"What inspired you to be a massage therapist?"
What will I answer?
I inherited a love and curiosity for science and biology from my father. Natural health was a big part of my life from birth. Though I was the third child in my family, I was the first home-birth. I never had shots and I don't remember ever going to the doctor. When we were sick, mom would give us herbs, garlic, vitamin C, lots of water, rest and soup.
I was so intrigued by natural health I was in a class called "Body Life" at age 9. I soaked it all up and would tell mom that my little brother needed to drink more water and less juice.
While some kids were earning pocket change doing chores and selling lemonade, I was walking around our friendly Tennessee neighborhood giving foot massages to grownups for a dollar. Everyone remarked on how strong and talented I was. My dad would tell me how to massage the sore spots on his back and many of my "customers" gave me ideas like how to massage the hands. One friend gave me books on reflexology and told me all about it.
Meanwhile I was growing up, learning to cook, clean and sew. I loved anything artistic or musical. I sang and sang and learned guitar. When a kid learns something new it is exciting and they feel they could do it all the time and never get tired of it. This was how I felt about baking and cleaning.
My kids books would say
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" They listed some of the typical things: firefighter, doctor, teacher. I wanted to be a veterinarian, then a baker, then a hairstylist, then a janitor. I thought about it a lot.
When I got older I was in "Health Club". About 60 kids and I were in competition eating vegetables and avoiding junk food for about 60 days, if I remember correctly.
It was fun and challenging. The guy who won had run around the neighborhood asking for heads of lettuce and devouring them without bothering to cut them up into salad. I wasn't that committed!
Eventually, around junior-high or high school, I realized massage therapy was the thing for me. It was what I had done since I was eight-years-old. I never got tired of making others feel better. In high school we were encouraged to think about and study the field of interest we were considering for a career.
I began to research massage and was encouraged to take classes on anatomy and physiology, which I did with increasing interest.
I learned about high blood pressure and how massage can help that. Many people I know suffer from this including my mom. I found out how stress could lead to other health problems and if massage could help prevent that, that's what i wanted to do.
So these are the reasons I chose massage therapy:
1. It is a natural, safe service that greatly benefits all.
2. It is tried and true for thousands of years and will not likely go out of style.
3. It pays well.
4. It is a career that often has a good work environment.
5. It is portable and versatile in so many ways.
