IntegralEros's Massage Interview
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
It's been so long that I can barely remember any details, except that I was really nervous that I would mess up or not give my client a good experience. That was a long time ago.
Otherwise it was easy and enjoyable. In fact the first day I **** out my shingle as a professional bodyworker, I think I had 3 clients in a row. I knew before I put my ad up that I wanted to offer healing, pleasurable touch to everyone. My work has grown a lot since then.
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
Absolutely!
In recent years I have started doing more workshops and trainings with groups and other professionals. BUT I always keep a lot of time open to see individual clients 1-on-1. There is a satisfaction in knowing that I can give someone the time to relax, and an experience that leaves them feeling better when they leave me! There is power in that.
I hope to be doing this work well into what most people would consider old age. At the moment I am not the youngest guy on here and I feel like I am just hitting my stride!
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
Yes I do.
I have been doing professional bodywork and sacred intimate work for over 10 years. It has sustained me well and keeps growing. Each year I have found some new way to approach this work and let it evolve. That is one of the most important ways for me to find success.
I have a handful of clients who have told me that I am a gift to the world. Others who I see on a regular basis, and even those who I only get to see once in a while all appreciate my level of care and presence while we are in session.
I can't think of another thing I could be doing better than offering my work to you!
Tell us a little about yourself, if you were to pick something what would you like your clients to absolutely know about you?
I want my clients to know that I love each and every one of them! I truly do! It is an honor for me to facilitate experiences for them where they can be vulnerable, open up and let go.
I couldn't do this work without a big heart full of love for everyone!
How would you like someone that contacts you for a massage to feel when they leave?
First I want you to feel like you have shifted into your body and are leaving feeling relaxed and ready to tackle whatever life brings you!
Second I want you to leave feeling like you have gotten personalized care that was tailored to you!
Third I want you to leave feeling like you can't wait to come back for more!
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I am an artist deep down in my heart! I love to practice yoga, and cook!
As an extrovert I love hanging out with friends and family and sharing all kinds of experiences.
Truthfully though, I love my work so much that it's hard for me not to have my hands on my clients as much as I possibly can!
What distinguishes you from all the other Masseurs?
I have years of training and experience in all of my offerings. I am not afraid to move to edges that may be profound with clients. And my level of awareness and presence guarantees that you will have a one of a kind, uniquely different experience each and every time you come to see me.
How long have you been a Masseur and how long do think you'd like to continue?
Over 10 years.. and I can see myself doing this work for decades more!
How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?
I travel at least once a month, primarily to New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles. In 2017, I will be adding a couple of cities to that list.
San Francisco is HOME and I love working from home, since I have a great studio space where I can see my clients. BUT traveling offers me the opportunity to bring my work and my unique way of facilitating experiences to other parts of the country. I get to offer workshops and trainings outside of San Francisco too.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
Training is important, because it helps give us new insights and perspectives on bodywork and doing the intimate work we do with clients.
Having said that - you can have all the training in the world, and be lacking the intuitive presence necessary to be a really amazing practitioner. It's a combination of the two!
I found my calling to do bodywork because I had an innate skill for it, but it wasn't until I worked with my mentors, studied Tantra and got my certification in Bondassage and Elysium that I could really hone that skill to what it is today. Training helped ground me and center my focus. Otherwise I often felt like I was making everything up, and that keeps me from giving all my attention to my clients while we are in session.
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
I want you to feel like you were deeply cared for and held. I want you to feel like you got some pleasure and healing, AND that you deserved it! And I want you to feel like you got an experience that was uniquely your own.
Finally, I want you to leave feeling like you can't wait to come back!
Why did you become a Masseur?
Because I love the human body, and I know that there is wisdom inside of it for each and every one of us. It's my job to facilitate finding out what that is for you!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
Get massages, practice on your friends, listen to your own intuition to guide you - and always pay attention to the person you are working with! Get some good training in modalities that speak to you and anatomy - those are invaluable.
Talk to other bodyworkers to see what they did! Community is important in this work, since it can sometimes be isolating and after all it is a pretty unusual profession.