I have a question for the veteran therapists out there

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Permalink Reply by Kay Warren on August 20, 2013 at 12:32pm

Spas are not my favorite thing, but they do help you see a lot of clients quickly.  It helps you get a better idea of what your personal therapy style is, and gives you some experience thinking and adjusting to last minute changes and conditions. You won't necessarily learn a lot about massage in and of itself in a spa setting, but it is a fast way to learn what you can and cannot handle, things you would and would not do in a business, and the ins & outs of dealing with clients.  As a new therapist in a busy spa, you'll see as many clients in a month as you might in 6-12 months of solo practice. It's useful experience. Some spas will let you trade with other therapists if it's slow for a minimal fee that covers their overhead, often $10 or so.  They don't pay the therapist at all.  If this is possible, use it!  You will learn a lot from the other therapists, and the different styles & techniques that they use.  Ask nicely and you'll get all sorts of pointers.  One thing you should always ask, "If money were no object, what continuing ed would you do?"  Spas pay squat, but it's much more consistent money than going it alone when you first start out, and the experience can' be beat.  Who knows, you may get a job with a spa whose owner would like to sell in a couple of years & retire.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Wald on August 20, 2013 at 8:50pm

I agree with what Kay is saying and depending on your resilience, how much you can handle.  If you are at a spa first off you may improve your endurance but you are at a higher risk of injury so trades, body mechanics, fitness level and  self care are so important.

Community is another thing that can be gained if working with other therapists.  And as far as  continuing Ed is concerned, consider Aston Kinetics training to improve your body mechanics, techniques and assessment to improve your longevity!

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pyle on August 20, 2013 at 10:14pm

Thanks Kay and Michelle

My mechanics does still need refining, but I am definitely working on that everyday. I am leaning towards sports, or neuro m. My school offers a 10 week master body worker program after you pass the professional program first. I am seriously considering taking it as soon as possible. Anatomy is getting intense, just been lectured on the shoulder girdle and all of the superior limb. Next is lower limb.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Wald on August 20, 2013 at 11:18pm

That is good that you are thinking in this way. BTW 10 weeks may not make you a master bodyworker... just sayin'Training is good, accuracy and assessment is better. Check out some of the fascial anatomy by Shliep, Guimberteau and Gil Hedley the anatomy group in this forum has some good videos. It is beyond the basics but will enlighten you that there is anatomy beyond the name, attachments and the action. Soon it will all blend together as the fascial web and learning how to read that will benefit you beyond basic regurgitation of the musculature.

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Permalink Reply by Joyce Young on August 22, 2013 at 2:15pm

My school used to 'poo poo' spas, but that's because most were working for chiros and it was their opinion that a spa massage was somehow more fluff. Honestly, it totally depends on how *you* work.

I used to tell clients the difference between the massage I did at a chiros office and the one in the spa was the fact the spa was decorated better!

Just because you end up at a spa, you don't have to view as a life sentence. Who knows maybe you might like working there or at least you can leave with some experience and maybe more skill when you leave.

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pyle on August 22, 2013 at 3:51pm

Thanks Joyce:

Massage Envy recruits heavily at our school. Some of the resorts around here (Phoenix) recruit from our school too. I agree that Spas can be good experience for the newbies. A good place to get your feet wet so to speak. 

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on August 25, 2013 at 12:04am

A spa is a very good place to get experience. I love working in a spa and Im an experienced professional therapist.  I work with a lot of beautiful good people. I have $4,000.00 electric tables that go up and down. And $50,000.00 water massage rooms to work in. A front desk staff that books appointments for me. Awesome people that do all the laundry fold the sheets and so on and work hard.  A cleaning crew. Marketing people and advertizing. The owners donate money back to the comunity.  And besides that. The tips are good, and I cant work in a chiropractic office or physical therapy clinic anymore, because I disrupt their treatment plans.  lol

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