No doubt about it, the best job I’ve ever had has been working with Cirque du Soleil. Four times.
People are often impressed that I have worked with Cirque du Soleil. I tell them don’t be impressed that they hired me the first time. After all, the first time they didn’t know what they were getting. Be impressed that they hired me the second. And the third. And the fourth time.
I got a phone call from a client whose wife developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome six months into her pregnancy as a result of swelling from water retention. The condition became so painful she would wake up at night in tears. Her doctor was not helpful. "It will go away after you deliver," was the only suggestion he had to offer. Not wanting his wife to have to endure this for another three months, my client asked if I could help.
Have you ever wanted to do massage at home with your partner but didn't know where to start? Do you try doing massage but get tired quickly? Are you wondering how to please your partner, who keeps asking for "harder," without hurting yourself? If so, you need to take one of the Massage for Couples classes I'll be teaching at Forest Park Community College on Sept. 26 and Oct. 10.
Have you ever wanted to do massage at home with your partner but didn't know where to start? Do you try doing massage but get tired quickly? Are you wondering how to please your partner, who keeps asking for "harder," without hurting yourself? If so, you need to take the Massage for Couples class I'll be teaching at Forest Park Community College on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28.
This one day, 5 1/2 hour class is meant to give nonprofessionals the basic skills to do massage for relaxation on each other at home. While we can't teach you to be a massage therapist in one day, you should leave the class feeling confident that you and your partner can begin to enjoy sharing massage with each other at home. "Couples" can be any two individuals, not just spouses, but you must register for the class in pairs. Friends, roommates, teammates, and family members are welcome to participate.
A reader asked the following questions:
I am currently in school for massage therapy and I have a few questions regarding starting a business for myself. My questions include:
What business structure did you chose (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, etc)?
Are you happy with the structure you selected?
Was it easy or complicated to set up?
Were there costs associated with the business type you chose?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to the type of business structure you chose?
If you had to do it all over again, would they still chose the same business structure?
Any feedback is appreciated!! Thank You!!
Jamie
A few years ago, Massage Therapy Journal published an article, "Get Ready For Massage Envy!" The article, based on interviews with the founders of the franchise, painted a glowing picture of a business where happy massage therapists had 401K plans, were paid for empty appointments during their shift, and were well compensated for their work. I couldn't help but feel, though, that there was a slightly ominous warning in the title. How could a franchise offer all this to the therapist and only charge $39 for an hour massage?
Not long afterwards, the first six massage franchises opened in the St. Louis area, with four more soon to follow, each with ten or twelve massage rooms. I was curious about what it was like to work in such a place and eventually had the opportunity to find out from an experienced therapist who took a job in a franchise for about a year.
First, let's get one thing clear: for $39 you get a fifty minute massage, not a one hour massage. Still, it sounds like a good deal, right? But is it really as good a deal as it appears?
I'll be teaching another Massage For Couples class at Forest Park Community College on Saturday, July 18, 2009. If you'd like to learn how to do massage on each other at home, this is the class for you. A "couple" can be any two people, but you must register in pairs. Spouses, family members, teammates, all "couples" are welcome. Please note that if you register online, you will have to register one at a time for the class. Refer to the Continuing Education catalog for what to bring to class.
For more detailed information about the class, see the blog entry for January 22, 2009.
Hope to see you there!
Many years ago I worked with a long distance runner whose goal was to qualify for the Olympic trials. He was the most serious athlete with whom I've worked the most consistently over the longest period of time. I saw him at least once a week for 2 1/2 years. After about six months of regular massage therapy, he commented one day that he'd just gone the longest period he'd ever had without a pulled muscle. I asked him to elaborate.
I'm back! Yes, I've been gone for awhile. Those who know me personally will know that on 1/30/09 there was a fire at my office building. Fortunately, no one was hurt and my office didn't burn, but my room was devastated by smoke and water damage. After a month of scrambling to make do in the wake of the fire, I moved into a new office with a former office mate, Anne Thomasson. Anne, who was also displaced by the fire, practices massage and also teaches a form of therapeutic exercise called Gyrotonics. She now has a large, beautiful studio and I love walking into such a light, open space every day. We're both settling into our new spaces.
We recently attended the Missouri State Chapter meeting of the American Massage Therapy Association at Lake of the Ozarks. This was the 50th Anniversary of our state chapter and 230 massage therapists attended. There were a number of presenters. Anne and I chose the workshops presented by Paul St. John.