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How did your former career help you in the massage & bodywork profession?

We know a lot of people in this profession started their bodywork practice after a previous career in a different industry. If you came to the massage/bodywork profession from somewhere else, how did your former career help you in this profession? What skills or experiences contributed to your current success as a bodyworker?

I'm writing an article on the subject for an upcoming issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine, so comment here, and you just might see yourself in an upcoming publication!

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Permalink Reply by Christine Baker on September 21, 2012 at 1:54am

I have a BA in music, which qualifies me to do absolutely nothing. I got tired of dead end jobs for very little pay. I picked massage because I wanted to help people in pain based on my past experience of repetitive stress injuries from playing the clarinet in college. I started out majoring in physical therapy before switching to massage.

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Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on September 21, 2012 at 11:28am

I have taught horseback riding for 20 years (English - dressage, jumping, eventing). I was a local and regional instructor for the United States Pony Club for 18 years, as well as a competition official and examiner. Through all of that time, I gained valuable experience in communication with students and parents (meaning that I learned from bad experience!). I worked constantly to be a better teacher. I learned to develop plans for each student, how to work with (and communicate with) each student differently, and how to make learning fun for all of us. I also have an unusual appreciation for a job that can be done in a climate-controlled setting!

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on September 21, 2012 at 11:42am

I believe whatever the previous life experience, as long as we learn to utilize lessons learned, it can be of great value as a massage therapist.

For 32 years I was in the meat processing business. I deboned, skinned, sawed, separated muscles and steaked. Being able to visualize what I am working on under the skin has been invaluable to me and my clients. I also had to deal with crippling arthritis and spent time immobile in a hospital bed. All have been amazing lessons I put to use. That is one of the amazing things in this profession. We get to put our lessons to use for those who can benefit from it.