hello from Dallas!

[meanolmaw]

To cut directly to the chase, I have been thinking about massage school on and off for a few months. I currently work in an office and have been brainstorming ways of talking my bosses into giving me some time off either in the mornings or evenings to do a slow-track massage program (2 days a week).

Well, this morning I was told that my hours were being cut from 40 to 32, so I now have 8 more hours free in the week. I'm not happy about losing that amount of pay, but maybe this is a sign that some schooling is now possible.

I'd be interested to talking to anyone who has been to massage school in Dallas or the surrounding areas. I'm going to start calling some schools this week and ask if they have any kind of "open house" or a way for me to audit classes to see if this is really for me.

Michelle

 

[Little Pooky]

well, maybe it's congrats? on getting 8 extra hours in your week? it would be really neat if this works out to be something really great for you. sometimes solutions and answers come to us in ways like this...and sometimes i think these little surprises are the best ways to get them...

i'm sorry i am not in the Dallas area, but at my school they allow prospective students to sit in on a class or two (before signing up) to see if they're up for it and want to commit. i would recommend auditing some classes and visiting different schools if you're unsure in any way. also, going to receive some massage/bodywork for yourself if you have not already is, of course, another great way to see what it's all about!

i hope for you all the best!

 

[Glow]

I've had several massages (when I've been able to afford them) and have enjoyed them. Hopefully when I check out some area schools, I'll have an opportunity to check out their student massage clinics too.

I'm just trying to have a positive outlook about my hours being cut, because there's nothing else I can do about it!

 

[pumpernickel o]

Sounds like the perfect solution. Now you don't have to ask for your hours to be reduced.

Going to massage school has been a great experience. I have learned so much and most of it is really fun for me.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[eeyore6802]

Look up a variety of different businesses that offer massage in your area, and ask the owners/managers what massage school(s) they are familiar with, and which one(s) they'd recommend. If you can, stop into some of those businesses to get an idea of what kind of environment and services they provide. This will give you some perspective on what their hiring standards may be.

LOL. I was recently told by an instructor at a massage school that it was unlikely I'd ever hire one of their grads, "because it sounds like your business is trying to be a step beyond the rest." :shock: Well... yeah! : I've hired new grads fresh out of school, but we do have a reputation to uphold.

When people ask what school I'd recommend, I reply by asking "What kind of work do you want to do?" This is important, because school curriculums generally have different strengths, and a person that wants to do shiatsu should go to the school that offers renowned shiatsu training instead of another school that spends maybe a couple days on it.

Do you know what kind of massage work you want to do? It's a good question that may determine your choice of school as much as anything else.

 

[Scott H]

Look up a variety of different businesses that offer massage in your area, and ask the owners/managers what massage school(s) they are familiar with, and which one(s) they'd recommend.

Good idea. I've mostly had massages here at hotel spas (and Massage Envy once, but I didn't really care for it), so I will try calling the hotels and trying to track down who would hire the therapists there.

Do you know what kind of massage work you want to do? It's a good question that may determine your choice of school as much as anything else.

I haven't fully explored many of the modalities discussed here, so I will need to do some more research before I can really decide what specialties I want to focus on. I am interested in birthwork, so I will probably want to focus to some extent on pregnancy massage. Past that, I don't know yet.

How did you discover a specialty?