MY STORY so far...
Building the foundation
I, as many others as a teenager, sustained several injuries through falls and hard physical labour (as we young horse girls do!!). I come from Scandinavia where massage therapy has long roots in rehabilitating injuries and is often people's first point of call when they are not quite right physically. It is also something that is often "prescribed" by the doctors if people go to see them complaining sore back's or headache's and is in general seen as a part of everyday way of looking after yourself and your body day to day. Massage therapists go through a long training and are seen as a serious professionals and most definately not "beauty therapists" (which is often the case in the UK). Massage is often applied in blocks of several treatments a week over a period of maybe a month or so and then the frequency of treatments is tailormade to the patients needs. Detailed records are kept and the findings are discussed between the therapist and the patient and sometimes with their doctor.
I obviously had a fair share of sports massage as a teenager and this developed a keen interest in how my own body reacts and works after a massage session. It also tought me all about the intricasies of our musculosceletal systems, since often during and after a session you would stop and discuss with your therapist and he will locate the muscles in your body, talk about what they do and also point them out to you on a wall chart. Great way to learn if you are interested to know more!
Decision time
I did move to UK in 1999 to study my Masters degree in Chemistry. My injuries were still there and I still needed some massage to help me, but was utterly disappointed by the standards of massage therapy on offer in the UK. It was very pricey, I felt no effects, I hated all the candles and being quiet while the "beauty therapist" was randomly rubbing my back. These were not the therapist I had grown to now back home, but normally ladies who were more worried about your "modesty" than how to deal with real aches and pains.
So I was extremely excited when I wound out about a horse massage course run by Equinology whereby one didnt need to study human massage beforehand and it was run by an American! So in 2005 I signed up, got the money together and started on the path I am still on!
The course itself really gives you a foundation only and is really up to the individual what they make out of it. I could see this right from the start and also since I had had so much masage in the past myself, I knew that the only way you become a good massage therapist is to get an AMAZING feel in your fingers. Your feel is your only tool as a massage therapist. Massage is very non-gimmicky and your hands are the tool that reads the muscle tissue under the hair, skin and fascia. So I spent a lot of time doing double the case studies I was required to do and when those were done and while I was waiting for my official certification to come through, I worked a lot for just petrol money in the local area. I knew a lot of people will use me only for the time I am very cheap or free (mind you I didnt realise how much I was going to be in demand when I was cheap...!), but at the same time I was gaining in confidence and experiences everyday. Win - win really!
I worked alongside my office job for nearly 4 years and finally in 2010 I become brave enough to leave the secure, but oh so boring, office job.
Going for it full time
You know when people tell you that it takes at least two years full time to build any business and that you should have at least 6 months worth of savings before you even think about starting on your own? Or how you really should do your research before you leave a regular income?
Well... I'd like to say I listened to them, but the truth is that I did what I always do and said "how hard can it be?" and just took the plunge. I only seem to learn from my mistakes anyway, but then again, quoting the great Win Borden:
"If you wait to do everything until you are sure it is right,
you will probably never do much of anything" ~Win Borden~
Knowing what I now, yes I would probably do many things differently, but then at the same time nothing can really prepare you to the emotional rollercoaster that is being your own boss. When anyone describes self employment, there is a tendency to over exaggarate the good points, painting the pictures of travelling the world, working from a beach hut (!) and the total freedom being self employed brings. But no one tells you about the bouts of self doubt bordering depression when you struggle to pay your bills in the beginning. Or the total lack of motivation on some days when your boss (ie yourself) just shouts at you "stay in bed, you fool!"
You really have to FIRST learn to create the opportunity, particularly in the UK where massage is seen as a bit of a stress relief treatment not as a physical therapy, and only then you might get lucky and "get the job". And if you get even luckier, the client might actually like you and use you regularly. If you are employed all you have to do is to turn up to a readily created job, do the minimum you can get away with and moan about how badly the company is run. (I know, I know... massive generalisation there folks!!! :D )
The beginning is hard and you really need to WANT to do it. You must absolutely and utterly LOVE what you do (and I do, trust me!) to get through the harder days. Anyone can handle the easy days - the ones when people queue at your proverbial door to get their horses treated. But your commitment will surely be tested along the way many times and they are those bad days that do that. One does develop a very thick skin.
As I said, I absolutely love what I do. I love meeting new horses and seeing them get better over the course of the treatments. I love when I can discuss the treatment "plans" with the client and when we together try to find the right excercises and the right level of work for the horse to still advance and build muscle while still staying supple, happy and injury free. I am learning so much everyday. I know it is a cliche, but I really am. And not just about the horses! I'm learning a lot about how to deal with people too (and to be fair this profession is 95% people, 5% of horses - so don't get into it if you don't want to work with people!) and most importantly I have learned so much about myself. I have grown alongside of my business as a person and as a therapist. I have grown 10 times more inside that I did in the 5 years I worked in a regular job.
And I would never change anything :)
My advice? Do your research, do a bit of soul searching, make sure you enjoy working with the oh so capricious horse people and of course... never give up on your dreams!
I leave you with one of my favourite quotes
Growth always lies on the other side of discomfort. Whether it is in the weight room or in career decisions, you will never develop by staying in your comfort zone. People dont become old when they reach a certain birthday; they become old when they decide to live life without crossing that line of discmfort ~Dr Brett Steenbrecht~
Kitty, a beautiful dressage mare enjoying her massage.
I Wish everyone good luck in their search for their personal happiness!!!
PS. If anyone is interested in my other passion - I have another blog where I talk about my life as a dog foster parent and a mummy to my two dogs. My World Of Dogs - Wordpress Blog
