a community of practitioners

Introduce yourself here....

If you are new to this group, please take a moment to tell us all a little about yourself: where you are from, how you came to be interested in massage, how long you have practiced, a little about your family, things you like to do in your spare time, or whatever you would like to share. This is your time to shine!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on December 31, 2009 at 11:33pm

Hi, I'm Mike and I'm a massagaholic! I live massage 24/7. I sleep very little, which allows me to do more.

I was a travel writer getting massage as I traveled, staying at B&B's and campgrounds around the US and Canada for free. In Texas, a massage therapist taught me how to massage. Six months later I was in FL and in school. Six years as a therapist. I now do the World Massage Festival & Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. I take it around to different sites. I am available all year round to help therapists anyway I can. I have a massage magazine at www.massagenews.org

My favorite massage is Esalen. I like relaxation most.

Permalink Reply by Donna C. Agrinsonis, LMT on January 1, 2010 at 12:09am

Fascinating! Welcome Mike. What is the World Massage Festival all about?

Mike Hinkle said:

Hi, I'm Mike and I'm a massagaholic! I live massage 24/7. I sleep very little, which allows me to do more.

I was a travel writer getting massage as I traveled, staying at B&B's and campgrounds around the US and Canada for free. In Texas, a massage therapist taught me how to massage. Six months later I was in FL and in school. Six years as a therapist. I now do the World Massage Festival & Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. I take it around to different sites. I am available all year round to help therapists anyway I can. I have a massage magazine at www.massagenews.org

My favorite massage is Esalen. I like relaxation most.

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on January 1, 2010 at 12:53am

http://www.prweb.com/releases/massage/festival/prweb3388204.htm

Donna C. Agrinsonis, LMT said:

Fascinating! Welcome Mike. What is the World Massage Festival all about?

Mike Hinkle said:
Hi, I'm Mike and I'm a massagaholic! I live massage 24/7. I sleep very little, which allows me to do more.

I was a travel writer getting massage as I traveled, staying at B&B's and campgrounds around the US and Canada for free. In Texas, a massage therapist taught me how to massage. Six months later I was in FL and in school. Six years as a therapist. I now do the World Massage Festival & Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. I take it around to different sites. I am available all year round to help therapists anyway I can. I have a massage magazine at www.massagenews.org

My favorite massage is Esalen. I like relaxation most.

Permalink Reply by Marissa on January 1, 2010 at 10:03pm

Massage Junkie too! :) I'm in Ottawa, IL. Massage has always been a part of my life and then one day I realized that I could actually be happy doing massage as a career! I've been going strong since `03. I'm a "Bodyworker" that has started doing "spa" and "relaxation" massages. I was given the opportunity to open shop in my neighbor's salon and couldn't pass it up! It took a little getting use to, but I've found that doing this type of work is very beneficial to a large part of the population. And if I can steer them toward "bodywork" when the need arises, FANTASTIC! On the other hand, I have others come to me that have simply been manually over worked and just need to relax! Hand in hand.

Permalink Reply by Sandy Gerhardt on November 4, 2010 at 12:43pm

Hi, My name is Sandy. I have been an LPN for 30+ years and a LMT for 4 years. I live in Canton, OH. I needed a career change (nursing was too stressful) so I went for massaage therapy and I am so glad I did. My stress level has greatly reduced.I am married to a wonderful man (35 years) and have one son. My side of the family lives in Michigan and my husband's side in Pennsylvania. I love to read, cross stitch, travel, and help people feel better. I have taken classes in hot stone and raindrop therapy and I am looking forward to learning more modalities. I opened my own business with a friend but have to work another job until I can get enough clientele to just work at my business. I just started working at Massage Envy. I would love to hear from other therapists so we can exchange ideas, and tricks of the trade.

Permalink Reply by Heide Metzger on February 20, 2011 at 12:14am

Hi ! I am Heide Metzger. I have been a massage therapist since 1987 and became a life coach in 1997 as well. I recently became a certified Guerilla Marketing Coach to help small businesses and up and coming massage therapists with any help I can. After raising over $20,000 for various charities the past couple of years by doing in-home massage parties, I recently began a new organization called Massages For Charity International. We were written up in the October 2010 issue of Massage magazine and were mentioned on page 110 of the January issue of Redbook magazine.

Hi to Sandy Gerhardt!

I am hoping to attract more massage therapists willing to go to homes to fill the need of the requests that we have in 26 states. My vision is to have enough therapists around the country so we can promote to national charities to promote us to all the athletes that do their run/walk events. It has been a greta way to introduce new people to the wonder of massage in the privacy of a friend's home! Alot more relaxed people walking around!

Permalink Reply by Heide Metzger on February 20, 2011 at 12:21am

Hi Marissa!

I am not sure how busy you are these days, but I am in need of a massage therapist willing to do a housecall and raise money for charity near Verona, IL. I wonder if you or someone you know would be willing to help us out?

Marissa Macias said:

Massage Junkie too! :) I'm in Ottawa, IL. Massage has always been a part of my life and then one day I realized that I could actually be happy doing massage as a career! I've been going strong since `03. I'm a "Bodyworker" that has started doing "spa" and "relaxation" massages. I was given the opportunity to open shop in my neighbor's salon and couldn't pass it up! It took a little getting use to, but I've found that doing this type of work is very beneficial to a large part of the population. And if I can steer them toward "bodywork" when the need arises, FANTASTIC! On the other hand, I have others come to me that have simply been manually over worked and just need to relax! Hand in hand.

Permalink Reply by Cera McMiller on February 21, 2011 at 7:47pm

Hi all!

I am a massage student and will be graduating this spring. I am so glad I have found massage and I am really excited to finish school and start my practice. I am married and I have a small daughter. I worked in human services when I had my daughter and I wanted to work in a field that would allow me to spend as much time with her as possible. I also wanted to feel like I was contributing to my family's financial growth with out burning out or compromising myself emotionally or physically.

During a recent anatomy class we were discussing case studies that related to pathologies we had recently learned about. As I was sitting in class, I had the thought, "Can't I just give a good massage to a relatively healthy person? I don't want to be the client's emotional filter, and I don't want to know their life history". I really care about the client's well-being and my impact on their well-being, but I don't want to "fix" anybody at this point. I just want to give a really GREAT massage!

Cera

Permalink Reply by Jessica Mahar on January 10, 2012 at 9:41am

Hello!

I have been a massage therapist for 17 years and I never cease to be amazed at what a little massage can do for an individual in pain and/or suffering from too much stress. We, as bodyworkers, are an amazing group of healers and I look forward to learning from everyone on this site and not just in this group. Although I'm still working independently, I am currently looking to go back to school to learn quite a few other techniques that have always piqued my interest as well as venturing into new territory in the medical field. Very exciting stuff!

Permalink Reply by Jessica Mahar on January 10, 2012 at 9:53am

Thanks so much for the link to this yearly event, Mike!!! I am so excited for all the new stuff coming my way this year!! Praise the Lord!!!!

Mike Hinkle said:

Hi, I'm Mike and I'm a massagaholic! I live massage 24/7. I sleep very little, which allows me to do more.

I was a travel writer getting massage as I traveled, staying at B&B's and campgrounds around the US and Canada for free. In Texas, a massage therapist taught me how to massage. Six months later I was in FL and in school. Six years as a therapist. I now do the World Massage Festival & Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. I take it around to different sites. I am available all year round to help therapists anyway I can. I have a massage magazine at www.massagenews.org

My favorite massage is Esalen. I like relaxation most.

Permalink Reply by Sandy Gerhardt on January 14, 2012 at 2:29pm

I live in Canton, OH (Pro Football Hall Of Fame Town). I have been a LPN for 33 years and a LMT for 5 years. I was getting stressed to much with nursing and so I decided to change careers. I chose massage because I am still in contact with people and can help them to feel better. I am married (37 years) to a wonderful man and we have one son (27 years old). I am a volunteer with the Community Hospice Organization and do massages on caregivers. In my spare time I love to do cross stitch, read, travel, go camping and get together with family and friends. I love to use essential oils when I do a relaxation massage. I took 2 classes last year to learn new modalities. The classes were "Massage For People With Cancer" and "An Aromatherapy Class". I enjoyed both of them so much I hope to get my certification in both areas. If anyone lives near me and would like to get together, please let me know.

Permalink Reply by Sandy Gerhardt on January 14, 2012 at 2:34pm

Hi Heide, I have was involved with your Massages For Charity last year, but had to stop. Things are slowly picking up at my office. I hope to rejoin again later this year.

Heide Metzger said:

Hi ! I am Heide Metzger. I have been a massage therapist since 1987 and became a life coach in 1997 as well. I recently became a certified Guerilla Marketing Coach to help small businesses and up and coming massage therapists with any help I can. After raising over $20,000 for various charities the past couple of years by doing in-home massage parties, I recently began a new organization called Massages For Charity International. We were written up in the October 2010 issue of Massage magazine and were mentioned on page 110 of the January issue of Redbook magazine.

Hi to Sandy Gerhardt!

I am hoping to attract more massage therapists willing to go to homes to fill the need of the requests that we have in 26 states. My vision is to have enough therapists around the country so we can promote to national charities to promote us to all the athletes that do their run/walk events. It has been a greta way to introduce new people to the wonder of massage in the privacy of a friend's home! Alot more relaxed people walking around!