Snappy massage therapists used to make fun of “skin massage”, using it as a stand-in for a massage of no connection, a mere application of oil, an unmemorable massage of no consequence. But hey, snappy aside, there is a really awesome aspect to skin massage worth thinking about – and doing. Here we are dealing … Continue reading Joyful, Useful Skin Massage
Most massage therapists charge by their time spent in a session, so dealing with client cancellations and no-shows is a particularly dear subject. Big massage businesses just put their policies out there: 24-hour cancellation or full charge for the missed session. No appointment without a credit card to “guarantee a reservation.” It is a survival … Continue reading Massage Clients Need Training, Too
Massage therapists are like musicians, athletes and dancers. We train, we practice, and yes, we ache. Those of us who are in it for real are often playing despite pain. Therapists should be doing all kinds of things to stay in the game, from stretching icing and exercising. But like our musician and dancer friends … Continue reading Taking Chances with Your Massage Muse
Massage therapists often enjoy showing clients something they can do on their own to relieve a chronic trigger point. I do it too: “Here, try an old tennis ball and lean up against the wall. Just a little pressure, not your whole weight. Keep gentle pressure on the point for 10 to 15 seconds and … Continue reading Trigger Me Mine
Massage at the Top of the Spine People who have suffered whiplash are a good number of the clients in massage therapists’ practices. They seek relief from neck and shoulder pain, tension headaches, migraines and fatigue. Massage does wonders for sore muscles of the neck and shoulder even years after a whiplash. It opens fused … Continue reading Massage Heals Whiplash
Hey, it’s the time of year most massage therapists try to take a few days off, before the deluge of Christmas gift certificates and post-holiday injuries start piling up on the books. I like to practice something with therapist employees and therapist friends. It’s something that shouldn’t be so rare but we often forget to … Continue reading Massage Goals and Baskets
Massage Opportunities and Life Learning Massage therapists have an excellent opportunity not only to meet extraordinary people but also to learn from them. I have met many, and they have taught me many things. After 20 years in massage therapy, many of my wounds have healed through touch, and I have tried my best to … Continue reading Massage and Life Learning
There is a time in every massage when the therapist begins to rub the posterior neck. For many of our computer-burdened clients, it presents an opportunity to relieve the congestion of technology. The head is supported by these many muscles, embedded with many layers, often adhesed, and near the source of many functions from sleep … Continue reading Massage with the Eyes in Your Fingers
Numb fingertips, cramp-y necks and para-spinals that feel like abandoned rock quarries. We massage therapists treat the injuries that computer technology can produce. My smart phone just updated itself (can it reproduce?) revealing the phrase “Lifetime Companion” on the home screen. Really? This whole phone thing has gotten out of hand. People are ruining their … Continue reading Smart Companions
In the early days of a massage therapist’s career, discovering which techniques work well in a treatment session can be baffling. Is it deep tissue? Soothing strokes? Is it short sessions? Long sessions? Is it movement? Breath? Is it the clients’ mindset? Perceived value? Desire? Somehow fumbling about in our dim-lit treatment rooms we establish … Continue reading Knowing Your Client – What Works For One Person Doesn’t Work For All