Massage & COVID-19: What Now?

Photo by Keenan Constance on Unsplash

I have a lot of strong feelings that are difficult for me to put into words. So much of this experience -- rooted in grief and trauma -- has been subjective, making it difficult (impossible, really) for each of us to remain objective.

I can't dictate what you should do. I can only present tools, opportunities, and resources so that you can decide what is best for you.

If nothing else, I implore you:

Make decisions not from a place of fear and anger, but with an informed, educated understanding.

Resources I've Collected:

• ABMP's "Back to Practice" letter of guidelines from the company's president, Les Sweeney.
• Healwell's Free On-line Course, "Back to Practice Guidelines (in Practice).
• BARBICIDE Certification Course -- a free on-line resource for salons and spas.
• A Google Document titled "Small Biz Resources for Massage Therapists during Pandemic Response," crowd-sourced and put together by practitioner Meg Donnelly from Virginia.
• US Small Business Administration's Coronavirus Relief Options.
• .PDF: US Dept of Labor, OSHA. Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
• "Massage Therapy and Corona Virus: 4 Reasons Why Masks and Clean Surfaces Aren't Enough."
• YouTube Video: Dr. Duc C. Vuong "How COVID-19 Kills - I'm a Surgeon - And why we can't save you."
• The Thinking Practitioner Podcast: Episode 12, "The Cytokine Storm of COVID-19."

Big Names in the Massage Industry That I Respect and Listen To:

• Tracy Walton: "Since 1998, she has developed, taught, and continually updated Oncology Massage Therapy: Caring for Clients with Cancer. ... For over 13 years, Tracy taught physiology and pathology at the Muscular Therapy Institute (now Cortiva Institute – Boston) where she also served as Academic Dean and Chair of the Science Department."
• Ruth Werner: author of six editions of A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, from 1998 until now; writer for Massage and Bodywork Magazine with her column "Pathology Perspectives;" past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation.
• Til Luchau: "With a diverse background that includes manual therapy, somatic psychology, transformative education, as well as organizational and leadership development, Til's ability to connect interdisciplinary, big-picture ideas to practical, real-world applications has made his talks, trainings, and events popular worldwide."
• Whitney Lowe: "Lowe’s been in the profession for over 30 years. He is the author of the profession’s first accessible assessment text, 'Orthopedic Assessment in Massage Therapy.' ... He is a member of the editorial advisory board of the 'Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies,' and is a regularly featured author in publications such as Massage & Bodywork, Massage Today, and Massage Magazine."
• Diana Thompson: a licensed massage therapist for 30 years, specializing in post-operative care; author of "Hands Heal: Communication, Documentation and Insurance Billing for Manual Therapists," now in its fourth edition; a past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the knowledge and practice of massage therapy by supporting scientific research, education, and community service.  

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Fruits Basket's Rice Ball (Onigiri) Analogy

All You Need to Know about Onigiri, a Uniquely Japanese Food

"Maybe the reason that you don't see it is because it's stuck to your back. What I mean is, a person's admirable qualities. They're just like, say, a pickled plum on a rice ball! In other words, the person's the rice ball and the plum is stuck to their back. So all over the world, you could have rice balls made with all sorts of wonderful ingredients, all different flavors and shapes and colors, but since it's stuck in the middle of everyone's back, someone could have a plum and not even know it. They'd look at themselves and think, 'I'm so plain, nothing but white rice.' Even though it isn't true -- because turn them around and sure enough, there it is ... there's the plum. So, if someone is jealous of somebody else, well then it's probably because it's easier to see the plum on someone else's back than your own." -- Tohru Honda, Fruits Basket

When you can't identify your own admirable qualities, ask a friend or loved one what strengths and qualities they see in you.

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Expenses & Taxes: Where to Start

This post includes affiliate links, but only if you purchase memberships.

One of the major projects in my school's curriculum is that each student needs to complete their own business plan, complete with a marketing plan and financial projections. When I wrote mine, I had no idea what I was doing or what would be reasonable numbers in terms of money. Now that I've been self-employed for four years, I feel comfortable offering some advice.

Keep in mind that I'm currently a single, solo practitioner earning less than $20,000 a year -- I file the usual 1040 tax form along with a Schedule C form that details my business expenses. There are different rules and guidelines for S-Corps, Partnerships, LLCs, and the rest, which I cannot speak to at this time. I'm also not a tax preparer and this information should not be construed as legal or financial guidance.

First of all, get yourself a separate business checking account. This is where your starting capital (funds) can be deposited and then you can track additional income or expenses from there. Trying to do it all within your own personal checking account can get messy, especially when it comes time to file your taxes (or, Heaven forbid, if you get audited). I have a business checking account through my credit union and they charge me a $5 a month fee, but I earn a modest amount of interest and a $.25 credit a month for paperless statements.

As of 2019, self-employment income was taxed at about 15.3%. Take your total income and multiply it by 0.153 (or whatever percentage you need or prefer) -- the number you get, you should set aside for taxes, just in case. You should always check the current year's tax information incase that number changes; you can choose to set aside more, but for peace of mind incase you have to pay-in, don't do any less. (If you break even or get a refund, you'll have a little extra cash for the next year's tax savings and/or to give yourself a bonus.)

Gift certificate sales count as income during the calendar year in which they're bought. Set the money aside in a separate savings account and take out funds as they're redeemed. If you spend the money before they're redeemed, you're essentially robbing your future self of that cash. Also, Maine requires you to keep track of unclaimed gift certificates, should you need to refund or report the money as "unclaimed property." Learn more about reporting guidelines. (Also also? You don't have to sell gift certificates if you don't want to.)

How much you should pay yourself is up to you. There's no right or wrong answer for this because it's all super subjective.

Expense categories allow you to loosely group together the totals of your receipts and invoices for easier placement on your Schedule C form. You can preemptively work with your accountant and/or tax preparer to determine the best category for specific expenses, but here are a few general suggestions:

• Cost of Service: sometimes known as Cost of Sales or Cost of Goods Sold (if you were a retailer or plan to sell retail), this is where your linen and lubricant expenses go. Bolsters, essential oils, hot stone supplies, and other small expenses of doing massages also go here. Expect to spend anywhere from ~$100 at the start up to $400+ in a year.
• Advertising & Marketing Materials: for on-line ads, newspaper ads, business cards, brochures or rack cards -- things that you hand out with your name on them for the sake of drumming up business. I spent about $60 in 2019, but this is a low figure.
• Bank & ATM Fee Expense: this is where I put that $5 a month fee from my credit union -- costing me $60 a year.
• Equipment: ** this is ONLY for purchases of $100+ that constitute large objects that may lose value (depreciate) over time, such as a hydraulic lift, a new massage table, a UV-sanitizing hot towel cabinet, etc.
• Insurance: your ABMP membership or other liability insurance should go here. That's usually about $200+ a year, unless you go for a cheaper provider (not recommended).
• Legal & Professional Services: if you hire somebody else to do your book-keeping and to file your taxes, plan for about $100-250+ a year.
• Licensing: your yearly fee for re-licensing with your state. It's $40 in Maine.
• Merchant Fees: I use Square to process credit cards, so I track the fees they take out here. In 2019, I spent $240 out of the money I took in.
• Office Supplies: pens, paper, lightbulbs, cleaning supplies, etc. This is super variable, so you could budget as little as $100, or up to $300 or more.
• Rent or Lease Expense: if you're renting a space, it's going to be super variable according to your location, square footage, whether or not utilities are included, etc.
• Software & Web Hosting: where I track my $12 a year fees to Google for each of my URLS, as well as my on-line scheduling service subscription, etc. I spent about $350 last year.
• Utilities: if they're not included in your rent, put them here.

For other random expenses that don't fit into these categories, just make note of them so that your tax preparer can find the best spot for them, even if that ends up being in the "Other" category. Because the tax rules change all the time (even within the same year), no one can guarantee what specific expenses will be deductible and which ones won't be. Milage is always a sticky one with very specific rules, but you can try to track it manually or through a subscription to the MileIQ app (not an affiliate link). Charitable donations are generally not a deductible business expense, unless your business name appears in the charity's public marketing. Clothes also do not count unless you purchase something with your business name and logo printed or embroidered on it. For more general guidelines, check out "Can I Deduct That?: 100 Things You Can (or Maybe Can't) Take as Business Deductions" by Margo Bowman and Kelly Bowers (not an affiliate link).

Buying in bulk can help you save cash in the long run, but do what you can with what you have. I do not recommend taking out loans or lines of credit if you can help it.

As far as receipts and invoices go, keep the paper copies in an envelope and/or make digital copies to store on something like a thumb drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. Check with your tax professional for recommendations of how long you need to keep them and your old tax returns in case of an audit.

Consider keeping an expense log -- either on-paper or in a digital spreadsheet -- and have one for each expense category. Here's an example you can use: http://bit.ly/bexpenselog

And here's a blank copy of the Google Sheets file I use to track all of my income and expenses over the year to get you started: http://bit.ly/bexpenses

Finally, these are the "due diligence" business questions my local preparer asked me when I filed my 2019 taxes:

• How long have you been in business?
• What evidence do you have to support your business? Business cards, business stationary, receipts/receipt book with company header, business license.
• Do you have a separate business account? If not, how do you track your business activity?
• Have you filed any sales tax returns, payroll tax returns?
• Indicate which you have of the following: Accounting records, paid invoices/receipts, log books, computer records, milage log, car/truck expenses, ledgers, business bank statements.
• Did you file 1099's for subcontractors?

This should be more than enough to get you started, but certainly if I missed anything or you have other questions, get in touch with me.

Happy Budgeting!

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Pro-Tip for Students & Graduates

Get to know your instructors — build good relationships with them. You may want or need professional references and letters of recommendation after you graduate.

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Overcoming Professional Performance Anxiety

Over the last decade, I've met and worked with hundreds of people. I've participated in local events, made friends with industry leaders through Facebook and Twitter, and impressed my work colleagues with my tech savvy and know-how.

I'm also an Introverted perfectionist with generalized, social anxiety. People I perceive as having any kind of authority intimidate me. While I still approach them with the utmost respect, it took a long time for me to loosen up around my current bosses (and their bosses).

I didn't come into this career with a lot of strong interpersonal skills -- like any skill, they had to be learned and practiced. Becoming a parent and working with young kids helped me develop other skills around empathy and communication in ways that I couldn't have predicted.

Some days are easier than others. I'm very good at being a duck: appearing calm and collected on the surface while paddling like crazy underneath. I've learned what things I can let go of and not take as seriously. When things go wrong, I approach the situation with my usual dry humor and say, "Thank you for your patience."

— And then there was the day at clinic when two massage tables broke down moments before we were due to take clients in to their sessions. It happens. It wasn't pretty in the moment, but we got through it and I got over it. The world did not come to an end, the school didn't close down or fire me, and the clients were likely none the wiser.

So what do you do when anxiety hits in-the-moment?

● Take some deep breaths. Drink some water. Clear yourself, if you're energetically inclined.

● Have a conversation. Build a relationship. Don't worry about making a sale or trying to impress every single person you come into contact with. Accept that you will connect with some people more easily than others; you're not going to be everyone's cup of tea (or coffee, or hot cocoa, etc.).

● Remember that when you're meeting prospective students and clients, they're probably more intimidated by you than you are of them. Think back to when you were in their shoes. What would you say to your past-self in encouragement?

● Remember your why: why did you choose this career path? Why did you say "yes" to this specific program? What did you envision at the end of your training? What does that professional-version of you look like? (A la Gramma Tala from Moana: "Who are you meant to be?")

● Call upon those pieces of you; bring in those characteristics. Square your shoulders and stand a little taller.

● Know that "Imposter Syndrome" is a valid fear -- that feeling of being a fraud in spite of everything you've accomplished thus far.

● Accept that you will make mistakes.

● And then push through it, anyway. It takes courage to stand up and put yourself out there. Each time you push through the discomfort and come out the other side, it gets easier.

"Fake it 'til you make it!" and "be yourself!" are cliches, but there is truth to them, making them effective strategies. You will stumble and struggle. Some tears may be shed. You are a real person with very big feelings and that's okay -- it's what makes you relatable, and that's what others are looking for.

Even professionals get anxiety. Even professionals make mistakes. Know that the best ones will see you, empathize with you, and encourage you to keep going.

"Take chances! Make mistakes! Get messy!"

- Ms. Frizzle, the Magic School Bus

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Why High Schoolers Should Consider Massage Training

This post was originally published in October 2014 on a now-defunct version of this site. It has been edited for clarity, but the tone is... more like the bright-eyed, 26-year-old massage school graduate that I once was. I was younger then, and full of hope.

My mom, Laurel; me in my high school graduation cap and gown; and my dad, David.

I graduated high school in 2006, and I remember very keenly all the buzz and options that surrounded the question, “What will you be doing after high school?”

College wasn’t exactly my dream, but I figured it was expected of me: my mother had her Bachelor’s and my dad was on his way to earning his second doctorate shortly before he passed away. I had a lot to live up to! I was in the top 10% of my class!

Well. My experience with my one year of private, out-of-state college did not go so smoothly. I’m still paying for it in many ways, including financially.

One of my passions right now is talking to teenagers about going into massage therapy. Like anything else, it has it upsides and down, so let me quickly go through them:

The Best Things About Massage Schooling

— Timing. My program was 600-hours long. I could choose between going full time, 8:00-5:00, a few days a week, and finish it within six months — or I could go part-time, in the evenings, and spread it out within a year. I went with the latter because I had my kiddo during the day and family could watch him at night. Some programs require 900-hours or more, so it’ll take you a little bit longer. It’s still better than having to wait four+ years for a piece of paper that says, “Hey, I know stuff! (You should hire me!)” Which leads me to...

— Certification. As soon as you graduate your program and get your state licensing and insurance and whatever else your state might require, you’re all set to start working as a massage therapist. The sooner you start working, the sooner you can start socking away money to pay your student loans. Speaking of...

— Cost. When I went, it was just over $13,000 for those 600-hours, and it paid for my tuition, books, and my own portable massage table. My school was federally accredited, so I qualified for Federal Stafford Loans. The school also provided private funding. Compare the cost of this program to one year of private college — even some in-state, public colleges can get pricey.

The Not-So-Great Things About Massage Schooling

— Portability. This has less to do about the schooling itself and more to do with the varied standards throughout the country. Unfortunately, because I only received 600-hours of schooling, I can’t practice in, say, New Hampshire, because they require more than that. To get around this, you could look into taking the MBLEx, which costs money for taking it (and retaking it if you fail) and isn’t recognized by all 50 states at this time.

— Dealing With Clients. You will meet all sorts of people from all walks of life. They will have varying hygiene practices and standards and you are likely to see them in varying states of undress. Some will be demanding; others will fall asleep. Yes, you will probably have to deal with at least one inappropriate client. Yes, some clients will get erections at inopportune times, and yes, sometimes other clients will fart when you’re working on their backsides. If you’re uncomfortable with nudity or natural bodily functions and hair, massage therapy may not be for you.

— Travel & Living. I was lucky in that my massage school was a half-hour away from where I was living, I had reliable transportation, and I had low-cost childcare. You might have to do some research to find a school that is close to you that best meets all of your needs. The ones I know of in Maine don’t offer on-campus housing; a few students I knew during my training actually stayed in a nearby hotel because driving home every day would have been too much.

— Other Costs. You’re going to have to buy linens, your own lotions and supplies, and possibly invest in Continuing Education after you graduate. Maine doesn’t require CEUs, but other states do; it’s just a good idea, anyway, so as to keep your work fresh and to help you learn new techniques and modalities.

There are two big prerequisites for attending the massage school I chose: you have to be 18 or older, and you have to have your high school diploma or GED. The rest is just gravy — writing skills and knowledge of anatomy and physiology will be a big help. CPR and first aid training is not only helpful, it's required for graduation and certification in Maine. Get massages: keep track of your "why" for going into massage therapy and what things you would do differently.

If you ever have any other questions about getting into massage school or massage therapy as a career, definitely get in touch with me! It’s something I could babble about for hours.

(Oh, and if you’re out of high school but you’re thinking about trying massage therapy? That’s totally cool, too. High-five!)

(2020-Bethany adds: ... For reference, this photo is 2014-me with my son and my mom.)

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Music Legalities

(No affiliate links were included in the writing of this blog post. None of this should be taken as legal advice. Dang it, Jim, I’m a massage therapist —- not a lawyer.)

Jamakassi

Many of us strive to act and to run our businesses in an ethical manner by following personal and societal mores and norms. Ethics not only relate to how you interact with clients and peers -- it also can include obligations imposed by law.

The use of music in your office or massage space is governed by your country's laws surrounding copyright: protections given to authors for their original works. If you play copyrighted music "in public" without proper licensing, you could be hit with statutory damages of $750 at minimum to a maximum of $150,000 per song (depending on whether or not you knowingly/willingly violated the law).

The reason behind this being illegal is that when licensed music is played in a commercial space, it is played with the intention of creating an experience for customers that is conducive to the interests of the business (getting customers to pay money for the goods and services on offer). The business gains from the music being played. For that reason, the law says that the creators of the music should get a piece of the profit being made.

-- Can I Play Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, or Other Music Services in My Business? from Cloud Cover Music.

"But I've bought copies of my music and/or pay for a consumer-level streaming service!"

Sorry, no. You can't get around the copyright regulations if you've only paid for individual, personal services and products:

The law distinguishes between owning a copy of music, like a CD or a song saved on an iPod, and owning the rights to those songs, including the right to publicly perform them. When you purchase a CD or DVD or download an audio file, software, game or other product containing music, even those specifically marketed for business purposes, you are only buying a copy of the music and the right to play it “privately.”

... When music is streamed over the Internet, however, there is a distinct performance right with respect to the “sound recordings” of songs publicly performed via digital audio transmission. So, theoretically, streaming online music into shared spaces could also require a performance license from the sound recording copyright owners.

-- Music Licensing Basics for Apartments, by Cindy A. Tune, .PDF accessed 1/23/2020 11:00AM EST. 

There is one specific exception to be aware of:

There are exceptions to when a license is required to play copyrighted music; stores under 2,000 square feet, and restaurants and bars under 3,750 square feet, can play music over a radio, TV, or similar device [i.e. cable or satellite broadcast], but there have to be fewer than six speakers carrying the sound.

-- In-Store Music Laws in the U.S.: Licensing, Legalities, and Fines from Cloud Cover Music.

However, this exception strictly limits you to using those specific sources (radio, TV, cable or satellite broadcast) and only the music and visuals licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

For any other device or music source, you need to have a Public Performance License through one or more Performance Rights Organizations (PRO). Rather than go through the individual PROs (the costs of which can be over $1000 annually), there are services that will provide you the public performance licenses and access to music covered under those licenses. These services will cost more than your standard consumer subscriptions, but you will be able to rest easy in knowing that your butt (and your business) has been covered.

"Okay, what are my (cheapest) options?"

Here are three under $30/month services to consider:

• Soundtrack Your Brand: high quality, wide variety, connection to Spotify and its playlists (as it was originally sponsored as "Spotify for Business"), and a free 30-day trial. After that, it's $26.99 a month.
• Cloud Cover Music: not quite as robust as Soundtrack Your Brand, but if you're only needing licenses in the USA and Canada, the ~$17 a month price tag is a little easier to swallow.
• SighTunes: specifically designed for massage therapists, providing 10-hours of royalty-free music, refreshed each month (so long as you're connected to WiFi... and remember to do it at the start of each month), for $9.99 a month. Plus, if you have a professional membership like ABMP, there is a discount code to take up to an additional 40% off. I have tried it... it's not my favorite due to the design of the app itself, the "blah" choices of music, and the aforementioned need to connect to the Internet before you drive out to a client's house on the first of the month and suddenly can't access the previous month's music. (ಠ_ಠ) (This may have changed since I last attempted to use it. I'm not holding my breath.)

Another option would be to actively look for music that is within the public domain (i.e. works written before copyright law was established, or the copyrights have expired/been lost, etc.), music that is considered royalty-free, or music where the copyright-holders have explicitly given their permission for public use. Artful Touch Music is one such resource:

Artful Touch Music was created for, and inspired by, the healing arts. We invite you to use this music in your professional bodywork offices and yoga studios.

These songs are effective as music therapy for all ages and are enjoyable as a soundtrack for massage therapy and yoga practice.

This music encourages relaxation, a resting heart rate, deeper breathing, a calm and centered mind, and a general sense of well-being.

-- Artful Touch

Other References:

I went down the rabbit hole so you don't have to.

• Top 10 Licensing Questions: How to Play Legal Music in Your Business from Cloud Cover Music (because they've done the work and likely have answers to the majority of your questions)
• "You Might Need a License to Play Music in Your Small Business" from NFIB
• "Can I use Spotify at my business or school?" from Spotify's Account Support
• Music Streaming Services for Business by Legis Music (offers a longer list of the more expensive, general PRO services)
• 11 Questions About Music Licensing from the National Restaurant Association (spells things out simply)
• Copyright Law of the United States, Title 17 -- if you're adept at reading and understanding legalese or need something to put people to sleep

"But wait! What about Pandora and SiriusXM?"

These companies are jointly owned by Liberty Media, the heads of which collectively gave $1 million to Trump’s 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee (currently under federal investigation). In 2016, Sirius moved to eliminate 80 percent of its Latin music channels. In 2017, they reintroduced Steve Bannon as a regular host on its Patriot channel until he stepped down in 2018. (Source: Pandora’s New Corporate Parents Gave Millions to Trump, GOP, Sam Lefebvre, January 2019, KQED.org)

Personal ethics are just as important as professional ethics. Therefore, I cannot and will not endorse these platforms.

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Tips for Massage School Success

• If you have a syllabus, write down the dates beside each class so that you know exactly when they're taking place. 
• Related: write down the due dates next to assignments and projects. 
• Also related: put all of these dates into your calendar(s). 
• Work ahead when you can because life will happen and you can fall behind. 
• Keep track of any missed classes and clinics: my suggestion is to have a column for the date, a column for what was missed and/or how many hours it was worth, why it was missed, and a column for the "Made Up" date. You can download mine or make your own.

• Keep a Massage Journal.
• Ask friends and family for gift certificates for local massage businesses. 
• If you're having difficulty moving your body -- i.e. if you're lacking flexibility -- checking with your doctor, visiting a chiropractor, or taking up gentle yoga (such as yin yoga) can help you move easier and with less pain. 
• Anatomical terminology (anterior, posterior, lateral, medial, etc.) and movement terminology (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, etc.) are two different but very important things for you to study early on. 
• Flashcards are your friends. 
• Strong thighs save spines: more lunging, less reaching and leaning. 
• Twin and Twin XL-sized sheets work great on massage tables. Keep your pillowcases to use as face cradle covers and for draping. Microfiber sheets are lighter and dry quicker, but higher thread counts last longer. 
• When you are struggling, ask for help -- from friends and family, classmates, teachers, other staff members of your school. 
• Make a Facebook group or an e-mail or text loop for you and your classmates.

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7 Pro-Tips For Improving Your Massage Session

-- Ask, “Are there any areas you don’t want to have massaged, today?”

Clients may be wearing makeup or going out to work or dinner after their session. Some clients cannot have their feet touched at all. This will also help you to make better use of your time if you know you have wiggle-room.

-- Ask, “What kind of pressure do you prefer?”

Remember that pressure is a subjective measurement. Use a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lightest feather-touch and 10 being crushing. Your pressure of 3 might feel like a 7 to your client, or vice versa. This tolerance or preference can also change between sessions.

-- Ask about a bolster and client’s comfort upon entering your space.

My routine after I close my office door to start a session includes turning off one of my lights, giving a client a bolster if requested, and wrapping their feet with warmed towels before I sit at the head of the table (if they’re starting supine). Any lapses or interruptions to the routine can throw off my groove and then I’ll realize I left my lotion on the shelf or missed another step.

-- Get to the client’s focus area within the first 10-20 minutes.

I love to save “the best for last,” but you don’t want your client to sit in a silent panic that you won’t have enough time to give their problem area your focus. It’s okay to...

-- Shake up your routine.

Head-to-toe and toe-to-head is a great framework, but it’s not a cardinal rule. You’re allowed to start a client face-down. With hand sanitizer ready, you could start by working on their feet. Try out new ways of performing the usual strokes (i.e. using a forearm instead of knuckles, etc.).

-- Consolidate strokes and steps of your routine.

If you’re aiming for a relaxing session, minimize turning the client’s head side-to-side or flipping them over frequently. Do one gliding, encompassing motion on each finger or toe. Steps that involve the hairline or anything above it should be done as part of the scalp routine so as to...

-- Minimize or Avoid Getting Lubricant in the Client’s Hair

Clients hate this. Unless they’ve signed up for an Ayurvedic oil treatment, it’s best to have clean, dry hands for scalp work. You might also choose to have a small can of dry shampoo available for freshening up after their session.

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How Journaling Can Make You a Better Massage Therapist

If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice before starting massage school, it would be to start and keep a massage journal.

As we learn and practice our massage skills, we need to understand that our inevitable mistakes are opportunities to reflect on, "What worked? What didn't? What can be changed?"

A journal becomes a container for thoughts, ideas, inspiration, and reflections. They can be used to hone or spark new interests, to give yourself direction and focus, and to explore how you best work as you navigate the professional world.

Journaling doesn't have to be super fancy -- don't get bogged down in the bullet journal craze and all the "must haves!" and artistic perfection that the Internet implies you need. You can grab any old notebook and a writing implement. The journal doesn't have to be wholly physical, either, if you prefer to do things digitally. Finally, remember that you don't have to share it with anybody else unless you choose to -- this is a tool for you.

With that said, here are some journaling suggestions to get you started:

• What is your "Why?"
  Why did you get into massage therapy? Sometimes having a big, specific goal goal doesn't work for everyone; what are the little things about performing massage therapy that bring you fulfillment?
• Receiving Sessions:
  As you meet other professionals and explore their businesses, write down your observations for later. Since they'll be written down, you won't have to try and pry them from your memory.
• What did you like?
• What would you do differently?
• Names & Contacts:
  Sometimes called a Client Relations Manager (CRM), include contact information that might be helpful for you or others to reach specific people in the future.
• Classmates, Teachers
• Practice & Potential Clients
• Potential Employers & Referral Partners
• What are you curious about?
  What are the things that spark your interest? What would you like to research?
• Other Modalities, CEUs
• Specific Client Bases
• Who do you enjoy working with?
  Whether it's specific client niches, working as an employee, or collaborating with other professionals, what does your ideal work environment look like?
• Make Lists:
  This way you can have all the things in one place instead of on a thousand sticky notes and pieces of scrap paper strewn through your house and car...
• Pros & Cons
• Due Dates & Deadlines
• Events & Commitments
• Media Ideas
• Collect Things:
  What are clients saying about your work? What quotes or visuals light you up and keep you motivated?
• Testimonials & Feedback
• Inspirational Photos, Quotes
• "Give yourself permission to be messy and make mistakes!"
  "Siri, how do you spell 'curious?'" "Curious: c-u-r-i-o-u-s." "... Ugh." *adds in the second 'u'*
• "These are written on paper -- not in stone. You can always change your mind!"
  Your vision of your career might change and adapt -- it probably will. And that's okay.

"That's all well and good, but how exactly does this make me a better massage therapist?"

Having your "Why," front and center, can help to keep you going -- even when you feel like throwing in the towel.

It gives you a place to record data: you may start to see patterns in your work or in your preferences for how you work. For example, if dirty and cluttered businesses make me not want to spend money there, I will make it a priority to keep my own space clean. Or if people really like my neck and shoulder work but my leg work is lacking, I might need to review old techniques and study new ones.

If you're not the right therapist for a potential client, you can say, "I know someone else who specializes in what you're looking for!"

You can better know yourself -- by acknowledging your limitations and setting your own boundaries -- and reward yourself accordingly.

You have an opportunity to explore your personal values and potential visions for your future. Having these bits and pieces in one place makes it easier to build resumes, request references or recommendations, write copy, compose business plans, and develop marketing materials.

"Who are you meant to be?"

Remember to have fun with it. Write down the funny things your classmates and clients say. Leave room to doodle in the margins. Treat yourself to a set of new pens and stencils. Daydream about winning the lottery. Print out and glue-in your favorite meme. Just start, and trust that your journal will evolve with you.

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So You Want to Make Your Own Content

Created with Canva.com

My favorite resources for royalty-free images without the guilt of copyright infringement:

• Unsplash.com
• Pexels.com
• MassageNerd.com (Read Rules for Use)

Need help choosing colors? Try these (and remember to write the color codes down!):

• DeGraeve Color Palette Generator - Hexadecimal color palettes based off of images.
• W3S Color Picker - Offers Hexadecimal codes and RGB values. 
• Canva.com: Color - Palette generator, palette ideas, and color theory.

Want to play with fancy fonts, symbols, and emojis? There are sites for that:

• Messletters
• CopyPasteCharacter.com
• Canva.com: Font Combinations

Once you have your images, text, and colors, here are some free/inexpensive resources for putting them all together:

• Pixlr.com
• Canva.com - Also offers handy-dandy tutorials for the graphic-design-challenged.

Need a logo? Try Canva.com's Logo Maker for a free/cheap. For the ultimate $299+ business investment, check out 99Designs' Custom Logo Design contests.

Happy Creating!

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When the Best-Laid Plans Go to Pot

August 10, 2019. I had two clients booked at my office on Main Street in Buxton, Maine. I was leisurely going about my morning at home when I was told there would be a parade going past my office that morning.

I was instantly gripped with anxiety. I called and messaged my clients to ask what they wanted to do, as there was no telling when the parade would end and whether or not we could get in and out of my parking lot.

I rushed to my office, frustrated with the cars doing 35 in a 40, frustrated with the town, and frustrated with myself for not connecting the dots sooner.

Pulling into my parking lot was easy; things weren't busy yet, though a local side-street was already reduced to local traffic only. As I finalized rescheduling my first appointment, I looked around my office...

And got to work.

"If you can't beat 'em" became my mantra as I put out my signs on the street, and then added Small Business Saturday balloons and business cards. I washed windows and mirrors and dusted surfaces, both inside and outside. I moved more signage and decoration around and tacked up an outlet cover to hide a hole in my wall. These are all things that I never would have made time for, otherwise.

I took a photo and shared it on Facebook, with a bit of (malaphoric) humor -- because that's how I deal with life when things go wrong.

The Importance of Being Adaptable

Yes, I allowed myself a few moments to wallow and bemoan the situation, as well as the (temporarily) lost income. Once that was over with, I made the best of it.

In massage school, I emphasize the importance of rolling with whatever situations arise -- because things can change in an instant, regardless of whether you're in a school clinic, working for someone else, or running your own private practice.

• You will have no-show clients.
• You will have five clients vying for the same day and time slot.
• You may plan to work on a client's shoulders but, when they arrive, you find out they have a sunburn.
• You may plan to start work on a client who is face-up, only to walk in and find them face-down.
• You may plan to have no clients at all and come to work to find three of them.
• You may expect to be fully booked and find out everyone cancelled at the last minute.
• The business next door will throw a road race and BBQ in your parking lot and not tell you about it.

Life happens.

It's easy to panic and get upset and run in circles, but none of these things accomplish much in the long-run.

• I can't guarantee that anyone is going to take my business cards while they walk up and down Main Street. 
• Probably nobody is going to appreciate the cleanliness of my windows and office. (Though, trust me, they notice when things aren't clean -- they are just too polite to mention it.)
• My landlord is going to have to pry that outlet cover off to fix the hole properly, someday.

But all of these little things add up. They didn't take much time or effort out of my day while my original plans were already thrown out the window.

So when life happens -- when your teachers ask you to do seemingly menial tasks, your boss needs you to come in after giving you the day off, or your client has to cancel due to sudden illness -- go ahead and take a moment to vent about it. 

Then take a deep breath.

Do what needs to be done.

Make the most of the situation.

And then be proud of yourself for remaining flexible and handling things with grace.