On The Table with Glenda Campbell

Happy New Year!!! I hope you all made it out in one piece and new resolutions in hand. ;)
For the new year I'd like introduce an amazing woman, Glenda Campbell, that has been involved in the world of massage therapy for 12 years! She is an inspiration for us all to maintain a healthy lifestyle and state of mind at any age.

Glenda Campbell, LMT

MW: How long have you been a MT and what inspired you to start?
GC: I've been Licensed by the National and State Boards as a massage therapist since 2002.  I practiced without a license since 1999.  I was inspired to start after receiving my first massage 14 years ago-- following the death of my father.

What kind of work place are you located at?
I work at Downtown Fitness Center [in New Orleans, LA] which is located at the Sheraton Hotel and Canal Place for 9 years as an on-call therapist.  I perform chair massages at the convention center, doctors' offices and a couple of gyms. I host workshops teaching individuals how to massage their loved ones. I'm on-call for a company out of California to do chair massages on movie sets and companies. I've also worked at Massage Envy Spa (4 days a week for 4 hours each day) doing sports, prenatal, deep tissue, hot stone, aromatherapy, reflexology and Swedish massages.

What modality/technique(s) do you specialize in and/or would you like to learn more about? 
I specialize in Swedish, Sports, Pre-Natal, Hot Stone, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Deep Tissue Massage.  I would like to learn more about Shiatsu Massage.

What is your mission statement as a massage therapist?
My mission statement as a MT is to be the best I can be in bringing people to a state of total relaxation.

For someone considering going into the MT profession, what advice would you give them? And what should they and shouldn't they anticipate from such a career?
Think long and hard about going into this profession.  You should already be in top-notch physical condition-- if you are not, get fit immediately before going to MT school-- allow yourself at least 6 months.  I was lucky because I was already teaching all forms of exercise classes (step, body sculpting, hip hop dance, water aerobics, kickboxing, jazzercise, etc.) for 28 years.

Expect to work hard in this career.  Four to eight hour chair massages; three hours, back to back, table massages which may mean 60 - 90 min. massages followed by 3 more massages.  Also, expect to receive no paid holidays, no paid sick time, no Christmas bonus and no real respect from owners of spas.

For example, I worked at Massage Envy for 13 months (Sept. '09 - Oct. '10).  I didn't plan to get the job there, but only tested the waters as people over age 45 are rarely hired by companies such as these.
In the beginning, I was given 30 hours a week to work at this company.  I soon realized that I didn't want to work that many hours and after three months I had an opportunity to set my own hours.  I immediately selected 20 hours, then soon downsized to 16 hours.  This was the beginning of the end.  I worked from 2pm until 6:30 p.m., four days a week.  The money was okay but nothing to brag to mom about.  My husband told me later that I was being raped ($15/$20 per hour, plus tips).  I know I was, but I did not need the money.  I only wanted to stay busy for a few hours a week.

When Massage Envy opened two other locations (one in New Orleans and one in Kenner) which were not too distant from the Metairie location, business started to plummet at all locations-- the division was too much for this economic drought to bear. I was layed off in October and was elated that I was "free at last, free at last, think God almighty, I am free at last."  About a week later, I started to think "why did I not receive any lay-off papers."  So I called and requested them.  About a week later, an e-mail arrived and said I was not "layed off" but "terminated."  I was livid . . . never have I been fired, nor did I deserve to be by this lame company.  After further investigation, I discovered that the company thought I was seeking unemployed compensation; so, they concocted this story to cover their own ass.

I have so far survived and am doing very well on my own.  Thank God for resiliency.

You've gone through many ups and downs in your career as a MT. Do you have any hobbies/pastimes that shape you into more than just a MT?
I enjoy reading, writing, walking, dancing and yoga.  I am also a certified fitness instructor and am considering teaching step aerobics and yoga.

What's your favorite book?  
My favorite book(s):  anything by "Daniel Steele."

What is one thing most people don't know about you?
Most people don't know that I have a pretty good singing voice and that I love singing in church.

When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
God has truly blessed me to be 55 years of age and look and feel around 35.

What is one song you always have to crank up and sing along with? 
Just Fine by Mary J. Blige.