Tagged: massage

Just Blog it – Day 11 – Tooting my Own Horn

Posted by on in Massage Therapy 4 comments

Chair Massage - Atlanta Pampered Ladies Expo - Photo Credit Moore Memories

Chair Massage – Atlanta Pampered Ladies Expo – Photo Credit Moore Memories

The one thing I love about myself, in regards to massage therapy, is that I love to tell clients and potential clients about things that we hadn’t talked about prior to the massage.

It’s weird, and the looks I get are amazing. I’ll find a knot, or really tight muscles in the lower back, and I’ll ask if they lock their knees when they stand up during the day.

“How did you know?” they ask quizzically. We hadn’t talked about it previously, and you can already see that they’re wondering really, how did I know their back was bothering them.

“Your back is talking about you…behind your back!” I usually reply, which make them laugh. After the session is over, I explain to them as to how I figured it out, and how they can get back into the habit of loosening those muscles and making them more flexible.

Just last week, I was doing a Chair Massage session for Daycare employees, and asked a few of them if they had a headache. A similar quizzical comment came through the face cradle, asking how did I know. Again, I explained to them how I figured it out, and how to take care after the session was over.

The one time I freaked myself out doing this was when I was working at Logan Airport, right after 9/11. I was in my first year of doing massage, and did a foot massage for a client on a layover. He’d been on his feet after refereeing an NBA game the night before. After I prepped to start this massage session, I misted his foot with a lavender and peppermint spray, and began to start working on his foot, when he flinched. My thought process is ticklish people also flinch, but this was different. And when I say he flinched, he jerked his foot so quickly, he kicked the chair.

“You must be a middle child,” I blurted out. We hadn’t had a conversation about family, so this comment was really out of left field for both of us.

He looked at me as if I tapped into an earlier phone call with family, and overheard something I shouldn’t.

“How did you know???”

“As an older sibling, I know what a ‘Punchbuggy’ flinch looks like.”

That was the last time I asked about birth order. That was freaky, even for me.

Just Blog It – Best Advice I’d Ever Been Given

Posted by on in Business 4 comments

I was in my 10th year doing massage, and working for someone else before I decided to go and start my own business. After working for a few months, head down, just grinding, it seemed as if I wasn’t getting too far.

Isn’t it great how life just puts people on your path to let you know whether you’re on the right path? I met Tierra Destiny Reid at a gathering at an Atlanta Capital event, celebrating Women Business Owners. After I peeled myself off the ceiling and finished gushing, we talked for a while that day, and several years afterward. The thing she always told me was that “If you show up, I mean really show up, things will fall into place for you.” Go above and beyond, exceed customers’ expectations, and just do your best. And, for a while, business did well.

After dealing with an illness in our family, I changed my focus, so that I could be there. I literally stopped showing up. Now, that it has been a few months since the passing, I feel as if I’m back to square one.

The best way I know how to cope is watching comedies, or anything that would make me laugh. Bill Cosby was just recently awarded the Johnny Carson Award at the American Comedy Awards, and during his acceptance speech, he reminded me what I’m supposed to be doing to get back on the path. During his acceptance speech, he reminded everyone that you have to SHOW UP, not only for your audience, but for YOURSELF.

I just sat there, and cried. It was a very good and happy cry. The very thing I was already told, was being told to me by someone else. Sometimes, you just need to be reminded. So now, I’m going to get back to what I’m supposed to be doing, and show up, not only for my awesome and patient clients, but for myself.

Just Blog It – Industry Pet Peeve

Posted by on in Massage Therapy 2 comments

2014-01-19 09.07.04As a Massage Therapist, many people believe a few stereotypes about us. We’re flaky, rarely ever on time, either fix every problem they have on the first session, or just bruise clients all over. All therapists are called “Masseuses”, and give Happy Endings are a few others stereotypes that are bandied about.

I cannot speak on behalf of all therapists, so I do my best to break every opinion that I can about massage therapists just by doing my job. Before I was a massage therapist, I was rarely ever on time, but being in a networking group called BNI changed that at the very first meeting. The beauty of that was that it didn’t just change only for meetings, but every attendance that required me being there. My family didn’t even recognize me, wanting to be everywhere on time, not just going to meetings.

To avoid driving Therapists crazy trying to distinguish a Masseuse (Female) from a Masseur (Male), just call them a Massage Therapist. They’ll correct you if they want to be called a Masseuse or Masseur. I usually correct you by saying, “I call myself a ‘Positive Attitude Adjuster'”.

From my standpoint, clients will never get a “Happy Ending” from me, and if they are looking for that, they have come to the wrong person. I enjoy helping people too much to be doing such foolishness. The last time I was subtly asked, I was so in a therapeutic mindset, I had no idea what was being asked of me. I closed the session, saying thank you for coming to me for your massage.

“That’s it?” he quizzically asked me.

“Yep, that’s it!” I replied, enthusiastically.

He asked me the same question twice more, and I left the room, wondering why he kept asking. Then, the light bulb exploded over my head, and I stood in the hall, and just laughed to myself, sent him to the cashier to pay for his services, and quit at the end of the day.

You can never control what other people think about what you do, you just have to do the best YOU can with what you DO.

 

I got the letter!

Posted by on in Business, Massage Therapy 2 comments

I got the letter!

Imagine my surprise, after applying in December, and with not hearing a yea or nay, I got the familiar blue & white envelope last week, allowing me to return to volunteer at the Boston Marathon!

I’m not looking for donations… I am looking to do a combination of 5 Workplace Wellness Chair Massage Sessions with local companies (3 Hour Session), or Diva Parties (2 Hour session) within the next month, starting this Monday for my trip to Boston. If you own a business or know of one that would appreciate having this service in the Metro Atlanta area, please let make your appointment today!

If you’d rather have a Table Massage, I am also looking to do at least five to ten 60 or 90-minute massages in that same time frame, as well. If you would like to book an appointment, please click here.

If you’re not in the area, I also have an Etsy Store called The Relaxation Station, where you can purchase handmade items to help you de-stress, and take care of yourself. Purchase a gift for yourself, or someone else!

Thank you in advance for all of your help! I truly appreciate it.

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How Deep is TOO Deep? NiaMassage FAQ #1

Posted by on in Massage Therapy 2 comments


ImageMany times, when I talk to potential clients and they ask what types of massage that I do, one of the modalities I mention is ‘Deep Tissue Massage’. I can already see a wince of pain crawl across their faces. They are visualizing steamrollers running over little marshmallow Peeps, wondering if that is how they’ll feel after getting the same massage. I’ve even read articles that people have written, alluding the same feeling after getting a deep tissue massage.

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Some people LOVE feeling like a lump of clay after getting a Deep Tissue Massage. It doesn’t have to be painful to feel that way.

What I try to explain to them is that everyone’s pressure tolerance is different. Some clients may LOVE feeling like a lump of clay after getting a deep tissue massage, and that’s absolutely perfect, for them. Bruises don’t look cute on anyone. I encourage everyone, that if you are not comfortable with the pressure, definitely speak up – This is YOUR session. There are different ways to address your goals for your session.

Now, in some cases, it is going to be painful – gluteal work is literally a pain in the butt, and axillary massage is uncomfortable because, well, how often have you gotten a massage where the therapist worked in your armpit? In these cases, I’m going to let you know so that you are prepared, and that we can work together. This way,you still get your best massage session. There are coping mechanisms as well as techniques that I can show you, so that you are able to still enjoy the massage, and get what you need done.

So next time you’re getting a Deep Tissue Massage, and you’re not getting the pressure you need, let the therapist know! They’ll do their best to accommodate as well as they can.