Massage Practice Builder

I am always amazed at the number of massage therapists who don’t get regular massage for themselves.  The past poll here at Massage Magazine shows the following results (taken from massagemag.com):

How often do you seek massage or bodywork for yourself?

Weekly 28.6%

Monthly 39.1%

Yearly 5.0%

Six times a year 14.9%

I don’t -12.4%

I actually prefer getting massage 2x a week when I am busy.  I also regularly get other sessions of things like Acupuncture, Integrative Manual Therapy, counseling and peer supervision which I include in the self care section.  I also visit a woman’s spa where you can spend the whole day in hot pools, hot rooms and mediate as well as get spa services like body scrubs.

Getting regular massage has taught me more than most classes ever have about myself and my work.  I often find myself frustrated with massage therapists who are not present in their sessions and just do what they think they want to do rather than doing what I ask.   Like last year when I went into a Massage Envy with some acute pain in my hip and I told the guy about it, I pointed to the exact spot and the person proceeded to work on my back and neck the whole time which I know probably needed work but I specifically asked for him to work on my hip.  It has made me so much more aware of needing to listen to clients and ask questions of clients.

Other spa’s that I have gone to have really short intake forms that don’t ask many physical questions when the intake is really the key to giving a successful massage.

I also can’t tell you the number of massage’s I have had where I requested deep tissue massage and the person on the phone says something like ‘everyone here does deep tissue massage’.  Well my definition of deep tissue massage comes from my background in Zentherapy (an offshoot of Rolfing).  While I understand most people don’t work to that depth, deep tissue to me means applying a fair amount of pressure.  I kept asking when she was going to start the deep tissue work to someone who was barely touching the muscles.

So massage is so subjective and to really get an understanding of what people want and are looking for it is important to get regular massage yourself to hone your communication skills and to also take care of your physical and emotional bodies.

Why people who don’t like to get massage get into the profession is difficult to comprehend.

The other part of this has to do with how much you yourself value massage.  If you are expecting clients to book weekly appointments yet you don’t book weekly appointments it just seems contradictory to me.  Walking your talk is an important part of being successful in the massage profession.

Trading massages is really common in the massage profession and I traded massages for years with various friends. Trading has it’s downside but can be helpful if you find a massage therapist who takes their trades as seriously as you do.  Many people who trade often will call and cancel at the last minute because they want to take a client or do something else.  It isn’t very professional. People also just trade hour for hour when they may actually charge different rates which could cause some other issues when the trade isn’t equal.

A few years ago I started paying for regular massage and experiencing different ways.  I actually prefer just paying rather than trading and find it much more relaxing and therapeutic.  I often go in to places and don’t tell them I am a massage therapist just so I don’t have to talk massage talk. The process of finding a good massage therapist that you would want to see regularly is also interesting.  You can learn so much by trying to find a good massage therapist.   Go and do it for yourself now.  Where would you start looking?  Google? The place you drive by all the time.  Someplace your friends go?  Look at people’s websites and ads and ask yourself what makes you want to go to them.  Call and make appointments and see how you feel when doing so.  Are they friendly or do they know what they are talking about?  When you go in are the professional, on time and do they ask how you liked your massage or do they ask when you want another appointment?  Do you tell them the truth about your massage that you just had?  Do you want to go back?  What would make you go back?

Just before I started writing this I called to make my weekly appointment at my local spa.  I finally did find a guy at a local spa that I liked and started going regularly for the past few years but am thinking of changing because I need something more therapeutic than just relaxing which is what he does.  The kind of massage people give and get changes over time and with different periods in peoples lives.  What would it take to keep a client for 20 years?   Most of my clients have been regulars who have come to me for over 15-18 years and they do come weekly.  My main goal is to just listen to their body week after week and see what they bring in each week.

Do you have your weekly massage scheduled?  What did you learn from it?