a question about Massage Therapy.?

Question

How do people feel about massage therapy. I have just recently become a Registered Massage Therapist and I have high regard for the profession and the benefits of therapeutic massage. How do most people feel about this profession? I would like to know. Positive and negative responses are welcome.

Answer 1

I think it's great. I love a good massage. A friend of mine is a massage therapist and she specializes in massage for people who participate in sports. She has a lot of clients. Of course, she has to put up with smirking by people who have seen classified ads for the "other" kind of massage therapy, but she just ignores that. Massage therapy is a good profession with many benefits.

Answer 2

I am a registered nurse and have gone through massage therapy training, but do not practice it professionally anymore. Here's my observations:

1. Be realistic about the money. You won't get rich doing this.
2. You might need to work under the auspices of a spa or chiropractor at first. You'll give up a lot of your income to your "bosses" but on the other hand you'll have more clients than someone new trying to make it on their own.
3. Once you get a following, you can try going off on your own and hoping some will follow you. But depending on how much competition you have in the area, it can be hard.
4. On the other hand, it is very rewarding to see a client come in hurting and get up feeling better and KNOWING you did it.
5. Go to local businesses and offer to do chair massages for their clients onsite. Charge by the minute. Employees will like the service, it'll get you some pocket money, and some will want to come to you for a full-body.
6. Try volunteering your services at local running events and similar sports activities. The athletes love having access to that service, you'll probably get some nice tips, and you will invariably have people ask you for your card (so be sure you have one!).

My biggest advice is this: If you have any speaking abilities at all, try giving speeches about self-help massage techniques to small groups (less than 20...so they can get up close and watch what you are doing) in your local area. While you want to demonstrate these techniques before the audience, if possible, put together a PowerPoint presentation that includes bullet points of each technique and ideally have someone take digital photos of the key hand positions. Even if you don't do the PowerPoint piece, put the key points and shots of your hand positions together into a handout for attendees. You can do these programs in businesses, church groups, adult education programs at a community college, etc. When you think about it, there are techniques we are taught as therapists that could be easily taught to laymen...especially things that help headaches and neck/shoulder tension. I promoted these programs as a wellness seminar. I had great response. People valued the advice.

This approach puts you above the competition. After all, if you can speak on it, it is automatically assumed that you are an expert. Believe me, when attendees (and people they talk to) want a massage, they will think of you. I charged for my seminars, and actually made more doing these programs than in my private practice (but I was already known as a professional speaker). But don't be afraid to do it for free, because again, it gets you in front of potential clients. If you are working for a chiropractor or spa, you could promote their services in return for your "bosses" paying you for your speaking time. Otherwise, consider freebies as advertising costs.

Answer 3

Thank god, I was beginning to think that i was the only one who believed in this treatment. I AM an alternative medicinal therapist.Trained in massage,aromatherapy,herbal medicine, acupressure and nutritional therapy. Most people are now resorting to alternative medicine because Orthodox medicine is just not working, most of the medications that are prescribed are only making the problems worse. The human body(as you know) has meridian lines and most people don't understand why or how they work and this is the problem. I always recommend massage to online patients and they are actually taking my advice. It works better with aromatherapy oils. Again you have to explain why and how this works. People are afraid to try new forms of medications simply because they don't understand how it works. Let's face it, this type of medication has been around for thousands of years, The Greeks,the Egyptians, the Romans invented it, if that's not a great testimonial I don't know what is.They can't all be wrong.Can they?

Gloria(BSYA)
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Answer 4

I think it is a godsend. I get a crano-sacrial massage once a month. If i don't get it, i suffer from extreme headaches. Even if I didn't medically need it, massages are very relaxing. I don't think i've ever had a bad experience with a massage...

Answer 5

I think it's wonderful! I love to treat myself to a relaxing massage a couple of times a year. Good luck in your profession.

Answer 6

Well, it's something a person would need every few weeks...

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