Experience=Skill?

Dusting off the ol' blog, and hope to touch back once in a while with refreshing topics. Today, I share with you two greatly varying experiences of receiving massage. I'd love to hear feedback from your own experiences. Please share your comments below, or back at my Facebook page.

Experience #1--My Own Personal Experience

Last week, I went to my school for my (free for alumni) monthly massage. My student therapist was Veronica. I must say, I was quite impressed! She was very receptive to everything I said I was needing that day--a little more therapeutic than just relaxation as I had just begun my P90X workouts. Veronica's pressure was great. She asked about what kind of pressure I liked in our intake, and checked in with me a little bit into the massage. I said it could be just a little deeper, and she adjusted her pressure perfectly. I also asked her about doing glute work, as every massage I'd had at the school in the past 6 months, no one had worked my glutes, and I didn't know if that was a new clinic rule or something. She said it was not, and was happy to work my glutes (they're big muscles, and one of my favorite areas to get worked on!). 

As the massage was nearing the end, she had worked on my right arm, then went to my left. I felt like my right arm, particularly my triceps, needed a little more work thanks to the workout I'd done that day. She spent more time with my left before going back to my right. As I was already face up, she wasn't quite sure how to work my triceps as much as they needed. I suggested that one way would be for me to flip over, and have my arm off the side of the table, also to get into the lats that way. She quickly thought to bring my arm so my hand reached my opposite shoulder, and that worked well without needing to flip back over to my stomach again. I was impressed too, that Veronica didn't seem at all intimidated to be getting such feedback from a licensed therapist--I remember as a student or even newly LMT that I was a bit intimidated by having other LMTs as my client. 

All in all, she did a fabulous job, and I was completely satisfied. I can easily say she has been the best student therapist I've had since I've been going back to the school for massages. She'll be in clinic at Anthem College in Beaverton for another 5-6 weeks, so I definitely recommend going to see her if you happen to live/work in that area. It's $25 for a one hour (think 55min or so) massage, cash only. Call 503-906-9045 and ask for an appointment with Veronica. Appointments are Mon-Thurs at 2:15, 3:30, and 4:45. I'm not sure if there's later appointments than that currently. And let her know I sent you--I'm sure she would love to hear that!

Experience #2--Client Feedback From Massage at Massage Envy

Also last week, one of my regular clients (who has been through massage school, but is not yet licensed) emailed me after receiving a massage from a gift certificate that was given to her. Here's what she had to say: 

"So a friend gave me a free massage for Massage Envy. I used it tonight...the whole time I was just thinking about how it wasn't done very well.  Not really well at all actually. The therapist I had has been a LMT for eight years. I'm not a massage therapist, yet, but I'm pretty sure I do better than that. And I'm really not trying to be mean or anything. I mean it wasn't horrible, just very different from yours. (which I love!) Missing a part here and there, not very smooth or flowing, didn't do any compression before pulling the sheet down, just different. I found it interesting and wanted to say Thank you! By far, you are the best massage therapist I've met and I really enjoy and appreciate you and your services. :)"

What a contrast in experience, right? Not all therapists are a good fit for every client, and some may have seen the therapist at Massage Envy and be perfectly happy with their experience, just the same as you may go see Veronica and think that I'm crazy too. We all have different needs, and as therapists, we all interpret our clients' wants/needs and have different ways to reach those goals. I definitely side more with making sure I understand your wants/needs prior to beginning the massage, and hope you'll also be honest with me during your time on the table and tell me what you need to have done differently if I'm not quite getting it right for you. As a client, you have only so much time on the table--however, if my schedule allows, I may suggest you take a little more time so I can really work out what needs attention/what brought you in--and I value your time and want to make it a good investment for you. 

Have you ever had a massage at a student clinic at one of the massage schools around town? What has your experience at a massage chain (Massage Envy, Elements, etc) been like? What is your "best massage ever" story? Worst?

Following Up

Working on my online prerequisite course for becoming a Certified Injury Prevention Instructor threw me off my usual activities last week, so this blog is coming a few days late.


Over the weekend, I saw and subsequently participated in a discussion on LinkedIn. The topic was on following up with our clients. Many of the therapists that had replied before me said they really don't do much for follow up, and I was somewhat surprised, somewhat not. 


I believe my follow-up with clients has helped me in my business, so I shared what I do, and here it is, taken directly from my post on LinkedIn:


"I send a thank you letter, addressing that I hope I've helped their X, Y, Z pains, encourage them to pass along my brochure/card to anyone they know that might also benefit from my services, and let them know of the discount I offer if they post a testimonial/review of their experience with me online--benefits us both, since a lot of my new clients comment on the reviews they read about me, and helps clients where the cost of massage is an issue to getting the care they need.

I still don't get massive referrals or testimonials, so I don't feel bad like I'm swaying my clients to post reviews online too much, but I can see that it certainly helps some clients stick around longer when they see that I genuinely appreciate their business.

In addition to the thank you letter to new clients, I then make some point of contact with them at 30 & 90 days, 6 & 9 months, annually from their first session, and send a birthday card (paper or e-). The annual and birthday points of contact will have some kind of special or discount in them also, but not the other times.

I find it's very helpful in establishing my reputation in the field, and in keeping my name and offering fresh in my clients' minds.

Also, when I don't see clients return within 3 months, I'll give them a call to check in and see how they're doing, in case they intended to get back in sooner and time got away from them, or if I oops-ed and didn't follow-up with them to make that appointment already. And again, that helps keep me fresh in their minds."


I was surprised and flattered by the response from another massage therapist in the group. Here's what Roy Alderman had to say:


"Rachel - WOW! You really go the extra mile & take professionalism to the next level. I wish you were MY massage therapist!"


And my reply:


"Thank you. I've had the idea of this plan in place for...a year, or maybe 2, but with my own time management issues, the actual follow-through of the plan didn't happen as consistently as I would've liked. I've now really cracked down on myself and am making this happen.

You mentioned a key word in your reply: professionalism. I love that. I don't want any of my clients having any doubt of what I do/don't do as a massage therapist, and by presenting myself with greater professionalism, I believe I make that clear. I also feel it is part of my duty to help educate my clients on how effective massage is--it's not just something to treat yourself to on your birthday, but if that's where they're at at this point in their lives, I start with them there, and hope with my continual contact, they will begin to hold a greater value and higher priority for getting massages more regularly also."




I hope this doesn't come off as an obnoxious toot of my own horn, but I admit, it feels really good to be acknowledged by the hard work I've put in outside of my massage room in building my business. My husband also gave me a fee-good compliment over the weekend when I told him about a friend of mine deciding to go to school to become a massage therapist, and my suggestion that she and I get together soon to chat. I would have loved to have a few more insights and resources made available to me before I started school. I do fully enjoy my career, but as I learned while in school, not everyone has a clear idea of the massage profession before starting school, and a few people in my class wound up wasting some time and money after learning the picture in their mind didn't really match up with real world possibilities.