I Get Paid To: Make People Feel Amazing!

Name: Tina George
Employer/company:  Self employed/contract to M1NT health and fitness
Position: Remedial Massage therapist
 

My job involves…
Massage therapy and soft tissue treatment: neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue, sports therapy, triggerpoint treatment, postural analysis, Swedish relaxation massage (pregnancy and infant), myofascial release, sports and fascial taping.
 

I got this job by…
Working as a graduate therapist at Canter College Natural Medicine (CCNM) for six months. I applied for a full time professional position with M1NT and moved to the new premises.

My qualifications include a Diploma in massage therapy at CCNM, post grad certificate in sports massage, hot stone therapy I & II, fascial release I & II (pelvis). I'm currently studying

the Undergraduate Bachelor of Health Science (sport and exercise) at Massey University. And in the future, I'm planning on studying Musculoskeletal medicine at Otago University
 

I was inspired to get into this field by/because…
I had back problems with years of competitive sport, travelling and working as a chef for 13 years. A few friends trained as massage therapists and they fixed my back. I thought I should give it a go and here I am three years later working for myself. I wanted to work with people on a one to one basis.
 

A typical week at work involves…
Massaging five days, five to six clients per day. I check my bookings for the week where I usually have 20-25 clients for a 60 minute massage each. I arrive in uniform and set up my room, and make sure it’s clean and ready for the day. I pull my files for each client and check what I am treating each person for. If they are a new client, I make sure they fill out a client health history form. I do each treatment depending on what the client presents with. After each person and day I clean my room, finish my S.O.A.P forms and check my treatment plan ready to file away for the next session.
 

I work with personal trainers, nutritionists, physiotherapists and refelxologists. We are a good team. About 50% of the people I see need to see either a sports doctor, GP, chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapy so I have a few people that I refer to when needed. I also get a lot of referrals from them so I am often writing emails out to follow up on my client’s progress and discuss case management.
 

The most enjoyable aspect of this line or work is…
Helping people in so many ways, massage is a holistic approach. You can help people a lot with their pain, injuries, stress and emotional well being by providing care and attention. When they leave saying “I feel so much better” or “it was quite sore but it needed it, I have no pain…. Thank you!”, then I know my job is done.
 

My job is rewarding because…
You can make a difference! Everyone has problems and everyone has a story, you just become part of it. You meet great people everyday and also have a lot of fun.
 

This job is unique because…
We are not heavily regulated and can have freedom within the scope of our practice. You can work for yourself as much or as little as you like. You can take it anywhere; all you need is your hands, head (brain) and table.
 

You will get ahead in this job if you have “good hands”; it is a saying amongst therapists, when you have that you is on your way to a good start.
 

You need to listen and take on board what each person is telling you, be empathetic and sympathetic to their needs. Massage therapy is not just pushing the clients through only giving relaxation “fluffies” or ticking the box like other modalities. It is about making changes which can affect the entire body mind and soul.
 

You need a professional attitude at all times, and you should be fit, strong and stable! Massage can be quite tiring physically and emotionally. You must look after yourself, be grounded, exercise, eat well and have support where you can.

Most of all have fun, enjoy your job, have a laugh…
 

The most memorable moment of my job so far has been…
When a client had been to everyone about the pain in her feet and had two surgeries. She was exhausted with options - her feet were in chronic pain and she could hardly walk properly. After three treatments of quite intense neuromuscular therapy to the intrinsic muscles and ligaments of her feet and ankles, along with sports taping and exercises she was pain free and could play nine holes of golf for the first time in years. She cried on her fourth visit.
 

My best piece of advice for anyone interested in getting into this field is…
Forget about yourself for that hour this is a job that is all about your client.
 

My next career goals are…
To continue massaging and my studies and learn as much as I can as a musculoskeletal specialist. Help people with sports problems, chronic pain and chronic disease dysfunction by combining holistic complementary therapy and modern treatment.