Monday, December 27, 2010

Four Essential Steps to a Client-Rich Prosperous Practice

A good article for any of you wanting to start up a massage therapy practice.  Sharon gives you a 4 step process for you to grow your massage therapy practice and they are very helpful.  The advice she gives you range from spiritual to marketing so make sure you take careful mental notes.  Check out this article because not all massage therapists are business savvy and it never hurts to gets some ideas.

http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14299

For more information on massage and massage therapy please check us out at http://www.school-for-massage.com/ or give us a call at 847-673-7595.

European Massage Therapy School
8707 Skokie Blvd. Suite 106
Skokie IL, 60077

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Employee Wellness Program

Every successful business or corporation have one thing in common, happy employees.  Happy employees leads to greater productivity, higher morale, and lower business cost.  Massagemag.com has a good article on the "essential six pillars" for overall employee satisfaction.  These "six pillars" are essential to a businesses overall performance and cohesion.  Please check out the article from MassageMag to learn more about the "six pillars" and how you can incorporate them to your own business or your place of employment.

http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=10059&catid=1&title=employee-wellness-programs-lower-costs-greater-productivity-and-higher-morale

For more information on massage and massage therapy please check us out at http://www.school-for-massage.com/ or give us a call at 847-673-7595.

European Massage Therapy School
8707 Skokie Blvd. Suite 106
Skokie IL, 60077

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Massage to support our troops

As we all know the people who are in most need are our brave men and women serving over seas.  A lot of our soldiers come back home with PTSD and other psychological disorders from their traumatic experiences.  But one way we can aid their needs is through massage therapy.  Massage Today has an interesting article on how massage therapy and other holistic treatments can help with the various types of trauma.  So please take a look at this article and if you know a veteran or a service man/woman near and dear to your heart, help them out with a massage. 

http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14328

For more information on massage and massage therapy please check us out at http://www.school-for-massage.com/ or give us a call at 847-673-7595.

European Massage Therapy School
8707 Skokie Blvd. Suite 106
Skokie IL, 60077

Monday, December 13, 2010

A challenging client


Jane was a long-time client with a reputation. She was known to book a same-day  appointment, asking for the last appointment of the day, and then no-show. I was told, she’s really tight. I’d say, if people weren’t tight, they wouldn’t need massage. No, she’s really  tight. And she says odd things. Creepy things, I asked? Inappropriate things? No . . .well, yeah. Well, just unusual. She’s challenging. She’s nice, though. But when Jane finally appeared on my schedule, I understood.
She clenched her fists throughout the whole treatment – tight. Her arms were as straight and stiff as a 2’ x 4’. She never closed her eyes, as clients generally do. I work half the time with my eyes closed, to literally “feel” my way, and when I opened my eyes, she was staring at me. It was unnerving. She talked a lot – also unusual during a massage – and asked odd  questions.  Why does someone get zits on the back? What do you mean, inner and outer thigh? Do you go to movies? I’d say, I’m trying to loosen this muscle, and she’d laugh and say, “good luck!” Huh??
Typically after a session, the therapist notices physical changes have been made. I saw absolutely no change in Jane after a 60-minute massage. Later,  I compared notes with my colleagues. We think she’s getting some benefit from massage, because she keeps coming back. We strongly suspect that Jane is dealing with other issues, but we don’t know what they are; Jane doesn’t mention any; and it is outside our scope of practice to diagnose.
So, as long as she wants massage, we will be happy to accommodate her. But, given her “no-show” history, we will start requiring a credit card deposit to hold the appointment.
Hands On Therapy of Evanston
1909 Central Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201
(312) 286-4432
ATPRoseann@yahoo.com


Chicago Acupuncture Clinic
3723 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60613
(312) 286-4432
ATPRoseann@yahoo.com

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Being Mindful

A very in depth article from the AMTA to mentally and physically prepare new massage therapists.  Mary Braun writes how to keep sane during busy hours, before and after massage prep work, formulating a plan that looks out for your well being as a massage therapist, and many more.  I would recommend this article to new massage therapist who are currently lost in the massage abyss or any MT's that want a great read.

http://www.amtamassage.org/articles/3/MTJ/detail/2261

For more information on massage and massage therapy please check us out at http://www.school-for-massage.com/ or give us a call at 847-673-7595.

European Massage Therapy School
8707 Skokie Blvd. Suite 106
Skokie IL, 60077

Deep thoughts – Part 1

My friend and fellow licensed massage therapist., Jen, and I were talking today about how we aren’t right for every client. No therapist is. No matter how good you are, how advanced your technique, how intuitive your work, you are not right for every client.
I told Jen, I worked on a client who had seen our former colleague, Lisa, every other week for two years. When I met the client, she said, “If you’re as good as Lisa, then you’ll be fine.” I thought to myself, oh boy . . . , but said, instead, “How about I be the best Roseann I can be?”
The client wanted deep work. OK, fine. I am the Queen of Deep. But once I started, four or five times she said my pressure was painful. I pulled back more and more each time, but it never seemed to be enough. And when I shook her hand afterwards, she said my handshake pressure hurt her!
Jen was almost as surprised as me. “Lisa was a bulldozer,” Jen said. “She couldn’t, or wouldn’t, go lighter.”  So how come my pressure was too deep?
 The client was an insulin-dependent diabetic, but that information was on the original health form. Was it fibromyalgia? When I asked her if there were any health changes, she said her diabetes was under control, and otherwise, she was healthy.
I wish I could tell you how I solved this riddle, but I didn’t. I have no idea what the problem was. By the end of the massage, I felt like I was hardly engaging her tissue, and she still said I was hurting her.
I hope she came back and tried working with another therapist. I can guarantee you;  I’ll never see her again in my practice. No matter how hard I try, I will definitely never be the right therapist for her. That’s the way it goes sometimes.

Hands On Therapy of Evanston
1909 Central Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201
(312) 286-4432
ATPRoseann@yahoo.com


Chicago Acupuncture Clinic
3723 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60613
(312) 286-4432
ATPRoseann@yahoo.com

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Massage Goes Mainstream

Another good read on how massage is becoming popular by the minute.  Time Magazine has great articles on the progression of massage therapy throughout the years.  Massage has been helping people reduce stress and is recognized for its therapeutic benefits.  This article talks about the resurgence of massage from its x-rated past to its beneficial present and future.  Check out the article and tell me what you guys think of it.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002938-3,00.html

For more information on massage therapy please check us out at http://www.school-for-massage.com/ or give us a call at 847-673-7595.

European Massage Therapy School
8707 Skokie Blvd. Suite 106
Skokie IL, 60077