happybody

Hey Prometheus: For a great listing of massage schools all across the country, check out www.naturalhealers.com and click on "massage" and "New York. It should give you some great options. -happybody

Hey Aquarius: I wanted to field your question--I've worked at spas and at PT and chiropractic clinics, running the gamut of massage therapy. If you want to work in a spa, definitely go to a school that offers Swedish massage, the basic strokes and kneading that all (or most) massage therapists do. You also may want to check out courses in reflexology, herbology, aromatherapy and hydrotherapy. All of these are used in spa work. Also, check with your state's regulating body to see what sort of training you need to work as a therapist (i.e. how many hours of training, what sort of exams you may need to take for licensing, etc.) and see if your school fulfills those requirements. Also, let me address your question of how much more lucrative "medical massage" is versus relaxation massage: it depends on you, where you work, the clientele you attract and how good you are at marketing yourself. I work part time as a therapist out of my own office and see a decent number of clients each week who've had injuries of one sort or another. However, I always include a sort of "smoothing" at the end of the session (relaxing strokes and gentle stretches) to help the nervous system bounce back from the intensity of the session. So, I utilize both the clinical and the relaxing work in my practice. People seem to like it. Hope that helps. Be well, happybody

Hi Welsh Cake: Welcome! Are you a nurse and a massage therapist or thinking about one or the other, like me? Cheers, happybody

Hey spottss: When I was in massage school, I interned at a local hospital; my supervisor was the nurse manager of the integrative health unit and was also an acupuncturist. She said that the value in nurses as massage therapists was their ability to bridge the integrative and the allopathic. For example, she said, nurse massage therapists would be uniquely qualified to work in pre-op and help surgery patients relax before surgery. They'd be able to negotiate around the tubes, IV's, etc., and be able to communicate effectively with the medical staff. Plus, they'd be well suited to train other nurses in how to do simple massage on patients. I hope to meet with her soon to talk about the field, how practical it is to be that bridge, and get some mentoring myself. It sounds to me like you have the heart of a healer--your nursing patients will find a lot of comfort with your presence. Be well, happybody

Hey Spottss: Sorry things were so nasty in school. I work at a massage school as a recruiter and tell people how great the field is. It's pretty easy because I really believe it. I love being a massage therapist. What I don't love is the look I get on the faces of medical professionals when I tell them what I do. "Oh, that's nice," the look seems to say. The massage industry is definitely trying to garner legitimacy as healthcare through research, but it's still a long haul. So, that brings me to my next question in my self-dialogue: Do I want to be a nurse because I want to be seen as a legitmate health care practitioner and make more money or do I want to be a nurse because I want to be a nurse? I know from experience that if I only go into the field for the first reason, it's going to feel disillusioning and wrong because my heart's not in it. If I go in for the second, I'll generally be able to cope with whatever happens because the internal "yes" is there. And, of course, I think there's room for both reasons (sorry for my thinking out loud here, but you've really hit a nerve and exposed some of my fears about the nursing field). The funny thing is that I keep getting these hints to check it out. Since I'm studying medical massage, a good friend of mine tells me I need to talk to her massage therapist who does similar work and is a...nurse. I just moved into a new apartment and my next door neighbor is studying to be a...nurse. It goes on and on. I keep getting nudged to at least check it out. We'll see how it goes. Again, thanks for your input--it helps to see the spectrum. I wonder if there are nurse massage therapists in your area that you could get some work from and some mentoring as well? Be well, happybody

Hello Nemhain and Indigo Girl: Thank you both for putting time into your thoughtful replies--I really appreciate it. I don't feel so alone now! You've given me a lot to reflect on and have also helped calm some anxiety about a career in nursing. I wish you many blessings. Be well, happybody

Hey Nemhain: Thanks for your insights. I've encountered people of that mindset in massage school too (remarkably), so I'm not too concerned about it. But being a massage therapist, I'm pretty sensitive to others, so it's good to know. So, that leads me to my next question, for you or anyone else out there: how transformative is nursing? I ask that because massage therapy has really made me look at myself, my history, my body and people in a different light (I'm much more forgiving, accomodating, etc.). Does nursing have room for that sort of understanding, or I setting myself up for heartache and frustration? Now, I'm not talking about some sort of co-dependent, rose colored glasses thing, but more holding a sense of compassion and depth. Or is it simply a "you get out of it what you put into it" sort of thing? Anyway, thanks again for taking time to reply. Be well, happybody

Hi ONS: Thanks so much for your good words, especially about the smooth transition from MT to RN. Encouragement tastes good right now! I haven't studied MFR with J.B., but it is an integral part of the curriculum at my alma mater, Boulder College of Massage. Be well, happybody

Hey there: I'm a massage therapist who is considering going into nursing (I know that this is really a forum for nurses--thank you for indulging me...). Are there other MT's here who've entered nursing? If so, how was the transition? Do you continue to do massage? Are there advantages to being a nurse massage therapist? Any advice (from anyone in this forum) for someone holistically minded who's considering nursing? Also, any men out there (like me) who have gone this route? I've been practicing for about three years and am about to enter an advanced training program in medical massage therapy and orthopedic massage. I was delighted to hear that there was such a thing as a Nurse Massage Therapist, which has given me some hope. I'd love to hear from anyone who has thoughts on this. Thanks so much for your patience and your time. -happybody in Colorado