Archive for September, 2007
Backup Plan Anyone
28 September 2007November will mark a year being a Sole Proprietor as a Massage Therapist. I have made it until now without being sick. Luckily it is a very slow week, otherwise what choice would I have other then rescheduling or canceling my appointments (I’d rather not do either of those). I hadn’t really thought about it and for some reason I think I am superhuman and “I never get sick”, maybe that statement is why I am indeed sick now.
Vacation simple, just don?t put anyone in the books on those days, being sick umm, well there is the other therapist that works in the same office. I have other friends who are therapists but they are already busy with there own practice. So what to do? I find myself being unrealistic and still saying, “I just won’t get sick”… Right… Reschedule it is, with a backup plan if they truly need a massage to ask the other therapist.
Check This Site Out
27 September 2007I was doing my regular browsing of the web and found a great new site that is in conjunction with the AMTA.
They have interviews with many Therapists and several modalities around the globe giving access to the past interviews and emails sent letting you know of upcoming speakers.
To Give or Not To Give a Foot Massage
26 September 2007I have some Massage Therapists tell me that they really don’t give foot massages on their clients anymore. Reasons range from not enough time to not wanting to touch dirty feet. One of my friends said that she tells her clients that she will use a soothing gel on there feet before a foot massage (sanitizer) another said she works through the sheets. For me personally, I am one to work the feet the very last, so not to spread foot juice all over the body (no I am not a germ freak, ok maybe I am). Anyway I always try and get one in even if it is just 5 minutes, for foot massage and foot Reflexology are awesome to the whole body in regards to relaxation and positive benefits to the nervous system.
Don’t be so quick to dismiss a closing foot massage to help tie everything together. If you can’t remember why, get a foot massage yourself and bring back that loving feelin’.
Treating Conditions For Our Learning
25 September 2007My sister (fellow Massage Therapist) said that after being in practice for as many years as she has been, she’s noticed that her client’s conditions come in spurts of common ailments. She believes it was and still is for her learning of different treatments and to refresh her memory. Personally I’ve noticed this to be true so far and that many people coming to me are doing so with sciatic issues, most with an impingement in the piriformis muscle others in lumbar. I also have many clients with tension headaches from tight upper traps and rhomboids. More recently I have encountered an influx of frozen shoulder and a new client with scoliosis.
I have this awesome pathology/assessment/application/self-help book that I lovingly refer to as the “Green Monster” because it’s green, huge and full of dead useful information. My sister and I would like this site to be a resource for therapist and clients to be able to come and find ways to better themselves and find useful treatment ideas. We look forward to learning and growing with you all.
Do MT’s Always Know Best?
24 September 2007With so many people needing massages and so many professionals with personal definitions on what, (in their own minds) constitutes as the “Best Massage”, how can we be sure to give our clients what they want and need? If you are an establishment that only performs Relaxation/One Massage Fits All, no worries people know what to expect and still have some benefits. However if your Massage establishment is more for treatment, sometimes it is best to do a little research before you begin. Not all treatments are cookie cutter; custom adjustments are necessary to properly treat in obtain your clients desired outcome.
Be sure to always keep the lines of communication open between you and your clients. SOAP charts, PA’s, ROM testing and pain status notes are most helpful in giving the “Best massage” for the desired well-being. It may also be necessary to refer your client out if your treatment plan has been modified and no real benefits are produced. Depending on the condition you may need to suggest self-care practices or even another modality of Massage or CAM.
Stone Massage Oh, My!
7 September 2007Yes, I can now say I know what it feels like to have a massage done with hot stones. I am a little wiser now having felt what it is about, and understand the hubbub. It was explained to me there are different applications of stone therapy; stones are put along the spine and various places to heat tense muscles and promote relaxation. The La Stone Therapy utilizes hot and cold stones to massage, and the basic hot stone massage is utilized on hypertonic muscles to heat/relax them and then the stones are used as a tool to penetrate deeper into the muscles.
Now I can’t wait until I have the opportunity to use the stones on my clients. If you haven’t already had a stone massage, make an appointment.
Continuing Education
5 September 2007In my pursuit of learning stone massage, I feel it very necessary to first know what it feels like to get a stone massage. So my curiosity of the rave on stones this and stones that, will finely come to a close this afternoon.
I have also ordered the CD ROM from massage warehouse so that I can get education credits, and will be putting it into practice on the willing that have agreed to be my helpful subjects. Either way I will be giving stone massage, so if I don’t like how it feels I will just have to modify it to what I believe will be the best application. I will let you know how it turns out.
Limitless Ideas For Massage Businesses
4 September 2007Here is a good business idea, a quick relaxation fix for the weary business traveler. Set up a massage chair or two with a fellow massage therapist in an airport. Have 5, 10, 15 or even 30 minute massages available in a sectioned off partition. I am not sure what permits or what type of permission you would need, but a businesswomen at the Edinburgh Airport has done just that.
What a great idea, for the most part people are just waiting for plains to depart or arrive. Some people are waiting for rides and could definitely utilize a few revitalizing moments on a massage chair with a fully qualified therapist.
That is the nice thing about massage, there are so many modalities or situations that warrant different personalities to pull off a successful business endeavor that there are enough ideas for a prophetable business to go around.