Helen Begeske's Page

Hi Helen!

Would you please participate in the massage survey and tell your colleagues? Thanks!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=OhBtGlEETUWwi9h5olkCGQ_3d_3d

Please help me compile this information. I'd like more than a 1,000 if possible. Sure it is!
Your participation is MOST appreciated.
Remember you do not have to answer all the questions and Page 2 is "optional". Page two is for those employed only, NOT Self Employed!The survey company automatically includes Page 2 and I was unable to edit or delete. SO it IS OPTIONAL!
Pass it on to your colleagues too.

The intention is to publish this research to assist
Future LMT's, educators, employers and anyone else interested in the statistics of the massage industry!
I want to give you a voice to share your thoughts and experiences.

The Survey will end November 29, 2009

Updates will be posted on this discussion throughout the survey and final results will be provided once all information is compiled and reviewed.

FYI! I am also conducting private interviews with owners of franchises, spas, schools, massage therapists etc. Interested? Contact me.

I will also be including a few interviews from employers and LMT's. Want to participate? Contact me massageproce@gmail.com

Thanks, Gloria

Tags: career, massage, survey
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Mike Hinkle Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on November 2, 2009 at 4:49pm
Fantastic Job, Gloria! Thanks!

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Darcy Neibaur BS LMT NCTMB Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur BS LMT NCTMB on November 2, 2009 at 5:15pm
I Love surveys. I took it. A lot of very interesting questions. Thanks Gloria!

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Gloria Coppola Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 2, 2009 at 5:21pm
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THanks ya'll! I can always count on you.
Let's get it moving. Lots to compile!

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Marissa Macias Permalink Reply by Marissa Macias on November 2, 2009 at 5:23pm
Lots of info on there! I hope it helps! Get it out to whoever will take it! Good Luck!

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Gloria Coppola Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 2, 2009 at 5:24pm
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Yup, will do.
Maybe Ryan from Massage Nerd and I will create a video!

Marissa Macias said:

Lots of info on there! I hope it helps! Get it out to whoever will take it! Good Luck!

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Mike Hinkle Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on November 2, 2009 at 6:32pm
Great idea, what about the teacher groups? Would love their input!

Gloria Coppola said:

Yup, will do.
Maybe Ryan from Massage Nerd and I will create a video!

Marissa Macias said:

Lots of info on there! I hope it helps! Get it out to whoever will take it! Good Luck!

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Gloria Coppola Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 2, 2009 at 9:04pm
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Come on Everyone! We have over 4,000 therapists here....take a few minutes
to complete the survey and pass it onto your colleagues.

I want to hear from you!
Then I'm going to compile the results and publish it.

Hopefully we all can learn something, including Future LMT's, owners, educators etc.

i want to try and help make a difference in any way I can. This survey got provoked by some questions from employers, then Future Lmt's and others in the field.

The survey expires Nov. 30th.

Thank you, Gloria

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Samantha J. Bennett Permalink Reply by Samantha J. Bennett on November 2, 2009 at 9:50pm
Took the survey- that was fun! Are they really free to create? or just to sign up to make them? Would love to see others create more surveys such as these on marketing tech.s and the other massage business side of things! Clientele %ages- etc.

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Gloria Coppola Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 2, 2009 at 9:53pm
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I was thinking the same thing. You can do smaller surveys for Free. I paid for this one.

Let's all come up with some other questions and perhaps put a 'mini' survey together. I have the site for 30 days.

Samantha J. Bennett said:

Took the survey- that was fun! Are they really free to create? or just to sign up to make them? Would love to see others create more surveys such as these on marketing tech.s and the other massage business side of things! Clientele %ages- etc.

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Gloria Coppola Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 3, 2009 at 8:12am
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Sharing some of the interesting and valuable comments from the survey. Just letting you know what some people are thinking/feeling. Some of these comments are posted similar on the survey with different wording, so I am not going to post everyone! Thanks for Participating . Keep telling others!

1. We need to unify the profession MTBOK is way off track and needs to be revised. COMTA is in need of overhaul to be complete. Why are we seen as a wish/washy care, because we don't come together and publish research results consistantly. To many therapist charge outlandish prices for "Specialty" massage they are not certified in. Start with Swedish as the base, then only provide and charge for specialty when certified in each modality, there is no consistant way of knowing who actually knows/does what. Physicians do the same thing and there are many law suits that are proving malpractice, this is the next step for massage if we don't clean up first.

2.I would like to see American regulators set standards that elevate this profession. I think it is not ok just to set standards that allow people to squeek by. Instead, I would like to see robustly trained therapist entering the field. They would then move the profession forward. More alliances with main stream education is also criticle. The physiotherapist have demonstated that issuing a degree that allows them to work toward Masters and PhD status has really elevated their credibility. A diploma just does not hold water in the world. Our practitoners must be granted the right to higher education with in our field..

3.I'd like to see a national plan for all massage therapists as opposed to each state having its own regulations, a national organization that would have muscles to flex in connection with "protecting MT's", i.e., sales tax, licensing fees, ceu requirements.

4.would love to be recognized by other medical professionals as someone who is knowledagble, educated and well informed. Not just someone who rubs people in spas! Sometimes there are instances where we have more education than some nurses but don't earn anywhere close to what they do. It would be great to be compensated accordingly. WE offer such a benefit but the medical world is fearfully of this because they think they will loose money. If they truly only knew that we could benefit them and their patients. WE all need to work together for the health and lively hood of our people of the world!

5.My Pet Peeve is that some massage schools promote massage therapy as a way to earn $65 an hour, and don't provide the information on good business practices, ethics, self-care. And that newbies should realize that they are new to the field - and to find a mentor, and not think they have all the knowledge they need to have to call themselves 'specialized' in a particular field.

And finally (for today) the survey shows we mostly went into this field to HELP people and it is also the comment that most people are making in their personal comments. They love what they do!!

Once I have more results, I will post more information!

Thanks again!

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Gloria Coppola Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 3, 2009 at 10:36am
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Some more interesting facts coming in so far! Keep passing the word! Thanks!

SWEDISH IS NOT DEAD! 47% use it as their primary technique
Integrative Massage is at 56% and Deep Tissue at 49%

An overwhelming response believes potential massage instructors should get some form of training.

And a couple of recent comment To share:

Our profession is dawning, coming to light as a healing modality out of the darkness of ignorance which heretofore has denigrated therapists as semi-professionals or worse. Licensing, nationalized testing, MT associations, mandatory insurance, continuing education, publications, marketing, networking with the medical community, these are the ways to break the barrier here in the West, the "physics -envy" scientific paradigm which most in this country follow. I am pleased to see we are progressing as a profession, yet with or without the approval of the reigning medical community, those who need our help find us. My only hope is that in attempting to establish ourselves as a legitimate profession we will not lose our essence: our compassion, our knowledge, our will to help others. Writing as a former nurse, it was my experience that nursing as a whole is more about meeting standards than truly caring for others. There are always exceptions, yet the gap between the sincerity of purpose and the actuality of the modern medical system is so wide that a plethora of complementary healing systems have bloomed in that space. At times this leaves clients feeling lost, wondering which modalities work and which are snake oil sold as healing balms. As client advocates, our continuing education and additional resources or networking could help lessen their confusion. As with life, we need a balance between the number of letters we get to put behind our last names to "prove" ourselves and our intent, our work, our purpose.

2. This is NOT an easy profession to make a solid living in, it takes WORK and time to build it up. Professionalism and confidentiality is so important and so often lacking. School should be longer and have high standards to graduate a skilled therapists, who are serious about this work.
Spa Therapists and Spa work does not get the respect it deserves. Spa Therapists have to know so much more than a custom integrated massage. And therapists think they should make as much as doctors. 6 to 8 months of schooling and a place with good tips get the same starting pay as a nurse who went to school 2 years.

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Gloria Coppola Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on November 3, 2009 at 10:43am
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More Stats for you - but I need more people to make this truly work!

1. The most challenging thing for business owners is Marketing at 52%
2. Over 53% of LMT's who filled out this survey are self employed
3. With an overwhelming response MOST people who completed the survey feel their education was Awesome!
4. The majority of people answering this survey have gone to school for 500-700 with the next 700- 1,000 hrs!

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Helen,
If you don't mind traveling to St. Louis, I can highly recommend Eric Stephenson's class "Unlocking Computer Shoulder". He'll be in St. Louis in early November. 2010 schedule is to be posted soon. www.imassageinc.com
hope that's helpful!
Tracey

Hi Helen! Thanks for visiting the website. The Massage in a Chiropractic Setting course is a cognitive course. There is no technique or hands-on portion to the course. It covers the dynamics of the massage practitioner and chiropractor relationship, an anatomy review (which can help your hands-on skills), and terms massage practitioners should be familiar with in this setting. I hope to hold a seminar in the future in Eastern Iowa (not too far for you). I will keep you posted.

Ivy
Advanced Massage Techniques

Hi Helen!
I'm so glad you joined! We have an Illinois group! Come join us and start some discussions! It will propbably be a great way to get more interest in Bellanina!