Need & Want to "Up my Game"

[Lemon Drop]

This is both a business/marketing issue and a continuing ed question but I feel it fits best in here.

I run my own shop... just little ol me. I really want to be educated well and keep advancing myself so that I don't get burnt out or just continue to do the same stuff all the time - however it SOOOO FREAKING EXPENSIVE! The past two years I have done the local Cont Ed and it was boring and I hated it and didn't learn anything... this year I spent WAY more than I wanted to and am taking a kinesiotaping seminar to do that and become a CKT. I had to take out a 'loan' from my father-in-law to pay for it and I just paid him back finally (The class is in May/June) but now it's gonna cost me $150 each weekend for hotel plus gas plus food. I know it's all tax ded. but it's still that I don't feel I really have the funds for it but I just needed to do SOMETHING. So all in all it will end up costing me around $900!!!! :shock: (and I got a small discount on the class) That's crazy when as I said before I Really dont have that kind of money! How do the rest of you do it on a small budget? Again, I want to stay 'in the game' and not be that LMT that still and only does the stuff she learned back in school! Help!

 

[Carling]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

This is both a business/marketing issue and a continuing ed question but I feel it fits best in here.

I run my own shop... just little ol me. I really want to be educated well and keep advancing myself so that I don't get burnt out or just continue to do the same stuff all the time - however it SOOOO FREAKING EXPENSIVE! The past two years I have done the local Cont Ed and it was boring and I hated it and didn't learn anything... this year I spent WAY more than I wanted to and am taking a kinesiotaping seminar to do that and become a CKT. I had to take out a 'loan' from my father-in-law to pay for it and I just paid him back finally (The class is in May/June) but now it's gonna cost me $150 each weekend for hotel plus gas plus food. I know it's all tax ded. but it's still that I don't feel I really have the funds for it but I just needed to do SOMETHING. So all in all it will end up costing me around $900!!!! :shock: (and I got a small discount on the class) That's crazy when as I said before I Really dont have that kind of money! How do the rest of you do it on a small budget? Again, I want to stay 'in the game' and not be that LMT that still and only does the stuff she learned back in school! Help!

I feel your pain. I have by-passed seminars because I simply didn't have the funds and opted to do online courses these past two years. I did go to NY once for a session (rather than a seminar) with Walt Fritz to give me more knowledge of MFR and to experience having it done. It was great! But the only reason I was able to go was that a friend of mine lived in NY and I was able to stay with her which saved me expensive hotel costs. This year, I wanted to go with another therapist and bring my son to a Sports Massage Seminar with Wasloski, and had told my friend I wasn't going to be able to go as things are tight right now catching up on end of year fees from state, town, parish, etc. But, my oldest son saved the day and asked if there was anything he could get his brother to help him get going here and I told him if he'd just pay for his class, I'd pay for mine. He said it was an all or nothing deal.. he was paying for all of it. I am awed by my kids. I am not exaggerating when I say they are amazing. So... finally, this year, I am going to go to a seminar and am really looking forward to it, esp for my son as I feel this will be a big confidence-booster for him getting some hands on training. I really can't afford to go and pass up any appts, but I can't afford not to go either. But, I feel it will be worth it because more education means better treatment for our clients and that makes it a win/win situation. Couldn't have justified it without my older son's help though, because I simply would not have had the funds. I'm just thankful it worked out and will forever appreciate the opportunity.

 

[luv_yuu_4eva]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Last year, I was offered the money to go to New Orleans for a CST seminar by a client/casual friend who suffers with migraines as she has read it is good and wanted me to learn it. I wanted to go SO BAD, but ethically, I couldn't do it... lol

 

[Mrs. Nick Jonas <33]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Last year, I was offered the money to go to New Orleans for a CST seminar by a client/casual friend who suffers with migraines as she has read it is good and wanted me to learn it. I wanted to go SO BAD, but ethically, I couldn't do it... lol

Was it with Peggy Scott?
If so OMG she is amazing!
If ever there is a seminar in NOLA that you want to or planning on attending, I can let you know where to stay that is cheap but still nice. I lived in the area for 34 years.

 

[Scarecrow Man]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Last year, I was offered the money to go to New Orleans for a CST seminar by a client/casual friend who suffers with migraines as she has read it is good and wanted me to learn it. I wanted to go SO BAD, but ethically, I couldn't do it... lol

Was it with Peggy Scott?
If so OMG she is amazing!
If ever there is a seminar in NOLA that you want to or planning on attending, I can let you know where to stay that is cheap but still nice. I lived in the area for 34 years.

No, it was through Upledger. But, I pulled up Peggy's site and she is in Metairie. That is right across the lake. THAT I can do. I have a call in to her. I'll tell her you gave her high praise.

 

[Question Guy]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

How funny, I know Peggy Scott, too. We both were Ortho-Bionomy instructors, she still is--I left the system.
I hear good things about her Cranial classes.

To the original poster, I have a good fellow instructor friend who at one time traveled fairly frequently to Fargo to teach Ortho-Bionomy and other bodywork classes. Here's her website, http://www.obtouchworks.com

 

[autobot032]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

This is both a business/marketing issue and a continuing ed question but I feel it fits best in here.

I run my own shop... just little ol me. I really want to be educated well and keep advancing myself so that I don't get burnt out or just continue to do the same stuff all the time - however it SOOOO FREAKING EXPENSIVE! The past two years I have done the local Cont Ed and it was boring and I hated it and didn't learn anything... this year I spent WAY more than I wanted to and am taking a kinesiotaping seminar to do that and become a CKT. I had to take out a 'loan' from my father-in-law to pay for it and I just paid him back finally (The class is in May/June) but now it's gonna cost me $150 each weekend for hotel plus gas plus food. I know it's all tax ded. but it's still that I don't feel I really have the funds for it but I just needed to do SOMETHING. So all in all it will end up costing me around $900!!!! :shock: (and I got a small discount on the class) That's crazy when as I said before I Really dont have that kind of money! How do the rest of you do it on a small budget? Again, I want to stay 'in the game' and not be that LMT that still and only does the stuff she learned back in school! Help!

Where are you attending the CKT class? I have seen a lot of folks from the Fargo/Moorhead area coming to the Twin Cities for CE classes. Pretty much anything you want to study is available here at one time or another. It may be possible for you to carpool with someone from your area and split the travel/hotel costs. I've done that many times and made friends in the process.

Another good, affordable option is the Massage Winter Symposium at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, MN. It's held every March, and features well-known instructors on a variety of topics. This year it is Joseph Muscolino, DC, author of an MTJ column and various massage textbooks. You'll get 13.5 CE Hours (all NCTMB approved) for $169. Cadaver lab time is included, preceded by televised dissection and discussion related to the overall theme of the weekend. It's probably the best overall CE value for the price.

If you become very proficient at a particular modality, especially if under the guidance of a particular instructor or certification system, you may receive greatly reduced prices to attend future sessions, or possibly attend for free (or even paid) if you are a Teaching Assistant. This will depend on you building some type of relationship with the CE providers so they know who you are and can trust you to properly represent them. It is not a small commitment, but can be extremely rewarding.

 

[kss0098]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

I was going to attend the CKT class last year in the cities but I just couldn't put the money together to do it, I am attending in Sioux Falls, SD. I would love to carpool with some other therapists but to be honest none of the therapists I know do anything outside of the FM Area it seems... there is one that travels anywhere for them but she usually spends ALOT of money - more than I would ever think of at this point in my business. Good Idea though.

I did look at the northwestern ones, as the Chiropractors in the same office I am in go there for their classes and they suggested that as well. Thanks, that sounds like a really good class. I have always wanted to see cadavers.

 

[HavinFun]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Another way to carpool and share expenses is that you can contact the provider (the person or group holding the class) and you can allow them to give out your name and number to any other classmates from your area who are attending the course to see about ride-sharing or hotel sharing. They will know if someone from your area is going to their seminar.

 

[Sinwa]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Can also get creative...

FWIW, I've seen folks raise money for classes by offering special package deals to their clients.

Once I had a client pay in advance for a number of sessions equal to the cost of a class I was planning to take specifically to help that client's condition.

 

[Combat Commo hooah]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Can also get creative...

FWIW, I've seen folks raise money for classes by offering special package deals to their clients.

Once I had a client pay in advance for a number of sessions equal to the cost of a class I was planning to take specifically to help that client's condition.

What a cool idea!

 

[tray]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Another way to "up your game" is to really scour YouTube for massage videos. Just start watching what people have put out there. You'll invariably find things you weren't taught or other ways to do the same thing you do.

Also, you can rent massage videos from net-flix and find a few of the AMTA chapters who will loan out ot you with a check as your "hold" on the video. You give them the check, you are loaned the video, when you return the video, they return the check.

At some point, it would be nice for MassagePlanetL to have a trading system where we could trade with each other. The main problem with that, is knowing the other person is going to return your DVD's/videos. Maybe someone will start something like the AMTA chapters I mentioned have.... someday. Possibly, you can find someone here who is willing to share with you... you never know.

BTW, you can find that AMTA info and other links (as well as a few interlibrary loan links) in the Resources Section of the boards.

Shoot, and I'd definitly follow up with Jason. Maybe he can pass your name onto the MT's he knows coming from your direction and you can make some new friends to practice with.

Those are the "on the budget" things I can think of right now.

 

[E-Man]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

You need to also remember that once you start taking classes and become specaialized you can charge more money

 

[Meghan M]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Has anyone heard of Science of Massage for online videos? Any opinions?

 

[Crissy]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

It makes a huge diference in your treatments by taking good quality courses, and learning new treatments, in the last two years i took the kinesio taping course $500, and 3 Active Release Technique courses about $2000 each!. if you are going to take a course make sure it is sellable, ie if taking a ear candling course but you work in a sports or very medical type of centre you wont have a good return on your invetment, it's all about the ROI!. let me clarify this statment, read a book or take an online course for the modality that you find interesting, it won't cost nearly as much so you wont loose as much money doing it, but spend more on the modalitys that are going to bring in more money to you, ie ART i spent alot, i even volunteered at 2 ironman triathlons on their treatment team, and in the end i have new clients coming in for that specific treatment now, (last month i volunteered for 3 weekes at the olympics, and my clinic had the lowest number of new clients in the month #16, normaly we are at closer to 30 or as high as 50 in a month for a clinic with 3 rooms and 2 ft and 4 pt mt's plus a naturopath)
Some of these courses will add you to ther provider list free or for a cost, kinesio taping was free, and art is about $120, but i get 2 or 3 pts a year from it, so its worth it.
Another option that might work is to organize your own course, this only works in large cities becuse in a town with 40 mt's you dont want them all being able to offer this new course, it brings down your ROI. some instructors will give you your course for free if you can get them 10 students to take the course. i know of a kinesio taping instructor that works this way in ontario.

Be picky on the courses you take, make it worth while, and advertise the heck out of the fact you offer this new service so it will pay for its self.

 

[renclrk]

Trade UP !

Expanding capability comes from massage trades for me.
Most recently traded with Neva WInters in Hillsboro, OR and her level
of skill, a magnitude more advanced then mine, humbled and
inspired me. Trading with peers is inexpensive, exposes one to
various modalities and creates a sense of gratitude. Trade up !

 

[cheetos_2000]

Trade UP !

Trading with peers is inexpensive, exposes one to
various modalities and creates a sense of gratitude. Trade up !

This is so true! I've learned a lot from trading. Always finding something to add to my bag of tricks or do differently!

 

[kellywebb]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

And when you find someone who does something you really like, get them together with a third person to do a learning exchange. This is a great way to keep your skills progressing.

 

[Desiree]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Whatever you do, don't just stop learning. That's a quick path to boredom, frustration, and burnout. I've seen excellent MTs leave their careers because of it.

We provide voluntary training workshops for our MTs. These have included pregnancy massage, hip flexor work, an ongoing series of Active Isolated Stretching trainings, etcetera. Our break room has an extensive library of professional references and materials from continuing ed seminars we've attended. Our MTs also routinely swap, and Kelly and I work on our MTs for free. Whenever CE courses come up in our area (often), we post info in the break room.

In short, our MTs have no excuses for not continuing to build on their knowledge bases. We encourage them to grow and explore new aspects of bodywork so they can continue to find joy and improve in their work.

 

[Nyx]

Need & Want to "Up my Game"

Another way to "up your game" is to really scour YouTube for massage videos. Just start watching what people have put out there. You'll invariably find things you weren't taught or other ways to do the same thing you do.

Also, you can rent massage videos from net-flix and find a few of the AMTA chapters who will loan out ot you with a check as your "hold" on the video. You give them the check, you are loaned the video, when you return the video, they return the check.

At some point, it would be nice for MassagePlanetL to have a trading system where we could trade with each other. The main problem with that, is knowing the other person is going to return your DVD's/videos. Maybe someone will start something like the AMTA chapters I mentioned have.... someday. Possibly, you can find someone here who is willing to share with you... you never know.

BTW, you can find that AMTA info and other links (as well as a few interlibrary loan links) in the Resources Section of the boards.

Shoot, and I'd definitly follow up with Jason. Maybe he can pass your name onto the MT's he knows coming from your direction and you can make some new friends to practice with.

Those are the "on the budget" things I can think of right now.

Hubby does the youtube-scouring. you mentioned. I really need to get him to start bookmarking the ones he finds useful, so I can go watch them when I have time. He's learned SO much that way- I tell him, every time I get a massage from him (which is sadly nowhere near as often as it should be), he gets better and better. That is a good thing- but it does not come with those so-important "pieces of paper" to prove learning. And, of course, there's always the learning curve- he says he practices on me without my knowledge, LOL!

Pueppi's idea of a lending library for MT's struck a chord in my heart. I have longed to do this ever since we started preparing to build-out our office here. I dunno *why* I think *I* am qualified to host such a thing, nor do we currently have the space or funds to store/obtain such books/DVDs as I'd like to have in said library (and I don't at this point even know enough to know which ones would be good to have! This would be where y'all would come in, LOL!). Perhaps it's the "librarian in my blood" from my Mom. I've wanted to do something like this for herbal materials and homeschool resources, as well. I actually even went to far as to detail my ideas for my oldest daughter, whose help I would have employed, if such a thing were to happen. She thought it a good idea, and was ready to jump in right away, LOL! I think that having quality resources for learning readily available is so important.

Maybe in my next life, I'm supposed to be a librarian, LOL!