Telling clients that they should drink more water is almost so universal and ubiquitous that it feels like it shouldn’t even need to be said anymore, and yet it should—over and over again. When we have sufficient water in our body this will help all the toxins that have been released during the massage to get … Continue reading Water, Water and More Water →

Our field of massage lives between two worlds. Historically, or at least over the last hundred years, massage was supposedly something that affluent people, primarily of the female gender, would allow themselves as a way of destressing and ‘getting away from it all. But massage is also increasingly recommended by doctors in situations where there … Continue reading Medical Massage… not just for relaxation! →

As a massage therapist, one of the most important considerations is to keep your client comfortable and relaxed. An integral part of that is the temperature of the room. In the Pacific Northwest, I would venture to say that the majority of temperature issues are not that your client is too warm, but rather that … Continue reading Temperature in the Massage Room →

When I finished massage school, back in the early 2000’s, my classmates and I shared a lot of enthusiasm to graduate, start working, and build a successful practice. Similarly, today, a lot of people graduate hoping to build a private practice—for many obvious reasons. Let’s compare the realities of the pros and cons of private … Continue reading Challenges of a Massage Private Practice →

One of the biggest obstacles that comes up when you’re trying to build a client base—whether working for someone else, or in your own private practice—is building the habit of simply asking clients to come back to see you. Just about every therapist knows that it is supposed to be good business practice, but the … Continue reading Nice or Negligent →

Do you ever get asked to give massage when you’re at a party or other event? I suppose I’m a reasonably social person because I do, inevitably, find myself at some kind of a function or evening reception at least once a week, sometimes two to three times a week. It is not unusual for … Continue reading Offense or Opportunity for Massage Therapists →

When I first started practicing massage, I enjoyed something of a meteoric success. My practice went from zero clients to fully busy within three months. I didn’t really think much about it back then, ten or twelve years ago, but these days, I get asked what I did, and so I thought I’d share. Some … Continue reading Advice from a Massage Therapist Superstar →

What’d you have for lunch? Was it a burger? Lasagna? Perhaps it was a delicious taco—a spicy Mexican treat with lots and lots of delicious onions? Mmm… Sounds good, but that was your lunch break. Now, you’re about to see a client. Are they going to experience your fine, effective massage technique, or are they … Continue reading Lunch Leaving a Lingering Odor for Massage Clients →

On occasion, I’ve run into licensed massage therapists who have experienced boredom with their massage practice and had decided to move on to a different career. I know this happens for some, but, for myself, I honestly can’t imagine ever getting bored with the practice of massage. There are just so many wonderful, pertinent, and directly … Continue reading Breathe New Life into Your Massage Practice →