What else did they tell you in Massage School

Massage Practice Builder
What did massage school tell you that turned out to be false information (if any?)

Autum M Kenney Only in admissions, after you've signed up, the instructors let you know exactly how broke we all are.
December 19, 2010 at 5:20pm · Like ·

Christine Vander Bloomen Lmt That massage pushes out the toxins and water helps flush them away.
December 19, 2010 at 5:23pm · Like · 7 people ·

Judith Smith The instructors definitely said we could charge $60 {one said over $90} and so long as we visualized success, {per the secret} we'd have full client rosters and be turning people away.
December 19, 2010 at 5:27pm · Like ·

Rebecca Hafkemeyer Lmt They said there was a wide range of what you could earn and would earn. My big resentment to this idea is that massage should not be looked at as how much you can make per hour but rather make a living while helping others. I am not saying ...
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December 19, 2010 at 5:39pm · Like · 7 people ·

Brigitte Thorn Technically, massage increases circulation which in turn strips out more toxin's than normal, but this also increases the rate of dehydration which is why people need to drink water after a massage.
December 19, 2010 at 5:40pm · Like · 1 person ·

Lynne Stiller ‎@ Christine.....that one is so popular that clients quote it at me & it's hard to keep a straight face & not just fall over laughing....that one is right up there with 'more pressure will get the knots out' - like we're trying to iron the people flat...LOL
December 19, 2010 at 5:48pm · Like · 3 people ·

Joy Marcinkowski I was taught that people with cancer can not receive massage. I have since been certified in oncology massage and can give safe circulatory massage to cancer survivors (those who were and still are being treated).
December 19, 2010 at 5:51pm · Like · 8 people ·

Kenny Lyons Lmt I was fortunate enough to go through a program that was very up front about the difficulties we could face along with the possibilities. It started during the interview process and continued through graduation.
December 19, 2010 at 5:54pm · Like · 4 people ·

Christine Vander Bloomen Lmt Brigitte, there have been studies that disprove massage increases circulation. An article in Massage Today points this out. http://www.massagetoday.com/archives/2002/12/08.html
December 19, 2010 at 6:04pm · Like · 5 people ·

Christine Baker Lmt They let us know up front what all we would need that $60 an hour pay for. The only thing they told us that turned out to be false for me is that the franchises are nice about letting you pick your own schedule and guarantee you a full schedule. I do better filling my schedule being on my own and doing my own marketing.
December 19, 2010 at 6:04pm · Like ·

Christine Vander Bloomen Lmt I was also told not to massage pregnant clients while in the first trimester. I can't tell you how many regular clients I had that I found out were pregnant and by that time had numerous massages within their first trimester. I rarely turn away a first trimester mother. And, on the rare occation I have asked for a doctors slip, the client said the doctor thought it was nonsense.
December 19, 2010 at 6:07pm · Like · 5 people ·

Lynne Stiller I have known several cases where a first time pregnancy or someone with a problematic first trimester, after a massage within 2 or 3 days, the woman miscarried & one was at a location where I was at.
December 19, 2010 at 6:44pm · Like ·

Choice Kinchen ‎2 to 3 days after a massage and then a miscarriage.....kinda' hard to blame the therapist when so many other factors in 2-3 days could be to blame....plus,
December 19, 2010 at 7:10pm · Like · 3 people ·

Angela Rios ‎@Lynne-those women would have miscarried whether they had received a massage or not. Massage does NOTHING that could possibly cause a miscarriage.
December 19, 2010 at 7:17pm · Like · 5 people ·

Kjol Lahti I see schools using the AMTA numbers of massage therapists making the same money as PTA's & OTA's and yet their own surveys should their therapists making $18,000 a year and not $29,000 a year.
December 19, 2010 at 7:20pm · Like · 1 person ·

Alice Sanvito ‎"Technically, massage increases circulation which in turn strips out more toxin's than normal, but this also increases the rate of dehydration which is why people need to drink water after a massage." Bridgette - what Christine said.
December 19, 2010 at 7:29pm · Like · 3 people ·

Alan Segers Student of massage therapy here. I decided to get into this for reasons other than money, altho the earning potential was appealing as well.
December 19, 2010 at 8:05pm · Like · 1 person ·

Jessica Murphy Nothing I was told or taught was false. And I have made up to $60 an hour.
December 19, 2010 at 8:54pm · Like ·

Lester Barrows Christine had it dead on, the toxin/lactic acid thing actually bit me once when I was working on a PT during the school's clinic. Although she never mentioned anything about it, I'm sure she knew based on the reaction she had to the "explan...
December 19, 2010 at 9:13pm · Like ·

Carmella Zaic Patterson it was soooo many years ago...but the $60 an hour stands out..not when you take away all the $$ for rent, phone, lites, sheets, soap, oils, CE's, taxes,advertising etc etc etc.........aw common..not anywhere near 60 an hour..
December 19, 2010 at 9:43pm · Like · 1 person ·

Massage Practice Builder sorry I didn't ask my question right - I was continuing my last question on careers in massage. What did schools tell you about careers in massage that turned out to not be true or accurate? I am writing a book - Massage therapy careers - the truth about becoming a massage therapist (or something like that for the title!)
December 19, 2010 at 9:46pm · Like ·

Massage Practice Builder jessica- where did you make $60 an hour? what school did you go to?
December 19, 2010 at 9:47pm · Like ·


Ed Buresh It's been a long time since I was in school, but I don't remember anything
turning out to be false. Most non-technical information came in the form of stories and conjecture, and mostly what I find matches in some way. Of course, now that I...
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December 19, 2010 at 10:01pm · Like · 1 person ·

Alan Segers The school I am attending did not offer a specific amount that I can remember. I went into the initial consultation knowing the basic rate for a Swedish massage was on average $1/min.
December 19, 2010 at 10:02pm · Like ·

Lester Barrows Our school (NHI) was actually very realistic about expectations. There was a business class that broke down everything and explained just how much massage you'd need to do in order to make however much you wanted in a year. Which is largely why massage is not my only career, as I have a spouse to support.
December 19, 2010 at 10:03pm · Like ·

Cyra Briggs I was told I can make $60 or more but I have to be really good at it and be a detailed worker. Nobody is going to pay you that kind of money to spread oil on their body.
December 19, 2010 at 10:24pm · Like ·

Corenia Murphy At my school we were told that we would make a modest living and be able to do what we love. So far all true! I gave up a high paying corp job to become a LMP and have never looked back. Some things are just more importiant in life! I think there were some classmates that went into it for the money but making $60 an hour when you can only do x amount of massages a day just dosent add up....maybe math class & common sense should have been included in the prereques.
December 19, 2010 at 11:09pm · Like ·

Kimberly Wilson Rmt I can't imagine someone holding themselves to a 40 hour massage week 52 weeks of the year... and not burning out, or harming their own body.
December 19, 2010 at 11:50pm · Like ·

Alice Sanvito They didn't tell us much of anything career-wise. At least people are talking about that and thinking about that now. BTW, you all know this but there's a huge difference between what you charge and what you actually earn.
December 20, 2010 at 2:57am · Like ·

Jalene Johnson I dont' recall anything that I was taught being inaccurate. As far as toxins and circulation... I believe they said what the theories were and also said that there wasn't much research for it.
December 20, 2010 at 3:01am · Like · 1 person ·

Ed Buresh Choice - client began having severe symptoms 15 min post massage. True, one cannot say it was the massage, but the timing and rapid change in how she felt sticks in my mind none-the-less.
December 20, 2010 at 4:53am · Like ·
Ed Buresh What does everybody mean when they say "increased circulation?" Is it more quantity of blood to an area, faster flow of blood through an area, or more permeation of tissue? I'm with Jalene, reducing hypertonicity increases circulation in that area. If not, we would always be ischemic.
December 20, 2010 at 5:02am · Like ·

Ed Buresh I also notice a difference in how tissue responds depending on whether the person smokes or not. And I've been able to smell the smoke oozing from their pores as toxic gas.
December 20, 2010 at 5:18am · Like ·

Jessica Weagle I was told at the time I could get my license in CT. and that turned out to be a lie. At the time CT. did not reconzie the school I went to. That has since charged
December 20, 2010 at 11:33am · Like ·

Jalene Johnson Ed, that is a good point and you brought back a memory. I too was working on a smoker and the smell was so very strong. I didn't smell her before the massage, only when I got to her back which was the last part. So if that isn't toxins getting moved through and released then what is it!?
December 20, 2010 at 1:49pm · Like ·

Christine Vander Bloomen Lmt Jalene, most likely, it is simply the odor of the tobacco working it's way through her system. Did you know if you rub garlic on the bottom of your feet within a very short while you can smell garlic on your breath.
December 20, 2010 at 4:34pm · Like ·

Greg Bessmer ‎@Christine Any more? I have learned a LOT with this one thread!!! Thanks everyone and Happy Holidays to all!
December 20, 2010 at 9:04pm · Like ·

Choice Kinchen Lynne, chill a little. No where was I misrepresenting you...I was merely stating I found it hard to believe that the therapist was being blamed....sheesh....
December 20, 2010 at 10:04pm · Like ·