Xavii's Massage Interview
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
Prior to my first client I created several curated playlists to set a calming mood (I lean toward organic, Latin American, and Middle Eastern music).
My first client had underwent several major surgeries and had scar tissue, so getting a massage was critical to his healing process. I first identified the areas where he felt the most pain and discomfort and gauged my pressure application based on his response.
I facilitated gentle transitions in positions to avoid irritating the muscle groups while changing the body’s orientation to enable deep tissue stimulation.
After the session, it was great to hear how satisfied my client was and how much muscular tension and pain I was able to relieve!
Tell us a little about yourself, if you were to pick something what would you like your clients to absolutely know about you?
I like to balance the intensity of my energetic state through a combination of high-energy activities (such as powerlifting in the gym and professional dancing) and grounding, low-energy activities (such as transcendental meditation and journaling).
How would you like someone that contacts you for a massage to feel when they leave?
While we may not realize it as we go about our day, our bodies have numerous muscular knots and high tension as a result of stress, exercise, and injuries. I want my clients to feel a relief from their muscular strain especially when they say “wow, I didn’t even realize how tense I was there!”
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I love extreme skiing (backcountry, cliffs, expert terrain), fire dancing, exotic dancing, creating playlists, and traveling the world! I plan to go to Asia and South America next year.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
The conversations you have with your clients are as important as the massage itself; learn what needs your client has and establish a flow of communication so that they can feel safe and relaxed during the massage.
How long have you been a Masseur and how long do think you'd like to continue?
I have been a masseur for 5 years and I plan to continue for the indefinite future!
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
Given that each of my clients has given me positive feedback, I consider myself a successful masseur.
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
The best part about this profession is the diversity of people that you meet. I would miss encountering new people, whom I wouldn’t necessarily cross paths with otherwise, who live vastly different lives, have many unique jobs, origin stories, physical needs, and preferences. As humans, we crave intimacy, and I find that my services help many people fulfill a basic human need that can be difficult to find in modern sociery.
How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?
I travel every month, I love finding new places. I have a very strong wanderlust and a long list of places to visit, so I take any opportunity I have to travel to a new country, city, or natural phenomenon.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
Extensive training isn’t as necessary as diverse training, in my opinion. Getting exposed to different styles of massage is key to developing your own, as you can incorporate elements from each experience where your body responded to a particular technique.
Why did you become a Masseur?
We live in a society where stress runs high and outlets for stress release are generally scarce. I strive to be an outlet of stress release in a demanding, fast-paced city.
What distinguishes you from all the other Masseurs?
I am well-traveled with multiple science degrees. I offer an experience that fuses music from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East with organic massage oils and aromatherapy that provides excellent stress relief for the mind, body, and soul.
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
I like my clients to feel like that stressor that was hanging over their head has dissipated.
I like my clients to feel that the muscle strain or knot that they had the prior week has been relieved, or is further along the path towards healing.
I like my clients to feel clear of mind, connected with their body, and at peace with the universe.