r/MassageTherapists

For me, it’s realizing that for a significant portion of the population, if you don’t physically demonstrate with your literal hands while saying “get under the sheet AND blanket”, what you find in the room could vary. You could have the “entirely on top of the blanket crowd”, buck ass naked. Or you could find that they sandwiched themselves between the blanket and the top sheet crowd. Never in a million years did I think I’d have to demonstrate how to get on a massage table to anyone.

What is it for you?

I'm an RMT and this is the third time I have had to call in sick in the last 3 months. I work at a spa (not a chain, local) and over all get treated and paid pretty well with benefits and get some flexibility over my schedule. I've been working as an RMT for about a year and a half and I only treat about 12-15 clients a week. I am autistic (low support needs), have ADHD and CPTSD so my nervous system can only handle so much. Overall I have a pretty healthy lifestyle (eat well, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and I'm in therapy). I had a very stressful spring/summer this year and think I am chronically burnt out from a lot of different life and work stressors and as a result have not been able to maintain my exercise routine for the last few months as much as I would like. I never get sick this frequently and am just feeling really bad for having to call in for the third time this summer. If I weren't symptomatic I would just try and push through it but I don't want to get my clients sick or make myself more sick by trying to power through. My treatment room gets very hot and stuffy and I find wearing a mask while treating makes me very light headed and dizzy as I already struggle with getting light headed and dizzy when I'm unwell. My boss generally tries to be understanding but at the same time, whenever I call in sick she also throws in a passive aggressive comment about how it inconveniences the day/workflow (I think she is just stressed because we are understaffed on RMTS and she has trouble finding people to work there because it's just generally hard for many local businesses to find enough RMTS in our city).

I know that ethically and professionally that I am making the right call by calling in if I am symptomatic but I can't help shake the feeling I am doing something wrong by getting sick this often and calling in this often. I genuinely love working as an RMT and would much rather be able to go into work and it's getting frustrating having to cancel clients this frequently. Has anyone else had a similar experience to this? How did you navigate it and the associated feeling of shame and guilt that come with it?

I’ve been a massage therapist for over 8 years and I’m finding I’ve forgotten some of what I learned in my anatomy classes (adhd, autism, and memory issues associated with the latter and perimenopause).

What would be the best route to relearn these and kinesiology? I’m also interested in neurology and pain science. I want to provide the best care for my clients and I know that means really and truly understanding the body, how it works, why it does, etc.

Does it make sense for me to enroll in the classes at my local community college, or are there other courses/online platforms y’all have had success with?

I really love learning, but as I said with some memory issues it makes it tricky to retain information, so sometimes out of the box learning or hands on things are easier for me.

I am a massage therapist in the USA. I am looking to move to California and am shocked at the number of job listings that list wages like $19/hr. That is $20 lower than the lowest wages I find in my current state with a much lower cost of living.

Do these spas charge a large, automatic gratuity or something? Am I just seeing bottom of the barrel listings? How are massage therapists making ends meet in California with wages like this? I would appreciate any insight, advice, or personal experiences- thank you!

Do you usually follow up with regulars who all of a sudden stop booking with you?

Logically I know that in most cases it’s probably due to reasons not even related to me and my service, but I can’t help but take it personally.

For example, a monthly regular of 3 years leaves a message to cancel their appointment and doesn’t ask to reschedule. Do you call them to see if they want to rebook? (I hate to bother people or seem pushy) Or do you figure they will call if they need you and just let it be.

I’m busy enough that I don’t need to chase clients, it’s more so that I’m just genuinely concerned about my clients and if they are happy with their treatments.

There’s a lady that comes to the studio where I work and nothing is outwardly wrong with her. She’s polite, clean, shows up on time and tipswell. From the first time I met her I had a visceral feeling dislike towards her. After the first massage and on I have felt disgusted before and after the massage.
I’ve never had such a deep awful feeling about a client before. Im trying to talk myself out of feeling this way. I typically like people, give them the benefit of the doubt or am indifferent to people.

So I’ve been a LMT practically for one year and I was very fortunate enough to have my first job (still current) as an independent contractor at a local practice rather than a franchise or chain. I enjoy where I work but sometimes I question if the pay is fair and I feel like I’m stuck in a cycle that I don’t have as much say so or power in changing.

I currently work 4-5 days a week because we are opened only two Saturdays a month. I usually am doing 5 massages those days with 30 mins in between each massage and only averaging about 5 hours massage time. I know that’s better than the franchise or chain style of operations but I’m still feeling burnt out. Also it’s never a true 30 in between with doing my outtake with the client and getting set up for my next one. I like the idea of 5 massages a day cause financially that is good for my paychecks but I know tips are really what’s fueling me forward in that area. I make $27.50/hr and I get paid twice a month and my paychecks with my workload average around $1050-1400 depending on various factors. That is without tips. I did the math and I only make about $41 for a 90 minute massage and I have some clients who do not tip and are difficult to work on or just tire me out by time it’s my 4th or 5th massage. I feel like I am being robbed of my time and my body and energy and my skills are not being compensated fairly. I don’t expect clients to tip but it’s nice when they do because it actually makes up for a lot of my salary but it’s obviously weird and unprofessional to bring that up if I’m constantly working on a regular who is hard to work on and doesn’t tip. I should mention to I do a lot of deep tissue and corrective style work so I feel like my brain and body are constantly going and to add onto that I have some yappers and it really messes with my focus and energy. I don’t mind the conversation all the time or the connection but I just feel like a shell of a person somedays after working.

I do what to mention despite what I mentioned above, I truly enjoy this career and I enjoy helping people feel better. I also have enjoyed discovering a skill I am good at and it’s exciting to see how much I’ve grown in that regard in such a short amount of time. I know I need to practice better boundaries when it comes to my timing and cutting it off at the designated time and maybe stop going so hard on every single massage but I take pride in the service and want people to feel their best.

I mainly made this post because I’m feeling burnt out and feel like my skills are not actually being compensated fairly, get my thoughts and feelings out, and just advice for better boundaries on how to navigate situations to avoid burn out. Thank you for reading

I'm looking to add more hours to my schedule and having a tough time deciding what route to go, so I'm looking to hear other opinions on this.

I have a room share, I adore the room, I get to use an electric table, location is great and rent is very affordable for where I am in my career right now. Problem is the days I have the most hours in the room are dead. The days I have the least hours, Tuesday and Wednesday, I'm seeing more demand for (people wanting to book those hours but I cannot since the other person is in the room).

Tuesday and Wednesday happen to be the days my partner has to be in office so I have the house to myself with the exception of our pets. I was thinking I could offer hours those days to established clients out of my house. I could charge a little less since I know it is not as nice as the room I work out of and I can make it super clear what the room is like and let anyone know with a cat allergy that this won't be ideal for them even if I vacuum everyday.

Or I could offer mobile. Issue with that is none of my established clients are into that idea as they do not have space for me to set up in their homes, so this would end up being only new clients, and I guess it makes me a bit nervous.

If you were in this situation, is there an option here that would appeal to you more? I'm also wondering about pros and cons I might not be seeing.

I know for many the solution is find a new room, but I signed a lease and I do really love the place. But I know when the lease is up next year if the hours have not changed I will have to look for another one sadly.

TYIA!

Edit to add, I don’t need to worry about specific zoning issues, or having something like a separate entrance. I already need a business license to run out of the room I work in, maybe I would need an extra one for the house so I will look into that.

What do y’all wear to work? How do you define appropriate vs inappropriate clothes? Sweat proof and oil proof?

Responses from any therapists are appreciated, but this is a special difficulty our therapists have been struggling with for years and we are hoping for real life successful suggestions that are tried and true! (Please assume proper body mechanics, self care, diet, physical training, high level of experience and years of additional training for deep therapy are in place - VERBIAGE is what is needed)

Background: Treatment is described as ‘therapeutic deep’, top dollar is charged (treatment includes access to spa amenities), spa is high volume with therapists having zero control over the schedule, deep therapy is possibly the most commonly requested service. (Please do not suggest finding a job elsewhere, the spa will likely always exist, and if this group of therapist leaves, there will be another group right behind.)

When guests say, “Go as deep as you can, I like it hard, very hard. You can’t hurt me. Give it all you’ve got. Go as deep as you can,” and therapists reply that they provide a traditional deep but the client pushes back, how do you keep control of the situation and boundaries in place while in a location where guest experience is of primary importance to this large resort as well as the major chain it is part of? It’s not that this situation happens daily, but it happens frequently in our very large spa. We are looking for ways to keep this under control so that therapists stop getting hurt. We have therapists out having surgeries that have resulted from trying to satisfy this type of guest. Other therapists appeared to be headed in that direction. It is not a body mechanics thing. It is unrealistic demands from guests. Telling the guest that something can hurt them doesn’t work. They don’t care. Telling them it may hurt the therapist is not allowed.

Dynamic cupping, warm stones and tools may be used with client permission. The place where therapists seem to be getting hurt is when the clients are requesting extremely deep effleurage. Even with the use of forearms, cervical vertebrae are being hurt. Electric tables are used and frequently adjusted for body mechanics. Excellent therapists, excellent spa equipment, the problem are those that are demanding what is extreme. At a luxury resort, the word ‘no’ is not permitted.

Additionally, because of secret shoppers and the standards we are required to meet, we must ask the guest at least twice during the service how the pressure is. These people always request more. The therapists are already using maximum pressure at the time that question is asked. Please provide any suggestions that we can take to leadership. Those in leadership do not have experience as a massage therapists. Explict explanations and verbiage would be much appreciated. Thank you for your help!

I just received a Google chat call, which I think is AI, not a human. Creepy vibe #1. #2, they ask "how much is a sports massage?" and I answer, "I only do swedish and deep", since 99% of sport massage requests are deep tissue anyway. A couple more questions, rates, and finishing off with next availability. That was month away, so I'm assuming the deal breaker. No room for my interaction or ability to clarify their requests, and besides, all of this information is on my Google page. I guess I just want some justification for this service? I've got contact #s, websites, booking sites right there. They wouldn't have found me and requested Google to interrogate me if they hadn't seen it. Any ideas?

Ok to get it out there first — I am not the most organized person. I am also someone who genuinely prioritizes doing a job well over getting it done in a timely manner.

I’ve been a MT for about 1.5 years now and still find myself exhausted and in pain all the time. It definitely aligns with my self care (or lack thereof) but I also just feel way too tired after shifts and just wanna turn my brain off. My joints pop and click and I find myself praying that clients cancel at times.

I have ADHD and even though I (surprisingly) prefer not to talk during sessions, my brain is CONSTANTLY working and thinking about what I’m doing and what’s happening in their body and trying to sense for any reactions from them to make it feel the best.

I work 4 days a week and take 2-5 clients per day. Often 3-4 with 2- 90 min sessions and the rest 60. This still feels like too much. I get all the signs of burnout and I don’t know how to sustain this. I have 15 minutes between each client but I like to give my clients their full session, so this often gets cut way down if our intake goes long, I’m assigning them homework, or we go overtime which happens often because I’m not willing to compromise quality.

I did my schooling out of the country and I really wish I had a mentor or someone to apprentice under, because I really feel so lost and depleted. I’m scared this will just be a temporary thing and then I’ll be done — or that I’m really going to hurt my body for later in life. Scared because I really LOVE what I do when I feel good. And the feedback I get affirms that this is what I’m meant to do.

I loveeeed school and I dream of teaching kinesiology one day but I just worry that I’m too lazy to do the hard work needed — I see so many other therapists grinding through all this stuff and just making it work… but I’m sensitive and want to listen to my body too, not just my clients.

Qualified in the UK but WISH we had training like USA therapists.

During the routine we learnt in college, we worked the hands/forearms in supine, but after looking at different techniques/routine inspiration I actually prefer to work hands/forearms in prone but wondering how to make it flow in my routine? Do I still work upper arms in supine?

Any advice appreciated :)

2 weeks ago, I performed several deep tissue massages and woke up the next morning in extreme pain in my lower cervical/upper thoracic spine area and upper back and neck area. It’s much better but I’m still in pain and experiencing numbness and tingling. I’m getting it checked out and the receptionist asked if it happened at work and if so, then I need to go through workmen’s comp. I don’t think this is something that can be proven to have happened at work so I’m not sure if that’s the route I should take. I am not familiar with workman’s comp at all. Has anyone dealt with this? I’m in MA if that’s relevant. Thanks!

I went to school. I'm very good at this. When I walk into a spa, salon, clinic, or anywhere that does professional massage and offer my resume they always seem annoyed that I'm there. Why is this? How come when I offer my professional support for hire the person behind the desk looks at me like I'm trying to sign them up for a new internet service? They sent their flyer to my school. They asked for new therapists. Then they seem shocked when I actually show up. How do I get hired?

I finally replaced my regular table with an electric one and I honestly didn’t expect to notice this much of a difference.
The biggest thing for me has been being able to change the height while I’m actually working.
With my old table I’d set it lower because I had a bigger client or knew I was doing deeper work, then halfway through I’d be working on their neck/shoulders thinking… why did I set the table this low lol. I’d usually just deal with it rather than stop everything and adjust the legs.
Now I just move it up or down depending on what I’m doing. Mine has a foot control too, which I didn’t really care about when I bought it, but now it’s probably one of my favorite things about the table. Especially once my hands have oil on them.
I went with a 32” top and I was actually a little worried I’d regret that. I’m not particularly interested in reaching farther all day and messing up my own back just to give clients a few extra inches of room.
So far though, I really like the width. My bigger clients seem much less cramped around the shoulders/arms, and since I can change the height whenever I want, the extra reach hasn’t bothered me like I thought it would.
The padding is also way thicker than what I was using before. That wasn’t even one of the main reasons I upgraded, but I’ve had clients comment on how comfortable the table is without me asking.
The downside?
This thing is HEAVY.
Like… once it’s in the treatment room, that’s its home now 😂 I would absolutely not want this setup if I were still doing mobile.
I’m curious what everyone else is using. For those of you who switched to electric/hydraulic, would you ever go back?
And did anyone else go with a wider table and end up loving/hating it?

I have been a massage therapist for almost 9 years. I have definitely experienced my ups and downs with this career and unfortunately, I’ve experienced way too many downs and I have completely burnt out and fallen out of love with what I do. I have experienced a myriad of sexual assault and sexual harassment, which unfortunately is one of the main reasons that I just completely checked out. Over the past four years I have had three automobile accidents, my last one I was T-boned by somebody who ran a stop sign and destroyed my car and caused permanent injury to my body. I am chronically in pain and my upper back is constantly in pain. I have also been going through some health issues over the last few years, I got diagnosed with meneires disease 17 years ago and more recently diagnosed with low ferritin which makes me feel
Like death. I am working on that but having a physical job plus low ferritin has been…. A lot to deal with .

On top of everything else, I live in a very well populated city where Massage jobs are available, but I just absolutely cannot stand the way that things are run. I am absolutely disgusted with the Massage industry and how they take advantage of us. I am currently working for a place that is technically 1099 but the more I stay here the more little things are starting to fall through the cracks and they are taking advantage of me and doing a lot of things that I am now starting to not appreciate. I just recently found out that one of the office managers was complaining that I canceled on her during a period of time where I was extremely sick earlier this year. I was sick for about six weeks and was on doctors leave and state disability and the office manager decided to gossip and complain about me canceling on her so many times during this time.. and I’m just sitting here going you knew that I was sick. I don’t understand why you kept putting yourself on my schedule. Hearing that is just the nail in the coffin and I am just doing what I can to get out of this industry, but for some reason, I just do not get callbacks from jobs that are not Massage Therapy. I have revamped my entire résumé, I’ve even taken the word massage therapist off of my résumé. I cannot get out of massage therapy, and I am practically clawing my way to get out. I am exhausted, I am burnt out, I am so tired of being taken advantage of by these employers, and my body is just done.

I need so words of advice because my therapist has noticed I’m slipping into apathy.

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this before, or maybe I’m just being too cerebral about all of this.

I had a repeat client yesterday, this is the second time
I had him. He essentially asked for the same area of focus as the first time, but with more lower back-upper hip area, no problem. I address the lower back, hips. He says he can’t wait to see how his back feels later today. I turn him over, finish the rest of the massage, and then we end. And he’s shocked, he says “that’s it?” I’m bewildered, he’s had massages before and it was a 50 minute massage, yeah-we are done. He comes out of the room and says “you didn’t work on my lower back at all” and I’m absolutely floored, I spent 30 minutes on this man’s back. I reiterated the areas of focus he mentioned and told him what I did in those areas, and he starts pointing to his ribs, like intercostals. And none of this makes sense to me, he’s accusing me of not doing what he asked. And he’s pointing out a completely different area.

This is what I think might be the issue, the first time I had him he was very talkative, like telling me what he had for breakfast, constantly raising his head up to talk. I was more responsive to his talking the first time-I figured this was a one off, and way less so this time. I was giving mono syllabic responses. He immediately booked me the following week, and I think he wanted a pal to talk to/at. He just seemed so strange at the end, I’ve never experienced this. His note from yesterday says “he was unhappy with the massage, and I focused on the wrong area, and didn’t understand where he was pointing.” Like, what the hell?

Hello friends! I'd just like some feedback from people who have used either the Elo hot stones, or the Eleeels hot stones. I decided to be done with hot stones any other way. Crockpot is annoying as hell, towel warmer is a disaster idea, and I'm not a huge fan of the briefcase ones either. These electric ones look pretty handy, I would do it mainly for the reheating time being so low.

I used to never have this issue because my old spa would block 30 minutes extra on every appointment to avoid this, but my new spa only books 15 minutes. While this is plenty of time to get set up in between, it doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for clients that are late for whatever reason.

For example, say I have a client who’s getting a 45 minute massage at 3:00 and then I have another client pretty much immediately after at 4:00. if my 3:00 shows up 5 mins late, then takes a minute to use the restroom, has to fill out an intake form, and then time to allow them to get undressed and comfortable on the table, I may not get into their room until 3:15 which gives me no time to complete the full massage and then get set up for the next one. I also like to have my clients breathe in essential oils before I technically start my timer, just as some complementary aromatherapy.

I obviously don’t want to be late for my next client who didn’t do anything wrong, but I still want my first client to get a decent amount of their massage as well, especially if they were only a little bit late and they don’t make a habit of doing it because I know things happen. If they were significantly late it would be a different story. So, what would be the best way to go about a client experience like this?