Maria Solis, Austin, Texas

I became a massage therapist by accident.  I went to a yoga class and my instructor was also a massage therapist and massage instructor.  She suggested I take the course to become a massage therapist.  Being a single parent I thought it might be a way to supplement my income.  It was hard working all day as an administrative assistant and going to classes and not having much time for my daughter.  I quit my job with an insurance company and took a job that allowed me to get off before my daughter’s school let out.  My massage instructor had a babysitter on the premises for her young son so I was lucky enough that she also cared for my 7 year old daughter. 

I finished my course work too late to qualify to take the exam the following month so I had to wait about 6 months to take the next exam.  It was the first year that Texas was having state exams for massage therapists and had not quite set a schedule.  In the meantime I had a temporary license and worked a few hours a week at a gym and gave free massages to anybody that would lay on my massage table.  I finally took the test and got my massage license.   I put an ad in the classified section of our local newspaper and decided to work out of my home.  The first day of the ad I came home and had 4 appointments, one right after the other.  The next few days were just as successful.  It was very tempting to quit my current job but I held out a little bit longer.  Later I found out that all therapists advertising in the newspaper for the first time were just as busy at the beginning.  It was just the male clients trying out the new therapists. 

I quit my job after a few months, when it seemed that I had a more steady client base.  One of the reason that I liked being a massage therapist was because it allowed me to spend more time with  my daughter.  I would make sure I jotted down all her activities in my appointment book and then clients were schedule around her.  It allowed me to do volunteer work at her school and be a home room mom.  My new occupation allowed me to be home for my daughter and also be available for other members of my extended family when they needed me.    The times that business was slow I tried not to stress about it and instead concentrated on what I was able to do. 

I later discovered that I could make more money by making hotel calls to see clients.  My daughter was older and she was very flexible.  A few times she did her homework at hotel lobbies or had activites with friends or cousins while I worked.  We always made it work to our advantage.  I took a job at a resort spa as she started her last year of junior high school.  It was a great place for me to work  during her high school years.  I was able to see her off in the morning, go to work in the daytime and pick her up after school from band practice.  I was still able to put my daughter’s activities on the day planner and work around her.  I worked at the spa for 6 years and quit when she left to start her sophomore year of college.  The resort where I worked drastically cut my pay shortly after 9-11.  I had never completely stopped seeing my own clients so I rented office space and started up my own private practice again.  By this time Texas was requiring continuing education for massage therapist so I had started teaching classes on my own.  I advertised my workshops and traveled to teach, especially to areas where there was a short supply of  instructors and classes. 

The downturn of the economy put a damper on class attendance the past year and half so since then I have been busy concentrating on making sure I maintain and build up my private practice client base.  A few years ago I quit making hotel calls and last year I gave up making house calls.  It was a financially painful decision but it is less stressful now.  I am currently working on new classes and intend to be back out on the road teaching continuing education by September.  

My occupation as a massage therapist allowed me to be a full-time mom.  There are not any grandchildren in sight yet but I am hoping that it will also allow me to help my daughter with her children.

About this author: Maria: Massage therapist for 20 years, massage instructor for almost 10years.