Massaging Away One's Boundaries
If money did not matter, and you could do anything you wanted to, what would it be?
That is the type of question I began asking myself 5 years ago. I was in an engineering job that paid a decent salary with good benefits, yet I felt like something was missing. For a year I thought all the time, wondering what I really wanted to do with my life. I made lists and read books and talked to people about their jobs and asked them if they enjoyed what they did.
During this introspective time in my life, I was studying martial arts. I never imagined I would be doing karate kicks and punches and taking down large men but there I was. I admit I enjoyed it immensely. Rather than feeling like a gerbil spinning on a wheel in my exercise class, I was learning techniques and combinations and learning to use the power in my body in ways I never imagined. Then an acupuncturist joined the class. I was being goofy one day and told him that I hope I hurt myself so I would have an excuse to try acupuncture.
Inevitably, I hurt my shoulder. The family doctor put me on medication and told me to stop doing karate. After taking a short break from karate, lying on the couch completely spaced out on muscle relaxants, I decided to give the acupuncturist a call. What did I have to lose?
I was nervous but they say acupuncture needles are only the thickness of a human hair. I went for my first appointment and I loved it. He put the needles in, put on soothing music, and I felt very deeply relaxed. After the treatments he did some massage to complement the treatment. It was extremely effective for me and I started to become very interested in massage. I had never experienced massage therapy so I asked him if he could give me a treatment so I could see what it was like. He said he knew a Korean style of massage so I figured I would give that a try.
I always imagined a massage as the most relaxing thing in the world, as if I was lying down on a warm beach on a beautiful sunny day with some new age music playing in the background. I was going to love it. I was so excited. And then the massage began. He started pressing pressure points. I was sweating profusely and only 5 minutes had gone by. When was this going to be over? He finally had me sit up and he simultaneously pressed pressure points in the web of skin next to my thumbs. He finally had to say, "Breathe, Janet. Breathe!" Boy, this was lasting a long time. I took some deep breaths and continued to sweat. Finally, thank god, it was over. My whole body now felt like a giant rubber band and I could barely do anything. I had to go home and rest for several hours.
Needless to say, my experience did not match my expectations. However, I did feel much better afterwards and I was still quite curious about different styles of massage. So I went to a therapist in town who practiced Swedish massage.
Now that was more my style. The scent of lavender in the air, soft music, and pictures of angels around me while getting my skin rubbed with warm oil. That was the life. The feeling I was looking for. Then as I spoke to more people I began to try different types of bodywork. In addition to the acupuncture and Swedish massage I tried craniosacral therapy, shiatsu, zero balancing, and reiki. I was open and willing to try whatever type of bodywork was available to me. My husband started to refer to me as a bodywork junkie. He was right. I heard that a massage school in the area offered workshops so I decided to go to one and see if it was something I would like to do.
I went to a 2-day workshop to learn some basics of massage. It was meant for people interested in going to massage school or people who wanted to share it informally for friends and family. I immediately felt at home being on the giving side of the table and enjoyed sharing the experience with others. I felt this was something I really wanted to do and was anxious to sign up.
The school where I took the workshop only offered full time programs, but I could not afford to quit my day job. I wondered what my other options were and if I could really make it work.
I went to the bookstore and found a book about massage as a career. Every state is unique in their requirements. The state I was in required a 1000-hour program including clinic work and a license exam. In the back there was a directory of schools by state and I found there was another school located an hour away from me. I called the next day and discovered they had a part time program available starting in the fall. I would have to go to school between 2-4 nights per week and some Saturdays, traveling an hour each way. After completing a portion of the program I would have to work in the school clinic and do 40 massages before I could graduate. It seemed like a lot to take on, but I was determined. I applied and got accepted into the fall program. I kept my day job and went to school part time for two years.
It was a lot of work and a lot of driving but I have no regrets. I had the time of my life. The program included classes such as basic anatomy & physiology, myology (the study of muscles), and lectures on other topics including ethics, aromatherapy, and starting your own business. The hands on training included classes in swedish massage, shiatsu, medical massage, sports massage, and energy work. One of the benefits of practicing the massage in school is that you receive the treatments as much as you give them. Where else can you go to class and get a back rub...a foot rub...a neck rub...I had a blast. The toxins were getting flushed out of my muscles and my mind. I was looking at the human body and people in general in a whole new way. I started feeling very connected with life and with people in a way that I had never felt before. It was satisfying to me on a very deep level. Even my day job seemed better than it was before! Massage definitely has a way of changing one's perspective.
I went through the entire program and became a Licensed Massage Therapist. To complement the massage training I attended several training courses through the Upledger Institute including craniosacral therapy and zero balancing. I have been working at it part time for three years now, in addition to keeping my engineering job. Going to massage school filled in a missing piece of the puzzle for me and has helped me grow and change, allowing me to become more open and relaxed in many aspects of my life. To see clients walk in stressed out and tense then leave relaxed and happy is a very worthwhile experience. I've maintained a small but loyal client base and have witnessed first hand the ability of massage to change people's lives, including my own.
I enjoy being a therapist part time for now but only time will tell what the next step for me will be. In the meantime, massage continues to be a rewarding experience that I love and believe in.
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Janet lives in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York with her husband and 10 month old son. She was born and raised in New Hampshire. Besides working as an engineer and as a massage therapist, Janet enjoys family and friends and has explored other interests such as camping, canoeing, and the martial arts.