a community of practitioners

What did you do prior?

I know that there is a couple of these floating around on the main page, but I want to know about this group in particular!
Me? Corporate America. I can hear the horror music now. I really didn't "fit" there and it didn't take me too long to figure out why. We are a breed apart!
Just being nosey!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pat Ward on August 25, 2009 at 12:38pm

I worked in retail for a while, then worked in insurance...hated it. Then I did the wife and mom thing for a long time. When I realized my marriage was ending, I knew I wanted a career not just a job. I am not the 9 to 5 kind of gal! Started massage school at the urging of a very good friend who recently passed away. She was my first massage therapist and mentor, and I will always be grateful that she convinced me to go to massage school. It was the best decision I ever made. Now I love what I do and find it very fulfilling. I do want to start my own practice someday but all in good time. I can be very patient when I have to be.

Permalink Reply by Joan Cole on August 28, 2009 at 10:11am

I got a master's in accounting and ended up working in all areas of IT - technical support, systems analysis, business systems programming, and at the end project management. Then, just before the dot com crash, I had a baby. I had been burning out for years, so I took the opportunity of the crash to leave the field and was a stay at home mom. When my son went to kindergarten, I went to massage school. I've been working at a exercise and nutrition based wellness center ever since graduation. At this point, I specialize in treating pain complaints in tight integration with the medical exercise specialist.

Permalink Reply by Rosalinda Huck on September 5, 2009 at 7:19am

I am actually originally from CA, and prior to massage I got my B.S. degree in Therapeutic Recreation. I provided recreation programs and events for kids, teens, and adults with physical disabilities (including spinal cord injuries). I mainly worked in disabled sports, so I encountered lots of complaints about aches and pains, since our athletes relied heavily on upper body strength and endurance for both everyday mobility AND athletic training. That is what spurred me to pursue a career in massage and bodywork, which since then as evolved even further.

Permalink Reply by Barb Kilzer on September 6, 2009 at 4:26pm

Where is the wellness center that you work at? My vision is to bring a wellness center to south central IL and would like to check out some that are currently operating.

Joan Cole said:

I got a master's in accounting and ended up working in all areas of IT - technical support, systems analysis, business systems programming, and at the end project management. Then, just before the dot com crash, I had a baby. I had been burning out for years, so I took the opportunity of the crash to leave the field and was a stay at home mom. When my son went to kindergarten, I went to massage school. I've been working at a exercise and nutrition based wellness center ever since graduation. At this point, I specialize in treating pain complaints in tight integration with the medical exercise specialist.

Permalink Reply by Joan Cole on September 7, 2009 at 12:26pm

Champaign IL (www.studiohelix.net)

Permalink Reply by Barb Kilzer on September 10, 2009 at 12:37pm

Thanks. Maybe I can check it out sometime. Champaign isn't that far away from me.

Joan Cole said:

Champaign IL (www.studiohelix.net)

Permalink Reply by Julie Wuebbels on September 24, 2009 at 9:42am

I have worked in a factor making gutters, went to school for child care, worked as a CNA, worked in an office, and tried the military all the while in every job or place I worked I would wind up rubbing someones shoulders to make them fill good. Then I was looking for a change in pace again and found out that our local college was offering a certificate in massage so I went and I have loved the way I feel when I make a person feel better and that this job is a great accomplishment and a vital part in the health care field. I hope to some day own my own spa with a variety of different modalities to offer and to sell all natural products. Here's to the hope that the economy improves and grows. And I can find a place to put the business

Permalink Reply by Terry Craddock on September 24, 2009 at 3:40pm

I spent the last 20+ years working as a Paramedic and nurse. Iam semi retired from these fields... I do enough to keep my lic.'s mostly provide home health care. I operate my own clinic and am trying to build a special needs client list...( this provides the greatest personal satisfaction ). it is not a money maker...but I never got into the medical field to earn large amounts of money, in the first place.