Are you bored with Massage?

[shine on benevolent sun]

I'm kind of getting bored with the massage I am doing after 2 years.  Yes, I worked hard to get where I am, having my own practice and all.  Iv'e met certain goals for myself and all I can think of is hiring some MT's to work for me and expand my business.  I'm tired of my body feeling so sore, and I want to enjoy some of the thing's I use to do before I was an MT, like art work and writing.  I have signed up for a class in art, and hope to do some other studies.  Have you had a similar experience?  What do you do when you get bored with massage?  Thank's for reading this, and I hope to hear from you.  NeoMassage ???

 

[Rob M]

Boredom usually means that there is something you should be looking at.I think boredom happens when we are afraid to look inside and see what is going on.In The Heart of The Soul, Gary Zukav says, "Boredom is a flight from what is important. Like workaholism and perfectionism, it is a way of distracting yourself from inner experiences. It occurs when you look outward and do not find anything to engage your attention. Instead of feeling your emotions - becoming aware of the functioning of your energy system - you become bored. Boredom ... is a flight from your higher potential. It is fear of the transformation that wants to occur, and will occur in you, when you explore your emotions. It is your resistance to spiritual growth."I provide online supervision through My website http://www.massagepracticebuilder.com to assist massage therapists in looking at their inner life and what is going on.  It usually involves finding meaning in your work again.  It is more about the process than what you are doing.Julie

 

[Cross]

Our instructor, in school, said that when we got bored to pursue other modalities, take a class, or seminar and learn something new.  

 

[SemandXX]

Thank 's for your replies, I guess Im not sure how my current client's will respond if I cut my hours back, take some classes, and then try to incorporate them into the massage that I currently do.  The problem is that they are happy with the services they recieve, but day after day, massage after massage, I feel like I'm in an assembly line!  Don't get me wrong, I love working for myself, and know that I make a difference in their live's.  I want some serious resonse to how you all deal with these issues if they arrise, how you stay imspired and motivated.  Please share you experience's or inspriration if you have been in this situation.  Gracious thank's, Neo Masssage

 

[Aquariuzdiva]

Hey Neo!I have been in private practice for over 5 years now, averaging about 27 clients per week for the majority of that time.  Burn out and boredom thrive in these situations.  THe first time I felt bored, I started looking at my massage routine...it was the same for each person...20 minutes on the back, 8 minutes each leg, blah, blah blah.  I started to look at the body different and experimenting and creating new ways to accomplish what I was trying to do...either by relaxing the client or relaxing the muscle.  After the uneasyness of breaking out of my routine (or box if you will) it became fun and similar to detective work.  Now each client is like a blank canvas, and I am excited to "play".  Now some will object, but often I do different techniques on each leg or arm, without it being the same on the opposite leg or arm.  My clients have enjoyed their massages for years, and they too do not get bored because each massage is just slightly different from the last one.  Mind you, my "core" routine is the same, it's just the extras that change.I change my music often as well...when you are in your treatment room for 6-9 hours a day, the music can become mundane over time.  So I have built up a substantial library of cd's to choose from.Going to your state's massage convention is always a great boost in excitement for your career.I can go on for hours about this stuff...email me if you would like and I will ramble some more...

 

[niki]

Okay, here are some things I do that help save me from boredom:If I usually start a client face up, every so often I will ask them to go face down to change the pace a little.Occasionally use essential oils...I have a few clients that are so high strung they cannot truly relax durring the massage.  So I started using an aroma ball with a couple of drops of lavender oil.  They all passed out on the table and I had to wake them to turn over!How often do you receive massage?  If I go any longer than 2-3 months without a massage, I start feeling disconnected and I loose sight of how much I am impacting my clients.  It is very important to know what it feels like to be on that table.But it is also a great idea to trade with other therapists that have gone to different schools, and specialize in different modalities, and in different settings.  It will excite and inspire you on things that are different from what you are doing now.  You can learn what NOT to do (because you didn't enjoy it)  as well as things you can incorporate.Try adding new touches such as eye pillows, cervical pillows, leg and ankle bolsters.  Nice warm hot packs are also a welcome touch to most clients.Check out http://www.bodyworkbiz.com for a really inexpensive online course that will help get you reved up about your business.  I have been really happy with it.Again, I could go on and on about this stuff...I really have fun with my career and I love to share what I've learned.  Keep me posted to let me know!

 

[jomonjimmy]

Kneadfulthings, Hey thank's for your idea's.  It's great to hear from someone who has made changes when they started to get a little bored.  You talked about a lot of things that I haven't thought of.  Today I had the pleasure of giving a massage to another  LMT, she has been in practice for 7 years, and shared why she still loves her job.  She loves that she feels very appreciated by her client's, and she's told what a wonderful job she's doing everyday!  Im ready to look at my situation differently now, by using some creativity in the work I provide, using many of your suggetions.  I haven't had a massage or other bodywork for a while now, so I made an appt. for a Polarity session this week.  Thank's for responding so honestly, you truely gave me some answers I needed!  Namesta

 

[mr_j526]

I would also like to touch on the subject on your frustration with missing out on things you used to do.  I am currently going through the same thing... When I started out I worked for myself, by myself.  My over head was very, very low.  I had a lot more freedom to have a flexable schedule, which was very convenient due to having a newborn.  As my practice grew, I added therapists to help with the overflow, and expanded my office.  As nice as it is to have extra business and income from the other therapists, beware...there can be extra headaches and expenses that come with it.  Not to mention responsibilty.  The more expenses, the more you have to produce to cover those expenses.More space means much more overhead.  Advertising to bring in business for the other MT's ads to it.  Praying they treat your clients with the same care and attention you do can be nerve wracking.  And for the most part, the drive to work as hard as you do is hard to find.  Put it this way...if they had the same drive and determination as you do, they would start their own practice, wouldn't they?  With all of the paperwork and managing that comes with the job, I work 60 hours a week.  THat leaves little time to be the wife and mother I would like to be, and even less time for personal time.  Three times last week I swore I was going to sell my practice and go work at McDonald's!  And then the reality of how much I love my job (The massage part!) and how important it is to take care of myself, otherwise I can't take care of anyone else.  Hmmmmm, kinda sounds like the advice I give my clients...how ironic!    I don't know if this angle will help you other than to know you are not alone.  And if personal freedom is important to you, you may consider raising your rates a little more and cutting back your hours a little more.  That is what I am in the process of doing.  If I don't, then I am being a hipocrite to my clients when I suggest they take better care of themselves.Thank you for being so open to the ideas! آ I wish you, health, happiness, and excitement in your career!

 

[lydia]

When I am bored, I know it is time for a vacation!  Why not plan a cruise?  The LMT Success Group cruise is coming up in November!It might be nice to meet other therapists from all over the USA, take your CEU courses, visit trade shows, and learn about things that will help you to look at your business with new eyes.  The destinations this time are St. Thomas and St. Maarten.  I can assure you that these places are awesome, and totally worth the cost of the trip.

 

[katty94]

I am not bored, but I have to say that my biz partener & I had a laugh the other day when she said, "Do you ever feel like you're just working on the same bodies over & over again?" We did laugh at the irony: she finally has regular clients, but still finds something to itch over. And it's so true. I think we all do that to a certain extent. Here are some of my suggestions (most of em I do, some of em I want to! ha) to keep myself inspired:I get worked on every 3 weeks. Usually by somebody new. I love exploring different spaces, environments & feeling different approaches & techniques. One absolutely A-list experience I had in May was Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy. YES! That was wonderful.Take a ceu class. It doesn't have to be a huge investment or lengthy course. Don't whine; just do it. Tell your clients in an e:mail that (and what) you are taking a course & that you hope to bring some great, new, effective strokes to work soon!Change 'something' in your work space environment:  give it a Feng Shui make-over, or change a decorative element. Maybe alter the lighting sources or simply go in on your day off & give the room a top-to-bottom cleaning. You'll probably find great stuff (like that "tingler" I bought, but don't use! ha, or a couple of essential oils that you haven't opened up lately).Create a new service. I've done this endless times. The really succesful ones find a permanent home in my practice. The others are still great because they add a new offering; an excitement; a unique reason to promote your services to all the clients you have in your old files! Examples:  a cooling, invigorating foot & leg treatment/add-on service or an exfoliating treatment for summer into fall, etc.A few months back I purchased some wheating sacks (heatable or chillable) from Jon O's place in Canada. (they make them here too, but I wanted to support a cronie!) I used them on myself. Loved it. Used them on my clients (they love it!), and am now making & selling them! Then I started really investigating the effectiveness (and pleasure!) of creative use of alternating heat and cold. I used an idea posted here by someone a while back & put EOs, distilled water & rubbing alcohol in a non-reactive aluminum spray/mister bottle ("mist" is key here, as you don't want to 'surprise' the client & make them flinch). I use it for example, in between hot stone applications & biofreeze. More specifically, hot stone massage, application of biofreeze, an 'artic arizona mist', then a hot towel compress at the end of my back massage in my hot stone treatments. My clients are almost squealing with approval!There are so many ideas.I always 'post l-o-n-g'.Hope its interesting to somebody out there.Cheers!Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[yellowradar]

Are you bored with Massage?

When I get bored I take a new class and then try it out my regular clients to see what they think. That keeps them comming and gives me something different to learn and try.

 

[Afnan M]

Are you bored with Massage?

Hi.  I'd like to know what this aroma ball is that Kneadfulthings is talking about!neo -You wrote:

...all I can think of is hiring some MT's to work for me and expand my business. I'm tired of my body feeling so sore, and I want to enjoy some of the thing's I use to do before I was an MT, like art work and writing. I have signed up for a class in art, and hope to do some other studies. I'm not sure how my current client's will respond if I cut my hours back, take some classes, and then try to incorporate them into the massage that I currently do.

I can just ake a repeat of something already mentioned.  It sounds like now is a perfect time to up your rates (by as much as $10-15/ session), and take your art class.You may loose a few clients, but you'll make a little extra money and have extra time to take the class this way.  Hopefully, it will let you keep the clients who are ultra interested in you and this will also boost your morale!   8)It does get a little "same-o same-o" sometimes, but all the ideas here are great, and I am even going to use a few myself.  And, I definitely say don't feel bad about exploring your artsy side even more with some other classes or additional professional work.  Maybe if your art classes turn out good you can consider designing greeting cards/thank-yous, etc. for the massage and health care professions!   Or you could consider cooking school!  

 

[Chad P]

Are you bored with Massage?

Texas gal...

ask and you shall receive...

http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialaroma.html

 

[Mum knows best]

Are you bored with Massage?

Neo,Have you thought that maybe you are feeling bored because your clients are feeling that way... or maybe they're feeling bored because you're feeling bored.  As we all know there are alot of feelings that are shared during a massage session.  Even though you're still satisfying their needs, maybe your clients are ready for something new as well.  Nanette