A Motherly Attitude

I've been considering what mindset I need to have in my career when working with people.  I am the kind of person who worries about what others are thinking.  I tend to lose myself by giving way to what I think they're thinking.
I forget the truth about who I am.

I've realized that ultimately, we all want the same thing:  to be cared about.
To me, the ultimate picture of caring is a mother.  I want to be a mother one day and I feel that I have a good bit to go on since I've been around a lot of good moms and kids.

My own mother is a great caregiver!

Mothers do what is best for those under their care.  A mother doesn't think about herself.
She's not trying to impress anyone.  She listens, is accepting, caring, fearless.

So I've decided the mindset I will have in my massage career is that of a mother.
I will listen to and take care of people.

Meet My New Best Friend!

You may not believe this, but for over a year I have been using the office's antibacterial soap to wash off the oily jojoba lotion I use for massage. Well, it doesn't cut it, so I said enough is enough!

I bought a small bottle of this stuff which is so tried and true!  Sure, it will probably dry me out just as the antibacterial soap did but it will take off all the oil and any odors.

My timing was perfect, too, because shortly after buying it, the Dr. and the Mrs. needed to get rid of some yellow jackets right outside the office.

They asked if they could use my detergent.  I said "sure thing, but you owe me $50 because it's like gold" - just kidding!

Just Wee-wax

If there's one thing I have learned in life, it is to relax.  Ever since I was a child, I have struggled with anxiety.  Between 4 and 8 years old, I went through a phase of being sneaky and lying to my parents.  My conscience would kill me and after I got over the phase, I was extra careful to never do it again.  I watched everything I did, thought and said so carefully that I was consumed by the fear of doing something "bad".

At age ten I was talking with my parents and our pastor about it.  My pastor told me over and over "Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry."  It was such a relief to just be told that none of it mattered.  Really?  I don't have to worry?  Slowly I got more and more free.  There were times I thought I could fly because my mind wasn't all wrapped up in whether I was behaving.  I was living my life and enjoying it.

Every now and then for years afterwards, I would fall back into the anxiety and worry.  Just thinking about the awful feelings could bring on an anxiety attack (which for me was muscular spasm and feeling like I had forgotten how to breath).

This is how I got out of it:  I observed myself when I was feeling good and relaxed and realized that there was a definite pattern of breathing that my body took on. I could apply that later to stop an anxiety attack.  Thinking good thoughts helped too.

Once I heard a story about some commander or general in war times whose secret to success in battle was to relax by doing breathing exercises.

I believe that the bottom line of success in business, in emergencies and in everyday life is to relax.  You've heard the phrase "keep calm and carry on". Well, when dealing with people some of us get anxious about what they're thinking but the truth is, if we don't worry and just do what we think is best, everything will turn out okay.

In massage this is a main theme of mine.  I received a massage from someone who told me
"I do (therapeutic) massage, not relaxing massage." Her massage was definitely not very relaxing.  It was very quickly executed - not too pleasant.

I do therapeutic massage and to me, going slowly is key whether you're doing light or deep work.  Number one:  you can't alter the soft tissues of the body by speed-skiing over them. Number two:  you aren't going to help a body at all if it is not relaxed and compliant.  People trust you more if you go slowly.  It gives them time to request changes to your technique.  It opens the door to communication.  It helps them feel more in control.  Always let the client be in control (within reason).

We're all too stressed these days.  Stress is the antagonist of life and can cause quick health decline. We all need to relax more and massage is a great way to do that.  I am so glad to do something that helps the world relax.

Why Massage?

One day someone may ask,
"What inspired you to be a massage therapist?"

What will I answer?

I inherited a love and curiosity for science and biology from my father.  Natural health was a big part of my life from birth.  Though I was the third child in my family, I was the first home-birth.  I never had shots and I don't remember ever going to the doctor.  When we were sick, mom would give us herbs, garlic, vitamin C, lots of water, rest and soup.

I was so intrigued by natural health I was in a class called "Body Life" at age 9.  I soaked it all up and would tell mom that my little brother needed to drink more water and less juice.

While some kids were earning pocket change doing chores and selling lemonade, I was walking around our friendly Tennessee neighborhood giving foot massages to grownups for a dollar.  Everyone remarked on how strong and talented I was.  My dad would tell me how to massage the sore spots on his back and many of my "customers" gave me ideas like how to massage the hands.  One friend gave me books on reflexology and told me all about it.

Meanwhile I was growing up, learning to cook, clean and sew.  I loved anything artistic or musical.  I sang and sang and learned guitar.  When a kid learns something new it is exciting and they feel they could do it all the time and never get tired of it.  This was how I felt about baking and cleaning.

My kids books would say
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"  They listed some of the typical things:  firefighter, doctor, teacher.  I wanted to be a veterinarian, then a baker, then a hairstylist, then a janitor.  I thought about it a lot.

When I got older I was in "Health Club". About 60 kids and I were in competition eating vegetables and avoiding junk food for about 60 days, if I remember correctly.
It was fun and challenging.  The guy who won had run around the neighborhood asking for heads of lettuce and devouring them without bothering to cut them up into salad.  I wasn't that committed!

Eventually, around junior-high or high school, I realized massage therapy was the thing for me.  It was what I had done since I was eight-years-old.  I never got tired of making others feel better.  In high school we were encouraged to think about and study the field of interest we were considering for a career.

I began to research massage and was encouraged to take classes on anatomy and physiology, which I did with increasing interest.

I learned about high blood pressure and how massage can help that.  Many people I know suffer from this including my mom. I found out how stress could lead to other health problems and if massage could help prevent that, that's what i wanted to do.

So these are the reasons I chose massage therapy:

1. It is a natural, safe service that greatly benefits all.
2. It is tried and true for thousands of years and will not likely go out of style.
3. It pays well.
4. It is a career that often has a good work environment.
5. It is portable and versatile in so many ways.

The Deep Philosophy of Massage

Big bodies,
Small bodies
White bodies,
Tall bodies,

Fit bodies,
Fat bodies,
Tanned bodies,
Black bodies,

Quiet bodies,
Shy bodies,
Tattooed bodies,
Dry bodies,

Thin bodies,
Peeling bodies,
Smooth bodies,
Healing bodies,

Young bodies,
Police bodies,
Warm bodies,
Mommies bodies,

Amish bodies,
Old bodies,
Abused bodies,
Bold bodies,

Cold bodies,
Fragile bodies,
Hairy ones, it's true,
Agile bodies.
Perfumed bodies and smelly bodies too.

Clean the Dirt!

Cleaning your massage table is a good idea and it's simple.  You want to make sure it's clean for everyone.  Everyone has body oils, germy breath, oily makeup, etc.  I always use massage table linens and launder them after one use - I hope that's what everyone does.  Not that it will kill anyone to use the same sheets as someone else, but most Americans will agree it's pleasanter and safer not to.

"I majored in Massage Therapy and minored in Laundry."

 

So after a massage and you remove the sheets for washing, it's time to clean the table itself.  

Probably the main thing to disinfect would be the face rest because the face is oily and your client was breathing right there for 30-60 minutes or so.  SO, get rid of the germs. 

I just use a misting bottle, from the hair-care area of the supermarket.   I fill it with about 1 part isopropyl alcohol and two parts water.  I just mist a little of this over my table focusing on the spots I think need it most.  Then I use a paper towel to wipe it and my bolster (which is just vinyl without a fabric cover) and my lotion dispenser, bottle, holster thing.  

Think about where the germs are.  If you press your lotion pump, touch a person, and then press your lotion pump again, there will be germs on there and you'll pass them to the next person.  Just a thought.

I Love Vistaprint!

I love Vistaprint!  I also love Polyvore!  Check out both! vistaprint.com polyvore.com

On Polyvore you can create collages for free and express your style or create a wish.  On Vistaprint you can buy awesome products for your business.  Pick a design you like and they can make almost any product with that design if you just give them a call.  Create an account and you can save all your designs and get all the great discounts.  If you're a member of the AMTA you get more dicounts on Vistaprint.

Paperworkpaperworkpaperwork

Have you ever had a chunk of cash one day and then the next, it's gone? Did you ask yourself "Where the heck did it go?!" Did you ever find you and someone else wondering if you paid them something you owed them or if they paid you something they owed you?

 Ugh, it can be frustrating... I am lazy. I hate writing down things when they happen, I'd rather just live my life, BUT in the long-run (poor, abused Long-Run) it WILL make my life much better.

Sooo, July was the one year anniversary of my business and I think it is high time I straighten out my paperwork. I have been working on it for weeks.


Creating Charts on:
#1. What I'm paid for being receptionist in the Chiropractor's office.
#2. What I earn outside of the office when I make therapy out-calls.
#3. Business purchases I make - and that includes rent of my space.
#4. All the clients I receive IN the office and what they pay me.
#5. Then my personal preference: my business statistics, which covers how my business has progressed in amount of clients and income over each month - it's very interesting.

I'm weird. I love all the quantitative stuff and figuring out why, how, when etc. I need to make myself notes more when something out of the ordinary happens in my finances because I WILL NOT remember next month! Sometimes I don't even understand my own notes though! Argghh.

Google Docs @ docs.google.com is my friend!! It immortalizes my documents online FOR FREE and is easy to use. And tidy. I highly recommend using that. I make a table with like 5 columns across and like 30 rows down and just fill in the Date, Amount, Check #'s if applicable, and End Totals for the month.

Example:

Date	Earned the Week Before	To Dr. 30%	To Taxes 15%
08/17/15	$45.00	$15.00	$06.75

I know all of this and maybe even more can be documented and managed best on something like QuickBooks, but that costs money and to me this is simple.  I have fun with it, too - except when the numbers don't match up!

So DON'T BE LAZY!  You won't regret it!!

Monday!

I love Monday.  I work 9am to 5pm with a 90 minute lunch break... sometimes we come back a little earlier than that.

Monday is my day to go over everything I have earned and what business purchases I've made.  I make sure it's all recorded on two different charts with details and dates.  I compare it to the office chart as well to make sure we have the same info.  I count my money and I receive my pay for last week's office work.  (I help out as a receptionist when not massaging.)

I love Monday because my bank account gets refreshed and I get to do the math.  I like the math.

Tomorrow is my shopping day because we are only open for work in the morning 9am-noon so I use the whole afternoon for getting groceries and whatever else I want to do.  I like Tuesday too.

Dressing the Part

As a Massage Therapist there are some  necessary sacrifices as with all professions. If you have a schedule like mine, you might sit around at work for hours if you have no clients.  You will have to leave your loud, crazy or stressed out side at home because you're here to help others relax.

 I doubt that in any massage setting you will be able to wear what you want.  In my case I have made it the standard for myself to wear scrubs as it makes me look more professional and healthcare-related.  Plus, I work at a Doctor of Chiropractor's office.  Sometimes I wish I didn't have to dress so unlike me every day, but the career choices I have made impel me to do so.  If I worked at a boutique or something of that fashion (pun), I could wear skirts, jewelry and let my hair down.

Another thing is your arms and hands are your tools, you have to take care of them.  I've found that my nails have to be cut till no white shows that way, my clients can't feel my claws.

I don't wear rings or bracelets when at work.  I can't massage with them on so why put them on for work just to take them off again? It's physical labor and requires plain, practical attire which is a little bit of a sacrifice.  One can polish one's nails, but I would go for a low-key "work appropriate" color.  Also don't forget classic clear or that lovely, gel, french manicure <3.
 I love rings.  One day if I get married I will probably get a tattoo wedding band, that way it will be practical and creative.

Draping Your First Massage

Remember what it was like getting your first professional massage?  What did you like?  What didn't you like?

My first one was in Boston at my uncle's chiropractor office.  It was a while ago but I remember it being mostly nice.  Unfortunately it's easier to remember the negative.  I didn't like when she did my scalp because it felt like she used her fingernails really hard.  It hurt and I hated the idea of all my dandruff being under her fingernails when she finished.

I guess at that point in my experience with massage I didn't know it was okay for me to tell her it hurt.  I did like when she used lavender oil and had me breath it in from her hands when I was face down (prone).

When it was time for me to turn face up or supine, it was super awkward for me because she lifted the sheet up into the air without much communication and asked me to turn.  I was like "what?" Then when I realized she wasn't actually looking, I went ahead and turned over.

So fast forward to when I was in school.  I think I went to a good school because they encouraged communication and putting the client's needs first.  They taught us to simply lean on one side of the table while "tenting" up the other side a little so the client could turn - so much better than my experience where the therapist lifted the sheet all the way up exposing me.

In school we had hands-on "clinical" in the afternoon.  In the beginning we massaged each other and then later on in the program we did the public.

When getting massaged, I remember feeling insecure about my breast being exposed when they worked on my arms (while supine) unless the sheet was good and tucked under.  I always make sure it is well tucked in for my female clients.

When draping the back of the leg, don't underestimate how far up you can drape and work.  Try to drape just below the Gluteus Maximus. As long as you aren't seeing butt cheek, you're all set because the hamstring bellies and attachments go all the way up to the Ischiums or "sit bones".  Some people actually expose more butt in exclusion of the "butt crack", BUT (pun) I prefer to work on the glutes with the sheet covering them.  That is how I was taught at school.

Becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist #2

Be sure to read post #1 first!

Every state varies as to its requirements so you have to research to find out:

• How many hours of schooling your state requires
• What state-approved test you have to take

I suggest going online to find out the number to your state's board of health.  From there you can find out who to call for information for massage therapists.

You have to learn about the human body and you have to learn your state's laws for licensed massage therapists.  The laws might be available online as Tennessee's are.  

Don't be misled, my massage school only covered the basics.  It is focused on educating you on the human body.  You will most likely not come out of massage school certified in anything special like Trigger Point, Prenatal massage etc. even though they introduce you to these. 

Think of it as getting your driver's permit.  You take a written test, prove that you can stay in your lane and use your turn signal and you get a permit to drive.  It doesn't end there!  You have to keep learning and being critiqued.  If you want to drive trucks, motorcycles or machinery you have to get special training.  

Massage school is just like that.  You get the basics and then you have to go out, practice, learn and take Continuing Education.

My original dream was to become certified in prenatal massage and maybe be a Doula as well.  I really want to advise people in healthy living in spite of drugs.  Lately I have been hoping to learn Manual Lymph Drainage, Deep Tissue and Trigger Point.  For all of these I have to keep a lookout for class opportunities near me.  

That brings me to my next point.  I am apart of the AMTA which is nice because they offer liability insurance, updates on continuing education opportunities, online courses, the Massage Therapy Journal Magazine etc.  You have to pay a yearly fee and the price is different for what kind of membership you have, Student, Graduate, Professional.  Follow this link for more information:   amtamassage.org 

Becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist #1

Becoming a LMT -

To become a Licensed Massage Therapist you will need:

• Courage (not a lack of fear, just a will to do what's best for others in spite of fear)
• A genuine desire to help people and to make sacrifices to give to people
• Schooling/Testing
• Licensing

Something I have learned lately is that when making big decisions and big changes in your life, it's a good idea to know who you are.  Draw a pie chart of the most important parts of who you are.  Consider if this new direction for your life will be true to nurturing the biggest parts of who you are.

I have been massaging friends and family since I was about eight years old.  This really helped direct me to the career choice.  They were wonderful to encourage me and critique me in ways that prove to be invaluable today! Everyone was impressed by my growing strength and that motivated me to keep giving.

If you have not had this background of practice that is okay.
Practice as often as possible and take Anatomy and Physiology classes if that is available to you.
It helped me a lot to be involved in those kinds of classes as well as health class and health club.

Yes, massage therapy is a great profession and pays well, but don't be like me and forget that you have to build clientele.  Depending on the environment you will be working in, you might not make even $200 a week starting out, so some kind of back-up would be advisable to pay the bills until you have enough customers to cover your needs.