ACM GRADUATE INTERVIEW - José Isnard

18/01/2011

ACM GRADUATE Jose Isnard stepped out of the pathology lab and into the clinic room to gain a new perspective on health and the benefits of therapeutic touch.

After the 2 day Introductory Massage Course José Isnard was “wowed” by massage and his quest for learning about the benefits of massage has continued.

What first interested you about massage?

I received my first massage around six years ago when I was holidaying with my wife in Bali, Indonesia. My wife is a regular recipient of massages and relaxation therapies and while experiencing my treatment I thought to myself ““Now I know why she has been so passionate about massage!” 

My wife always said that I had healing hands – I massaged her legs and feet while watching TV in the evenings. She’s not biased of course – much!  Maybe I believed her, because when I saw the ad about a weekend introductory massage course in the local paper, I thought I’d give it a go. I’d already bought a cheap massage table too. The Introductory Course was the best weekend ever. I remember that Sunday night after the course I gave my wife my first ‘real’ massage and it dawned on me that this is what I really wanted to do. I enrolled into the full Diploma a week later.

For me as a therapist the fact that with massage you can affect a positive response is something that draws me to wanting to do it as a profession. Science has always been my thing – the human body and all things medical. Working in pathology for the last 22 years has been the closest thing to caring for a client even if from afar. With massage it’s in the singular moment between you and the client and from there a therapeutic relationship can develop.

How long have you been massaging?

Almost 1 year professionally and for years without training, I can’t remember when it started but I guess you’d really call my massages back then a combination of rub, squeeze & prod!

What do you enjoy most about massaging?

The fact that you can make people feel good through therapeutic touch. It’s personal, one-on-one, offering them a moment. I like to look at massage as challenging as every client is different and you need to change your approach to suit their needs and then you work together.

"I love the ‘Wow’ response you get when you ask them after their massage ‘how was that?” You can really make a difference to people’s lives. It’s a healthy choice."

What was your experience at ACM like?

In a word - excellent. We had a great instructor to guide us and provide positive reinforcement all the way. You learn step by step and it all comes together in the end.

I trained On-Campus on the weekend timetable in Townsville and we had a great class that was really supportive of each other and we all looked really forward to our time together each month.

During our training year I saw the opportunity for us to complete our community hours at the local Townsville Relay For Life. It was scheduled on the same weekend as one of our classes and we had a great night and massaged participants late into the evening. These experiences helped to build our confidence and leave lasting memories for us.

How have your studies at ACM assisted preparing you for working in the massage industry?

"Absolutely, I feel that the training provides the necessary tools for a Remedial Massage Therapist to enter the industry with a great skills set and plenty of confidence."

The study side never stops in my mind. You learn new stuff all the time. It’s like a quest. I am continually reading books, watching DVD’s, looking at what seminars are on offer and of course there is always Google.

What advice would you give aspiring massage therapists?

Group practice sessions work wonders for everyone. I hosted a Sunday session for our group. We supported each other and bounced ideas around. It’s a great way to refine your skills. You make life-long friends with a similar mindset. Just keep practicing, put in the hours and never be afraid to ask to help.

Never ever think you know it all. Clients’ needs are different, so you need to adapt. Know your limitations. Be honest and if you don’t know say so!

Care for each other, your future clients and most of all yourself. Keep an open mind and respect everyone around you. Believe in yourself. Just stick with it and in the end it all comes together. Don’t be afraid to promote yourself and the benefits of massage.

"Everyone has the potential to become an excellent Massage Therapist."

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

To finally open the door to my own home based massage clinic and coming up with a catchy business name – “oil about U – massages for everybody”.