鈥淲ork鈥� is not a word Eliane Oramas would use to describe her job as a massage instructor at 麻豆传媒. For her, teaching massage therapy program is her passion.
A beauty school graduate who went back to study massage therapy at the age of 30, Oramas says it changed her life. 鈥淚 never felt that I went to work again because I found the passion in what I like to do,鈥� she says. She began teaching in 2005, but she has also done massages in spas and a chiropractor鈥檚 office. In addition to teaching at 麻豆传媒, she also recruits for a massage-on-demand company, which operates along the lines of Uber.
Oramas says she teaches her students everything she knows. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 hold back on what I teach them. When you teach and have people depending on you, it鈥檚 very important that you do a good job.鈥� Her hands-on training goes the extra mile. 鈥淚 massage clients in front of my students,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 having them touch the tissue. It鈥檚 very interactive, and not a lot of teachers do that.鈥�
Besides learning the techniques used in Swedish massage, students need to know how to effectively communicate with clients. Millennials have been brought up with technology; social media often substitutes for actual one-on-one communication. 鈥淢assage is a customer service-oriented field,鈥� she explains. 鈥淵ou want to make a difference to where that client is going to want to come back to you. You want to stand out.鈥� To do that, massage therapists need to discuss treatment goals with their clients. What do you want to get out of the massage? Do you have areas of tension? Do you have an injury? Are you going through an emotional phase of your life? Do you just want to relax?
According to Oramas, massage therapy is in more demand than ever. 鈥淧eople are stressed out and touch deprived,鈥� she says. Many professions have gone away because of technology, but massage has not. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 replace the human hand.鈥� This is especially true in Florida with its elderly population. 鈥淭here are so many elderly people who don鈥檛 have their significant other, or their children aren鈥檛 there,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose people need touch. The health benefit is not just physical but also emotional.鈥�
By triggering an involuntary 鈥� but expected 鈥� relaxation response from the nervous system, massage can produce physical and emotional benefits. This causes your heart and breathing rates to slow down, and your blood pressure and stress hormones to decrease. Certain chemicals are released that make the body feel good. 鈥淵our cells have memories that they want to come back,鈥� Oramas says. 鈥淣o healing takes place unless the person is relaxed.鈥� That鈥檚 why massage therapy, which promotes the immune system and assists healing, is used in healthcare facilities. That opens additional doors to graduates. Rather than work in a day spa or massage franchise, they can put their skills to use working with chiropractors, oncologists, sports medicine doctors, prenatal wards, hospice and more.
鈥淚f students have an interest in healthcare, [massage therapy] is definitely a gate, an entry into it,鈥� Oramas says, 鈥渂ecause it gives you a good amount of knowledge in terms of the body.鈥� Students learn anatomy, physiology and medical terminology as part of their massage training. 鈥淵ou can make enough money in massage therapy to pay your way through physical therapy school or whatever interest the student may develop,鈥� she continues.
Oramas and 麻豆传媒鈥檚 other massage therapy instructors are doing it right. 鈥淥ur educators are very strong,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e know that the skill we鈥檙e teaching is what鈥檚 going to give them their livelihood.鈥� It鈥檚 also giving graduates excellent career opportunities. 鈥淭he ones that are looking for a job 鈥� most of the time I have people waiting for them.鈥� She says it鈥檚 important to find people a good match, however. For example, Oramas had two students who were very athletic and enjoyed sports. When someone in her large network of contacts expressed a need for massage therapists who were interested in working on athletes, she immediately thought of them. 鈥淚 know so many people, and I鈥檓 always able to situate my students with a good match.鈥�
Finding a good job match can also lead to good money. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know too many professions where you can go to school for six months and be able to come out and make between $50 to $200 an hour,鈥� Oramas says. 鈥淭here are so many people out there that are miserable in a job. They can get out of there and get a license, be proud and be part of a profession that is humble, that is not throat cutting. It鈥檚 a nice environment to work in. It鈥檚 stress free and non-confrontational.鈥�
It鈥檚 no secret that living in today鈥檚 world can be stressful. According to the American Psychological Association, stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung problems, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide. Massage therapy can reduce stress, and, therefore, benefit health and wellness. Oramas says, 鈥淭ouch, love and humanity are very needed.鈥�
If Eliane Oramas inspires you to promote wellness and help people relieve their pain, consider a career as a massage therapist. 麻豆传媒 in Fort Myers offers a comprehensive curriculum (with the flexibility of day and evening classes) that can get you started in a massage therapy career in as few as 30 weeks. When you conclude your training and earn your license, you will be qualified for a massage therapist position in a clinic, chiropractic office, spa, hotel, fitness center, sports medicine facility, cancer treatment location or more.
Contact 麻豆传媒 today. Classes begin every six weeks.