u/Only_Hedgehog_2051

Ok to get it out there first — I am not the most organized person. I am also someone who genuinely prioritizes doing a job well over getting it done in a timely manner.

I’ve been a MT for about 1.5 years now and still find myself exhausted and in pain all the time. It definitely aligns with my self care (or lack thereof) but I also just feel way too tired after shifts and just wanna turn my brain off. My joints pop and click and I find myself praying that clients cancel at times.

I have ADHD and even though I (surprisingly) prefer not to talk during sessions, my brain is CONSTANTLY working and thinking about what I’m doing and what’s happening in their body and trying to sense for any reactions from them to make it feel the best.

I work 4 days a week and take 2-5 clients per day. Often 3-4 with 2- 90 min sessions and the rest 60. This still feels like too much. I get all the signs of burnout and I don’t know how to sustain this. I have 15 minutes between each client but I like to give my clients their full session, so this often gets cut way down if our intake goes long, I’m assigning them homework, or we go overtime which happens often because I’m not willing to compromise quality.

I did my schooling out of the country and I really wish I had a mentor or someone to apprentice under, because I really feel so lost and depleted. I’m scared this will just be a temporary thing and then I’ll be done — or that I’m really going to hurt my body for later in life. Scared because I really LOVE what I do when I feel good. And the feedback I get affirms that this is what I’m meant to do.

I loveeeed school and I dream of teaching kinesiology one day but I just worry that I’m too lazy to do the hard work needed — I see so many other therapists grinding through all this stuff and just making it work… but I’m sensitive and want to listen to my body too, not just my clients.

Hi everyone! I’m a massage therapist in the U.S. with a 600-hour massage therapy education (in Costa Rica), and I have the opportunity to travel internationally over the next year using a buddy pass. I’m seriously considering making the next year an intentional travel + education year—going from school to school, program to program, apprenticeship to apprenticeship, and learning from different practitioners and traditions along the way.

Long-term, I’m interested in pursuing kinesiology/exercise science with the goal of eventually teaching, but I’d love to strengthen my foundation in anatomy, movement, and bodywork first.

I’m especially interested in:
• Anatomy/kinesiology, movement & biomechanics
• Fascia/myofascial work & pain science
• Sports recovery/rehabilitation
• Thai massage, TCM, yoga, and Ayurveda
• Shiatsu, with the eventual goal of branching into Ashiatsu
• Cadaver anatomy/dissection courses
• Apprenticing, assisting, shadowing, or volunteering with experienced practitioners and schools

My goal is to have immersive experiences that deepen my understanding of the body and help me become a better practitioner and eventually a teacher with diverse experiences/perspectives — AND certifications that allow me to practice a variety of techniques to protect my body over time.

I’m also trying to make this financially sustainable. Since I’ll have access to inexpensive standby airfare, I’m open to spending the whole year moving between different places/programs rather than settling in one location. I’d love to find opportunities involving apprenticeships, work exchanges, teaching assistance, housing, scholarships, or reduced tuition.
I understand this means I may be coming home absolutely broke but I’m 26 and down for the ride 😂

For those of you who have studied massage/bodywork internationally:
What schools, programs, teachers, countries, or apprenticeship opportunities should I look into?
I’d especially love recommendations for Thai massage, TCM/yoga, Ayurveda, Shiatsu/Ashiatsu, anatomy/fascia, or unique programs where visiting therapists can assist or apprentice.

I’m hoping to build a sort of “education itinerary” for the year, so I’d love to hear about any opportunities—especially lesser-known ones—that aren’t easy to find through a Google search. Thanks!