How often do YOU get a Massage?

[JadeMerik]

As Massage Therapists, caregivers, etc, we tend to give a lot of ourselves to others, and not to ourselves. If we don't, we tend to burn out, and have to give up a career we absolutely love dure to injury, and so on.How often do you GET a massage? What other ways do you give to yourself, so that you are able to give to others?   ???   ???   ???I would love to hear from all of you!

 

[chee]

  I got one yesterday, and  b4 that, 3 weeks ago. BUT, b4 that, it was about 4 months! IM BAD! I need to start getting them regularly, not just when I'm hurting. Also, another MT said that we all need to support our profession. She was right. I do like to trade occasionally, but I dont mind so much paying for massage now, either. If we dont have enough faith in what we do to pay for it, how can we expect our clients to do so?

 

[Mycala]

How often do YOU get a Massage?

I get one every two weeks without fail!

 

[Pompal 09.]

I usually get a Massage once every two weeks.  If you listen to your body, you know when your worn out from giving, and it's time to recieve a massage for yourself.  I  have a great boyfriend who gives me gift certf. to Day Spa's, because I give him Foot Reflexology treatments often.  I take the whole day off when I get a massage, this give's me time to rejuvinate.  I also try to do something for myself each day, such as read a great quote, meditate or practice yoga.  When I have a long day ahead I awake early and do some foot reflexology, and drink a nice herbal tea. Taking care of yourself, makes you a better caregiver! Take Care,  neomassage

 

[horsegirl101]

We were taught at school to honor what our bodies tell us. If your lower back hurt, figure out what you are doing, how you are standing, how old your shoes are, etc. This way, you know what's going on, and how to correct the issue.I am so glad that was taught. I wasn't listening to my body, and didn't know why I was in such pain!  I also learned how to explain it to my clients. Now that they know what to look for, they can better correct thier stance.Thanks for your replies so far, keep em coming!  ;D

 

[Asche]

My boyfriend is also an LMT, so you'd think we'd work on eachother a lot, right?  WRONG!  We are often too tired to spend a lot of time on eachother.  It comes down to the gratuitous "elbow in the shoulder" or 5 minute neckrub.... I feel jipped sometimes.We are rennovating his home and I am going to be purchasing one soon, so we are looking to incorporate an extra large bath so we can leave a massage table set up at all times.  If there is a place for us to go that's already set up and ready, we might be more likely to do full sessions on eachother.  After all that hard work, we will definitely need some thorough sessions!  I would ask my LMT friend to do it, but she is more interested in leaving the time open for people who will pay for a massage rather than book a "free" trade massage.  I can't say that I totally blame her, though.Okay... enough shoulda/coulda/woulda's...  I am going to book a massage this week with the therapist in my chiropractic office!

 

[Lebanese Dolly]

I know what you mean about that! My fiancee would come and visit me during my school break, and I would teach him what I learned.  Knowing all of that I don't get as many as I would like, but I do have a handheld massager. Although it works, it's not the same, so I'll be doing the same - making an appointment, and getting massages on the regular....

 

[Sata]

I faithfully get a massage every other week, or else!!!!!!!!!!AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH  I tell all my clients that as they usually ask me, who massages you? It's quite the eye opener to go to other places and see how others operate.  

 

[Brianna H]

I know what you mean, I have heard some clients talk about having only a towel to cover themselves. I use sheets, because most of my clients have been first timers. I have also seen clients lay on top of both of the sheets, because that is what the therapist recommended.    AY!  :-X  The more comfortable they feel, the better the session is. What practices have you seen or heard, that have your toes curled?

 

[The Rikstir XIV]

Every other week, without fail.  I make sure I have my next appt. scheduled before I leave!   ;DAlso, the school that I graduated from has begun their massage clinic.  Since it is a community college, they do not charge a fee to the clients... but, due to the lack of fee, they only open it up to faculty/staff/administration of the college, graduates, and some clients who were referred.  Since the clinic has started, I have gotten a massage every Friday.    It rocks, and it is nice to support my old program, and really see the MTs grow in their skills.  Right now, the word is still getting out about the clinic... come summer, I probably won't be able to get an appt.!  My former instructor really appreciates me going, b/c she knows she can rely on my feedback as well.

 

[Pompal 09.]

How often do YOU get a Massage?

I would ask my LMT friend to do it, but she is more interested in leaving the time open for people who will pay for a massage rather than book a "free" trade massage.  I can't say that I totally blame her, though.

Okay... enough shoulda/coulda/woulda's...  I am going to book a massage this week with the therapist in my chiropractic office!

At the first bodywork school I went to, the teachers each year said, "don't do trades, they never work in the long run." Trades can be very tricky. Such as one person may be feeling they aren't getting the same quality of massage as they are giving, or both people charge different rates. I notice some people are very relaxed and easy going about trades. Why do trades at all? To avoid the complicated task of exchanging money for a service? A trade implies an obligation to exchange in kind. If you simply pay in cash, the obligation ends there.

Also the pitfall of being bumped for "paying" clients. Many times I have arranged a trade and wow, I'm really looking forward to that massage, I need it, my back hurts. Only to have the therapist call me a day or two ahead and cancel because they have a cash client who can only come in my appt slot. That sucks big time.

I treat trades the same as cash. They are written down in my appt book and I won't be cancelling with them for a cash client. In essence, the trade IS cash, because I would've been paying cash for a massage anyways, but paid in a service instead. I charge $65 for an hour massage and $90 for 1.5 hours and I use that as cash in my trade. That is, if I am trading with say a plumber who charges $45 an hour and he does 2 hours worth of work (no parts) for me, then my trade would be $90, an 1.5 hour massage. I know it sounds *Royal*, but it keeps boundaries clear and I have found people like that and I do too. If I'm trading with an MT who charges $60 vs my $65, I don't count that, but I would if they only charged $40 or $45.

The goal of all this is to be an equal exchange. Fuzzy boundaries, especially when one or both parties involved are unaware of the fuzzy boundaries is foster for resentment, feeling jipped, cheated, betrayed, abandoned...etc. Add all those sticky feelings (likely unconscious feelings) in the hands of the giver and what kind of massage would that feel like?

 

[Engel -]

How often do YOU get a Massage?

I know what you mean, I have heard some clients talk about having only a towel to cover themselves. I use sheets, because most of my clients have been first timers. I have also seen clients lay on top of both of the sheets, because that is what the therapist recommended.    AY!  :-X  

The more comfortable they feel, the better the session is. What practices have you seen or heard, that have your toes curled?

I just had a massage where the sheets felt like plastic because they were so impregnated with oil from years of massage! I had to ask the therapist twice to use LESS pressure as she was crushing my bones. {If you have to ask twice to have less pressure, you're not communicating well with your client.} She complained the whole time how she could never get jobs! She kept my massage door open and the hall door was open and workmen were remodeling the hall. I really couldn't care, but most people would have flipped!

I was so looking forward to a great massage and was not a happy camper when I left. Even though it was terrible, it always teaches me how I can better serve my clients. Job security, you know!

 

[Katie M]

AY!As much as you were looking forward to having a massage with this therapist, did you tell her how uncomfortable you felt in the sheets?I tend to change my sheets OFTEN, if I am seeing the stains, the clients are seeing the stains. I have a pretty high "ick" level, but that would have grossed me out BIGTIME!  And I certainly would have asked her for privacy, me being an MT or not. ay yi yi!  Some things you learn by doing, some things you learn by living. I'll be right back, I'm going to buy some new sheets.  

 

[Larry R]

How often do YOU get a Massage?

I should have told her many things but sometimes I absorb best by viewing the entire situation! She is persuing another career in school this Fall. I wished her well. Ya gotta laugh at life sometimes!

 

[SunGodess]

How often do YOU get a Massage?

How's this for UNCOMFORTABLE.....right after I graduated from massage school I was looking into working part time at a tanning salon. They covered the massage table with paper....like the thin rolled paper that doctors cover their tables with. And then cover the client with a towel. The room could be entered on two sides, separated by flimsy accordian style doors--on one side tanning beds and the other side was a workout area. it was awful!As far as how often I receive a massage....I'm back in school so I am in bodywork classes at least once every two weeks but I also try to get a polarity session (from one of my instructors) once a month. I also find hypnotherapy and life coaching to be a great thing to keep me focused and clear.

 

[suthrngal]

Yep, I agree, that by far is the MOST uncomfortable session setting I've heard!  BTW, I did go out and get new sheets...  :I am very glad to hear so many of you get massages! Keep it up!  OK, I want to hear from the rest of you, how often do the rest of you get a massage?    ???  

 

[Ohms Lawyer]

I usually get a massage every two weeks, but my MT is on holiday, so a three week gap this time, can't wait!    I had massages with four other therapists in the area while I was in school, to see the variety of styles, but once I received my first massage from my current MT, I knew who I would be going back to ;-) We have just moved on to a nice program of 75 mins, where she does a swedish body routine, followed by a lovely scalp and face massage, that I think has origins in the Indian head style.

 

[Some One]

How often do YOU get a Massage?

I totally understand what you mean about receiving massages from several massage therapists and then finding "the one". I did that too. I have since moved so I don't get to see MY massage therapist but every time I go home to visit, I make sure to schedule an appointment with her. When I left my massage practice, I encouraged my clients to go to a number of massage therapists before choosing one. I did, of course, offer suggestions.

 

[Amani]

Being from a small town there are few choices of Therapist in the area.  I have found two who were interested in trades from neighboring towns.  All the work was done in my office which I like.  Gives me a chance to feel what my clients feel in regards to the room temp, table, headrest, sound system etc.  Unfortunately trading can be difficult to arrange at times since both work other jobs.  Seriously thinking of stopping the trades and just pay as a regular client.  Question:  When you pay or use a certificate to receive bodywork, do you inform the therapist that you too are one?  

 

[zcall27]

How often do YOU get a Massage?

Yes, I always mention that I am also a massage therapist. I figure it helps them know where my problem areas may be... just as knowing if one of my clients is a waiter or an office worker may help me to focus on areas where they have pain. Admittedly though... I rarely do trades... it's easier to just pay for it IMO.