Straw poll

[VG11]

Hi lovely running friends,

I hope you don’t mind me picking your brains!

I’ve recently been made redundant and I’m thinking of retraining as a sports massage therapist. I attended a fantastic taster course yesterday and gave and received massages all day! However the full course is very expensive and I’m not sure if it’s something your average runners/sports people like us (no disrespect intended, I know we are more than average!) would be prepared to pay around £50-£60 for an hours sports therapy massage on a regular basis?

This is entirely theoretical so I’m not hawking for business.

I’d be really grateful for any feedback and I hope you don’t mind me hijacking this forum.

Thanks,

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Sorry to hear about your redundancy. Great that you are using it as an opportunity to think what you want to do next. Pre running, and pre retirement, I went for monthly sports massage for a number of years. I loved and hated it in equal measure, the therapist just ignored me when I swore at the pain🤣. He was fantastic and talked through all the muscles, tendons etc so that I now believe I have a pretty good understanding of how everything is linked up. He was also very good at being a listening ear during times of high stress, anxiety etc. Why did I stop - I retired, simple as that. General work stresses evaporated overnight. As to the cost, this will obviously vary considerably across the country/world and whether you go regularly or as a one off. I wish you all the very best. Happy massaging🤗

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks so much for the helpful reply.

I know what you mean about the pain, it was excruciating at times yesterday! 😫 good to know that you went so regularly - I would not have considered it for myself tbh!

I’ll carrying on giving this matter some serious thought.

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Hi VG11 , if you haven't already, why not take a look at the websites of the various professional organisations for sports massage therapists to find out more about the job, training and pay?

I can't comment helpfully on the rate you mention, as I'm in France and my perspective would skew things.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks for the reply - I’ve had a look for therapists in my area and there aren’t that many but I wonder if that’s because the demand isn’t there?? I’m a bit nervous about spending lots of money for training for a service that isn’t wanted/needed. I’ll keep mulling this over!

[Whydothis 60minGraduate]

I am a sample of one, and probably totally unrepresentative, but a massage is not something I have ever wanted, whether paid for or not! Sorry!Having said that, I have known plenty of people who were much keener than me, and told me how much good it did for them.

You are very wise to ask on here for opinions, and anywhere else you can talk to sporty people, rather than just relying on any sales talk about opportunities from those selling you the course!

I do hope you find the right thing for you - and if you enjoy the massage, give it a go. Income wise, it might be safest to start by getting employment somewhere until you have a clear idea of the market before starting to do it on your own account. This way would help you to build a local reputation as well.

Good luck!

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Whydothis]

Great reply - thank you - you’ve reinforced what I am thinking. It would probably be a good thing to do as a side hustle but maybe not so much to rely on this for main income

[mancrunner1 Graduate10]

Pre-Covid I used to get a massage once a month and it’s something I’d love to do again when I feel more comfortable. A bit different but a former colleague of mine was made redundant whilst on mat leave, retrained as a PT for new mums and is absolutely flying, she has more work than she can keep up with and has won lots of awards. So I’d say keep researching but, depending where you’re based, there could be a good market for it.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to mancrunner1]

Thanks for the reply - I think you’re right a bit more research needed! Your friend sounds amazing

[damienair Administrator]

My Wife studied in Sports and Recreational Management and used to manage Gyms, sporting organisations etc. About 15 years ago she did a Sports Injury Massage Therapy Course. It is hard to work and make a good living in this area unless you get established with some Football Teams or similar. She works now as a Pilates Instructor and is quite busy and has regular classes. Yoga or Pilates are very popular and you may make a better return on investment for your time and courses. She is very happy and loves it, the Pilates classes have kept going on Zoom over lockdown and work well with School and family time. Something else perhaps to consider.

I must admit, I have never ever even attempted Pilates or Yoga even though I’m married to a lovely lady who is great at it. But she is great at advising me when I have injury niggles and sometimes does sports injury massages or advises on exercises.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

I appreciate your reply. I think you are right, it’s hard to make an actual living out of this!

I love yoga and glad to hear that your lovely wife is doing so well with it all

[Langley-Loper Graduate10]

I too have never had a sports massage, only physio for specific injuries. I also think it's something you would need to do alongside something else to make a living.Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Langley-Loper]

Thanks for replying - I think I’m coming to this conclusion! I’ll have to try to find a 9-5 and do this on this side

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

So sorry to hear about that VG11. But it sounds as though you have a good plan for the future. I would think there would be a market at that price for a good sports massage therapist - good luck!

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Thank you 😁

[Hidden]

I have never had a sports massage but one of our running group has. One of the 'perks' of her husbands job is free family health club membership with a rather posh gym. A memo went around 'encouraging' people to make more use of its facilities so my friends husband booked her a few sports massage sessions thinking she would enjoy a bit of pampering.Her first session she described as GBH from a guy like Shrek!! She only went back for a second session when she found that guy had left. The second and third sessions were apparently better and she did feel that they were productive.

In her case the sessions were free but the cost of getting there I believe was about £30. She has not had any more sessions to my knowledge but the time for the travel is probably a factor. I have messaged her for her thoughts but she has not got back to me yet.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply - it sounds like getting in with a larger gym or health club could be useful.

These massages can be so painful - ouch!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

I’ve always had a regular sports massage and before Lockdown was having one a month. I’m a big believer in them and they have sorted out many a niggle and saved me various trips to physios. Although I’ve had a few sports massage therapists who go on to train as a physio. Their knowledge is valuable and I always pick their brains and listen carefully to what they tell me about the running body, how it works and how we get injured!

Many of them work on a self-employed consultant basis and therefore do work in various environments, including local sports clubs like football, running, rugby, rowing, etc. So, you could perhaps look at your local sports clubs and see what arrangement they have with a sport massage therapist and if there might be a future opportunity or just to pick their brains!

In terms of cost, this will vary from region to region and whether a client wants 30 minutes or 60 minutes! But this should be relatively easy to find out yourself just by checking out local websites or making phone calls.

I wish you luck if you decide to go for it. I think it would be a very interesting and varied career.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

What an interesting reply - thank you.

I’ll keep you posted

[nowster Graduate10]

The only time I've had this sort of massage was at the hands of a physio when I had a specific injury.

As others have hinted, it might be a step up the ladder towards a career in physiotherapy.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thanks for replying - I think I agree with you!

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Hello, sorry to hear about the redundancy, and excited for you that you’d like to retrain! A lady I knew who worked as a sports massage therapist would go to people’s homes with her fold up table etc, which cut out the cost of renting space in a gym etc, and it worked well for her. I think like anything, it’s all about doing a fair bit of research and having the passion! Best of luck 🤞😊👍.

[VG11 Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

Thanks for the info - I’m currently 50/50 at the moment - more research needed! Cheers 👍