Click the right arrow to learn more ">" As a massage therapist, a good way to combat burn out and have more stamina as a therapist would be conditioning your body (according to "Massage is Weird" by Ian Harvey"). Although any form of physical activity is incredibly helpful, a popular way of gaining strength, would be weight training. Here are the insiteful experiances from some of the strongest people I know. James Burns (Weight Training Club President (2025-2026), Background: Burns is 17 years old (2026), and he has been weight lifting since 9th grade (11th grade currently). He was selected for this project because of his incredible discipline to achieve his goal of becoming stronger. He describes below not having a lot of muscle in comparison to his peers, but over the years he has worked his way up to being one of the strongest students in our weight lifting classroom. Additionally, he was weight lifting club president (2025-2026). His Story: The reason I started weight lifting was to stop being skinny. I was pretty weak, and I wanted to exercise more. In-spite of an initial fear of judgement from my peers, and difficulty being consistent, I found reasons to keep going. What stops fear of judgement, is realizing that people start from anywhere in their fitness journey, and I have noticed others persevere even if they started out weaker than I am. [for context, when James was beginning his fitness journey, he struggled to bench-press 65 lbs (10 lbs on each side, including the barbell) and shoulder-press 40 lbs (20 lbs each arm).]As for consistency, since I wasn’t consistent, I saw myself losing progress – this allowed me to understand my passion for weight lifting, and how it was capable of over-powering my internal thoughts to not exercise. Someone who is naturally really strong would probably have a different experience than me. I think I have developed a strong resilience and it has for sure made me a lot more confident because of where I started. Tips I would give to a person who is still starting out in their fitness journey, would be to not have fear of asking for help (ie. asking a person to spot you), being consistent, not doubting yourself no-matter what, and even if you can’t lift a certain amount of weight –just know that it will be possible eventually if you keep going. I also advise observing what others are doing in order to strategize how to get to their level of fitness. To combat soreness while continuing to work out, I also recommend working out areas where you are not sore, retain proper form, or if it is an area you still want to exercise, just go light on any weights/exercise for that area. When I first started doing push ups/pull ups (a challenge where James does as many push ups/pull ups he can in the span of an hour) I was motivated by another classmate. This meant doing what I thought I was capable of, and taking it to another level. It has benefitted me personally, because I was able to do more push ups, but what surprised me was the way that it helped my mental state as well. Being able to push myself to my limits really helped me recognize my strength, and was significantly more fulfilling than just doing a simple workout and quitting while knowing I could have pushed myself harder. I recommend this form of exercising for anyone who is interested in calisthenics at first, and secondarily weight lifting. Only do this if you aspire to challenge yourself, and keep in mind you are likely to have a few days of soreness. Kevin De La Cruz (Weight Training Club President 2024-2025), (Top-5 Class Leaderboard x3) Background: De La Cruz is 17 years old(2026) and began weight lifting around 3 years ago (12th grade currently). He was chosen for this project because of his status as weight lifting club president (2024-2025), and incredible consistency throughout the years. Additionally, he was consistently on the top-5 class leaderboard in 3 separate categories. His Story: I started weight lifting because I wanted to be strong. When I started working out, I couldn’t do a pull up, I could barely do a push up, and I was quite weak. I have gotten a lot stronger since I started working out, and it has brought me a lot more confidence. I have been weight lifting for roughly 3 years (17 currently) A muscle up. (A Muscle up is doing a pull up, but you are putting your body over the bar as well). I would like to do a one arm pull up (currently at a one arm pull up without assistance). At the start, in order to improve the frequency of my workouts, I started out with very small workouts. On days where I didn’t want to work out, I would make it very easy (ie. 5 push ups). Consistency has been 3x a week. The advice I would give to a person just starting out in weight lifting, would be lowering your expectations. Consistency matters more than the work/intensity you put into your workout. GianCarlo Torres (Top-5 Class Leaderboard) Background: Torres is 17-years-old (2026), and has been weight lifting for the past 8 months (12th grade currently). He was chosen for this project because of his incredible hard-work ethic in the classroom setting, and ability to push past his own self-limits. In-spite of the lack of free time in his personal life, he found it important to create opportunities for physical fit. His Story: I started weight lifting around 8 months ago, and I joined this class because I thought it would give me more stamina at work (in a restaurant), and because weight lifting with friends gives me more motivation to get stronger. One thing I am the most proud of, would be making it onto the top-five leaderboard for the class (3/5 for the lunge category ~120 lbs). A fitness level I want to get to is being able to run with a weighted plate, and having the consistency to maintain my strength. I want to master all aspects of weight lifting. What has helped me with consistency, is weight lifting with friends, because we are all working towards the same goals. Alana-Jain Feder (1/24 Females in Weight Training Class) Background: Feder is 17-years-old (2026), and has been weight lifting for the past 8 months (11th grade currently). She is participating in this section of the project as a way of sharing her experiences and reasons for weight lifting. As the only female in her class of 24, she has shown perseverance and has been given significant motivation to succeed because of this fact. As she learns from her male-counterparts, it has made her both a better/more consistent weight lifter, and overall more well-rounded person. Her Story: I started weight lifting roughly 8 months ago, and I joined because I thought it would make me a better massage therapist because of the incredible physical fitness levels needed in order to sustain the career. Having the condition to handle the strain of the profession would be very helpful. The challenge I am the most proud of overcoming would be my ability to do an overhead-press with 25lbs dumbbells, and for anytime I could keep up with the other students in my class. A fitness level I would love to get to would be doing an overhead-press with 30lbs, and to be able to do a pull-up. What has helped me with consistency, is remembering my reason ‘why’ for weight lifting, and the overall goals I am working towards. I am likely to feel better the rest of the day after a good workout, and it brings me so much fulfillment when I know I am doing my best regardless of if I made visual progress. The advice I would give to a person starting out in weight lifting, would be to not put so much pressure on yourself to be sore, and that diet/sleep have an effect on your performance too.

Click the right arrow to learn more ">" Davion White - B.A./M.A. in Physical Education, M.A. in Principalship - Athletic Trainer Experiances I was an advisory board member that taught at a summer school at Fremont College (now known as Fremont University). The importance of my position was taking students from Long Beach Polytechnic High School, and introducing them to various health and medical careers which I still do today. My students learned about rehabilitation, and various different careers within this field. Fremont University emphasizes rehabilitation through sports, and specialized massage. As for massage therapy, they offer healthcare online, as well as massage therapy and sports & rehabilitation as a certification. Massage Therapy seen through Sports Medicine As a response to your question about massage therapy being a sustainable career, my main concern would be various limitations related to hand cramping. If your hands aren't in condition to work, then you can’t pay the bills. You would need to protect your hands to ensure that they don’t get injured. Additionally, having massage alone is not a career that you are able to sustain a living. I know students who have gone into the career field, and you need to have a specific type of personality in order to be successful in the field. Since people don’t get massages every day, it is important to develop a client base as well. Teaching is my profession, but athletic training is my occupation. I align myself the most strongly with the sports medicine field. Advice Eventually, you are going to become an adult and the question I am asking is ‘How are you going to live on your own’? Salary, and how much you make is going to dictate your choices. I recommend that you pair massage therapy with something else (ie. pilates, stretch therapy). For instance, I am in the athletic training field, but I pair my career with teaching so I could afford a house. For information related to advancing your career in general, it is important to connect with the right people, and it is a great way to get involved. Greggory Elias - Doctor of Chiropractics - APEX Chiropractic Experience I was originally going to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy, but I found Chiropractics to be a better fit for me in the long run. I have been a Chiropractor for a few years, and what has helped me sustain my position was getting touch-ups (massage or chiropractic work) from my co-workers. I recommend when going into this line of work, that you try to get a massage. If you receive massages, you have a better understanding of how your touch is affecting your clients. Advice I am not a massage therapist, but there are many I know who have been working in the field for over 15 years. What I find important to keep in mind is that every massage therapist has their own distinct ‘touch’ that will resonate with people. You may have a more gentle contact, or naturally firm depending on the person. Keep in mind that there will always be a market for the type of service you want to provide people. The college you go to for massage therapy, or any form of higher education truly doesn’t matter. It depends on what you do with that degree, and how you use that knowledge to serve others. Are there other career choices that could make a lot more money, absolutely. But if those career paths don't suit you then the money won't be a reason for you to pursue them. Even in my field people have told me chiropractic isn't a good career or you're not a "real doctor" as a chiropractor. But I still pursued the field and I am very happy with my choice. That is a win in my book.

Click the right arrow to learn more ">" Diajii Smith - Kinesiology B.S. - Graduate of NHI Core Massage Program Advice Can I Live a Comfortable Life? I believe that a comfortable living could be made overtime even with difficult beginnings. This also depends on if you only do massage therapy [in a spa] or you work for a hospital with other certifications. Massage Therapist Keep in mind that massage therapy used to be considered an escort business (a luxury) and terms like ‘masseuse’ or ‘masseur’ are considered derogatory terms. When people refer to me as a masseuse, I encourage the use of ‘massage therapist’ instead because of it’s origins in the United States. How Do You Have Empathy For Others Without Being Emotionally Impacted? As massage therapists, we are likely to be really empathetic people. With that, we need to take care of our own mental health too. Giving too much empathy every day can be draining, so my advice would be to set an intention. This means that whatever emotions a person has on the table is listened to without a remark to try to make them feel better. It sounds difficult, but we are already helping them through our work – we cannot fill the role of a mental health therapist too. If a person gets emotional on the table, I let them cry and sit with themselves. What Does Your Work Day Look Like? In my situation, it is true to have more work as a massage therapist than in the school environment. My schedule is 5 days a week, working Monday-Friday for 6 hours. When working more days, it also teaches you to work with everyone – body types, skin textures, personalities ect. I currently work at a clinic, but my previous job was in a daycare environment. My clinical setting consists of working on an interdisciplinary team, which keeps people healthy holistically (interdisciplinary teams have massage therapists, physical therapists, doctors, etc assessing the various health needs of a person). Do You Have Health Insurance? I use Covered California for my health insurance, but when I first began my career as a massage therapist, I used Medi-Cal. Why Did You Become a Massage Therapist? I love helping others My ‘love language’ is physical contact How Do You Recommend Recovery As a Massage Therapist? Regular exercise Alone time Getting massages from other therapists Ice Stretching Ian Harvey - Psychology B.A. - Graduate of Florida School of Massage Advice Can You Have a Comfortable Life As a Massage Therapist? Yes, massage can be a fruitful and fulfilling career, IF you avoid the most common pitfalls. I'll start by talking about the pitfalls, and then I'll talk about success stories. Pitfall 1: A Poor-Quality Massage School The most common pitfall is going to a lackluster massage school and winding up underskilled and pre-burned out. Make your choice of massage school carefully. Look at reviews, ask about it on local message boards, see if anyone has badmouthed it on Reddit. Because there are some real stinkers out there: Places run by One Guy who shouldn't be a teacher at all (I had a dozen excellent teachers at my school!); places that push dubious techniques to the exclusion of others, leaving you with poor flow and few options if something doesn't work for a client; places that teach to the test to try to juice their mBLEX pass rates, all while leaving you without a cohesive picture of the body. Something to know is that I have met many students who came out of a lackluster program who still forged themselves into excellent massage therapists, and I think you would be more resilient to this problem than most. But if I could spare you a bad experience I would, because massage school is supposed to be amazing!! I wish I could somehow teleport you to the Florida School of Massage in Gainesville. It's my alma mater, and I'm still hearing glowing reviews two decades after I graduated. Pitfall 2: Working In an Unsustainable Environment Working at a burnout factory and mistaking it for "the massage business." I honestly think that this is what your loved ones are concerned about. If you work at a Massage Envy or Hand & Stone or any other big chain, they will treat you like a cog in a machine. 6 clients over 7 hours, mostly with 10 minutes (!) between each session. I barely had time to take a breath, it was always more more more, and each hour got me something like 20-30 dollars. At 30 hands-on hours per week, that's something like 40 grand per year, before taxes, and only if you can keep up that pace without injury or burnout. Some people thrive on it, and I found it to be very instructive (lots of interesting people with interesting bodies), but I'm glad I ragequit when I did. Chiropractors are somehow worse, often lowballing you even further, and filling your schedule with 15 minute rapid fire massages that maximize their insurance income. Yuck. Third Pitfall: A Lack of Boundaries In Self-Employment I described this at length in my book: Driving yourself crazy with your own business practices. Working 6 days per week, being available at all hours, lowballing yourself, and trying to satisfy every client rather than referring out when someone is a poor fit. Set yourself up for success, be a little difficult to book with (on purpose!), and pay yourself well for your own hard work. Working For Yourself Before I move on, let me outline the alternative: Working for yourself, or finding a clinic where you keep 70+% of the income. You might even start a collective yourself. Working for myself, I typically sublease from a massage therapist who already has a set up room, and I work for the three days a week they don't use. A set-up like this is pretty easy to find, because most massage therapists have some down days where their room could be rented out. Before going on hiatus, I paid $325/month for that setup. I charged $110 for a ninety minute session (which is me lowballing myself, you should know), and I try for four sessions per day. So, 12 sessions per week is 1,320 bucks, plus a couple hundred in tips, minus room rental, winds up at over 70k per year before taxes. I zeroed out a little extra for supplies, online scheduling, and advertising,. How am I able to make so much more while working so much less? All while giving myself half hour breaks, drinking my little cups of tea, and having time to stretch and reset between clients. It is a quiet, satisfying life that leaves lots of room for other activities, whether they be hobbies or other streams of income. Success Stories They are everywhere, but you're unlikely to find them if you just scroll a message board. On Reddit and such, you're going to see tons of people being driven to distress by their terrible boss or unworkable work environment. But when I teach a class, I'm surrounded by people who have their own room set up, often pursuing work and clientele that they find fulfilling and fascinating. Two weeks ago I met a student just out of massage school who was specializing in tech workers (she had transitioned from that environment), and she was having so much fun basically making a modality just for them. I've got a former student/current friend who specializes in artists and musicians, which has led to her going on the road with a few different very cool bands. In that same class a couple weeks back there was someone who specialized in grief work — not because she was a mental health counselor or other expert, but because she simply invited that kind of client, talked about the potential benefits of someone holding space for you, and then gave massages with no expectation of outcome. Oh, and there was a guy who worked with a bunch of basketball players/teams because he was the only one soothing their nervous system instead of beating them up! And then there's the people who just plug away at it like a job! Also good. You get your space, you do a little outreach, you wind up with 10 regular clients and 40 irregular clients, and that's literally enough to make a comfortable income. Maybe you specialize in prenatal clients, or athletes, or dental hygienists. Or maybe you're like me and you don't specialize at all. I always took anyone and everyone, because with the way I advertise for clients, they see exactly how I work (I post videos for clients too), and then they come in excited for that work. My people find me. Very comfy. Additional Information You might be right that charging 110 bucks for a 90 minute massage might be a bit much for a brand new massage therapist, but like... only a bit. The real value of a massage is that a caring and trained person is giving you their undivided attention for 60-90 minutes, which is just not something you can find anywhere else in this world. No matter the depth and breadth of their skillset, it's still a long period of skilled contact, and that sets the fee floor quite high, and justifiably so. My advice is to let your charitable work be a subset of your total work. You can absolutely have a lower rate for some of your clients, which might look like this: "I offer a limited number of discounted sessions every month for those undergoing financial hardship. If you'd be interested in information and updates about those sessions, you can sign up to be contacted here." Or you could discount certain occupations, such as nurse or student. But all I ask is that you don't discount your entire practice. An Alternative Perspective (Related To Setting Prices) Why? Because, to some people, 110 bucks ain't nothin. They fly first class, they have an in-home sauna, and they own a sailboat or two. For these people, it might even be off-putting to see low prices! And yeah, I kinda resent them, but I sure do like their money, and would be happy to take a bunch of it from them. In other words: For some people a discount would mean a lot, and for others, it would mean literally nothing. And when it comes to how much you charge, all I ask is that you think about your eventual retirement, and vacations, and leisure. If you're not charging enough to max out your IRA every year, you're borrowing from your future self in order to subsidize your current clients, many of whom don't need a subsidy! What Does Specializing Mean In This Career? Don't think of this as being the ultimate expert on a pain condition or a part of the body. Just think of it as, "what fascinates me?" For instance, I'm fascinated by the neck, and I say so in client-facing posts. Because I'm fascinated, I work more thoroughly, I spend more time there than 99% of massage therapists, and I have longer/better conversations with clients about this area. No one had to train me to specialize there, it just evolved from my own curiosity and experimentation. That said, other people who specialize do take every related training that they can find. I had a student from Alaska who is all about the jaw. She has incorporated my long slow drags up the sides of the face, but she also does intra-oral work, and thorough work around the SCMs and the floor of the mouth, etc. She's turned herself into a specialist with a broad base of experience and education. But! I consider myself a jaw specialist as well, even without a tenth of her training. Why? Because I get results. In other words, you get to decide when you're a specialist, and it can be something that develops over time. One day you'll be thinking to yourself, "man, why don't other massage therapists work with the hips in a side-lying position? It works so well!" BAM! You're a specialist. National Holistic Institute Staff Differences between a Spa and Clinical Settings (May vary depending on location and these were responses given by massage therapists): Spa: Some people may be more interested in relaxing rather than communication Environment is for pampering rather than assessing injuries ‘Birk Williams’ is a very high-quality spa environment with more options for clients but also requires extensive training for business consistency No requirement for a closed-door policy in some places Clinic: Used to treat injuries, surgery recovery, or therapeutic work rather than relaxation Some people work in an integrative team as a way of treating a person holistically Medical-related massage, utilized for hospitals settings Advice From Massage Therapists Practice self-massage (ie. purchase a foam-roller) Purchase “Trail Guide To The Body” (recommended in ‘Paid Resources’ section) Practice with friends and family and expose yourself to different body types and people. This also allows you to see the type of massage therapist you want to be, and it can also help in building your stamina. There are a significant amount of avenues to go down for massage therapy There is a 21% growth in massage therapy over the next 10 years There are different types of contact people prefer, so keep in mind that not everyone is going to like your practice. This doesn’t mean that you should try to appeal to people who don’t like it. Focus on building a community of people who enjoy your practice, and enforce your boundaries when needed (ie. if a person prefers a really deep pressure that you know would give you an injury. Exercising your boundaries will keep you safe, and allow the client to find a person capable of better suiting their needs.) What Are S.O.A.P. Notes? S: Subject O: Objective A: Abjective P: Plan This acronym is used within the massage therapy world to help track client’s condition, treatment, and progress over time. Massage therapists can use it to refine techniques or streamlining the process of handing off a client to further treatment opportunities. College Advice I had a friend who got their massage certification before getting their kinesiology major. While I was getting my B.S. in Kinesiology, my friend already had a job in the industry and it allowed them to gain a lot of experience. That route is also an option if you want to get experience, but balancing both could be difficult and massage therapy school could be quite fast-paced.

Massage Therapists Linked allows the general public to be more education on massage therapy. This is important so that aspiring therapists could have access to resources -- not through stereotypes, but through the professionals behind the industry. Click To Learn More -Current Massage TherapistS -Future Massage Therapists -Massage Therapy Enjoyers -Related Professionals Get to Know Us Alana-Jain Feder has learned and developed questions that everyone in this field wants to know, but ones that not everyone has the resources to answer. Using the experiences from currently-serving massage therapists/related professions, people could have a better way of determining if this career is the right route for them! Alana-Jain Feder Alana is a California-native residing in Los Angeles County. As a child, she had an irrational fear of physical contact, and this trait ended up being a key role in her journey towards emotional empathy. Through years of building up her trust with others, it led her to want to become a massage therapist as a way of paying that kindness forward. Unfortunately, it wasn't always a smooth journey. Alana originally sought information about massage therapy on the internet and non-healthcare professionals; These inaccurate or out-dated stories made her journey feel more convoluted and uncertain. For many years beyond that, she felt that a career in massage therapy simply wasn't possible. As she became invested in other positions - interning for Long Beach Mayor, Rex Richardson, or learning about environmental sustainability with Japanese/Chinese students thanks to the LBYSCA - she always felt as though a part of herself was left unresolved. Alana hopes to close the gap between a massage therapist and those desiring to learn about the profession. Although opportunities given to people can't be directly impacted overnight, this beautiful community has the ability to make information accessible through their stories, passion, and love for inspiring people like me. Click HERE if you would like to contribute a story. She has since spoken to several massage therapists, kinesiology majors, physical therapists, and other related fields in hopes of having a better understanding of this profession through their first-hand experiences. Her primary objective would be to continue developing the public view of massage therapy by giving people the most accurate information possible; she lives up to this by continuing to hear other perspectives, and accepting without assumption. Additonal Information: Intern for the Mayor of Long Beach (2025) Coordinated Environmental Sustainability issues in Yokkaichi Japan (Environmental Summit Program 2024) Animator/Director for Alana Illustrates (7 years experience, posting for 3 years) (2019-Present)

This contact page is for those who have any questions about MT Linked, or want to add more information to MT Linked (through your story/profession). Both of these options are equally important because it allows for more aspiring massage therapists to learn about this under-represented field. Ask a Question or Share Your Story Email info.mtlinked@gmail.com Social Media How To Reach Out: Contact us with your questions or commentary of this website, or massage therapy We will reply back to you with further information or questions of our own for further understanding. Our staff is likely to respond within 1 or 2 weeks. Please follow up if extra clarification is needed. Learn More The Story Behind MT Linked - The Massage Therapists Linked

Massage Therapists Linked gives massage therapists resources through the first-hand experiences of professionals behind the industry. Massage therapy is a vital aspect of our society, yet many are capable of getting influenced by a singular perspective. This website aims to shift how massage therapy is perceived, allowing for industry professionals to guide others through their experiences. Everything You Need to Know About Massage Therapy. Professional advice to lessen your worries, and give you the career you want. Chat Now Have a Question? We'll Get It Answered. 12 Professional Career Participants 2 States across the U.S. Nation-wide Data Collection |Massage Therapists | Physical Therapists | Chiropractors | Athletic Trainers | Kinesiologists | Fitness Trainers| & More| Featured & Free Stories Massage Therapists Alana-Jain Feder May 17 Paid Educational Resources Alana-Jain Feder May 16 National Holistic Institute Representative Interview Alana-Jain Feder May 16 Read All I dare you to Finish TheCollection... Share Your Story People NeeD To Hear Your Voice Connection Learn from Holistic-Care Professionals Resources Find What Works for You Innovation Share Your Experiences Clarity Get Your Questions Answered FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS General What benefits do current massage therapists get from this site? MT Linked is capable of giving just about anybody insite on the field. For instance, your own experiance is important as a therapist, but there are a lot of incredible outlets for enrichment at any skill level. This website not only goes in-depth on pursuing higher forms of education in order to expand knowledge/skill (ie. getting a certification in TMJ in addition to your massage certification), but aspires to give massage therapy the strongest amount of resources, and credibility possible. Why are my interactions with this site important? Since this is a source largely spread through social-media and word of mouth, it is important for participating enjoyers to be vocal about their opinions. MT Linked doesn't want another generation of people to have generalizations, as well as inaccurate ideals about massage therapy. We aim to be as truthful and in-depth as possible, but we can't do it alone. If we want to get this information out to as many people as possible, the first step is to develop a strong and kind community. Where can I add my FAQs? We encourage everyone to share their stories and questions about the field reguardless of what it is. Please feel free to contact us through our email address @info.mtlinked@gmail.com, or through the 'contact' page. Is all of the information free? Yes! One of the most important factor to us, is to be able to provide resources accessable to everyone. If you are able to, please share your story because of it's ability to positively influence those within the massage therapy community. With that being said, there is a blog post for paid-resources provided by healthcare professionals, for healthcare professionals. These resources were not created by MT Linked, but can be purchased to be able to help with additional education outside of what the website is capable of. All of the data collected by the website however, such as interviews, is entirely free. I absolutely love what I do and am so incredibly grateful to serve the population I do. It gives me chills just writing about it and I truly feel like if it is in your heart to be a massage therapist, then it is your calling. I cannot imagine doing anything else. Reagan Rodig, Alaska EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW IT'S AN OPTION