Ok gang...not sure who really reads this but I am enlisting your help. I need to get a business license to practice massage privately and I am hitting a wall in every direction trying to come up with a name for my business. These are a few things to keep in mind when thinking of a name...
- The types of massage I will be practicing- deep tissue, pre-natal, structural integration (10 sessions to put your body back where it belongs), injury, reflexology, cranial sacral, hydrostone (hot and cold stone). I will also offer some body wraps- they are AMAZING! Eventually lymphatic drainage will be part of this list but I haven't recieved that training yet.
- I will be using essential oils in my practice as well. Not with everyone but there are definately benefits and I want to incorporate that.
- While I do want to offer a relaxing environment and maybe one day bring in an esthitician to work with me for now it will be me but I want the business to be able to function with multiple facets at some point (JD thought of Simply Massage and while I like the name it doesn't bring it all together) Additionally, it won't be like a spa environment in that type of relaxation. It will be more "clinical" in nature. My goal is to help my clients feel better. I want them to walk away feeling better than they did when they got on my massage table. (I know you are thinking it isn't possible to feel worse after a massage but I PROMISE you that it is possible- I have experienced it first hand...NOT FUN!!)
- I actually like using the name bodywork or bodyworks in the name of the business somehow since it isn't just massage as people typically think of it but helping the body function as a whole unit the way it is meant too.
Let me just throw in here for good measure how amazing our bodies are. I am doing the Master Bodyworker classes right now at UCMT and oh my goodness is it amazing. I'm turing into kind of an anatomy geek. I can see even more ways to help people that I know personally with issues they are having physically. I don't look at people the same way anymore. It may sound odd but I look at dysfuntions of the body now and work through a protocol in my head of how I would help them. For the mommy's out there...lympathic drainage is awesome stuff as well as structural integration...wowza!
I am submitting an application to set up a booth at the Pleasant Grove Promenade that takes place every Thursday for 4 hours. It is a farmer's market type event to help build my client list so I can start working for myself instead of someone else. I need to have a business name so I can register with the state of Utah and City of Pleasant Grove to make it happen.
Thank you all for any ideas that you will send my way. I hope this gives you an idea of what I'm looking for. I'm working on my mission statement now. Well I guess I have it written above but I need to condense it down so it is a quick read.
Until next time...
Showing posts with label Massage Therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Massage Therapy. Show all posts
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Back to school...
It is ridiculous how much I don't really care for change but how I can keep it coming at nearly constant pace in my life. I have wanted to take the classes to become a Master Bodyworker at UCMT for quite some time. It hit me really hard at the end of my professional program that I wanted to do it but I couldn't seem to figure out how I was going to make it happen and keep a job because the program is during the day only.
Who wants to hire someone that is only available a few days a week? (I'm still wondering that as I am looking for a massage position that fits me and will fit my schedule) A few weeks after JD and I were married we were talking about school and what our goals were for school and I told him that I wanted to do this master's program but I was worried about the job situation and I would have to leave my current job as an administrative assistant to make it possible because it was only during the day that the classes I need to take are offered. Granted the program is only 10 weeks and it is only 4 days per week for the first 3 weeks then it is only 3 days per week but I am one who has always had a job that was 40 plus hours per week and a "guaranteed" paycheck every pay period. Well enter CHANGE...I put in my notice at my current job several weeks ago, enrolled in the Master Bodywork program and will start school again for 10 weeks on May 26. I am so excited to go back to school and make this dream come true. I am even more excited and grateful that I have married such a wonderful man that makes it possible for me to follow my dreams and encourages me to follow them. When I get stressed about how everything will work out he is cool as a cucumber and says it will be just fine and not to worry about it. Some how that seems to work and when I get scared again he is right there still cheering me on and encouraging and telling me it will be ok and I know it will.
Now on to the massage therapist job search...it has been an interesting experience. You may or may not know that when a massage therapist applies for a job it isn't the typical face to face hand over your resume interview- it also includes a hands on massage session. Honestly, as much as I love to talk I love to give a massage more so that part of the interview if my favorite. Every company or group is different how they do it too.
Last Saturday I spent 3 hours in the breezeway at a COSTCO in West Valley City, UT doing chair massages and helping the company I was interviewing with promote their new business that is opening in mid- June. Now I was raised to be honest and I had this nagging feeling working there last Saturday that these fellas may not be the most honest guys I had ever met. I expressed my concern about telling people about what I was supposed to tell people while I was massaging them because I didn't know anything about the business besides the 2-3 minutes they had told me about it when I got there. One of the owners actually said to me, "Don't worry about it just tell them whatever because people forget 70% of what you tell them anyway." YIKES!! This threw up a big red flag but I finished up the interview and by the end the owners had offered me a position at their Medical Spa. However, a big portion of it would be selling a coupon to get people to come into the business and try out the other products. Now don't get me wrong I'm a team player and I'm willing to jump in and help but that was to be my main focus. I just didn't feel good about it but I wanted to talk to JD before I made any decisions. I went home and explained it to him and he said it didn't sound right to him either and he knows my passion is for massage, so I opted out of that offer. An interesting addition to this is my friend from school who set up the interview for me and was to be their spa director isn't going to be working for them either because everything they had previously agreed to they had backed out on... I am so glad I have that voice inside me that I listen too (most of the time).
The second interview was this past Tuesday at a place only 10 minutes from our home in Pleasant Grove. It is a very flexible schedule and they are willing to work with my school schedule and seemed to be impressed with my desire to continue learning more massage modalities and that I was close by. My hands on massage for them only lasted 15 minutes...very limited. I loved it! The office just felt right...it felt good...it felt like a place I should be. I am in a holding pattern now waiting to hear back from them. A good plug for us farm kids from Idaho that like to make connections with our little towns...the owner grew up in St Anthony and used to pheasant hunt in Mud Lake...I love making those connections especially in an interview- it always seems to give you a leg up somehow- let's hope it happens that way this time.
Finally, I am applying for a teaching assistant position at the UCMT campuses in Salt Lake City and Lindon. Although I will be in school all day I won't be in class at night and both campuses offer night classes and I want to be in that environment again (even after I'm done with Master's)...I always learned more when I was explaining a technique or concept to someone else and I love UCMT and the instructors and TA's I had were awesome...I want to be able to help someone else find their passion like those people did for me.
So my plea to each of you that read this is please pray that I am able to find a job that will be wonderful and work for me and JD...that will allow me to do what I love (and miss so much) and will be flexible for 10 short weeks while I add to my menu of services available.
Until next time...
Who wants to hire someone that is only available a few days a week? (I'm still wondering that as I am looking for a massage position that fits me and will fit my schedule) A few weeks after JD and I were married we were talking about school and what our goals were for school and I told him that I wanted to do this master's program but I was worried about the job situation and I would have to leave my current job as an administrative assistant to make it possible because it was only during the day that the classes I need to take are offered. Granted the program is only 10 weeks and it is only 4 days per week for the first 3 weeks then it is only 3 days per week but I am one who has always had a job that was 40 plus hours per week and a "guaranteed" paycheck every pay period. Well enter CHANGE...I put in my notice at my current job several weeks ago, enrolled in the Master Bodywork program and will start school again for 10 weeks on May 26. I am so excited to go back to school and make this dream come true. I am even more excited and grateful that I have married such a wonderful man that makes it possible for me to follow my dreams and encourages me to follow them. When I get stressed about how everything will work out he is cool as a cucumber and says it will be just fine and not to worry about it. Some how that seems to work and when I get scared again he is right there still cheering me on and encouraging and telling me it will be ok and I know it will.
Now on to the massage therapist job search...it has been an interesting experience. You may or may not know that when a massage therapist applies for a job it isn't the typical face to face hand over your resume interview- it also includes a hands on massage session. Honestly, as much as I love to talk I love to give a massage more so that part of the interview if my favorite. Every company or group is different how they do it too.
Last Saturday I spent 3 hours in the breezeway at a COSTCO in West Valley City, UT doing chair massages and helping the company I was interviewing with promote their new business that is opening in mid- June. Now I was raised to be honest and I had this nagging feeling working there last Saturday that these fellas may not be the most honest guys I had ever met. I expressed my concern about telling people about what I was supposed to tell people while I was massaging them because I didn't know anything about the business besides the 2-3 minutes they had told me about it when I got there. One of the owners actually said to me, "Don't worry about it just tell them whatever because people forget 70% of what you tell them anyway." YIKES!! This threw up a big red flag but I finished up the interview and by the end the owners had offered me a position at their Medical Spa. However, a big portion of it would be selling a coupon to get people to come into the business and try out the other products. Now don't get me wrong I'm a team player and I'm willing to jump in and help but that was to be my main focus. I just didn't feel good about it but I wanted to talk to JD before I made any decisions. I went home and explained it to him and he said it didn't sound right to him either and he knows my passion is for massage, so I opted out of that offer. An interesting addition to this is my friend from school who set up the interview for me and was to be their spa director isn't going to be working for them either because everything they had previously agreed to they had backed out on... I am so glad I have that voice inside me that I listen too (most of the time).
The second interview was this past Tuesday at a place only 10 minutes from our home in Pleasant Grove. It is a very flexible schedule and they are willing to work with my school schedule and seemed to be impressed with my desire to continue learning more massage modalities and that I was close by. My hands on massage for them only lasted 15 minutes...very limited. I loved it! The office just felt right...it felt good...it felt like a place I should be. I am in a holding pattern now waiting to hear back from them. A good plug for us farm kids from Idaho that like to make connections with our little towns...the owner grew up in St Anthony and used to pheasant hunt in Mud Lake...I love making those connections especially in an interview- it always seems to give you a leg up somehow- let's hope it happens that way this time.
Finally, I am applying for a teaching assistant position at the UCMT campuses in Salt Lake City and Lindon. Although I will be in school all day I won't be in class at night and both campuses offer night classes and I want to be in that environment again (even after I'm done with Master's)...I always learned more when I was explaining a technique or concept to someone else and I love UCMT and the instructors and TA's I had were awesome...I want to be able to help someone else find their passion like those people did for me.
So my plea to each of you that read this is please pray that I am able to find a job that will be wonderful and work for me and JD...that will allow me to do what I love (and miss so much) and will be flexible for 10 short weeks while I add to my menu of services available.
Until next time...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A lot can change in a year
I am just 4 classes...count them 1,2,3,4...from finishing massage therapy school. It has been an amazing year. I have been truly blessed to spend time with some of the most amazing and talented people nearly every night for the past year and every Saturday for the past 6 months (at clinic). When I think of what life was like a year ago it just makes me chuckle. So different than today and only 4 classes left.
The first night we had 200 nights of classes ahead of us plus 21 weekends at student clinic providing massage to the general public. We were 52 people strong that first week and in just a week we will graduate with 29 of the best people, not to mention mondo talented massage therapists that were a year in the making. I remember our first basic massage classes. We were hungry to learn more than the "fluff and buff" massage we were being taught but we were patient but also tests our own "moves" to find our groove. I loved to watch my classmates give a massage. One guy in particular, Rob Peterson...he took the direction from our instructors about our massage looking like a dance literally. I would set up my table and make sure I was the therapist working on my classmate the same time he was so I could watch him. He made my "dance" better just by watching him...thanks Rob...you rock and seriously I miss the dreads!
Our class was so quiet those first few weeks and the instructors could barely pry words or reactions from us. Now we are a bunch of loose canons...you never know what we may decide to say or do in class. Some of the instructors that seems so intimidating and scary those first few months are now our friends, colleagues and best cheerleaders. They want us to succeed and it is expressed in every class they teach and every time they come and slap our hand or kick our heel so we are using our bodies in the correct way to give a better massage and take care of our own body and tools.
The friends I have made over the past year have made my life richer.
First, my buddy Matthew "Matty" Peterson. I just love this guy! I'll tell you what...this guy can give a bear hug better than anyone I know. He is so talented in so many ways but the love he has for the work... who am I kidding for anything that he does is incredible. Some of my favorite times with him was the jam sessions he would have at my apartment before class. Our late phone conversations after class because we just didn't have time that night and one us needed to talk. I love you buddy! I worry about you always and want you to know that you are NEVER alone and you are loved more than my simple words can express.
Kaitlyn Linford...what a doll... oh I don't think she would like that but I don't know how else to describe her. She is tough as nails. Don't ever tell her she can't go deep enough with a massage because she will prove you wrong even though she is just a little sprite! This girl has more depth than the deepest ocean, so brilliant and she works so hard for everything she has. I loved to partner up with her during hands on sessions because I learned so much just from having her work on me. She is another of those free-spirited Mormon girls like me. Not a wild one by any means but now so straight laced either. She has had some hard knocks in life and she knocked 'em right back and came out the victor for sure. Oh man I'm going to miss this girl!
Crystal Farrell...oh my sweet girl, Crystal. I admire this girl so much because of the hard work and determination she has put into this program. I honestly think she has worked harder than anyone because it has been harder for her and I am so glad she stuck with it. She has such a sweet, child like quality about her that just makes her wonderful and so easy to love and tease. As anyone that knows me can attest too I'm pretty rough around the edges at times...Miss Crystal has softened some of those edges through her quiet, gentle spirit. I am so glad to call her my friend and one of my best massage buddies during class and hand on exams. I'm sure going to miss seeing her face every night at class...thank you for everything, my dear girl.
My instructors I can't even begin to adequately express my gratitude for them, the knowledge they have shared with us and the time and energy the put into the work to help educate us newbies. The best cheerleaders you can have on a bad day. Encouraging you to do better and try harder. Opening up my eyes to different opportunities that I didn't know existed. They were part of the package deal when I paid tuition but I couldn't have picked a better group of people to learn from.
How blessed I am to have lived this last year in Salt Lake, learning and growing with some of the most amazing people on the planet. I will always be grateful!
Now the "fun" of school is nearly over, I'm done practicing and I'm ready to hit the ground running and starting my own practice. If you need a massage please contact me. Who am I kidding...we all need a massage. Thank you to everyone for their support over the past year...I love you all and couldn't have done it without you!
Until next time...
The first night we had 200 nights of classes ahead of us plus 21 weekends at student clinic providing massage to the general public. We were 52 people strong that first week and in just a week we will graduate with 29 of the best people, not to mention mondo talented massage therapists that were a year in the making. I remember our first basic massage classes. We were hungry to learn more than the "fluff and buff" massage we were being taught but we were patient but also tests our own "moves" to find our groove. I loved to watch my classmates give a massage. One guy in particular, Rob Peterson...he took the direction from our instructors about our massage looking like a dance literally. I would set up my table and make sure I was the therapist working on my classmate the same time he was so I could watch him. He made my "dance" better just by watching him...thanks Rob...you rock and seriously I miss the dreads!
Our class was so quiet those first few weeks and the instructors could barely pry words or reactions from us. Now we are a bunch of loose canons...you never know what we may decide to say or do in class. Some of the instructors that seems so intimidating and scary those first few months are now our friends, colleagues and best cheerleaders. They want us to succeed and it is expressed in every class they teach and every time they come and slap our hand or kick our heel so we are using our bodies in the correct way to give a better massage and take care of our own body and tools.
The friends I have made over the past year have made my life richer.
First, my buddy Matthew "Matty" Peterson. I just love this guy! I'll tell you what...this guy can give a bear hug better than anyone I know. He is so talented in so many ways but the love he has for the work... who am I kidding for anything that he does is incredible. Some of my favorite times with him was the jam sessions he would have at my apartment before class. Our late phone conversations after class because we just didn't have time that night and one us needed to talk. I love you buddy! I worry about you always and want you to know that you are NEVER alone and you are loved more than my simple words can express.
Kaitlyn Linford...what a doll... oh I don't think she would like that but I don't know how else to describe her. She is tough as nails. Don't ever tell her she can't go deep enough with a massage because she will prove you wrong even though she is just a little sprite! This girl has more depth than the deepest ocean, so brilliant and she works so hard for everything she has. I loved to partner up with her during hands on sessions because I learned so much just from having her work on me. She is another of those free-spirited Mormon girls like me. Not a wild one by any means but now so straight laced either. She has had some hard knocks in life and she knocked 'em right back and came out the victor for sure. Oh man I'm going to miss this girl!
Crystal Farrell...oh my sweet girl, Crystal. I admire this girl so much because of the hard work and determination she has put into this program. I honestly think she has worked harder than anyone because it has been harder for her and I am so glad she stuck with it. She has such a sweet, child like quality about her that just makes her wonderful and so easy to love and tease. As anyone that knows me can attest too I'm pretty rough around the edges at times...Miss Crystal has softened some of those edges through her quiet, gentle spirit. I am so glad to call her my friend and one of my best massage buddies during class and hand on exams. I'm sure going to miss seeing her face every night at class...thank you for everything, my dear girl.
My instructors I can't even begin to adequately express my gratitude for them, the knowledge they have shared with us and the time and energy the put into the work to help educate us newbies. The best cheerleaders you can have on a bad day. Encouraging you to do better and try harder. Opening up my eyes to different opportunities that I didn't know existed. They were part of the package deal when I paid tuition but I couldn't have picked a better group of people to learn from.
How blessed I am to have lived this last year in Salt Lake, learning and growing with some of the most amazing people on the planet. I will always be grateful!
Now the "fun" of school is nearly over, I'm done practicing and I'm ready to hit the ground running and starting my own practice. If you need a massage please contact me. Who am I kidding...we all need a massage. Thank you to everyone for their support over the past year...I love you all and couldn't have done it without you!
Until next time...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Massage Research Project
I am so excited today for multiple reasons but I am going to write about only one tonight and it has to do with being able to use my skills as a massage therapist. (Did anyone else hear the voice of Napoleon Dynamite with that skills comment??)
Anyway, for my Pathology class we have had to research a topic that has to deal with massage therapy or something else that might interest us. Well I of course chose massage therapy but more importantly the affects that massage therapy can have on someone with PCOS (Poly cystic Ovary Syndrome). For those that don't know I have this condition and am trying to learn all I can about the condition and what things can help alleviate it. So with that background and my excitement for the things I learn at school and sharing it with anyone that will listen. I was talking to a girl at work who is quickly becoming a good friend and I was telling her about my research project and health condition. She shared with me that she has endometriosis. She had a surgery in February 2008 and she and her husband have been trying to get pregnant for nearly 2 years. Ding, ding the light went on in my head and in hers at the same time and we decided to start our own little mini research project. I am really hoping that I can help her with her journey to parenthood and I will gain some great experience in the process. Additionally, I plan on attending nursing school once I'm done with massage therapy school and working with pregnant women and newborns in the NICU (at least that is my plan). So this experience will be great to add to a resume and a nursing school application.
I am going to limit the history that I share of this girl on my blog because it is her health history not mine but I will be sharing some of what goes on in this project. Our plan at this point is for me to perform two 30 minute reflexology sessions at work each week and then a regular massage on Fridays. This regular massage will include cranial sacral therapy but primarily Swedish techniques.
I am so excited that she is willing to be my "lab rat" and fyi that is her term not mine and I really hope and pray that this will help her too. Let me just say one more time...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE massage therapy and bodywork!!!
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