Comments on: How Many Massages Can You Do?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:48:24 +0000

Lynn: I have no idea how many is too many or too few for a recent grad. Did you learn body mechanics? Are mechanics part of your massage? Tough to know. When I was starting, I did a lot of checking in with myself at the start and end of each day. I even used a cheat sheet with hints like drink water, stretch flexors, etc. I like cheat sheets because they tend to remind you of what should be obvious but is sometimes forgotten by the end of the day. Best of luck and good hands – Sue

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:44:30 +0000

PJ: Awesome way to check in….sometimes the last massage of the day is when you truly find out if you are taking care of yourself as well as your clients. I find the mix of clients very important. If I’m working with one or two folks with a lot of locked-down stuff, it seems to take more emotional energy (chi?) If I am not grounded with good mechanics, then that takes its toll in body soreness or fatigue. We spend all this time learning about techniques in school and in practice it is really the chi that counts.Funny, huh? – Sue

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:15:34 +0000

I have been a licensed massage therapist since 1997 and "can" do six or seven massages a day, but I feel quality is better than quantity. With the "warehouse" massage locations becoming more plentiful, quantity seems to be more important.
No matter how strong a therapist is and no matter how much endurance a therapist has, after performing many massages, most therapists are not putting 100% into it mentally.

Kathryn Marge LMT/NMT

By: loosenup92626

loosenup92626 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:56:17 +0000

PJ: I think of myself as strong, but like many therapists I am in a second career, and older, and I’ve had a few good car crashes….I know when I have a long day, my body mechanics aren’t as good as during my first massage. I make a special effort to make sure I am looking up and not staring down at the area I’m working on…and I use the Tai chi split leg stance. Don’t know what I’d do without it….my other little trick is to do squats while wringing the calves.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:50:22 +0000

Hi Sue, I am so glad you posed that question to the community because I wondered the same thing myself. I am a recent graduate and am just now looking for a massage position and wondered how many I should be expected to do a day. Especially just starting out, I don’t want to burn out or hurt myself trying to do more than what is considered reasonable.

By: PJ Harris, LMP

PJ Harris, LMP — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:45:02 +0000

I think this is a very personal choice. For some giving massage is physically draining and for others emotionally draining. What does the rest of your life involve? Is your back and hands strong and injury free? How many years have you been in the business? Sometimes our age is a factor. It is for me

I think we all can check in with ourselves and ask the question: Was my LAST massage of the day as good as my FIRST?

Great topic, thanks, PJ Harris, LMP