| She wants to travel, see the world, and make | | | | "It started out with just helping them relax their |
| some money while she does it. That's why | | | | muscles and rubbing out the tension. Many of my |
| Chicagoan Brit Robinson, 23, is planning to become | | | | friends were on the swimming or baseball team |
| a massage therapist. | | | | and just had so much stress on their upper body. |
| This fall, Robinson will begin taking classes towards | | | | The next thing I knew I had clients and lunch |
| her massage therapy certification. She'll learn the | | | | money and that turned into gas and shopping |
| basics of the human body and hands-on massage | | | | money. Plus, I just like it. It does help some |
| techniques. She'll learn about a range of massage | | | | people in ways and I like that I can do my little |
| therapies, such as Swedish, trigger point, and | | | | part." |
| deep tissue, and she'll pick the ones she wants to | | | | Robinson is entering the industry at the perfect |
| specialize in. And when she's done, she'll be ready | | | | time. With the benefits of massage therapy and |
| to make her dream of becoming a massage | | | | other alternative medical treatments becoming |
| therapist on a cruise ship a reality. | | | | more recognized, and with more and more health |
| Flexibility, the option to travel, and a chance to be | | | | care facilities offering massage as a mode of |
| self-employed are the things that drew her to a | | | | treatment, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| career in massage, Robinson says. | | | | projects 20% growth in employment |
| "It offers me the chance to take that career | | | | opportunities through 2016. This increase is |
| anywhere in the world! I can work on a cruise line, | | | | already evident—the American Massage |
| travel everywhere I want to go, and still be on | | | | Therapy Association reports that the number of |
| vacation at the same time that I'm working. | | | | American who relied on massage therapies grew |
| "Also, it's a career that makes it very easy for | | | | by 16 million between 1998 and 2008. |
| you to be able to own your own business and be | | | | All of this growth bodes well for Robinson's career |
| your own boss. When I was younger I wasn't | | | | plans, especially for when she returns to the |
| quite sure what it was that I wanted to be, but I | | | | states. |
| always knew I wanted to run my own business. | | | | "I want to explore the world, show my talents |
| This is definitely a career that makes that possible | | | | and have the ability to say I did that. Just think ... |
| and it's a wonderful thing." | | | | coming back after a few years with stories and a |
| Robinson also had a love of healing and helping | | | | paycheck big enough for the possibility of opening |
| people, two strengths that are crucial for | | | | your own business. That's what I think about. I |
| massage therapists, who spend their days | | | | can't wait for it either." |
| relieving the aches, pains, and stresses of others. | | | | Want to learn more?Check out this massage |
| "Growing up a tom-boy and having all male friends | | | | therapy career profile for career details, salary |
| that played sports played a big role in how I got | | | | information and schools offering massage therapy |
| into massage therapy," Robinson says. | | | | programs. |