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
My massage client had gone to a fancy resort spa with an extraordinary view of the ocean. The spa was world-class. The services were expensive, the atmosphere somewhat reminiscent of a place where Roman emperors might have gone for a holiday. How was your massage? I asked him when the holiday was over. I had … Continue reading Therapeutic 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 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
Many therapists could benefit from the use of a massage office. Your own spot saves your back from wrangling tables at house calls. Your own spot also offers a great learning experience – how to develop skills to negotiate and keep an office, handle bills and make more income. At some point in every massage … Continue reading Finding and Keeping a Massage Office
When I was new to doing massage therapy, I had a habit of getting lost. Lost in the neck, lost on the back, lost in the space-time continuum. I’d glance up at my clock and see that I had spent 40 minutes massaging the back and I had 20 minutes to do the rest of … Continue reading Massage and the Full Sixty…
Sometimes a client just appears looking for a massage. Literally a walk-in. What can a therapist do to turn a lookie-loo into a booking? These potential clients may be trying to size up you and your spa. Offer a quick tour. If they like you and your spa, but are reluctant to make an appointment, … Continue reading Wrangling the Walk-In Massage Client
People who give massages hopefully like receiving massages. I know I do. When my therapist friends are out of town or otherwise engaged, I have a few places I will slip into to try their hands. I found one therapist purely by chance who really knows how to do meridian and nerve-based massages, something my … Continue reading Massage Hygiene and the Return Visit
On a massage therapist’s first day at work, the training starts with how to say hello to a client. Easy? Oh heavens. I have had massage trainees stare at the floor. Roll eyes in a complete circle looking everywhere but at the client. Worst, a brief nanosecond of eye contact followed by staring over the … Continue reading Real Practice for Real Massage
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