my massage school before that option was exhausted. :twisted:

 

[Daphne]

The best thing about massage school

Jason, that reminds me of a little video my brother shared with me about motivation. It might be a bit off-topic, but it makes me think of the handful of MT students I knew who enrolled just because they wanted a fatter bank account. Well it turns out that those few people ended up being very unhappy as MTs and my best guess that it was either disappointment in the lack of a great income or even if they were very successful in monetary terms, I don't think the money was the proper motivation for them. Massage was just not for them no matter how well they did, just as you say you'd never go back to the job you had even though it was very lucrative. Anyway, here's the link if you're interested in watching it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

 

[Ashley D]

The best thing about massage school

I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link!

 

[BlowBubblesNotBombs]

The best thing about massage school

I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better.

 

[Goligoski]

The best thing about massage school

I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link!

You're welcome!

 

[MorRissa]

The best thing about massage school

I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better.

:massage: t023

 

[farnoush]

Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?

My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness (


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Topic review - The best thing about massage school






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TouchofGrace






 
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jeffscottlmt wrote:My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"Awesome!

[quote="jeffscottlmt"]My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"[/quote]Awesome! :)











Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:27 am














jeffscottlmt






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"

My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"











Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:27 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Chiropractic and massage really do go hand-in-hand.. it makes sense for you to offer that benefit to your patients.

Chiropractic and massage really do go hand-in-hand.. it makes sense for you to offer that benefit to your patients.











Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:03 pm














TouchofGrace






 
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Re: The best thing about massage school
 













pueppi wrote:Taoist wrote: Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness ( by the bundle. I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. "You can't become a Massage Therapist!" "What are you thinking?" "Your patients will think less of you!" "That's so beneath you." "Just hire someone to do that grunt work." "You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. It was a good plan and I have never had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. Maybe they are just smarter than my colleagues. The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?So glad you didn't listen to the nay sayers and limit yourself and cause your clients to be limited in their treatment as well. Your collegues are sure missing out on a wonderful branch of bodywork. Thankfully, for your and your clients, you weren't blind to that.

[quote="pueppi"][quote="Taoist"] Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?[/quote]My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness [i](I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. :shock: [list][*]"You can't become a Massage Therapist!" [*]"What are you thinking?" [*]"Your patients will think less of you!" [*]"That's so beneath you." [*]"Just hire someone to do that grunt work." [*]"You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"[/list]Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. :)When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. :P It was a good plan and I have [i]never[/i] had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. [i]Maybe[/i] they are just smarter than my colleagues. :grin: The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?[/quote]So glad you didn't listen to the nay sayers and limit yourself and cause your clients to be limited in their treatment as well. Your collegues are sure missing out on a wonderful branch of bodywork. Thankfully, for your and your clients, you weren't blind to that. :)











Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:04 am














softy515






 
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Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Many folks around me thought I would never make enough money to do it as my full time job. Yet, here I am! I have been doing massage exclusively for 6-7, heck maybe 8 years now. I had to deal with a full time job while I was going through school. At one point they did allow me to have off a few Mondays to go to class. However, when I had gotten busy with massage clients, I asked them if I could work there part time to devote more time to massage, they absolutely said no. I immediately handed them my 2 week notice and didn't look back. I remember my boss/supervisor offering to act like I didn't hand it in. He kept saying Are you SURE about this??Now that company is down to a few employees. The nature of what I did there MIGHT have kept me employed but doubtful. So thankful I listen to my heart!

Many folks around me thought I would never make enough money to do it as my full time job. Yet, here I am! I have been doing massage exclusively for 6-7, heck maybe 8 years now. I had to deal with a full time job while I was going through school. At one point they did allow me to have off a few Mondays to go to class. However, when I had gotten busy with massage clients, I asked them if I could work there part time to devote more time to massage, they absolutely said no. I immediately handed them my 2 week notice and didn't look back. I remember my boss/supervisor offering to act like I didn't hand it in. He kept saying Are you SURE about this??Now that company is down to a few employees. The nature of what I did there MIGHT have kept me employed but doubtful. So thankful I listen to my heart!











Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:30 pm














TessKB






 
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Re: The best thing about massage school
 













The best thing for me was getting a second family. I was the baby in my class since I was fresh out of high school and I've met so many great people of all ages. It just goes to show massage therapists have each others back. It's always nice to be in an environment with people who share their need for helping in common.Also it was nice to not be judged for not picking a 4 year college and going with my heart instead.

The best thing for me was getting a second family. I was the baby in my class since I was fresh out of high school and I've met so many great people of all ages. It just goes to show massage therapists have each others back. It's always nice to be in an environment with people who share their need for helping in common.Also it was nice to not be judged for not picking a 4 year college and going with my heart instead.











Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:00 pm














pueppi






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Taoist wrote: Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness ( by the bundle. I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. "You can't become a Massage Therapist!" "What are you thinking?" "Your patients will think less of you!" "That's so beneath you." "Just hire someone to do that grunt work." "You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. It was a good plan and I have never had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. Maybe they are just smarter than my colleagues. The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?

[quote="Taoist"] Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?[/quote]My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness [i](I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. :shock: [list][*]"You can't become a Massage Therapist!" [*]"What are you thinking?" [*]"Your patients will think less of you!" [*]"That's so beneath you." [*]"Just hire someone to do that grunt work." [*]"You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"[/list]Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. :)When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. :P It was a good plan and I have [i]never[/i] had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. [i]Maybe[/i] they are just smarter than my colleagues. :grin: The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?











Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 1:14 pm














pueppi






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













TouchofGrace wrote:I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better.

[quote="TouchofGrace"]I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better. ;)[/quote] :massage: :smt023











Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 12:43 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













JasonE wrote:I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link! You're welcome!

[quote="JasonE"]I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link! :DYou're welcome!











Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:34 am














TouchofGrace






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better.

I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better. ;)











Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:57 am














JasonE






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link!

I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link! :D











Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:29 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Jason, that reminds me of a little video my brother shared with me about motivation. It might be a bit off-topic, but it makes me think of the handful of MT students I knew who enrolled just because they wanted a fatter bank account. Well it turns out that those few people ended up being very unhappy as MTs and my best guess that it was either disappointment in the lack of a great income or even if they were very successful in monetary terms, I don't think the money was the proper motivation for them. Massage was just not for them no matter how well they did, just as you say you'd never go back to the job you had even though it was very lucrative. Anyway, here's the link if you're interested in watching it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

Jason, that reminds me of a little video my brother shared with me about motivation. It might be a bit off-topic, but it makes me think of the handful of MT students I knew who enrolled just because they wanted a fatter bank account. Well it turns out that those few people ended up being very unhappy as MTs and my best guess that it was either disappointment in the lack of a great income or even if they were very successful in monetary terms, I don't think the money was the proper motivation for them. Massage was just not for them no matter how well they did, just as you say you'd never go back to the job you had even though it was very lucrative. Anyway, here's the link if you're interested in watching it:[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc[/url]











Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:31 pm














JasonE






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













I decided to enroll in massage school while working a lucrative career with nice benefits and regular hours. Part of the benefit package was an education reimbursement program. Unfortunately, my work schedule partly conflicted with the class schedule. I was a top performer, had some seniority, blah-blah-blah... none of it mattered. HR wouldn't even discuss varying my work schedule, and my superiors wouldn't go to bat for me. They wanted me right where I was, and no where else. So I enrolled in classes anyway, took some paid days off during the first week, and quit my job the moment they refused to let me take any more days off. Given a choice between (A) newfound unpaid passion and (B) lucrative drudgery, I felt no hesitation about walking (running?) away from that job. There are days when I fondly remember the paychecks and benefits package, but it'll be a long, cold day in hell before I go back to that line of work.One other satisfying thing: Before I took the final step out their door, I had found a loophole in the education benefit. They ended up paying for over $2000 of my massage school before that option was exhausted.

I decided to enroll in massage school while working a lucrative career with nice benefits and regular hours. Part of the benefit package was an education reimbursement program. :) Unfortunately, my work schedule partly conflicted with the class schedule. I was a top performer, had some seniority, blah-blah-blah... none of it mattered. HR wouldn't even discuss varying my work schedule, and my superiors wouldn't go to bat for me. They wanted me right where I was, and no where else. :smt013 So I enrolled in classes anyway, took some paid days off during the first week, and quit my job the moment they refused to let me take any more days off. Given a choice between (A) newfound unpaid passion and (B) lucrative drudgery, I felt no hesitation about walking (running?) away from that job. :mrgreen: There are days when I fondly remember the paychecks and benefits package, but it'll be a long, cold day in hell before I go back to that line of work.One other satisfying thing: Before I took the final step out their door, I had found a loophole in the education benefit. They ended up paying for over $2000 of my massage school before that option was exhausted. :twisted:











Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:09 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
The best thing about massage school
 













Lately I've been pondering a lot on social perceptions about people going back to school. I get a lot of calls from prospective students who are maybe single moms, parents whose children have all moved out of the house, people looking for a career change... and all of them over 40. I get the same question from most of them: "Am I too old to be a massage therapist?"My answer? A firm, resounding, universe-quaking (or so I'd like to think) NO!! I'm sure many of you here may have gone to massage school as older students. I look back on my gigantic class of 45, about 10 of my classmates were older (that's 20%!). As a massage educator and school administrator, this is what I've come to embrace as the single greatest thing about massage school. Sure, some will have admissions requirements like a H.S. diploma/GED, but no matter who you are, what your age is, what your religion is, your race, who your parents were, what end of town you grew up on, even your reasons for going to school, there's no restriction on who can find their path in massage and bodywork. It's never too late to pursue your dream and nothing that anyone tells you should EVER stop you!Just felt like sharing this. Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?

Lately I've been pondering a lot on social perceptions about people going back to school. I get a lot of calls from prospective students who are maybe single moms, parents whose children have all moved out of the house, people looking for a career change... and all of them over 40. I get the same question from most of them: "Am I too old to be a massage therapist?"My answer? A firm, resounding, universe-quaking (or so I'd like to think) NO!! I'm sure many of you here may have gone to massage school as older students. I look back on my gigantic class of 45, about 10 of my classmates were older (that's 20%!). As a massage educator and school administrator, this is what I've come to embrace as the single greatest thing about massage school. Sure, some will have admissions requirements like a H.S. diploma/GED, but no matter who you are, what your age is, what your religion is, your race, who your parents were, what end of town you grew up on, even your reasons for going to school, there's no restriction on who can find their path in massage and bodywork. It's never too late to pursue your dream and nothing that anyone tells you should EVER stop you!Just felt like sharing this. Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?











Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 3:59 pm


















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[leah5302003]

The best thing about massage school

The best thing for me was getting a second family. I was the baby in my class since I was fresh out of high school and I've met so many great people of all ages. It just goes to show massage therapists have each others back. It's always nice to be in an environment with people who share their need for helping in common.
Also it was nice to not be judged for not picking a 4 year college and going with my heart instead.

 

[Pompal 09.]

The best thing about massage school

Many folks around me thought I would never make enough money to do it as my full time job. Yet, here I am! I have been doing massage exclusively for 6-7, heck maybe 8 years now.

I had to deal with a full time job while I was going through school. At one point they did allow me to have off a few Mondays to go to class. However, when I had gotten busy with massage clients, I asked them if I could work there part time to devote more time to massage, they absolutely said no. I immediately handed them my 2 week notice and didn't look back. I remember my boss/supervisor offering to act like I didn't hand it in. He kept saying Are you SURE about this??

Now that company is down to a few employees. The nature of what I did there MIGHT have kept me employed but doubtful. So thankful I listen to my heart!

 

[}{acker Pro]

Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?

My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness (


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Topic review - The best thing about massage school






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TouchofGrace






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













jeffscottlmt wrote:My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"Awesome!

[quote="jeffscottlmt"]My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"[/quote]Awesome! :)











Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:27 am














jeffscottlmt






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"

My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"











Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:27 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Chiropractic and massage really do go hand-in-hand.. it makes sense for you to offer that benefit to your patients.

Chiropractic and massage really do go hand-in-hand.. it makes sense for you to offer that benefit to your patients.











Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:03 pm














TouchofGrace






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













pueppi wrote:Taoist wrote: Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness ( by the bundle. I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. "You can't become a Massage Therapist!" "What are you thinking?" "Your patients will think less of you!" "That's so beneath you." "Just hire someone to do that grunt work." "You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. It was a good plan and I have never had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. Maybe they are just smarter than my colleagues. The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?So glad you didn't listen to the nay sayers and limit yourself and cause your clients to be limited in their treatment as well. Your collegues are sure missing out on a wonderful branch of bodywork. Thankfully, for your and your clients, you weren't blind to that.

[quote="pueppi"][quote="Taoist"] Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?[/quote]My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness [i](I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. :shock: [list][*]"You can't become a Massage Therapist!" [*]"What are you thinking?" [*]"Your patients will think less of you!" [*]"That's so beneath you." [*]"Just hire someone to do that grunt work." [*]"You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"[/list]Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. :)When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. :P It was a good plan and I have [i]never[/i] had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. [i]Maybe[/i] they are just smarter than my colleagues. :grin: The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?[/quote]So glad you didn't listen to the nay sayers and limit yourself and cause your clients to be limited in their treatment as well. Your collegues are sure missing out on a wonderful branch of bodywork. Thankfully, for your and your clients, you weren't blind to that. :)











Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:04 am














softy515






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Many folks around me thought I would never make enough money to do it as my full time job. Yet, here I am! I have been doing massage exclusively for 6-7, heck maybe 8 years now. I had to deal with a full time job while I was going through school. At one point they did allow me to have off a few Mondays to go to class. However, when I had gotten busy with massage clients, I asked them if I could work there part time to devote more time to massage, they absolutely said no. I immediately handed them my 2 week notice and didn't look back. I remember my boss/supervisor offering to act like I didn't hand it in. He kept saying Are you SURE about this??Now that company is down to a few employees. The nature of what I did there MIGHT have kept me employed but doubtful. So thankful I listen to my heart!

Many folks around me thought I would never make enough money to do it as my full time job. Yet, here I am! I have been doing massage exclusively for 6-7, heck maybe 8 years now. I had to deal with a full time job while I was going through school. At one point they did allow me to have off a few Mondays to go to class. However, when I had gotten busy with massage clients, I asked them if I could work there part time to devote more time to massage, they absolutely said no. I immediately handed them my 2 week notice and didn't look back. I remember my boss/supervisor offering to act like I didn't hand it in. He kept saying Are you SURE about this??Now that company is down to a few employees. The nature of what I did there MIGHT have kept me employed but doubtful. So thankful I listen to my heart!











Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:30 pm














TessKB






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













The best thing for me was getting a second family. I was the baby in my class since I was fresh out of high school and I've met so many great people of all ages. It just goes to show massage therapists have each others back. It's always nice to be in an environment with people who share their need for helping in common.Also it was nice to not be judged for not picking a 4 year college and going with my heart instead.

The best thing for me was getting a second family. I was the baby in my class since I was fresh out of high school and I've met so many great people of all ages. It just goes to show massage therapists have each others back. It's always nice to be in an environment with people who share their need for helping in common.Also it was nice to not be judged for not picking a 4 year college and going with my heart instead.











Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:00 pm














pueppi






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Taoist wrote: Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness ( by the bundle. I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. "You can't become a Massage Therapist!" "What are you thinking?" "Your patients will think less of you!" "That's so beneath you." "Just hire someone to do that grunt work." "You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. It was a good plan and I have never had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. Maybe they are just smarter than my colleagues. The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?

[quote="Taoist"] Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?[/quote]My story takes a little different direction, but I did have nay-sayers and looks of utter "aghast"-edness [i](I actually had people tell me becoming an MT was "below" me. :shock: [list][*]"You can't become a Massage Therapist!" [*]"What are you thinking?" [*]"Your patients will think less of you!" [*]"That's so beneath you." [*]"Just hire someone to do that grunt work." [*]"You're not really serious, are you?""Your a doctor for _'s sake!"[/list]Not only have I found that my patients appreciate the work I do, but I have opened my practice to a whole new set of people. Some like massage, some like chiropractic, some like both. :)When I practice massage, it's just like any MT would. Nice room, lowered lights, relaxing music. There is no reason it has to be a problem and yet my colleagues still are confused and wonder what's wrong with me. :P It was a good plan and I have [i]never[/i] had a patient or client think the bodywork I do is "beneath" my original training. [i]Maybe[/i] they are just smarter than my colleagues. :grin: The skill it takes to work with the body, in its various states of need, is like a tree with many branches, and branches with many leaves. The more you learn, the more you are able to help. Chiropractic, bodywork, massage, emotional work, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medicine. They are all practices that have to do with the body. Different parts, but the body no less. I don't practice them all, but who says I have to do just one?











Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 1:14 pm














pueppi






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













TouchofGrace wrote:I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better.

[quote="TouchofGrace"]I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better. ;)[/quote] :massage: :smt023











Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 12:43 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













JasonE wrote:I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link! You're welcome!

[quote="JasonE"]I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link! :DYou're welcome!











Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:34 am














TouchofGrace






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better.

I entered massage school at the age of 40. It was the best move I ever made. I feel as if I took a gigantic leap of faith into the perfect job for me. My support system was lacking totally from husband for quite a while, but we're on the same page now. This town was uneducated about massage and is still being educated one by one, but that, in itself, has also helped me build. It's new and outstanding. Thankfully, I have little competition so they don't know any better. ;)











Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:57 am














JasonE






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link!

I LOVE THAT VIDEO!! It dovetails PERFECTLY with some other things I've been working on/studying. Thank you so much for posting the link! :D











Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:29 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













Jason, that reminds me of a little video my brother shared with me about motivation. It might be a bit off-topic, but it makes me think of the handful of MT students I knew who enrolled just because they wanted a fatter bank account. Well it turns out that those few people ended up being very unhappy as MTs and my best guess that it was either disappointment in the lack of a great income or even if they were very successful in monetary terms, I don't think the money was the proper motivation for them. Massage was just not for them no matter how well they did, just as you say you'd never go back to the job you had even though it was very lucrative. Anyway, here's the link if you're interested in watching it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

Jason, that reminds me of a little video my brother shared with me about motivation. It might be a bit off-topic, but it makes me think of the handful of MT students I knew who enrolled just because they wanted a fatter bank account. Well it turns out that those few people ended up being very unhappy as MTs and my best guess that it was either disappointment in the lack of a great income or even if they were very successful in monetary terms, I don't think the money was the proper motivation for them. Massage was just not for them no matter how well they did, just as you say you'd never go back to the job you had even though it was very lucrative. Anyway, here's the link if you're interested in watching it:[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc[/url]











Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:31 pm














JasonE






 
Post subject: 
Re: The best thing about massage school
 













I decided to enroll in massage school while working a lucrative career with nice benefits and regular hours. Part of the benefit package was an education reimbursement program. Unfortunately, my work schedule partly conflicted with the class schedule. I was a top performer, had some seniority, blah-blah-blah... none of it mattered. HR wouldn't even discuss varying my work schedule, and my superiors wouldn't go to bat for me. They wanted me right where I was, and no where else. So I enrolled in classes anyway, took some paid days off during the first week, and quit my job the moment they refused to let me take any more days off. Given a choice between (A) newfound unpaid passion and (B) lucrative drudgery, I felt no hesitation about walking (running?) away from that job. There are days when I fondly remember the paychecks and benefits package, but it'll be a long, cold day in hell before I go back to that line of work.One other satisfying thing: Before I took the final step out their door, I had found a loophole in the education benefit. They ended up paying for over $2000 of my massage school before that option was exhausted.

I decided to enroll in massage school while working a lucrative career with nice benefits and regular hours. Part of the benefit package was an education reimbursement program. :) Unfortunately, my work schedule partly conflicted with the class schedule. I was a top performer, had some seniority, blah-blah-blah... none of it mattered. HR wouldn't even discuss varying my work schedule, and my superiors wouldn't go to bat for me. They wanted me right where I was, and no where else. :smt013 So I enrolled in classes anyway, took some paid days off during the first week, and quit my job the moment they refused to let me take any more days off. Given a choice between (A) newfound unpaid passion and (B) lucrative drudgery, I felt no hesitation about walking (running?) away from that job. :mrgreen: There are days when I fondly remember the paychecks and benefits package, but it'll be a long, cold day in hell before I go back to that line of work.One other satisfying thing: Before I took the final step out their door, I had found a loophole in the education benefit. They ended up paying for over $2000 of my massage school before that option was exhausted. :twisted:











Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:09 pm














Taoist






 
Post subject: 
The best thing about massage school
 













Lately I've been pondering a lot on social perceptions about people going back to school. I get a lot of calls from prospective students who are maybe single moms, parents whose children have all moved out of the house, people looking for a career change... and all of them over 40. I get the same question from most of them: "Am I too old to be a massage therapist?"My answer? A firm, resounding, universe-quaking (or so I'd like to think) NO!! I'm sure many of you here may have gone to massage school as older students. I look back on my gigantic class of 45, about 10 of my classmates were older (that's 20%!). As a massage educator and school administrator, this is what I've come to embrace as the single greatest thing about massage school. Sure, some will have admissions requirements like a H.S. diploma/GED, but no matter who you are, what your age is, what your religion is, your race, who your parents were, what end of town you grew up on, even your reasons for going to school, there's no restriction on who can find their path in massage and bodywork. It's never too late to pursue your dream and nothing that anyone tells you should EVER stop you!Just felt like sharing this. Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?

Lately I've been pondering a lot on social perceptions about people going back to school. I get a lot of calls from prospective students who are maybe single moms, parents whose children have all moved out of the house, people looking for a career change... and all of them over 40. I get the same question from most of them: "Am I too old to be a massage therapist?"My answer? A firm, resounding, universe-quaking (or so I'd like to think) NO!! I'm sure many of you here may have gone to massage school as older students. I look back on my gigantic class of 45, about 10 of my classmates were older (that's 20%!). As a massage educator and school administrator, this is what I've come to embrace as the single greatest thing about massage school. Sure, some will have admissions requirements like a H.S. diploma/GED, but no matter who you are, what your age is, what your religion is, your race, who your parents were, what end of town you grew up on, even your reasons for going to school, there's no restriction on who can find their path in massage and bodywork. It's never too late to pursue your dream and nothing that anyone tells you should EVER stop you!Just felt like sharing this. Does anyone have any stories of nay-sayers or obstacles you may have encountered during your schooling/licensing process that you've been able to overcome?











Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 3:59 pm


















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[Toot N Come In]

The best thing about massage school

Chiropractic and massage really do go hand-in-hand.. it makes sense for you to offer that benefit to your patients.

 

[Shard]

The best thing about massage school

My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.

To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.

If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"

 

[vikki94]

The best thing about massage school

My story takes a different route. SImilar to Jason in the former BIG paychecks and benefits, but different. I have always been self-employed (since I was 19), it runs in my family, and I can't imagine anything else. I owned a Home delivery company from 97-2005, in which I was a contractor for a large chain in the Northeast (Namco Pools). I did the majority of their home deliveries in MA, NH, and RI, and I hated every second of it. But, I was trapped. I had just built a big house, my wife owned her families construction business (took over when her dad retired), we were living large...and miserable. One day I got the call, the contract was being pulled from all contractors for deliveries, and Namco was going to keep it all in-house. At first I was furious, then depressed, then felt like a failure. I was able to collect unemployment, because I was incorporated and an employee of my company (thank God). I started thinking, "what am I going to do now?" I have a brother who has been a massage therapist since 1986, so I called him and asked tons of questions. The end result was, if I did it, I would probably never again make the same money. But, I would probably be a lot less stressed, as well as healthier and happier. I figured the latter was far more important, and I enrolled about 2 weeks later. I have never looked back. After the real estate market went south, my wife's business also closed. We got rid of the big house, rented for a year, and last year bought our own income property where we live in one of the apartments. It's smaller, but all the kids are moved out. My wife is in her last year of nursing school, and we have never been happier. Business is booming, and growing, but the stress is just not there in this business. I love it.

To answer the question on "Nay-sayers" what I got was a lot of "the massage market is saturated, they are everywhere, will you be able to compete?" Thankfully, I have done just fine. The market is saturated for sure. Massachusetts has well over 8,000 licensed therapists, but apparently there are enough clients, because we are doing great.

If anyone ever asked me, I would say "listen, if you like to help people, being around people, and like working hands-on..GO FOR IT"

Awesome!