Three long-term Massage Therapists offer pros, cons, and insights into this unique career, sharing their journey and advice for prospective massage therapists.
Celena Votel
Massage Therapist, Esthetician, Nail Technician
Where do you practice?
At the time of writing I’m in Sun Valley Idaho, but not for long! This winter I’ll be on an 8-month journey through the South Pacific.
I live a mobile lifestyle, working different resort locations 6-7 months per year, and the other 4-5 months I travel. Some of the places I’ve worked: Melbourne Florida, Bermuda, Saint Thomas US Virgin Islands, Santa Barbara California, Saratoga Wyoming, Miami Florida, San Juan Islands Washington State, Big Island Hawaii, North Cascade Washington State, Arizona and Onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships in Panama, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific.
How long have you been a massage therapist?
15 years.
Tell us about your work:
I tend to gravitate towards a flowing deep massage, which seems popular at resorts. I enjoy doing trigger point but only do it when a client asks for it. Studying Lomi Lomi (a Hawaiian massage method) early in my career taught me to utilize my forearms to save my hands. As a client, I love to receive NMT, Myofascial and Cranial-Sacral work. But since I work primarily in resorts, methods like “bamboo” “hot stone” and “swe-thai” are more beneficial for acquiring work opportunities.
How did you decide to become a massage therapist?
There was no exact moment when it all clicked for me, but I do have a vague memory of my sister paying me a quarter to massage her back when I was 8 and she was 11.
Massage was never presented to me as a long-term career. It was overshadowed by the traditional college degree route. But I’m so happy that I stuck with massage! It’s lucrative and has held strong through recessions.
Growing up in a small town I never thought I’d see the world. I thought travel was only for the “rich and famous.” It took me a while to put massage work and travel together in my mind. Through trial and error, I started to find my way, and create a life beyond my wildest dreams. I made a goal to visit all the continents before the age of 30 (accomplished). Now I want to visit 100 countries by age 40 (80ish and counting!). …All off of using my two hands to make people feel good!
My mobile lifestyle started in 2003 with a job in Bermuda. After learning how to get hired abroad, I came to the realization that I actually make bigger bucks working at resorts in the States. I can save more money that way, and then go traveling. The main key to this lifestyle is to be ever-moving, own minimal possessions, no pets, kids and few commitments. I’m super thrifty while I’m saving. I never eat/drink out, and barely spend money. But I have no problem blowing money while traveling. For me, the only negative about the way I’m living is not having a dog!
I did this all solo for 13 years. I met my husband 2.5 years ago, and it works for us because his career as a chef allows him to live mobile as well (It also works for us because we do happen to love each other). I truly think the hospitality field is one of the only careers which is stable and recession-proof. They also don’t care if you bounce around, especially if you stick to seasonal contract type jobs.
Pros of the business?
Working in my PJ’s all day is pretty great, and staying in a constant chill state of mind. When I get home after work, I don’t need to decompress. I’m 5 mph all the time!
Doing the seasonal route has given me uber flexibility to travel. I decide how long I am going to take off between jobs which is the hugest positive for me
Cons?
You have to work weekends and holidays (if you want to make the big money).
Keeping up with licensing in different states, and each CEUs.
Share a work-related story:
My funniest massage story happened while I was working on cruise ships. It was going to be a long and grueling day, so I took an herbal supplement we sold on-board for energy. I thought I took the one called “recharge,” only to realize that I’d actually taken a handful of “restful sleep!” I had to struggle to stay awake in a dark, quiet, lavender-scented room, and it was hell! On my very last client of the day, I was working on her neck while she was facing up, and I actually fell asleep. My head fell forward and we banged foreheads, causing us both to jump. I don’t know how I pulled this one out of thin air, but I told her I was doing an energy release chakra technique. She bought it and claimed it took her headache away. The moral of the story… fake it till you make it!
In your experience, what qualities are required to succeed in this work?
Most clients want to zone out, so you won’t always be able to interact. I absolutely cannot stand receiving a massage from a therapist who doesn’t allow tranquility. So you have to be able to be quiet all day.
I also think that height and girth will help with longevity in this career, and it’s good to be proactive with self-care (yoga, stretching, etc…).
What advice do you have for aspiring Massage Therapists?
Take all ego out of the equation, and don’t be too hard on yourself while you are still learning. Get lots of massages from different therapists, and if you really like something, ask them what they’re doing. Listen to your clients’ advice on where they need the work. Don’t take things personally! Don’t try to fix everyone, just shoot for making them feel good.
Ilyse Streim
LMT & CMLDT (Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist)
Where do you practice?
Boulder, CO
How long have you been a massage therapist?
32 years…oh my.
Tell us about your work:
- Integrative Massage Therapy: a blend of Swedish, Myofascial Release, Acupressure, Zero Balancing, Polarity, and Reflexology~in a blend of deep presence and love.
- Oncology Massage: for clients living with Cancer (includes both Eastern and Western approaches).
- Acupressure Point Therapy
- Foot Reflexology
- Heated Stone Therapy
- East Indian Oils to nourish internal organs and the immune system
- Reiki and Comfort Touch
- Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) for clients experiencing/or at risk of lymphedema
- Adapting the pressure level, positioning, and length of the massage so additional stress is not placed on the body.
How did you decide to become a Massage Therapist?
In 1984 a friend told me she was signing up for a massage program. To my surprise, my husband (at the time) offered to pay for me to attend as well. What a gift he gave me! All these years later I continue to have a thriving practice and fulfillment in my work.
Truthfully, when I did the initial training, I didn’t particularly enjoy it or feel called to the work. But I kept practicing until I felt comfortable charging a fee. As I gained confidence, I began to relax into the strokes and enjoy this art of touch.
For many years I did massage only part-time. I think that was key to my longevity. I didn’t pressure myself to build a full-time practice for many years, because I enjoyed the variety of other work I was doing. I continued to learn different styles of massage, from Rosen Method and Breema to Zero Balancing and Massage for trauma survivors. Eventually, I gave up other jobs and began a full-time practice.
About 20 years ago I began to volunteer massage services for people living with AIDS, and for a hospice agency. I loved seeing the ease and relief that gentle touch could bring people. I kept noticing edema and lymphedema in these clients and I wanted to understand how to work safely with this population. This is what lead me to pursue a lymphedema education. In my lymphedema massage certification course, I met several massage therapists who were training in oncology massage. At this point, things started to click, and my whole massage career finally made sense to me: This is the work I am meant to do! I completed a 3-year Oncology Massage program. Now I enjoy the variety of offering Integrative Massage, Lymphatic Massage, and Oncology Massage.
Pros of the business?
1.) I like waking up in the morning thinking “What am I doing today?” For me every day is different. Two days a week I work at the Center for Integrative Medicine, at a local hospital’s Cancer Center. Another two days per week I work at an acupuncture clinic. On the other days, I work at home in my cozy massage room, and occasionally I do home visits if someone is too ill to travel. I still volunteer for a local hospice and love gifting patients gentle touch and energy work. By working with such a diverse population, I continue to learn and grow.
I love the flexibility these decades of massage have offered me, creating my own schedule, and taking time off when I want. I’ve worked on cruise ships (with Heather!), massaging out on a deck overlooking the blue Caribbean waters, and have worked out of my home for many years. It’s so nice not to drive to work!
2. I still treasure the tranquility and movement of the work. I relish the peaceful quiet, the soothing music, and as an introvert, I love nourishing people without having to talk. It’s like meditating and dancing at the same time. I truly believe I have a healthier adrenal system than the typical stressed American. I also feel healthy because I have to take care of myself in order to do such physically demanding work. I exercise, do yoga, eat well, and rest when I need.
Cons?
1. Money! Self-employment is challenging. There are no health benefits, and no paid vacations. It’s been tough to put money away for retirement. Even in my job as an employee, (e.g. I now work for a local hospital), they do not recognize my value as a massage therapist with 30+ years of training and experience. I have a PRN (as needed) position, making a low wage, with no tips, no benefits and no raise in sight.
2. It’s physically demanding. I love moving and stretching as I work, but by the end of a very long day – I’m pooped, and my mid-back is giving me some grief as I age. Even with practicing good body mechanics, I can’t avoid leaning over a table many hours per week. How many massages can you do in a week, and still maintain a healthy body without burning out?
Share a work-related story:
Working with the ill, elderly, and dying is life-changing. I have grown so much in my capacity to be present with the difficulties of life, to be compassionate, and to have healthy boundaries. I have to consciously confront my fears of becoming ill and dying, and I’m grateful for that.
I like feeling useful in the world. Even the most stressed person, or ill cancer patient, get off the table with a gorgeous, soft smile. That is so rewarding!
In your experience, what qualities are required to succeed in this work?
You need to like yourself (or work on liking yourself) because you’ll be spending many, many hours in your own head. It’s an incredible opportunity, each minute of each massage, to be present with the moment, with your thoughts, and with the arm you’re massaging.
You need to like people and better yet, be curious about people. This sounds simplistic, but you’re going to be seeing all kinds of people in your practice. Some will be easy to be with, and some will be challenging as heck! If you have judgments toward your client, that’s OK, but be aware of your thoughts, own them as your own, and still find compassion for their journey. You have no idea what people have been through until you’ve “walked in their moccasins.” Some of my long-term clients have been the most challenging, but I’ve learned to love their vulnerable, wounded hearts, as well as my own judgments about them.
You need to be organized and professional because you’re working for yourself. Keep your client notes, bookkeeping, and taxes on track. Get liability insurance, and keep your license current. If you need help with marketing, you can go to a professional massage organization (e.g. ABMP: Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals) for assistance in web design, obtaining insurance, etc.
What advice do you have for aspiring Massage Therapists?
Do you know of the book, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz? One of the agreements is “Always Do Your Best.” In a sense, I built my practice on this agreement.
At the beginning of a massage, I can be nervous about all the usual: “Will the massage be good enough?” “Are their health issues too complicated for me?” “How will I stay on time?” etc. But, I just keep the intention of doing my best. That means being on time, having the room ready, warm, and inviting, listening carefully to my clients’ wants and needs, and staying as present as possible during the session. Simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment and regret.
Take excellent care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Have a grounding practice before each massage and a cleansing ritual after each massage, e.g. wash your hands, burn sage, drink water, lie on your own massage table and rest, and stretch.
Hang in there if you hit periods of burn out. Take time off, rest, receive a massage (to remember why you do massage!), learn a new type of bodywork, or find a way to work outside in warm weather. I’ve gone through several stages of burn out. Each time I was able to reinvent my purpose and practice, even if that meant getting a “real” job for a period of time, which always made me come running back to massage!
If you’re in Colorado, Ilyse can be reached at ilysestreim@gmail.com
Heather Davis
Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor, Esthetician
Where do you practice?
On ships, retreat centers, and private practice.
How long have you been a massage therapist?
27 years.
Tell us about your work:
I’ve studied numerous modalities over the years. At this point, they blend with intuition to create my own unique style. In spa settings, I offer Swedish massage with a focus on trigger points and joint release. In private practice, my work tends to be more energy-based. My clients and I work together as a team to release blockages and find more freedom.
How did you decide to become a massage therapist?
Growing up, I often massaged my family. My mother used to tell me that I should become a massage therapist.
All I wanted was to travel, so I considered becoming a travel agent until I realized that I’d mostly be sitting behind a desk. In my late teens, I was in an auto accident and received massage therapy as part of my recovery. I remember laying on the table thinking “Hmmm… I could take this anywhere!”
Within a year, I was enrolled in a massage certification course. Being highly intuitive, the trade came naturally to me. So I guess my mother was right.
Pros of the business?
1.) Massage work requires skill from the heart rather than the mind.
2.) Flexibility. This is not a 9-5 lifestyle, and we like it that way.
Cons?
1.) Most work environments are dark, quiet rooms. It’s relaxing and low stress. Yet, day after day and year after year, I can feel cloistered away and cut off from others and from the light.
2.) The work requires 100% attentive presence and selfless giving. You can’t check your text messages, go to the loo, or even blow your nose while working. Massage Therapists need more time off to recover from our work. It’s impossible to work 40 hours a week (and you’ll hurt yourself if you try), so you’re never going to get rich doing massage.
Share a work-related story:
A highlight for me was massaging on the deck of a huge clipper ship in the Mediterranean, with Sicily to the right us and the toe of mainland Italy to the left. That was a good day at the office!
In your experience, what qualities are required to succeed in this work?
You must authentically care about others to be any good at bodywork. It requires the ability to focus on another person for an entire session, and then do it again the next hour, and the next hour, and the next.
One time a client said to me “Oh, I forgot you were here.” …even though my hands were massaging her! You must be willing to give while being somewhat invisible. The worst kind of massage therapist is one who talks about themselves for the entire session.
It also helps to have a sturdy build. Petite body types can easily get repetitive injuries.
What advice do you have for aspiring Massage Therapists?
For the most part, clients and employers want a good Swedish massage with some deep tissue. So build those skills first as a foundation. Later, you can follow your interests and learn new skills and modalities.
The best way to improve is repetition. So even if you don’t make the greatest pay at first, I do recommend working somewhere which will keep you very busy. This will rapidly improve your skill and confidence level, then move to a higher paying job or build your own practice.