BestBodyMechanic's Massage Interview
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
I’ve practiced manual therapy for 8 years in my physical rehabilitation occupational therapy practice. I decided to start a side practice out of my home geared more for relaxation, tranquility, sensual, erotic & pleasure rather than strictly medical recovery. I humbly set up a studio space in my apartment that focused on nature and tranquility. I was excited to embark on my new venture with a new purpose. My first client arrived. As protocol I asked a short series of medical questions and personal preferences to maximize safety and to assure best results. While working on them I out of habit was describing what muscles and what technique I was working. I caught myself and asked if they prefer I be silent, with them replying “no.” They then joined my bodywork conversation using several medical terms. I was impressed of their knowledge. At the end of the session the client blurted,”about time someone knows what the hell they’re doing!” I was flattered and asked how he knew so much about anatomy in which he said,”I’m a spinal surgen.” That was a great wow factor feedback for me to get from my first private client. I was happy to know how much I was helping.
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
I have to say I would miss it immediately. I enjoy meeting, helping and pleasing people. I would say that the combination of meeting and helping people with being rewarded with praise knowing you made a difference and being compensated for doing so is very addictive. It triggers my satisfaction of instant gratification. On occasion I get to work on a fellow masseur in need of a massage or for a massage exchange. Either way I enjoy doing so because typically I would learn a new “something”. Every therapist has their own style and unique techniques that are shared which in turn enhances each other’s masseur tool belt. The bottom line is I enjoy and take pride in making a difference, and with pleasure doing so. With that being said it all becomes clear how it adds up to being addictive;
making a difference + pleasurable + rewarding + instant gratification = addictive!
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
A resounding and emphatic YES LOL. I am constantly reminded and rewarded with how successful I am as a masseur from seeing the positive outcomes of my work from a vastly diverse set of clients. Each client has their own unique issues and personal goals that I help them improve and achieve with pleasure. Whether it’s helping them overcome a disability, improving their ROM to maximize performance or to bring them well deserved, pampering and rewarding relaxation. I am only successful if they are satisfied. I love the feedback I get with either a smile they give me when I finish or the narratives of satisfaction they share with me or better yet share with others which brings me more clients I can help satisfy. The benefits are mutually reciprocated.
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
I want them to feel like they just experienced something that lifted them to a new and better place of pleasure, satisfaction and well being.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
Hahaha don’t tell my mother that I said “no” to this question. She would kill me after all the years of upper education I insisted on having. I love to learn! But honestly I don’t think extensive training is required, but it sure doesn’t hurt lol. I have enough student loans for 3 people to show I have had an extensive amount and diverse training that enhances my bodywork skills. As an example I posses an understanding people through my studies in psychology to my visual and comprehensive understanding of the anatomy from my MFA in sculpture to the practical and medical knowledge I use from my degree in occupational therapy. I don’t think all of my diverse training was required but it definitely gives me an advantageous, unique and successful mean of practice. Even the unrelated areas of study still lend themselves to improve my comprehension and approach to my practice that has proven to produce a great deal of positive outcomes and satisfaction for all of my clients.