First month as an LMT

It's been a month since I've been a licensed massage therapist.  I have 3 regular clients and 2 trading partners. I'm also working part-time at a day spa called New Identity.

Until the Spa, I haven't worked since starting massage school. Before that I spent 2 years working part-time, spending my free time learning about myself through classes and activities like chi kung, yoga, dance.  It's definitely a shift for me to go to a job from 11am-7pm each day.

The spa has made me a better massage therapist. I'm learning how to "read" new clients and determine how I can best serve them. I'm also developing relationships with some of the people at work and really enjoying the connection.

...life has interrupted this blog, stay tuned...

I started writing this post about 2 weeks ago and am only now getting back to finish it. Hmm, I guess that makes a pretty big statement about my life style change since going back to work.

This time however, work is different.  After college, I worked as a Project Manager, sometimes putting in 50-60 hours a week, not including time spent lying on the floor recovering from the office.  Now, I'm learning how not to work too hard.  Massage therapists are especially prone to taking on other people's emotional and physical pain, as well as working too hard to please their clients.

Last week, I had 5 clients in one day, 3 in a row, with less than 5 minutes between each and the last one was a 90 minute session! I had an incredible day, I wasn't cranky or worn out when I got home.  I did take a long, hot bath to take care of myself, but mostly I took care of myself during each session so that I could give each client my full attention and not drain myself.  Incredible!  I gave each person 100% while not overextending myself. 

Yes, I'm learning a lot at the Spa. I also realize working at a spa it's not my goal.  My goal is to develop regular clients and help them in taking great care of themselves by offering more than just massage. Part of that is speaking the truth when I feel it being asked of me.  By this I mean, for example, a client walks in talking like she's had 20 cups of coffee, I ask her what's her reason for coming if for a massage and find a way to insert the truth, "It's time to slow down." Whatever she does with this information is hers, but I've upheld my integrity in offering all I can during the session including suggestions to breathe or feel inside themselves.  I feel this is one of the most important parts of my work: to give my full attention and guide a person back into their body. 

Thank you!

I'm writing this blog thinking it's a diary to myself, when lo and behold, people are actually reading it! Thanks for reading everyone.  I really enjoy sharing.
Love,
Dana

The first massage job!

As of yesterday, I have a part-time massage job!  I responded to a post on Craig's List and received a phone call the next day.  She said to be prepared to give a 30 minute demonstration of my work. I showed up to the building a little early. It's a hair and nail salon called New Identity on 11th and Broadway in Portland.  The space is very nicely lit, clean and professional. They do a lot of pedicures and hair. I've only met 2 of the people who work there, both were Vietnamese.  The interview went very well, partly because I had a wonderful 2 hour Thai Massage prior to the interview. Thank You, Margaret!.  I was nervous, but I liked the manager's energy. She was straight forward, honest and it was easy to communicate with her.

Getting a job, newly licensed and just out of school, is a little daunting, especially since I've only held jobs like Receptionist and Front Counter Manager for the past 2 and a half years. I have a BA and am qualified for more challenging work, but just didn't have the desire to put the energy into doing the work. Now, I have the desire to do my best, both in working for myself and for someone else.  That's a first for me.  It's really changing how I do things.  I'm have more integrity and energy for my work.  

...back to the interview.  Sandra and I talked for 10 minutes about the in's and out's of the job, it's based on 60/40 commission. I get 60%, they get 40%.  They would like me to be on premises, or close by, for walk-in clients during the days I'm scheduled. They provide all supplies and clients, I'm to do my own laundry. She showed me the massage rooms. They are small, but very comforting, clean with table warmers, blankets, CD player and a dimmer switch on the lights. 

I asked, "who will I be giving a massage to," she said, "me".  Oh. It was a relief to not have the pressure of being watched like in the state practical exam. It also put more emphasis on my work being judged directly by her.  I left the room, washed my hands in the bathroom, tied up my hair and attempted to leave my jitters in the bathroom.  Tapping on the door to see if she was on the table, I went into the massage room and couldn't see. She had the lights turned very low compared to the bathroom I had come from. My eyes adjusted and I made myself comfortable by taking off my shoes. 

We began talking about what she likes in a massage, what I'd be doing for her and for her to let me know about pressure at any time.  I know that even though people aren't necessarily conscious of it they can feel how I'm feeling, especially when I'm touching them. I knew she could feel the nervous excitement pouring out my hands.  I began with a little rocking on top of the sheet to feel how she holds herself. Typically, this is a shiatsu technique, but I complimented it with Mennell's stroke over the whole body before beginning.  This gave me a little time to adjust before diving in.  


I have to admit, I've focused on Shiatsu Massage for the past 15 months.  I'm comfortable with Swedish, but Shiatsu is home.  I had the slightest hesitation before pulling the sheet back, but didn't let that distract me from connecting with her. I spread the massage gel (also new for me) and let her know I was going to warm up her muscles before getting to the deep tissue massage she had requested.  While I was working she asked, "is this your deep pressure?"  Well, yes in some ways it was, see I don't believe in hurting people.  I think some people feel in order to get deep muscle wringing massage you need to wince and hold back from crying out in pain.  I feel my way through the tissue and desire to release more than just the muscle.  It's the whole body that needs to relax, the body can't do this when the person is in pain.  

In response to her question about pressure, I said it was my medium pressure and that the table was a bit high for me. Then I began to try to force my way in deeper and realized I was not taking care of my own body. Putting an end to that, I began to talk to her about how breathing deeply can help release the muscles and then I talked to her about trigger points. She was really interested and we had a nice exchange about how muscles get knotted and what you can do about it.  She allowed herself to breathe much more deeply once I shared with her that breathing deeply helps pump her heart more, induces relaxation and moves more oxygen though the blood. I worked on a few more of her trigger points and felt some of them release now that she was breathing.  I ended with compression over the sheet on her legs and a 3 minute foot massage.  


The best parts were where I took care of myself, like taking off my shoes and not trying to work so deeply that it hurt my hands. Doing these things helped me open up and feel really good during the massage. People can feel this, again, even if they are not conscious of what they are feeling.  She came out very happy and let me know that she had a few other people to interview, but she would call me in 2 days. She also asked if I had heard from my other prospects, I said not yet, but that I really liked this place. I left smiling. It felt so good to be able to connect with her that way and to know I had taken care of myself at the same time.  


I start next Thursday, Oct. 29th!  Smile. :)

First 10 days as an LMT & 1st draft of business cards

I've been an LMT officially since Oct. 8th, 2009.  I've given 2 massages, had 2 job interviews, one cancellation, one I had to reschedule, my first attempt at a business/financial plan and lots of congratulations.  A great start. I'm learning a lot already.

The plan is to work part-time for myself out of my home and part-time for someone else, preferably a chiropractic office or other natural medicine clinic.

The 2 job interviews were very different.  The first interview was for a 60/40 split or lease, but the Salon was looking for someone with an established clientele, which I do not have.  The second was a group interview at a Salon and Spa.  They asked interesting questions, such as: If you could be any animal what would you be and why?  What food would you be and what would make people like you?  What's your favorite movie?  As far as interviews go, this was the most educational because I was able to listen to diverse responses to the classic interview questions. At this point I'm waiting to hear back from them, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

This past week I caught a cold.  One of the first in years, no exaggeration, I can't remember the last time I had a head cold.  I canceled what would have been my 3rd appointment.  It was a struggle to make that decision, but I'm glad I did.  Taking care of myself, my client and making sure I am able to give 100% in each massage felt good (after I got over the initial guilt trip thanks to my superwoman alter ego).

The business cards are coming along (Thank you, Yancey!) and I've been procrastinating on writing the text for my website.  Your input on the cards is appreciated.  Please, tell me what you think! (I'm partial to #6, but think I'd like a circle instead.)

OBMT Practical Exam

I took the Oregon Massage Practical Exam this past Tuesday, Sept. 29th, 2009.

I'll admit I crammed. I picked up my pathology notes and kinesiology flash cards 2 days prior to the exam and was surprised to find that some of the pathologies on the OBMT list were not covered at my school!  I hurried online and got most of the info I needed.

About a week prior to the test I invited Margaret over for a massage and she (a new LMT in OR) gave me the low down on the test. Oh, and I finished the Jurisprudence exam the night before the practical while watching the old Ellen show on youtube. Embarassing, I know, but she is so funny compared to rules and regulations about massage.

The day of the exam I arrived in Salem to take the test about 45 minutes early.  This gave me plenty of time to study and freak out in the parking lot.  Looking back I see how much I was trying to convince myself I wasn't nervous.

The office was very professional and the woman at the desk was uninterested in me as I attempted to make a good impression.  I also made the mistake of asking if I could study while I waited for the test. She looked at me and said, "you're done studying". Yes, yes, I am I thought.  I drew the muscles I would present from a "hat" and tried to remember where flexor pollicis longus was and what were the actions of the glutes medius. I've often confused the actions of the glutes med, min and maximus.  As I waited, I stood there and felt my glutes trying to determine the actions feeling increasingly awkward, unsure of myself and scared (but I didn't want to admit it).

For those of you who don't know the OBMT practical exam is given in 50 minutes by 3 examiners: a client, a questioner and an observer.  The client came out to greet me and I immediately felt better. She seemed more real (and relaxed) than any of the other people in the office. She took me to the exam room and read from a piece of paper to show me the items in the room.  I put the face cradle on the floor to prepare the table and she kindly let me know that the floor was not sanitary and that the table was.  I'm not sure, but I don't think she was supposed to let me know that, I think she was helping me out.

When the other 2 examiners came into the room they were distant, cold and didn't connect with me other than a cursory hello.  The questioner read from a script as the observer jotted and sighed whenever I answered a question.  The pathology they asked me about was pregnancy which I had just glanced over the night before.  After the exam I remembered all sorts of things I could have said, but I felt really stupid at that moment.  I ummmed and choked out the words about contraindications and indications.  I asked her to repeat just about every other question.

After some range of motion with my clients wrist I was asked to talk about Shiatsu (my choosen modality) to my client.  As I began to talk about energy flow aka "chi" I got a faint "uh-oh" look from my client, I quickly included the muscle and body systems benefits and my clients face began to relax.  

I was told demonstrate 10 minutes of Shiatsu on my client.  I made sure to check in with her about pressure and her comfort level.  I gave her a blanket proceeded to begin the opening sequence of short form Shiatsu.  As I was rocking her low back I panicked and didn't do the form in the correct order (plus I had to leave certain things out because I've heard they don't want me to get up on the table).  It took a few seconds to regain my composure and just keep going, giving it my best.  I focused most on her neck and shoulders and was able to finish both arms before time ran out and the massage was abruptly stopped.

It was awkward, so awkward.  In retrospect, I would have smiled more, just to keep my spirits up.  We went out in the hall so my client could undress and get on the table.  I was to demonstrate a breast drape and show muscle location on my client.  The breast drape was scary, but I took it slowly and did well.  Again, I think my client helped me a little.  The observer just gave me a pitied look (or so my scared ego thought).

Next came the Kinesiology part of the exam: showing the origin and insertion of the chosen muscles and showing their actions. I was sooooooo nervous.  Some of the muscles I didn't demonstrate very confidently and I felt I wasn't sure about how to demonstrate their exact location and/or action.  I didn't feel prepared enough and I wished I had studied more in advance.  I think I got cocky from doing so well on the written without much studying.  Now I know, for myself in a situation like the practical exam, I need to know my stuff inside and out.

They abruptly told me the exam was over and I swear my jaw dropped to the floor.  I don't know how much time I had remaining, but I thought they must be mistaken.  I asked, "what about the pathology part of the exam"?  The questioner was about to answer me and they remembered her role and just repeated the same sentence about the exam being over.  I thanked them and left feeling very confused, disoriented and disappointed in myself.

I gathered my things from the front desk and it hit me...I must have failed.  I got in the car and immediately called a friend and blurted out, "I think I FAILED!"  He calmed me down and tried to talk me out of my craziness.  "You didn't fail, and if you did you can learn something from it and take it again," he said.  The whole car ride home I went back and forth between "I'm fine either way" and "oh shit what if I failed".  About half way home I realized the pregnancy questions was the pathology part and I laughed at myself as I beat myself up for asking, "what about the pathology...". 

It wasn't until Saturday when the mail arrived that I knew I passed.  I think deep down I knew I passed, but my mind wouldn't listen and just chill out. That evening I went out to dinner with a friend and just have been feeling great.  It makes me so happy to know I jumped through all the hoops and have created a career for myself. 

I've learned a lot about myself from the exam experience.  Thank you to my great friends who talk me out of being abusive to myself :)

The license application goes in the mail on Monday.  I still have to be patient until I'm officially an LMT.  I'm so excited!

Love,
Dana

Come get your free massage!

I'm offering FREE hour and a half massages until I'm licensed.  I expect to be licensed in early October.

Offering:

Shiatsu

Swedish

Call 503-442-7177 to schedule a session.

Location in SE Portland, OR

Looking forward to it! :-)

Patience

I may choose to go back in time and write about Shiatsu Clinic, Thai Massage, Hot Stone Therapy and other fantastic classes and experiences I had while in school at OSM.  However, right now I feel it's more important to focus on what I'm creating, not where I've been.  So far this blog has helped me to move into a new space as I transition from massage student to LMT.

I'm waiting for the state of Oregon to send me a date to take the practical exam so I can become licensed.  I've completed school, taken the written exam, been CPR certified, turned in the application, the last pieces are falling into place.

Update: Oregon practical exam is scheduled for Sept. 29th!

Things to do while waiting:

• marketing materials - business card, website, opening flier/announcement, constant contact e-mails?
  
• look for a place to work 1-2 days a week while I get my practice up and running - possibilities: acupuncturists, massage co-op, chiropractic clinic
• check and refill my supplies - oil, linen, blankets
• create filing system for client info and a way to keep track of income/expenses (Quicken?)
• give free practice massages :)
• study kinesiology and practice for the practical

Things to do once I'm licensed:

• E-mail everyone I know, include special offer and link to website.
• Register new business with the state.
• Create a separate bank account for business.
• Place my cards/fliers around town and give to businesses and people I know.
• Talk to random people and tell them they need a massage :-)

I'll keep adding to this. Let me know if you can think of something I haven't.

15 months...

You can do anything for 15 months, right?  Not so, quite a few fellow students dropped out.  Massage school has the ability to shine light on your issues.  You get the opportunity to look more closely at the way you act or react to people, situations and to new experiences.

I sat in on a Massage Fundamentals class at the Oregon School of Massage in May 2008.  Honestly, I thought the teacher was corny and the subject dull.  In retrospect, I was scared and judgmental.  The students were learning how to give a foot massage.  I had always let my hands wander, freely exploring and enjoying the feet, here the instructor was telling students the exact strokes to use and what order to use them in.  She demonstrated on a student as the class gathered around, some sitting, some standing.

Then it was the students turn to work with each other. There was a bit of confusion as they didn't know what to do with me. All of the students were paired up, was I just to watch?  Secretly, I was wishing I could get a foot massage out of my visit.  The instructor paired up with me and I had a fantastic massage from someone with over 20 years experience.  It turned out one of the students didn't want to have his feet massaged.  So, as the students switched roles, I received a foot massage from both the instructor and one of the students.  The very same student to give me a great foot massage showed me so much about myself as our relationship grew.

I wasted no time in applying, getting transcripts sent, filling for a loan, and telling everyone what I was up to.  My family was a little puzzled, but supportive.  My friends rooted me on and talked me through my self doubt.

So the first term arrives.  I felt nervous and shy and unsure of the whole thing.  I was protecting myself and trying to prove that it wasn't a big deal.  I could handle this...right?  The course schedule included: Massage Fundamentals, Shiatsu I, and Anatomy and Physiology I.  The school didn't recommend taking Shiatsu along with Fundamentals in the first term because of the totally different subject matter, Chinese medicine and Swedish massage.  I had a gut feeling about Shiatsu, plus I'd been studying Chinese medicine on my own for the past 2 years.  The Shiatsu helped keep me sane though the first term, I really felt at home with the eastern modality.  A&P was the place where I had to actually study, and so for the first time, I did.

This kind of studying was different from high school or college.  Not only was it about the human body, I was now in school for something I had chosen with no "shoulds" on my shoulders.  I put my best foot forward and did well.

It was summer and the OSM tradition is to take all students to Breitenbush and feed them to the hippies.  What better way to learn massage?  In our 7th week of massage school we were to give a 1 hour massage to total strangers.  In someways, the newness of massage to our hands plus the lack of confidence proved for a unique experience.  I, for one, was totally nervous.  I tried to hide it, but I came across very awkward.  My first victim was a Massage Therapist and an owner of a spa.  She hired and fired LMTs!  I felt totally inadequate.  Looking back, it's because I was trying so hard to fit into the box.  My hands have always known what to do.  Just being in a "Massage Therapist" role put me in unknown territory.  15 months later, I am confident with my hands and as a 'Massage Therapist", but on that day I was humbled.

 This is me giving a face massage at Breitenbush:

I met many incredible people and opened up to people in a way I had never allowed before.  The months flew by. Each class taught me more about the human body, massage and more importantly about myself.

Coming soon: more stories about school

Journey into massage school

Since childhood, I knew I loved giving massage.  I would "play" with my dad's hands, rub someone's shoulders, head, back, or feet without second thought.  I loved when my mom rubbed my head or my dad helped clear my sinuses with his thumbs.

I love connecting to people through touch.

No one in my family ever received professional massage.  I never thought of massage as an full time occupation.  I'd heard about reflexology, my great-aunt knew it and would treat my grandmother. That was the closest thing I knew about professional massage.

It was 2006, 3 years out of college, I was unemployeed and depressed.  A new house mate had just moved in, she had studied massage in NC and she gave me about 20 minutes on the massage table.  I was in love!  I had no idea of all the neat tricks you could do that felt so good.  I desired to return the favor and one night she asked me to massage her aching arms.  Intuitively and a bit more consciously, I followed the muscles and lead the stagnant energy out of her arms, hands and fingers.  She was amazed and asked if I had taken classes.  That surprised me and stirred an idea...

During the next 2 years the massage school idea was dormant. I was looking into going to grad school to become an acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor at OCOM.  I was taking the necessary science classes at PCC, getting acupuncture, taking Chi Kung and yoga classes, teaching gay tango, experimenting with contact improv and attending Heart of Now workshops. I had been getting healthier, eating better, biking more and getting to know myself.  Something didn't feel right about pursuing grad school for TCM. I realized I didn't want to fill my head with a different set of rules (eastern vs. western). I understood that my body knows things in a different way, not through the head and I got the confidence to seriously consider massage school. 

I was giving the occasional quick head, neck and shoulder massages at work (DiPrima Dolci Bakery).  I became certified to teach chi kung, which included adjusting students' stances and talking them through the movements.  All this was building my confidence.

It wasn't until 2008 that I began to look into massage schools.  I was stubborn about it at first.  I had preconceived notions about massage therapists that I didn't even realize were there.  Plus I thought, "I can give a great massage without more school."  Not to mention, more loans.  But Oregon law says you have to be licensed to practice massage, to be licensed you have to go to school and take board exams. 

I had a lot of great support from my chi kung community.  My family wasn't enthusiastic about it, although they didn't outright disrespect it.  They reasoned that I had already gone to college and had a degree in a more "acceptable" field.

I looked at the 2 schools in the area and chose The Oregon School of Massage for it's recognition of "mind, body and spirit", it's Shiatsu program, and because they have pleasantly purple walls :-).

I began classes in June 2008 and finished in August 2009.  More about the incredible time in school to come.  Stay tuned ;-)

My story thus far...

This is Me:

I liked school (the learning part), but not authority...
After completing high school in North Carolina, where I took AP classes and skipped school for yoga classes and unmentionable shenanigans, I left for college in New York City. I made it into Pratt Institute and spent my first year in the Foundation Program, drawing, painting, sculpting and learning graphic design programs (my intended major). Sophomore year, I switched to the Industrial Design program and there I stayed. I learned product design, furniture design, exhibit design, welding, 3-D graphics programs, and concluded with a summer in Denmark, studying and building Scandinavian furniture at the Danish Design School via DIS Program. All the while experimenting with drugs, sexuality, image, music...who am I? Overall a terrific experience.

After college, I moved out to Portland, OR. Not having the desire to actually get a job, I farted around working for my dad and for a number of other tyrants doing construction and woodworking. Little did I know I just wanted to "find myself".

So I did what a good little girl would do, I got a "real" job...dun dunn duun (ominous sound). Worked as a "Project Manager/Exhibit Designer" for Intex Exhibit Systems. I survived in that windowless cubicle for a year, mostly due to my friend Joe. We played Frisbee and walked on the railroad track for far too long at lunch. This is Joe:We worked for a crazy boss whose ethics were way off.

Around this time I was in denial that I was wasting my life in a cubicle, I happened to look on craig's list and decided to join an Eco Tourism group going to Ecuador to travel down the Amazon River into the jungle with the Cofan, an indigenous people. Before I left however, I was laid-off. I took it personally at the time, now I thank them. It was the best thing to happen to me.

We left in December 2005 and returned in January 2006. During that time I woke up out of my illusion. I awoke from the apathy, depression, lifelessness... whatever you want to call the walking zombies so many of us have become. I saw the world anew and decided I wanted to do something with my life that mattered. Yes, I had thought this before, but now I believed I could do it and I wouldn't settle for less.

Of course, when I came back to the states I fell right back into the depression. I couldn't see how to fit into a world based on greed. I knew the hippies and the yuppies didn't have the answer. Deep down I knew no one had the answer and I was depressed. I was getting unemployment and spending my time smoking pot and avoiding myself. I took yoga classes, participated in community events and still I couldn't connect with that feeling I had in the jungle...

...Until I found Tzun Tzun. He taught Tibetan Chi Kung though an organization called Quiet Thunder. Really, it wasn't about the chi kung. He helped us get back into our bodies through meditation, chi kung, and speaking the truth we didn't want to hear. I didn't like it at first, I was probably there as a form of self abuse. Over the years things have changed (and continue to change) a lot. Classes with Tzun Tzun are fun and challenging, it's a cultivation of energy and spirit.

Throughout all this, I learned about myself. I love connecting to people through touch. I desire to help other people get back into their bodies. I see massage as a preventative medicine and as a healing transmission to both parties.

My own study of energy and the sacred began with the trip in the Amazon basin, was revived in Chi Kung classes here in Portland and became my own during my journey through massage school.

Thanks for reading my first blog ever! It's amazing to look back and learn about myself through blogging. Who'da thunk?