Massage is both an art and a science.
Let me begin with some general terms and facts to give you
more of an idea about massage therapists that are certified
and licensed. With this information you will probably
surprise your therapist with how much you know and you’ll
be able to ask the right questions when making your next
appointment.
Licensing maybe by the city where the therapist works or a
State License. California has NO state licensing, but has
licensing by each city. Licensing is through the police
department and has nothing to do with massage therapy. In
other states massage therapists can get a license through
the state. Massage therapist may be required to publish
their license when advertising, similar to contractors and
home remodelers.
CERTIFICATION and LICENSING
Certification or licensing may require 300 hours of
training (basic) to 500 hours to 1000 hours of training.
Certification of hours is usually with an accredited
school. Some licensing may require a Certification plus
hours of working with clients.
There is a lot of inconsistency with licensing (or
non-licensing) state by state or city by city. For that
reason, clients can find great massage therapists through
several Massage Therapy Associations. These associations
have their own standards and ethics that their members
adhere to.
SCIENCE OF MASSAGE
A massage therapist can complete 300 hours of training in
about three months. In general, a therapist will learn the
SCIENCE of massage or the basic massage strokes, an
introduction to the muscle and skeletal system and probably
an introduction to deep tissue massage. A massage therapist
with 300 hours of training can do a good massage.
ART OF MASSAGE
The next milestone is 500 hours of training. This is the
ART of MASSAGE. The massage therapist will learn more about
muscles and how to blend relaxing massage strokes with
effective deep tissue work to get the knots out of your
back.
ART and SCIENCE OF MASSAGE
A massage therapist with 1000 hours of training is very
dedicated to their profession and is a specialist. This is
the ART and SCIENCE of massage therapy. The therapist will
have completed over two years of training and knows the
finer points of massage therapy.
YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
Massage therapy is like fine dining. You have the choice of
dining at a local café if you’re on a budget or you can try
fine dining. A massage appointment can be one hour or an
hour & half.
If you want a massage to feel great and be relaxed, then a
therapist with 300 to 500 of training would best fit your
needs.
If you have a lot of body tension or your body feels all
twisted and out place, then you’ll probably want to work
with someone that has over 300 of training. If you are an
athlete or workout, you probably want someone with 500
hours or more.
Before booking your appointment, tell the therapist what
kind of massage you are looking for. If the massage
therapist is too busy to talk to you on the phone or seems
a little cold, then call someone else. By the time you
finish talking with the massage therapist you should
already have rapport or some kind of comfortabilty with the
therapist.
MASSAGE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE CLIENT
As a new client visiting a massage therapist you do have
rights. You have the right to say "No". I know this sounds
obvious, but I can not tell you how many clients I have
talked to that have endured a massage because they felt
they were obligated to go through with the appointment.
Within fifteen minutes of your appointment you should know
if the massage therapist is there for you or just going
through the motions. There is a bond, or a sense of energy,
that you can feel and know that your therapist is connected
with you.
If it doesn’t feel right, then say thank-you and leave. Or,
ask the therapist to make whatever adjustments are
necessary to make it feel more comfortable. A massage is
NOT about pain. Yes you may experience a little of
discomfort. As my teacher once said to me, "If the client
sits up like a fish, then lighten your pressure."
I remember I had a very well trained massage therapist
working on me once and "he knew what was best for the
client." Yes he was trained and he knew what he was doing,
but that was not what I wanted for a massage on that day. I
thanked him and left. A few months later I booked another
appointment with him when I needed a more "detailed"
massage.
If you decide to leave you may be obligated to pay for the
session. Personally, I would rather end a session and pay
rather than stay and endure something that is not what I
need or feels like a suit that doesn’t fit.
If you are not asked to pay for the session, you may tip$10
as a courtesy for the therapist who took the time to book
the session. Hopefully this won’t happen.
MASSAGE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE MASSAGE THERAPIST
A massage therapist has the right to be treated like a
person and professional. As a client you should always
arrive on time and leave when the time ends.
A therapeutic massage by a licensed therapist is not erotic
bodywork. If you did not ask for this before booking a
session, then do not assume this is included with the
massage. Some people think this is always included with a
massage – don’t assume anything, ask!
The massage therapist can ask a client to leave for not
respecting their boundaries or for any various reasons
discussed.
Draping or covering a client during a massage is for both
the client and the therapist. It defines the boundaries
between therapist and the client. Personally, I prefer a
massage without being covered. I always ask about draping
before I book an appointment.
FINAL WORDS
As a massage therapist, it is a great joy to give a massage
and to nurture another human being. It has many health
benefits and is more than a luxury for the rich and famous.
Our bodies need to be touched and nurtured. It is what
makes us feel alive and makes us more loving and kind to
others around us.
You can make two people happy today. Call a massage
therapist today and relax into health.
Wayne McDonald is a licensed massage therapist and the
founder of 123relax Massage Directory. To find a Health
Therapist near you visit us at
http://www.123relax.com
