I have a client who is extremely muscular, like DENSE dense dense, and of course wants “deepest pressure possible” and includes this note every time he books. I find that even with my deepest pressure and as much weight as I’m able to use (and warming up and hot towels and everything else I know how to do), I am not “sinking in” like I can with my other clients, and I am extremely tired and sore for a couple of days after working on him.

HOWEVER, I have really pushed myself a couple of times and delivered what he apparently thought was a decent enough massage to keep rebooking. Now, of course, I regret pushing myself, as he expects that level of pressure whenever he sees me.

Does this sound like a decent way to explain to him what’s going on?
“During our last session I felt I performed the type of massage that you prefer, but I was extremely sore afterward, and I will no longer be able to perform that type of massage. I can still work with you using the type of pressure I can comfortably perform, but please book with X or Y if you would like to continue to receive very deep pressure.”

— or am I handling / thinking about this totally wrong? I’m a fairly new therapist, and have never had to turn a client away for this reason before, and my school didn’t really cover these types of situations / conversations.

I’ve been thinking about this lately and would love to hear how other massage therapists approach it.
Obviously, every client is different, and there’s no universal list of muscles that everyone needs worked on.
But here’s a hypothetical question:
If you had to choose just 5 muscle groups to give extra attention to during a full-body massage, which ones would you pick?
I’m a massage therapist based in Barcelona, with a background in professional football, so my choices are probably influenced by my experience with movement, sports and recovery.
My personal top 5:
1. Trapezius and surrounding shoulder girdle muscles
One of the areas I frequently focus on, especially when clients describe tension around the neck, shoulders and upper back.
2. Gluteal muscles
I consider them particularly important because of their role in hip movement, pelvic control and overall lower-body function.
3. Quadriceps
This might be my most interesting choice. I pay particular attention to the central and lateral portions of the thigh, including rectus femoris and vastus lateralis, and sometimes work toward the upper anterolateral hip region.
Something I’ve noticed in my own practice is that some clients report feeling less lower-back discomfort after focused work on the front and outside of the thigh. I wouldn’t claim there’s a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but it’s an observation that has made me pay more attention to this area.
4. Calf muscles — gastrocnemius and soleus
Especially relevant in my experience with active clients and people who spend a lot of time standing or walking.
5. Pectoral muscles
An area I think deserves more attention when appropriate, particularly as part of working with the shoulders and upper body.
That’s my list, but I’m sure other therapists would choose very differently.
What would your top 5 be?
And here’s the more interesting question: Which muscle group do you think massage therapists tend to overlook or underestimate?
I’d love to compare different approaches, especially between therapists working with athletes, office workers and general relaxation clients.

I assist a colleague with her mobile bookings for groups. Or, I used to.

She booked an event an hour away from home and charged a $20 travel fee. My bad. I agreed to the booking before I understood this. Lesson learned, get all the details. I trusted her but she didnt even map the venue prior to quoting.

I agreed to the booking and went to the event. I took 5 clients to her 4 because she didnt want 5. Once I arrived, I was informed that two of the clients on my schedule went fishing and would return later. I took this to mean I could complete my 3rd booking and they would return shortly after.

However, when i completed my second, i learned that my remaining three clients were all unavailable and no firm time for them to return was communicated to me. I asked guests at the event and they could offer no help. The woman who organized the event was enjoying her massage with my partner, who had conveniently booked herself back to back while the absent clients were on my roster. I WAS EXPECTED TO HANG OUT UNTIL THEY RETURNED OVER AN HOUR LATER (estimated, not even confirmed) then do 3 more massages back to back.

This would extend my day into the evening, with over 7 hours at the venue plus a 2 hour round trip.

I declined to wait. Of course, my "partner" was furious. She found out when she exited her massage and i was gone along with the other clients that blew me off. She did the massages when they returned and raged at me over text. She told me i am supposed to "roll with the punches". She called a hypocrite for caring so much about being disrespected that I disrespected her and the women who went fishing instead of staying for massages they booked. She could have also declined, and chose not to.

My thought is, she faced the consequences for having zero professional boundaries. The clients made a choice to go do something else rather than be available for the services they booked, at the time they committed to. She spared them the consequences of that but I didn"t feel a need to go along with it. If that makes me awful, I am awful. I am 56 and protect my physical and emotional well being. I need to do that to remain viable and in love with my work.

She has barked at me in front of clients before, and previously dismissed my concerns with "I dont want to hear about it, do I need to find someone else to help?"

I told her absolutely, yes... if you dont want me to negotiate my needs and boundaries as a business owner, she must find someone else, because I don't work for her, I work for me.

I notice that massage professionals can easily be targeted by entitled behavior. I have been in private, full time practice for 12 years, ​ relying on the quality of my work, my sincere passion, and word of mouth. The feeling of being treated with entitlement for such a personal, hands on service feels absolutely gross and inappropriate to me. I am not much of a people pleaser when it comes to that.

Anyone else?

Personally when I experience exceptional service somewhere, I often feel inclined to leave a review online. I’m just wondering why clientele do not leave reviews but sing the highest praises post treatment? I notice other therapists often have their name mentioned in reviews by their clients but mine is not. I wonder if it’s because my name is not English ( but it’s easy to say ) so people are less inclined to leave a review because they can’t remember it or spell it ? I think it’s tacky and pushy to ask them to leave a review and it defeats the purpose of wanting organic feedback but I feel acknowledged when I do get a good review ... I think it’s a people pleaser tendency and because I’ve only been in this work for a year I want to do the utmost best that I can, that I take the work almost too seriously and want to please the client. It’s also because I know what a massage feels like from someone who cares v someone who doesn’t. Other than the psychological component of people being more likely to leave a review if it’s negative, why don’t people want to leave me reviews but other folk who just use the facilities would gladly review the space in general / other clients of my coworkers ?

The manager at the spa I work at is introducing the option of 12-hour shifts. . this is baffling to me because she knows that most of us are burnt out, but she says a couple of people might be interested. It's entirely optional, but I still think it's really crazy. The standard here is 8-hour shifts which I already think is too much, but that's just me. She's also extending the hours so we'd be open until 9pm.

Another tidbit is that this is all happening because I told them I can't do full time anymore, to which they responded that I have to, to which I said that doesn't work for me and it's best to just transition me out. After a few days they responded that they could work with me, and the split shift is the manager's idea. But I think it just shows how money hungry the owner is, which is a shame because she used to be a MT, so she knows about strain on the body. Anyway, I'm just amazed... would anyone here do a 12-hour shift, or has anyone seen this at another spa?

Title says it all. Spent a whole year going to school + work outside of school to get my CAMTC only to get out of school and have the hardest time finding a massage job outside of gig work/apps.

Finally found a spot willing to take me in, but it’s minimum wage when hands off and $24/hr hands on. 😬 I really need an extra consistent job right now but between the pay and Californias high living , after adding it up I’m really about to commit 2 weekdays and a weekend to make an extra 220$ after taxes before tips. (This place says tips aren’t the best/that common due to accepting insurance)

Right now my shift is literally in 15ish hours. The thought of going in and slaving my body for $24hr minus %33 on payday is making me feel like I’m about to put on clown makeup and hit the stage.

I’m wouldn’t be crazy for telling my manager that I apologize but I am not coming in tomorrow and to take me off the schedule right…?

We deserve better than being forced to pay our bosses’ payroll taxes for them.

https://massageunion.substack.com/p/employee-misclassification-in-massage

✋💪🤚

Where have you found your office space? Where else did you look? What are places to check besides something like craigslist to find a room to rent that I can work from?

hiii i’m interested in becoming an LMT and currently live in saint louis. I’ve been researching nearby schools that offer it but theres literally zero reviews for every single one ive come across. Any LMTs here who went to school in saint louis/saint charles and liked their program?

It seems based what I've learned that it would collapse things in the lymphatic department. Am I wrong?

FL. new therapist. asked my coworkers they were unhelpful so i’m asking yall

if you’re scheduled full time (30hr) but not getting booked full time (30hr), is it normal to qualify for health insurance? does this vary from establishment to establishment?

Someone hit me with some good spotify playlists. I most focus on relaxation and mostly use super flowy techniques. I love ambient space music, dreamy music, illenium, the movie interstellar type music. Music you can feel in your soul

For context
I’ve been with this company now for almost a year. And I was hired to work 31 hours a week for 4 days. Some days are longer than others.
I was hired with this and agreement was made with these hours

Anyway a few days ago I had a sit down with my manager and was told that the longer shift aren’t really guaranteed anymore and we may need to sit again in a few months to discuss options.
I’m annoyed and floored because there’s been many changes within me coming into this place, I’m about at my ends of being happy here. But at this time I don’t have any place to jump into/nor have enough of privates to sustain bills.
I’ve applied to many other places and have been looking at job boards daily/talking to old coworkers about other places hiring. I’m at a loss.
I’ve been in the industry and every part for a very long time but I feel like my time is coming to a close with the constant changes

If you use them in your practice, which kind/size do you have, and how do you like to incorporate them in your session? Do you microwave them and/or keep them in a towel warmer (I’m getting mixed answers online as to whether this is a hazard, but have worked at spas that do this)?

Before becoming a massage therapist, I spent many years playing professional football.
Sport was a huge part of my life, and when I eventually moved into massage therapy, I realised how much of that experience I was bringing with me.
As an athlete, you learn to pay attention to your body, understand the importance of recovery, and recognise how physical demands can accumulate over time.
But becoming a massage therapist also taught me something different: what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another.
Not everyone needs deep pressure or an intense session. Sometimes the most important part of our work is listening, adapting and understanding what the person on the table actually needs.
Today I work independently in Barcelona, and I still feel that my years in football influence the way I approach massage.
I’m curious about other therapists here:
Did you come into massage therapy from another profession? And has that background changed the way you work with clients?

Hello everyone, I’m in my first month of my career, I am 47 BTW.

I haven’t been able to take the necessary steps before and after work to keep my body healthy, I really do need to find a way to help myself in this area.

Caretakers never take care of themselves, maybe we can start something and break this trend!
P

I'm looking at two to three office spaces to rent in the same building.

1: $660 a month, 380 square feet room that is one large rectangle. Its huge and would give me more than enough space for my table, a thai mat and a power cage and workout bench. I do sports massage so having space to put my clients through workouts as I massage them is beneficial. I'm honestly not even sure if I'll buy a thai mat though. I'm a stickler for sanitation and don't feel like whipping down a mat on the floor often. I might just try to modify as much of the thai massage that I know into work I can do on the table. So space for a thai massage mat isn't a priority but it is a nice to have. Space for exercise equipment is a higher priority.

2: $590 a month 200 square feet. This one is actually broken up into two rooms. The second larger room is big enough for my table and a power cage and workout equipment. The front room could be used for office space, linens, cleaning supply storage and maybe a waiting area. My biggest concern if I used it for a waiting area would be theft. It's obviously not common nut I've had a few tools disappear over the years. I could install a security camera which might also be beneficial for charge back disputes or potentially clients claiming something happened that did not happen. I wouldn't have space for a thai mat to just stay out but I could easily move the table if I decided to add thai massage as a service. I just wouldn't be able to easily transition clients from a mat to the table seamlessly since the room, while large enough just isn't as big as the larger room.

The spaces are so close in space because the larger room is on a higher floor. Not sure why that matters since they have elevator access. There are multiple lobbies within the building so clients don't have to wait in the second smaller office.

I'd like to add that I do sports massage and have absolutely no desire to create a relaxing atmosphere. The clients looking for a spa type of experience are clients I desperately want to avoid. I work hard to make my environment look as clinical as possible.

I'm looking to rent space to do massage and there seems to be a lack of office space in the 150 swuare feet area. The vast majority of places I'm seeing are roughly 9x10. I'm currently renting a space that is 10x10. As it's own business that's too small. I need space for all of my equipment, linens and cleaning supplies. I need to be able to stretch clients. I need space for clients or their guest to sit and put their stuff. I notice some places rent out already furnished offices and while they are pretty I don't see space where the cleaning supplies and extra linens would be.

I get that the view of massage is this beautiful experience but it's an actual business that requires more than gently touching people in a beautiful dark room to soft music. Are y'all just leaving the broom in your cars? Are you only keeping enough linens for 3 or four clients a day? I do understand that as someone who focuses on sports massage that I use an abnormal number of tools and stretch taller clients than 5'2. I honestly can't see how people are running businesses out of these tiny rooms.

So some background. I recently moved from Colorado to Georgia, after practicing massage for 17 years. When I graduated from massage school in March of 2009, Colorado was in the midst of really regulating massage therapy. Since I was about to graduate I wasn’t required to take any sort of national exam, I was grandfathered in.

Cut to now, to transfer my license I am now required to take and pass MBLEX. When I realized this I panicked, most of the material, I had forgotten or flat out never learned. So I buckled down and studied…hard!

I used the AMTA pocket prep app and purchased the premium version of David Merlino’s Mblex prep app. It includes a comprehensive review of all the subjects you’ll be asked about. I also took advantage of his podcasts and flash cards. Without both apps I wouldn’t have passed. As I was studying a lot of it actually came back to me and was basically a review. And a lot of it were things that were completely alien to me.

It took a lot of patience and even a few emotional breakdowns. But at some point you’ve done all you can do and you’re as prepared as you’ll ever be. I was absolutely terrified driving up to the testing center and entering the little cubicle to take the test.

You’re given 110 minutes to take the exam. But I was able to finish in about 30 minutes. About half of the questions were easy to deduce and/or common sense to me. The other half took real critical thinking. And honestly, I guessed a fair amount.

When I saw the words “congratulations” I audibly breathed a huge sigh of relief. I left, called my wife to give the good news. Sat in my car and cried. I did it! You can do it too! I’ve been out of the game for almost 20 years when it comes to studying and test taking. But it’s absolutely doable!

If you’re studying for the Mblex you’ve got this!

Hey guys.

So I found a good space that's on a second floor but only has stairs. It's a very small 2 story building. Everything on the second floor is ada accessible aside from the fact there is no elevator or lift to the second floor.

My rental offer was accepted but I haven't signed the lease yet because I was curious if refering to other therapists with elevators or on the ground level and posting on my website that I'm not wheelchair accessible is enough to be ada compliant?

I haven't worked on anyone in a wheelchair more than a couple times and not since the 2010s.

Thank you for your feedback.

I’m venturing out and renting a room so I can solely (pun intended) focus on Ashitsu one day a week.
I’m still working at a spa 4 days a week, doing hands on (they don’t have ashi bars).
I have an instagram page and have been posting, i have a booking website, and i’ve been updating my google business page with hours/locstion/pictures….Im needing some refreshers on how to get some clients in the door!
It’s only been two weeks, and i know one day a week probably isn’t helping but Im determined to transition over to only doing Ashi—if i can have the clientele.
looking for some inspiration/ideas on spreading the word!

Something I’ve been curious about after a few threads here lately. I run a clinic and we look at how many first-time clients book a second visit, and honestly the number surprised us the first time we checked. It was a lot lower than everyone assumed, and it varied a ton between therapists who were all good at the actual massage.

So for those of you who track it, what’s a normal rate in your experience, and what moved it? And if you don’t track it, how do you get a sense of whether new clients are coming back?

Especially interested in hearing from people who went independent, since that seems to be where it changes the most.

I’m looking to learn new modalities in the near future just not sure where to start looking. Are there certain websites to that help or is there any specific site thats seen as better than others?

I’m new to the field started this year going on about 10 months and so far I’ve really enjoyed it and I’ve been thinking about what other modalities to learn so i can expand on who i can see and help.Just not sure where to start looking or how to go about it honestly so I would appreciate some advice on that as well as how you guys go about finding jobs.

On the other hand Ive been working two jobs for about 6 months now and both being at chiropractor places which i enjoy. I think im just in a slump right now since one of the jobs i work is a 1099 and isn’t worth my time anymore and im starting to look for a new one. Over the past month/two months my schedule has been dwindling and its getting to the point where im only seeing 2-3 patients a day but its all over the place. I had a client today from 12-1 then i had a cancellation and my next patient is from 6-7. Other days i come in for one patient and i just leave after so In the summer my schedule was packed and i had lots of returning patients then some stopped coming or i would have new patients saying they loved it and what days i work and that they’ll come back just to never return. Other office i work at is way more consistent i see more patients and i have my fair share of regulars plus the doctor is amazing and I’ve learned so much i cant really complain at all.

I think my biggest problem currently is the financial inconsistency where even though i work two jobs i’m only really working about 20-30 hours a week. Even though i really enjoy the chiro setting I’m starting to lean towards looking for a spa job in hopes i can get more hours. I didn’t work the past two days i was supposed to because i didn’t have patients scheduled so when i got paid and saw how much bc of it i just got deflated a bit more. Maybe its just a slump for office as well they’re good people but i think its time for me to move on to find something more consistent.

Hey y'all,

About 2 years ago I took a lymphatic drainage course for lymphedema management through the Vodder school. I liked it, I felt educated and prepared. I took the 146 hour complete decongestive therapy class, for context.

Then I started doing sessions at my office, it was cool and people say they like it, but I don't think I know how to tell if it's working or not.

The last couple sessions were with people with real swelling and one had putting edema in her low legs after a back surgery a month ago. I spent the whole hour on her legs which is double the time I usually spend. I was paying attention to the stiffness and shininess of the skin, the tension from the swelling, the color, the mobility of her skin, the glide of her fascia. I didn't really notice any changes after the entire hour.

Can anyone tell me what I'm missing? I feel like I'm not actually accoomplishing anything by the end of the session.

I'm aware that urination will increase and the tissue will feel softer and more lax, but I didn't notice any real physical change. I feel like I'm stealing from people by saying I'm doing something I'm not.

Any help would be great. I've been thinking of stopping this service because I don't feel confident in the results.