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Dear NHI,
My days sitting behind a desk were over I thought as I called the last of my recruiters to break the news. The news that I was no longer available for any finance or accounting positions; part-time, full-time or temping. A wave of excitement and fear rushed over me at once as I pondered what I just did. That was all I knew since graduating from college back in 1987. Was I crazy!?! Gone temporarily insane!?! What was I doing? I had moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles just 6 months prior looking for a new direction…a new direction indeed I thought to myself…
The next day I suddenly found myself sitting in a circle introducing myself to a group of strangers later to be known to me as Group 16. There were teachers, mentors, students of all ages and me, a 40 year old man looking for a new direction in life, a chance to start again and get it right this time. A chance for me to embrace a career that was meaningful and not just a means to an end. Ten months later with my brother and his family as my witness I emerged as an NHI educated Certified Massage Therapist and Health Educator.
I was told how hard it would be since I was I male in an industry dominated by females and clients requesting female therapists. I was told that my age would play a factor since many working in the industry were much younger than me. I was told that it was crazy to think that this would work…Well, I thought, nonsense, this will be my golden moment to prove to myself and the cynics that with hard work, compassion and dedication you can find the work that you love. I found in the end, that these were all myths and have since disproved them.
After a great experience at NHI, I graduated in March 2004 and have had nothing but excitement and wonder ever since. Everyday I look forward to going to work, unlike the days of old where I dreaded each day and looked forward to my time on the weekends.
I currently work at Heaven Day Spa in San Francisco, a local neighborhood spa offering massage and a variety of spa services. I am having great success with my massage career. I have earned the trust and respect of the owner and spa mangers and am treated in a very hands off manner which has allowed me great freedom to really cultivate my own individual and unique massage style and not have to conform to a cookie cutter spa standard.
I currently do Swedish massage, Thai/Shiatsu massage, Sports massage, Deep Tissue and I incorporate many of the strokes and stretches I learned in the PBS/Myofacial Therapies series into each individualized session. I see 70-80 clients a month with up to 50% regular repeating clients in any given month. My clientele is very diverse including both men and women. They are artists, athletes, doctors, nurses, stock brokers, investment bankers, students, housewives, new mothers and mothers to be.
I never thought that I would have such a renewed zest for learning and living as I do now. I can honestly say that I couldn’t be happier and that I truly have found work that I love.
Steve Thomas, Heaven Day Spa
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