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How do you take care of yourself?

I was just teaching to a group of massage therapists and was amazed how many of them in the class
do not or never get massage. Hmmm? The excuse is they have no time.

When asked how they convince their clients they should come regularly they explained how maintenance is important, consistency is preventative etc.

When I asked what their biggest fear in their profession was????? They said burnout, wrist hurting and forgetting why they became a massage therapists.

I asked how come they don't have at least 1 hr a month to even receive a massage? I got no response.

What do you do to take care of yourself? Do you receive regular massage? How often? What are you doing to prevent burn out?

I don't seem to understand how we can market and promote massage to our clients for maintenance and prevention and we don't receive.

I'm really shocked!

What's wrong with this picture? Your comments? Thoughts?

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Comment by Darcy Neibaur on August 2, 2009 at 2:24am: I have learned to be into self care and to be selfish and put myself first. If I don't take care of myself no one is going to do it for me. I work part time doing Massage 4-5 days a week 4-6 hours a day with a maximum of 4 massages each day. I do my stretches each day and I do my best to receive a 90 minute - 2 hour massage a week if at all possible. If I don't take care of myself I am not going to be able to care for anyone else.

Comment by Gloria Coppola on August 1, 2009 at 2:55pm: Thanks Kathy!
I'm glad you do take care of yourself.

Comment by Kathy Starr on August 1, 2009 at 2:11pm: I feel it is extremely important to maintain our bodies, most months I do a swap every other week, and when I miss one I feel the difference, I love this work and would hate to not be able to do it because I didnt take the time to get a massage or do my stretches. Dont let yourself forget what it is like to recieve.

Comment by Gloria Coppola on July 30, 2009 at 5:40pm: Talena
That is great! Swapping is good if each one honors the commitment. Sometimes I hear massage therapist say they don't get their session in return.

Thanks for your input! Yes massage is preventative care.

Comment by Talena Pace on July 30, 2009 at 12:08pm: We try to swap out at least once or twice a month. Sometimes it is hard to swap every week. People that work in an office where there is more than one massage therapist should pencil themselves in for a swap out at lease once a month. We all get tired and if we don't take care of ourselves then we can't enjoy a relaxing massage as much as our clients do. Our muscles get tired a lot more than we realize. In order to keep at this profession we must take care of ourselves.
And remember, if you don't work where you can swap out with some one, your massage is a tax right off. Its for health reasons. You must be in good shape to continue your job effectively

Comment by Gloria Coppola on July 29, 2009 at 5:58pm: Thanks Hillary for your comment. I appreciate your input. Yes It does make it a bit easier when you have students that can practice on you...and definitely YES to remember what it feels like a client. Kudos to you!

Comment by Hillary Kate Arrieta on July 27, 2009 at 6:49pm: I try to get one once a week- but I work at a school so I guess that it's easier to take care of myself there :) - It is so important to remember what it feels like to be a client!

Comment by Gloria Coppola on July 26, 2009 at 5:55pm: Thank you Ronald for sharing. I agree totally with you - taking care of ourself is essential and our quality of work is totally effected. I teach all the time that if we don't feel good we should not be working on our clients. It has never impacted my practice negatively to reschedule a client if I could not be present 100% for them. They respected me even more. My private practiced always thrived and supported me.

I am a total advocate and have always been to take care of yourself, get regular massage, vacation/down time, nature time, healthy eating etc...........

I'm just flabergasted how many therapist do not do any of this.

Comment by Ronald Lee Long on July 26, 2009 at 2:14pm: I have worked with Care-Givers since I was 18. I have seen this pattern repeated over and again. I think it could be characterized best by the phrase, "We teach best what we most need to learn." Care-Givers are focused on the care they provide. By our nature, we are more unselfish then the norm. Maybe some feel it would be selfish to put themselves first, even for an hour a month. I have spent the last 20 years working out why I became this way. My clearest path out has been this pattern has been to stay focused on the simple fact that I am on NO use to anyone if I do not take care of myself first. If my body is suffering from neglect it will impact the level of care I can provide my clients. They will suffer and so will my practice. Self-care is as essential as anything in my opinion.