How is this class organized?
First you will walk through the state of the industry and several reflections on how it can be improved. It is a living document. This means it will evolve and change over time, so revisiting it may reveal new ideas and concepts. You will notice some sentences have a strike-out through them. You will identify these when you see something like this. Words, words, words.
These are old ideas that are still valuable, but have been removed from the message, because they are no longer supported. Why aren’t they deleted? We believe we grow by learning from our mistakes and naivety. If we erase our old thoughts, we remove our ability to reflect on them in the future.
“If we forget the past, we are doomed to repeat the errors we have made” is what people like to say. The person we used to be is a powerful determining factor in who become, and it influences who we can choose to be. Without reflection we will remain naive, lost, and misguided.
The second part is my personal story. It details my quest to achieve excellence, it is a tale of hardship, survival, and renewal. I want you to see the world through someone else’s eyes so you can write about your own.
The third and final part delves into the dark parts of our industry, lessons on how to lighten our load, and how we can discover hope.
How is this class different?
I will present challenging situations and ideas. You may find yourself irritated by some and inspired by others. Everything in this manuscript is meant to be honest, thought-provoking, and real. It is presented this way because we learn best when we have an emotional attachment to the subject matter. This is more than the standard, boring continuing education class of the past. It is an adventure. With it you will begin an expedition into excellence and discover new ways to achieve your dreams.
Some questions will poke your heart
Do you know how the massage industry is organized? Have you ever taken the time to hear the plight of another professional? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start a school, open your own business or empathize with the those who cultivate your career?
The last one might have annoyed you a bit, and it should. Many massage therapists think they are the reason they have a customer base. Simply by existing they have people to massage. What is the reality? Unless you are a sole proprietor, you are not the reason clients walk through the door. You are an essential slice, but you are not the entire pie. No single person is more important than anyone else, we are parts of a team, and when we are empathetic, humble and able to communicate creatively harmony will be achieved.
This course is an intense class, but not because it requires hours of study and test taking. It is a deep dive into what our industry is, who we are as professionals, and what we can do to cultivate meaningful change. In order to pass this course, you must have the drive to improve your life, help others with their strife, and explore your imagination.
If you would like to listen to parts of this article, please click on the play button below.
Why did we become massage therapists?
Why did we become massage therapists? We all have an answer. Some of these stories are beautiful and bold, others lack a soul, and many are the same as our profession is old. We have big dreams and want to achieve great things, but each day our goals seem further away. Why? Our industry is in shambles and every shadow seems scary. We hurt and don’t know how to mend our wounds. Every day we limp through life searching for answers about our illness.
Sometimes we stumble on a road that looks like it leads to hope, but once we reach a dead end, we struggle to find a way to cope. There is only so much of this we can stand, eventually our rubber band breaks after being stretched so thin. It snaps and our story shatters, our life seems ugly and weak, and our spirit loses its golden glow. Our dreams appear impossible, and we begin to believe nothing can be achieved. We lose everything and slip away into a sea of sorrow.
This is the life of many within the massage industry. It hurts to watch, and it breaks my heart to see others hurt and face so much horror. How long can we watch as the things we hold dear crumble and disappear? When do we stop crying so we can rise and fight against defeat? Do we have the strength to channel our hardships into keys that free our brothers and sisters from their misery?
This path is a hard road to walk because we must first figure out how to free ourselves. We cannot teach others how to unlock their shackles until we have learned to give purpose to our own pain. If we are suffering we cannot lead, our spirit must be free if we expect others to follow.
What do I know?
What do I know? I have only been a massage therapist for six years. What could I possibly know that our elders are unaware of? I do not know what you know, or what you are willing to do. All I know is others are hurting and I became a massage therapist to help. My existence has one purpose and I have limited time to complete it. I make the most of every moment and I have achieved a lot in a short period of time. In six years, I have accomplished more than most will in a lifetime. I have battled cancer, survived chemotherapy, learned to live with one lung, and come to terms with my inevitable horrific death. I have been forged by the fires of torment and agony. My flame has dimmed to near darkness, and I have risen from the ashes. I have tasted death and learned to celebrate life. In six years, I have explored my existence, built a brand, inspired a team, and forged a company designed to challenge the industry.
What do I know? I know the world has blessed me with mountains of wisdom and experience, but I am no wiser than you. I know that my pain is no greater than yours, that my hardships are no more challenging, and I am just another soul bumbling through existence.
What do I know? I have big dreams and want to achieve great things. Our industry is in shambles and every shadow seems scary. I know I am tired of watching the things I hold dear crumble and disappear. I know I am done with crying and waiting to meet defeat.
This is a call to action!
This is a call to action, it is a guide to life, a doorway to the magic of massage, and a means to save our industry. The time to act is now, and the longer we wait, the more we will lose.
What happens when we win?
What happens when we win, what then? Does the war wage on, or do we put our weapons away and rest? Is there a stopping point? Should there be one, isn’t there more to do even after we succeed?
There is an end, and once we achieve it this conquest is complete. Continuing on after the scales have been balanced creates inequity, inflicts misery, and rots our soul. Wars without end are evil.
Does this mean we put away our tools and retire? No, we simply stop searching for things to fight. Our mission must be clear and concise, if it isn’t we will create the same tyranny we are attempting to root out. A time will come when our feet meet a fork in the road, and we must decide. Do we continue our quest with love, or do we do it with a malicious heart? The only way we can honestly answer this question is if our incorporeal union is healthy and in harmony. If it isn’t we will fall prey to society’s suggestions and push for more than we deserve. We will make demands that steal away the liberties of our peers and return them to the shackles of our darker era. If it is in harmony our mind will command us to empathize with our peers, act with humility and creatively maintain our industry with honesty and love. With a balanced incorporeal union we will say no to the whispers that we deserve more. We will reevaluate our purpose and choose to stabilize our new professional society.
What is our purpose and when will we know it has been achieved? We exist to deconstruct the meat grinder of massage and to rebuild the massage industry, so the next generation may thrive within the greatest era of all time.
