Hands On
Tonight, I hit ten classes, which is about a third of the way through the program, which was the time I told myself I would mention it in the journal (even though I've told a few of you in person already, so this won't really be news to some of you).
I started massage therapy school about a month ago.
It's a pretty good setup for me. I go anywhere between 1-3 classes a week, three hour classes all in the evenings so it doesn't affect work or the ongoing physical therapy for my ankle. The tuition is affordable, and after 102 hours of classes, a couple of written exams, (at least) 10 one-hour practicums, (full body "practice" massages where there is an intake and questionnaire), and a final graded massage on one of the instructors, I can become a licensed, certified massage therapist (specializing in Swedish massage for now, with more education and training in other areas in the future).
I've been pretty hesitant to mention it here publicly in the journal, for many reasons. First, I really wanted to avoid the jokes about happy endings and what not until I had gotten some classes under my belt. But I know that those jokes are going to be there no matter what I do, or how serious my intent. Plus, I wanted to get good enough at it that I could sort of casually mention it in the future, like "oh by the way, I'm a licensed CMT now. You know, whatever." ;) But it's a large part of my life right now, going to class, thinking about different strokes and stretches I want to try out on people, and what am I going to do with this when (there is no IF) I graduate, and also trying to fit all the information I'm learning about the anatomy amidst all the other random crap going on in my brain on a daily basis. It's hard!
But I never thought it would be easy when I decided to do it. It's "easy" to do in San Francisco, hours wise, because the City has one of the lowest number of training hours in the country to actually become a CMT. It might even be the lowest. But it's by no means easy. There's a lot of concentration and focus and clearing your mind and having a plan but making it all feel effortless, so that you're present for the person laying on your table. You can easily get inside your own head as you're working and lose your way. But it's an ongoing journey, with further education planned as I have the time (and money) to explore. So why massage? Honestly, I've been giving back-rubs to friends since high school French class (my first "client" sat in front of me, and she was a bundle of nerves). I'd always wanted to learn more about something I was doing instinctively, just based on touch, and how it helped someone feel a little better. And the longer I've been doing my job, the more and more I've wanted out completely, to do something miles away from sitting behind a desk putting out fires via emails and phone calls.
Fred's been so amazingly supportive during all of this, and I haven't even worked on him yet! (I know, I know, bad boyfriend). Strangely enough, I'm more nervous working on him than anyone, but that's all going to change quickly, as he's going to become my number one practice body. Somehow, I don't think he'll mind.
I'll be starting my practicums after we get back from Burning Man in early September, and I've pretty much promised out my entire ten sessions to a few of you out there. But I have no doubt I will be doing more than that, so don't be surprised if I ask you if you'd lend me your body for an hour.
Oh, and the tenth class tonight? Ethics. Not as hands on as some of the other classes have been, but equally as important.
I started massage therapy school about a month ago.
It's a pretty good setup for me. I go anywhere between 1-3 classes a week, three hour classes all in the evenings so it doesn't affect work or the ongoing physical therapy for my ankle. The tuition is affordable, and after 102 hours of classes, a couple of written exams, (at least) 10 one-hour practicums, (full body "practice" massages where there is an intake and questionnaire), and a final graded massage on one of the instructors, I can become a licensed, certified massage therapist (specializing in Swedish massage for now, with more education and training in other areas in the future).
I've been pretty hesitant to mention it here publicly in the journal, for many reasons. First, I really wanted to avoid the jokes about happy endings and what not until I had gotten some classes under my belt. But I know that those jokes are going to be there no matter what I do, or how serious my intent. Plus, I wanted to get good enough at it that I could sort of casually mention it in the future, like "oh by the way, I'm a licensed CMT now. You know, whatever." ;) But it's a large part of my life right now, going to class, thinking about different strokes and stretches I want to try out on people, and what am I going to do with this when (there is no IF) I graduate, and also trying to fit all the information I'm learning about the anatomy amidst all the other random crap going on in my brain on a daily basis. It's hard!
But I never thought it would be easy when I decided to do it. It's "easy" to do in San Francisco, hours wise, because the City has one of the lowest number of training hours in the country to actually become a CMT. It might even be the lowest. But it's by no means easy. There's a lot of concentration and focus and clearing your mind and having a plan but making it all feel effortless, so that you're present for the person laying on your table. You can easily get inside your own head as you're working and lose your way. But it's an ongoing journey, with further education planned as I have the time (and money) to explore. So why massage? Honestly, I've been giving back-rubs to friends since high school French class (my first "client" sat in front of me, and she was a bundle of nerves). I'd always wanted to learn more about something I was doing instinctively, just based on touch, and how it helped someone feel a little better. And the longer I've been doing my job, the more and more I've wanted out completely, to do something miles away from sitting behind a desk putting out fires via emails and phone calls.
Fred's been so amazingly supportive during all of this, and I haven't even worked on him yet! (I know, I know, bad boyfriend). Strangely enough, I'm more nervous working on him than anyone, but that's all going to change quickly, as he's going to become my number one practice body. Somehow, I don't think he'll mind.
I'll be starting my practicums after we get back from Burning Man in early September, and I've pretty much promised out my entire ten sessions to a few of you out there. But I have no doubt I will be doing more than that, so don't be surprised if I ask you if you'd lend me your body for an hour.
Oh, and the tenth class tonight? Ethics. Not as hands on as some of the other classes have been, but equally as important.