- In no other professions, does a nude or partially draped human being submit to treatment by a fully dressed person in the privacy of a softly lit room, other than massage therapy.
- Swedish massage is now known as “Traditional massage” or “Therapeutic massage”.
- Be a lifelong student.
- Being creative is half the battle.
- Everyone massages by instinct.
- Know at least the basic history of massage, because a client will ask you.
- The client isn’t always right, but we have to try to keep our opinions to ourselves as a rule.
- Never bite the hand that feeds you.
- Both the client and the therapist have the right to refuse each other.
- Have fun at your job, but be aware of people’s different personalities.
- Smile, it won’t hurt much.
- Have liability insurance.
- If you like your job most of the time, it is almost like not working.
- Experience is worth a lot more than money, but money helps.
- An average therapist with a great personality has a better chance of succeeding, than a great therapist with a poor personality.
- Enjoy the down time, because once you get really busy, you will wish for those slow times.
- Extra care needs to be taken with children.
- Consider the first 1,000 massages you give as practice (Paid practice, but still practice).
- If the client does not like the massage they received, they will tell ten people.
- If you do a good job, they will only tell 2 or 3 people. They like to keep you a secret, so they can get in easier.
- People do not make you angry; you let them make you angry.
- “We are here for the client” not, “the client is here for us”.
- Awareness is what will make your practice different: more effective, more successful, more fulfilling.
- Most people will never tell you how they really feel.
- There are two possible relationships between the massage therapist and the client: *Where the therapist simply carries out the client's wishes, with no significant decisions, providing the treatment as requested.*Where the client transfers all decisions to the therapist, so that the therapist determines and carries out the treatment in consultation with the client.
- You do not fix people.
- I would question anyone who says they can "heal" someone.
- If you put yourself into your treatments and always do the very best treatment you can, success will follow.
- I just couldn't work in a job where I felt like I was selling my soul just to make a few dollars.
- Swedish Techniques are given French names.
- Every culture has their own style of massage.
- As you become more attuned to the quality of massages you give, every aspect of your massage technique will improve.
- Each person who walks in the door has made the decision to take care of him/her with massage/bodywork.
- Think about your niche, what is your special area of expertise?
- Do not perform massage if you are sick.
- Use only closed dispenser-type containers.
- Every client that comes to you is a gift from the universe with something to teach you.
- Do not take the work personally; if you cannot "fix" a client’s elbow tendonitis that they have had for 2 months in one treatment, it does not have anything to do with you.
- Do not be ashamed of your body or yourself.
- Most of the adults with posture problems date back to childhood or adolescence.
- Muscles and fascia determine the body's shape.
- When you find yourself in the middle of telling your client the details of the movie you saw last night, or find yourself distracted by the birds feeding outside, bring yourself back into your hands.
- Grounding-is not letting anyone into your space or some people say it is a release of stress, tension, and excess energy leaving the body.
- The “no massage rule” generally refers to massage that is not applied to the affected area.
- If you give your spouse a massage, keep it professional.
- Do not recommend massage for everything.
- Most massages are given early in the morning and later in the day.
- Know the areas that you shouldn’t use deep pressure.
- If you work for someone, respect his or her rules.
- Have massage therapists as friends.
- You are considered a massage therapist once you start massage classes.
- If you work for a massage clinic, they more than likely will have you sign a "no compete clause”.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Giving a massage is almost like getting a massage.
- We are creatures with high touch needs living in a society with a low touch tolerance.
- Sticks and stones may break my bones, but a massage can help me.
- Your tongue can be a weapon, so watch what you talk about.
- When the relationship is one-sided, the therapist has a more powerful position, but it is the power to serve.
- Give your parents massages for free.
- Your friends will take advantage of you; make it clear that this is your job.
- You may have a hard time charging family members or friends, but you may want to consider a barter system - I massage you - You take me out to dinner or a movie or whatever it is that I may enjoy (But be careful, someone could loose).
- Be aware of your tone of voice.
- If only I would have listened to my teacher.
- Mentoring is a supportive learning relationship between an individual who shares their knowledge, experience and wisdom with others who are ready and willing to enrich their personal life.
- If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you have a boss.
- Massage is an art as well as a science.
- When someone asks you how long you have been giving massages, tell him or her the date you started massage school (But do not tell them when you started school or graduated, because the client might think less of you).
- Love and passion will show in every aspect of your practice from marketing, treatments, networking, brochures - everything, it will show up in your phone calls, your hands, your smile.
- The client states "Do not hurt me"; the therapist's reply "I shall act so you praise me."
- Some come in expecting to talk to an expert. Others want the client-servant treatment. Quite a few clients would like a friend. Many clients have no idea what it is they really want.
- The average pulse rate of the adult is between 60 to 80 beats per minute.
- The normal body temperature is about 98.6 ºF.
- Do not admit liability or indicate that you are insured.
- Obese people do not handle massage well.
- Harsh lighting, noise, and cool temperatures are the main reasons clients can be uncomfortable during massage.
- You are walking across a room, and you accidentally bump your elbow on the edge of a table. Pain then shoots up your arm, instantaneously you grab your elbow and without thinking, you begin to rub it (This is massage).
- If you have a wild life style, you need to tone it down.
- Schedule breaks for yourself.
- Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water every day.
- Never talk bad about another professional.
- "Physical stress mirrors emotional suffering, relief from physical constraint markedly affects emotional misery." Dr. Ida P. Rolf
- Musculoskeletal injury is an increasingly common reason for people to seek help from a health care provider. In fact, it is determined to be the second most common reason that a patient will consult a physician, the most common reason being upper respiratory illness (the common cold).
Newsletter Sign-up
