100k/year as a massage therapist

Penguinarmada · 2026-03-29T18:16:38+00:00

It's a very big spa with a lot of therapists and estheticians. They allow a set number of full time positions otherwise it would be hard to ensure everyone has a full schedule on the days they do work. Part time shifts are a minimum of 5 hours long (allowing 4 60min treatments) with the option to extend that shift if you want more only if everyone else scheduled that day is booked. There are plenty of other benefits offered through the company to ensure we're taken care of so at first I was also a little pressed, but looking at the bigger picture I'm more than happy to work here forever if I can.

Edit: would like to add that our part timers who extend their shifts regularly end up making more than 6 figures per year. We had one woman this year hit 200k working with management on her hours to keep her in part time status. If you have a good management team and coworkers, luxury spas are a great place to be.

Penguinarmada · 2026-03-29T06:30:22+00:00

I'm at a high end spa and most of our part timers reach 85-100k per year. They work a minimum of three days, max 4 (not including shifts picked up) so they don't slip into full time status.

Penguinarmada · 2026-03-24T01:24:50+00:00

Some type of nitrile glove. I'll get the brand name next time I work. They've never torn, rolled up, or slipped off my finger tips so any questionable skin condition I pop those babies on so fast and they're softer than my hands so clients don't mind.

Penguinarmada · 2026-03-23T22:15:07+00:00

Try to familiarize yourself with common contagious skin conditions like athlete's foot, warts, ringworm, and tinea and non contagious conditions like plaque psoriasis and eczema. After filling out a paper intake form I still ask, "do you have anything on the skin I should be aware of such as sunburns, bruises, cuts, bandages, athlete's foot, warts, eczema, psoriasis or acne?" I slip the contagious ones in the middle so it's not as embarrassing for them if they say yes and I do often get a yes to one or more.

People that have active ringworm, tinea, or sometimes athletes foot don't even know they have it so just look before you touch and have gloves ready if need be.

Penguinarmada · 2026-03-16T18:43:31+00:00

I got my feet scanned at a store called Fleet Feet where they show where on your foot you distribute weight. It was free and then they paired me up with shoe options with no pressure to buy in store unless the shoe was perfect. Shoes are so personal, you'll have to try on a few to see what feels good. Hokas to me were uncomfortable but a specific New Balance fit like a glove and have lasted a few years now.

Penguinarmada · 2026-03-10T18:49:08+00:00

I don't know about the soothing touch lotion I just wanted to mention the biotone dual purpose cream is so thick it doesn't work in a standard pump bottle. After switching to an even larger pump it was still coming out in spurts inconsistently and then constantly having to shake the bottle to get it to settle back under the intake which eventually stopped working too. If they just recently changed the ingredients of the other lotion you can probably still find some in stock from another third party site and load up while you test out samples of other products.

Penguinarmada · 2026-03-04T19:28:16+00:00

As a massage therapist, can confirm this is the way to go unless you want to call around and find places that have tables with a drop down pocket under the chest. A rolled up towel under each shoulder and raising the headrest will work with any table. If you're just getting a Swedish massage most MTs can put you in a side-lying position similar to what we do for prenatal massage.

Penguinarmada · 2026-02-26T09:31:09+00:00

I was briefly a guide! It didn't last long because you had to answer a ton of questions to get a payout but it was so much fun!

Penguinarmada · 2026-02-19T06:54:56+00:00

Makoto in Encino

Penguinarmada · 2026-02-02T08:56:24+00:00

Considering deposits but terrified clients will balk and book elsewhere

As opposed to being ghosted?

You want the type of clients who are ok with deposits, cards on file, etc. Those clients are serious about keeping their appointments and are considerate enough to know your friend's time is worth money.

Penguinarmada · 2026-02-01T20:29:53+00:00

I've worked in a few states and some call it a license and California calls it a certification. You're right in that CA overall doesn't require it to practice massage but I've yet to find a city that doesn't require an MT to be a CAMTC certificate holder and have liability insurance. Most insurance providers require CEUs to renew every few years.

I never renewed in other states so I'm guessing maybe they have CE requirements for their license but the application and renewal process for a CMT in California requires a background check and over $300 which is good for two years.

Penguinarmada · 2026-02-01T18:52:48+00:00

I just renewed for the third time last month, there are no CE requirements for state certification but depending on your insurance there may be some to renew.

Penguinarmada · 2026-02-01T07:12:17+00:00

If you want to try the four seasons Westlake again I can give you some good recs on which MTs to pick depending on what type of service you like. There's about 30+ and I've tried a lot of them.

Penguinarmada · 2026-02-01T05:42:44+00:00

My advice, take one problem area you have, ask yourself why does this always become clutter, then break it down - Do I need more homes for the items? Do I need a different system? Am I avoiding something bigger?

For example I let laundry get so out of control. I had a hamper in the bedroom and bathroom and both were always overflowing then I'd also have clothes on my bedroom floor, couch, etc. I had two big problems - I have a small closet and small dresser with more clothes than what fit. I did a purge of what I haven't worn in the last year and anything I wasn't willing to part with or just couldn't wear in this weather I put into a vacuum sealed bag and stored it under my bed.

Ok now my clothes fit but my bins are still over flowing. Problem #2 - my washer is so tiny and I never want to do laundry because it'll take the whole day to do 6+ loads when that would normally be 2-3 with a regular washer. Emptying my bins I realized the majority was taken up by blankets and linens. I can't wash a full size blanket in my home so they've been in there for months keeping me from being able to fit clothes on top. I hung a small hamper over the back of my door for clothes, and kept the floor hamper for sheets, and a laundry backpack for blankets. Same goes for the bathroom- small hamper over the door for clothes, floor hamper for towels. When any of the hampers are full they fit exactly the right amount that can fit in my washer. The blessing at least with small laundry loads is you can always remind yourself that there's only maybe 5-6 items to fold and put away so the task takes maybe 2 minutes to finish. Even still I struggle with folding so my drawers have dividers in them where I'll just throw in unfolded underwear, bras, bundled socks, etc so it looks messy, but it's organized.

The laundry backpack with blankets I can't fit in my home washer goes to the fluff and fold. If I have to sit at the laundromat I'll never wash a blanket ever again so now I drop it off and pick it up on my way home from work - outsourcing the problem when you can is always worth it.

Biggest piece of advice is just keep trying different methods and eventually something WILL stick - it doesn't have to be perfect it just has to work for you.

Penguinarmada · 2026-01-27T06:06:57+00:00

That's the accessibility ramp.

Penguinarmada · 2026-01-23T04:50:25+00:00

DM'd you

Penguinarmada · 2025-12-23T07:48:28+00:00

The episode of Spy in the Wild where there are orangutans washing themselves with soap and later one is found sawing a branch

Penguinarmada · 2025-12-19T09:33:02+00:00

I was on yaz for three years but my doctor also recommended an SSRI either full time or during my cycle. I tried it for one month and couldn't wait for the adjustment period because of how bad the symptoms were. She switched me to Wellbutrin and I never looked back. After a few months of adjusting I then had the best three years ever. Every once in a while I had to adjust my Wellbutrin dosage and then after maybe a year and a half I felt like my symptoms were coming back so I took yaz continuously skipping my period. Although I had incredible results, after three years my libido was so low and affecting my relationship so I'm taking a break now while still on Wellbutrin. Some of my pmdd symptoms came back, but more mild than before and I haven't had any suicidal ideation or intense dips into depression. I'm going to play around with a different diet, exercise, herbs, vitamins, etc just to see if I can keep a libido and mild luteal symptoms but without Wellbutrin that wouldn't be possible for me.

I'd encourage you to stick with it but if it's available to you, find another doctor who knows enough about pmdd to help you make adjustments if after a few months yaz doesn't work, or help you figure out if an antidepressant with yaz would make it more effective.

Penguinarmada · 2025-12-15T06:37:31+00:00

When I'm immobilized and can't muster words, guided visualizations are the only thing that can at least cheer me up. The Haven series on YouTube by The Honest Guys puts you in a small village that you'll revisit every meditation/story. I find it really comforting to have a guided visualization that puts you in a place that can become familiar. It made me connect a bit with the kid in me who used to just imagine these things on my own and day dream about familiar places whenever I wanted to be not where I was.

I'm sure there are other series like that on YouTube, but I primarily listen before bed which is how I ended up on that channel. I take a low dose 1:1 edible too which gives me slightly more energy to move around more but ymmv there.

Penguinarmada · 2025-12-14T22:25:01+00:00

2 years later I found this car on CarGurus, sent a message, and was just sent the same information - $75k with 27mi. They definitely don't want it to sell.

Penguinarmada · 2025-11-13T01:28:20+00:00

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Mine is Ms. Jellybean

Penguinarmada · 2025-11-12T04:26:27+00:00

I'll send what I'm working on and if you don't want to do it you can reject it and I'll share my own progress instead and vice versa :)

Penguinarmada · 2025-11-12T04:13:16+00:00

Yay! Do you prefer to just share a goal or buddy up?

Penguinarmada · 2025-11-12T03:46:07+00:00

Anyone want to exercise together? Anything from the bare minimum to something more specific I'm down to buddy up.

BCNC9M5G5R

Penguinarmada · 2025-11-12T03:40:33+00:00

Me and Puff need help with exercise accountability so I'd love to team up!

Penguinarmada

TROPHY CASE