Athletics

What are the signs of a well trained Massage Therapist?

By Amber Clancy, LMT, CMT

(Exercising Your Mind) The first sign of a well trained massage therapist would be their appearance. They must be visually pleasing and well groomed in order to show a sense of hygiene. This aspect can only carry over into their cleanliness of the work station. It is mandatory if the therapist is selling health to practice their own internal healing, so the client doesn’t receive bad energy from the therapist. Many people choose to get into Massage therapy with an idea of what it is and realize soon that it is highly physical and is not a profession for everyone.


            The client will know over the phone what kind of person their dealing with by the tone and confidence in their voice. If the therapist has a private practice and does all office duties, then selling their services first over the phone is mandatory. It is a skill that takes awhile to cultivate. It’s similar to an interview process for a job. Not all clients and therapist make a good match. Being able to identify the needs of the client over the phone saves a lot of hassle and wasted time. There are several ways to diplomatically tell a client that their request is outside your scope of practice.


            Even more important, the therapist should ask several questions before each session to gain a sense of where the client’s body is in order to customize the experience. Examples are: Is there anything I need to know about your body? Have you ever had any accidents or injuries? Are you taking any medications? Get a little suspicious if your therapist just tells you to lie down and goes straight to work.
If a therapist does not know what they are doing, you could be paralyzed! 

            Massage schools do not get deep into Anatomy. The student is encouraged to continue their own study after graduation; however, if they choose not to, it can only end in injury to the client. A great question for a client to ask the therapist would be…how many hours do you have? Five hundred hours is a good base. Less than five hundred would not be enough knowledge to deal with contraindications that go along with specific body weaknesses. The body is a complicated and magical piece of work and when the client is coming to receive healing energy, it is crucial to question the ability of the therapist for safety.

            Many people search for the cheapest priced massage. This is not a quality purchase. Remember the saying, “You get what you pay for!” Massage therapists interview their clients. As a client, it is just as important for you to interview your therapist. You only get one body. You cannot buy another one. If your therapist does not create a safe space for healing, they do not deserve your business. Do your body a favor and research.


For more information visit:
www.amberenerchi.com

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