| > | | | | industry standard is to wear clean, loose yoga or |
| Most massage therapists will make some | | | | exercise pants or loose fitting khakis. Scrubs, a |
| mistakes in their practice over a lifetime. Proper | | | | solid polo shirt or cotton t-shirt with a high neck is |
| massage techniques are important in the areas of: | | | | generally considered appropriate for massage. |
| body mechanics, self-care, customer service, | | | | Therapists who are smokers in their free time |
| focus on a client, and awareness of a code of | | | | need to avoid cigarettes and cigarette smoke |
| ethics. By understanding common massage | | | | while at work. Many clients are sensitive, or even |
| mistakes in these areas, massage therapists can | | | | allergic, to specific dyes and odors, and may be |
| avoid burnout, increase client retention, and ensure | | | | incredibly uncomfortable with the scent of |
| the highest level of professionalism. For massage | | | | tobacco, perfume, or even some strong |
| therapists, from experts to novices, it is | | | | deodorants. Because of this, it is also very |
| sometimes easy to forget some very basic | | | | important to use a hypoallergenic cream or lotion |
| procedures and massage techniques for keeping | | | | which performs the same as other lotions, and |
| yourself healthy, your business profitable, and | | | | does not negatively impact your massage |
| your clients happy. By avoiding these common | | | | techniques. |
| massage mistakes, and remembering to maintain | | | | Whether your client is a regular or has a first-time |
| posture, focus, and a high level of customer | | | | appointment, it is important to ensure that you |
| respect and service, your practice can thrive. | | | | greet your client as soon as possible, offer them |
| Massage Mistakes Made by Beginners and | | | | a seat in a waiting room if you're running behind, |
| Professionals | | | | and not keep them waiting for an unreasonable |
| Body Mechanics: While in school, beginning | | | | amount of time past their set appointment. It is |
| massage therapists tend to use improper body | | | | crucial for all massage therapists to be |
| mechanics because they haven't become | | | | professional, on-time, and courteous before, |
| acclimated to how they should use their bodies | | | | during, and after a massage. Mistakes can leave a |
| for leveraged strength and balance. By using the | | | | bad first impression, and prevent a repeat |
| correct flow, you can relieve your arms of early | | | | customer. From a business standpoint, it's all about |
| fatigue by combining full body movements during | | | | customer service. |
| a massage. Techniques, such as, learning proper | | | | Focus: While working with your client, it can be |
| body mechanics and posture, can help you avoid | | | | obvious when you are distracted and not paying |
| any undue stress to your body, while concurrently | | | | attention to your client's needs or requests. |
| providing your client with the best massage | | | | Before going into the room, take a moment to let |
| possible. | | | | go of your mental to-do list, don't think about |
| During a massage session, massage therapists | | | | your next client, or anything that might distract |
| should be attuned to how their client is reacting to | | | | you from your current client. Massage techniques |
| pressure. Massage mistakes include errors in | | | | should include not only posture and flow, but |
| pressure, or not checking in with the client about | | | | focus as well. |
| his or her comfort. If you are applying more | | | | When meeting with your client before the |
| pressure than is comfortable to the client, they | | | | massage, truly take the time to listen to them |
| will tighten their muscles, restrict their breathing, | | | | while you review and chart your S.O.A.P. notes. |
| and will be uncomfortable. When your client's body | | | | Look carefully over their intake form, and be sure |
| is tensed, you are only creating more stress - not | | | | to ask them about any specific problem areas or |
| relieving it. If your pressure is too light, the | | | | points of concern before a massage. Mistakes |
| massage may be relaxing, but will likely not | | | | massage therapists commonly make are to either |
| positively impact the muscles that the client | | | | fall into a routine where they provide the same |
| wanted addressed. It is important to check in with | | | | massage time and time again, or to ignore the |
| the client about pressure to make sure your | | | | client's requests for pressure / focus and instead |
| massage techniques are effective. | | | | only focus on what the therapist feels is |
| Self-Care: Common massage mistakes therapists | | | | important. At the end of the day, you should |
| make are that they do not take care of | | | | always provide a consistent level of service to all |
| themselves as much as they should. Much like any | | | | clients and make sure you focus and listen during |
| extended physical activity, it is important for you | | | | massage. Techniques focused on customer |
| to stretch before you begin a session. Keep in | | | | service preserve your reputation as a therapist, |
| mind that while you'll be primarily using your arms, | | | | and build and maintain customer rapport and |
| your entire body will be getting a workout as | | | | business. |
| you'll be depending on your legs for | | | | Code of Ethics: After novice massage therapists |
| counterweight, your back for strength, and your | | | | graduate from school, they may actually be very |
| torso for core balance and posture. Of course, | | | | aware of the code of ethics and confidentiality |
| the primary complaint of massage therapists is | | | | that comes with a therapist-to-client relationship. |
| that their arms, wrists and fingers hurt. Again, | | | | But when a seasoned massage therapist |
| while this is normal, it can be avoided by | | | | becomes more comfortable in their practice, they |
| stretching and using a proper flow and massage | | | | may tend to forget these rules (even with yearly |
| techniques. It is important to maintain proper | | | | CEUs on the subject) and accidentally divulge client |
| stretching and strength exercise routines so that | | | | information, or begin an inappropriate personal |
| you avoid any symptoms of carpal tunnel | | | | relationship with a client receiving massage. |
| syndrome, which can cause early burnout and | | | | Mistakes happen, but it is important to routinely |
| fatigue. | | | | assess your ethics. While it is imperative to |
| One very important thing for therapists to | | | | develop a rapport with your clients, it is not |
| remember is to routinely receive massage. | | | | appropriate to call them at home (unless to |
| Mistakes often made by therapists include | | | | confirm an appointment), discuss their personal |
| forgetting the "self-care" portion of their | | | | lives, or accept personal gifts whether directly or |
| profession, which attributes to a high level of | | | | indirectly related to massage. Techniques involving |
| industry burnout. Another important factor for | | | | consistent professionalism will ensure the success |
| massage therapists to weigh is staying current | | | | of your practice. |
| with the client experience — how does it | | | | Additionally, working with a client means |
| feel to be on the table? What massage | | | | maintaining their right to confidentiality. During a |
| techniques work, and which aren't as effective? | | | | session, massage therapists may be made aware |
| By receiving regular massages, you can maintain a | | | | of personal medical conditions or treatments - |
| focus on the customer perspective of the | | | | these should always be kept strictly confidential |
| massage experience. | | | | and private. It is not appropriate to go home and |
| Customer Service: First impressions count in | | | | talk to friends or family about a client, even if |
| every industry, and this consideration applies to all | | | | their name remains anonymous. |
| massage therapists, even those with existing | | | | Avoiding Common Mistakes |
| practices. At all times, you should strive to dress | | | | These massage mistakes are among the most |
| in appropriate attire, appear professional, and be | | | | common for all massage therapists, whether you |
| well-groomed when performing massage. | | | | are just beginning or have years of experience. |
| Techniques for checking your appearance would | | | | By enrolling in continuing education courses, |
| be to simply think, "Do I look like a professional?" | | | | massage therapists can refresh their knowledge |
| While you should be comfortable in your clothes, | | | | of ethics, body mechanics, and current massage |
| you shouldn't wear jeans, a tee-shirt with logos, | | | | techniques to stay up to date within the field and |
| old sweatpants, etc. during a massage. Mistakes in | | | | also promote their personal and professional |
| appearance can leave a negative impression, or | | | | development. |
| potentially make a client uncomfortable. A good | | | | |
