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1. Tell us a bit more about you and your practice as it is today? i.e. are you a solo practitioner or a business owner? If solo, what kind of an establishment do you work for, how large is it, what is the clientele like, what is the specialty offered? If it is a business that you own, kindly include the same time of relevant information that will give the reader a good idea about your establishment/practice. Please also include where you live and work?

I Practice massage therapy at the central Florida School of Massage Therapy which I also own. I have been practicing sports massage therapy since 1984. Because I own the school, teach classes at the school, teach continuing education workshops and teach workshops for product manufactures, I do not have a full time massage therapy practice. I am often referred patients/clients which other therapist are having difficulty treating. In the winter I teach a sports massage internship, which includes supervision of massage therapy in an athletic training room.

2. Tell us why you chose to go into massage and at what point in your life did you decide to do so? What were you doing at the time? Where did you first hear about the massage career? What factors influenced your decision? What were you looking to get out of this decision?

I choose massage therapy after experiencing the ten sessions of Rolfing structural integration in 1975. I knew I would enjoy the hands-on working with people.

3. What were some of your questions and concerns before further pursuing your massage therapy goals? Talk about concerns with school and the profession itself.

I was living in Miami at the time I considered changing careers. When I looked for information on going to massage school it was hard to find. Most massage adds in the yellow pages were sexually oriented. I had to find a massage school and move to another city in Florida.

4. What is your specialty and what are the top three contributing factors to your success today?

My specialty is sports and pain management massage therapy. My top three success factors were meeting great educators in my field and learning from them. Making myself available and taking advantage of opportunities that came my way. Choosing to become a life time learner.

5. What do you like about your specialty? What do you like about what you do in general as a career? Why?

Working with athletes allows me to learn about where injuries most often occur in the body and how quickly a human being can recover.

6. What do you not like about what you do? Why?

I cannot think of to much that I do that I do not like. Sometimes people are not as appreciative as they could be.

7. If there were three things you could change about your work or the industry as a whole what would they be? Why would you change them? What would you change them to?

First I would increase the public’s awareness of the value of massage therapy. Second I would educate the massage therapist on critical thinking skills so they would get better results. Third I would encourage massage therapist to engage in more self-care and self awareness.

8. How long do you plan to practice and what do you plan to do after?

I plan to practice massage therapy for another 20 years. Afterward I will travel all over the world going to healthy resorts and spas.

9. Do you currently have another job or business whether full time or part time? Tell us a bit more about it and how you are able to juggle that with your massage career?

I own the Central Florida School of Massage Therapy. I teach and administrate massage therapy at the school. I am also a CE provider for my own classes and Performance Health and Kinesio Taping.

10. What are some mistakes you made in your career pursuit that you’d like to warn other students about so they can learn from your experience and avoid it?

I went right into massage therapy without establishing a good client list. Either work for someone else when you start or work you way into massage therapy over a period of time.

11. What would you advice someone who is looking at massage therapy schools? What do you recommend they look for and how? How do you recommend they determine whether the school is the right one for them?

Look for a massage school owned by a massage therapist. Check how long the school has been in business and its reputation in the community. Make sure to visit the school before enrolling and if possible sit in on a class at the school.

12. What do you recommend for someone who wants to go to massage school but cannot afford it?

The first step to being successful is learning how to get your finances under control. If you plan and save you can afford going to massage school.

13. What are your three biggest points of advice for an aspiring massage therapist today? What should they do/not do? What should they think about and consider?

The desire to help other should come first. Look for the best education you can find. Be determined to make yourself the best massage therapist you possibly can be.

14. Any open thoughts / comments – anything else that you’d like to share about yourself, the massage industry, profession, future, etc? If nothing, make one prediction for the future of massage?

I have been a massage therapist for 30 years. The profession of massage therapy is still growing. As people become more aware of the benefits of massage therapy they will take advantage of it more. Massage and Wellness will continue to grow together as a new life style.

15. What is your passion outside of massage? What are your hobbies and interests which you pursue when you are not working? Tell us why you enjoy what you enjoy.

I enjoy physical activities like running, biking, swimming and hiking. Being outdoors in general is very healthy.

Michael McGillicuddy is Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and is the President of USA Pro-Sports, a continuing education company, which conducts workshops throughout the world. Michael is also an internationally recognized speaker and has spoken in the USA, Europe and Australia. Michael specializes in Pain Management and Sports Massage and is the Author of “Massage For Sports Performance” published by Human Kinetics. You can reach him at: 450 N Lakemont Ave Suite A Winter Park, Fl. 32792