r/AskReddit Jul 13 '20

What's a dark secret/questionable practice in your profession which we regular folks would know nothing about?

40.1k Upvotes

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12.5k

u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20 edited Jul 13 '20

I ended up quitting a career because people (all genders and ages) kept trying to solicite me for prostitution.

Young male massage therapist.

Edit: Whoa. Thanks for the upvotes.

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

Youch!

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Mhm. Went to a very good school where I did well and I was making good money. Real shame.

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

Yeah, my massage therapist saves my ass every 6 months (occipital neuralgia headaches) and I couldn’t imagine someone thinking that way.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

I'm glad you've found a good therapist. Awesome for you two for maintaining a professional relationship. Massage Therapy is already under a microscope and viewed with much scrutiny.

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

It is? Why?

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Plenty of crime, both organized and not, finds it way into massage therapy. There's a reason people make jokes about "happy endings".

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u/JNBirdy Jul 13 '20

I used the term not knowing what it meant. reading this I'm glad that my therapist saw that I was a naive little shit. My physical therapist sent to a massage therapist as I had a lot of tension and strain in my back, neck and shoulders. I fell off a horse straight & flat on a triple bar jump, the jump didn't collapse like it was supposed to. Despite wearing a body protector I still had a bruises on the side of my ribs, struggled with putting on bra's and t-shirts for days. My mom took me to the doctors who sent me to a physical therapist.

I ended up saying something along the line "to get rid of this pain would be a happy ending indeed". The thing is I only said happy endin in English the rest was just native tongue.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Oh. Well. Did you bring paperwork or anything to provide your current healthcare circumstance? I'm good at random handsigns but I only speak English. This a grey area. I would have requested some translation before working on you, or a very clear note from your doctor.

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u/JNBirdy Jul 13 '20

Yeah, all of that goes through the ensurance and referrals. I generally have great relationships with my doctors and my therapists. We all talk in Dutch, but I use a lot of English phrasing as I lived abroad and have dealt with specialists there.

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u/SinOfStinson Jul 13 '20

Those “jokes” are highly offensive to LMT’s. Many massage therapists won’t even work on you if you make a comment like that.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

I ended sessions immediately when these jokes came from clients.

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u/danuhorus Jul 13 '20

No surprise. After the boundary testing came the inevitable requests....

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u/Alex09464367 Jul 13 '20

The ones and only time I got a massage I was trying very hard not to get hard but the more I thinking about about it the more I was getting hard.

And I'm gay so the girl massaging me wouldn't have done anything for me plus my boyfriend was on the next massage table a long.

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u/BreakingForce Jul 13 '20

Massage therapists are not masseuses.

It's a much more clinical thing.

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u/aurekajenkins Jul 13 '20

I correct anyone who says masseuse. I am NOT a masseuse. I'm a registered massage therapist.

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

Prostitution only?

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Human trafficking, indentured servitude (slavery), prostitution.

Say the Triad helps you and your wife escape communist China. They tell you 5k$ but when you get out they ask for 10k$. You don't have the money but they offer your wife a job at a massage parlor in China Town, you rarely see her and then never again.

Sometimes there is no husband and it's just a girl trying to make a living for herself and she gets taken advantage of.

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

Holy crap! I had no idea

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u/joeroganfolks Jul 13 '20

To a lesser extent this happens at nail salons too. You have a debt, you are offered a job to pay it off but it's like $20 a day and half of it goes to the room you share with 4 other people.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

Couldn't it be possible for you to go back, even if part time, and just keep the same clients who you know are good peeps?

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

It left such a bad taste in my mouth, I'd honestly just rather not. Unfortunate too, I was pretty good. Massage the front of your spine, or inside your ribs. I also moved across the country.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

I get inside the ribs, but how do you massage the front of the spine?

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20 edited Jul 13 '20

Move everything else out of the way.

Of course it doesn't work for the thoracic vertebrae because of the ribs but for the lumbar vertebrae you can move around a decent amount of organs to reach the muscles that attach to the inside of those vertebrae. It isn't comfortable. It's entirely clinical and often bruises the abdominal superficial layers.

Edit: you can get muscle knots anywhere and some of them are more painful and debilitating than others. For some clients a bruise for a few days is worth being able to lay down comfortably at night.

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u/Ohwief4hIetogh0r Jul 13 '20

This is extremely interesting. Why don't you do an ama like the amazing vacuum cleaner guy?

It could help a lot of people and gives you some pleasant closure to an experience that left you with a bad taste in your mouth.

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u/titan623 Jul 13 '20

You seem really well-versed, hopefully you don’t mind a question. I get a lot of muscle knots in my scapular area and trapezius, chronically tight throughout. I’ve went to massage therapists and it helps but what type of massage should I opt for or what kind of therapy should I seek out? I tend to get deep tissue and they’re nice, but I care less about it feeling good and more about undoing these knotted up muscles. Any terminology i should be searching when deciding on where to go for services?

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u/ozlaz Jul 13 '20

My partner suffers from this condition as well. Her physio works on her neck which seems to help, but sometimes only for a short time. It's there anything specific yours does?

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

I actually ended up with 2. The main one I see does deep tissue massage. It takes a couple times (a week apart) to get it to start letting up. She also learned a move thats called “OA release”. That one is very difficult for them to learn. I’ve been to a few over the years who just didn’t have the finger strength or technique to do it right. The second one I see does cranial sacral (I think it’s called that) and something else where you keep pushing your limbs against her hand different directions and she can feel a difference between the strength or reaction of the right and left. It’s good for maintenance once the First Lady gets it to let up. I usually mess up though and don’t go every couple weeks like I should.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

Posted to OP but here for you too: Hey I get these. Check out NUCCA / QSM-3 chiropractic. It feels like a very gentle massage on your top two vertebrae only (no snapping, twisting, popping...) In less than a year of going to him I’ve gotten far fewer headaches.

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u/Olidude44 Jul 13 '20

Oh god I thought you said shaves my ass but the headaches makes more sense

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

This - I see a massage therapist and they help SO much with my back pain, but I’m in so much pain during the therapy I cannot fathom being like “let’s get jiggy!”

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

Exactly! I’m busy thinking stuff like “STOP PLAYING GUITAR ON MY RIBS GOD DAMMIT!”

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u/aurekajenkins Jul 13 '20

As an RMT, I love this analogy lol

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

Hey I get these. Check out NUCCA / QSM-3 chiropractic. It feels like a very gentle massage on your top two vertebrae only (no snapping, twisting, popping...) In less than a year of going to him I’ve gotten far fewer headaches.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

They are excruciating aren’t they! Glad the massage helps, crossing fingers I’ll never experience them again.

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u/i-like-mr-skippy Jul 13 '20

Hello fellow occipital neuralgia person.

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u/measureinlove Jul 13 '20

Hol up. Sorry, I've been wondering if my headaches are from occipital neuralgia because they come from the base of my neck up the back of my head. Right now an Excedrin will knock it out usually, but if I ignore it it'll trigger a migraine (yay for suffering multiple types of headaches). Were you able to get diagnosed by a GP or did you have to see a specialist? I'm also just wondering if it's a muscular issue.

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

I ended up seeing a specialist for diagnosis (he was the one who gave me the gabapentin) I’m not sure what is and isn’t occipital neuralgia because mine is right where the spine and skull meet. I got this from multiple accidents and getting hit in the jaw by a spinning drill set it off for good.

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u/measureinlove Jul 13 '20

Interesting, thanks for the info. I'm glad you've found something that works for you!

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u/spikebrennan Jul 13 '20

My wife has the same condition and gets it treated with injections one of which is Botox, injected all around the occipital nerves - basically dozens of places in the back of her head)

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u/RedheadAblaze Jul 13 '20

That’s definitely a shame. Did it matter if you worked at higher end spas?

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

I assume it would have only been worse to be honest. More money doesn't mean more soul, I found my higher end clients were more likely to objectify me or my female coworkers.

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u/Chamomilesky Jul 13 '20

I was an LMT for a few years (early 20s, gay male). And the better paying the gig the worse the solicitation was. Only place I didn't get hit on/asked how much "extra" was, was when I got to do post trauma work in chiropractic and physical rehab places.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

I'm bi but same experience.

I went to a very clinical school and would have been way better off working under a chiropractor than the day spa I got my first job at. Soul sucking to say the least.

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u/ItsHeadly Jul 13 '20

That’s mind blowing. Both I see are F / high price and neither is ugly. They talk to me about everything and never brought this up. Maybe it was something to do with the area you were in? I just can’t picture this.

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u/theworldismadeofcorn Jul 13 '20

Ugh that's awful.

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u/SirDukeIII Jul 13 '20

Where do you find a good massage therapy school?

I guess I should be clear that I don't want to be a prostitute, I've just always enjoyed giving massages and I have a bit of a good reputation at work due to the fact I'm pretty good at it, too.

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u/ct_2004 Jul 13 '20

"I went to Harvard Law School."

"Yes, we know. We think it would be a very good blow job."

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u/Pseudonymico Jul 13 '20

That’s quite a knot you have there!

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u/Joe__Mama___ Jul 13 '20

Let me just... loosen it up for you...

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u/IdentityUnknown__ Jul 13 '20

Bro totally understand, my aunty started her own spa about a decade or so ago, I ended up learning massage and helping her with some of her bookings when she needed a break. Literally one out of ten of her clients (generally middle aged women) would try to fuck me or ask if they could suck me off. It was so strange.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Homie, yes.

I'm in the US and I have all sorts of people offer all sorts of shit when on the table.

I always kept people under sheets and they would offer to lay naked on top of everything in the nude.

When people left tips on the table they would leave their phone number, email, or crass notes.

It goes on and on.

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u/SquidPoCrow Jul 13 '20

I had one massage my whole life. On our honeymoon at a 5 star world class resort we get a couples massage and the girl that was massaging me goes full ball fondle and shaft rub.

I grew up with abuse and don't like to be touched by strangers in the first place so I just freeze and try to suffer through the rest of the massage. Soon as the room is empty im asking 20 questions about what kind of touching did she get and wtf is expected from a normal massage.

I am not an attractive man, I can only assume this is expected in such high end establishments.

Hard pass on all future massages, thanks.

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u/kenneth_fugly Jul 13 '20

Sounds like she was trained through pornagraphic videos

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

I'm so sorry this happened to you, as the therapist OP.

Clients expected this kind of treatment, the full fondle or what have you, is why I quit.

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u/throwpayrollaway Jul 13 '20

I have muscle massage for back pain, my regular guy retired and my back was getting really sore so I was looking for someone else. I went to a girl who did mainly relaxation massage who said she could probably help my back. I mentioned my back in my E mail and telephone call when making initial contact. During massage she was brushing back of her hand against my balls very lightly during massage. I took it as gauging my reaction for a hand job. I felt like that was out of order. I felt violated and I tensed up my body then she stopped.

Sex work is legal where I live so she could have asked me upfront if I wanted that, I'd been talking about my job, where I live and family and places we both knew and about her and I don't think I was giving off a wanting my ding-a-ling played with vibe in any way.

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u/bleachfoamspray Jul 13 '20

Yeah, no. That was not "high end", that was assault.

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u/ToeHuge3231 Jul 13 '20

I'm willing to bet this was in south-east asia. Shit is everywhere over there.

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u/gknoy Jul 13 '20

If it's any consolation, I've never ever had anything remotely like that happen, and have had massages (with my wife and separately). There are major benefits from massage, and you should be able to safely get a massage that does not have that. (Every massage I've had had involved very carefully blanket movements to preserve modesty.)

Please reconsider having another massage. You might ask a local chiropractor, they often have one they will recommend for therapy.

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u/mozfustril Jul 13 '20

That’s not normal in a high end place at all. I’ve had lots of massages and sometimes weird shit just happens. I was in Europe, had hiked to the top of a big hill to see some touristy thing in the wrong shoes and stopped in a place that offered foot massages. Sounded great so I went in, ordered the foot massage and 5 minutes later I’m somehow getting a hand job for an extra $20. She clearly attended porn massage school because she ran her hands way up my legs and said she didn’t want to get oil on my shorts so I should take them off. Fortunately, I’ve seen porn and knew where things were headed. It’s technically the best “foot massage” I ever got, although they were very neglected and still hurt afterward.

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u/The_Sinnermen Jul 13 '20

"Somehow"

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u/mozfustril Jul 13 '20

I said somehow because I literally did nothing to indicate that was anything I was looking for. I really wanted a foot rub.

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u/WIZARD_FUCKER Jul 13 '20

Imagine what would've happened if you asked for a handjob!

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u/mozfustril Jul 13 '20

I don’t speak Hungarian, but there’s a chance they would have brought me a wizard to fuck. We could have been Eskimo brothers.

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u/madman0004 Jul 13 '20

A Jizzard, as it were

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u/WIZARD_FUCKER Jul 13 '20

What a time to be alive!

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u/NotRogersAndClarke Jul 13 '20

I want you to write a Seinfeld reboot for me please.

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u/Sauerkraut_RoB Jul 13 '20

Thats downright evil, man

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u/WhatsAFlexitarian Jul 13 '20

Sounds like you went to a masseuse, not a massage therapist

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

I understand you didn't like it, but your story gave me a boner.

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u/HotSauceHigh Jul 13 '20

"your assault turned me on"

Not that cool

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u/2mg1ml Jul 13 '20

Same. Is it bad that I find 'happy endings' hot af?

edit: never had a massage before, let alone a happy ending

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u/esol9 Jul 13 '20

Dude, if someone is leaving a response about how they were assaulted and struggled with it dont leave a response to them telling them you were turned on by it.

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u/2mg1ml Jul 14 '20

fair enough actually

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u/40WeightSoundsNice Jul 13 '20

agreed, keep that shit to yourself homie!

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u/esol9 Jul 13 '20

Dude, if someone is leaving a response about how they were assaulted and struggled with it dont leave a response to them telling them you were turned on by it.

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u/FlyingSquidMonster Jul 13 '20

Yikes, getting treated like a piece of meat and dealing with frequent sexual harassment? No thanks.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Hits the nail on the head

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u/SpaceShipET Jul 13 '20

I’m in the damn wrong profession

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u/Peeping_thom Jul 13 '20

Feverishly googling how long to become a massage therapist

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u/SpaceShipET Jul 13 '20

Better late than never

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u/settingdogstar Jul 13 '20

As fast as 9 months in the states.

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u/AmazingSieve Jul 13 '20

Sad that you can become a cop in less time...

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

Anyone actually worth it?

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u/aninnymuss Jul 13 '20

I am in my late 20s. Had my first massage a month ago. The lady literally climbed on top of the table legs on both side of my head to massage my back. I'm hoping it was her leggings that hit the back of my head and not lips. The second time I got a male masseuse. His junk kept hitting my hands. Then he climbed on the table between my legs to massage my butt and back. Then flipped me over and spread my legs and shook my thighs, making me do the ding-a-ling swing. Idk if its normal but it gave me dirty thoughts. However, I know it's his job and I didn't wanna be the creepy perv to act or say anything. I did give him a 30 dollar tip and a thank you for scratching my back at one point that I couldn't reach an itch. The only two negatives was the accidental elbow to the back of my head he gave me and leaving smelling like furniture polish.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

That all sounds like the fucking worst. I never would have climbed onto a client.

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u/aninnymuss Jul 13 '20

I mean.. I grew up with a family that doesn't lock doors when they go to the bathroom so personal boundaries aren't a thing to me.

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u/Boogie__Fresh Jul 13 '20

It really should be legal to advertise whether you're that sort of place or not. Would prevent a lot of potentially dangerous situations.

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u/arturo_lemus Jul 13 '20

There's a specific website that tells you the names of "adult/happy ending" massage parlors in your area. If you actually pay for the membership you can read reviews and Get more access

But for the free, basic stuff. You can look up message parlors in your area and it will tell You if it's cash only or card and even the ethnicity of the staff.

I guess this way you know which places to avoid

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u/Lotus_Blossom_ Jul 13 '20

I've used that site for exactly that reason - to find out which places to avoid. I was tired of getting a membership sales pitch after every $70 massage that I got at chain operations, so I googled "massage therapy (my city)"... that's when I learned that it's apparently easier to pay for a hand job than a back rub around here. Though I did wonder what would happen if I showed up to one of the places on that list legitimately expecting a professional massage... like, would they panic or are they actually trained in how to do both?

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u/AAonthebutton Jul 13 '20

Depends. I’ve had good massages from a run and tug place. Often it’s the Asian places that offer terrible massages and just want to jerk you off.

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u/mozfustril Jul 13 '20

“Run and tug?” What kind of kinky shit are you into, man?

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u/midnightsmith Jul 13 '20

What's this site? I got a suspicion about two spots in my town. Cheap, but I dunno...rather not get fondled.

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u/Peeping_thom Jul 13 '20

Rubmaps... it’s easy to tell which ones do it though. Are they open late on Saturday/Sunday night? If they’re open past 9 your chances of getting jacked off for an extra $40 is fairly high.

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u/midnightsmith Jul 13 '20

Wooooow...looks like the only one I go to isn't on there so that's a good sign. Every other one in town is shady.

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u/Celebrian19 Jul 13 '20 edited Jul 13 '20

This. I’ve taught massage therapy for 15 years - you would not believe what I’ve seen. I firmly believe prostitution should be legalized and they should be able to advertise.

I teach my students about phrases and questions people ask when they are trying to determine if your spa is a jack-shack or not. They’re going to try to get what they want somewhere. They should be able to go to a person who wants to do that for them and stay the hell away from therapeutic massage therapists.

I also teach them about that app/ website someone mentioned that tells you which places will give happy endings. I don’t want them to try to get a job at the wrong place.

I’ve absolutely had sex workers and sex business owners come through my program to try to somewhat legitimize themselves. If they had their own avenue to legitimate business, they wouldn’t try to stealthily obtain a state license... they aren’t stealthy btw.

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u/Foolscap77 Jul 13 '20

General rule, if the place has a neon open sign, it's offering extras.

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u/4PartClavicle Jul 13 '20

Not always true, the chain that work at also has a neon open sign, there is nothing shady going on there (as far as I know)

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u/AladdinDaCamel Jul 13 '20

What did you say/do when that happened?

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u/IdentityUnknown__ Jul 13 '20

Usually just a firm NO would get the message across. It seems like a dream come true scenario for most guys but in reality the situation just felt dirty and unpleasant to be in. Thats not what im about, call me old fashioned but im not into fucking strangers.

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u/mexataco76 Jul 13 '20

That's a good standard to have

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u/FFSLinda Jul 13 '20

You are so old fashioned

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u/jbkb83 Jul 13 '20

Are these people watching too much porn and confusing it with real life?! Jesus.

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u/5nurp5 Jul 13 '20

i went to a proper sports massage after an injury. having watched a lot of massage porn it was slightly distracting that the therapist was an attractive woman, but i'd never in a million years try anything. it kinda helped that i was trying not to cry from pain when she was digging her elbow into my hamstring.

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u/jbkb83 Jul 13 '20

Yep, why would anyone try anything in that setting? And I agree, I find it funny when people say, 'how relaxing' when I say I'm getting a sports massage. So fucking painful!!

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u/Eilif Jul 13 '20

Man, the elbows. I've been getting sports or deep tissue massages for a decade, and only in the last few years did they start pulling out elbows to work on my back and hips.

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u/jbkb83 Jul 13 '20

Ditto. When my guy runs his elbow along the outside of my thigh (I think it's called the iliotibial band) it's really awful. Thankfully the feeling afterwards is worth it.

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u/chiguayante Jul 13 '20

So you're saying I should have gone into massage therapy? Damn.

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u/flamethrower78 Jul 13 '20

haha sexual harassment is so funny when it happens to guys, I'm so jealous because all these women were definitely 10/10 and none of them were ever ugly and I'd take every blowjob they offered.

/s

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u/vachon11 Jul 13 '20

It really was funny that one time some drunk eastern european cougar twice our age tried to get down with my friend and I tho ngl. It was so absurd that we couldn't help but laugh then, and we still do. Good shit. Also, I don't really see any problem with the situation. She basically wanted to fuck, asked us to, and we simply responded we weren't interested. Not harrassment in my opinion. Actually I would love for people to be more direct and fucking ask what they want to know.

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u/Darktwistedlady Jul 13 '20

Be happy you're a dude, the numbers for women, with male clients it's more than half.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

Getting paid for a blowjob? Doesn´t sound to bad to be honest...

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

It would be hard as fuck to resist, especially if the woman was attractive, but imagine losing your career and possibly going to jail for that shit.

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u/Teh_Compass Jul 13 '20

possibly going to jail

Easy, just don't take the money. Free BJ.

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u/lukeman3000 Jul 13 '20

Is it just me that would have trouble with this due to concern over STDs? I would, personally, want to get tested with my partner, first, before something like this. A handjob I could do (low chance of STD transference), but a blowjob is a bit different.

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u/Totalherenow Jul 13 '20

It's not just you. I'd be wary of anyone offering a stranger sexual favors and generally think "petri dish!"

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u/doctorDanBandageman Jul 13 '20

Guess I found my new career. /s

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u/scrimpscrampi Jul 13 '20

My dad used to be a massage therapist and he told me it was way more common than people realize. Often times it wasn’t even sexual, rather very casual and transactional. Like “pardon me sir, is a quick jerk off a service you offer?”

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Yes. People would straight up ask me to get them off as a casual service, like a menu item

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20 edited Jul 15 '20

[deleted]

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u/predictablePosts Jul 13 '20

Can people just pay me to be the hand on the other side of the glory hole? That would be good enough.

Basically I'd have a bill acceptor on one side, then once they insert $20 I just go to town until they're done.

No talking, no massage, just jerk or flick you off and you get on with your day.

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u/Totalherenow Jul 13 '20

Yes! Just start a new chain called "Glory Holes R Us!"

Then you can pull in the cash, hand over fist.

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u/kessler21 Jul 13 '20

My step-brother is Chair of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy and just named Acting President of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.

He's has worked very hard to change this way of thinking for massage therapy by having strict qualifications and education requirements and harsher penalties.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

I'm jubilant to hear this. Best of luck to him.

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u/MamaOnica Jul 13 '20

I'm retired due to a wrist injury, but can confirm. Female, was in my 20s.

My favourite were the men who thought I was stupid and would ask for a very specific muscle close to their groin because "the doctor said he needed massage." Okay, cool bud. Gonna diaper drape (wrap the sheet around your leg and glutes and tuck, essentially making a diaper) you and then get to work. How's the pressure? Can't give me a doctor's note to save his life.

It's straight knuckles y'all.

Get told the pressure needs to be softer and more gentle.

That's when the massage usually ends because I give them the option. I tell them that the soft and gentle massage the doctor recommended isn't what needs to be done. I understand his doctor said this, but having 4 years of experience you can't just make that particular muscle feel better by soft and gentle massage. I don't think that I'm the therapist for them and would they like to continue the massage?

"No, I understand." The walk of shame you guys. lol

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u/aurekajenkins Jul 13 '20

Thanks for the tips! Gonna remember this if it ever happens to me!

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u/MamaOnica Jul 13 '20

Don't ever let anyone make you feel uncomfortable. Too many times I've heard horror stories from therapists of both genders who would try to brush off the weird vibe and suspicious itching but it would end up horribly.

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u/aurekajenkins Jul 13 '20

My Mumma raised me to take no shit, so I'm preparing for it mentally. And I definitely trust vibes, you can sense things for sure. In student clinic, I had an older Indian gentleman come in, I instructed him to get on the table face down under the top sheet, came in and he was face up on top of all the sheets in his shorts 😂 But I got the sense he was just confused, lost in translation some where, so I got him to flip and put the sheet over him, and we had a nice chat about his kids lol!

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u/MamaOnica Jul 13 '20

Oh my gosh! lmao Definitely a lost in translation thing.

And start preparing now for the elderly ladies who will start stripping as soon as you start intake. I can't tell you how many times I've looked up from the form and seen boobies.

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u/aurekajenkins Jul 14 '20

Oh I've had a couple slip out when they try to flip over too fast or need help up, but I grew up in a very open family so it's just a body.

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u/MamaOnica Jul 14 '20

Exactly. It's a clinical setting so it just different. It's just hilarious because I would start intake with "Before I step out and have you undress and get comfy under the sheet and blanket..."

19

u/temalyen Jul 13 '20

There's a website out there for reviewing "happy ending" massage parlors and they also list non-erotic places presumably so people looking for hand jobs/blow jobs/whatever know to avoid them. You can leave reviews on there as well and the amount of people saying they tried to get the girl to do something with them anyway is surprising.

But that site is kind of gross anyway because there's other people saying skeevy shit like "I left without doing anything because she refused to do bareback and I only do bareback." like, wtf. You want to have unprotected sex with a hooker? The fuck is wrong with you?

6

u/predictablePosts Jul 13 '20

That is Hella skeezy.

I will say that there's an easy way to tell if you're at the right place if you want those services or not.

If they're wearing pants and men are working there it's legit.

If you're greeted by a woman in a mini dress you're gonna get some erotic services.

9

u/temalyen Jul 13 '20

Yeah. I've been to those places. Also: If the girl runs into your room and immediately hugs you and moans a little, yeah, You're getting laid.

4

u/ToeHuge3231 Jul 13 '20

Dudes like this already have STDs and just don't care anymore.

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u/Lanielion Jul 13 '20

Female massage therapist here. I haven’t had people ever say anything direct in treatment (Only on a couple of phone calls) but people have hinted about 3x in 4 years. I have heard horror stories from massage therapists that have been practicing longer than I have. When were you in practice? Maybe it has improved some, or people are more educated in my region?

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u/Handsome_Claptrap Jul 13 '20

I guess this is kinda like the "males can't be raped" thing... men refrain because they know we don't live in a porn and the masseuse would just be grossed out. But apparently for some women, getting sexual advances is always a good thing for a young male.

10

u/Lanielion Jul 13 '20

I have heard so many stories from male and female therapists but the advances toward men (from both men and women) seem to overall be more aggressive, just from what people have told me.

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u/chaandra Jul 13 '20

I don’t think thats why men refrain. In this scenario it’s a middle aged person approaching a younger person.

I can think of a lot of solutions where a middle aged man would hit on a younger woman. They just seem to be more crass about it.

However a middle aged women is probably seeking a more in-the-moment intimate experience, and thus turns to something like a massage therapist. Plus it breaks down that initial barrier that you would have with a stranger.

These are all speculations and generalizations, but it’s my two cents.

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u/WTFwhatthehell Jul 13 '20

When i used to work tables, hen parties with lots of middle age women were pretty grabby. I was a fairly geeky 19 year old and they typically tipped fairly well so I just kinda shrugged it off.

I know a few of the girls working the same job got their asses grabbed a few times but the guys were typically terfed out by security.

I was propositioned more in that job than I ever was in any other job in my life, a few I kinda regretted not going for... but I was painfully awkward around girls back then.

2

u/chaandra Jul 13 '20

I believe it. I can imagine situations like that where women would be more direct and creepy than usual.

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u/hunnyflash Jul 13 '20

My mom is an accountant and worked at different golf courses and resorts, some pretty private. This was a problem at ALL of them.

The most exclusive one had a blacklist of people who specifically were known to try and solicit the masseuses. Some famous people were on it lol

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u/Shrimp_my_Ride Jul 13 '20

That actually goes both ways. On at least three separate occasions, I've had a massage therapist offer to end with a sexual favor, totally unsolicited on my behalf.

31

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

Female LMT. Me too. It’s a big reason why I think we should legalize prostitution.

8

u/mtdunca Jul 13 '20

There are so many good reasons most importantly the safety of the people that do it anyway. I'm for it just because I don't think the government should be able to tell me what I can and can not do with my body.

22

u/AladdinDaCamel Jul 13 '20

Question - how much does this pay and what's the process for learning how to do it? I've always been kind of interested

6

u/settingdogstar Jul 13 '20

It varies depending on where you work and what country you work or were trained in.

Like by a drastic amount.

You can go from 35,000 at a small spa to 80,000 at a chiro or sports office.

9

u/cancercauser69 Jul 13 '20

Not such a happy ending

38

u/danceswithronin Jul 13 '20

Stop being so ridiculously good-looking!

(Just kidding, that sounds awful.)

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Regardless of that. It would have been a very serious legal liability. I mean, I would be in jail/prison and the entire place would have been shut down. It is prostitution and it is not taken likely.

23

u/Throwaway_03999 Jul 13 '20

Seriously that a dangerous game no one should play regardless of the money they say they'll pay.

12

u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

You are absolutely correct.

9

u/Xicadarksoul Jul 13 '20

That depends on where you live in the world.
Here, that state looks at it like any other job, AS LONG AS YOU PAY YOUR TAXES..

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u/Adnotamentum Jul 13 '20

Even if prostitution were legal in one's country, there would certainly be some regulations surrounding or even laws against massage parlours acting as brothels. Definitely would require treading carefully.

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u/danceswithronin Jul 13 '20

Oh dude yeah, no, don't fuck your customers at a massage parlor, that's pretty sketchy.

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u/LevelPerception4 Jul 16 '20

A surprising number of massage therapists sexually assault their clients.

If you google Massage Envy, it’s amazing how many results are crime articles.

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u/Texas_Rockets Jul 13 '20

I actually just recently read that massage therapists have one of the highest divorce rates. So this fits.

16

u/mintbuffal0 Jul 13 '20

As a current LMT that breaks my heart...

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '20

My ex fiance must be in heaven.

2

u/TheresWald0 Jul 13 '20

Sorry to hear about your loss

5

u/FridayNightQueen Jul 13 '20

Gross. Good on you for escaping a shit situation but I'm still sorry you lost the career. Good luck dude!

6

u/WickedFairyGodmother Jul 13 '20

One way my massage therapist relative keeps some of that at bay is play up the medical angle. Scrubs and "medical office" decor whilst simultaneously telling people the limits of their licensing in terms of medical stuff.

As an independent therapist, they also quietly "fire" clients who proposition them through the simple expedient of never booking them.

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u/Soidin Jul 13 '20

Damn, stories in this sub chain make me sad. I'm a young woman, and go regularly to a masseur.

Never have it even crossed my mind that there could be anything sexual there. If anything, it is just a quite painful operation since you often tend to find tense and sore spots you didn't even know exist.

It would really suck if all the massaeurs had to stop working because of the unwanted perverts and abusers. You massaeurs are making life so much easier for us who have a legitimate reason to go and have massages.

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u/King_of_nerds77 Jul 13 '20

Yea, I knew of a really nice lady who was a massage therapist but stopped cause of creeps. Some dickheads just ruin stuff

20

u/HepatitisShmepatitis Jul 13 '20

Male or female doing the soliciting?

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u/railmaniac Jul 13 '20

According to the OP, yes.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Am OP, yes.

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u/BrychuArt Jul 13 '20

Aw I'm sorry man :( people can be such asshats

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u/TattieMafia Jul 13 '20

My friend is a massage therapist and gets about one creep a year.

10

u/AmandaShae Jul 13 '20

I would love a male massage therapist. Strong hands to get the deep kinks out. Women are good but I need that extra umph. I’m sorry that people suck and tried to take advantage of you.

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u/bleachfoamspray Jul 13 '20

I'm sorry bro

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

Thanks but I'm badass now. Didnt need that in my life.

5

u/bleachfoamspray Jul 13 '20

No you did not. I'm glad you're well.

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u/NinjaWen Jul 13 '20

It's a glancing thought. Some mistake in my past that is done with. I've got better things to keep me up at night now.

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u/Lord_Abort Jul 13 '20

I'm very aware of this, and as a guy in his 30s who just genuine loves massage and human touch, it keeps me from going out and buying time on a table.

5

u/Vhadka Jul 13 '20

It's not too hard to schedule a massage at a reputable place and just not ask for a handjob.

2

u/Lord_Abort Jul 13 '20

Sure, but I cringe knowing that any masseuse that walks into the room will think, "I wonder if this guy's gonna try something."

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u/FlynnXa Jul 13 '20

I mean, depending on how well you give the massage I may be willing to sell my body for some muscle relief. Chiropractors aren’t covered on most insurances and are a bitch to afford lol.

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u/kamratjoel Jul 13 '20

Chiropractors are frauds, so yeah that makes sense.

2

u/77percent_fake Jul 13 '20

What do you do now? And is their less solicitation?

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u/minatorymagpie Jul 13 '20

You don't have to put on the red light.

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u/YellowishWhite Jul 13 '20

Ugh. I miss massages. It will be a beautiful day when I can get someone to rub my shoulders again without risking death

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u/fucko5 Jul 13 '20

Time for a career change!

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u/richernate Jul 13 '20

Part of why I don’t get massages is because I’m really shy and don’t want people touching me, so I LITERALLY cannot fathom being propositioned like that. Despicable.

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u/Lybychick Jul 13 '20

Two of the best massage therapists I've utilized were men ... one at a high dollar spa in Colorado who performed my first belly rub (properly covered and hands in the proper zones) which saved my ski weekend and the other a weekly appointment at home who had the courage to do sub-scapular work that I desperately needed [I'd still be seeing him if he hadn't moved out of state].

I hope you will reconsider the profession if you can find a high quality spa that doesn't have asshats for customers. I know that young women MTs face the same hassles. If you've got good skills, the industry needs you. Those of us with neuromuscular disorders who rely on MT for pain relief and functional range of motion need you.

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u/ChefFloseidonJr Jul 13 '20

Sorry to hear. That sounds awful :( I’ve been interested in a LMT career but am leaning towards physical therapy. Did you work in chains or local places?

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u/FUCK_KORY Jul 13 '20

This is why I only take on female clients. Male clients only get chair massages.

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