Massage therapy industry

tondra · Dec 23, 2002

As I am getting nearer to an age of retirement, I have been debating how to supplement my meager pension fund and where to live. As long as my body can do it, I would like to still do massage. I am wondering what the laws are in the DR to do this and how tainted it is by the sex industry. I know that one could not make much working for the resorts, so I thought maybe working part-time for several B & B's or setting up my own private practice might be better.

I also have experience heading and starting a school of massage therapy here in the States and wondered how much professional training exists in the DR for those who wish to be trained. What government hurdles would need to be tackled for this type of venture?

I would not venture to begin this without several trips to the DR (assuming I felt this was a place I would like to live), having a stash to fall back on and knowing this would be a very slow start (as most businesses are slow to grow). I know that to be successful one must network, network, network! I am not afraid of hard work (I am a workaholic) and thrive on a challenge. So.....I am ready to hear all suggestions, criticisms, personal experiences, etc.

I am looking forward to your frank replies.

Tondra

Criss Colon · Dec 24, 2002

Why don't you contact some of the cruise lines?

I know that they have massage services on board,and you get room and board plus pay!This is a difficult country in which to live!Please come see for yourself.Not just one trip to the beach,but come meet and talk to Jan,an American woman we lives here,and Pib,a dominican woman who is a fantastic resource,and person,so is Jan! It is not cheap to live here! Tom

marina · Dec 25, 2002

you also might want to consider checking out cabarete. it is a water sports town, which primarily caters to windsurfers and kitesurfers. The good massage therapists are fully booked, and we only have two now. If you were a chiropractor, you could make a fortune here! I myself drive to Las Terrenas when I really need a fix, and occassionally get a visiting guest who adjusts me

Marina

JOHNNY HONDA · Dec 26, 2002

marina said:
you also might want to consider checking out cabarete. it is a water sports town, which primarily caters to windsurfers and kitesurfers. The good massage therapists are fully booked, and we only have two now. If you were a chiropractor, you could make a fortune here! I myself drive to Las Terrenas when I really need a fix, and occassionally get a visiting guest who adjusts me

Marina

Marina
You should check with Azb on this board .Hes based in Santiago.
Johnny

Ken · Dec 26, 2002

Johnny Honda is right, marina. You could be in Azb's office in Santiago in half the time it takes to go from Cabarete to Las Terrenas. You might want to contact him by PM or email; easy to do. Find one of his posts and click the PM or Email button underneath. From then on it is just filling in the spaces like with any email you send.

marina · Dec 27, 2002

Thanks Johnny and Ken. I am terrified of chiropractors but they really help, when you have a good one. A bad one can really mess you up!

Marina

p.s.... but there's not kitesurfing in Santiago:-(

JOHNNY HONDA · Dec 27, 2002

AZBS a good one talk to him and decide for yourself.
Johnny

tondra · Dec 27, 2002

Thanks for the suggestion Chris, but cruise lines run you into the ground! It is a brutal schedule and not wise for the body if you wish to continue doing massage for some time.

And I would definitely make several trips to the DR before making ANY moves whatsoever. I have learned from past mistakes and do not jump headlong into anything anymore without a fair amount of preliminary investigation and networking.

Boy, I wish I was a chiropractor! I do have many different skills, but unfortunately, that doesn't happen to be one of them.

I will definitely email Jan and Pib for more info on living in DR from a woman's perspective. Thanks for the lead.

If anyone knows someone presently in the massage business in DR and would be willing to discuss their experiences, please let me know. I would be much appreciated.

Once again, great information and support from the DR posters.

Tondra

Criss Colon · Dec 27, 2002

"Cruise lines run you into the ground!"

Was that PUN intended,or are you just a natural? Fortunately or un-fortunately,most "Massage" services here have little to do with a massage,and a lot to do with sex!I have seen some "Massages" given on the beach at Boca Chica that were way over the limit of "PUBIC Decency" CRIS

tondra · Dec 27, 2002

I guess I am just a natural

It's a shame that massage is not used for therapeutic purposes there as a rule. I am glad to have the "heads up" (here I go again) that this particular line of work is not for me in the DR. It sounds as though I would find it even more difficult to establish a legitimate practice in the DR than I did in the US. Reading Marina's post, however, makes me think that therapeutic massage could be greatly needed there if people could see it for what it has to offer. I have seen people get incredible results for a wide range of complaints. Oh well......

Ken · Dec 27, 2002

tondra, maybe you should communicate with marina by email to explore the Cabarete possibility more. She encouraged you to consider Cabarete since there seems to be a need for a legitimate massage service there due to the stress and strain of wind surfing. You can click the email button under her post then send an email. Before I gave up altogther, I would want to have a little more communication with the one person who gave me encourgement.

tondra · Dec 27, 2002

Thanks for the reminder, Ken. I will definitely email Marina and see what light she can shed on the possibilities.

canadian bob · Dec 29, 2002

Tondra, as the only real financial opportunity will be with winter residents who are mostly retired, have money along with aches & pains. This means Nov.-May as the most opportune period to work. I am a snowbird retiree & use a Dominican gym masseur who does great work here in Costambar, just west of Puerto Plata. Good luck! Canadian Bob.

tondra · Dec 29, 2002

That sounds encouraging, Canadian Bob. I was looking at it for a winter time place to retire. I presently live in Michigan and that would be a great way to spend the winter months in retirement.

This is not on the subject of DR, but if you would be willing to do a short email correspondence on Canada, I have some questions for you.

Thanks for your information.

Tondra

Chris · Dec 29, 2002

Tondra, Cabarete needs your services! (from a women's perspective that is!). I am currently too scared to go to any of the masseuses (sp?) here and my husband has had a few experiences that I'm sure he wants to repeat - but he insists that he is just looking for a proper massage

It is true that the tourist season will be the time to make a living. Nevertheless, many people travel far for a good massage. This is one of those things - a good service and you'll have returning customers. Just make sure that you have sufficient resources to survive the time that you're building a practice.

MommC · Dec 29, 2002

Just keep the pricing reasonable and you should do fine. There was a couple from one of the Scandanavian countries in Juan Dolio doing therapeutic massage (which does my aching neck and back a world of good) however they were charging $1500 pesos and hour (way more than the $55. an hour I pay here in Canada).
I found an Ayurvedic (sp?) doctor last year who did massage but his was more a cross between chiropractic and "beach" massage.
I know Coral Costa Caribe had a massage therapist who charged $75 US an hour (still more than I could afford as it worked out to about $115 Can an hour) a couple years back but you had to be a guest at the resort to use the service.
I think if you picked the right location it would be a great winter job opportunity!
If you'd like to send a PM for those questions on Canada go ahead. I'll repond as best I can!

tondra · Dec 29, 2002

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Chris and MommC! It sounds like I could definitely build a practice in time in the DR. My clients are afraid I will leave them as I have talked about this recently to them. They said they won't let me go

. Most of my clients book a year in advance to assure them the time and day they want as I do book up fast.

MommC, I presently charge $50 US per hour and would not increase if I did practice in the DR. Hopefully, that would be a fair fee and would allow the practice to build well. I will definitely PM you to discuss Canada. Thanks for being willing to take the time to answer my questions.

Does anyone know if there are laws regulating the practice of massage in the DR?

Thanks again everyone!

Tondra

Ken · Dec 30, 2002

Tondra, you have just talked yourself out of a career in the DR. US$50 (RD$1000+) per massage is too high for the fee structure in this country. Some examples from the Sosua/Cabarete area: I sometimes consult a general practioner in Cabarete: RD$100-200. I go to a specialist in Puerto Plata: RD$300. I am nearing end of a series of visits to Sosua dentist for root canal, crown, replacement of a broken filling, and replacement of the enamel on 5 teeth. Total bill will be RD$8000. Visit to a specialist in Santo Domingo: RD$750-1000.

You may give the best massages in the world, but your charges must seem reasonable in this market if your practice is to prosper.

tondra · Dec 30, 2002

You jump too quick, Ken. I was basing this fee on MommC's information (who was the only person who had yet given me any fees at all). Obviously, nothing is set in stone and I would charge what the market would bear. I don't overcharge here in the US (based on area therapists' fees) nor would I in my new country. So..........take a chill pill, Ken. I don't discourage that easily

.

Anyone else have massage therapist fees they are aware of? The only other fees I have seen discussed elsewhere was $35/hr US dollars. I will definitely investigate this on my own (as time allows) when I visit the DR, but just wanted to get a feel for the going rate. If anyone knows of a massage therapist in the Puerto Plata area who would be willing to discuss this with me when I arrive, I would greatly appreciate it.

I still haven't heard anyone say anything about regulations. Are there none governing massage in the DR?

Thanks again, everyone--you too, Ken

Tondra

Ken · Dec 30, 2002

Tondra, post your question about regulations governing massage therapists in the Legal section so that it will be seen by Fabio Guzman, the lawyer who answers questions related to the law. He only monitors the Legal section, he doesn't check the other sections for questions that might need a response from him.

I am glad you are keeping an open mind on fees. The board gets many posts from service providers in the US, Canada, England, etc., that think they can come to the DR and charge the same fees they do at home.

I think you have about exhausted the help you can get from the board. If you are seriously interested in the possibility of relocating to the DR, you need to come him for a visit and talk with people about what you have in mind.

Massage therapy industry

New member

Platinum

New member

Motorcycle MANIAC

Platinum

New member

Motorcycle MANIAC

New member

Platinum

New member

Platinum

New member

Bronze

New member

Gold

On Vacation!

New member

Platinum

New member

Platinum