Getting regular massage

Comment

Comment by Jacqueline Gomez on October 1, 2009 at 4:33am

Hello Julie, Just joined this site and this is an interesting topic. I have been an MT for 5 years now and have a hard time finding someone worth the money to work on me there is only two people that I turn to and it is only to get spot treatments as we are very busy with our own live. I tell clients that its important to get a massage but also to tend to themselves. If I cant see my 2 friends for my spot treatments then I Foam Roll my tension away. Soak in a hot bath, Meditate.

But for the most part ... I dont get Massage regularly. How sad to admit but true. I so wouldnt mind trading but other MTs (that I have worked with) dont give as much as I do, Dont listen to me or dont care enough to take the time to focus on me when I'm on the table. Now That is sad...

Comment by Bert Davich on September 30, 2009 at 7:00pm

I have had very good experiences with trade, but I am very particular about who I trade with. In fact my trades are far superior to any 'paid' massages I have ever had. With an occasional exception, I will not trade unless we have had an in depth conversation about massage. I like deep tissue & myofascial release to be a part of receiving massage and it doesn't take long to weed out a therapist who does not know what deep tissue is. If they cannot or do not generally work without oil or lotion when giving DT & MFR or If they think DT & MFR is necessarily painful when properly administered that is a giant red flag and also tells me they are 'mashing down' and brusing tissue rather than working at 30 to 45 degree angles (or less) to reack the layer of tissue needed. In fact they probably don't even understand the layers and how and when to reach the appropriate layer. One way to find out about a therapist's quality of touch without having to put up with too much waste of time or money, go to a place that offers chair massage and tell the therapist you have a specific issue and ask for 15 minutes. It only takes a minute or 2 (if not seconds) to know the 'quality of touch' and 5 to 7 minutes to know if the therapist can actually address the issue you described. To any therapist who is getting poor trades I can only say you need to pick your trade partners with the same mindfulness you would pick a partner to rock climb with.

Comment by Terry Craddock on September 25, 2009 at 5:17pm

I guess that I am the wierd old man from down the street. I seldom chose to have massage work. I only seek it out if there is a pain /discomfort issue with a muscle group. I have to add that from day 1, I have worked hard to gain the knowledge and skills to work in the clinical /medical arena. I do not make massage junkies out of my clients and when we have resolved the issues that brought my client to me..I send them on their way. I have nothing against swedish relaxation massage but it just isn't my thing...All the people that I personally know are into the swedish spa type work...soo there isn't anything I am interested in trading for. I pay for the work I recieve, they pay for the work they recieve...every one is happy that way.

Comment by Stephen Jeffrey on September 23, 2009 at 2:38am

Hi Julie, hi all, I pay for a rub every week from someone I mentored 8 yrs ago. These sessions are a great way to try out new techniques and keep myself tip top (as said above how can you look after anyone if you dont look after yourself) I also get healing sessions monthly as well.
Every so often I will go out and try someone else and you know whatsa coming next dont you!
The therapist is late or arrives to set the room up 2 mins before your session.
They immeidiately begin to transfere as much negativity via apology or moaning.
The room is stale, cold but does have water and an oilburner with no oil in it. Sometimes no music!
The couch has no face hole or no face ring support.
The therapist thats done too much study (wall to wall certs) but still cant deliver.
You politely say to the spa therapist I'd very much like some deep tisue work please = here comes that elbow trawling my body like a dimented robot, the stroke range is skillfully controlled by smashing into spine or scapula.I could go on......

Thats why its so special to find another therapist that can tune in, stay focused,use the correct techniques and pressure, perfectly adapt.The hard bit though is when to stop talking !

oh to find that therapist who is so uniquely nurishing.

Regards steve

Comment by Bill Cahalan on September 21, 2009 at 8:08pm

I used to trade. I found my time with my friend and trade partner invaluable but... It requires a large block of time. So I began to pay and was worried at first. I did not tell the mt I was a mt. I wanted what every one else got. I asked him to work on my left scapula and shoulder. He was great. He spent so much time on my back he never flipped me over. I have been pain free ever since. Only down side is the place is a membership driven place. I deferred membership but I will goe back.
I should also say my mt was a grad from Everest and I was concerned because I always heard it was a diploma mill. Well, this guy was very good.
Bottom line. Pay for a massage and don't tell em you're too.

Comment by Brian on September 21, 2009 at 3:01pm

FINALLY!!! Others who echo what I have been posting on forums for the past few years. At on point I wanted to open a clinic here in the Phoenix AZ area. For a little over two years I paid for at least 2 massages per week, sometimes 3, trying to find qualified therapists to hire. I did not tell them what I did for a living, I wanted to see what they did on a daily basis and how they treated their clients without the therapist trying to put their best foot forward because they were interviewing. After 2+ years and 258 massages, I had 5 names that I would even consider hiring. Extremely disappointing and frustrating. (This is one reason I don't want therapists to be able to accept health insurance without extensive training. That's for another discussion though.)

In 2000, massage really took off as a career that one could "make $$$$ per year", at least according to all of schools that started popping up across the country. Yes there are some good schools, but far more are a joke. The larger schools seem to have a high turnover of instructors and no continuity in their training. Then of course places like massage envy, etc. stoke the fire by hiring therapists from these schools.

Ok, that's my rant. I don't do trades for the same reasons posted by others here, you get crappy work. We treat our trades like we do our regular clients but then our trading partner drops the ball and does crappy work. Paying is the best way for me, then I get what I pay for the relationship remains client/practioner. Soooo much better that way.

Ok, thanks for putting with my ranting and Julie, thanks for starting this thread.

Brian

Comment by Gloria Coppola on September 19, 2009 at 10:00pm

PS.... I agree with your last statement, If you expect your clients to come on a regular basis, you should be receiving the work regularly too - don't even get me started on how many therapists I know that don't get massage AT ALL

Comment by Gloria Coppola on September 19, 2009 at 9:58pm

Julie, I so hear you and relate. Being in this profession for 20+ years I suppose I have higher expectations too.
Actually, because I have spent so much time and money on my education I have developed a skill level that I expect from those I am paying for sessions. Unfortunately, many therapists don't continue their education or don't get regular massage to know what true therapeutic work feels like, or just don't get in tune enough to understand the deep connection necessary. I would love to be able to get massage weekly , but massage therapists are charging too much. lol. Then you go and get disappointed because they basically applied lotion on you and that's it. I've literally wasted alot of money. I don't do trades anymore, because often the other person doesn't honor the trade or it is so inadequate I truly don't consider it a 'trade'. I pay for my massages. I find competent people occasionally that can work specific when I need it. If I want to relax, i have someone else. It's been challenging to find someone lately that knows how to tune into your needs. My colleagues from many years ago were way more serious about this profession and did fantastic bodywork and honored trades. I don't find that anymore sadly where I currently reside. I believe these 'cookie cutter' programs, like Trey mentions are a huge part of this problem. Since I am also a continuing education provider, I cannot tell you how many massage therapists I have found that really think they know their stuff and truly don't. It amazes me truly. Rarely, do I find someone who is exceptional ,in the sense that they know how to pay attention, connect and tune into you....and listen to you.

Comment by Trey Truitt, LMT on September 18, 2009 at 8:26am

Being a victim of lower back pain for over ten years, I have found the importance of massage and how it has improved my quality of life without the continued use of harsh medications or evasive surgery. Receiving a two-hour massage twice a month has truly made a big difference in my health care needs. This is one of the reasons I became a massage therapist. I have tried to trade massages with other therapists, only to be surprised by how little care is taken in such a trade. Even more surprising is how little some therapists have improved their skills after receiving their license. To often I find a therapist still stuck in the cookie cutter patterns originally learned in school. So when I find a good knowledgeable therapist who is willing to change their techniques to meet their client’s needs, I have no problems paying for a massage.

Comment by Laura Allen on September 17, 2009 at 7:24pm

I get massage at least twice a month, acupuncture at least once a month, a chiropractic adjustment at least once a month, and a Rolfing tune-up about every month or two (I've had the whole series a couple of times over the years). I pay my staff members the regular rate for all my own work and I vary the therapists I get work from. I am blessed with talented people and grateful for the bodywork, and I think the money I spend on it is well worth it, especially since I don't spend any money on doctors and/or drugs. It's cheaper in the long run to take care of yourself!

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