Question from a reader: Torn about what CE’s to take
February 10, 2009 at 12:46 am (Massage)
Jessica wrote:
“Hi, I have been practicing massage therapy for 3 years. I love it. However, I am torn about what CE’s to take. I have an opportunity to learn Lypossage. What do you think?”
Hi, Jessica.
Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to write.
I also have struggled over which CE’s to invest my hard-earned money in, not to mention time. Ultimately I believe that my money is best spent on things that excite me. In other words, if I half-heartedly participate in something, I won’t succeed at it.
I had never heard of Lypossage before, so I browsed the internet to learn about it. I have to say that I am not very impressed. It seems like more of a gimmick than a true therapy. It is not something that I would be interested in. But you should decide for yourself whether it is something that you can do with passion and enthusiasm. In the right hands, Lypossage might be therapeutic. I personally am drawn to techniques that help me focus on specific muscles, like stretching or structural integration.
There are days at work when I literally fall to my knees and say a prayer of “thanks” to whatever forces guided me into this profession. I have requested to have this same job in my next life. Even if I have to have the exact same struggles and problems that I had in this life. If they are required to get me to this spot, then bring it on! It was all worth it.
One colleague of mine is very passionate about pregnancy massage, another is very excited by doing energy work with clients, and so on. What excites you? What would make you spontaneously fall to your knees because you are grateful to be so privileged?
Lynn Patricia
The Massage Geek
David Lauterstein said,
February 22, 2009 at 8:31 am
Hello Massage Geek,
Lynn, I’ve subscribed to your blog. I like your honesty and agree with you that people ideally will be guided by their excitements. These days, in the workshops we offer at my school, it seems that people are prioritizing a bit more what they think will yield more immediately economic results and while I understand it, I was taken by surprise.
We had a great Pediatric Massage Therapy class offered, by Marybetts Sinclair, the foremost person on that subject. And one month prior to the workshop, we had ZERO people. I couldn’t believe it! We had to cancel it.
Personally almost all of my continuing education for the last 20 years has been in Zero Balancing, which I teach and continue to study. Thank God for how endless almost any path in the massage and bodywork realm can be! I love your saying “what would make you spontaneously fall to your knees” – Yes!
btw – I’ve just started my own blog – the Enlightened Body -
http://www.tlcschool.com/the-enlightened-body-massage-blog/
Keep up the good work, geek!
David Lauterstein
Co-Director, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School in Austin, TX
http://www.TLCschool.com
steve said,
May 19, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I agree totally – let your passion be your guide! If something really reaches out and touches your soul….that should be what you do. Don’t let the $ or the potential $ to bring you to something, without a passion for the field or subject, it will all be for naught.
Braha Massage Studio AZ said,
June 2, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Neuromuscular Massage excites me — been practicing for 9 years and the results are direct and impressive!
Al Brown said,
June 3, 2009 at 6:43 pm
What excites me is creating a system that can be programmed with any number of techniques. And that can verify their effectiveness.
A really tough thing to do, but that would dramatically increase the accessibility of massage to many people that don’t enjoy being touched by non-significant others.
Cole said,
July 29, 2009 at 2:28 am
I had never heard of Lypossage either, until reading your blog that is and I can honestly stay that some of the research freaked me out. Maybe I’m too simple but I get most passionate about how great massage can make people feel about what they have, not using it to fix perceived defects. I get really jazzed when I hear my clients talk about how they were able to put things together or accomplish personal goals after working with me.
Ken Shim, Massage Therapist (RMT) said,
September 16, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I typically follow whatever mode I am in at the moment. It keeps changing and I just let it lead me where it does. I haven’t taken many courses though. In Ontario, Canada we can count time reading, watching videos or conferring with peers towards our required continuing education units. So, I’ve built up quite a collection of videos, borrowed/copied other videos and traded off with other therapists for most of my learning adventures.
Skin Care said,
October 2, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Nice information shared. Thank you for your efforts.
Seamus said,
October 5, 2009 at 5:25 am
Yes I agree – what would make you fall to your knees!?
But not sure what CEs are? A U.S. thing I guess?
BTI said,
October 14, 2009 at 12:22 pm
We have a number of articles about this over at http://www.massage.net/articles/. Thanks for the info.
Massage Geek said,
October 16, 2009 at 10:48 am
Thank you for all the comments!
Seamus,
CE is short for Continuing Education – the kind of education you get after you have completed a degree or certification. More commonly you will see CEC (CE Credits) or CEU (Units). Most certifications require such education to help a therapist stay up-to-date with advances in the industry.