Hard on the wrists?

[MzTique]

Hard on the wrists?

Ouch, *hugs* I do appreciate your feedback.

In that aspect, I would say that Ouch has a viewpoint worth exploring

Geez, I don't know how to react to this...except THANKS! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! And you too, John. He knows how hard I've worked to make my career and this clinic work the past 2 years, and how we're still waiting for something to pay off...

 

[Priestess]

Rather than shadowing a massage therapist whose opinions & experiences are subjective, I recommend attending an "Introduction to Massage" workshop at a local massage school. It allows you to learn more about massage as a career, while simultaneously giving your hands a test for the work. If you do well & like it, you can pursue the full schooling from there. Here's an example of one such class:

http://www.massage.net/programs/introductory.shtml

See if schools in your area offer something similar.

Along this line, the Cortiva schools offer a one day free workshop http://www.cortiva.com/ . They have several locations, so maybe there's one in an area you could try.

 

[nuclearbroods]

Schools do have something to sell, and many local working massage establishments have territory to maintain - some don't like competition and wouldn't hesitate to scare potential students off. I'm always amazed when a potential student calls me and is afraid to tell me that they have to have a receipt for school to prove they've had a professional massage before classes start. Usually several others have already turned them down - they are learning to call another town for an appointment.

 

[wesley g]

I don't know about shadowing anyone. A good school will probably let you sit in on a class or lab session so that you can get an idea of what to expect with training. The way that shadowing experience was described, it sounds like everyone knew each other. I don't know any client I've worked with who would allow an unknown, untrained therapist in the room to watch while they receive a massage. That's also something I would not personally allow for myself or my clients. IMO it wouldn't make for an open, honest, healing session.

Clinic experience is attached to at least some if not all school curriculums to offer a taste of the "real world". But, nothing anyone says or shows you will prepare you for what you are going to personally experience.

 

[Zixuang Zhou]

In response............I can't say that I am making a fabulous living as an LMT, but I also can't say that I work at it extremely hard either. I can say I spent many thankless years as a grunt in electronic assembly, and I felt my soul was being slowly extracted from my body...........beginning my massage practice, I believe, literally saved my life.

I would continue to do massage even if I won the lottery tomorrow. It's been the one thing in my life that consistently gives me peace and satisfaction, and makes me feel like I have a purpose. I've had my ups and downs with it, the creepy perverts, slow times, financial struggles, minor injuries, a few clients here and there that are really really annoying.........

I've also had clients that individually rallied around me when I was diagnosed with cancer, doing everything from taking my outdoor potted plants home with them to water them for two weeks when I had emergency surgery, to bringing me home cooked meals and doing my massage laundry one week as a treat! My clients are, for the most part, really really nice people.

The kindnesses and the sweet gestures far outnumber the obnoxious few, and that has always been consistent. I have never done work that makes me laugh so much, and makes me care so much. I'm defiantely not a poster child for monetary sucess because I haven't mastered that yet.......but I definately like and enjoy what I do, and for me the flip side doesn't begin to compare.

For me..........taking that first step towards beginniing my massage career was a life changing journey, and I don't regret it in the least. It's the best thing I've ever done with my life.

Ouch, I'm so sorry it's been the opposite for you. I hope you can find a niche that brings you sucess and enjoyment. Life is too short and complicated to do work that you hate.
savannah