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What Did You Do Before Massage?
I know, I'm nosey. I was a travel writer.
For six years, I got to travel to Bed & Breakfasts and get massages, all for free, and write about it. So my roots are in traveling, meeting people and hearing their stories. Now I travel around and do The World Massage Festival & Massage Therapy Hall of Fame.
I found the adjustment to a single location massage establishment, inside a strip mall, very confining. So I started a way to stay "in the massage world and travel!" But that is another story!
What's your story? What did you do before massage? Tell us of your travels and what massage is like where you are, especially if you massage outside the U.S. We really like pictures, if possible.
If you get bored come see me at my page http://www.massageprofessionals.com/profile/MikeHinkle
Thanks and welcome to Massage Professionals!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on -
Glad to have you with us Kris!
Kris Stecker said:I suffered before massage.
No kidding, I always gave massage from a young age but I really did suffer from stress before getting massage. I was a mechanic (race cars and then bicycles) and then went on to be a software engineer at Lotus. I started receiving massage for sciatica and back injuries and was a runner as well. But it was Polarity that converted me to a practitioner. The power of my first session and the continual transformation that occured with each session was incredible to me. It was so fascinating that I became a practitioner and teacher. Now I run Spa Tech Institute http://spatech.edu so I'm back to the computers, driving and meetings. However, it's something I believe in with my whole heart and I still work on my wife all the time so I'm still connected with the work. When I get old and retire I will probably go back to doing sessions part-time. It's a gift.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Hi Donna, do you suffer any grief from your fellow officer's or from the therapist's side?
Donna Briggs said:I have been and still am a police officer. Currently in school with the plan of being on my feet as an LMT when I can retire in 3.5 years. Came into law enforcement for all the right reasons, hoping to leave for all the right reasons too! Love my time at school and in clinic, giving massage is the most relaxing thing I've ever done, and I get to feel like I really am making a difference for someone! Can't wait to get out on my own, hope to do injury rehab and working with Veterans.
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Permalink Reply by Spencer Manning on -
I am the sales manager for a small diesel engine repair company. I have worked with this company for 5 years and had a few similar jobs prior. I have only been licensed for a few weeks now and am working part time at a great massage clinic. Hopefully, if all goes accordingly, I'll be able to make the change to full time massage therapist.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Glad you made the change!
Jaya Jeff Sims said:before i came into soft tissue, i was in software... get it?
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Well Spencer, we are here to help, so holler if you need us!
Spencer Manning said:I am the sales manager for a small diesel engine repair company. I have worked with this company for 5 years and had a few similar jobs prior. I have only been licensed for a few weeks now and am working part time at a great massage clinic. Hopefully, if all goes accordingly, I'll be able to make the change to full time massage therapist.
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Permalink Reply by Choice Kinchen on -
I was a letter carrier for 22 years. I was diagnosed with lupus and scleroderma (it's bad cousin) in 1983. By 2000, my body had had enough of the grueling work in the elements....I live where there is a lot of snow in the winter...and I suffered a heart attack. My docs and I decided that I was done with the post office. I was always the person in the post office that people came up to and asked for shoulder and neck massages. So, in deciding on a new career, and at age 44 went to massage school. Might as well get paid for something I enjoyed doing, right? Have not regretted it. Even though I still have had health "issues" (chemo 3 times for example) and have been hit by a car while cycling (twice) which left me with a rebuilt left arm, life is better because I have the good fortune to work...no,play might be a better word...in a profession where I get no complaints, except for when a session has to end. I am healthier as a result of not having to answer to a time clock or an alarm clock. I miss less time now due to illness because my stress level is way low. And my wife is happy cause she gets a foot massage almost every nite.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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What a deal! Hope life continues to improve for you, Choice! If you need help with anything, just holler!~
Choice Kinchen said:I was a letter carrier for 22 years. I was diagnosed with lupus and scleroderma (it's bad cousin) in 1983. By 2000, my body had had enough of the grueling work in the elements....I live where there is a lot of snow in the winter...and I suffered a heart attack. My docs and I decided that I was done with the post office. I was always the person in the post office that people came up to and asked for shoulder and neck massages. So, in deciding on a new career, and at age 44 went to massage school. Might as well get paid for something I enjoyed doing, right? Have not regretted it. Even though I still have had health "issues" (chemo 3 times for example) and have been hit by a car while cycling (twice) which left me with a rebuilt left arm, life is better because I have the good fortune to work...no,play might be a better word...in a profession where I get no complaints, except for when a session has to end. I am healthier as a result of not having to answer to a time clock or an alarm clock. I miss less time now due to illness because my stress level is way low. And my wife is happy cause she gets a foot massage almost every nite.
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Permalink Reply by TBone McGowian on -
Oh, I'm envious of the Bed and Breakfast. I really enjoy them. I worked for Microsoft for 8 years (group assistant, executive assistant, project coordinator, project manager) then Amazon.com for a couple of years. Started my practice part-time while working corporate. Then I was run over by car as a pedestrian and survived when I should have been dead. With all the recovery and pain I used the knowledge learned from my herbal science degree, massage to recup. Now I'm working the practice. I still want to do the traveling B&B.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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We did around 250 B&B's. It really was fun. You can see some of the reviews at http://www.awindingroad.net Welcome to the group and I'm glad you are with us!
TBone McGowian said:Oh, I'm envious of the Bed and Breakfast. I really enjoy them. I worked for Microsoft for 8 years (group assistant, executive assistant, project coordinator, project manager) then Amazon.com for a couple of years. Started my practice part-time while working corporate. Then I was run over by car as a pedestrian and survived when I should have been dead. With all the recovery and pain I used the knowledge learned from my herbal science degree, massage to recup. Now I'm working the practice. I still want to do the traveling B&B.
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Permalink Reply by Charles D. Stone, LMT on -
Before going to school at NY Institute of Massage, I moved from Pennsylvania. I was a stockclerk/key carrier-Nights, had all the respondsibilities of an assistant manager (without the benefits) in the grocery business. I was working for a inventory auditing company and as a janitor at a high school after moving. After starting school kept the janitor job, then worked in retail, entertainment, and fast food jobs while going to school. After graduating I have been working for temporary staffing agencies and currently looking to work with another LMT, Chiropractor, or Spa.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Well Charles, you were lucky to go to such a great school! Hope you can go full time massage soon! Welcome!
Charles D. Stone, LMT said:Before going to school at NY Institute of Massage, I moved from Pennsylvania. I was a stockclerk/key carrier-Nights, had all the respondsibilities of an assistant manager (without the benefits) in the grocery business. I was working for a inventory auditing company and as a janitor at a high school after moving. After starting school kept the janitor job, then worked in retail, entertainment, and fast food jobs while going to school. After graduating I have been working for temporary staffing agencies and currently looking to work with another LMT, Chiropractor, or Spa.
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