TheCat's Massage Interview
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
I decided to become a massage therapist on a whim. After loosing my job, I thought long and hard about what to do. I remembered years ago people enjoying the rubdowns I was giving when they felt tightness in muscles and decided to give it a go with an intro to Swedish massage. I immediately fell in love with it, and registered for the full course. I am not regretting my decision at all.
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
I would miss it for sure. The joy in making someone feel good and relaxed is as great for me as for the person receiving my touch.
How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?
I adore travelling. Meeting new people, learning about different cultures, is something I've always enjoyed doing. And of course I adore beach time and swimming or freediving with fish. Of course the fact that I can wear a skimpy swimsuit at the beach or the dock helps too. ;-)
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
If I see that my client leaves with a smile on his face, or that his eyes shows bliss and they have a nice relaxing stance, that tells me my job was well done. Love to see that!
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
When at home, I love biking (on my recumbent trike), swimming and hiking. Reading and listening to music and movies are always nice things to do as well. Love good food and eating out as well.
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
I don't have many clients, but from all the feedback I've received, none had anything negative to say. Which makes me very happy and proud of what I do. Because of that, I do think I am a successful masseur.
Tell us a little about yourself, if you were to pick something what would you like your clients to absolutely know about you?
As a massage therapist, as well as my personal self, giving has always been a big part of myself. I tend to be very generous in all aspects of my massage, giving you all the attention and care I can muster.
How would you like someone that contacts you for a massage to feel when they leave?
I love seeing my clients leave with a smile on their face of course. But what tips the good vibes is seeing them get up from the table with their shoulders down and a look of total bliss on their face. That tells me that they enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed giving it.
Why did you become a Masseur?
I've always enjoyed massaging my friends, family and coworkers whenever I saw the need for it, so I took the plunge and decided to study it in better detail to be able to make a difference in day to day lives of more people. We live in such stressful times, taking time for ourselves is no longer a luxury. Giving massages to someone gives joy, and makes me forget whatever is outside, by concentrating on my clients needs fully.
How long have you been a Masseur and how long do think you'd like to continue?
I haven't been a certified massage therapist for very long, and I find that there is so much more to learn I think I'll always do more formations. It's a fascinating world. I do plan to do it as long as I can, even teach it if I can.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
Learn the right techniques. Too often you start out without any knowledge of posture and pressure and end up hurting yourself and ending your career. Be patient and diligent in learning the art of massage.
What distinguishes you from all the other Masseurs?
As a former professional ballet dancer and athlete, I have experienced the benefits of a massage on many occasions. Now a certified massage therapist, I am delighted to share with you all the well-being provided by a quality massage.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
I don't think extensive training is necessary if the only thing you want to do is a simple touching and caressing. To me that is not what a masseur is. Many different things can affect the body and touching it with too much pressure, or straining joints, can inflict pain and be potentially dangerous. I think that at least a base in some kind of technique, Swedish or Californian for instance, can really help in learning about the body and what kind of effects massages can have on it, as well as reduce potential risks and injuries to the client as well as the masseur.