Love Your Work, Massage Therapists
I happened upon a Dilbert comic strip today that perfectly
illustrated for me how important it is for massage and bodywork therapists to
love their work. When you don't love your work, it becomes immediately obvious to
your client, your co-workers and your boss if you happen to be employed at an
establishment. The comic strip also pokes fun at the sometimes tenuous title
"Certified Massage Therapist."
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The comic strip feature a therapist who starts the session
out with having the client (Dilbert) fill out a lengthy medical form, thinking
to herself, "Less time I have to actually touch him." Then, as she
begins the massage she wonders if anyone realizes she only massages with one
hand. Hmmm, she thinks, maybe if I use this pen instead... So she starts
"clicking" a writing pen on Dilbert's back, telling him she found the
source of his problem. He tells a friend afterward that he needs to go back
several more times so the therapist can get rid of the "clicking" in
his back. The strip title is "Certified Massage Therapist." I only
found it funny because I know certified therapists just like that. What wasn't
funny is that certified therapists like that, who do not love their work, are
almost as damaging to the overall massage industry reputation as are
prostitutes who use "massage" as a ruse.
How many of us have had a similar therapist as in the comic?
How many of us have been this therapist at one point or another in our careers?
Do you love your work? Do your clients love your work?
I'm retired from hands-on bodywork, but I loved being a
massage therapist and I loved my work. What I didn't love was the bureaucracy
being a massage therapist entails, but that's another article for another day, perhaps.
What I will say is, state or national certification does not guarantee you'll
be a better therapist; or, will it make you a safer therapist. It's a
bureaucratic hoop designed for us to jump through.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating against getting
certified if it makes operating your business easier, or it makes you feel or
appear more professional; or, of course if it's required by law in order to
work or get a job. But getting certified is not necessarily going to make you a
"better" therapist. If by getting certified requires more training of
you, perhaps it will; but more training will generally make you a better
therapist with or without a piece of paper.
No doubt, what makes a better therapist is attitude and
touch. Certainly skill comes into it and contributes to touch quality, but
overall it's the attitude that wins the day. No matter what, if you do not love
your work, your client will feel that in your hands. They'll also see it in
your body language, and hear it in your voice. And, they'll remember you when
it comes time to book their next massage - with someone else.
That being said, I've always felt the best way to ensure
massage therapists are competent is to simply let the market rule. If a
therapist is awful, they're going to go out of business tout de suite, or their
spa is going to let them go. I do realize that my opinion on certification is
controversial, but it is my humble opinion based on my free-market principles
and one who loves freedom. My opinion on certification is not meant to
disparaged certified therapists in general, but simply to point out that it is
not the sweeping panacea it's purported to be. If it helps a therapist love
their work more, of course, I'm all for it. If it gives the impression to the
public en masse that the massage industry is legitimate, then sure, fine, I'm
for it - as long as it's optional. Again, it's my opinion for which I know I
will receive plenty of flak.
The question is, can you love your work and still be a
terrible therapist? Of course. That's true in any career or field. However, if
you don't have good hands or mad bodywork skills, you're going to have a tough
time staying in the industry whether you love your job or not. The difference
is, I suspect a bad therapist with a bad or indifferent attitude is going to
find themselves without a job much sooner than one who loves the work they do.
I also believe that even if your skills and touch are questionable today, that
doesn't mean that with a positive attitude and a burning desire to be amazing,
one can't eventually achieve that. There is tremendous power in positive
thought and it can overcome incredible deficits.
"Never judge yourself by what you have done. Judge
yourself in terms of what you will do. You are not the past. You are the
present becoming the future." - Raymond Charles Barker
I recently went horseback riding for the first time in a
hundred years. Okay, I exaggerate, but it has been a very long time since I
last rode. As a teenager I had a couple of horses and rode quite a bit, so even
though it's been a while, I know a good ride and a good horse when I have one.
I didn't have one. My horse, who shall rename nameless, clearly was not loving
his work. He was more interested in the Chaparral treats along the way than paying
attention to his job. He lagged behind despite my gentle urging, dragged his
feet continuously, stumbled a lot and was completely detached from the ride. I
told him I could stroll faster than he was walking, and my rear-end wouldn't
hurt in the process. He's what I consider a factory worker in that he goes on
the same boring ride every day, perhaps two or more times a day, with strangers
on his back, most who are likely inexperienced riders. I spoke to him after the
ride and urged him to find work he loved because it was obvious he was just
going through the motions. I know he has no choice in the work he does, (and
that all he heard me say was "blah, blah, blah...") but despite how
much experience he has as a trail horse, his blase attitude toward his work
left a lasting negative impression on me about him and his stable.
Mr. Nameless reminded me of many therapists I've met and
worked with along the way while working in busy spas. I've worked in couples'
massages and could not believe the lack of passion or even remote interest my
co-workers had in what they were doing. Sadly, their only motivation was their
paycheck. Everyone needs to make a living, but that lack of interest or
detachment ultimately gets transferred to the client which is not what the massage
and bodywork industry is about. The problem with that is, of course, the client
may say to themselves (or anyone and everyone with whom they come in contact)
that massage, or massage therapist, or that spa was terrible and therefore all
massage or therapists are terrible and that spa is terrible, too! It certainly
makes marketing more difficult for therapists in general, not to mention how a
bad therapist can affect the reputation of a spa.
If you're wondering how you can possibly love your work if
you hate your job, your boss, your co-workers or your pay - or all of the above
- the answer is that you have the power to change any of those problems. You
can find another job or start your own business, or even change fields
altogether. Yes, in this shaky economic climate it may be unwise to change jobs
or careers when you actually have one. So then what? What can you do if you
feel "trapped" in your current situation.
In a job situation where you are feeling trapped, you have
the ultimate power to liberate yourself. Your liberation comes from your
attitude and your mind.
Change your mind - change your life. Instead of waking up in
the morning thinking, "I hate my job," change that daily mantra to
"I love my work! I'm great at it and my clients love me!" Imprint
your brain with positive thoughts. Find things about your current situation you
love and focus on those things instead of what you "hate." As the
song says, "Accentuate the Positive!" Love your clients. Strive to
change their minds. Tell yourself that you are going to change their world
today by giving them an awesome massage - the most awesome they've ever had.
Approach every session with a determination to rock your client's world. Believe
in your own ability to be able to do that. If you're tired or your body hurts,
your mental attitude has an enormous influence on your body. Don't start your
day with, "I'm so tired..." Instead, tell yourself over and over
again how great you're feeling and nothing can hold you back. You will be
surprised at how powerful positive thought can be. I know I am.
I first realized the power of thought when I encountered a
very difficult (awful) client. I immediately imagined the whole session
becoming a ninety minute nightmare. The client was in a foul mood, he was rude,
and to make the situation even worse, his body was not the most pleasant
landscape on which to work. Normally I wouldn't even notice, but when the
client is surly, downright mean and bossy, it's nearly impossible to screen out
unpleasantness.
Overwhelming dread began to set in. As I began the session,
I could actually feel my client's attitude begin to permeate my body through my
hands. It was terribly unpleasant. The first five or ten minutes were absolute
agony for me. Then, for some reason, I began a mental chant, "Massage with
love... massage with love..." over and over again throughout the session.
What began to transpire was amazing. Suddenly, my client's silent antagonism
began to dissipate, even float away, and the whole dark experience literally
lightened before me eyes.
At the end of the session it was if the client I started
with had been changed out and replaced with an entirely different person. Of
course an awesome massage was probably just what he needed, but what if I had
continued that session with the bad attitude his attitude had given me? Who
would have I ended up with on my table? From then on, whenever I had to deal
with a problem client, I would begin the mantra, "Massage with love,
massage with love..." It worked every time.
The bottom line in loving your work is, don't look for
outside certifications or others to validate your value or even your skills.
Look inside instead. From the inside, with a positive outlook and burning
desire to succeed, you can change your entire bodywork work experience.
Massaging for a living is hard work - don't make it harder by dreading it or
even hating it. Love your work... and it will love you back.
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