Job Detectives Interview:
Massage Therapist
Today we went to The Cottage to visit Vicky, who owns the business and Sherry, who gives people facials, manicures and pedicures. Sherry gave us each a hand treatment. First we lay on a bed that was heated with a heated blanket that was under the sheets. There was a knee bolster under our knees. She played slow, relaxing music that was made by a man who lives on one of the Gulf Islands. She rubbed our hands with a special scrub made of lavender oil and raw salt. The scrub takes off all the dead skin and then the lavender oil moisturizes and softens the skin. Sherry wiped off the salt and then massaged our hands with the oil. She usually uses lavender oil because it is natural, most people are not allergic to it, most people like the smell, and it feels good. She sometimes uses eucalyptus oil but it smells too strong for some people. Tannis did not like the smell of it but the rest of us did. We liked the lavender smell the best though. Sherry’s hands were very soft because she gets a little treatment too whenever she massages someone else’s hands. The purpose of the hand massage is to improve circulation of the hand and to relax the muscles. It really did make our hands feel soft and relaxed.
We learned that it takes about ten to fifteen minutes for a hand or foot treatment and a facial treatment takes fifteen to twenty minutes. She takes longer to massage someone if they have tender or sore areas. When she gives a facial, she puts a hot towel on the person’s face first, to open their pores. This cleans the pores and helps get rid of blemishes.
Sherry started doing this kind of work when she was only 28 years. Sherry loves her job. She is around 33 years old now. She took a year long course at Blaance McDonald School. She only does this job at The Cottage. People make appointments to see her and a lady came in for an appointment to see her after our visit.
Sherry also does make-up for brides and her sister does their hair.
There is another lady named Jackie, who gives body massages but she was not there today.
Vicky sells oils, soaps, shampoos and other things for the bath and kitchen at The Cottage. She does not live there but she has a very big cat, named Max, who does live there. Max is grey, he is five years old and he weighs 22 pounds. We pet I’m and he felt soft. Vicky gave us some lavender to take with us.
We all liked the trip to The Cottage today and we felt very relaxed after our hand treatments.
