My Personal Path to Massage Therapy

~ A Long-Awaited Passion Rediscovery Story ~

I recall back when I was a small child, I always felt an instinctive pull toward placing my hands on people’s shoulders, offering to massage them as they sat. It wasn’t just a casual habit—it came from a deep sense of care and empathy. Already at a young age I could often sense people’s needs and would offer to help comfort their tenseness with a shoulder massage or just be someone to have a heartfelt conversation with. Either way, people often complimented me, saying I had a natural talent for caring. This led me to imagine that one day, I might become a professional massage therapist.

However, at the time, many of my relatives or peers didn’t see my small talent as something valuable, important, or career-worthy. In the environment I grew up in, massage therapy wasn’t widely recognized as a conventional or successful profession, but as a liability expense. Over time, when childhood faded into adolescence, I gradually forgot how much I enjoyed giving massages and how much people genuinely appreciated them.

The idea of pursuing massage therapy resurfaced during my late high school years, when I had to make career decisions, but once again, I set it aside after weighing the pros and cons. The cost of enrolling in massage therapy courses was steep, and at that point in my life, it wasn’t financially realistic. Under pressure to choose a stable career quickly, I pursued the most cost effective option available — a carpentry apprenticeship and completed one level of college in that field. It was a good choice at the time, but ultimately, it wasn’t the path I was meant to follow.

Once again I would reconsider massage therapy, but my financial instability made it impossible. The programs available in Winnipeg were beyond my reach. It wasn’t until I moved to another province almost a decade later that my financial situation finally allowed me to take the leap. I enrolled at IKRA Academy of Massage Therapy in LaSalle, QC, where I completed a full course in Swedish massage therapy. I then joined the Fédération Québécoise des Massothérapeutes (FQM), where I am now a licensed massage therapist.

My journey in this field has only just begun, but I feel deeply connected to the profession. Massage therapy isn’t just about relaxation—it’s about understanding the body’s needs and helping people heal. Throughout my studies, I learned essential skills beyond just technique. Courses in deontology taught me about self-employment and business management, followed by training in sexology helped me understand the intimate dynamics between therapist and client. I also gained insight into psychology, learning how bodywork can bring suppressed emotions to the surface, while being equipped to provide clients with a safe space for both physical and emotional release.

What surprised me most was how much the course helped me understand myself on a deeper level—far more than if I had simply spoken with a therapist. Ultimately before getting back into massage therapy I was about to consider seeking out a mentor or Shaman which I initially thought might be useful in my journey, to my amazement my experience with the Swedish massage course at IKRA was transformative.

This career feels like the right step for me, aligning with my natural instincts and lifelong passion. Since the recent pandemic event of 2020 hit the market, the need for personal touch has increased significantly and massage therapy was deemed an essential field of work which brought newfound awareness about its impactful health benefits. That is why I trust that massage therapy will provide both personal fulfillment and long-term security for many years to come.