Do You Exchange Massages or Pay

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Permalink Reply by Carol Gott on October 9, 2009 at 9:19pm

I trade (unless given one as a gift) because my husband is currently unemployed. I would have to work the to earn the money to pay for the bodywork anyway--I might as well just work on the other person. I don't just trade with one person though, I know a decent number of therapists with different specialties (deep tissue, ldt, cst, reflexology, etc.) and am always looking to meet new prosepective partners to trade with. I find I learn from each person I'm with (even if it something not to do), and by having a larger pool to trade with I can usually find someone who's schedule that can work with mine without burning out the same people. I also find it is important to encourage other therapists to care for themselves, and suggesting a trade will nudge someone who may think they don't need or have time for their own bodywork.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Jo King on October 10, 2009 at 5:38am

I trade with folks. When I get massage I go to their office, when they receive they come to mine, just like a paying client. I've also traded where we both receive, but that's less ideal. Recently, when I've traded w/someone who works further away, the traveling person gets massage and the person who's office I go to gets a shorter "spot-treatment" on her shoulders and neck (or wherever she feels she needs it) so she gets some needed work too.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on October 10, 2009 at 1:42pm

I found that when I actually started going and paying for regular massage that it helped me in making more! I also feel so much better. There is so much 'hanging over' trades that you don't really get to relax and get the full benefit of a full massage. The more I take care of myself, the better I feel and it shows in my work - my massage and writing.

I know it is hard at the beginning to think you can pay for it but investing in yourself is one of the highest forms of self care.

An exchange actually doesn't need to be at the same time. If you can find a reputable therapists who is serious about trading you can just set up weekly massages at each others offices on separate days.

Julie

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on October 10, 2009 at 2:47pm

yea i agree...i would actually prefer not to have the trade on the same day. kinda defeats the purpose of getting some needed work only to end up working too.

Julie Onofrio said:

I found that when I actually started going and paying for regular massage that it helped me in making more! I also feel so much better. There is so much 'hanging over' trades that you don't really get to relax and get the full benefit of a full massage. The more I take care of myself, the better I feel and it shows in my work - my massage and writing.

I know it is hard at the beginning to think you can pay for it but investing in yourself is one of the highest forms of self care.

An exchange actually doesn't need to be at the same time. If you can find a reputable therapists who is serious about trading you can just set up weekly massages at each others offices on separate days.

Julie

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Chisman on October 10, 2009 at 2:49pm

I do both.

On Monday I'm booked in with a friend at her clinic, we have both paid each other and swapped. I have other colleagues who give discounts to fellow therapists and this works well too.

I do try and get a treatment every 2 weeks minimum, but not always massage sometimes Shiatsu, Osteopathy, Acupuncture, all sorts. I think it's good to experiment with treatments and therapists.

The way I see it is, I spend all day telling clients they need to look after there bodies so I really should too.

Pay or swap? For me it's really the same, either I give away a massage to get one or my last paying customer paid for my treatment instead.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on October 10, 2009 at 6:12pm

hahaha...i feel sorry for massage envy with you then!! but that's a whole other thread huh? :)

i'll shoot you a message in a little and we can chat about a trade. i SO need one. i hate to admit it...i'm sure i'll get plenty of slack for it...but i haven't had a massage since i graduated school...about 3 years ago. :(

Rosemary Chunco said:

Hey Lisa,
I don't get enough massages and I'm not far from you, so if you're up for a trade, let's do it. And I'm not into the whole 2 hours "you-work-on-me-and-then-I work-on-you" thing. I'd prefer to work on you on a day when you're not working and for me to get one on a Monday (my day off).
Also, there's a Trade Registry group on here for people to arrange trades if you want to meet other therapists in the area for trades (also just throwing this info out here for the benefit of others)

As for your question - I do both because I like to go undercover sometimes and see what others are doing. I don't tell them I'm an MT and I write a report to myself on the whole experience, from the time I make an appointment til the time I leave the place. The report usually includes a "what they did good" and "what sucked" list at the bottom of it. I write off these visits in my taxes since it's part of sizing up the competition. I usually learn at least one thing from doing this - which is why I do it. If you're up for the two of us hitting a local massage franchise some day we can do that too - raincoats, dark sunglasses and fedora hats are a must! And we can compare notes afterwards!

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Permalink Reply by Dustin T. Fox, CMT on October 10, 2009 at 6:44pm

Well, Lisa most of the massages I get are trades and I get one about every two weeks, but many times I get and give during a house call in the with those who have little one responsibilities. If we do it in my office there is a 2.5 hour block of time that allows each of us to get a full 60 minutes of time. On the other subject of time, I believe that shorting a person who pays for 60 minutes began in the halls of traditional medicine where they just want to book appointments and just don't care about the person who is waiting. It is also something that is promoted (the 50 minute massage) by the massage educational community. I allow 90 minutes for each session simply because I won't quit until I am sure that I have made every attempt to resolve their stress issues. I am in Livingston, MT....800-304-9197 www.vam.abmp.com

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Permalink Reply by Bianca Berrios on October 27, 2009 at 9:53am

Hey Lis,

When I do an exchange with Claudia (who've I've spoken with you before about) we book 2 times, one for me one day and her for another day; with the understanding that if a paying appt comes into play we reschedule. And as well I sometimes just pay for it b/c sometimes we need to receive without giving back once-in-awhile :)

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Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on October 27, 2009 at 11:59am

I used to do exchanges, but found the other person/people wouldn't honor the trade. If they got a "paying" client they'd call me last minute to reschedule. This became very frustrating. When I'd address it with them, unfortunately most of the attitudes were "well I really needed the money this week"...not realizing that perhaps I did too when I gave them a session.

I found it easier to just pay for my sessions . Occasionally, I find someone who may want to do a trade, but it is usually a less experienced practitioner that wants to learn. That's ok once in a while, but I would really like a equal trade and THAT is rare to come by.

Massage schools offer student massages for discounted rates and you may want to look into that as well. It might at least make it more affordable and you get some touch!

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Permalink Reply by Harry Banek on October 27, 2009 at 2:37pm

I have and continue to exchange bodywork & reflexology for bodywork, reflexology, chiropracty, marketing & pr, reiki, rent, etc. I treat the person with whom I exchange like a client and would expect to be treated the same by the person. The people with whom I exchange have the same priority as someone that pays for a session -- the value is in the session or service exchanged.

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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on October 27, 2009 at 3:01pm

I pay for two reasons.

One, my schedule is overwhelming most of the time, and I don't want to be guilty of getting a massage from a colleague and then them having to wait on me to fit them in somewhere for theirs (and I cannot imagine getting up off the table and giving one on the spot; I haven't done that since school and I never intend to do it again.).

Two, my left arm was shattered in five places a few years ago, necessitating two surgeries and a bunch of pins and screws, and I am no longer capable of doing the deep work that most therapists want...I'd have to pat you with the left hand and rub you with the right!

Many of the therapists in my office do trade with each other, but last year, one of them decided to take the tips she gets and make that her massage fund so she wouldn't have to do trades. She was in a health crisis at the time and just didn't want to be obligating herself to trades she might not feel up to doing. That worked out well for her.

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Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on October 27, 2009 at 10:37pm

I have always paid for massages. Most of the time it was at a reduced rate set by the therapist. I still paid though as I never want another therapist to feel they are being taken advantage of. I also just feel that it is the right thing to do. Where I work now, I recieve a 75% discount on massages. What that means in money is, I receive a 90 minute massage for $28.50. I love that perk. Now I am in the process once again of trying to find a therapist I like. There are 16 of us and I have tried 5. So this adventure continues. Also, once in a while the boss will throw in a free massage for me. So that is always nice as well. When that happens the therapist gets a bigger tip from me. I have learned to pass on my blessings to others. When I give I receive. It just keeps on happening in many aspects of my life.

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