massage therapy?

Question

does anyone think massage therapy is a proffession that can be taken seriously? i really want to take massage therapy and my sister thinks it is for sluts and whores. i don't think so. i am 21 and pregnant. lol. i will take the class after i have my baby. what do you think?

Answer 1

First of all, your sister needs to take a step back and breathe! As a certified massage therapist (and state certified massage instructor) I can assure you that this is a legitimate career.

I've worked in this field, happily, "full time" since 1999. Part of that time I carried my household financially (until I married a great guy in 2004). Living in Southern California, owning my own home, I can assure you, the money is there WITHOUT crossing any lines of professional behavior.

If you have good training this career is easy on your body - despite what someone else indicated. Body mechanics are the key to avoiding problems with your own body.

Some of the benefits of this career include the ability to work for yourself if you prefer, set your own hours, and work only a few hours a day for excellent money.

One of my recent students is 21 and has a 14 month old son. She completed her basic studies (including anatomy and physiology - which are not really that hard) - and she is just finishing up her intern hours now. She has a few elective courses to complete and then she'll be certified.

She's already been offered more than one job whens he certifies - including one starting at $55 an hour. Believe it or not, for private clients that's a little low.

Yes, day spas, chiropractors, physical therapists and gyms give you the smallest cut of the pie (so to speak) - but if you find good ones, they'll allow you to build a private clientele also - which is where the real money and flexibility comes in.

I work part time for 2 chiropractors - one of them I come in 2 afternoons a week for only about 2 hours at a time. The other I'm only there one afternoon every other week - because this is what has worked for me. We'll be trying something new in 2007 and I'll be there one morning a week for 4 hours.

Those jobs are 'low paying' in the field - I only make $30 an hour. I've worked at day spas for that price also, but currently don't have the time.

My private appointments take up many evenings. I choose to take off Friday afternoon until Sunday morning as my "weekend" and I take Tuesday off usually. My private clientele pays anywhere from $70 - $120 an hour - depending on the location (my location or commuting to them) and depending on modality - Swedish, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Aromatherapy etc.

You work your hours around your child and child care situation. You are paid by private clients at the time of each session - so there's a lot of cash flow in the business. Admittedly spas and the like usually pay twice a month.

Many clients give tips - even at spas and medical offices - so again, it helps with the cash flow if money is tight. My 21 year old student uses her tips to pay for the gas to get where she's got to be (currently at the school clinic), so she's not usually out anything even tho each school requires their students to participate in a clinic for practical experience.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Don't hestitate to contact me if you have more questions.

Answer 2

Massage therapy is a legit career choice. Your sister is wrong, closed-minded and living in the past. Western medicine is finally catching up to Eastern in realizing the many benefits of massage therapy. In many cases this kind of therapy can negate chemical medicines. I think you should wait until after you have the baby. Look for an accredited program with a good reputation. If you find that then closer to graduation/licensure they will hook you up with an internship. If you play your cards right you can make some really good money. You can pick your hours and you can decided whether to work in a clinical setting or a spa setting, or you can do house calls.

Best of luck and if you need someone to practice on I have spinal injuries and am supposed to see a massage therapist once a week so call me!

Answer 3

the president for AMTA Dr Leena Guptha is the Dean of Massage at the school I attend. When I finish, I get an associates degree in applied sciences. We have a 2 year program here. I do not know what the state requires of you where you live so you would have to look into it.

Answer 4

Go for it! Baby Boomers are retired and will require a lot of attention. It is believed that about 41 million persons born during these years were alive in the United States as of the end of 2003.

Answer 5

hey, i have been in the medical field for almost 40 years and i believe the roll of massage therapists has come a long way from the old ideas of sluts and whores. there are legitmate massage schools out there. the best ones have a curriculum that will include some college level courses. courses in anatomy and physiology, biology, psychology. try to stay away from schools that are not certified or accredited by your state education agency. and especially schools that are looking for people who have no high school education and offer ""loans" to those who sign up for their courses.
finally, get on the net and look for schools. ask around. check your local, upscale, beauty spas. go in and talk to the therapist. ask questions about schooling, costs to go to schools, length of courses, and, (most important) how much can you expect to make as a licensed therapist once you are out of school and in the real world (thinking about that baby).
another place to look for information may be your local chiropractor. many d.c.'s employe or utilize good massage therapists in their own practices.
check around before you sign, you may learn something about yourself and what is best for your particular situation. good luck with it, there are many fine opportunities in the medical field and you may just wind up in one of them!

Answer 6

a great way to make money if you hook up with a couple different places which generate a lot of business (health clubs and spas)
but, hours can be long and out-of-sorts, and depends how much of a cut the business owner is taking. it's also hard on your body. in addition, there is a lot of anatomy to learn.