When I feel thick cables between the shoulder blades of an uptight client, I am reminded of Bodyworlds, the forensic anatomy exhibition in which real folks were presented, in living color, plasticized and preserved for inspection. When the show was in Los Angeles, I figured it would be a bit gruesome, but I was eager … Continue reading Erector Forensics
A beautiful spring morning, toasty 80s in Southern California, and my client sat in one of her garden patio chairs and sipped coffee. Gone were the weeks of clouds and rain, and the flowers and plants in the garden had sucked it all up. One sunny day and it seemed everything was going to grow … Continue reading Project Management and the Massage Therapist
Taking a job as a massage therapist at a big spa is a great learning tool for the new therapist. I was a newbie, a rookie, when I worked at a large spa and I did find my way and went on to become a spa owner, employer, and an independent therapist. So I have … Continue reading More Spa Memories
When I was a rookie to the massage field, I took a job, pretty much out of economic desperation, at a large day spa near the big mall. It was, in 1997, the one and only true real spa in the area. I don’t mean fluffy robes, but it actually had the water features that … Continue reading Ye Olde Spa
What does the hand of the massage therapist do? Does it glide oil over the body, soothe the skin, quiet the mind? How does someone go from a bundle of jumpy over-primed muscles and fascia to the clear, calm and collected? I think most therapists have a thousand answers to the question. I’ve had more … Continue reading Body Boot: Chaos to Function
Once in a great while I run across someone who has been warned not to get a massage – with no apparent reason behind that advice. That advice pops out, unfortunately, from the mouths of people who might just benefit from the person not getting a massage and perhaps continuing a long course of treatment … Continue reading Don’t Touch That!
I have a bunch of spinning turtles in my office reception, a small plexi-glass Wyland sculpture that stands atop a stand that rotates and slowly changes color. The little turtles help people relax while waiting for their massage by suggesting the calming energy of sea turtles and vacation days in Hawaii. Triggering such fond memories, … Continue reading Getting Away from It All
What can a simple massage therapist say when a client asks about pain relief? Obviously, I’m very biased. I’d rather do and use massage techniques to deal with pain and restore circulation. But what about the chemical type of pain relief? What can I say? Recommending a product or a drug or nostrum isn’t really … Continue reading Pain Relief
When was the last time you went to a massage convention? That was the question on my recent massage professional association survey. It seemed pretty standard, and it got me thinking. When I went to my 2010 state convention I was struck by how small it was – no students, few exhibitors, – missing faces … Continue reading Massage Conventions
Sometimes when clients come in the door looking for a massage, they seem a little wary. They look around the office, check out the sheets, stare at the clock before they go in the room. I’ve gotten questions about whether I use fragrances in my oils or in the laundry soap. They peer at the … Continue reading The MRSA Pot