Shaun – A passion for health led him to teaching 

Although switching careers from an automotive mechanic to a massage therapist seems sudden, the change made sense for Shaun. 

With an interest in the human body going back to his youth, Shaun worked for 15 years as a mechanic when he began practicing yoga again and focusing on health and wellness.  

“It was actually my friends in the health and wellness community who told me to look into massage,” Shaun says. 

After deciding he wanted to pursue a career in massage, Shaun took a tour of MaKami College and liked what they had to offer. 

“I especially liked the extra hands-on time, rather than doing it at a remote location on my own,” he says. “You have support staff there to guide you and tell you what you’re doing and help you if you’re struggling.” 

In 2012, Shaun took the leap and enrolled in MaKami’s massage therapy program. He loved his experience, enjoying not only the program but also the social events. 

“I was excited to come to class, to learn the next muscle and the next system in the body, to get to massage another part of the body and practice draping. I will never forget going through that,” he says. 

Shaun urges students to access MaKami’s supports, such as the Student Success Centre (SSC) for tutoring, SALT for modifications with learning disabilities, or counselling sessions for mental health.  

“There are also supports to suit your lifestyle or your schedule. MaKami is very flexible that way and has a ton of services that can support you no matter what obstacle you think might be in your way.” 

When Shaun was in his second year of the program, he discovered he had a knack for massage therapy and began tutoring other students. Soon after graduating, MaKami offered him a job as a Learning Assistant. Shaun eventually moved up to become the lead instructor of the osteology and myology (muscles, bones, anatomy) class, and then the nutrition class.  

Enrolling at MaKami was the right decision for Shaun.   

“My life has improved dramatically since becoming a massage therapist,” he says. “I chose to work here at MaKami, but there are a lot of career options for graduates. You can work on a cruise ship and travel the world. Some jobs have popped up at the Banff Springs Hotel or Jasper Park Lodge. If you want to further your education around the physical body, there’s lots of different avenues open. It’s a great stepping stone or a great lifetime career. Whatever suits you best.” 

During his time at MaKami, Shaun say many students have shared their positive experiences. 

“Students have thanked us for making education fun, enjoyable and so fulfilling,” he says, urging potential students to follow their intuition into a future career.  

“Once you get here and you start to meet your fellow students and the instructors any anxieties about the choice you make will be completely gone,” he says. “It’s a close-knit environment here. You will not regret coming to MaKami College.”