Changing Jobs To Massage Therapist. Is 35 too old.

I am changing professions, from a nurse to massage therapist. Is 35 years old too old to start?

I hope not! At 37 I am changing from fashion retail sales to a pharmacy technician.

In this economy you have to do what you have to do.

But weren't you making more money as a nurse? Do you think you will be happier as a message therapist?

I just visited a family friend in a rural area who is a massage therapist and can't find a job. So I guess it depends on where you live as to how successful you will be.

LuckyK in Cerritos, California said: I hope not! At 37 I am changing from fashion retail sales to a pharmacy technician.

In this economy you have to do what you have to do.

But weren't you making more money as a nurse? Do you think you will be happier as a message therapist?

I just visited a family friend in a rural area who is a massage therapist and can't find a job. So I guess it depends on where you live as to how successful you will be.

I was making more money but I would rather be happier. I know I will not be rich by being a massage therapist. I am happy just living comfortably. I also read it is a growing occupation. Nursing is an emotional burnout after the amount of years I spent doing it. I think being a massage therapist, while I will make less, will make me feel less stressed by far. I know massage is physically demanding but I have heard from more than person (other massage therapists, mine included) that the emotional toll is less. I am sure every job is stressful emotionally. Before nursing I was a nursing assistant and that was very physically demanding and I handled it well. On my feet 8 hours a day, sometimes not getting breaks or lunch. I am pretty strong with my upper body strength. I will be going for the associates in massage so if or when my arms and hands poop out I can maybe manage a massage business or something of the like. But I am glad to hear there is someone else out there changing careers in their 30's. Seems quite a bit of society has made some women feel over the hill beyond 30, that is why I asked the question.

Just a suggestion but you may want to explore other career options as well. There is nothing wrong with changing fields in your thirties, or at any age for that matter, but it is important to be realistic about things. Not only will you take a huge pay cut but you most likely won't be able to support yourself on an intro massage salary (if you can even find steady work). You won't have medical benefits either. Unless you have someone else paying your way, I would re-think. I know many therapists who have been working for years and still can't make ends meet. Plus, this job is VERY hard on your body.

At 37 I began Carslon College of Massage Therapy & am now waiting on my license from Texas. Some of the instructors had been full time therapists for 18 years working 20-30 hours a week. So if you take care of yourself you're not likely to physically burn out as fast as some of the people on these forums say. I'm not just basing this on the instructors, I have an ex-girlfriend who has been in practice for herself for 8 years now & was working at a spa several years prior to that. It seems though, that in order to make any money & avoid "happy ending requests" you either have to work for a chiropractor or be your own boss (which gives you the ability to toss these clients out) Good luck!

I started at 35 and agree with foreversearching. I should have explored other options as well. I've been massaging now for 6 years and my poor body sure is feeling it. I now limit myself to 10 treatments a week but even then it's a stretch. If you just want a little extra income and something enjoyable to do on the side then go for it but I don't recommend massage fulltime at our age.

I am 37 and have been massaging full time for 2 years now. I graduated from school in 2009 and currently have my own private practice 15-20hrs a week. It all depends on how you take care of yourself with regular massages, exercise, and the like. Yoga has also helped me quite a bit with stretching, stances, breathwork, and being able to really "hear" what my body needs.

bobbid in winona, Minnesota said: I am changing professions, from a nurse to massage therapist. Is 35 years old too old to start?

Hi I'm normally a very optimistic person I've been a therapist for 8 yrs you will regret it first year. It's to taxing on your body. You will make very little because everyone else is trying to make money from the overworked massage therapist.Even in washington where are contracted with insurance. One therapist wrote I wake up in hell every morning well I dont sleep well at night because of overworked contracted muscles. -

I know several other RMT's and DC's that have taken a proactive approach to their careers by supplementing their income through other means (a secondary source of revenue within their DC or RMT business). It's allowed them to prepare an exit strategy as we all know how taxing MT can be on your body. Some of them have already walked away from their practices and others are poised to do so in the next few years. The average career of a RMT is only 8 years!

I've done the same and am very happy for it... We started using a health and wellness product line and have gone on to share its benefits with all our clients. The response is incredible and client loyalty is fantastic. The nice thing is that it's allowed my wife and I to form our exit strategy while still providing us the satisfaction of helping people with their health.

Please let me know if you would like to know what we're doing as I really feel that regardless of your choice, it's something that will provide you with the satisfaction and quality of life you're seeking.

I'm 60 and took early retirement after a very strenuous job working as a government contractor. I took off a year or so to decompress (my wife has a good job) and I'm thinking of taking classes for massage therapy, but I'm interested in accupressure and healing touch. Probably not as strenuous as Swedish or deep tissue/sports massage.

I'm in very good shape and only want to work part-time. Do you think I'm going to regret this?

bobbid in winona, Minnesota said: I am changing professions, from a nurse to massage therapist. Is 35 years old too old to start?

Well, I'm 60 and plan on doing this part-time during retirement. Tried golf and what not for a year and hated it. I plan to specialize in accupressure - not as strenuous as deep tissue/sports massage or Swedish.

I know they offer courses for therapists on how to take care of yourself.

Rob240 in Dublin, California said: I'm 60 and took early retirement after a very strenuous job working as a government contractor. I took off a year or so to decompress (my wife has a good job) and I'm thinking of taking classes for massage therapy, but I'm interested in accupressure and healing touch. Probably not as strenuous as Swedish or deep tissue/sports massage.

I'm in very good shape and only want to work part-time. Do you think I'm going to regret this?

No. If you are interested in helping other people and you enjoy learning the health science, there would be no regret studying massage.
I am over 50 and I am not in a very good physical conditions and I just successfully passed the Board Exam. I learned so much that I volunteered helping many, known or strangers with my knowledge and skills. My life is totally different and the feeling of happiness is way over weight the passed 2yr hell like tough study - day and night. No pain, no gain.
The worst case is you fail, and you still learned some of the health science knowledge and massage skills which will be valuable to your partner and yourself.
So, Why not give a shot?

bobbid in winona, Minnesota said: I am changing professions, from a nurse to massage therapist. Is 35 years old too old to start?

Absolutely not I started at 44! Just don't overdue watch body mechanics get your own bodywork so you know what is out there etc. Good Luck.

I have always been a positive person but I need to tell you something you may not want to hear. I am just being honest and speaking from my heart. I have been an RMT for eight years and can honestly say, I now feel a lot of physical reprocutions from being an RMT. I take care of myself. I am pretty fit. I am also healthy, but unfortunately I now experience numbness and stiffness in my back, neck, arms and hands. I experience very swollen legs as well from standing so many hours a day for many years. Being a Massage Therapist is a really hard on the body! It is also tough to be self employed and make a good paycheque. I highly suggest you consider another career. As much as I love healing and helping people in need, I don't think Massage Therapy is recognized or valued yet by many people. If you don't want to struggle financially, stress over slow seasons because you are not making enought money to live and not feel any long term effects such as pain, numbness and stiffness on your body, then do not become a Massage Therapist. I get no benefits, vacation pay or paid sick days. There are more disadvantages than advantages for being an Massage Therapist. Best advice, choose another profession. All the best!

I don't think you need to be as drastic as choosing something else but, make sure you have a plan B. There's a reason why the average RMT career is only 8 yrs and it's not because of boredom. My plan B is soon to become my Plan A in 1.5 yrs and I'll still love what I do because I'll be helping people with their health. Fits very well into the RMT office. If you love RMT, then go for it... just have second plan.

Responding to the original question"to be MT or not": why not try a few sections of massage introduction course and then considering your financial, physical, and emotional,your family, your neighbour,your pets, etc. and lot of other factors and then, and only after that, make your decision.
Remember: there is impossible to fulfil you desire regarding wherever you want; but always thousands of what you don't want waiting for you. This is the life.
Everything comes with the advert effect, or the cost: your time, your physical condition, your future, .... if everything is around you, by yourself, nothing can satisfy you - because you think you are the centre of everything.
If you love to offer what you have to others, you will be happy most of the time and all other things are not important.
The key is do you love to do massage to clients?
If you believe you have nothing to give, or always afraid not being reward enough, stay home is the best choice among many other choices, or you will regret all your life for what you feel being pushed to do.
Do you love to do this or not?
To be or not to be? is not a simple question.