Is becoming a massage therapist a bad career choice?!
Question:
Is becoming a massage therapist a bad career choice?
ive heard many bad things about it. mostly that the job doesnt last long because you get carpel tunnel fast. can someone tell me some more pros and cons about it.
Answers:
I have been a MT for 27 years and I love it! But not everyone should be one. Good canidates are born with an intuitive touch. And there are at least two big problems I see with anyone going to school for this.
Schools lead you to believe that if you come to their school for sometimes just a few months you will graduate making big bucks. The kind of per hour amount that a four year degreed person might make. Wrong! Count your education as this- your feshman year you go to school and get trained. The next three years of working are your three next college years and by the end of this you are a well trained MT with a business. Never start out self employed .
Get a job at the busiest beauty salon or health food store whichever you line you prefer. If the business has an interest in getting you customers you will get more. And look for one with a fair split of the money. I personally charge the MTs $10 per working hour table rent and they keep the rest. And realize that you have alot to learn from your employer as well.
In school do not fall for the buy the best most expensive products. Such as tables, chair massage set up and such. Some of the best lightweight ones are not expensive.
Now about your original question- if they teach you in a way that hurts your hands and wrist they are teaching you wrong. Massage done right will not hurt your hands. This is something I can show better than describe but your hands should rest flat on the skin, not be elevated at the wrist. Deep work can be done with MUCH less pressure using the fists or elbows. After all this time I have no problems with my hands. And as to my work day- I easily do 6-7 hours of massage per day 3 days a week and 4-5 hours in another location 2 days per week.
I am a second generation therapist. my Mom worked to well in her 70s doing eight session per day five days a week. It is a great career if you love it.