Sometimes when I am square in between someone’s shoulder blades, I find myself thinking about how some of these knots got there. Most are whiplashes and hard work – a traffic encounter followed by running a lathe at the machine shop, or writing some intensely detailed thesis. No fun involved. Once in a while somebody … Continue reading Therapist Notes from a Low-Slung Sports Car
We massage therapists sometimes see the un-doctored, the folks who are big believers in the preservation of health by staying far, far, away from anything medical. I respect people’s beliefs, especially when they are dearly held, but I also know that I have a duty to at least bring up the subject of finding explanation … Continue reading Tremors
One of my favorite massage therapists to trade with recently let me in on a secret. She has been doing massage for more than 20 years without health or disability coverage. That pressed some buttons with me. Since getting into massage, I have always had coverage, health through my own individual plan, then my spouse’s … Continue reading Massaging Without a Net
Hi there Find Touchers! I’m Mel. Or Melissa, depending on if you get emails from me. I thought that you might like to get to know me a little, and learn how I came to Find Touch, and how massage has changed my life. I was born in San Diego, and moved up to Seattle … Continue reading The story of how a stranger became at home in your world
Recently in looking for an associate to assist in my practice, I interviewed a bunch of massage therapists with ample experience. I thought I would offer a good step-up to private practice to people who wanted to move in that direction. I looked for experience because I wanted people who understood the economics and challenges … Continue reading What We Massage Therapists Know…
With each year end, I like to do two things: tidy up the loose ends of my massage therapy practice and set my sights on the coming year. Tidy time is important in the visceral sense: make sure my tax stuff and books are at least all in one box, if not organized, all set … Continue reading Tidy Time
What are you doing? My therapist friend said that phrase in a tone of voice that implied I was sculpting a stone wheel from a boulder. I’m writing holiday cards to my clients, I replied. Ohh, no, no, no you will get carpal! she said. Let me show you my toys. Out whipped the tablet. … Continue reading Care and Greeting of Clients
It is an old law school question: Would you be Hitler’s lawyer? It is a tough one. All people regardless of their crimes are due a spirited defense, law students are taught. Yet what about the worst criminal in recent history? Would you be the one? Could you? Here’s how the question could … Continue reading Massage with an Historic Difference
Knots have the element of surprise. Massage clients are often very perturbed that they have a knot, and then the inevitable question…why is that knot there? I try to offer some explanations – to much time using a mouse, too many repeat micro-movements of muscles in a static hold, etc. Working under too much … Continue reading Whys and What Knots
The question comes up. A caller on the phone, looking for a massage. I had no openings. Let this massage therapist say for the record that I really had no openings. We talked for a while, a male voice on the phone, pretty husky voice. A Carolina accent. Sometimes you wonder, the … Continue reading Too Big for Massage or Too Dark?