Working as a Massage Therapist in Hospitality
If you’re interested in becoming a massage therapist, there are many career directions to explore. In the Massage Specialties Series we’re checking in with NWHSU alumni and other massage therapists around the Twin Cities about how they’ve built specialized careers. Here, we talked about working as a massage therapist in hospitality, along with incorporating sports medicine and herbalism with massage.
Mikey Keenan is a massage therapist, personal trainer and herbalist who specializes in sports medicine and rehabilitation, as well as holistic medicine. Mikey is a NWHSU alum who completed the massage therapy program. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in sustainability and health at Metropolitan State University. Lastly, he is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Deciding on a Holistic Path
Like many people who pursue a career in healthcare, Mikey was impacted by his experiences as a child. He struggled with chronic illness in his early years, and was influenced by the care he received. He began taking classes right out of high school to become an herbalist, which he has now been practicing for over 10 years.
“As I got older and experimented with holistic healthcare, it really made a positive impact on my health. Getting into fitness and running gave me a healthy outlet to handle my emotions, while acupuncture and herbal medicine helped me to heal my physical body.”
Becoming a Massage Therapist
“My choice to become a massage therapist was strategic. I wanted to continue on a similar trajectory as the one I’d started with herbalism, and thought that massage school was a good choice,” explained Mikey. “I wanted a formal education, one that would allow myself to start working and supporting myself as soon as possible.”
Mikey completed NWHSU’s massage therapy program in 18 months, and continued his academic career at Metropolitan State University, where he dove into sports medicine.
“In college I was very present on campus, and was always chasing down opportunities. I fell into sports medicine through leadership. Continuing my education and double majoring in sustainability and health is truly a culmination of my beliefs so far. A huge component of holistic medicine is living in balance with your body and your environment, such as creating healthy cities that encourage people to walk and move more. More access to natural resources like drinking water and clean air.”
Working in the Hospitality Industry as a Massage Therapist
Mikey works at Anda Spa in the Ivy Hotel, providing massage therapy and personal training. “I’m currently applying a culmination of skills I’ve learned to the world of hospitality,” he shared. “In the past I’ve mostly worked with athletes and special populations, the clinic I used to work at also saw a lot of auto and work comp clients. A lot of people slip and fall on the ice at work!”
He shared that in hospitality, he sees a diverse array of patients. “Now I work with a broader client base. I see everyone from city locals to international clientele. Along with everyday athletes, I do pre- and post-natal, geriatrics, and see people with disabilities and other chronic conditions.” Working in hotels, at resorts, or on cruises is not a common path for massage therapists. In fact, only about 1% of massage therapists surveyed by The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork said that was their primary work setting. However, the opportunities are out there, and can be rewarding!
A Winding Path Can Lead to Opportunities
When wanting to specialize, an easy place to start is to look into what education and certification one needs. It’s easy to forget about the moments in between, or behind the scenes of attending class, that can lead to opportunity.
“Reflecting back on my career so far, my journey has not been as intentional compared to some of my peers. When I started college for massage therapy, I didn’t have an idea of where I wanted to work after completing my education, so visualizing that would be a good place to start,” shared Mikey. “Talk to people, network, search for opportunities and ask a lot of questions.”
Mikey is taking his own advice, currently working to build his own practice and business with a lot of networking, emails and research. “Right now I’m looking into starting my own herbal line, which comes with marketing, laws and regulations, and cosmetic chemistry. I also want to further anchor myself in the fitness community, so along with expanding my knowledge of other fitness modalities, I’m looking into getting the permits I need to host classes in the local parks in my area this spring.”
More than anything, his massage therapy career gives him the flexibility to dream big, and pursue many interests. “I’m hoping within the next 3-5 years to purchase rural property to build a farm, which is a huge dream of mine. I want to work with local organizations doing research on carbon sequestering through regenerative agricultural practices. Engaging with conservation projects to work towards restoring native habitats and healing the land. Of course, having my own little herb garden would be fun as well.”
A Rewarding Career
With any career path, success requires drive, practice, and dedication to one’s craft. So what makes it worth it for Mikey?
“At the end of the day it’s the ability to make a direct impact in somebody’s life, even if it’s just for a day. Practicing massage has been particularly rewarding. I think it’s an amazing thing to be able to ease somebody’s pain, help them relax, and ultimately feel connected to another person. To achieve all of that I just need my hands.”