a community of practitioners

how many people do you massage a day?

Hi I'm new and I'm not to sure where to pay this. I have a few questions. .. How many massages do you do? How much is your liability and where did you get it? I'd toy use a Crock pot for warming up towels at what setting so you put it, cuz I burn my hands sometimes... Sorry about all the questions.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shannah Goss on February 12, 2013 at 5:32pm

I do 20 a week at most, 4 a day. I've done 4 1/2 and without enough space between like two and three, it's tough on my body. My liability insurance I got through AMTA, membership is like $120? Plus chapter fee. It covers quite a bit, and it's part of my membership fee, and I feel AMTA has more perks than that. My crockpot boils on low so I'd never use it for warming up towels. I'd spend some money and buy a towel warmer.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on February 12, 2013 at 9:02pm

Melissa, I have a large heating pad that I use to heat the sticks which are specially designed for massage (http://www.bamboo-fusion.com/). They can be used both to warm up muscles, and to reach deep into the muscles in a way that is much easier on me and my clients. I've spent a LOT of money on CE classes, and traveled all over the US taking them. The thing my clients really rave about is the bamboo massage! :) And it saved my hands 3 years ago (along with Val Guin's Forearm Dance DVD - Jimswife, that might be a good investment for you too).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lee Edelberg on February 13, 2013 at 6:37am

Jimswife,

I don't know where you live but some states have labor laws that require an employer to give employees regular breaks, like a paid 10-15 minute break every few hours and an unpaid lunch break of reasonable length after maybe 4 hrs. There are good reasons for these rules, the primary one being the health and safety of the employees.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joyce Young on February 13, 2013 at 8:35am

I've been practicing for 12 years. When I was in the busy spa, I was doing 5 massages a day. I figured out that I need to have a hour between massage #3 and 4 to maintain my strength. I worked at places where they tried to sneak in a 6th massage, but I told them they needed to rebook the client or give it to another therapist. Also, I learned I can't work more than 5 days a week with that load. It's too much. As I'm trying to build my practice again, I think I might be good with doing only 4 massages a day when I get rocking.

If you have your Crockpot set on medium or low, you'll be good. You'll still bake your hands but not too much. At the spa we would load up the Crockpot in the AM with enough water to saturate the towel and put it on low for the whole day. Seemed to work really well that way. Sometimes I would put my neck warmer on top of the Crockpot lid in case I felt the client need the heat (rather than leave the session to microwave it).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jimswife on February 13, 2013 at 6:38pm

Lee, I looked into what you said. I live in IL. And I have to work 7 1/2 hrs before I am entitled to an unpaid lunch break. Employer is not required by state or federal law to give rest break.
Therese That forearm dance DVD is currently on my wish list. I have been trying to use my forearms more often. And it has helped. So learning more techniques would be helpful. Especially for deep tissue work.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Melissa Munoz on February 13, 2013 at 6:57pm

I was wondering if I use hot water and just keep the crock pot on warm? Will that be enough to keep it hot or should I keep it on low?