1. Please describe your practice as a Massage Therapist.

I am a NYS Licensed Physical Therapist as well as a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist. I have a private practice called Bodywork for Wellness. It is located on Northern Blvd across from Albany Memorial Hospital in Albany. I have chosen to dedicate myself full time to my practice where I incorporate both massage and physical therapy for my clients. Often clients are looking to relax and ease aches all over their bodies, but other times there is a specific pain or problem that I can address with the addition of my PT skills that goes beyond the scope of massage. This is a wonderful option that my clients love having and it is and option that is discussed with each visit as people's needs change depending on what is going on in their lives.

2. What is a typical week like for you?

In a typical week I work Mondays 1-6, Wednesdays 9-3 Thursdays 11-7 and Fridays 9-12:30. I also take some appointments outside of the listed hours on an as needed basis. On Tuesdays and Friday afternoons I divide my time between volunteer work, promoting and running my business.

3. How has your career as a Massage Therapist impacted your life?

Incorporating massage therapy into my career has taught me the importance of balance in one's life as well as the value of self care. This is a gift I can now share with others in a world that is more hectic and busy everyday. For people who are always taking care of things outside themselves just one hour to listen to their bodies and to receive care from someone else can help recharge them, making them better at all the things they need and want to do.

4. What job or career did you have prior to becoming a Massage Therapist?

Prior to adding Massage Therapy to my skill set I worked as (and still do work as) a Physical Therapist. I have worked at Albany Medical Center with a variety of patients ranging from those who are deconditioned to patients with broken bones from accidents to patients who have suffered major injuries like brain or spinal cord injuries. I have also worked in traditional outpatient physical therapy working with patients after an ankle sprain or whiplash or rotator cuff injuries etc. Finally I spent time as well working at a manual therapy practice that focused in an osteopathic approach which requires one to look at the body as a whole not just parts.

5. What inspired you to become a Massage Therapist?

My desire to become a massage therapist came from my interest in honoring the connectedness of the body. In traditional medicine (where I worked for many years) the focus was on the pain or problem area. I was interested in what the whole body was doing and how that might create a pain or problem. The more I looked at the body with this approach the more I learned about how to correct the imbalances that had occurred, and create lasting pain relief for my clients. Massage was a career where there were no restrictions on what body part I could treat or work on. In massage it is expected that you will work on the whole body. That spoke to my interests and inspired me to add Massage Therapy to my skill set.

6. What advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in Massage Therapy?

I would tell someone who is thinking about a career in Massage Therapy that this career has such a profound affect on both you and your clients. When you become a massage therapist you can offer a gift that very few people can, the gift of compassionate presence and therapeutic touch. This can bring peace and ease to people who may not have that otherwise in their lives.

7. Estimated annual income as a Massage Therapist (not including any other sources.)

$25,001 - $40,000

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