Massage Therapists

Massage therapists need massage! Yes, those who bring healing to others all day long sometimes desperately need the healing touch that massage therapy can bring.

These practitioners are on their feet all day long so their feet and legs need treatment.

If they are not using proper body mechanics, their backs and shoulders are hurting. Lugging tables and chairs for an outcall practice can cause sore arms, shoulders, and backs. The actual practice of massage strokes requires a lot of energy and strength. This can cause arm and hand pain.

Massage therapists give of themselves all day long. I have given five one hour full body massages in a row with no break in between except to change sheets and wash my hands. It is exhausting.

Let me clarify before you start e-mailing me. A massage therapist should never schedule this sort of day. This happened when I was an intern at massage school. The school scheduled the day for me so I could complete my requirements for certification. Then the next day, I had to go back and do three more in a row and I was finally finished. It really is exhausting. Always allow yourself breaks and time to relax your muscles and feet in between long appointments.

It is difficult to give that fifth client the same amount of intensity and concentration that the first client got, yet it is expected. Employers and massage schools do not care that you are tired and you need to sit down and rest.

They expect you to keep up and give your all or find a new profession. Been there, done that and the bottom line is the almighty buck, not you, the people giving the massages, that matters to them.

I am sorry, but we are human beings, not machines. We need to drink, have a snack, sit down, and even use the facilities once or twice during a five or six hour shift.

So, bodyworkers, for your own health, once every one to two weeks, treat yourselves to a full body massage. Schedule it in on your planner. Have a chair massage in between these full body sessions. And if you work for a body sweatshop, build your own practice and get out of there before you burn out!

Perhaps you and another bodyworker can give massage to each other so you can save money. Maybe you can work this out with one of your massage school classmates. Get together and trade massages with each other at least once or twice a month. It would be beneficial for your body and your wallet.

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