A massage therapist’s toolbox is crowd with all kinds of fancy techniques to address troubles in the body. Yet one of the most effective techniques one can use to release tension is to say something. Just a little something to put the client at ease. A small joke is letting clients know your empathy for … Continue reading Heavy Hearts, Light Touch
Those who do therapeutic massage are well aware of the statistics in the field. Burnout is a huge problem amongst therapists. What I have often heard from people is that massage is too hard to do enough of it to be secure financially and take care of one’s personal needs as well. I’ve also heard … Continue reading Flames Climb Higher Than Hands
My client had tremendous pain – 12 on a scale of 10 – in the area between the shoulder blades. She begged for deep pressure massage, and that did lessen it temporarily. But after 2 days the pain remained a 12. How many times has a client begged for a tough massage in hopes of … Continue reading The Downs of Stress Breath
It’s a great compliment to a massage therapist when the person receiving falls asleep during a session. Those little zzz’s say trust, relief, serenity and healing. And for this massage therapist, it most often happens during the Swedish portion of the treatment, when long flowing strokes push dream-like consciousness over the line into sleep. So … Continue reading The Snooze Button
Massage as therapy can be pretty basic. Therapists compress and glide along major muscle groups in the direction of the heart. The effort requires skill and practice. It reduces tension and boosts circulation of blood, taking some load off the heart. That kind of therapy is refreshing and soothing. But what about the spots that … Continue reading Exploring the Body’s Bermuda Triangles
Food in the massage room is a delicate subject. No doubt it is needed. Massage therapists burn off some energy providing treatments to clients. Those who hop off the table rejuvenated often look for a little something in addition to cool water. But what is appropriate? Some of us squint in horror of sugar in the … Continue reading LMP Etiquette – Is offering food to clients a good idea?
We massage therapists love our helpers, be they oils, warm stones or essential oils. Lately I’ve come to totally enjoy something I at first thought would be a bust. Massage on silk is a method of gliding the hands across skin or clothes without the use of oil. Silks provide glide, like oil, but without … Continue reading Have you tried giving a massage using silk instead of oil?
The day after the Fourth of July I took time off from massage to see the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. The museum is a living testimony – every day a survivor of a death camp speaks to visitors. Pictures, old films and recordings bring those times alive. I was not thinking about massage, … Continue reading Field Trips, Diaries and Memoirs
Massage therapists know that many clients need to be listened to – really listened to – when they come in for therapy. But during the session there is something else that clients crave – the ability to be distracted away from their focus and relax. I often use distraction in massage sessions, oddly enough in … Continue reading Massage with Attention and Distraction
A massage therapist starting to practice has quite a few challenges, not the least of which is finding the right place to practice. Options are multiple: gyms, tennis clubs, spas, medical offices, chiropractic, acupuncture or p.t. clinics, clients’ homes, business conference rooms, hotels, chains, etc. Each has its advantages and drawbacks. Sometimes the best option … Continue reading Finding Your Best Massage Venue