Massage Preparation
Before, during and after a Therapeutic Massage Treatment
Part One: Preparation Before a Client Arrives
As a massage therapist, it is important to have the proper preparation at the start of the day so you will be nice and relaxed and create the right atmosphere for a successful day.
A massage therapist should arrive at least 1 hour before your first client is due. This allows time to answer any messages. Make sure your massage oils, towels and anything else needed for the day are topped up and ready to use, allowing also enough time to create the right room temperature for your clients, along with some nice relaxing music playing, be careful of the CDs with running water as some client may be affected and have to go to the bathroom halfway through the massage!!
You need to be aware of any appointment times you have still available, making sure you allow adequate time for meal breaks. Be warned!!! Working through meal breaks will eventually take its toll with you becoming run down, sick and not able to help anyone. I had two severe bouts of bronchitis before I learnt my lesson.
Get into the habit of stretching back, legs and arms. You will find this beneficial, you can also massage your own arms making sure they are nice and relaxed for the day ahead, if you are one of All Regions Massage School’s Deep Tissue & Common Injuries student’s contractual tendon release (CTR) does wonders.
Once the room is ready, your appointment book in order and your body warmed up stretched and ready to go, the focus is then on the type of appointments you have that day. Always ask why they are coming for Massage when they make the appointment. This way you can be prepared for just a relaxation massage or something more challenging like some remedial massage. If it is something more challenging, or a follow up massage treatment you must have an action plan, for example what areas need to be checked that could be causing their problem. What symptoms to look for; Are there any warning signs you need to be aware of? What treatments have worked for you in the past, keeping in mind that every injury is to be treated on its own merits, also if you don’t have the skills to solve their problem, you should know who to refer them to and what other treatment options you have.
You are now ready to start your day!
Very important! You must turn your phone off, or the answering machine on when your client arrives.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU!!
Do you have the three R’s operating in your Business?
Results = Repeat Business = Referrals (Lots of them)
At All Regions Massage School we have massage courses available to equip you with the skills and knowledge to treat most injuries with amazing results – Massage Career Pathway.
A final thought, in preparation you need to have a plan for clients who are late or just don’t turn up. My approach is covered in part two below.
