I have been doing some research on massage schools and stopped by two local schools and just walked in unannounced. I just wanted to see what kind of atmosphere there was and see what they were telling potential students. I asked for a catalog or whatever information they had on going to their school.
The materials that they gave me were pathetic. One was a hyped up marketing piece on really nice stock paper all put neatly in a impressive looking folder – but there was no real information. The other handed me a tri-fold brochure in an envelope with a business card.
Both suggested that I talk to someone in person. Neither had any real information to give out. I wonder if they are just trying to get people in to the school so they can do a sales pitch on people and tell them things like ‘they can make $70 per hour’.
I am starting to investigate massage schools to see just what it is that they are telling potential students and see what kind of students they are attracting. From what I hear in emails from students it is a nightmare. The schools just accept anyone – some without any post high school education or people being retrained from job injuries as construction workers. While I am not saying these people couldn’t one day be successful massage therapists but I would think their chances are less.
What kind of students massage schools are putting through massage school influences the profession. If students are not able to be successful and make it in this profession what exactly is going wrong? Is it that people are not being told the truth about what it will be like? Is it that the people going to massage school don’t really want to be there or aren’t as passionate about it? Is it that the massage schools just take anyone so that they can stay in business?
What do you want to know about massage schools and a career in massage?
If you are a massage therapist what do you want to tell others about setting up an running your own business or working as a massage therapist?
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I just started looking at massage schools. I am fortunate in that I am acquainted with a fellow parishoner who has an established practice and will be a great resource. What’s interesting is that I will be going attending two open house events in the coming week. School A is part of a chain (for lack of a better word) and their admissions reps are pretty aggressive (within 2 hours of filling out a request for information I received a phone call). Their program offers 750 hours of training. I will be touring their campus this week and attending an all day potential student workshop next week, too. Their website doesn’t include very much detail regarding the program of study, or tuition (though one can apply on line). School B’s website includes detailed descriptions of their curriculum, as well as tuition information. Preliminarily, I’m giving them bonus points for requiring an essay as part of the admissions process.
Thanks for everyones feedback…I write on here just what I am thinking at the moment and don’t even think that anyone is really reading since I don’t get many replies. I guess you have to say something that is controversial to get people riled enough to start speaking up and I am glad to see people doing that and voicing their opinions as I voice mine here.
“While I am not saying these people couldn’t one day be successful massage therapists but I would think their chances are less.”
I guess I should rephrase that and say that I do believe anyone can become a massage therapist and be a good massage therapist. I actually think that some of the best bodywork I have gotten was from unlicensed practitioners because they don’t have any perconceived notions of what they are supposed to or not supposed to do.
I think I put that in because I know of a few people who went to massage school just because they didn’t have much of a choice in their job retraining options. I also get many emails from kids doing papers for school on massage therapy careers and they just seem so young.
The thing I am trying to say is that massage schools seem to take anyone and is that just because they have to pay the bills and stay in business? I don’t really know but can ony surmise. I have just seen so many people come and go in this profession and the statistics from ABMP say that about 50,000 leave the profession each year, while there were about 60,000 new therapists.
What does it take to be a good AND successful massage therpist?
What do we need as far as education requirements?
How does one pick a good school for themselves and get the most out of the experience?
What are massage schools telling people about massage careers?
Stay tuned for the surveys at http://www.massagetherapycareers.com
“The schools just accept anyone – some without any post high school education or people being retrained from job injuries as construction workers. While I am not saying these people couldn’t one day be successful massage therapists but I would think their chances are less”
Some of the suggestion put forth in your articles are pretty lucid. Though the above assumption of people without a college education or being retrained as being less apt or competent at being skilled, talented and competent bodyworkers is quite off. Some of the best bodyworkers, true healers in the deepest spiritual as well as even physical sense have learned the core values and qualities of life, love and healing not in a text book or college classroom but through direct internal and life experience, wholehearted investigation, natural affinity, etc.. That comment you made even goes against what you were saying earlier
“If you get feedback from someone like a partner saying we need to face reality – what is reality exactly? There is no reality really- only people’s perspectives which are based on belieffs. Two people can look at the same thing and see different things. It is the old is the cup half empty or half full view of the world.
One of the ways to face the challenge of different perspectives is to say “thank you for your feedback†and continue on your way. Oprah had a show on yesterday on just this topic. There was a woman who is a songwriter who is the most successful songwriter of all time who was told by her mother at an early age that she should get a job as a secretary. Another guy loved making pottery and was told by his college teacher that he didn’t have any talent for it and couldn’t make a career out of pottery and of course today he is very successful.
Who is out there crushing your dreams with their perspective? “.
Healing comes from the heart, soul and ones innate being & focus. Not a college degree. Ive received bodywork from many highly educated people who have even multiple degrees and frankly, their quality of presence, touch and healing was sorely lacking. Too much in the head, not enough in the moment, the heart & simple organic life. TOo many times a focus on formal higher schooling can even beat the naturalness, connectivity and heartful attunement out of people with a left-brained overemphasis.
As a CMT, & Tai Chi, Wuji Qigong & Yiquan practitioner for nearly 20 years & instructor myself, with some college education though no degree as such, I can safely share from my experiences working with people and feedback from clients & other bodyworkers, healers,etc that a focus on being in the moment, embodied with a healing intention from ones heart & soul & empathy are the core elements in being a competent & worthwhile bodyworker & “healing catalyst”. Not left-brained, post high school college education or degrees.
I have trouble with your comments about massage schools just accepting anyone. I think this is a gross generalization and you owe it to the schools that hold high standards, conduct multiple, rigorous interviews, lots of financial aid counseling to be sure students understand and are able to keep on top of their loans, etc… to do more substantial research and state your “opinions” in a way that doesn’t lump all “massage schools” together. We all know that the levels of quality of education and commitment to excellence vary dramatically from school to school. I would love to see the results of said research, but ultimately it’s up to the potential student to do their own research and come to a decision that is most comfortable to them. It’s their investment in themselves, after all, not yours.
When there was a group thread griping about schools not preparing them for business. someone posted that Clover Park [a technical school] had given them all they needed. My son was attending that school so I stopped in to talk with the instructors. They rejoiced to hear that one of their graduates had spoke up for them. Such schools that are part of he state school system are well equipped and experienced in making sure high school students have the core competency to do business and offer 2 year associate degrees. Seattle Massage School when I attended was making a concerted effort to accommodate all types of learners by testing for learning style and personality types. The majority of my class was second career so we mentored the younger members. The business portion of the class work was complete for what I needed already having a business license I only needed to register some additional names.
If I had been an inexperienced young person I think classes in book keeping and business planing would have been important. Therefore choice between a School that prepares you for massage license verses a vocational school that prepares you for a career is one to be considered carfully based on your individual needs.
As someone who lives here in the UK, I am concerned here that there is no real standard of massage. The ITEC qualification really is not worth the paper it is written on. It simply depends on what they were taught at the massage school. I do not have an ITEC qualification, but feel I have been trained thoroughy and am told by my clients that I give the best massage they have had. My course was about 18 months, the first part every second weekend and the second part, every third weekend. Besides that we had to do work outside of the class and write it up. I received my diploma, feeling I had worked hard for it and was very capable as a massage therapist.
I look forward to your research, Julie and hope that it includes outside the US as well.
The only thing I object to in your writeup is that you seemed to question whether people without a high school education should be learning massage. From my experience, anyone can give good massage if taught well. As Barbara said, there is a potential Massage Therapist in all of us.
I wish you very best wishes in your research.
Love the idea of your research, yet torn by some of your comments. I believe there’s a potential massage therapist in everyone, but agree that some schools don’t always provide sufficient preparation.
The quality and success of a massage business is determined more by the quality of thought, action and response one puts into the business. Success is influenced more by our ability to learn and implement good business practices beyond the skill of massage, and how we market and deliver our services.
In my mind it’s less relevant what qualities, education, or circumstance bring a student to massage, and more relevant how honest and responsive a person and a school is to what’s required in the field.
Keep up the good work Julie . . . it’s much appreciated.
~ Barbara Calkins ~
rebelmassage@yahoo.om
http://www.massagemsoi.com