Upcoming Events: 2012

Happy new year!! Have you made resolutions, or just decided on some goals for the year? I prefer to think along the lines of goals or changes I want to see in my life, as opposed to resolutions. Resolutions bring with them the shadow of doubt and failure, but goals speak more definitively to me--something I really want to have happen. My goals this year are ... mostly to be more committed. Those things I wish I did better or more consistently--those are the things I plan to focus on. Flossing. Exercising (did you think I was perfect at this? I'm not!!) Blogging. Journalling for my boys. Reading for pleasure. Spending time with friends. Sharing love with everyone. Paying it forward. All of these things. It sounds like a lot when you put it all together, but I think it's really more about tightening up the strings that hold life together and which have been a little too sloppy in my life, and I'm ready to cinch up a bit. What are the things you want to work on this year? Write it down. Share it. Commit. 

I'll be taking some time off this month. Hubby has (paid--jealous!!) vacation from the 9th-13th. I was on the fence about whether I would also be taking that week off and blocking out my schedule or not. We didn't make plans to go anywhere or anything, so I didn't HAVE to. Sharing that with a client that was planning to book his next appointment in that week, he suggested I take the week off, that money will always come, but you never get the time back. He convinced me. Blame him. ;) But really, it won't hurt to call or email me if you're really hurting that week. I have blocked my Clickbook calendar out, so you will have to come at me more directly if you need some attention that week. 

I'm planning on having my next Save Your Hands! workshop on Sunday, March 11. I admit I have not been marketing for these workshops as well as I should, and that's another goal I have this year. I'd like to be utilizing and sharing the knowledge I've gained, so I'm buckling down and planning on doing at least 4-6 workshops this year. Some will be on weekends, some on week days, because therapists have different availabilities with their schedules too. Check my website for a list of dates. They'll be posted soon.

Please share your goals in the comments below. I'd love to help if possible.

2010 In Review

As 2010 approached, I instinctively knew it was going to be a good year, and overall, it didn't disappoint. 

The hiccup my business ran into in March turned out to be a blessing in disguise combined with another change--getting my massage room to myself and no longer sharing it with another LMT. This change allowed me to redesign my treatment room, with the express needs of MY clients and myself in mind, not also those of the other therapist and trying to blend our styles and needs together. It also allowed me to increase my availability for appointments, moving from 3 days a week up to 5. 

The increased work time worked well for my income--I made 50% more in 2010 than I did in 2009, however, my bottom line didn't enjoy such a dramatic increase. Due in part to the redesign of my treatment room, as well as several continuing education courses, including planning for an upcoming out-of-state workshop, and a few new perks for my clients: new sheets, the full-back weighted heating pad that's getting lots of praise, and sample-size containers to allow clients to bring the spa experience home with them, my business expenses absorbed more than 50% of my total income for the year, a revelation that, while necessary at the time, I hope won't repeat itself for 2011.

In 2011, I have new goals. I will be going to a weekend workshop in Boca Raton in February to become a Certified Injury Prevention Instructor, so I will be able to teach other manual therapists ways to keep their bodies healthy, and prevent, recognize, and learn effective ways to treat injuries incurred due to the nature of their careers, and add value and longevity to their careers. I am very excited for this new venture. At this time, I don't expect it to interfere with my hands-on time with clients, but see it as another source of revenue, and likely will be implemented on the weekends. I've also decided to hold myself to a budget for my monthly business expenses, forcing myself to analyze the urgency of each potential purchase. 

In remembrance of my past life as an employee in a corporation, I don't want to sound as if my bottom line is what it's ALL about, but I would like to see the scale tip more in my favor than it did last year. My income, while not the breadwinner in my household, provides a very necessary contribution to my family's livelihood. My husband and I are beginning to very seriously consider buying a house, a goal of ours that I wasn't expecting to reach for another couple of years, and one that, if obtained soon, will require much more diligence of budgets, and watching my expenses is the biggest area I can work on to increase my bottom line. 

All that said, the good news is that you, my client, shouldn't notice much, if any, effect from these goals. I believe I set myself up pretty well in 2010 that I don't expect you or myself to feel the pull. As always, please don't hesitate to tell me your concerns. Without you all, I wouldn't be here anyway, and it will always be my goal to assure your happiness in having me as your massage therapist, this year and for many years to come.

The Excitement of September

September is an exciting month! 


Over Labor Day weekend, I finally decided it was time to paint over the trees on the wall in my massage room that my previous roommate Jeana had painted, as well as saying goodbye to the dark blue ceiling. The result: beautiful. Not only does the room feel bigger, it's brighter, and in my opinion, feels more professional and complete. Pics coming soon, but you are welcome to take a look for yourself and see what you think.


I'm very excited for next week. Now that I'm done with the continuing education course I was working on, my attention can go back to following my newly developed discipline. This week I fell off the bandwagon a little bit in my haste to get the course completed by today as required, going to my older son's preschool open house, taking him to the doctor for an unrelenting fever, and co-organizing his first soccer practice, since my husband is coaching his team.


At the misfortune of two of my clients that were in car accidents, the previous grim appearance of my schedule has improved. These clients are now utilizing my services in their follow up care, and yes, I handle the insurance billing for them. I am very thankful they thought of me for their care, and am happy to help restore their health and quality of life to their pre-accident levels.


I hope September brings lots of good things your way as well, but if you find yourself with a bit of misfortune and in a car accident too, I hope you'll remember that I can help!


I'd love to hear about what you have to look forward to this month--share your comments below.