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Step 4: Explore a Blended Career

Plans change, and so do people—especially when they go through something as intense as massage school. If you find you’re a different person now, with a different vision of your massage career—Take 5!

Ways to Approach Career Planning

Top athletes, celebrities, and businesspeople regularly use visualization activities to help them tune into their needs and wants for the future. Use this exercise to explore how your massage career fits into your best possible life.

My Perfect Visualization Activity

Step 4: Explore a Blended Career

In previous newsletters, we’ve looked at working as an employee and starting a private practice. Today, let’s explore blended careers.

What is a Blended Career?

In a blended career, you obtain a job working as an employee providing massage, while at the same time building a private practice. Many people provide massage to friends, family members, and select clientele using a home-based office space, or by taking their table to the client’s home. This keeps your expenses low, while still charging full price for the massage. So, you might get a fee of $15–$25 for each massage you provide as an employee, but a fee of $50–$65 for each massage you provide as you build your private practice. You reduce your business risks and increase your income.

Blending a Table and Seated Practice

People also blend a table practice with a seated on-site massage practice. Many therapists begin seated massage careers by setting up corporate accounts. They contact local businesses, educate the owners about the benefits of massage, and offer an initial session for employees. Weekly or monthly office appointments may be set up based on the size of the business and the number of interested employees. Clients get to know your touch through the chair business and may then feel they know you well enough to visit your table business and try a longer session.

Blending a Massage Career with an Unrelated Career

Sometimes people choose to practice massage while they also participate in a second, unrelated career. For example, George works as a bank teller Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He enjoys his banking career, but wanted to find a way to support people recovering from car and sporting accidents. Now, he schedules one 90-minute session after work from 6–7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and sees five clients on Saturdays. He has increased his income by more than $500 a week and enjoys the variety in the work.

Blending a Massage Career with a Closely Related Career

Another option is to work two closely related careers. Some people blend massage with skills in fitness training or yoga instruction, or become part-time massage teachers, massage writers, or continuing education workshop providers. Because of the flexibility of massage work, anything and everything is possible.

Helpful Articles

For more information and insights into blended massage careers, explore these articles from Massage & Bodywork magazine:

As you continue to contemplate your options, download the “My Perfect Life Visualization” worksheet from the Picked Fresh section of this newsletter. Think about a blended career as you complete this activity. In upcoming newsletters, we will continue our discussion by exploring career specialization.