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Learning Massage Southfield Michigan

February 17, 2006

My name is Dave and I am a fifty eight year old male part-time massage therapist. It has been ten years since I attended Irene's Myomassology Institute in Southfield, MI. It was a 500-hour program lasting from May 1995 through April 1996 and the prepaid tuition fee was $2300 then. Among the four local massage programs available, I chose Irene's program partially because of travel convenience and cost but the friendly atmosphere and at that time the mysterious energy modalities offered in her electives made my decision easy. The wide variety of modalities offered was important; trigger point therapy, myofascial release, cranial sacral therapy, shiatsu,
nuat thai, therapeutic touch, etc.

Looking back, I would make the same decision; whether the other programs were more academic or had 700 or even 1000 hours that would have included more modalities, etc. is not important in the long run. Also if I remember there is information overload even for the introductory modalities covered in the almost yearlong training.

Massage training is a lifelong endeavour so whatever training you begin with is inconsequential. It is a training made possible by those special teachers you just happen to meet; by the annual continuing education classes you choose, by the periodicals, books, and internet articles you read; and most importantly by the clients you touch and by those who touch you. Ahhh�there is one more important type of training and that is life itself; age with all its experiences makes you a better therapist for others. Doing massage changes many aspects of your life; from not over-eating and over-drinking before a massage to experiencing through bodywork many scientifically unexplainable things that challenge your beliefs in our physical reality, the power of your pure intentions and perhaps even the divine.

I would not change anything in my initial training. Part of the 500-hour program was clinical hours working on people and that is definitely a must; the more people you work with the better. My technique was awkward perhaps for the first 100 massages or maybe 500 massages but the massage school's clinical massages are really important. Working on other therapists and getting massages from therapists with some verbal/written feedback was part of the massage school's program. There was a list of local therapist willing to have students give them massages and sometimes they would reciprocate; I understand this has change now. Actually, even today I would welcome this exchange but for whatever reason it doesn�t happen easily.

The realities of making a living from massage are tough. Females are greatly preferred over male therapists. Younger therapists are preferred over older therapists. Working for someone and not having complete control over the number of massages you perform during a week will take a toll on your body. A client paying for a massage creates a professional relationship governed by local laws and codes of ethic. If massage is the right career (part-time or full time) it will happen otherwise let it go.
Finally, there is a damn lot of laundry to wash.

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