should I go ahead and get a table

[skydog]

This will be my first semester at massage therapy school. The school wants us to use their tables that they already have set up. Do you think it would be a good investment to go ahead and buy a table for home use, or am I jumping the gun? One of the classes I will be taking is called " Massage Therapy Techniques I " so we will have some hands on it sounds like. Are there some tables out there you would recommend for a newbie? Price does matter right now, the cheaper the better.

 

[jeffrey e]

i waited until a month before i graduated to get my table. my school had a number of different manufacturers' products. and i got to work on all tables we had. some i liked, some i didn't.
one big advaneforum.xxxe of having one is that while in school, you can practice body mechanics at any given moment with your massage-guinea-pigs.

some mt's have chosen a $200 sam's club/walgreens/ebay special as a second table.
they're adequate. no more, no less.

good luck with your choice.

p.s. i have seen some great deals on ebay for the better brands, that may be older or have small pin-holes or small rips.

nice sn, btw, i suggest you listen to a copy of "ocean" an instrumental by john butler of the john butler trio. you probably can find a video of this at http://www.youtube.com
pretty song

 

[Toxic Witch]

I would absolutely recommend getting a table while you're in school. As much as you're practicing techniques on your "guinea pigs", you *must* practice good body mechanics and make them HABIT.

My own school required 50 hours of massage given on our own time and a table is a must for that. You just can't "make do" well enough without one.

More .02 if you're looking for it practice a lot as you're going along, don't wait til you think you've got it down, or til you feel like you've been taught the whole thing. Practice a lot and get comfortable with things

HTH

 

[Universal]

I would have to agree that buying a table as soon as you can afford one is the best way to go. Buy the best quality you can afford and hopefully the table will last you a very long time. When I went to school we were required to practice at least three times a week for at least an hour. Practicing with out a table can be cumbersome some times. Proper body mechanics is a must, no matter where you are working. If you are looking for a deal see if maybe the school has a board where others are selling used equipment. Some times you can find some thing that you really like and want and can better afford. Hope this helps.

 

[bluareochick8]

YES!!! Buy a table as soon as you can afford it. And definitely do not buy CHEAP!!! Read through the sticky topic in Tools of the Trade on tables. Look and see what everyone likes and dislikes about their table.

When I bought my table, I was really scraping by for school, and had not worked in 6 months due to a knee injury. I decided after talking to a few people that I knew I needed to buy my table and buy one that would last. There was no reason to buy a table that who knows what quality it was, and to say portable, but the only portability it was, being that it could fold up. In our business this is important because we never know where we are going to be. The lighter the table the better mid to low 20 lbs (anything more is way too heavy), and it must have a carrying case, not just the handles that are on the table.

I have an oakworks wellspring, which I absolutely love... I have no complaints, the only replacement for this table will be an electric table when I can afford it. Oakworks I read is coming out with an inexpensive table called "One" you may want to look into that if $$$ is really a problem. But one of my fellow students had the table from costco, and it lasted a whole 2 massages, and thankfully broke while she was working on her daughter. So it ended up costing her a lot more money to replace the table with a decent one.

 

[Pookie]

should I go ahead and get a table

This will be my first semester at massage therapy school. The school wants us to use their tables that they already have set up. Do you think it would be a good investment to go ahead and buy a table for home use, or am I jumping the gun? One of the classes I will be taking is called " Massage Therapy Techniques I " so we will have some hands on it sounds like. Are there some tables out there you would recommend for a newbie? Price does matter right now, the cheaper the better.

I bought a table right away and my only mistake was buying a cheap one. I do not regret buying one at all because it made practicing so much easier.

If you are going to buy one I would make sure you investigate it and purchase a good quality one so that when you are finished with school you are set.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Yes yes yes!!! The more practice the better. YOu can not do practice with a regular bed, couch etc. Check used. Craigs List has them often for good prices. I got mine off there it was a used Earthlite, but had never really been used. People often find themselfs in situations beyond control and need to get rid of a table. In my case the women found out she was pregnant right before classes started. I got a brand new table at about a 125.00 less then buying at the supply store. Look for deals. They are out there.

 

[huynhminhduy duy]

Last night was our first night of classes, and the instructor advised us not to get a table right now. :?

We use the tables she has in lab and she wants us to get used to them and see which ones we like best, and then we can buy a table.

I think I will give it a couple of weeks, surely by then I will know which I like best.

 

[secretagentbill]

That is a good idea... but definitely get one sooner than later. Don't wait till you are at graduation and go... now what should I get??? Good luck!