Full disclosure: I’m a combo of western beliefs and holistic beliefs (further known as oowoo, because it’s much more fun to say!).
My journey started in 2012. I had just ended what I thought at the time was a very important relationship, and started working in an office. There was a psychic making a name for herself in the oowoo world, and I was curious to try her out. She said I hated my job and I should become a massage therapist. Very point blank. It felt forward, but her words about not liking my job were true. I loved the people, but working behind a desk 9–5 doing the same monotonous routine just wasn’t my jam. So I figured: what harm would it do to check out an entry-level course? I enrolled in MRU’s massage for beginners.
I attended 2 of the 4 sessions, and decided from those two that yes, this was a path I wanted to pursue. Not wanting to lose the awesomeness of full-time job money, I looked for a quality part-time education that let me keep working. I found that in MH Vicars, still one of the top schools in the province despite being part time. The program expected 15–20 hours of self-study a week, then taught the major principles and techniques of massage 4 days a month.
Once I graduated in 2014, a student in a fast-track class asked if I’d like to take over her practice. Welcome to my first year of working alongside a chiropractor. I learned the basics of k-tape and little nuances I still use today — like pain at the lower edge of the shoulder blade that doesn’t ease with treatment is very likely a diaphragm issue.
In 2015 my practice wasn’t thriving as much as I’d hoped, and I wondered if massage was for me. I tried to get back into office work and had no luck — eye-opening, because work had always come easily to me. Worn down, I switched clinics instead. I had such a positive experience booking consistently as a deep tissue female therapist who could work evenings that I realised it wasn’t me as a massage therapist that wasn’t working, it was my role with the chiropractor. The new clinic had massage therapists ranging from western (always studying anatomy and pain science) to eastern (incorporating energy work), plus EFT practitioners and acupuncturists all trying different things. It was revolutionary and felt like home.
In the midst of this I was also building a small mobile practice to balance my income. I found it highly attractive: self-employed, I work for myself and I’m sovereign over my finances, even if it means saving and paying more in taxes. I have complete freedom over my schedule — one of the biggest draws for me as a massage therapist. It kept growing as I visited trade shows and learned which marketing worked and what retained clients.
Towards the end of 2016 the clinic changed ownership, and the new owners’ agenda didn’t fit my goals, so I took a risk in December 2016 and went fully mobile. I thank myself every day for taking that gamble; it has rewarded me time and time again.
Today I run a thriving practice where most of my clients are repeat clients or direct referrals from them.
Other things of note: I love to learn, and I try to bring everything I learn into my practice. I don’t always take on the whole modality I train in (such as Thai yoga massage), but I always keep a piece of it.
Courses I’ve taken: Introduction to Aromatherapy, Indian Foot Massage, Dynamic Cupping, Traditional and Multi Reflexology, Thai Yoga Massage, and RAPID NeuroFascial Reset. I also take personal-interest courses with the intention of integrating them down the road — so far Intro to Palm Reading, Foot Reading and Astrology.
As curious as I am about the body, I’m also curious about the mind and personality of each person, and that drives these personal-interest courses. But for those of you looking for a massage: I’ll continue to have your back!