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What Did You Do Before Massage?
I know, I'm nosey. I was a travel writer.
For six years, I got to travel to Bed & Breakfasts and get massages, all for free, and write about it. So my roots are in traveling, meeting people and hearing their stories. Now I travel around and do The World Massage Festival & Massage Therapy Hall of Fame.
I found the adjustment to a single location massage establishment, inside a strip mall, very confining. So I started a way to stay "in the massage world and travel!" But that is another story!
What's your story? What did you do before massage? Tell us of your travels and what massage is like where you are, especially if you massage outside the U.S. We really like pictures, if possible.
If you get bored come see me at my page http://www.massageprofessionals.com/profile/MikeHinkle
Thanks and welcome to Massage Professionals!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Great background Barbara! Looking forward to great discussions!
Barbara Nehman said:B.C. (before children), I was a research biologist working on the microscopic level of dis-ease. My 3 year old son led me to massage therapy after contracting Bells Palsy while the family was living in Ascunsion, Paraguay. When local doctors had nothing to offer the healing process, we followed a referral to a massage therapist from Canada who was working in Paraguay. I decided to take the course she was teaching to recruit workers for her successful clinic. I found that I much preferred working with people than with laboratory specimens. After that, the yellow brick road led me to M.T. certification back in the U.S., my first job in the Cooper Aerobic Center in Dallas, and to The Trager Approach (R) to mindbody integration which has been the hub of my wheel since 1982. Since then, I have become a tutor and Sr. practitioner for The Trager Institute. Reiki, reflexology, and physiosynthesis (core muscle strength and postural alignment) inform my work. The joy and awareness I feel in practicing The Trager Approach has influenced my other interests in life.
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Permalink Reply by Joanne Gigliotti on
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I was an IT professional and business administrator for about 7 years, and I worked in restaurants during previous college years. But in my heart, I always knew that the healing arts would ultimately complete my life and was my destiny! I was recently laid off from my job due to the economic downturn and it WAS my blessing in disguise! I am currently enrolled as a massage therapy student and will graduate in May of 2010.
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Permalink Reply by Nikki the LMT on
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Hi Agnes,
I noticed that you were an esthetician in your former career and actually thought of adding that to my resume as well. My question is, do you feel that you have more opportunities or more freedom in your practice by having that extra license?
My business caters to a lot of women at times, and thought that would be a great way to enhance their experience within my practice. My concern is that because I do not have a very large office and will in no way be able to compete with the larger spas, do you have nay suggestions?
Also, what is the extent of skin care as a massage therapist that we can legally do without being licensed?
Agnes Trama said:I currently work full time as a Victim's Advocate. I schedule my Massage Therapy on a part time basis. Before that, I was a Make-up Artist and Esthetician for Major cosmetic companies. Time marches on. I find it interesting to read about the different careers before massage.
Namaste, Agnes
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Joanne. we are here for you and all students. We are so glad you have decided to join the profession!
Joanne Gigliotti said:I was an IT professional and business administrator for about 7 years, and I worked in restaurants during previous college years. But in my heart, I always knew that the healing arts would ultimately complete my life and was my destiny! I was recently laid off from my job due to the economic downturn and it WAS my blessing in disguise! I am currently enrolled as a massage therapy student and will graduate in May of 2010.
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I am currently employed at at&t and plan on retiring from there April 15th after 30 years of service. I live in Topeka and work in Kansas City so I have a 65 mile commute every day, one way. I have been doing that for 10 years so I am ready to retire. I started getting chair massages every other week at work and really enjoyed them. That is what really got me to thinking about it as a career after I retire. I wanted to do something entirely different. I am glad I did and am looking forward to my new career.
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Wow, thirty years! Nice job! You will like this, even more. Glad you are here! Looking forward to many discussions.
Carmen A. Phelps said:I am currently employed at at&t and plan on retiring from there April 15th after 30 years of service. I live in Topeka and work in Kansas City so I have a 65 mile commute every day, one way. I have been doing that for 10 years so I am ready to retire. I started getting chair massages every other week at work and really enjoyed them. That is what really got me to thinking about it as a career after I retire. I wanted to do something entirely different. I am glad I did and am looking forward to my new career.
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Their loss is our gain. Glad you are here Melanie!
Melanie Bacuno said:Well, in 2004 i graduated with an MIS degree (Management Information Systems) then went to work in the IT department for a printing company. After 3 years I realized this field was not at all for me. I moved from Florida to Texas and got a job just doing more office administration type duties / bookkeeping, etc at an IT company while I figured out what my next transition would be. I decided to enroll in Massage Therapy school and am now doing Massage full time. I am much happier not being in an office setting and being able to help people relax and relieve their stress!
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Freddy, Grandmother knows best! Let us know how we can help you!
Freddy Redhawk Cabral said:"Before I was a Massage Therapist I was working as a Team Learder in Wendeys. I was still in High School I don't know what career too choose on. When the year pass I was a Senior in High School I remember my Grandma she us to be a Massage Therapist. In does moment I new what I want to do in my live."
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Permalink Reply by Alicia Dale, NCTMB on
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I started college with the idea of becoming an artist. I got my fine arts degree and surprise, I went to work for Boeing. I got laid off 3 years later. The really great part was that Boeing paid for me to get a second degree in commercial graphics. I gained employment from a massage therapy school doing advertising and office work. I was always interested in massage from a young age so I found my opportunity to learn more about it. For the next 5 years I had clients 3 days a week, taught classes, was receptionist, did advertising, etc. I got burned out at that point, decided I needed a break and went back to work at Boeing for about a year and a half. I had a fellow massage therapist that planned to move from the area. My thought was to get my business open as soon as possible. I opened two weeks after she left and have never looked back. I had to open in the worst economy but I knew if I was going to be successful I would have to be open before my friend's clientele found another therapist. I've been open just over a year and I know the best decision I ever made.
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Permalink Reply by Dora Gonzalez on
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Hi everyone!, well lets see..hmmmm...i had my own arts n crafts business that was always on the road for about 12 years, following the flea markets arts n craft shows in texas n Pow-wow..(yes native...Apache) did lots of leather work and moved to Arkansas where they DON"T have open air markets, so the craft business went into storage n gifts for birthdays christmas...you know..and went into odd jobs till i got tired of it all and got my lisense..so here i am...
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Toppers jacket.BMP, 900 KB
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You should pack up all that stuff in the warehouse and join us as a vendor at the Festival this year! Berea, KY is the Arts and Crafts Capitol of KY! See details at www.worldmassagefestival.com
Dora Gonzalez said:Hi everyone!, well lets see..hmmmm...i had my own arts n crafts business that was always on the road for about 12 years, following the flea markets arts n craft shows in texas n Pow-wow..(yes native...Apache) did lots of leather work and moved to Arkansas where they DON"T have open air markets, so the craft business went into storage n gifts for birthdays christmas...you know..and went into odd jobs till i got tired of it all and got my lisense..so here i am...
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Permalink Reply by Ray Holden on
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I work for a large Mortgage Title Insurance company. I've been here for over 5 years now. We are a sector of the real estate industry, so our work flucuates with the real estate market. At the end of 2008, we lost over half of our workforce due to layoffs, I was one of the fortunate ones that made it through. Since then office moral has been extremely low and a once lively and vibrant place to work is now strained and very negative. It's a very high stress and high demand job and really, I'm tired of dealing with it. I am a person that is leaned upon alot, so I have alot of responsility at work. I've been thinking about massage therapy for a while now; I started school back in July. So far, the experiences I have are irreplaceable! I never thought I would enjoy something so much and yearn to reach out to other people so they can experience it themselves. I would say my favorite thing so far is, when I'm finished giving someone a massage, the look of total relaxation on their faces and in their demeanor, and the extreme gratitude that they for what you've just shared with them. That alone is the best indicator that I've found what I'm supposed to be doing.
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