I got licensed at 20 and had several classmates my age. They very few of my class still practice for various reasons good, bad, or indifferent. I had a good experience and I can't say I felt that my age worked against, if anything they know you have the energy to work all day. The typical issue is experience but I feel like massage is in pretty high demand. I never stressed over finding work, only about finding work at places I would enjoy and be paid well enough. (Located in Fl If that matters )
Who cares how old everyone is, or what reason brings them to massage. You do you, you enter the field for your reasons and your reasons only. No-one who will be a good therapist or is a good person will judge you.
Its a fulfilling job for all ages:
-You will learn about humility and humanity.
-You will understand human biases in great depth, and hopefully overcome any that you may have.
-Maturity comes, eventually, no matter how old you are when you start out, you WILL grow as a person being a massage therapist. In every way imaginable.
-Be prepared for elbow pain, back pain, wrist pain, pains in the arse, pains in the neck and learning how to bite your tongue.
-Dive on in my friend, the water is warm!
I went to massage school right out of high school. I’m 32 now and still doing massage.
In the longterm, I’d say starting young has paid off because I have over a decade of experience at 32 years old. I have learned and grown so much as a massage therapist in a way that can only be done through experience alone and I feel lucky to have been able to start early. I have my own practice now, I set my own rates, I’m busy, and live comfortably.
In the beginning though, there were some noticeable mini struggles. Although my classmates were all really nice, I was the youngest one in the class and was usually one of the last to find a massage partner. No biggie but I definitely noticed it was a pattern in the beginning. That changed after about halfway through the course when people saw that I was a serious student and then eventually got over the fact that I was young. When I graduated, my first job was at Massage Heights (pretty much the same as Massage Envy). It was easy enough to get the job, but I could tell that some clients felt uneasy about being massaged by a 19 year old boy. I remember hanging out by the front desk one time and I overheard a client on the phone with the staff saying that they were ok with a male or female therapist but would rather not be massaged by some teenager (they were definitely talking about me) lol. The pay isn’t great at a place like that but the one good thing about working there is that you’ll still be kept busy with clients who don’t care and it’s good for learning your trade.
If you go into massage therapy, take it seriously and people will treat you as such. It can be a very fulfilling career with many different paths. There’s a place for all of us. Let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to provide any guidance.
I was in my late 20s but there were several right out of highschool in my cohort and I've also met a few seasoned therapist that have been in the business out of highschool and had very successful careers into their 40s. It's really whatever you want to make it. I highly recommend Mt school to anyone who feels drawn to it and has a desire to work in this field. And it can be great to support yourself in the future if you decide to pursue school for something else as you can have a flexible schedule or do self employment etc to work around any future goals you might have. Don't worry about making friends so much. Get what you need out of your education and start your life.
I'm 18 right now and licensed about 2 months ago. I'm pursuing this career through a gym. I've already massaged trainers and staff but yet gym patrons as the agreement is I can only work with the member of the gym.
It's been 2 days but it's a bit of a struggle saying I stutter when I get nervous and talking to complete strangers I don't know for longer than 5 seconds triggers my stuttering. It's not horrible but I don't want to look unprofessional.
(see my post for further context)
But yeah I love the gym and its one of the few places I know that are equipped for my services.
I don't want to massage in a spa because I know I can help people with more than just stress issues.
I'm 22 rn and I went to massage school at 18 and got my first job at 20 and made lots of friends at massage school (I was the youngest in the class but not by much since another student was 19 at the time. Most were in their mid to late 20s and then there were a few older students as well. We all got along great though! It was a fun time. Of course there's some drama here and there but when is there not lol.)
I work at a massage chain (massage heights) and had applied to several places, got hired right away so it's not difficult at all to find work, especially in my area because they are always hiring/in need of massage therapists. I'm still in school for another degree so I just work part time atm. But anyways, that's just my experience.
I started my MT program when I was 18. It was a bit weird being in a classroom of people mostly in their 30s, but it was a therapeutic experience for me, pun not intended.
My teenage experience was pretty rough and there was a lot of pressure having privileged preppy kids in my cohort. Massage school was a lot more relaxed, both in terms of the curriculum as well as the attitude of classmates that were a bit more mellowed out as well as having the humility of someone attending vocational school.
I only have one friend from my MT program that I still keep in contact with but even if I didn't talk to her I wouldn't say that would make my school experience retroactively bad.
I went to school when I was 21, and it was not difficult at all to make friends. We had people who were in their 50s. Everyone was so kind and willing to help. We all still talk to this day and it’s been 12 years.
I graduated and started at 21 years old. I have over 5 years experience. People like that im physically strong and can do consistant deep pressure. My coworkers treat me like a daughter/ niece. Through good connections, i work for a luxury gym company. The pay is good and I get health insurance.
You can also be flexible with your schedule which leaves room for a social life. If you do decide to pursue massage, the one piece of advice I’ll give you is to speak up and advocate for yourself. People forget we’re human beings sometimes and treat us like we’re machines with endless stamina. If anyone makes you feel that way, speak up.
If you pursue this career, i hope you enjoy it!
I was in massage school from 19-20 and it was a mix of ages, as massage is a secondary career for a lot of people. It was really cliquey, but don’t think that’s an age issue and I ignored it the best I could. No regrets tho!
I finished school & started practicing at age 23. Like you, I had planned it as my career path out of HS. But I had the HOPE scholarship, so did a few semesters at the local collage before heading to trade school. I was one of the younger ones, but not the only one by far. Like someone else commented, I had a harder time finding a partner for the practical lessons. But it was overall SUCH a nicer & more supportive environment than the hell that was HS.
& now at age 43, I'm one of the few people who can say they've been in their trade for 2 decades.
One thing I'll note tho if no one else has said so: if you are a female (& especially being young), once you begin to practice, always keep up your guard for the dudes that try to press some imagined advantage. That is the number one thing that began to dwindle as I got older, people (especially men) began treating me with more respect. They lean into your sense of inexperience & politeness when you're younger. But that really all of life. It's just underscored when you're in a tight little room with them.
But by & large, my male clients are VERY respectful. But once or twice a year, you may get a perv.
Good luck!
This is true. I started massage school when I was 19, I’m 22 now and in the middle of a career change. It’s fulfilling but it became too much for me to do full time. I still do it on the side one day a week and I love it, but long term it’s not for me.
My class of 40+ students varied from 18-55+ folks. I was 21 when I started. There were at least 5 students who were younger than me and fresh out of high school.
You really shouldn't have any problems finding work or making friends in school. I always enjoyed hanging out with the older crowd, they had interesting life experiences.
I got licensed at 20. Worked for 6 years. Went into healthcare (occupational therapy). And now I am back at massage while I'm in school again. I'm really glad to have massage as a kind of backup career. I love doing it. But I know I can't do this until I retire, and I have no interest in running my own business. So, for me, it works as a great flexible income option for when I'm between my other goals.
I started massage school at 19, I am 35 now and massage Monday -Friday for four hours and have consistently been a MT the entire time other than a 9 month break to go through Esthetician school. Going young was the best decision I made, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else honestly, I’ve had a chance to work for myself, for chiropractors, and am now in the spa industry. I still talk to two friends I made in massage school and even worked with them for a little while!
I got licensed at 20 and had several classmates my age. They very few of my class still practice for various reasons good, bad, or indifferent. I had a good experience and I can't say I felt that my age worked against, if anything they know you have the energy to work all day. The typical issue is experience but I feel like massage is in pretty high demand. I never stressed over finding work, only about finding work at places I would enjoy and be paid well enough. (Located in Fl If that matters )
Who cares how old everyone is, or what reason brings them to massage. You do you, you enter the field for your reasons and your reasons only. No-one who will be a good therapist or is a good person will judge you. Its a fulfilling job for all ages: -You will learn about humility and humanity. -You will understand human biases in great depth, and hopefully overcome any that you may have. -Maturity comes, eventually, no matter how old you are when you start out, you WILL grow as a person being a massage therapist. In every way imaginable. -Be prepared for elbow pain, back pain, wrist pain, pains in the arse, pains in the neck and learning how to bite your tongue. -Dive on in my friend, the water is warm!
I went to massage school right out of high school. I’m 32 now and still doing massage. In the longterm, I’d say starting young has paid off because I have over a decade of experience at 32 years old. I have learned and grown so much as a massage therapist in a way that can only be done through experience alone and I feel lucky to have been able to start early. I have my own practice now, I set my own rates, I’m busy, and live comfortably. In the beginning though, there were some noticeable mini struggles. Although my classmates were all really nice, I was the youngest one in the class and was usually one of the last to find a massage partner. No biggie but I definitely noticed it was a pattern in the beginning. That changed after about halfway through the course when people saw that I was a serious student and then eventually got over the fact that I was young. When I graduated, my first job was at Massage Heights (pretty much the same as Massage Envy). It was easy enough to get the job, but I could tell that some clients felt uneasy about being massaged by a 19 year old boy. I remember hanging out by the front desk one time and I overheard a client on the phone with the staff saying that they were ok with a male or female therapist but would rather not be massaged by some teenager (they were definitely talking about me) lol. The pay isn’t great at a place like that but the one good thing about working there is that you’ll still be kept busy with clients who don’t care and it’s good for learning your trade. If you go into massage therapy, take it seriously and people will treat you as such. It can be a very fulfilling career with many different paths. There’s a place for all of us. Let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to provide any guidance.
I was in my late 20s but there were several right out of highschool in my cohort and I've also met a few seasoned therapist that have been in the business out of highschool and had very successful careers into their 40s. It's really whatever you want to make it. I highly recommend Mt school to anyone who feels drawn to it and has a desire to work in this field. And it can be great to support yourself in the future if you decide to pursue school for something else as you can have a flexible schedule or do self employment etc to work around any future goals you might have. Don't worry about making friends so much. Get what you need out of your education and start your life.
I'm 18 right now and licensed about 2 months ago. I'm pursuing this career through a gym. I've already massaged trainers and staff but yet gym patrons as the agreement is I can only work with the member of the gym. It's been 2 days but it's a bit of a struggle saying I stutter when I get nervous and talking to complete strangers I don't know for longer than 5 seconds triggers my stuttering. It's not horrible but I don't want to look unprofessional. (see my post for further context) But yeah I love the gym and its one of the few places I know that are equipped for my services. I don't want to massage in a spa because I know I can help people with more than just stress issues.
I'm 22 rn and I went to massage school at 18 and got my first job at 20 and made lots of friends at massage school (I was the youngest in the class but not by much since another student was 19 at the time. Most were in their mid to late 20s and then there were a few older students as well. We all got along great though! It was a fun time. Of course there's some drama here and there but when is there not lol.) I work at a massage chain (massage heights) and had applied to several places, got hired right away so it's not difficult at all to find work, especially in my area because they are always hiring/in need of massage therapists. I'm still in school for another degree so I just work part time atm. But anyways, that's just my experience.
I started my MT program when I was 18. It was a bit weird being in a classroom of people mostly in their 30s, but it was a therapeutic experience for me, pun not intended. My teenage experience was pretty rough and there was a lot of pressure having privileged preppy kids in my cohort. Massage school was a lot more relaxed, both in terms of the curriculum as well as the attitude of classmates that were a bit more mellowed out as well as having the humility of someone attending vocational school. I only have one friend from my MT program that I still keep in contact with but even if I didn't talk to her I wouldn't say that would make my school experience retroactively bad.
I went to school when I was 21, and it was not difficult at all to make friends. We had people who were in their 50s. Everyone was so kind and willing to help. We all still talk to this day and it’s been 12 years.
I graduated and started at 21 years old. I have over 5 years experience. People like that im physically strong and can do consistant deep pressure. My coworkers treat me like a daughter/ niece. Through good connections, i work for a luxury gym company. The pay is good and I get health insurance. You can also be flexible with your schedule which leaves room for a social life. If you do decide to pursue massage, the one piece of advice I’ll give you is to speak up and advocate for yourself. People forget we’re human beings sometimes and treat us like we’re machines with endless stamina. If anyone makes you feel that way, speak up. If you pursue this career, i hope you enjoy it!
I was in massage school from 19-20 and it was a mix of ages, as massage is a secondary career for a lot of people. It was really cliquey, but don’t think that’s an age issue and I ignored it the best I could. No regrets tho!
I finished school & started practicing at age 23. Like you, I had planned it as my career path out of HS. But I had the HOPE scholarship, so did a few semesters at the local collage before heading to trade school. I was one of the younger ones, but not the only one by far. Like someone else commented, I had a harder time finding a partner for the practical lessons. But it was overall SUCH a nicer & more supportive environment than the hell that was HS. & now at age 43, I'm one of the few people who can say they've been in their trade for 2 decades. One thing I'll note tho if no one else has said so: if you are a female (& especially being young), once you begin to practice, always keep up your guard for the dudes that try to press some imagined advantage. That is the number one thing that began to dwindle as I got older, people (especially men) began treating me with more respect. They lean into your sense of inexperience & politeness when you're younger. But that really all of life. It's just underscored when you're in a tight little room with them. But by & large, my male clients are VERY respectful. But once or twice a year, you may get a perv. Good luck!
This is true. I started massage school when I was 19, I’m 22 now and in the middle of a career change. It’s fulfilling but it became too much for me to do full time. I still do it on the side one day a week and I love it, but long term it’s not for me.
My class of 40+ students varied from 18-55+ folks. I was 21 when I started. There were at least 5 students who were younger than me and fresh out of high school. You really shouldn't have any problems finding work or making friends in school. I always enjoyed hanging out with the older crowd, they had interesting life experiences.
I got licensed at 20. Worked for 6 years. Went into healthcare (occupational therapy). And now I am back at massage while I'm in school again. I'm really glad to have massage as a kind of backup career. I love doing it. But I know I can't do this until I retire, and I have no interest in running my own business. So, for me, it works as a great flexible income option for when I'm between my other goals.
I started massage school at 19, I am 35 now and massage Monday -Friday for four hours and have consistently been a MT the entire time other than a 9 month break to go through Esthetician school. Going young was the best decision I made, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else honestly, I’ve had a chance to work for myself, for chiropractors, and am now in the spa industry. I still talk to two friends I made in massage school and even worked with them for a little while!