So what do you think? Is massage a profession or a hobby?
I have been doing it for 20 years so I think it is a profession. The frustrated massage therapists at indeed.com think it is just a hobby and that they are not valued or respected for what they do. Some came from high paying jobs with big degrees and feel that massage is just not respected.
Massage is still so commonly thought of as a massage parlor and those ‘other’ massage therapists.  Even here in Seattle where I have never really had a problem being respected every once in awhile I will hear that someone’s doctor said something like “Massage doesn’t work” but not very often. What can we learn from the people here in the NW? Or maybe it is just that people have migrated here who want more and are more open.
What is it exactly that makes for a profession? The white paper from Rick Rosen “On Becoming a Profession” (pdf)a few year ago talked about some of the issues and we are working on them all.
If you think it is a profession will you be respected more or care less about what other think?  Is it a hobby just to be done part time and not make any money? Is it just your perspective that makes it a profession? If you don’t think it is a profession you then get everyone who thinks the same? How does your perspective influence what others think as far as respecting the profession? If you don’t think it is a profession why would anyone else?
Just some questions I have been wondering about? What makes a profession?
August 31st, 2009 at 10:06 am
I love my profession, however, I also don’t feel as though employers respect us becaues of the rate of pay that they offer.
Physical therapists are paid a lot more and I don’t really see how much more beneficial they are as compared to us.
I incorporate stretching in my sessions that are very worthy toward healing, which may not be done by most therapists, however, I do have a strong background in exercise therapy, so I should be just as valued as a PT. When I’m offered $25.00 by a chiropractor who is raking in over $80/hr for my services, I am quite disappointed. We spend a good 50 minutes with the client, which is more deserving than $25.00 vis a vis what a chiro spends with the same client!!
I am seriously considering finding something part time outside of profession just to survive. I’m sure other LMTs are experiencing the same issues.
August 31st, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Luckily I’m respected as a professional by many people. I definitely feel massage therapy is a profession, one that has enabled me to put my sons through college (with the support of my husband’s job paying for everything else). Whenever I say I’m a massage therapist, I unusually get ohhs and ahhs and nice comments. Most of my clients value me very highly as part of their wellness plans. On the other hand, it certainly isn’t for everyone, and lots of people join and leave the profession every year. And that’s okay, too.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:35 pm
The thing though is that PT’s go to school for 4 years of college. Massage is a 6 months program and you don’t get much recognition for any advanced training that you do. One of the things I think we need to start doing is teaching people how to get higher paying jobs. That would involve showing the potential employer how much you could make them and how much you could improve and enhance their business and show them what your work is worth.
You also can make more when you start your own business but that is one of my other big gripes in the profession – massage schools don’t really tell you that jobs are low paying and that most do start their own business. You really need a business and marketing degree or something more.
I would actually like to see massage become a 4 year degree program and that is coming from someone who has said for over 19 years that anyone can do massage and it only takes 100 hours of training really to just give a basic massage. With younger people seeking out careers they just don’t have the life skills and with the demand for massage increasing the public wants more proof that massage therapists know what they are doing because there are still some that are giving us a bad rep!
August 31st, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I do understand that PTs go to school for 4 years, however, I have a Master’s degree in education which further enables me to teach and enable my clients to eat properly, exercise and stretch to prevent injuries. Having more than an LMT license, I am respected highly by clients and patients, however, the employers aren’t paying us what we’re worth, which tells me they don’t respect us.
I see so many LMTs that are uneducated, lacking worldly experience, inarticulate and totally complacent about their profession. Unfortunately, that type of therapist is how the industry bases their pay schedule, which is an insult to me. Maybe if they do increase the hours of schooling our reputation will change.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
It sounds more like employers aren’t paying you what you are worth. Having a masters in anything really doesn’t apply to the massage profession. $25 an hour is actually reasonable for a MT I think although $35-45 would be better of course but it would require that you know more and do more in massage related topics and skills.
What happens to you – happens to you. Why don’t you demand more then and keep working to find a higher paying job. They are out there. I have a friend that works for a chiro at $45 an hour.
There are low paying jobs like $12-$15 an hour but the thing is that tons of people are taking them. It also has created a demand for people who will take them hence the massage schools looking to younger people to fill their schools.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I really appreciate your responses to my grievances!!
I do have my own business and charge between $60-70/hr, which is fair, however, it’s seasonal here in FL, so clients are absent sometimes up to 6 months out of the year.
I continually take courses and do research on various topics, etc., so I am very knowledgeable in the area, I just need to expand my business more. I am taking a 40 unit medical massage course in September, so hopefully, an additional speciality can help me financially. My boss knows all my skills, but claims the office is losing money, which isn’t true, but I can’t argue with him. He cherishes my work and tells me and the patients as well, but no more money. I did ask, so I’m hoping he changes his mind.
I would never take a job for less than $25.00 because it demeans our industry, however, as you stated, people do and that becomes the norm, unfortuntely.
By the way, where are u located?
So many people have used me and love my work, but don’t have the money to be more consistent. I advertise at the gym and have acquired clients from there, but I do believe there are more that I can reach, so I’m working on it.
September 4th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Massage hobby or profession. Well after 25 years in the massage industry I would not call massage a profession per se as I would call it a vocation or a skilled trade. Since education has not officially increased since its inception [except for states increasing hours to the basic 500] massage has not kept up with the times. It is what I refer to as, “No progression for the profession”. After 25 years in the field I will retire with no pension or benefits except for that which I have personally prepared. That is why I claim massage is more a vocation like a waitress, bartender or laborer. Even if one works for a large corporation who can last in this labor intensive full time to be vested. That is why I claim that massage is more a vocation and skilled trade than profession like nursing. Without proper certifications in the massage modalities makes massage almost a sham. I have traveled to seven countries and have studied with authors and subject matter experts in the field of reflexology but it does not seem to matter. Someone takes a weekend seminar and claims they now perform reflexology proficiently or even teach it. Schools should be make more accountable with job placement instead of charging outrageous tuition for a massage license or certification. According to government labor statistics the average massage therapist makes less than $17,000 annually. In my continuing education seminars less than 25% of every class pays their bills depending solely on massage income and have ten other jobs or rely on a partner’s steady income. Everyone from school to licensing boards make money in the massage profession except the massage therapist themselves. Of course, there are rare exception but generally speaking massage is a part time career for mad money or hobby for stress relief. That’s my view and I am sticking to it.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Profession or hobby? I feel that it depends on the person that you talk to as to their response to this question. I personally look at it as a profession. Just as stated in an earlier post the person felt that we are not like nurses. I strongly disagree. I feel that if a massage therapist is wanting to get more into the medical side of massage vs the relaxation side then, yes we are in a profession just as nurses. As far as the States and the schools for massage go, I feel that their should be a tier system. If these youngsters(the ones in it just for the “good money”) want just a basic education then let them. However, they should not be allowed to teach classes after just one seminar. They should be required to have a minimum amount of time in on the subject they are trying to teach. Just as our teachers in massage schools, I feel they too should have a solid background in massage before teaching it to others. I feel that the massage schools are getting away with charging way to much and not getting these people the education they need to be a good solid massage therapist. There should be more education required than just a minimum of 500 hours. Other professions such as cosmotologists require double that. I can think of at least two schools in our area alone that charge an enormous amount and yet don’t have certain elements needed to survive in the profession. This lack is not only bad for the massage therapist but what about the public they work on??? I think that there needs to be a change for everyone’s sake. It will weed out those that think this profession is just a hobby or vocation or skilled trade.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Why the question? We are what we present ourselves to be. It is then government and it’s agencies that throw this at us to coinfuse us. I am a PROFESSIONAL. No government geek will tell me otherwise. The government works for us. Not the other way around. Start acting like it or become another surf in the field
September 19th, 2009 at 2:34 am
When I first started massage in 1986, I intended it to be just my loved hobby to do part-time &/or to supplement my full-time sales job. That lasted until 1998 when I decided that it had turned into my passion in life so why not do it full-time and be my professional career. After all, how many people in life recognize and find something they truly love to do and make money with it. So, I suppose, I could describe massage as a hobby that pays for itself or profession that is a career making people feel better and pays me to do it…. WHAT A LIFE!
September 21st, 2009 at 11:27 pm
How about a proffessional hobby? Does that even exist?
Here’s my issue… I have worked at fast food places, retail, housecleaaning for the family business, been to school (junior college) and ended up in a Massage Therapy program, only to be paid as much as $30/hour. This is not counting private sessions for $75/hour. Anyway, $30 is a great rate right? But like someone stated before, we pay our own taxes, have no benefits or retirement, etc. unless we somehow manage to save it all specifically for that purpose. So, do we as therapists differ greatly from a nurse, definately. Do we differ from the corporate saga, no brainer. We fall, unfortunately in the middle. If we as therapists are confused as to what we are classified or labled as, what does that say? I agree that if we want more we need to demand that from ourselves and our fellow massage therapists.