Energy is a big topic. There is the energy of the therapist, the person receiving and the energy of the two people together.
Like in any situation you can enter into an exchange where the person sucks you dry or gives you a boost. In the intimate relationship of massage that exchange is even more tangible and sometimes it is hard to know where you end and the other begins. It has been said by John Upledger and other body workers that in order to protect yourself, "never let the energy get past your elbow." The energy can be heat or even pain. But I have found that if it is a mood it travels faster.
Over the years I have had my own techniques to protect myself and clear away what does not belong to me. I meditate between sessions, wipe away the energy and wash my hands in cold water; to name a few. However, sometimes the person's energy invades me so fast that occasionally I feel what is theirs and I can't tell if it belongs to me. I've learnt that when the person I am massaging is dealing with the same emotion that I am, it becomes very difficult to distinguish.
The therapist is very vulnerable and has to learn to guard their energy and preserve their strength?
How do you guard your energy???
The relationship during massage is a symbiotic one. Through a kind of 'aura' that is subconscious, the client lets us know how deeply we can enter. As well, through our 'aura' we dictate how far we will go. Some massages that I give are as boring as a cracker, a simple recipe that could be acted out by a robot or a vending machine, could we create such a thing. Other massages are organic and artistic and involve movement and pressure and can invoke a deeply emotional creation for both the receiver and the therapist. Of course be hope for more art and less recipe, but the reality is the opposite.
On the rare occasion that I am given permission to do what I want (i.e. what the body dictates), the results are intense and beautiful and always very positive and encouraging. Those gems get me through the daily grind and all the other problems and complaints.
I am blessed for everyone who I have been able to massage and exchange with, art or recipe, I am grateful.
Please tell me about your most wonderful exchanges. I'd love to know.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Monday, 18 April 2011
Overworked, underpaid, injured and angry...
I have been working as a full time Massotherapist for ten years. I am now getting paid the SAME AMOUNT as my first job. Yes you read that right. Despite the fact that I have great credentials and excellent reputation my pay remains at 33$ per massage. The going rate of massages in Montreal
Here are some of the major pitfalls of being a massotherapists. First if you work for someone else, as most of us do, you are at the mercy of the employer. They are responsible for advertising their company and promoting their therapists. If they don't do a sufficient job, you as the therapists don't get paid. We get paid per massage not per hour and so no massage no pay. Nice day out no clients coming in for massages, no income for that day. If you work for a popular clinic or massage center, no problem you will have a nice mix of new and returning clients to keep you very busy all week long.
Another issue with massage is that the employer tells you when and how much work you do. For example if you work a six hour shift you likely will not get a break to eat and usually 15 minutes between massage, just enough time to close up with the last client and change the sheets. This means you can get up to 5 sixty minute clients with no break. Sounds like fun when you are falling asleep giving the last massage and your stomach is growling so loud the client even comments.
An employer will either ask you to stay at the spa, even when there are no clients booked, with NO PAY, or you can leave and come in when there are clients booked. In an ideal situation the receptionist is sympathetic and books you back to back clients and does not make you wait around needlessly. In an even better situation you have a scheduled lunch or dinner break.
Another scenario is that you rent a room. In this instance the owner is still responsible for advertising, but you may also be involved in promotions at your own cost. This means you provide and/or pay for your own business card and flyers and maybe do promotional chair massage from time to time.
Chair massage should always be paid work unless it is for a charity. You should never be asked to work for free. If you chose to do this anyways, you should know that chair massage will seldom if ever bring you new clients. The people who stop for free chair massage have only stopped because it was free. It is a WASTE of you time.
You may be asked to sign a contract if you are renting or employed. In every contract is a confidentiality clause and a vicinity clause; this means you cannot have any communication with your clients in any way. They cannot have your phone number, e-mail or personal business card. The employer owns the client. If you do not obey this clause expect a lawyer’s letter. You also, cannot work in the vicinity of the site you are working at, usually a 3 km radius. You can't work for competing companies.
If you plan to have longevity in this business my suggestion is to work from home or renting and for an employer. The mix will sustain you through the low seasons. There are always low seasons, but they are not the same at every location. I don't understand this phenomenon, but it is the case.
I once renewed my contract at a spa and a few months latter decided to leave. The employer said that this was fine I could leave as soon as he found a replacement to take over the room rental. This employer rented out the room and was still asking for rent from me even though I had no room to massage out of. If this happens only return the key to the locale when you are signed out of your lease. If you don't have a key, Go to your room and read in there all day until the employer signs you out of your lease.
A final note about contracts, I was once asked to sign a contract that had a three month notice of termination. That meant when I wanted to leave I had to wait another 3 months. I would never sign such a contract again. Make sure that if an employer says something like,” The contract says you are responsible for advertising but really we'll take care of it." Have them Write it down in the contract and initial.
DON'T BE FOOLED.
The contact is not to the benefit of the massage therapists, but it is a necessary evil. Be cautious and write everything down.
Chair massage is a good way to supplement your wage, but you get paid even less. Yes chair massage is usually 1$ per minute, 60$ an hour. You will get pays, maybe 25$ an hour. Pathetic. It requires even more energy. You usually get 5minutes between massages, maybe a break. You may have time off from massage if there are no clients.
Here are a few scenarios. You are asked to go on a contract of 3 hours. Here's what you ask. Are the clients signed up or do the just arrive without an appointment? If they are all signed up. Are you working 3 massages of 15 minutes per hour. This is reasonable. You may want a break, you never get a paid break. If people have signed up and you know you will be working all the time. Ask for minimum 30$ per hour. If the employer doesn't pay you that much, find a different employer. If you work a contract were people are not signed up you may get intermittent breaks. If you accept a fixed rate for a job like this remember, you may be working a lot of the time. Accept a reasonable rate and remember NONE of these clients will become regular clients in your spa for table massage. A final scenario is that you work at a business for a regular contract. Once a week or whatever the frequency. You will get to know these people and you can think of this as a regular paying gig. This is a good contract but still accept a reasonable wage.
Tips are not a given in any working scenario. I have been a receptionist at a spa and when clients asked me what they should leave, I said 5$ for and hour 10$ for 90 minutes. This is a reasonable tip, but most people don't know they should tip. Talk to the receptionist and encourage her to ask if they would like to leave a tip.
GIVE YOUR RECEPTIONIST A FREE MASSAGE. She or he is your biggest salesperson.
Injuries are a given in massage. We are doing a repetitive movement. The only way to combat this is to take very good care of yourself and know your limits. Don't be intimidated by an employer that asks you to do an extra massage when you know you can't. If you get injured you can be out for up to 2 weeks and you won’t get paid. Your employer will not compensate you. Be careful....
This is a long post, but I hope it helps. Please spread this around and ask me questions. I will be happy to help.
I will blog about many more topics to come.
Here are some of the major pitfalls of being a massotherapists. First if you work for someone else, as most of us do, you are at the mercy of the employer. They are responsible for advertising their company and promoting their therapists. If they don't do a sufficient job, you as the therapists don't get paid. We get paid per massage not per hour and so no massage no pay. Nice day out no clients coming in for massages, no income for that day. If you work for a popular clinic or massage center, no problem you will have a nice mix of new and returning clients to keep you very busy all week long.
Another issue with massage is that the employer tells you when and how much work you do. For example if you work a six hour shift you likely will not get a break to eat and usually 15 minutes between massage, just enough time to close up with the last client and change the sheets. This means you can get up to 5 sixty minute clients with no break. Sounds like fun when you are falling asleep giving the last massage and your stomach is growling so loud the client even comments.
An employer will either ask you to stay at the spa, even when there are no clients booked, with NO PAY, or you can leave and come in when there are clients booked. In an ideal situation the receptionist is sympathetic and books you back to back clients and does not make you wait around needlessly. In an even better situation you have a scheduled lunch or dinner break.
Another scenario is that you rent a room. In this instance the owner is still responsible for advertising, but you may also be involved in promotions at your own cost. This means you provide and/or pay for your own business card and flyers and maybe do promotional chair massage from time to time.
Chair massage should always be paid work unless it is for a charity. You should never be asked to work for free. If you chose to do this anyways, you should know that chair massage will seldom if ever bring you new clients. The people who stop for free chair massage have only stopped because it was free. It is a WASTE of you time.
You may be asked to sign a contract if you are renting or employed. In every contract is a confidentiality clause and a vicinity clause; this means you cannot have any communication with your clients in any way. They cannot have your phone number, e-mail or personal business card. The employer owns the client. If you do not obey this clause expect a lawyer’s letter. You also, cannot work in the vicinity of the site you are working at, usually a 3 km radius. You can't work for competing companies.
If you plan to have longevity in this business my suggestion is to work from home or renting and for an employer. The mix will sustain you through the low seasons. There are always low seasons, but they are not the same at every location. I don't understand this phenomenon, but it is the case.
I once renewed my contract at a spa and a few months latter decided to leave. The employer said that this was fine I could leave as soon as he found a replacement to take over the room rental. This employer rented out the room and was still asking for rent from me even though I had no room to massage out of. If this happens only return the key to the locale when you are signed out of your lease. If you don't have a key, Go to your room and read in there all day until the employer signs you out of your lease.
A final note about contracts, I was once asked to sign a contract that had a three month notice of termination. That meant when I wanted to leave I had to wait another 3 months. I would never sign such a contract again. Make sure that if an employer says something like,” The contract says you are responsible for advertising but really we'll take care of it." Have them Write it down in the contract and initial.
DON'T BE FOOLED.
The contact is not to the benefit of the massage therapists, but it is a necessary evil. Be cautious and write everything down.
Chair massage is a good way to supplement your wage, but you get paid even less. Yes chair massage is usually 1$ per minute, 60$ an hour. You will get pays, maybe 25$ an hour. Pathetic. It requires even more energy. You usually get 5minutes between massages, maybe a break. You may have time off from massage if there are no clients.
Here are a few scenarios. You are asked to go on a contract of 3 hours. Here's what you ask. Are the clients signed up or do the just arrive without an appointment? If they are all signed up. Are you working 3 massages of 15 minutes per hour. This is reasonable. You may want a break, you never get a paid break. If people have signed up and you know you will be working all the time. Ask for minimum 30$ per hour. If the employer doesn't pay you that much, find a different employer. If you work a contract were people are not signed up you may get intermittent breaks. If you accept a fixed rate for a job like this remember, you may be working a lot of the time. Accept a reasonable rate and remember NONE of these clients will become regular clients in your spa for table massage. A final scenario is that you work at a business for a regular contract. Once a week or whatever the frequency. You will get to know these people and you can think of this as a regular paying gig. This is a good contract but still accept a reasonable wage.
Tips are not a given in any working scenario. I have been a receptionist at a spa and when clients asked me what they should leave, I said 5$ for and hour 10$ for 90 minutes. This is a reasonable tip, but most people don't know they should tip. Talk to the receptionist and encourage her to ask if they would like to leave a tip.
GIVE YOUR RECEPTIONIST A FREE MASSAGE. She or he is your biggest salesperson.
Injuries are a given in massage. We are doing a repetitive movement. The only way to combat this is to take very good care of yourself and know your limits. Don't be intimidated by an employer that asks you to do an extra massage when you know you can't. If you get injured you can be out for up to 2 weeks and you won’t get paid. Your employer will not compensate you. Be careful....
This is a long post, but I hope it helps. Please spread this around and ask me questions. I will be happy to help.
I will blog about many more topics to come.
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