Q: What's a typical workday like for you?
A: I work a four- to six-hour day with back-to-back appointments. Workflow is seasonal, busier after holidays and in the spring when "outdoor warriors" come in. My day is really quite calm and peaceful because I have my own room, music, lighting, candles and atmosphere.
Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?
A: My work involves stress reduction and injury prevention. Stress causes so many of our health issues. Massage calms the adrenaline and the heart rate. The most important thing for the body is to be still and connect, and to acknowledge pain and stress. If that's ignored, it can escalate into something else.
Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?
A: I may interact with a trainer, cook, clerk, receptionist, or I may choose to interact only with clients.
Q: Why did you become a massage therapist?
A: The sense of what other people need comes naturally to me. And as an athlete, I can sense what others' pains and discomforts are, and I know I can help them feel better.
