20 years as a Massage Therapist

20 years as a Massage Therapist

by Julie Onofrio
(Seattle WA)

I decided to go to massage school after working for 12 years in the photography profession where everyone needed everything yesterday and the owner was off sailing around the world in his custom hand made sailboat.

I had only had one professional massage at that time and read about going to massage school on the back of a local weekly newspaper. It said I could learn about health and related things. I had just started becoming interested in eating healthy and exercising more. I was about 30 at the time. Within two weeks I was in massage school after talking to a few people who were massage therapists.

I started my business the day I got my massage license in the mail and started renting office space in a health club with a friend of mine from massage school. I worked 3 or 4 days a week I think it was. When I didn't have appointments, I went in anyways and sat at the front desk where gym members came in and just talked to people about their exercise programs. Most of my clients became repeat clients. I have always had clients who come once a week religiously for massage. I even have had 2 guys who come in 2x a week for over 15 years (yes and pay cash - not insurance).
I moved out of the club because I was paying the club a percentage of my income and I had started making too much. I went and found an office with a MD a block away and then a year later moved in with an acupuncturist. I then later moved into another office with a group of massage therapist all a block or two in the same area n Downtown Seattle.
I have to admit, I always made ends meet, but I also lived very simply and didn't need much- or so I told myself to believe.
In 1999 when I started my first website, I was burned out and looking for other options. Working long days had taken it's toll. I didn't really start making money with website until a few years later. It was just enough to keep me going in my massage business and going online. I now work doing massage 2 days a week and spend 3 days writing for my websites about massage and teaching massage therapists that it can be a different way.

Julie Onofrio
www.mssagetherapycareers.com
www.thebodyworker.com
www.massagepracticebuilder.com

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20 years as a Massage Therapist

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May 19, 2008

Julie is still the queen of MT!
by: Anonymous

Julie, thanks for all your effort & wisdom in helping others in this profession. Not everyone will make it, but for those that do, & I'm sure most will in some way, it is such a rewarding career choice.
For the previous poster from Colorado, I wish you well. You will go into another field, but the skills you have as an MT will help your own family. It's the type of training that won't go to waste, even if you don't make any money on it.

I also live in an area where the market is getting saturated, so I see the reality of your struggle.
However, we can hope that the public will trade in their daily Starbucks for a monthly massage!
Mrs "T"

Mar 28, 2008

Another dissatisfied therapist
by: Colorado

I have to agree with Sean's reply that it's a bit scary, but also a bit depressing. I've been in this field for 8 years now and have struggled the entire time. I have always had to have another means of income, which then fragments you from focusing and building your business, as you are now walking in two (or three) worlds. Not only are massage schools "diploma mills" contstantly flooding the already saturated market, but now we have the undercutting of the membership franchises such as Massage Envy hurting the industry.
New graduates frequently undercut their peers by offering an hour massage for $39 in order to build their new businesses. We all suffer with this type of sabotage, even the new grad.
I don't mean to sound so negative, as our thoughts become reality, right? Reality is also reality.
I honestly have never known of any massage therapist that is single, let alone being a single parent and making a living doing only massage. 95% of the therapists I know have significant others bringing in a biweekly, steady paycheck from a J.O.B. and can float them while they build a clientele over the course of 2-4 years. I have never had that luxury.
It truly is frustrating for those of us in the natural health field wanting to do our Life's Purpose and can't afford to do so.
I have pursued other studies, and am certified in numerous other natural health modalities to add to my "tool box" in order to hopefully add other means of income. It still hasn't been enough, even though I live very simply. I am a single parent with a now graduating high schooler and she, unfortunately, has suffered over the years due to the lack of finances from my chosen career. Working long, late hours so I wouldn't lose a client was an all-too frequent occurance.
What I also find most frustrating is that now this profession is accepted by the medical community and by insurance, yet the public still expects us to work "unprofessional" hours. People will not take off work to come see you as they do every other type of therapist. Why is it we are still accomodating night hours?

I will be leaving the field of massage pursuing other avenues, as I'm tired of trying to make it work.

I wish only the best for all you new therapists and those to follow, but this ol gal is tired of it!

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Mar 28, 2008
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Submitted by: Colorado

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I have to agree with Sean's reply that it's a bit scary, but also a bit depressing. I've been in this field for 8 years now and have struggled the entire time. I have always had to have another means of income, which then fragments you from focusing and building your business, as you are now walking in two (or three) worlds. Not only are massage schools "diploma mills" contstantly flooding the already saturated market, but now we have the undercutting of the membership franchises such as Massage Envy hurting the industry. New graduates frequently undercut their peers by offering an hour massage for $39 in order to build their new businesses. We all suffer with this type of sabotage, even the new grad. I don't mean to sound so negative, as our thoughts become reality, right? Reality is also reality. I honestly have never known of any massage therapist that is single, let alone being a single parent and making a living doing only massage. 95% of the therapists I know have significant others bringing in a biweekly, steady paycheck from a J.O.B. and can float them while they build a clientele over the course of 2-4 years. I have never had that luxury. It truly is frustrating for those of us in the natural health field wanting to do our Life's Purpose and can't afford to do so. I have pursued other studies, and am certified in numerous other natural health modalities to add to my "tool box" in order to hopefully add other means of income. It still hasn't been enough, even though I live very simply. I am a single parent with a now graduating high schooler and she, unfortunately, has suffered over the years due to the lack of finances from my chosen career. Working long, late hours so I wouldn't lose a client was an all-too frequent occurance. What I also find most frustrating is that now this profession is accepted by the medical community and by insurance, yet the public still expects us to work "unprofessional" hours. People will not take off work to come see you as they do every other type of therapist. Why is it we are still accomodating night hours? I will be leaving the field of massage pursuing other avenues, as I'm tired of trying to make it work. I wish only the best for all you new therapists and those to follow, but this ol gal is tired of it!

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Mar 02, 2008

A Bit Scary
by: Sean

I do find it a bit scary that you are the only one to write in a success story, Julie, to this request. Luckily Hans gave a a good comment to this post.

Either there are not too many success stories out there, or therapists just don't want to share their stories of success and how they did it.

Hopefully, it's not because they are too lazy to write even a brief brag about their claim to fame.

Dec 10, 2007

13 Years alternate course
by: Hans Albert Quistorff, LMP

I had 35 years of sole proprietor business providing janitorial and property maintenance. My body was giving out therefore I needed an alternative career. While laying in be nursing my aching back I heard the add for local massage school and it seemed a logical possibility. At the time I was renting from my chiropractor and doing maintenance for him so I knew he would be supportive. I also knew from experience of being instructed over the years by family chiropractors and caring for family and farm animals that I had the intuition. Checking it out I was qualified for a student grant and loan therefore could afford it. Having a business license and experience it was simply a matter of registering two new business names and start transitioning as I graduated and got my state license.
The chiropractor referred a few clients. But the real opportunity came when the doctor associated in his business gave notice. The doctor had observed my assessment skill and offered to pay for training as chiropractic x-ray technician. I worked for him as an employee with a varied day 32 hours per week.
It was a health friendly situation. My time was as needed divided between doing re-exams, massage therapy, taking x-ray views, measuring and transcribing the x-ray profile and writing reports for insurance billing. With such verity I seldom felt burned out and if I did a chiropractic adjustment was only a few steps away and part of my compensation for my whole family.
I steadily built a clientèle for my private mobile business over the years so that now that I am collecting a small amount of social security I average about 3 clients a day and only work for the doctor two or three hours per week transcribing x-ray profiles as an independent contractor but with chiropractic care and use of room space when it is not scheduled. The doctors office is thirty miles from my current home and allows me to see clients another 30 miles further away that have been referred to me because of my specialty.
Currently I am competing for an SBI site that Julie has offered. Check it out at:
http://www.massagetherapycareers.com/magnetic-pain-relief-how-to-do-it.html
Hans Albert Quistorff, LMP
Antalgic Posture Pain Specialist

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Dec 10, 2007
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Submitted by: Hans Albert Quistorff, LMP

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I had 35 years of sole proprietor business providing janitorial and property maintenance. My body was giving out therefore I needed an alternative career. While laying in be nursing my aching back I heard the add for local massage school and it seemed a logical possibility. At the time I was renting from my chiropractor and doing maintenance for him so I knew he would be supportive. I also knew from experience of being instructed over the years by family chiropractors and caring for family and farm animals that I had the intuition. Checking it out I was qualified for a student grant and loan therefore could afford it. Having a business license and experience it was simply a matter of registering two new business names and start transitioning as I graduated and got my state license. The chiropractor referred a few clients. But the real opportunity came when the doctor associated in his business gave notice. The doctor had observed my assessment skill and offered to pay for training as chiropractic x-ray technician. I worked for him as an employee with a varied day 32 hours per week. It was a health friendly situation. My time was as needed divided between doing re-exams, massage therapy, taking x-ray views, measuring and transcribing the x-ray profile and writing reports for insurance billing. With such verity I seldom felt burned out and if I did a chiropractic adjustment was only a few steps away and part of my compensation for my whole family. I steadily built a clientèle for my private mobile business over the years so that now that I am collecting a small amount of social security I average about 3 clients a day and only work for the doctor two or three hours per week transcribing x-ray profiles as an independent contractor but with chiropractic care and use of room space when it is not scheduled. The doctors office is thirty miles from my current home and allows me to see clients another 30 miles further away that have been referred to me because of my specialty. Currently I am competing for an SBI site that Julie has offered. Check it out at: http://www.massagetherapycareers.com/magnetic-pain-relief-how-to-do-it.html Hans Albert Quistorff, LMP Antalgic Posture Pain Specialist

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20 years as a Massage Therapist

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20 years as a Massage Therapist