I’ve been toying with the idea of massage therapy and am wondering what the advantages/disadvantages likes/dislikes are and would like to hear from those who do it/have done it.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
I just graduated from massage school and here are a few things I didn’t know when I started…
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It is very physically demanding work…I really noticed an increase in my fatique level when IM training picked up.
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It can be a massive energy drain as well, if you let it. Some people will suck the life out of you.
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Lots of sleazy people make assumptions/comments when you tell them what you do.
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If you don’t work for yourself, prepare to make the bulk of your income from tips.
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Working in a spa/studio type of environment, you have no control over whose body you have to put your hands on…and clients are booked back-to-back with barely time to change the sheets between them, never mind grab a snack or a drink or go to the bathroom.
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It can be hugely rewarding when you make a positive impact on someone’s mental or physical state.
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Athletes seem to consider you more of a partner than a servant. Spa clients are exactly the opposite.
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Your hands will get very smooth…and strong…and your wrists/forearms will ache.
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You will never look at people’s body’s the same way as you did…people with a little “meat on their bones” are much nicer to work on than fashionably thin people.
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Girls usually need to shave their legs. Men need to do something about the back hair.
All in all, I am glad I did it…but am also glad that massage is not my sole source of income.
G
Thanks. Great to hear your thoughts. It wouldn’t be my sole income and I would like to primarily work with athletes. Lots of LMT’s where I live but a lot are the “fluff and buff” type.
Have you found that you’ve been able to work with the types of clients you want or do you need to take on whoever you can get when starting out?
Everything gleveg said. I’m a chiropractor, not a LMT (called RMT here in Canada), but I shared office space with massage therapists in a couple of offices.
Working with a chiro can be a pretty good gig in the right office. I usually charged a % at first and once they were established then just a flat rent. The good thing was that all the appointment bookings, money collection, etc was done by the secretary at the front desk so all you’d have to do is see your patients and not worry about the rest of it. Cross referals with the chiro in the office was another advantage to build up a practise.
As long as there were no personality clashes (happened only once) it was a quite good set up for both the chiro and the massage therapist since the two methods of therapy often complimented each other very nicely.
I have been pretty fortunate in that I am able to leverage my tri reputation and coaching credentials to help me get the type of clients I want…specifically, endurance athletes. Fellow athletes seem to appreciate that I know how they feel, what they put their bodies through and the kinds of therapies that are appropriate for them at various stages of their training.
Doesn’t mean I don’t work on non-athletes, I will…but my work is therapeutic in nature, a far cry from the fluff 'n buff some folks enjoy. My massages are generally not real relaxing…they can be challenging at times, but my clients are happy with the results of improved recovery, range of motion and flexibility.
Like I said before, I find that the fluff 'n buff types seem to consider a MT as someone providing a service to them, my clients see me as a partner, like their coach or nutritionist, who is helping them acheive their athletic or health goals. It’s a much more equal relationship…one I find very rewarding.
G
I am a massage therapist(CMT, member of AMTA, Nationally certified-NCTMB,). I reallly enjoy what I do. I work part time at that and also work part time as a bike mechanic, by the way.
I work with anyobody… elderly, handicapped, amateur/professional athletes, general public, etc. I guess sports and training massage is what I really prefer the most. I have found it to be very rewarding to watch the progress of my athletes get better results do to my work. I get feedback like, “my sciatica doesn’t act up anymore is the road races, my calves are not cramping, wtc…”. It makes my work that much more enjoyable and fulfilling.
I am self-employed and work out of my house(a.k.a, the office) and do out-call. I guess the only down-fall that I see is the physical and emotional drain. Yes, it is hard when managing my own training schedule with massaging… but, I just see it as another work-out. You definitely have to work for your money and stay focused with a positive attitude. Once you start to “drift off” or “think of bad thoughts”, the client will get a poor massage.
I enjoy it all though!!! having a handicapped person be able to walk easier after a massage, having a client’s migrane instantly go away, sciatica leave, etc… is all I need as a reward!!!
FWIW
Fellow athletes seem to appreciate that I know how they feel, what they put their bodies through and the kinds of therapies that are appropriate for them at various stages of their training.
you hit the nail on the head!!! I know exactly the aches and pains they are going through. Plus, I train and race with a lot of them and find myself getting great feedback; while building a knowledge of what that particular athlete needs during our next session. It really builds a strong relationship on and off the table.
Currently studying to be an LMT. Ohio has a requirement that you have to graduate from an accredited school before you can sit for the boards.
I practice, I just cannot accept payment. Agree with the other comments.
Massage is physically draining for the therapist. The most I have given in one day is 4 and they wore me out.
Be prepared for your family and friends to expect “free” massages.
If you are married you need to establish a professional massage area, even for your wife, so that there is absolutely no inference of sexual impropriety with clients.
Having fun learning and practicing on others.
It has helped me better understand my body and the stresses that I put it under when training for IM. It has also helped wme develop a better realtionship with my doctor as I am able to professionally discuss the human body and disorders with confidence.
Tridan…
I am truly blessed to have found a profession that fits me to a T. It took me close to 10 years to truly understand the whats/hows I help the athlete. It is one thing to hear a World Ranked athlete tell you they helped you, and another one to see their performance improve because of what you did.
I am licensed/certified in Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Technique, Sports/Deep Tissue and basic (many other techniques acquired over the years). Have been practicing for exactly 14 years and in my final year of Chiropractic school. I can’t begin to tell you how cool it is to truly know what I am working with under my hands. I push my patients to that next level.
Since day one I have worked for a Chiropractor. Day two had me working in a Destination Spa that provided the opportunity to work with household named Athletes. Slightly intimidated, but they all loved the fact that I did triathlons and could relate to their high level of training. In the Chiropractic office I am seen more as a Professional (partially because of my level of education, the other because of my level of service). Dr.s office I do more fix and repair work. Have a huge following of accident victims and more recently just athletes. They find you 
In the Spa industry I cannot say enough good things about the Day spa I decided to work for in ATL. I am known for my deep tissue and the front desk often will not schedule fluff and buff for me. I can do it, but it isn’t my area of expertise. It is VERY nice to just do relaxing work and have someone fall asleep under your hands, but I couldn’t do that all day long, I would fall asleep. My office is EXTREMLY peaceful. Soft glow of candle light, gentle music, and an incredible feeling of comfort. Nothing pleases me more than to help others.
In the past 14 years I have taken off a MINIMUM Of 4-6 weeks of vacation. This past three years (and next year) it will be closer to a minimum of 8-10 weeks. I will not work for anyone that does not accept my racing requirements of time off–I give them my all when I am there, and I deserve my time off, so I take it. I have my own referral based house call patients. Some that I see once a week, once a month, ect. For 2 yrs there one guy I saw everyday of the week.
There is tons of money to be made in the business if you do what you love. It is my ONLY source of income for the past 14 years. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I look forward to the day of incorporating Chiropractic and massage.
As for clientelle…I work with young and old. I have a couple of older clients right now that I know I will lose by the end of the year, that saddens me, and brings a sense of warmth to the heart knowing I am helping them in their final days. I often work on patients even the day they deliver, that is pretty cool. I have several patients who I work on the whole family. The younger athletes in the family are really cool to part information to about nutrition and proper stretching and the importance of rest and recovery. They listen more to me then their own coaches sometimes, that is wild.
Massage is physical. It WILL drain you if you allow it. You have to be strong in your own mind to deal with people that have serious problems, at times you will feel like a shrink, and at other times you will know you were that subtle key that released the problem deep down.
Keep your heart open and keep your own body in shape. It is easy to build up to multi hours/week of massage. I do on average 35-40 hrs of straight massage work/week. The more I work, the more energy I have for training. I joke with my patients that I ‘steal’ their energy that is how I can do what I do athletically. There might be some truth to that, simply because I am ALWAYS rejuvenated after a hard day.
The ONLY negative…if you aren’t working, you aren’t making money. Of course you can rectify that by having a facility and having other therapists work for you.
Down the road if you have more specific questions (finances/starting out/ect) feel free to get in touch with me. Its a GREAT profession…welcome to it!
oh…while in massage school…drink TONS of water and keep flushing the system. The sickest I have ever been was one day in massage school when I got 5 hours of massage in one day. I couldn’t flush enough out of my system.
TD,
What they said.
I am a fairly newly minted LMT in the great state of Florida. My background was as a rehab exercise physiologist, with my sporting background as a road runner, triathlete and road cyclist. I obtained my USCF cycle coaching certification and had a personal training bidness for a time. The last 7 years before I went back to school I was the Fitness Programs Director for a large physical therapy bidness. I felt I had tapped out my current position and needed new (but not entirely different) career fields to discover. I returned to massage school at the ripe old age of 49 and now at my half-century mark am building a massage bidness. I did out-calls for a short time until I realized that I was wasting my time and energy traveling and lugging my equipment to others homes. I then began looking for a clinic in which to ply my trade. I found one doing a large medical massage bidness and once they saw my resume, were falling all over themselves to bring me on board. Though all their therapists were independent contractors, the bidness provided all the clients, billing, etc. In return they took 50% of the booty that the therapist earned. When I inquired as to a change in the percentage as I became more skilled, experienced, earned advanced certifications and so on, they just got a stupid look in their face and said that 50% was it. Period. End of story. I then got a lead on another clinic that was looking for a new graduate, but was atypical (background, experience, maturity,…). Well, hell! I ain’t nuttin’ if not atypical! I dropped off my resume and before you could say, “Don’t massage and drive”, I had an office! The deal is a flat rent agreement and includes everything except your table, linens, supplies, room furnishings and clients. They do have a sauna, brand-new, heavy-duty washer and drier and a great environment. My first month (3 weeks) I made x dollars. Last month I made 2.3x dollars. Halfway thru this month I’ve made 2.3x + 50 dollars. The point here is that I’m already covering all my expenses and actually making some money. My clients, which are a combination of referrals (2 chiros and a GP), cold-calls, friends (very few), and various promotional things (such as, this week, I’ve been doing free seated massage at a brand new YMCA that just opened). To a person, all my clients have been ecstatic with my work. This in return is energizing me to be the best that I can be. I am by nature, more therapeutic in my work, but I am sliding in a pure relaxation massage here and there. I work in a beautiful, calm environment, where people are glad to see me and where they’re eager to return for another massage. I believe that in 2-3 months time my income will exceed my prior career’s level and within 2 years I will have my own clinic. I do not mind touching other peoples bodies (including their feet!) and enjoy assisting my clients in their quest for pain-relief, greater functionality, and relaxation.
For me, I can’t see a more better way of life. I wear shorts, a comfortable pullover shirt, listen to relaxing music and work with 3 barefoot babe LMT’s. It has been fun learning how to build a bidness and see it happen. Granted, I’ve lived in this burg for quite a few years and have a good connection to the medical community and athletic community. I think that I am finally reaping all the fruits of my previous labors and am thankful that I have stayed the course (instead of bailing out into a state employee automaton position - not that there is anything wrong with that!).
I’ve been an LMT for 2 years now. I really love it, but learned some stuff I couldn’t have predicted…
-Didn’t know if I’d like it until I got started, b/c I’m not a “touchy” person - but I’m totally fine.
-Started at a gym/spa, b/c I mainly wanna work w/ athletes but a lotta non-athletes still show up -and you have no choice but to work on everybody. So, if you really have a specific goal as to what typ of clients you want - Private Practice is the way to go.
-Gyms take up to 30% of your session fee - and LOTS of people are totally clueless about gratuity, how much to leave. I try to gently educate when I can.
-Lots of folks think they know what they need, (IE: deep work), and they are wrong. Sometimes I try to educate, sometimes I just “yes” them - depends on the situation.
-I didn’t find the client base I thought/hoped I would working in NYC. So, I’m thinking of moving to the West Coast, (hoping & thinking that massage is looked upon as more of a necessary part of life and training, then as a luxury, which is what I think most of the folks in NYC think.
-You hafta build up to working several hours. I learned this the hard way -PAIN! And feel like a dumbass - b/c, as an athlete I should’ve known this.
If I think of more, I’ll be back…
Thanks for all the feedback. Very insightful and helpful. Pretty much what I had thought but good to hear from those in the field.
Thanks!
Antime…
Anymore questions, feel free to PM me.
I actually start at a new spa tomorrow nite. Wish me luck. It’s more of a spa than a gym. But it’ll be more good experience. Plus, I get free access to gym & pool. Which, I forgot to mention, is the GRRRRRREAT part about working at a gym. So, what they take from your session free, you make up in free gym membership!