ACM GRADUATE INTERVIEW - Nicole Spedding

23/11/2010

Although a graduate with ACM 14 years ago, Nicole Spedding is still grateful for the gift massage provides to both client and therapist

What first interested you about Massage?

I had considered a number of careers during my high school years. I had always intended on being involved in some form of career that involved working with people and in particular working with the human body. Early on I did consider massage but I felt that I needed to continue studies in the science area.

Through university I enjoyed the sciences and in particular physiology and microbiology. After university, an opportunity arose to work in the microbiology field and hence my career began. I very much enjoyed my work and was progressing well, although I felt that I needed more.

It was at this point that I felt ready to begin my studies into massage. Where this interest came from, well to be honest I am not really sure. As a 5 year old travelling around Australia I would stand up in the back seat of the car behind my dad as he was driving and massage his shoulders (seat belts were not so compulsory then!). I have always enjoyed the giving and receiving of touch.

How long have you been massaging for?

"I have been massaging for approx. 14 years. ACM’s program was flexible even back then, allowing me to study while still working full time."

After graduating from the College in 1996, I started a part-time massage business working out of a gymnasium, whilst continuing a busy full-time career in microbiology.

A year later I resigned from microbiology and turned my massage business into a full-time career. I had moved my part-time business to work with a chiropractor and naturopath. I remember my first day, I earned $28 for the entire day (that’s not even after taking out super, and tax). I thought “what have I done!”. But, with some hard work and self belief, things quickly improved.

After several years I then operated as a home-based business - which fitted in very nicely with the growing family. Then an opportunity came to work alongside a group of myotherapists which was great for exchanging of ideas etc, so I set up in their new premises.

Then came the family move to the beautiful city of Bendigo, where I have a clinic called Zest Health & Wellbeing.

"I like to think of it as more of a retreat than a clinic - it is a pleasure to come into ‘work’ every day."

What do you enjoy most about massaging?

This question is quite difficult to answer without being too lengthy.…

I LOVE that I can offer my client a ‘space’, a moment in time, where they can focus and drift in, or let go and drift away. I LOVE that I can help only to facilitate that client’s healing in their ‘space’.

I LOVE that giving and receiving are the same thing. When massaging, it is a time when I too can be totally focused in. There are some treatments that I become totally submerged, ‘fully present’ - now that is an awesome thing to be part of!

The other wonderful thing I LOVE about massage is that I simply love how the fascia and the connective tissue and the muscles feel under my hands. How you can take all that tightness and tension and turn it into a beautiful malleable piece of work. It’s even sweeter than chocolate! Now given that the muscular system is so closely linked to the nervous system, and that the nervous system is the pivotal system of all systems - what a marvellous position we have as massage therapists to have such an effect on our clients overall wellbeing - WOW!

Oh, and another thing I LOVE, and l am always being mindful of, is the more you learn, the more you know you don’t know. I guess that’s why I’m still here, because I never get bored.

Now, I don’t know of too many other professions where I could get all of that from!

What was your experience at ACM like?

As I mentioned earlier, I was working full time, working long hours whilst I was gaining my qualifications at ACM. I can honestly say that I looked forward to each and every massage weekend. Partly because of all the massages you get, but also as I knew that my skills would be progressed that little bit further and my knowledge base would be added to. ACM was always a great place to come to - friendly, caring, respectful and professional. It just felt great to be there!

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

Recently l realised how much the simple art of ‘draping’ has influenced my treatments over the years. I guess I have taken it for granted that the strict protocol of draping has always been the very first thing ACM teaches in their class and you carry this training through with you through the whole course and into your clinic after graduating. It occurred to me that if this protocol had not been addressed, then how different my treatments and my own learning of massage would have been.

I mentioned earlier that one of the things I LOVE about massage is that ‘space’ I can offer. Perhaps this space has only been possible because of the ‘felt’ honour and respect – something l have come to appreciate due to my training with ACM.

What advice would you give aspiring massage therapists?

If you want it – Go for it!  Keep practicing, keep reading, keep learning. Slow down and really ‘feel’ and focus in on what your hands are sensing.  Believe in yourself, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. Let other therapists know who you are, network with other modalities. Enjoy! Be great!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

So many experiences, so many stories, so many wonderful clients! So I will answer this by simply saying:

"From where it all began, my first Introductory Massage Course, it just keeps getting better!”