Short Lived RMT's

I am seriously considering going back to school to become a RMT. Based on my research in the labour market, personal experience in recieving massage, all the reading I have done on what I will learn about natural healing; I find that this career change would suite my personality and would be an extremely rewarding career - both financially and spiritually.

I would be completely changing my career direction though, because for the last 20-years I have been in Marketing, Fundraising and Public Relations. Since I started doing all this research there is one reaccuring criticism about the RMT field. Many people have said that it is a short lived career because it is HARD on the RMT's body and that they burn out quickly or eventually are forced, due to physical demands on their bodies, to only work part time.

How true is this? If this is true than how do RMT's work around this in order to still remain in the field of Massage Therapy?(

NOTE: I am 40-years-old and in great physcial shape.

Watch your body mechanics to preserve yourself. Take continuing education courses to keep your mechanics/posture correct and learn new techniques and strokes that give you a balance between using your hands, fists and forearms. People usually burnout after about 2-3 years of full-time massage. So I recommend cutting back your schedule to part-time before you reach this and teach for a couple years (You'll burnout from this in about 2-3 years also). Then you can return to full-time massage if you want. You can even work a part-time job and do part-time massage so you have a nice balance. I've done all of the above and my best advice is the same I give my students: make time for yourself every week, take vacations, take classes and listen to your heart - when you start disliking massage it's time to take a break and re-explore what you love about massage. Always remember to massage from your heart and NOT from your client's wallet; your client can feel the difference in your touch and it will affect your gratuity. Finally, gratuities are a reflection of your client's gratitude for the relief you provide (within his/her financial means), so be greatful for any and all gratuities received no matter how big or small. Work for your fee/commission and stash your tips away for the slow season. (P.S. Most people paying with a gift certificate do not tip so don't expect it and just be pleasantly suprised when you get one.) I hope this helps. If you need any other general assistance, please email me at dr_mehudar@ohmmmassages.org.

ohmmmassages in Las Vegas, Nevada said: Watch your body mechanics to preserve yourself. Take continuing education courses to keep your mechanics/posture correct and learn new techniques and strokes that give you a balance between using your hands, fists and forearms. People usually burnout after about 2-3 years of full-time massage. So I recommend cutting back your schedule to part-time before you reach this and teach for a couple years (You'll burnout from this in about 2-3 years also). Then you can return to full-time massage if you want. You can even work a part-time job and do part-time massage so you have a nice balance. I've done all of the above and my best advice is the same I give my students: make time for yourself every week, take vacations, take classes and listen to your heart - when you start disliking massage it's time to take a break and re-explore what you love about massage. Always remember to massage from your heart and NOT from your client's wallet; your client can feel the difference in your touch and it will affect your gratuity. Finally, gratuities are a reflection of your client's gratitude for the relief you provide (within his/her financial means), so be greatful for any and all gratuities received no matter how big or small. Work for your fee/commission and stash your tips away for the slow season. (P.S. Most people paying with a gift certificate do not tip so don't expect it and just be pleasantly suprised when you get one.) I hope this helps. If you need any other general assistance, please email me at dr_mehudar@ohmmmassages.org.

Thank you for your reply. I replied to you via e-mail my emial address is bdazzledim1@yahoo.ca

Body mechanics and the physical challenges of being a massage therapist is really only the tip of the iceberg.
What leads to burnout and causes the physical challenges is trying to hard to help others.

A career in massage is more about learning to take care of yourself and set boundaries that support your needs for making money and working with people.

Most people have a hidden agenda under their ideas about helping others that also leads to burnout. Learning about yourself and becoming aware of the reasons why you help are more important than learning any massage technique.

www.massagetherapycareers.com
www.thebodyworker.com

There alot of facts that lead to burn out the physical aspects are only the final result and not the acutal cause.

Okay the average burnout is definitely not 2-3 years. You have to have some REALLY bad body mechanics for that. The average career for a massage therapist, according to the AMTA is 7 years. I know a couple of therapists who have been working for 10 years or more so it's really about how committed you are to doing self-care, cont. ed, and checking your body mechanics. Clearly, you won't be doing 40 hours of massage a week but even if you work full time for a therapist (20-30hrs), you should be fine if you do what you need to to ensure your longevity as a bodyworker.

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What is the average age that RMTs retire? What does a RMT usually do for their next career? I am 48 years old and am considering becoming an RMT. Am I too old?

You are NEVER too old to become a Massage Therapist. And honestly, you never really retired. Even if you only massage family and friends when in dire need of relief. :)

The age an RMT or LMT retires is relative to the age a person is when they begin, how many hours of massage you do a week, how much rejuvenation and vacation you take, if you use proper body mechanics, etc.

Even if one changes from working in a clinic or spa to teaching, you really haven't retired.

What I WOULD encourage you to do, is meet someone at the school and learn how much hard work you're going to need to put in just to be able to work. I've heard Canada requires a 4 year degree. Let that aide you in making your decision to change careers.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you well!

What is the entry level wage of an RMT/LMT? If you are working 8 hours a day, does it mean that you'll have 8 clients a day? What do you do when you're not with a client?

$12-$15 an hour. You usually do not work on 8 clients a day - maybe 5-6. If you don't have a client you get paid minimum wage. You usually clean the bathroom, fold sheets, do laundry, clean shelves...

Just wanted to let you know that to be an RMT in Ontario, Canada it is not a 4 year degree but a 2 year diploma in private career colleges and 3 years in an Ontario college.

I heard that an RMT that is fully certified with the College of Massage Therapists of BC actually makes around $50-$65 an hour to START. Ofcourse, this is coming from the program advisor at a private school....soo Im not sure how correct that figure is... also I have been told that most RMT's work 32 hours a week. Is any of this actually true?

RMTs do not get paid (in most cases) like a normal profession. 98% of us do not get an hourly wage, but instead get paid only for the treatments we do. At this time it is usually $70-80 per hour. If you work for yourself, it is al yours, but then you have to cover your own overhead/expenses. Another option is to work in a spa/clinic, where they will take a percentage of that amount (they take between 25-50% dependinig on the place and your negotiating skills). The average RMT will see between 10 and 30 people a week, depending on their clietnele and how many people they can see in a single day. Most chose between 3-6 per day and between 3 and 6 days/week.

Michelle O'Neil in Windsor, Ontario said: I am seriously considering going back to school to become a RMT. Based on my research in the labour market, personal experience in recieving massage, all the reading I have done on what I will learn about natural healing; I find that this career change would suite my personality and would be an extremely rewarding career - both financially and spiritually.

I would be completely changing my career direction though, because for the last 20-years I have been in Marketing, Fundraising and Public Relations. Since I started doing all this research there is one reaccuring criticism about the RMT field. Many people have said that it is a short lived career because it is HARD on the RMT's body and that they burn out quickly or eventually are forced, due to physical demands on their bodies, to only work part time.

How true is this? If this is true than how do RMT's work around this in order to still remain in the field of Massage Therapy?(

NOTE: I am 40-years-old and in great physcial shape.

Actually, right now I'm stuck between choosing to studying Marketing or register for the RMT program, and I'm a little confused. Can you give me any tips or suggestions, since your well experienced in Marketing. I'm 24 years old and would take me about 2 years 2 finish either choice.
Thanks, please if you could get back to me.

Nibz in Delta, British Columbia said: Actually, right now I'm stuck between choosing to studying Marketing or register for the RMT program, and I'm a little confused. Can you give me any tips or suggestions, since your well experienced in Marketing. I'm 24 years old and would take me about 2 years 2 finish either choice.
Thanks, please if you could get back to me.

I would do BOTH, but first start with Massage therapy. After you finish MT program, you can move on to marketing and still be a Massage Therapist..the beauty of the field! Flexability!

20 hours of massage is concidered full time. It can be a lot of work depending on how demanding your clients are :D It is not a normal hourly wage typically, and depending where you work will debate on tips. Working under a chiropracter, a MT may not see as many tips as a spa or salon venue. But, I have found it proveds a safe theraputic enviroment and working along with a Doctor can be great. Depends on your goals. I have not known any MT to make 70k a year..most make from 12-18/ hr, or get 30% commissions...There is a lot of hype around the profession, and only the truely passionate will stick with it...it takes a lot of self motivation and passion to stay in the field. The class i was in maybe 20% of the students stuck with it..the rest moved on to other professions.

I am 5'in height and petite. Everyone around me says that I am too small to do this type of work. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you

Michelle O'Neil in Windsor, Ontario said: I am seriously considering going back to school to become a RMT. Based on my research in the labour market, personal experience in recieving massage, all the reading I have done on what I will learn about natural healing; I find that this career change would suite my personality and would be an extremely rewarding career - both financially and spiritually.

I would be completely changing my career direction though, because for the last 20-years I have been in Marketing, Fundraising and Public Relations. Since I started doing all this research there is one reaccuring criticism about the RMT field. Many people have said that it is a short lived career because it is HARD on the RMT's body and that they burn out quickly or eventually are forced, due to physical demands on their bodies, to only work part time.

How true is this? If this is true than how do RMT's work around this in order to still remain in the field of Massage Therapy?(

NOTE: I am 40-years-old and in great physcial shape.

I am 56 years young & have joyfully been practicing massage therapy for 23 years. I began my career at 33 and was in fairly good shape to start with as I had been a recreation director and swim instructor - worked out at the gym periodically. Though as I got bussier I started to slack on the gym workouts and only hike/jog/walked and swam a bit. I ratonalized that my work kept me fit. Occassionaly I would work out with free weights and stretch at home and at work. Last year I finally got serious - got back into the gym. I began using the mashines & free wieights,stretching & hike/jog/walking w my dog at least 2-3X per week. This new regime has put new vim and vigor into my passion. I'm even coming up with inovative moves that are ispired by getting back in touch with how my own body functions.And my workouts are more inspiring because of the years of on-hands anatomical study and manipulation. Uz ur marketing experince :)

I am a 41-year-old citizen of the USA and after 9 years in information technology and 7 years of being a full-time stay-at-home mom, have been working for 2 years in windpower. I have received a couple of years of matrix repatterning treatments from my chiropractor/wholistic docter here in Denver, and would really like to change to working with or for matrix repatterning--something that I passionately believe in.

The question is, how best to support the cause? Would I be able to take any massage courses in Colorado, transfer them to Canada, finish an RMT, then become certified in matrix repatterning? Would it be better to somehow advocate for matrix repatterning locally here? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Julie in Redmond, Washington said: Body mechanics and the physical challenges of being a massage therapist is really only the tip of the iceberg.
What leads to burnout and causes the physical challenges is trying to hard to help others.

A career in massage is more about learning to take care of yourself and set boundaries that support your needs for making money and working with people.

Most people have a hidden agenda under their ideas about helping others that also leads to burnout. Learning about yourself and becoming aware of the reasons why you help are more important than learning any massage technique.

www.massagetherapycareers.com
www.thebodyworker.com

Uau.....One of the best, if not the best post about MT career expectancy.

In big cities (USA) you can top 90,000 US dollars working hard,really hard but then at the end of the year you'll be completely burn out. That happened to me and I'd say: not worth it!
I had other colleagues that went through the same and one of them start to have panic attacks which was unknown to her before. I believe that there's a lot of electricity transferred from body to body and other "energies" as well . Now I work doing something else with my daughter and massage only part time.
Good luck !

Maria in Eau Claire, Wisconsin said: I am 5'in height and petite. Everyone around me says that I am too small to do this type of work. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you

theres always room for nice relaxing swedish massages

What a great group of therapists. I hope you will all consider chiming in at bodyworkonline. com

My personal note to this thread is that I have been in practice for over ten years, and find that boundaries are very necessary. If you let the clients take too much energy, you will burn out. But it doesn't have to be. I am in my mid 40's.