feelthebody's Personal Masseur Interview

Last Updated: Aug 27, 19:41

- I started working out lifting weights when I was 11 years old with my best friend, he also introduced me to magazines like Muscle & Fitness, FLEX & Men's Health, any thing to do with weightlifting and fitness.
After a brief shoulder injury, I started reading more about injuries they write about in the magazines, many of them about massage therapy & alternative medicine over surgery.
How stretching combined with massage helps speed up the recovery process, as it helps break down the lactic acid in the muscles and reduce the swelling.

I have been intrigued with massage since then. When I was 21 I met this kid who was a few years younger than me he was taking classes to become a massage therapist. He convinced me to let him use me as his guinea pig to practice massage techniques he had been learning.
I was hesitant at first but finally gave in & let him work on me. It happened to be after a week I changed my workout routine by playing basketball several hours a night, then down to lift weights for 45 minutes, followed by swimming several laps & then sauna for 15. Never fully recovering. I slept like a baby that night, next morning had no aches, lots of energy. I was hooked

- First - Our Tandem (4 Hand) massage session and the fact that Andy and I have worked together over 15 years perfecting our session. That is a long time!

I (Bryan) personally have been a CMT since March 11th 2000, when I was first certified after completing 100 hours advanced training course at Mueller College of Holistic Studies here in San Diego which was all you needed at that time.
January 2014 - May 2015 we both went back to school and graduated from Mueller College to complete over 1000 Hours of studies to become Certified Holistic Health Practitioners in Integrated bodywork.

Above all, what distinguishes us is how much we enjoy making people feel good, both physically and mentally. Sharing the gift of touch is so therapeutic.

When we are engaged with our client, we listen to what they tell us is going on with their bodies. Not just from the words they speak, but posture and movements aches and pain.
We also provide some free enhancements during a clients session if we think it will help relieve any ailment or symptom they may be experiencing such as Cupping Therapy, Ultrasound, warm towels, and aromather

- Oh we would definitely miss our days as a Masseur. I (Bryan) started doing massage over 24 years ago. March 11th 2000, I had completed my first 100 hour course. This is back in the day when you only needed 100 hours of curriculum to get certified. And over the 24 years I have met so many amazing people, who trust me with their bodies when they are in pain, or want to just enjoy relaxing, and some people just need to be touched. I always enjoy meeting new people and this job allows me the ability to do this.

So I definitely would miss being a massage therapist.
I think I will always do this as long as I can make other people feel good.

- I think it is wise to take a good course in order to do massage.

As there are a lot of contradictions to giving a massage.

Working on someone on painkillers that may have an injury who wants all kinds of pressure can turn into a major problem for both the Client and the Therapist.

- Yes I definitely consider myself(Bryan) successful after 24 years actively working as a massage therapists. I truly enjoy what I am doing for a living. Plus I work with my partner of 15 years anz d we have been providing our Tandem (4 Hand) massage for about the same amount of time. And yes we both went back to school 10 years ago to obtain our HHP Certification as Holistic Health Practitioners in Integrated Bodywork. So what we do is very legit and our Tandem massage is considered to be one of the best massages one can receive, and we offer it at an affordable price.

So yes we both consider ourselves to be successful Masseurs.

- Bryan - I have been doing massage work since March of 2000, so going on 23 years now. I will continue doing this as long as my body holds up. I feel very fortunate to have had instructors when I started that emphasized proper posture & technique.

I am also lucky to have found a partner who was willing to work with me and was easy to train when he was having some trouble finding work after we moved to Salt Lake City years ago. So when we started offering our Tandem massage back in 2009 it quickly became our most requested session. So around the end of 2013 I wanted to go back to school and get my Holistic Health Practitioner Certificate. Andy not only encouraged me but joined me and we both became Certified as Holistic Health Practitioners by May 2015 in San Diego graduating from Mueller College of Holistic Studies. So we are both enjoying the work we get to provide and we get to meet some fascinating people from all walks of life.

- I want the clients to definitely feel like they can move without pain, that they are more flexible. I also enjoy seeing just how dazed a client feels when they first sit up, having to become aware. Realizing that the massage we just gave them whether it was a regular Swedish massage or with our four hand session was much more than just a massage.

I like hearing that the client feels their BODY. And they are not sore or tired, they can enjoy the ability to actually FEEL the BODY, and it feels good.

I have had clients tell me after they had started driving home that there was a point at which they had to stop the car and pull over because they had a rush of emotions come over them. But it was In a good way.
I love hearing that clients had been dreading having to deal with something they found difficult before was no longer a problem.

- It was a friend of mine who invited me to go with him to San Francisco.
While we were there I ran into this MT(Big Tom)that gave me one of the most amazing massages. Really nice guy very tall, big hands covered my entire back. He was also a Club Promoter, the first time we met was Halloween weekend at Hell Ball, then a couple months later when I came back to town he hired me as a go-go boy at a club called Metropolis.

Anyway my friend who invited me on the trip had mentioned wanting a massage. So I asked Tom if he would be willing to work on my friend, at the same time and teach me some massage strokes. So I was totally excited when he said "yes", "as long as I could mimic his movements & follow his lead working the opposite side of the body".
2 hours later we arrive for Jerry's massage. BTW Jerry thought I was dropping him off as I had not mentioned the Tandem thing, yet!
So when I walked in behind Tom I was like Surprise your getting a 4 hand.

After the session Jerry said "it was the best massage ever!"
Tom(Therapist) mentioned how amazed he was with me mirroring his movements & following his lead!
Best Compliments! Thanks Big T

- We both like to travel, Andy has been many places around the world. We also enjoy hiking, mountain biking, spending time at the beach and being outside, spending time with friends and family, and dancing/flag dancing has been something that we have done in the past and still do on occasion.

Bryan enjoys playing softball, during the spring and fall seasons.

- I would have some questions about their motivation to become a massage therapist? What makes this career interesting to them? are they people persons? what is their perception of the full scope of the job?
do they care how the client looks?
If they feel they may or are squeamish about touching overweight people or it makes them uncomfortable they may think twice about this as a profession.

I would ask them if they are prepared to deal with the one question they will be asked almost everyday, and that is do you provide a Happy Ending? if it is not brought up in conversation before the session, how will they handle it face to face? some clients will be blunt about it at the end of their session.

Can they picture themselves doing massage the rest of their lives?

Advice or knowledge I would give is the knowledge in knowing that
"The gift of touch can be as healing and rewarding for ones self, if you truly enjoy helping others".

The other advice, "learn to ground yourself, it may be difficult at times but you will take on others pain by not learning.
Last of all understand & remember to clear your energy by simply washing your hands in cold water before & after each session.

- The goal and intention for any therapist should be as simple as setting your intentions to provide your knowledge of the body and perform the most practical efficient techniques to help your client reach a state of total relaxation, and over the following days recognizing that certain body aches and pains they are not experiencing

- We drive every 6-8 weeks to Salt Lake we rent a car here in San Diego, stop in Vegas for a couple days and work on clients.
Next stop St.George Utah, here we stay with friends in a little town called Hurricane. Work on 2 or 3 regular clients. We try to give everyone a couple days notice before arriving.
Then up to Salt Lake City spending 6-7 days working on clients, and visiting with my Family (Bryan).

We bought our 1st turnkey rental property in Jacksonville FL. Nov 2018, and we just closed on a 2nd property on January 3rd, 2020, flew out there and spent 6 weeks fixing the place up. After the first purchase we flew to Orlando FL, rented a car and drove to Jacksonville Ended up buying a massage table while we where there, cause signing onto A4A.com, at that time was the only paid advertising I did & CL. Anyway, like 10 people wanted massages the 1st 2 hours. It paid for itself the 1st day. So we leave the table with my (Bryan"s) cousin who lives by Cape Canaveral.

At home in SD:
Traveling to the clients is fine, as long as they have room to work around the table.

Our location options to use extra tools that are on hand like hot towels, UltraSound Therapy, Cupping etc.