When Shari Aldrich started attending massage school in 2006, she had no idea that one day she would be running it. Now, ten years later, her business Bodymechanics is thriving and turning out new massage professionals every year.
Shari’s experiences all started with her first massage. “It was life-changing and instantaneous. I had tried other treatments and didn’t get the results like I did from this one second of touch. Touch is super important,” Shari says noting how this experience showed her early on just what massage could do for people. Shari has made it her mission to help others experience the same healing powers. “I think it’s empowering to help others find their passion and find their happiness. Being happy in what you’re doing is a big key component for me.”
At Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage, it’s obvious Shari is happy providing students the one-on-one education they need to be successful. Her program only teaches sixteen students at a time. “Our goal, as a school, is to teach our students the skills necessary to open and start their own practice right away,” she says. With the focus to empower the students, Bodymechanics not only teaches the practice of massage, but also how to run a massage business. “When people are as passionate about their profession as I am, I will help them. That’s super important to me.”
Bodymechanics student Chris Jones is definitely passionate about being a massage therapist, but it didn’t start out that way. He tells me attending massage school was a long time in the making because it’s not something he had ever planned to do. Although Chris always enjoyed working with his hands, he could never quite find the right fit. He says he tried music, cooking, and everything else in between, but it wasn’t until he first experienced massage that everything came together. “I feel like it’s exactly the desire to be good with my hands that I wanted, helping people in that process,” he says.
Shari tells me Bodymechanics focuses on teaching students how to provide long-term relief and lasting results. And this starts with listening to the client’s stories to discover the underlying problem.
Prior to walking into Bodymechanics for a school tour, Chris had never even had a massage. And now eight and a half months later he is ready to graduate and begin his career. Shari says Chris really incorporates massage into his everyday life, no matter what he’s doing. “He’s definitely what I would say an ideal student for me. He’s always thinking and processing.” Chris responds by saying Shari is always there to offer her support. Whether that’s answering a question outside school hours or helping to build his business, she makes herself available to her students.
Chris says the structure of the Bodymechanics program has given him the skills needed to make it after graduation. Between numerous classes and 144 hours of outside massage practice, he’s definitely learned a lot. “I really feel like this school gives you a proper education and sets you up for success after the fact,” reports Chris. Upon graduation, Chris plans to begin his massage career locally. He tells me he offered free massages at The Evergreen State College to get in his practice hours and received an overwhelming response. Because he loves the community and already has an established relationship he hopes to find a way to continue at Evergreen. Although now, he will have to start charging. “I’m leaving feeling Bodymechanics super confident in my abilities. I really think I could help some people and I know Evergreen would be a great place to start.”
As for Shari, she’s just getting started as well. She recently expanded her Bodymechanics business into the Vancouver/Portland area and is already looking at locations in Seattle. She says a major career goal is to take one million people out of pain by 2020 with her team of professionals. “I believe there is a therapy out there for every body.” And for those who think there are already too many massage therapists out there, Shari says they’re wrong. As massage becomes a more popular treatment option, the need for new professionals continues to rise.
Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage offers morning, evening, and weekend classes to accommodate all kinds of schedules. Tuition assistance and in-house financing is available. Military students can use their GI Bill and MyCAA for spouses to cover Bodymechanics’ tuition costs.
You can also find much more under the same roof as Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage including personal training, fitness center, eight massage therapists and a chiropractor. Shari says they can address all aspects of living the best life possible. “In any capacity, in any form of life that anybody is living, massage will help them do that better.”
For more information visit the Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage website or Facebook page.
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