By Chris Cunningham

Becoming a massage therapist was the last thing on Lane massage therapy program alum Sean Vierra's mind when he was an undergraduate chemistry student at the college.

But one day, while he was giving a massage to his mother, who has fibromyalgia, she asked her son if he had ever considered a career as a massage therapist.

Now, as the new owner of The Pearl Day Spa in Eugene, the 30-year-old Vierra says he honestly "can't imagine doing anything else."

He says, "In this day and age, where people can hardly take a breath, I feel honored to provide space for them to step away from their stress and to heal, even if only for an hour."

In 2008, after completing LCC's 18-month massage therapy program and passing the state and national licensure exams, Vierra moved to Provo, Utah, where he worked in a job that involved managing a spa and working as a massage therapist.

But because he missed the Pacific Northwest, in 2012 Vierra returned to Oregon. He practiced massage therapy on the coast and in Eugene before he began negotiations to purchase the Pearl, where he now manages 29 employees.

Vierra and his employees—18 of whom are licensed massage therapists—see a variety of clients, many of whom suffer from chronic pain, migraines and sports injuries.

Kathy Calise, Continuing Education Program Coordinator at LCC, says 98 percent of the massage therapy program's students pass the state and national exams.

"Students come out of the program with greater than entry level skills and are ready to go to work," she says.

"Our massage therapy instructors are amazing," adds Calise, who is a public member on the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists, which regulates the practice of massage therapy. "They all have busy practices and bring current experience to the classroom."

Every week, at least one local employer will call to let her know about a job opening, she says. "They are seeking out our graduates."

Vierra says he "felt very equipped" after finishing Lane's 620-hour program.

Classes such as Professional Practices, and Communication and Ethics, helped prepared him "to confidently assert boundaries while maintaining a therapeutic and safe environment for clients," he says.

For information about Lane's Massage Therapy program, visit the Massage Therapy Program.