Confident Relaxation Massage
Advice for the Budding Massage Therapist
By Andrea Lipomi, LMT
Copyright 2011 Andrea Lipomi
Smashwords Edition
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The information provided in this ebook is not intended to treat or cure any health conditions. The advice contained herein may not be suitable for all situations. Consult with a professional where appropriate, and with a competent medical professional prior to the application of all information contained herein. The author and publisher of this work disclaim all liability regarding the direct or indirect use or misuse of all information contained in this book. The author and publisher assume no liability for errors or omissions. The reader is solely responsible for any injury and/or damage resulting from the use or misuse of all information, protocols, equipment and products mentioned in this book.
This book is dedicated to all of the wonderful massage therapists and estheticians in my life. I learn something new from you every day. Thank you.
Chapter 1: Pleased to Meet You
Chapter 2: Where I'm Coming From
Part II: Get Ready to Rub
Chapter 3: What You'll Need to do a Good, Better & Best Job
Chapter 4: The Basic Relaxation Massage
Part III: Advanced Confidence Building
Part IV: Provide Outstanding Service
Chapter 7: Communication Breakdown
Chapter 8: Hospitality: What & Why?
Part V: Day Job Quitter
Chapter 9: Is a Massage Career for You?
Part VI: Follow Your Dream
Are you a licensed massage therapist? A massage therapy student? A recent graduate? A seasoned massage therapy veteran who has been out of the game for a while? Are you an esthetician? A spa or salon owner, manager, or service provider of any kind? A massage school owner or teacher? Are you someone who has never had any formal massage training but you're considering a career change? Do you have a casual interest in learning about massage so you can help your close friends and family members?
Would you like your massage routine to come across as more professional, polished, productive and pampering? Do you have a basic, even minimal, understanding of how to perform a full body massage, but you desire a boost in confidence? Do you need assurance that your massage can compete with what others have to offer? Do you want to set yourself apart? Wouldn't it be great to fend off boredom, inspire creativity, enjoy greater job satisfaction and encourage client loyalty?
If you've answered “yes” to any of these questions, this book was written with you in mind.
I define “relaxation massage” as a soothing massage that utilizes slower paced strokes and light-to-moderate pressure to relieve muscular and emotional tension. A common physical reaction to receiving this type of massage is an uncontrollable desire to take a nap, and a common verbal reaction post-treatment when asked “How are you feeling?” is “Very relaxed.” Most clients then smile with satisfaction and groggily go about their day.
This book focuses on relaxation massage for several reasons:
-It's the most popular service offered at most spas in the United States.
-You're generally expected to be somewhat proficient at it in the massage clinic at your massage school.
-It's appropriate for most clients, regardless of age or body type. (I will do the responsible thing here and encourage you to add a book on pathology for massage therapists to your library. There are certain health conditions that warrant a localized [affected body parts] or systemic [full body] contraindication for massage – meaning “hands off!” Please educate yourself about massage contraindications and proceed accordingly.)
-Your loved ones will appreciate it at the end of a long day.
-Although experience, time, and practice will help you to perfect your techniques, a basic relaxation massage is pretty straightforward and fairly simple to perform.
-As your skill set expands into different modalities, you will still find yourself applying basic relaxation massage techniques into many other treatments (to your clients' delight!).
Here's why this book is different from every other massage book out there:
If you’re looking for a dry, cerebral textbook that delves into anatomy, physiology, or pathology, I’m sorry. These subjects are vast and important – but our focus in this book is to raise your confidence in the real world, where you are expected to interact with people and engage in real, interpersonal situations using more than memorization and robotic recitation of scientific fact. That being said, I do highly recommend that you educate yourself on the science behind the human body and its musculature, as well as it's diseases and disorders, because your knowledge will only add to your confidence. This can be accomplished with books, anatomy DVDs, computer programs, massage therapy textbooks, college courses, workshops, and even apps on your smart phone.
You won’t be bombarded with step-by-step illustrations demonstrating the mother lode of massage techniques. There are countless books that already exist in that vein, and adding another one to the mix would be little more than a lesson in redundancy. Some of these books contain beautiful, colorful photographs that can help to familiarize the reader with various strokes, but they often times lack information regarding the professional equipment, draping techniques, and hospitality aspects of massage therapy that I feel are crucial to nurturing your confidence.
I've saved the lessons in specialized massage skills for the experts in the field. If you crave knowledge about Myofascial Release, Shiatsu, Rolfing, or Thai massage, by all means, seek out more education. Enroll in massage courses taught by experienced practitioners – there's no replacement for hands-on training from qualified teachers and knowledgeable mentors. If formal education is not an option for you right now, you can learn a lot through textbooks and DVDs from reputable sources.
Here's what I’m pleased to offer in this book:
My realistic, down-to-earth take on the realm of basic relaxation massage, based on several years of experience as a customer service supervisor, a massage client, a spa junkie, and a licensed massage and skin care professional. I will, with the utmost honesty and a little bit of humor, share advice on everything that separates a fantastic massage from a horrible one (and to those of you who maintain that there's no such thing as a horrible massage, keep reading!). You'll be presented with ideas and advice from my mental database to sift through and ponder, to edit, share and apply in your own lives if it seems like a good fit. To paraphrase (and likely butcher) something that I once heard the Dalai Lama say to a football stadium full of lecture attendees in Buffalo, New York, “If you don't like what I have to say, forget about it!”
In an effort to keep the inspiration flowing, I have a website at www.ConfidentMassage.com, where I’m constantly posting supply resources, video tutorials, blog entries, and anything else that I feel would be of use to the budding massage therapist.
I hope you find your confidence to walk on the path that makes you happy, and if I can walk beside you and share even one idea that resonates, we will both have accomplished something we can be really proud of.
Enjoy!
Andrea Lipomi, LMT
It’s strange. Writing about myself is more difficult than I think it should be. There’s a loud voice in my head shouting “They didn’t pick up this book to read about you! Keep it brief!” And while that’s true, a little biographical content might help you to gain perspective on where I’m coming from.
Rest assured, I am not writing this book from a prison cell, although you may be reading it from one (and it’s not my place to judge). I live with my husband in our dream house in Las Vegas, Nevada. I work full-time as a licensed massage therapist, providing resort spa guests with five-star service at a four-star facility. I enjoy hiking, karaoke (although I am truly not a gifted vocalist), playing with makeup on a freelance basis, and all things Depeche Mode. I have been in the massage line of work for seven years, and before that I worked in customer service for ten. I value honesty, loyalty, and respect. I’m also a licensed esthetician (which means I know how to take care of your skin and rip hair out of it).
I grew up in suburban Rochester, New York, which is about 400 miles northwest of New York City. My family’s tract home hosted my earliest massage memories – Dad massaging my little kid feet as we watched TV on the couch, and my little kid mitts massaging his traps while he sat in his living room chair watching major league baseball. My earliest professional massage memories took place years later, after I had moved out of the suburbs and while I was working in the customer service department of a printing business. One of my clients at the printing business was one of the swankiest day spas in town, and every time they ordered a reprint of their spa menus, I drooled over the list of massage services. My sister and I went there for the first time together almost a dozen years ago, and we’re still thriving massage addicts today.
A business associate of mine was attending massage school during this period of time, and I found myself fantasizing that I was too. I fell into the printing industry almost by accident and my heart was never really in it. It was time to make something happen.
I did thorough research on my massage school options (which I will elaborate on in a future chapter). I had a mortgage to pay and quitting work to go to school was not an option, so I worked out a part-time schedule with my boss. In 2005 I completed the part-time program at the Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage in Rochester and promptly obtained my massage license from New York State, as well as my certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
Although the print shop had been sold and I had been laid off a few months prior to graduation, my business contacts were still on my personal speed dial (a lesson on the importance of networking!). I called the manager of the swanky day spa that my sister and I frequented, and as luck would have it, they needed a part-time massage therapist. The job was mine without an audition or interview – my good work ethic was already known to their management team (a lesson on the importance of doing the best you can even when you think no one is looking!).
I was on the schedule at the day spa approximately 20 hours per week, and I actually performed 6-10 treatments there per week. To satisfy your curiosity, I earned 40% commission ($30 per 60-minute basic massage) plus tips that ranged from $5 - $30. Despite some shady management drama (the massage therapists that were there when I started were forced to take a pay cut after I came on board – they had been making 50% previously; the owner would trade spa gift certificates for advertising dollars with the local paper – then not pay us for the massages we did when the certificates were redeemed) the day spa was the perfect place to cut my teeth and gain spa experience. I worked with some wonderful, experienced massage therapists who unselfishly shared their knowledge with me, teaching me how to perform body treatments and hot stone massage.
I also occasionally worked on friends and family members in my home in a room I had specifically set up for massage. My rates were extremely low, as I was fresh out of school and eager to get things going. An acquaintance of mine, a local doctor, came over for a massage one day while his usual massage therapist was nursing a broken wrist. Afterward, he asked me how much he owed me for his 90-minute massage. “Sixty dollars.” I replied. He handed me a hundred bucks and told me I should never sell myself short. That, my friends, was a life-changing moment for me.
For years I'd had a special place in my heart for Las Vegas, Nevada, a city I had visited a few times prior to and in the early days of my spa career. Las Vegas boasted warm weather, no state income tax, and a spa at every hotel on the Strip. I had long fantasized about moving there, and on some level I was confident that one day I would make it happen. My husband (then my boyfriend) was completely on board. I needed to put in a solid year of employment at the day spa for the sake of my résumé, and we needed to save up enough money to afford the move. As our target moving date approached, we flew to Sin City to check out apartments and neighborhoods. I also enjoyed some massages at three Strip properties' spas and got as much information as I could about the job market from my massage therapists. All were extremely forthcoming and very honest. This was at the end of 2006, before the housing bubble burst and our retirement funds took a swan dive.
In early 2007, we sold our house in Rochester and moved to fabulous Las Vegas. I spent my first month there getting settled and applying for jobs online. Within my first 30 days in Vegas, I interviewed at a large resort and was offered a full-time massage position on the spot. The pay structure there was 31% commission ($37 per basic 50-minute relaxation massage at the time) plus tips that ranged from $10 - $100 (although the $100 tips were few and far between...$20 - $40 was much more common). The resort provided us with a very good benefits package that included health insurance, a 401k, and use of a company fitness center. They also fed us free lunch every day at the employee cafeteria.
During my employment at the resort I made more money than I ever had in Rochester. I massaged folks from every walk of life – poker players, grandmas, strippers, Trekkies, celebrities – you name it. I met some great people, attended school for esthetics, became more confident with my massage skills and developed what has become my “style” of relaxation massage.
After two years of living and working in Vegas, I was promoted to Lead Massage Therapist. This role put me in charge of tasks like massage room assignments and scheduling, and gave me a 3% raise. It was also around this time that I interviewed for a massage therapist position at a new resort that hadn't yet opened its doors. After going through four separate grueling interviews and an audition, the job was mine. Opening a beautiful, brand-new, four-star spa was a great experience, and working there was (and still is) a dream come true. Never a fan of burning bridges, I still help out at my first Las Vegas spa when they need an extra pair of hands, and it's always good to see the old friends and familiar faces who believed in me when I had just driven 3,000 miles across the country.
So there you have it. 1,335 words about me. Next up? My even wordier opinions on equipment, supplies, and which possessions you really should have to feed your confidence.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO A GOOD, BETTER, & BEST JOB
To effectively perform a massage, you'll need an appropriate space and proper equipment. Your strategy to acquire such things depends on a few key factors:
Is massage therapy your main source of income or are you just looking to work on loved ones at no charge? If you're a casual massage provider to your family members, they will be super impressed with a few basic pieces of professional massage equipment. Career-wise, if you plan on setting up a space where strangers will be paying you for massages, you'll obviously want to make things as professional and comfortable as possible. It's also important to consider your own comfort.
What's your budget? If you have a few grand to spend on equipment, you are wealthier than I was when I was starting out! You can also procure a very nice set-up on a tighter budget – just understand that you may have to compromise on some details.
Do you plan on working at a spa or in an office that provides everything for you? Obviously if you plan on working at a spa, be it a day, resort, destination or medical spa, your equipment and supplies will most likely be provided by your employer. This is usually a plus: you won't have to shell out much cash, if the equipment breaks your employer should repair or replace it, you won't have to do massage laundry at home, and your spa might even provide you with a uniform or two. If spa employment is your goal, I do suggest you read this chapter anyway, since you'll probably be touring your potential employer's facility before you accept a position with them, and you should know what to look for.
First you'll need to select a space that's safe, quiet and private. Whether it's a room in your home or an office space that you'll rent, try your best to make sure that you won't be performing your massages within earshot of barking dogs, screaming children (or adults!), loud motorcycles, noisy laundry machines, construction, or video games. Beware of paper-thin walls. A building can look beautiful on the outside but contain paltry insulation between its walls. I had a friend who rented a room in a medical clinic where kids were getting the flu shot in the room next door – BAD idea. When I worked at the day spa I would sometimes have to massage in a room adjacent to an esthetics room where Brazilian waxing was performed – WORSE idea! Those clients and estheticians would gab at full volume to get their minds off of the task at hand, and a paper towel would have provided more soundproofing than that wall did.
If your space is adjacent to a Chinese restaurant, you'd better get used to the smell of non-stop kung pao chicken. Consider your client's allergies before you decide on a space. If you have furry critters at home, your clients may have to deal with some serious nasal drip. Have you ever smelled perm solution or acrylic nail products? They stink to high heaven. Beware the olfactory delights of the beauty salon.
Let's say you rent a space and you're the only person who uses it. Make sure it has a door that locks. A friend of mine became extremely frustrated when she came back to work after her days off to find things missing from the treatment room that she rented in a hair salon. Some spas will provide you with a locker – use it! I’ve seen what happens when money and products go missing when not locked away. The culprits rarely get caught, and thus the situation breeds suspicion and contempt among employees.
Wherever you set up shop, make sure there's easy access to a restroom. Some office buildings use a shared restroom located down a common hallway. This is all right and sometimes unavoidable, but if you have a private restroom (and especially one with a shower in it) you will offer a convenience to your clients that will come in very handy for both of you. You'll also want to have easy access to a sink so you can wash your hands before and after each massage. Keep a healthy stock of moisturizing hand soap near your sink too; if you find yourself performing several massages per day, you don't want to strip your skin of all hydration with harsher soaps.
If you set up your space in your home and you don't have a room specifically dedicated to massage (although I highly recommend that you do), avoid setting up in your bedroom (even if you have a massage table). You're reading this book to gain professional confidence, and inviting people into your bedroom so you can rub oil on them for an hour is not going to make this task any easier. Adding sexual tension and confusion to a therapist/client relationship creates unnecessary drama.
If you don't want to deal with getting the perfect space right now, no worries! Maybe you'd prefer to do on-site event massage or out-call massage at your clients' homes or in their hotel rooms. Even if you choose to go with one of these options, read on.
Let's talk about equipment and supplies. To optimize your self-confidence, you'll probably want to get your hands on some extra gadgets that will set your treatments apart from the average rub down. I'm not saying that bells and whistles will replace the need for solid massage skills, good communication, hospitality, and common sense; they simply enhance your clients' experience and catapult your reputation to the top of the heap. You'll feel more professional and your clients will see that you care enough about them to invest in some niceties. Let's break down what you'll need to have in your treatment room, from the bare essentials to the frills.
The following basics are a good starting point if you are a casual massage provider who isn't formally trained, and you're not receiving payment for your services. Of course, even one who dabbles in massage should feel free to equip their space with the best they can afford; I'm just saying you're not expected to.
A body-length padded surface - For your client to lie down on. Just don't use a bed.
A clean sheet to cover this surface
A sheet or bath towel to cover your client
A container of massage oil, lotion, gel or cream – Every massage therapist seems to have a strong opinion on what form of lubrication they deem worthy enough to use in their practice. I've used different varieties of all of these products and here's my unadulterated opinion: Use what works best for you. We all live in different climates, so our skin and our clients' skin will absorb moisture differently depending on factors like humidity, temperature, and the skin's level of hydration.
Here are my personal experiences with lubricants:
Massage gel is an oily concoction with a gelatinous, waxy feel. It goes rancid and is tough to wash out of your linens. On the up-side, you use very little and the slip lasts for quite some time.
Cream and I don't get along. I find it to be too slippery for my strokes. Cream also goes rancid and contains a long list of ingredients, some which may cause reactions in sensitive people.
Many therapists prefer to use lotion because it absorbs into your clients' skin without leaving them feeling like a grease ball after their treatment. This is because most lotions are water-based with some oil in them, whereas most creams are oil-based with some water in them. Lotions tend to wash out of linens with ease, although they still contain a long list of ingredients with a greater possibility for reactions. I use lotion on my clients' feet during every treatment. Most medium weight lotions will work here. I like the glide that lotion provides on drier, thicker skin; it's rather elegant.
For the rest of the body, I prefer oil – jojoba oil to be specific. Jojoba oil is expeller pressed from the seed of the jojoba shrub. It is a liquid wax ester, and it's very similar to the oil (sebum) that is naturally produced by our skin. Jojoba oil won't clog pores, it doesn't go rancid, it has an indefinite shelf life, it's non-allergenic, and if used in moderation, it won't stain your sheets. When compared to other types of oils (safflower, for example), jojoba oil is a great value, because a little bit goes a lot further. It makes a fantastic carrier oil when blended with essential oils, and by itself it has a light, comforting scent. You can find links for jojoba oil at ConfidentMassage.com, or if you just need a little bit right away, you should be able to find it at a health food store in the personal care section. If you prefer a lighter-weight oil, fractionated coconut oil is also a favorite of mine because it will not stain, go rancid, or clog pores.
Now let's say that you've just graduated from massage school but you're on a tight budget until you get things off the ground. It's important to be professional, so this means investing in:
A proper massage table with a face cradle – It can be a portable one with wooden or aluminum legs. If you’re looking to purchase a new one, check online or at membership warehouse stores. Keep in mind that most quality massage table brands will charge you extra for a face cradle, so look for package deals if possible. Free shipping is also a common incentive. Check for used massage tables on craigslist, eBay, or on a bulletin board at a local massage school. The churn rate for massage therapists (especially new ones) is pretty high, and I guarantee that there's a long list of recent grads and massage school dropouts who prematurely purchased a massage table during school and would now much rather have a couple hundred dollars. I paid $500 for my brand new, portable Earthlite table after graduation, and I recently purchased a like-new Custom Craftworks portable table for $100 – a great deal from a spa that had a bunch of extra ones.
I remember spraying down the massage tables after each treatment with a bleach solution at my massage school. Thankfully this habit insured sanitary equipment during the learning process, but in the real world this usually doesn't happen. Just be sure to take care of your table and it will last for decades. The worst offense is tearing the vinyl that covers the foam. If you're ever inspected by your local massage board you can be sited for ripped vinyl and be forced to repair or replace your table.
Tables come in different heights and widths. I'm 5'3”, so I prefer a shorter, narrower table. So that my 6' tall husband could use the same table, we contacted Earthlite and ordered longer table legs to switch out when he performs massage. This table is 28” wide, so it's easier for me to massage across the body (for instance on the opposite hip or shoulder blade) although larger clients may feel as if their arms could slide off the sides of the table. My Custom Craftworks table is 30” wide, which is a much more common width. I mention table height and width because I've seen massage schools try to sell a one-size-fits-all massage table package to freshly enrolled students before they even learn how to perform a massage. These table packages aren't always competitively priced, so my advice is to be patient and wait until you are familiar with your style and body mechanics before you invest in a table.