We Asked: Will you be a massage therapist 10 years from now? Why, or why not?

Here is what you told us...

The answer is, indisputably, yes. Massage therapy is my second career; nursing was my first. Every single day that I provide massage services to a person in need, I am thankful for my newfound profession and for the gift of touch. Each time I meet a new client or see a long-term client, it reinforces my belief that what is truly important in life is the connection we make with other people. As a massage therapist, I get to connect with others through touch.

Sherrie Winn
Monroe, New York

I will be a massage therapist the rest of my life. To me, this is a calling, a passion and a love of mine.

Jack Ogden
Greenville, New Hampshire

Yes, I will always enjoy my passion: massage therapy. Massage therapy is not a job or work to me. The work comes from running the business aspect of my practice. There is no separation between massage therapy and who I am. I am connected to all of life. Every time I touch another person, I enter one of the most awesome mediations one could ever imagine.

Cindy Rowland
Ventura, California

I certainly hope to be, although I will be 80 years old then and it mostly depends on my body holding out. I am semi-retired and practice most of my craft as a volunteer massaging hospice patients. I consider this a ministry and find it personally rewarding as it brings immense comfort to folks facing the end of their life.

Hugh Philip Barber
Springfield, Ohio

No. I was 54 years young when I decided to pursue a career in massage, and 56 when I relocated my practice following Hurricane Katrina. I believe I can state with reasonable certainty that this baby boomer will be taking a backseat to the younger and more vigorous bodyworkers in 10 years.

Nancy Mills
Wetzel, Mississippi

I plan on being a massage therapist 10 years from now and then some. I see myself working within the military. I have had the opportunity to work closely with Marines injured in Iraq. I am actively seeking inroads to work with military personnel at military hospitals and veteran hospitals using massage. The Marines who received the massage services said it really helped manage their pain.

Lori-Ann Gallant-Heilborn
Warwick, Rhode Island

I would love to still be doing massage therapy in 10 years. IÕm working now to keep myself free of injury and limiting the number of massages that I do so that I donÕt overdo it. I plan to be doing this for as long as I can, and taking care of yourself, setting limits and respecting what your body is telling you are the ways that I plan to practice massage therapy for many years to come.

RayLynn Kernan
Sheldon, Wisconsin

I believe I will still be practicing massage in 10 years. I have added other modalities that are not as physically taxing to my services. This allows me to still provide the parasympathetic nurturing my clients need, and to take care of my body and not over-exert. My clients love that I provide more than one service, and realize the benefit of the other modalities.

Catherine P. Breeden
Brunswick, Maryland

Yes. I do hope to also have a B.S. in anatomy and physiology, but massage is my passion. I have been in practice for four years as a deep-tissue and hot-stone therapist. I love what I do, because I love what I see massage therapy do in the lives of my regular clients. For as long as I am effective, I will continue to massage.

Chrystal Higginbotham
Oshkosh, Wisconsin

I donÕt see myself being a full-time massage therapist 10 years from now. My work is mostly neuromuscular, with trigger-point therapy being my most requested service. The work is demanding physically and sometimes burnout seems to be just around the corner. I envision having a practice where I am a part-time massage therapist offering other services to my clients, such as Ayurvedic treatments, aromatherapy, detoxification treatments, nutrition counseling, and wellness classes.

Cynthia Fox
Muncy, Pennsylvania

Yes. I will be 72 then. I graduated and became certified at the age of 61. I foresee giving a caring touch for many years. Working at something I love at my age is a joy. I will continue as long as possible.

Cheri Houston
Blacksburg, Virginia

Massage therapy is my passion. At the age of 40, I found my dream job. I have a degree in business and foreign languages and I believe that being in the corporate world for a long time helped me to build my new business. I love to help my clients feel better, to be my own boss, the everyday challenges and, most of all, that there is always something new to learn. Therefore, if no health issues come up in the future, I would love to continue doing what I am doing for at least another 10 years.

Anja Wuerminghausen
Uniontown, Ohio

Oh, definitely! I canÕt think of another profession where I get to spend time with wonderful people (one-on-one), have such a flexible schedule, be conscious of alternative health choices and to earn the income I want. Being a massage therapist is the best decision I ever made, and I can see that being a massage therapist 10 years from now will be a valued profession in the eyes of our communities and in our local health industry.

Lisadiana Bates
Bryan, Texas

Absolutely. The biggest reason is that each massage I offer helps to heal me. I grow personally and professionally every time I touch. The Òattitude of gratitudeÓ this profession engenders sustains me at the deepest levels.

Neal Delaporta
Danbury, Connecticut