A Day in the Life of a Massage Therapist
This story was written by Kit Harlow. A recent chiropractic school grad, Kit is the voice behind our “Inside Chiro School” series. This time, they chatted with a coworker to explore a day in the life of a massage therapist.
Ever wonder what it’s actually like to live and work as a massage therapist after you graduate? Our mentors and professors work hard to prepare us for the professional world. However, there are many different paths to choose from. It can be hard to predict what it will truly be.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with my coworker, Mela Amara. She is a massage therapist at Uptown Chirocenter in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN. We got into the nitty-gritty of her journey to finding massage, patient care, and life after academia. I hope our conversation will give insight into this corner of healthcare.
Let’s Start at the Beginning
I asked Mela about her journey to becoming a massage therapist and she responded with, “how far back do you want to go?”
Like many healthcare workers, Mela’s first experiences influenced her perception of medicine. She shared that doctors diagnosed her with Clostridium Difficile (C. diff) at age six. A common bacterial infection that often spreads through hospitals and long-term care facilities.
This bacterium causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain. It can also harm the colon. In vulnerable people, it may lead to septic shock and death.
“It was actually caused by over prescription of antibiotics – I was misdiagnosed with strep throat, when in reality I had a staph infection. My interest in the medical world was piqued by this whole ordeal, however I was equally disenchanted with western medicine at this time.”
An Innate Love for Eastern Medicine
Intuitively drawn to massage, in high school, she discovered she could help her classmates feel better and relieve stress by pounding on their back. She now knows this as a technique called “tapotement.”
I initially pursued Shiatsu, which is a Japanese massage technique that is similar to Acupuncture, but it involves using your fingers instead of needles to stimulate healing points. I fell in love with the Eastern way of healing the body, which views the body as a garden to nurture and nourish, with intention as a whole.”
Mela started her practice as soon as she could. She shared that she has added many massage techniques to her skills over the years, such as:
- Deep Tissue
- Reflexology
- Myofascial Release
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Cranio-Sacral Therapy
- Somatic Trauma Healing
Morning Routine
A day in the life of a massage therapist starts with caring for yourself. Mela shared how she likes to take care of herself before she dedicates herself to her clients.
“I get up and have some coffee while I sit quietly and look out my patio window and bask in my sunlight lamp. Then I feed my dog, and we go for a mile walk. After that I do sun-salutations and then settle into a meditation for about 10-30 minutes. Then I get in the shower and get ready.”
“When I’m good, I remember to take my supplements (probiotic, Vitamin D, Sam-E, Vitamin B complex, Omega’s, Calcium/Magnesium, and Lion’s Mane). Then I’m out the door or settling in front of my computer with some Codonopsis tea to start my workday.”
Setting Up the Space
Curious about her prep work, I asked Mela how she assembles her space and establishes the ambiance.
“I make sure the space is clean, physically and energetically, with the intention of creating a safe haven for healing to take place,” she explained. “I first do an intake consultation for each client, and then while they get onto the massage table, I visualize the session as fulfilling and successful for both the client and me.”
There is no Typical Day in the Life of a Massage Therapist
Mela’s work week consists of three days on, usually with three sessions per workday. She sets her own schedule.
“90-minute sessions are usually what client’s book, however two-hour sessions are my favorite,” she shared.
I enjoy how profoundly deep I can help patients go into themselves during longer sessions. I love having the freedom to create my own schedule.”
When I asked what a typical session looks like, she responded:
“There is no typical client session. Some people are coming in purely for the physical purpose of wanting the body to feel better. Some people are coming in to treat themselves or are practicing self-care,” says Mela.
“Clients come for trauma healing because they know their tissues are still holding on to past pain. Some clients have found and followed me for many years as I’ve switched locations, saying there’s no massage like a Mela-Massage.”
“I do a lot of trauma healing and energy clearing, helping my clients to tune into themselves. A lot of my clients have headaches and jaw pain/disorder. I also help to increase flexibility/range of motion and release built up tension in the body while creating a safe space for healing and releasing to take place.”
Integrative Care
NWHSU is an integrative institution, with a core belief that healthcare should be person-centered and evidence-informed. As we move into the future of healthcare, integrative clinics are becoming more common. These clinics focus on preventative care, holistic approaches, and complementary and eastern medicine.
So, what does integrative care mean to a massage therapist?
“[Integrative care means] using all that I know and have learned and applying it when and where it’s useful. Coordinating care with my client and their healing team to customize what being healthy means for them. Knowing that both currently conventional medicine, as well as ancient modalities, have validity, as well as the impact that lifestyle and habits have on the individual.”
It’s also about active participation and personal responsibility with creating and maintaining a healthy life. It’s having many tools to use, finding new ways to use them, and knowing when and how to use what tool. It’s knowing that no one tool is superior to them all, and sometimes that you need to get a new tool because the old one is a broken hand-me-down, and you deserve the newest and best tools available to you.”
Does being a massage therapist interest you? Are you ready to make a difference? If so, consider a career in massage therapy. Apply to NWHSU’s dual-accredited program, contact us for more information, or register to attend Discovery Day.