JamesBirmingham's Personal Masseur Interview
Personal Interviews give you the opportunity to know the Masseur you are considering to hire better before you make the first step.
Our Personal Masseur Interviews are a great way to give a little bit of personal and even intimate information about your massage experience. Get to know him better before you call!
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to formulate my own drinks and sprays. I have a wide range of drink recipes that I have put together, using either water or coconut water as a base. I would love to someday make a health drink company, as I believe popular brands such as vitamin water and body armour are highly overrated and command market share that is ridiculous compared to how good my drinks are.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
Stick with a vegetarian or vegan diet, with as little meat and dairy products in your diet as possible. It is important to have a regular massage trading partner as you are supposed to get a massage yourself for every 20 sessions that you deliver. Do not just invest on the massage products that are used on the client, but also invest in your own health. A good collagen supplement is very important to keeping your own joints and muscles from hurting/overexertion, as is understanding which supplements are best on an empty stomach and which ones are better taken with food. The more you learn and understand about your own health, and how it is affected when giving massages, you can better understand your clients and any problem areas they may be having.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
It really depends on the person. Knowing what techniques feel good, and a history of receiving good massages yourself is very important. Being able to identify muscle groups and assess where problems originate is something I specialize in and am always looking to improve.
Physical fitness for a masseur has to emphasize pliability, conscious breathwork, diet, and range of motion, not just having big muscles and being able to exert downward pressure.
Proper communication, acknowledging the client's presence, and generally demonstrating a friendly demeanor are also important.
Certain areas of the body need to be massaged slower so as to not make the session feel rushed. Sometimes too much lotion can become slippery and give the client an impression that you are rushing through the session.
More important than certification or training, is just knowing what it means to make someone comfortable and provide relief using certain massage techniques. People skills need to be there along with developing your own massage routine.