The day after the Fourth of July I took time off from massage to see the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. The museum is a living testimony – every day a survivor of a death camp speaks to visitors. Pictures, old films and recordings bring those times alive. I was not thinking about massage, … Continue reading Field Trips, Diaries and Memoirs
Debates roar among massage therapists about which are the best oils, the best draping, and the most effective techniques. Yet never have so many argued so passionately about this question: whether to start clients in the supine or prone position. O the polarity! So many have crusaded with passionate arguments about breath patterns, face-cradle wrinkles, … Continue reading A Massage Therapist’s Top Ten
Massage therapists know that many clients need to be listened to – really listened to – when they come in for therapy. But during the session there is something else that clients crave – the ability to be distracted away from their focus and relax. I often use distraction in massage sessions, oddly enough in … Continue reading Massage with Attention and Distraction
A massage therapist starting to practice has quite a few challenges, not the least of which is finding the right place to practice. Options are multiple: gyms, tennis clubs, spas, medical offices, chiropractic, acupuncture or p.t. clinics, clients’ homes, business conference rooms, hotels, chains, etc. Each has its advantages and drawbacks. Sometimes the best option … Continue reading Finding Your Best Massage Venue
Clients seek massage therapy for many reasons, and one of the most challenging for a therapist is chronic pain following surgery. It’s a tough spot – here we are dealing with tissues that have had a direct surgical intervention – moved, touched, cut or compressed. We also are dealing with structures altered when the body’s … Continue reading Providing Post-Surgery massage to clients
I always like to check in with new clients on their goals for massage. Do they want to improve sleep, performance, reduce aches, release stress, etc. I like to give people a few choices on my intake, plus the opportunity to mark “all of the above.” Lots of “aota’s” later, I have come to see … Continue reading Helping your clients set goals for their massage sessions
As mysterious as the workings of the human body is, we massage therapists have learned a few tricks to bring errant, dysfunctional muscles back to working order. I continue to be impressed by the methods of active release, also known as myofascial release, in reviving elements of structure and function to certain muscles. I recently … Continue reading Tips for Bringing Muscles Back to Life
Most successful massage therapists come to a time in their careers when they think about going out on their own. They have worked in spas, medical offices or chain clinics and they have an itch to move out and become independent. Then the question comes up. Why risk all in business? Why not seek out … Continue reading Massaging with Partners
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
Recently I walked into a raging discussion among massage therapists over discount pricing. To discount or not to discount is a huge bugaboo for massage therapists. Prices are subjective, of course, and one can only wonder why people ask for a discount from a single massage therapist when they wouldn’t dream of asking at a … Continue reading The Price of Comfort