By Kelly Rouba
“I love the massage therapy profession and I wanted to bring high quality massage education to a community that did not yet have a massage school,” says Ruth Marion, who founded Health Works Institute after moving to Montana in 2000. “I chose Bozeman because it is a small city with a good university, a wonderful natural foods co-op, and an active population of friendly people who love the outdoors and pursue diverse approaches to a healthy and vibrant lifestyle.”
Marion’s interest in massage therapy developed in the 1970s. Before founding Health Works Institute, she served as executive director of the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Colorado and director of the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation.
Health Works Institute is housed in a historic building that was constructed in 1938. “Most of the building is not accessible, but we are in a wing that is accessible,” she says, noting that an existing bathroom was modified to meet ADA standards several years ago, in case students with disabilities enrolled in the massage program.
The school later added a training program for those interested in becoming estheticians. About four months ago, Marion decided to hire contractors to remodel an esthetician training area. When a plumber asked if she would like to have him install a lower sink in one of the training rooms, she says, “I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, this would be such a good occupation for people in wheelchairs who have full use of their upper body.”
Marion then approached a local resident who uses a wheelchair to get her opinion on whether individuals with mobility impairments would be interested in pursuing a career as a massage therapist or esthetician. “She thought it was a great idea,” Marion said.
According to Marion, estheticians provide a variety of services, including facials, make-up application, brow and eyelash tinting, full body waxing, partial body waxing, and lymphatic drainage. Estheticians also are trained to provide massage for the head, face, neck, shoulders, hands, and feet.
“You don’t have to be super dexterous, but you have to enjoy working with your hands,” Marion says. “You’re going to work with some very small areas of the skin and you’re going to be performing some treatments that require great precision.”
Massage therapy, on the other hand, requires a fair amount of upper body strength. “The scope of massage therapy generally includes manual manipulation of the soft tissue of the body with the intention of bringing an improvement to overall health and well being, and it is used to treat specific conditions with specific techniques, and to reduce stress and to promote relaxation,” Marion explains.
Individuals interested in studying massage or skin care can enroll in one or both programs at Health Works Institute. “I think it would be easier for people in a wheelchair to do skin care than to do massage, but I am very open for them to sign up for massage as well,” Marion said.
The massage therapy program takes about one year to complete, whereas the esthetician program lasts 20 to 25 weeks depending on whether the student attends class full- or part- time. Participants receive a diploma once classes conclude and coursework is completed, but they must pass a state exam to receive their certification.
“To come out as both a massage therapist and an esthetician would be great,” Marion says. “You could get a job at any spa,”, noting that many employers look for people who can perform in both areas.
Individuals working as either a massage therapist or estheticians also have the potential to earn a decent income. The average pay is about 30% to 60% of the customer’s service fee, Marion says. And many of the larger spas offer benefits as well.
Another perk of working in the industry is that most spas, especially ones located in medical centers, are designed with accessibility in mind to accommodate clients with disabilities. Many places even have massage tables or facial beds that lower via a hydraulic lift. “If you get your massage table low enough, you could almost mimic a standing position while working,” Marion says.
Estheticians also get a stool with wheels, which allows for easy maneuvering, and can be adjusted to a comfortable height. Additionally, they are given a rolling table that holds all necessary tools. This way, everything is in reach.
“It is possible to work from home in both professions depending on state regulations,” Marion says. Although, getting approval can be difficult for estheticians since some states have strict sanitary regulations.
No matter what the setting, Marion believes a career as a massage therapist or esthetician can be very rewarding. “Massage therapy and skin care are occupations that can be healthy and enjoyable for the practitioner as well as for the client.
“It is very satisfying to help people feel better.”
To learn more, visit www.healthworksinstitute.com.
Kelly Rouba writes frequently for Action. This article is used by permission of mobileWOMEN.org, where it appeared in slightly different form.
