More about if Massage is a profitable career

More about if Massage is a profitable career

I'm considering becoming a massage therapist, with acupressure training and eventually acupuncture. Since I was a teenager I've received a lot of positive feedback about my ability to empathize with others and I feel strongly about using that talent as part of my next career (I have been a stay at home mom for almost 9 years and it is time to head in a new direction, outside the house and family).

Ultimately I think healing touch can benefit the sickest among us. I know massage can improve lymphatic performance and help with cancer patients, and I know that it can also benefit people who just need to know someone cares. Ideally I'd like to have both pro-bono practice as well as supporting a MD or DO in their practice. How likely is this? Am I using rose colored glasses or is this possibly a good choice for me...and where do I start to really get to the nitty gritty about this field?

Thanks in advance for your support...

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More about if Massage is a profitable career

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Dec 21, 2007

a fellow former SAHM and now MT
by: Anonymous

As a former SAHM and before that well-paid IT person, I should say that I am making infinitely more money than I did as a SAHM (easy - given that they pay for that job is $0) and perhaps 1/3 what I did when I got paid $ for my work before that. I've been building my practice for 1 1/2 years now. Yes, I make a profit, because I make more than $0, but this is the wrong field to enter because you want to make money.

I would make far more money to update and go back to my old field. If that were my goal, I would certainly not do massage therapy.

I also see within the field, especially new entrants (as in, especially, newer than me!) a dramatic lack of reality. You have to be very well capitalized to survive the first few years as the money starts flowing at a very slow rate. If my husband did not make good money there is no way I could afford to do this job.

You have to be exceptionally careful to take care of yourself so that you don't blow out your wrists or your thumbs or your elbow or shoulder doing too many clients before you've built up the endurance and strengthened the sinews necessary, which is also a gradual process. You have to commit to spending the money to get professional self-care massages yourself on a regular basis. Or else, get ready to join the statistics of the huge drop-out rate within 5 years of becoming a MT.

Despite all that, it is a wonderfully rewarding career. Much like being a SAHM. Keep your expectation of rewards in that viewpoint and you will do fine.

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Dec 21, 2007
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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As a former SAHM and before that well-paid IT person, I should say that I am making infinitely more money than I did as a SAHM (easy - given that they pay for that job is $0) and perhaps 1/3 what I did when I got paid $ for my work before that. I've been building my practice for 1 1/2 years now. Yes, I make a profit, because I make more than $0, but this is the wrong field to enter because you want to make money. I would make far more money to update and go back to my old field. If that were my goal, I would certainly not do massage therapy. I also see within the field, especially new entrants (as in, especially, newer than me!) a dramatic lack of reality. You have to be very well capitalized to survive the first few years as the money starts flowing at a very slow rate. If my husband did not make good money there is no way I could afford to do this job. You have to be exceptionally careful to take care of yourself so that you don't blow out your wrists or your thumbs or your elbow or shoulder doing too many clients before you've built up the endurance and strengthened the sinews necessary, which is also a gradual process. You have to commit to spending the money to get professional self-care massages yourself on a regular basis. Or else, get ready to join the statistics of the huge drop-out rate within 5 years of becoming a MT. Despite all that, it is a wonderfully rewarding career. Much like being a SAHM. Keep your expectation of rewards in that viewpoint and you will do fine.

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Nov 20, 2007

free massages, medical massage
by: Anonymous

Basically you can do whatever you want in a career in massage. It is just like any other career where you get to make choices about how you work.

Many are working for doctors, hospitals, hospice places, dentists, physical therapist in many different ways.

If you really want to do pro-bono massage work you would be better off just organizing a group of massage therapists or setting up a free clinic and getting massage therapists to volunteer or raise money to fund it.

We really have to start thinking out of the box as they say. Setting up a place that does pro-bono work requires money and lots of it.

Julie

Nov 19, 2007

Pro Bono is Honorable
by: Sean Slovik

Pro Bono work is honorable, but concentrate on making money first. Making the money you need to support yourself is the tough part. Without it, you won't be able to live well enough to want to do Pro Bono work in the future (the easier part).

It may sound counter intuitive, but if you always charge something for your work, even the poor, you are actually doing your client a favor. You are empowering them to own their disease or illness, along with owning the therapy which may help them towards the road to recovery.

Those who recieve our care for free have nothing invested in it, therefore, don't seem to do what it takes to get to recovery as fast (if at all) than someone who's invested.

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