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Massage - Natural Talent or Taught Skill?

so i was reading a blog entry and it got me thinking....where does the core skill of massage come from? is it a natural gift we possess or is it something anyone can be taught and do well? (i can't help but relate it to photography...another of my passions) anyone can be taught to take a great photo...but only those with that natural eye for it can actually create a great photo.

here's the entry i read (hope you don't mind me posting it here Rudy):

As a teacher of massage and lomi lomi I have learned that for every 100 students I was teaching only 3 (at the most) will possess the natural abilities, passion and drive that make a good therapist an exceptionally and profoundly dynamic therapist. This is where I believe that schooling and national certification will always fail. You can train them and model for them all of the powerful attributes for success, they can pass the hardest test in the world, but they and they alone either get it or they don't. As someone who has travelled the globe learning and teaching massage in numerous cultures, I have been more impressed by some (natural talent) that had never spent a day in school. Their intuitive prowess allowed them to see into my tissues what all of the text books and tests couldn't.

thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Jason Day on October 18, 2009 at 10:45pm
I would say if you love something thats a sign that you should be doing it. Get training in it and then work like heck to perfect your craft.

Jason
Permalink Reply by TBone McGowian on October 21, 2009 at 3:03pm
I believe there are natural intuitive abilities that some people possess. I've taken classes before to learn a new modality of massage only to discover it's a technqiue I didn't learn, it just felt natural to perform it in that manner. I also agree that life experience also adds. I add my knowledge from herbal science, martial arts, counseling and my personal experience of being run over by a car

Even as a therapist, when I receive bodywork, I'm looking for someone with "the touch". I can't really explain it except to say, you know when you find it. It's not just one or two techniques but the whole package of who they are and what they contribute.
Permalink Reply by Sandie Baima on February 4, 2010 at 8:52pm
I ask myself this very question all the time! I believe people can be taught to give a really good massage but deep down that is the teacher in me that thinks I can teach anyone anything lol but I often wonder when I am giving a really good massage and I feel it to the core of me ( giving myself goose bumps) I wonder does everyone feel this passion, this fire, this desire in them like I do? So would have to answer 50/50 I think you can be taught the mechanics of just about anything but you can not be taught the natural passion for anything! So really I did not answer the question!!
Permalink Reply by JB Harding, III LMT A.A.S. on February 4, 2010 at 11:01pm
I have not been in the industry long, but I can tell you from what I have seen. I was an exceptional student; exceeding in all my courses, and got mad when I got a B grade. I was also told that I had a natural talent by my instructors and clients. Others in my program did not care too much to exceed, they wanted to just get through the program and make some money. I lived and breathe massage and made it evident in my studies outside of my course study. Other students didn't care for that. I'm saying this to state that skills and having a foundation can make any person a good therapist, but to be a great one, some intuition and connection with the work has to come into play even in medical based treatment. I can go put together a computer and such, but that doesn't make me a computer tech (if that makes sense).
Permalink Reply by JB Harding, III LMT A.A.S. on February 4, 2010 at 11:02pm
Now I agree with you fully on that.

TBone McGowian said:
I believe there are natural intuitive abilities that some people possess. I've taken classes before to learn a new modality of massage only to discover it's a technqiue I didn't learn, it just felt natural to perform it in that manner. I also agree that life experience also adds. I add my knowledge from herbal science, martial arts, counseling and my personal experience of being run over by a car

Even as a therapist, when I receive bodywork, I'm looking for someone with "the touch". I can't really explain it except to say, you know when you find it. It's not just one or two techniques but the whole package of who they are and what they contribute.
Permalink Reply by Lisa on February 7, 2010 at 11:35am
i remember one of my teachers and i talking about how there are so many older women in our profession because many have already been nurturing for the better part of their lives. it made sense to me.

Rick Britton said:
I think if you are going to become a MT you at least have to have some basic ability. And that goes beyond simple feel for the tissues.

For example:

In massage school, within the first two lessons, it was obvious that several members of the class had little or no spatial awareness, had no real coordination, balance or body awareness. When instructed to stand up straight, transfer weight from one foot to the other and so on they became lost and struggled. None of them made it through the first semester. A couple of others never learnt to moderate pressure throughout the course and receiving massage from them was unpleasant. I'd be surprised if any of them ever worked as an MT. Some of the recent high school grads had no idea how to study A&P and became frustrated and left. The course was very tough and only 4 graduated... and you could pretty much tell who they were going to be in the first week.
Permalink Reply by Travis Alligood on February 13, 2010 at 5:53pm
Yes,
I to remember coming home one day giving a back massage to my loved one, and being told HOW WELL IT FELT DURING AND AFTER the session and being told I needed to go get more educated about massage therapy it only took me 12 years for it to sink in, finally at age 47 I found a school I wanted to go to, went, studied hard, supported Starbucks and earned lots of coffee points and stayed up nights studing for finals and then that magic night happened. GRADUATION !!! Well I did well in school Studied hard went to graduation, to get my diploma, and all my classmates recieved theirs.........The administrator handed them all out except mine, I think my heart stopped when she told the friends and family that she had handed out all the diplomas, but not mine, OH NO what did I overlook ? The next thing I knew one of my classmates was going to front of class with a framed diploma, and started reading nice things that she and my classmates came up with and I almost broke down, because they were talking about me. I will never forget my classmates and I will always love them to death. My classmates handed me my diploma that night. Today I go to my Sacred Space and practice a talent that I have had all through the years but never had the gumption to make the career change. I say not only do you have a talent for it , your heart has to be there, at least that is the way I feel. The skill I learn is wonderful, my hands on experiences are,.........just cant describe it, only my clients can! Peace

Terry Capuano said:
Well I can speak as one of those older women that you find in any class as I was 41 when I started this profession. I was in the middle of a successful career, and looking back, I had spent my life nurturing others by listening, encouraging and helping when I could. But this was done in an office setting. But I was so bored. I was managing a physical therapy office and found myself studying/learning the results of hands on therapy. Out of curiosity and feeling that "I want to do something else itch" I took just a week-end class - the first time I put my hands down for that first effeurlage stroke - I can't really put words to it, but it felt so right and I felt so at home. I had a natural talent and never knew it. So back to office work. Then a 100 hour class - started working half massage/half office. Clients would ask me questions and I could only say "I don't know". So then a 500 hours class - I could certainly answer questions better. So full time massage therapist at that point. But I have continued for 14 years now to perfect this work. I keep studying, I keep taking continuing education. I have thousands of hours of training and hands on client work now and I can answer a lot of questions people ask - but sometimes I still say "I don't know" because really we can't know everything. The point of all of this - my little story - is even if you have a natural talent ( rather you know it or ) you need training. There is a science to this work. You need to know what is under your hands - not only what it feels like - but what is mechanically happening. The people with natural talent that go to school usually stay with this profession. Those without natural talent can learn and give massage - but they seem to drift off from the profession. The - core - it is within you. The -skill- you learn. My 2 cents on this.
Permalink Reply by lee kalpin on February 13, 2010 at 10:54pm
This is a great discussion. I taught for many years and graduated many students who are successful therapists. Some are more skilled in some ways than in others, but they all do good work, help their clients and are financially successful although they might not all qualify for your definition of an "exceptional and profoundly dynamic therapist" . There are degrees of competence and excellence, in our field as in any other. This includes the healthcare professions, the arts, and every endeavour you could think of.
As for national or state (or provincial) certification, their exams are designed to look for Competence and Safety. Government appointed boards exist to protect the public against therapists who do not have adequate knowledge and skills to treat the public with safety. They are not looking for greatness - just for competence. It is the clients who will be looking fo the best therapists they can find. And each client's needs and ideas of who their "best" therapist is will vary.
Permalink Reply by Emma F. Clites on March 14, 2010 at 10:58pm
you forgot the folks who just go to massage school in order to play pick up artist - I had at least 3 of those in my class

Jade Edwards said:
I haven't read the other postings ...so please forgive me if what I say is already mentioned! ;)

My personal view is that there are four (4) kinds of individuals who attend massage therapy school.

1- This individual attends massage school and wants to become a therapist...however, they are unable to absorb and regurgitate the AP portion of the course. This is the end of the line for this individual in regards to becoming a massage therapist. It also would be rare for this person to try again in the future.

2- This individual attends school, has the drive and mental fortitude to push forward through the lecture portions...but is unable to function during the hands-on training and has to drop out. This individual is more likely to try again in the future.

3- This individual attends school, has the drive and mental capacity to complete the lecture portions...but is able to master the hands-on techniques of massage. However, this person is unable to feel energy or work with it...energy is unknown to this student therapist.

4- This student therapist achieves all of what number three does...however this person is also able to 'feel' the clients energy and 'exchange' their waste and bad energy...with clean and renewed energy. This student-therapist functions like a sponge.

This is how I look at all the students who come through my school. You can almost tell immediately the first week of school.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my post! :)
Permalink Reply by Emma F. Clites on March 14, 2010 at 11:17pm
That's ok - I had the skill at a young age, I could have paid my way through college if I had known I could have charged folks for it. when I found out that massage was a real job, I left college and went 1000 miles away to study it. I was the best in my class, teachers told me I gave the best massage they ever recieved, but I took it all for granted at the time. I was too young to realize the healing gift in my hands. Over time, I grew up, worked in hospice (which really helped me recognize how important it is to step back and allow God to do his work - I am just an instrument in his hands) when I first graduated, I said "I can fix that" Now I keep my mouth shut about what I can do, and I allow God to do what he will. That god given ability is impressive, the education is key, but when you can utilize it all while trusting that either way all will be well, that is when you can see amazing things happen.

Travis Alligood said:
Yes,
I to remember coming home one day giving a back massage to my loved one, and being told HOW WELL IT FELT DURING AND AFTER the session and being told I needed to go get more educated about massage therapy it only took me 12 years for it to sink in, finally at age 47 I found a school I wanted to go to, went, studied hard, supported Starbucks and earned lots of coffee points and stayed up nights studing for finals and then that magic night happened. GRADUATION !!! Well I did well in school Studied hard went to graduation, to get my diploma, and all my classmates recieved theirs.........The administrator handed them all out except mine, I think my heart stopped when she told the friends and family that she had handed out all the diplomas, but not mine, OH NO what did I overlook ? The next thing I knew one of my classmates was going to front of class with a framed diploma, and started reading nice things that she and my classmates came up with and I almost broke down, because they were talking about me. I will never forget my classmates and I will always love them to death. My classmates handed me my diploma that night. Today I go to my Sacred Space and practice a talent that I have had all through the years but never had the gumption to make the career change. I say not only do you have a talent for it , your heart has to be there, at least that is the way I feel. The skill I learn is wonderful, my hands on experiences are,.........just cant describe it, only my clients can! Peace

Terry Capuano said:
Well I can speak as one of those older women that you find in any class as I was 41 when I started this profession. I was in the middle of a successful career, and looking back, I had spent my life nurturing others by listening, encouraging and helping when I could. But this was done in an office setting. But I was so bored. I was managing a physical therapy office and found myself studying/learning the results of hands on therapy. Out of curiosity and feeling that "I want to do something else itch" I took just a week-end class - the first time I put my hands down for that first effeurlage stroke - I can't really put words to it, but it felt so right and I felt so at home. I had a natural talent and never knew it. So back to office work. Then a 100 hour class - started working half massage/half office. Clients would ask me questions and I could only say "I don't know". So then a 500 hours class - I could certainly answer questions better. So full time massage therapist at that point. But I have continued for 14 years now to perfect this work. I keep studying, I keep taking continuing education. I have thousands of hours of training and hands on client work now and I can answer a lot of questions people ask - but sometimes I still say "I don't know" because really we can't know everything. The point of all of this - my little story - is even if you have a natural talent ( rather you know it or ) you need training. There is a science to this work. You need to know what is under your hands - not only what it feels like - but what is mechanically happening. The people with natural talent that go to school usually stay with this profession. Those without natural talent can learn and give massage - but they seem to drift off from the profession. The - core - it is within you. The -skill- you learn. My 2 cents on this.
Permalink Reply by Kamal Patel on January 21, 2014 at 2:57pm

Hi,

I have helped so many people at this point that I can say without ego that I actually possess a very powerful and intuitive knowledge that I have learned through breathing, believing, and healing my self, it's been yogic in a way.  It has been a spiritual journey more than anything else and as I grow, I have found I am intuitively able to feel vibes, it is an unexplainable feeling and I have not found anyone in person who does what I do, it would be interesting to see what a field expert thinks.  I do believe that within each of us is a knowledge that can help us heal ourselves and as a result have the ability to heal others.  So while a formal education is in a way a must to not be ignorant and to protect one from liability, in my opinion intuition is a must because the body is so delicate and being able to recognize those points in an individual can be monumental in helping them help their own progress.  

I think if the intention is there with a pure heart and mind, the universe will give the answers, so if the student is learning through formal education, that path can also trigger a spiritual awaking in a person to make them gain the intuition, unlocking their natural talent.

 

Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on January 22, 2014 at 12:52am

I think the word Passion is important when it comes to excelling at anything.  That and time. 

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