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What does a 30-year career in massage therapy actually look like?
For Karin Olsen, it has included hands-on practice, owning multiple businesses, managing a team of 30 employees, selling two businesses, teaching continuing education, business coaching, returning to solo practice and now stepping into her newest role: professor.
In this episode, Karin and I talk about the many seasons a massage career can move through and why the version of your practice that works for you today doesn't have to be the version you keep forever.
We talk about her experience entering massage therapy in 1995, watching the profession evolve in Washington State, building and selling massage businesses, stepping away from hands-on work and eventually finding her way back to the treatment room.
Karin also shares why she believes new massage therapists can benefit from spending time in a busy practice before starting their own business, why business education belongs in massage school and why nervous system regulation is becoming a foundational part of the new massage therapy program she is helping build at Centralia College.
Your massage career can change as your life changes.
That's exactly the kind of freedom and flexibility I want Radical Massage Therapists to recognize. A sustainable career isn't necessarily about finding one perfect way to practice and sticking with it forever. Sometimes sustainability comes from giving yourself permission to enter a completely new season.
For Karin Olsen, it has included hands-on practice, owning multiple businesses, managing a team of 30 employees, selling two businesses, teaching continuing education, business coaching, returning to solo practice and now stepping into her newest role: professor.
In this episode, Karin and I talk about the many seasons a massage career can move through and why the version of your practice that works for you today doesn't have to be the version you keep forever.
We talk about her experience entering massage therapy in 1995, watching the profession evolve in Washington State, building and selling massage businesses, stepping away from hands-on work and eventually finding her way back to the treatment room.
Karin also shares why she believes new massage therapists can benefit from spending time in a busy practice before starting their own business, why business education belongs in massage school and why nervous system regulation is becoming a foundational part of the new massage therapy program she is helping build at Centralia College.
Your massage career can change as your life changes.
That's exactly the kind of freedom and flexibility I want Radical Massage Therapists to recognize. A sustainable career isn't necessarily about finding one perfect way to practice and sticking with it forever. Sometimes sustainability comes from giving yourself permission to enter a completely new season.
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TAKEAWAYS
Build your career around your current season of life. Employee, clinic owner, solo practitioner and educator can all be chapters of the same career. Karin specifically talks about different practice structures serving people differently depending on their stage of life. Action: Ask yourself, Does the way I'm practicing massage right now actually fit my life right now? Stop forcing your brain to switch gears all day. Karin realized early that moving constantly between massage and analytical business work was exhausting. She began separating hands-on days or blocks from business work. Action: Experiment with batching admin, finances, marketing or creative work away from treatment blocks. New massage therapists don't have to immediately become business owners. Karin recommends considering a busy practice early in your career so you can get a high volume of hands-on experience while developing your craft. Regulation and boundaries can be career skills. Karin believes part of why she can work long massage days without feeling depleted is that she pays attention to nervous system regulation and maintains strong boundaries. Think beyond the traditional massage business model. Karin wants students exploring entrepreneurship, employment, cooperatives and even nonprofit structures. 
Karin Olsen, licensed massage therapist, educator, and entrepreneur
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ABOUT
Karin Olsen is a licensed massage therapist, educator, and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the field of massage therapy and wellness. Since becoming licensed in 1995, Karin has built a career centered on therapeutic bodywork, education, leadership, and helping others develop the skills and confidence to care for themselves and their communities.
As the former owner of Radiance Herbs & Massage in Olympia, Washington, Karin spent 15 years building and managing a successful wellness business. She led a team of more than 30 employees, managed an annual budget exceeding $1 million, and developed a business that brought together massage therapy, herbalism, and holistic wellness. Education has become an increasingly important part of Karin’s work. She has taught massage therapy and wellness-related subjects and has extensive experience developing curriculum, creating experiential learning environments, and mentoring students. Her work with Centralia College has included developing a comprehensive Massage Therapy program, including feasibility research, curriculum development, course design, program outcomes, and student learning experiences. Karin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from Central Washington University and a Master’s degree in Ecopsychology from Naropa University. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to bring together hands-on clinical practice, business, education, creativity, and a deep understanding of the relationship between people and their environments. Whether working with a massage client, mentoring a student, or developing educational programs, Karin brings curiosity, practical experience, and a commitment to creating thoughtful, accessible, and meaningful learning experiences. CONTACTMENTIONED
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Want More? Check out this episode 👇
Your Massage Career Is Allowed to Change
What does a successful 30-year massage therapy career look like?
According to Karin Olsen, there isn't one answer.
Over three decades, Karin has been a massage therapist, employer, clinic owner, retailer, educator, mentor, solo practitioner and now professor helping develop a new massage therapy program at Centralia College.
Her career is a powerful reminder that sustainability doesn't necessarily mean finding the perfect practice and keeping it exactly the same forever.
Your life changes.
Your energy changes.
Your interests change.
Your responsibilities change.
Your massage career can change too.
Stop Expecting One Practice Model to Last ForeverOne of my favourite parts of my conversation with Karin was hearing how naturally she has moved between different versions of massage therapy.
There were seasons when she barely practiced hands-on massage because business ownership required more of her attention.
Today, she has returned to solo practice and treats clients two days per week.
She loves it.
The practice that serves you at 25 may not serve you at 45 or 55. Employment might give you exactly what you need during one stage of life while independent practice gives you more freedom during another.
Neither needs to be the final destination.
Protect the Way You WorkKarin also discovered early in her career that her brain didn't love switching constantly between massage and analytical business tasks.
Instead of squeezing bookkeeping or complicated business decisions between treatments, she began separating those types of work.
That's a simple lesson we can use immediately.
Your schedule isn't only about fitting clients into available spaces. It's about creating a workday that helps you function well.
Boundaries Are Part of Career LongevityThirty years into practice, Karin has strong boundaries around her schedule.
She also pays attention to nervous system regulation throughout her treatment day and believes this is part of why hands-on work doesn't leave her completely depleted.
That idea is influencing the massage therapy program she is helping build.
Students will learn about nervous system regulation, business and career development alongside their hands-on education.
Imagine entering the profession already understanding that taking care of yourself is part of becoming a great massage therapist.
You Don't Have to Start a Business ImmediatelyKarin also has interesting advice for new massage therapists: consider working in a busy practice first.
Spend time doing massage.
Build your hands-on experience.
Learn what kind of therapist you are becoming.
Business ownership will still be available later.
There is freedom in realizing you don't need to accomplish every possible massage career milestone immediately.
Your Action StepsTake ten minutes this week and ask yourself:
You don't need to know exactly what the next 30 years look like.
Karin certainly didn't.
Your next chapter might be closer than you think.
According to Karin Olsen, there isn't one answer.
Over three decades, Karin has been a massage therapist, employer, clinic owner, retailer, educator, mentor, solo practitioner and now professor helping develop a new massage therapy program at Centralia College.
Her career is a powerful reminder that sustainability doesn't necessarily mean finding the perfect practice and keeping it exactly the same forever.
Your life changes.
Your energy changes.
Your interests change.
Your responsibilities change.
Your massage career can change too.
Stop Expecting One Practice Model to Last ForeverOne of my favourite parts of my conversation with Karin was hearing how naturally she has moved between different versions of massage therapy.
There were seasons when she barely practiced hands-on massage because business ownership required more of her attention.
Today, she has returned to solo practice and treats clients two days per week.
She loves it.
The practice that serves you at 25 may not serve you at 45 or 55. Employment might give you exactly what you need during one stage of life while independent practice gives you more freedom during another.
Neither needs to be the final destination.
Protect the Way You WorkKarin also discovered early in her career that her brain didn't love switching constantly between massage and analytical business tasks.
Instead of squeezing bookkeeping or complicated business decisions between treatments, she began separating those types of work.
That's a simple lesson we can use immediately.
Your schedule isn't only about fitting clients into available spaces. It's about creating a workday that helps you function well.
Boundaries Are Part of Career LongevityThirty years into practice, Karin has strong boundaries around her schedule.
She also pays attention to nervous system regulation throughout her treatment day and believes this is part of why hands-on work doesn't leave her completely depleted.
That idea is influencing the massage therapy program she is helping build.
Students will learn about nervous system regulation, business and career development alongside their hands-on education.
Imagine entering the profession already understanding that taking care of yourself is part of becoming a great massage therapist.
You Don't Have to Start a Business ImmediatelyKarin also has interesting advice for new massage therapists: consider working in a busy practice first.
Spend time doing massage.
Build your hands-on experience.
Learn what kind of therapist you are becoming.
Business ownership will still be available later.
There is freedom in realizing you don't need to accomplish every possible massage career milestone immediately.
Your Action StepsTake ten minutes this week and ask yourself:
- What season of my massage career am I currently in?
- Does my current schedule support my life outside work?
- What responsibilities am I ready to take on or let go of?
- Is there another version of this career that feels more exciting to me?
- What would make me excited to still be part of massage therapy ten years from now?
You don't need to know exactly what the next 30 years look like.
Karin certainly didn't.
Your next chapter might be closer than you think.
