2013: Get More Massage!

Do you already receive massage at least once a month? Then you can ignore this post. Otherwise, here's the New Years Resolution I'm assigning to you (to save you the time of figuring it out for yourself; aren't I kind??):

Receive massage regularly in 2013.

There are so many compelling reasons for an MT to receive massage:

·       Never trust someone who won’t use their own product. If you aren’t getting massage regularly, your credibility as a proponent of massage is weak.

·       You need to have the visceral experience of being the vulnerable person on the table. It will make you more sympathetic to your client’s vulnerability.

·       You need to experience the way other MTs work. It keeps you fresh.

·       Your job is physically demanding and your body deserves the kind of care it gets with a good massage.

·       It’s a great way to meet the other MTs that work in your area.

·       It’s a great way to try different modalities (and when that is your motivation, it’s a business expense).

·       It’s a great way to check out the “competition”. If you bitch and moan about Massage Envy (or any other chain), go get a session there and see what works and what doesn’t so you can talk about it intelligently. And, again, if this is your intent, it’s a business deduction.

And here’s the kicker: you can not use any excuses for not getting massage that you hate to hear coming out of a (potential) client’s mouth.
 

·       “I can’t afford it (1).” Are the benefits of massage not worth the price MTs are asking? Then why are you asking people to pay for it?

·       “I can’t afford it (2).” Find a student clinic or someone offering reduced payment options or someone angling to be the “cheap” MT in town. Experience what it feels like to go that route.

·       “I can’t afford it (3).” What would you tell a client (what would you like to tell a client) who said this? Say those things to yourself.

·       “I can’t find anyone to exchange with.” Pay for it. Have the visceral experience of laying out your hard-earned money with a stranger (or even an acquaintance) in the hopes that you’ll receive something worthwhile in return. Your sympathy for you clients will skyrocket. Sometimes, you’ll have the visceral experience of not getting your money’s worth. That will make you much more conscious of giving your clients their money’s worth. It will also put you in the position of trying to figure out how to communicate that both during and after the session; since we all say we want feedback from our clients it’s good to experience how hard that is to do.

·       “I don’t have time.” Then take a hard hard look at your time obligations and move one at least once a month. If you don’t have time because you have such a busy client load, then you especially need to take 2 hours at least once a month to go get a massage. It’s called “self-care”.

·       “I’m really not comfortable receiving work.” Yes, I’ve known MTs like this. Far too often, they’ve been people who need other people to need them or are completely unwilling to accept the vulnerability of being a client. I don’t want you to need me to be vulnerable to feed your psyche. That’s creepy. And if you aren’t willing to also be vulnerable sometimes, then don’t ask me to be either. That’s a power imbalance thing and I don’t want to play.

Now, having said all these things, I realize that there are a few – very few – people who really really really cannot receive massage on a regular basis. Most of you reading this are not that person.

If, after careful consideration, you realize that you are legitimately one of those people, I’m very sorry. I don’t mean to be someone piling on your difficulties. May 2013 offer you the chance to receive massage. You deserve it most of all.

True confessions: I only received massage every 2 or 3 months last year. I need to step up my own game as well.

Now, get to your phone / email and book that massage!