hairyandfriendly - Experienced Male massage therapist in Palm Springs, CA

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?

Come at it with bucketloads of empathy. Try to put your own wants and preferences aside, and be selfless as much as possible.

Get a natural high from knowing you a helping another soul out by providing a safe and intimate space for them to let go and let down their daily shield that we all carry...

Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?

I trained for two years in Hawaii, which has the strictest massage therapist licensing requirements in the nation. We studied pre-med, learning every bone and muscle in the body. And we were required to complete a 500-hour internship in a medical or spa establishment.

Only half the students typically passed the grueling State Board exams!

Yes, professional training matters because you learn how NOT to hurt people! Having said that, a person either has "the touch" or they don't. Training can't teach that - it's simply innate and instinctual.

How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?

I tell clients that I'm happy to travel to another county, another city, even if it's a 2 or 3 hour drive away.

They usually say something like they wouldn't ask me to drive all that way for them. But I spent my childhood in Southern California perpetually riding in the back seat of a car - long freeway drives are my natural habitat!

I appreciate when I have enough notice beforehand. That way, a client isn't in a rush asking when I'll get there and what's taking me so long! I am often at the mercy of traffic, road works, and weather - one can only control one's universe to a certain extent. ;-)