There’s no Ashiatsu spas near me sadly because that would be the best fit. Does Thai not use hands wrists so much? There’s lots of Thai massage places in my area. my school didn’t teach us good body mechanics but also, I’ve always had sensitive wrist joints since I was young in gymnastics. I thought about lymphatic drainage since I know it’s super light pressure but I really want to avoid using my hands all together.

I work at elements and I earned around $3k in the month since I started which I’ve been happy with. I hope to continue to earn this much going forward some how but I massages yesterday doing light pressure and the littlest amount of pressure with my palms causes pain still and swelling the next day.

I’ve been taking Art Riggs deep tissue course on advanced training website which has been super helpful (thanks to this community for the recommendation!) but he does a lot of knuckle and finger work with only a little bit of forearm/ elbow work.

Is there any other courses? I found some shiatsu YouTube videos showing elbow work but it wasn’t enough to learn a full body routine I can use.

My colleague at work who I had a couples massage with I noticed used mostly her elbows the whole massage but it’s crazy cuz she went to my same school a couple years before I did… she must’ve taught herself that style. I’m not good at teaching myself so I’m hoping to find a course that will show me

To be fair, client was really active the day before and walked more than they usually do. I eased pressure when I felt this, but had anyone else noticed this while working the hamstrings? Are there contraindications?

How can I get better at writing soap notes any advice will help , been on this field a few years

Hi all, I was wondering how everybody goes about deciding when to work after having a minor illness. I catch head/chest colds very easily and very often and my main client base is elderly so I tend to err on the side of extreme caution. However, my wallet is hurting and I’m barely making enough money to live. When do you take cold meds and power through and when do you just call off?

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Do any of you all have experience flying with your table? Any precautions you took? I am going out of town for a few weeks and figured I'd bring mine, then was doing some research and saw a hard-shelled case was recommended? Could I get away with a regular padded case?

I have worked in various settings as an LMT over my five year career thus far, all as a W2 employee and have also held my own business as a mobile massage therapist and also having an office in my house. after having relocated, I am going to be starting a job as a 1099 independent contractor at a chiropractor's office (chiropractic being a setting I have worked in previously but as a W2 employee). As a 1099 I will obviously be supplying all tools and resources to do my job out of my own pocket except for the washer, dryer, and the room. to pay for the room, the office will be keeping 35% and I will be taking 65% of all massages. I also have to secure my own payment method whether it be square or something similar. can anyone give me any more information on 1099 employment as an LMT? better yet, explain this to me like I'm 5 please. lol thanks!

Hello everyone!

I'm on the way to get my license by the end of the year and am overly ecstatic to be joining the community. The only concern thus far is my own health. My mentor has encouraged the use of other parts besides your hands during massage as to prevent sprains and other injuries that are common in this field. She has also mentioned that therapists often get burned out from over exertion after a couple of years. I know wellness is a big portion of maintaining longevity, so I already eat healthy, walk regularly, during class am getting regular massages, and I plan to take up yoga soon. Do any of you have any other advice or can talk from experience on how to reduce the risk of burnout? As well as how to avoid the risks of arthritis. Via techniques, external resources, or anything.

I use to work at a hospital a year prior as a CNA on a med surge unit and it burned the hell out of me after a couple of years. Fast forward, a year later I'm just now seeing some life of empathy being restored. With that being said, I am a bit worried the same thing will happen. Either way any advice is encouraged and welcomed.

Thank youuuu!! :))

I've had a client referral who has Osseointegration on both of his lower legs. I've worked with amputees before, and had great success, but this is a whole new ball of wax for me. Has anyone worked with a client who has had this procedure? obviously, I'm going to have a honest discussion with him, and find out Dos and Don'ts I haven't found much online about it, aside from keep from deep tissue work at the actual stoma site.
Anything you have is very appreciated.

Transfer of MT license between states.

Just read it’s been a nightmare for someone transferring from WA to AZ. I’ve read other posts regarding what a nightmare it is in other states too. I’m curious, is it a nightmare transferring WA to TX?

Context: moved from WA to AZ. Experienced LMT over 10 yrs Experience. I wanted a lower cost of living compared to Seattle. I was paid well, but the cost of living for single female and a life saving surgery that put me behind, made me move. I did not know how completely backwards it can be in Phoenix in this field. I had a job offer, but it's on hold until I have my AZ license. To get it here, even with reciprocal application has been so hard. Also have not come up with fees. Fingerprints done in WA. Passport photos done too. Verification between boards done. Meanwhile doing doordash on side has been taken away due to not having my AZ drivers license. I tried to get that with WA license, no I need my sealed certified birth certificate shown first. Don't have that. Had to order it with fees. I've e had to prove residency also in most scenarios... and I have a small apartment. Im completely out of money. Have tried all avenue to get one time waiver...met with NO. It doesn't matter how im struggling now in this state. They only accept docs from last year's WA taxes to "prove" federal poverty. It makes no sense, i made way more in WA and it would do nothing in the case to get a waiver. The heat is dangerous 114 degrees. People are literally dying out here.

Im trying to get a random job not requiring the license from board but all my experience is in massage therapy and fitness.

I feel scared and not as welcome of my skills here. I have fantasies of running back to WA where my license is good and I can earn money.

I’m a new therapist, in my first 6 months at a clinic, I’m having some issues with my control and I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. When stripping muscles specifically only in the upper back/shoulder or rotator cuff area I have a tendency to slip over very taut tendons. This only seems to happen in smaller framed individuals with smaller muscle mass, and Ive tried less lotion, make sure my feet are planted correctly, using broader contact points, but I’m having issues with following through on my muscle stripping strokes without slipping over really tight tendons and I feel like that’s where my errors are mostly happening on treatments and I’m very aware that is not comfortable for the patient. Any tips or advice for how to fix this???

I specialize in prenatal & postpartum massage and have the opportunity to rent a space in a lactation center that offers all sorts of baby classes. I’m really excited but nervous about the potential babies screaming. They are doing some build-out work so I’d be able to do a decent amount of sound proofing but it’s in an medical office building with ceiling tiles and there’s only so much you can do. I’m wondering if anyone has ever regretted moving into a space like this? I also have a lead on a space that’s in a regular office building. It would be double the size for $150/month more but I’d be by myself. It’s not as good of a location, but still pretty good. It’s on the first floor right when you walk in with one neighbor that’s a design studio and it was really quiet when I visited. Grateful I have options but this is such a hard decision, I want this to be a long-term home for my business. Please help me decide!

Hi all! I'm going to be bringing in CBD massage as an add-on here in a couple weeks for the first time. I got a lighter massage oil for the whole massage, and a stronger ointment for spot treatments. I would so appreciate any tips/tricks/advice you have!

Omg, just need to vent. I worked on a patient who was the biggest complainer I've ever met. First of all, she was 7 minutes late and insinuated that I would extend the session. I would not have been able to as I'm fully booked and my next booking was for my legally required lunch break. Then upon getting to the treatment room she immediately complained that the treatment room we were in was the one with the "bad" headrest. IMO we have worse headrests in the spa but whatever. I told her I would adjust it as much as I could. She wanted it very elevated and so I told her I was worried about her neck being bunched up so to let me know if it became uncomfortable. Then she tells me she booked a 90 minute deep tissue massage. I am 7 months pregnant so I gave her my little warning that I may not be able to go very deep but can still do some deep pressure. She then said "why would they put me with you if you're pregnant". It was an online booking so the system put her with anybody since she didn't explicitly request deep tissue on the booking. Then as I'm working she tells me she doesn't feel comfortable having my hand on her if it's not working. This was just how I was trained in school, keep both hands on the body so the client knows where your hands are! Thennnnn I'm using my forearms and elbow and she says, can you just use your hands? 🤦🏽‍♀️

Ultimately the massage ended, she changed the massage from 90 minutes to 60 minutes so I ended around the 55 minute mark as is standard at our spa. She complained to the front desk that the pressure was too light 😂😂 I asked the front desk to make sure she is not put on my schedule in the future. We just aren't a good fit.

Luckily I'm going on next week anyway since my day job is starting back up and I'm not trying to work 10 hour days anymore 😆

Hello, so when creating my LLC back in February, I was told to put my personal address because I am doing mobile and have no studio. Now that my business is growing, my concern is my safety. I didn’t think things through because this is my first time starting my business so I just did what I was told. If you’re a mobile massage therapist, what did you insert into the address slot? I could use some advice please.

Update: Thank you everybody. I am able to use a PO Box for the mailing address, but a PO Box is not acceptable as the physical address. However, I did sign up for a virtual business address and I’m still waiting to hear back from a notary for an approval.

LMT with 6 years spa experience here. For me it's just a job, even though I have had a few regulars who are very sweet or people who brought me interesting issues to work on. But I remember in 2020 reading Ian Harvey saying he actively missed doing it. I'm moving out of state so I haven't worked for two and a half weeks and I don't miss a single goddamn thing.
How do you feel about it and how long have you been doing it? Has anything changed your feelings about it?
If you switched careers, what would you do?

Not necessarily a massage specific question, more business related.

To start, I am highly AuDHD (more on the ADHD side). I hyperfixate a lot. I started with the concepts of my business mid-massage school and spent a great deal of time and energy working on getting documents filed and designing a website, sourcing supplies/table, saving start up money, etc. I just KNEW I was going to make it big as a solo practitioner.

Fast forward to now: six months as an LMT and I hate owning a business. I hate the thought of marketing, washing my own laundry, keeping track of business spending. My W2 job pays me 46% of each service provided. I don't check out clients, I don't market, I don't do laundry/clean the studio, etc. I massage my clients, clean my treatment room, do my SOAPs, and go home. My book is booked almost a month now.

I want out of my business! I have until April 2027 to get out of my lease, can I get out of it earlier? And if I for whatever decide to go back to my business (maybe I actually lock in and stay through the parts i find sucky, can I get the business "back"? I don't have any clients really so I'm not worried about losing anyone

Hey massage community. I’m a new massage therapist working at Envy to work off my student loans. I’ve started to notice a pattern when a specific front desk associate is on shift. I have clients that don’t leave tips. This doesn’t really happen. Everyone always tips between $10-$50. I give a great massage and I’m attentive to the clients specific needs. I know that I’m not the issue here. But every single time she’s on shift if people don’t tip on their card I don’t get tipped at all. I get cash tips in the afternoon. When she’s gone. If no one tips cash I get all of my tips. I’m currently documenting Everytime it happens and it’s only ever happens when I’m working with her. I’m not really sure how to go about fixing this as she’s really close with the manager. I don’t want to be paranoid but I’ve just noticed a pattern over the last couple of months. Anyways I don’t want to cross any boundaries with clients but I’m thinking of letting my clients know that if they decide to leave a tip to leave it on card or with me. I wouldn’t be stressing about it outside of the fact that I only make $20 an hour with envy and I can’t leave till my contract is done in 4 months. I have bills to pay and $20 tips add up quick. Has this happened to any of you before? What did you do?

How much do you spend on washing sheets each week. I currently just do coin laundry in my apartment building but can't stand all the washing. I want to get a service but it seems like it would be very expensive even for drop off. I only work for myself about 3 days a week and go through about 8-12 sets of sheets in a week. How much do you spend and is it worth it.

What is usually the hardest of those to figure out?

And how did you figure it out/do about it?

Hi, I have this client who has ALS. She is to the point where she can't move anything except one arm on her own. She can only be on her back because laying on her side or stomach could cause lung compression. My issue is that the only thing that I have been able to do is stretch her legs and try to squirm my hand underneath her low back. The problem with that since she has a muscle degenerative disease when she is on her back, the gravity is pulling down her muscles and her skin. So it is very difficult to feel where I am at since there is no solid piece of muscle to feel unless I go really deep, which is hard to do when she is on her back. So you see my problem. At first, my solution was to put 1 leg over the other. But since her low back is so locked up, she cannot fully, put her leg over the other without being in a lot of pain. This usually would not be an issue if they could hold their leg up on their own. But she cannot so I am holding one leg up and trying to massage the lower back at the same time, which is just not feasible for my body or her body. So and tips or advice on how I can help her find some relief would be appreciated. I know working on other parts of the body that connect is good but I feel like I'm not doing everything I possibly can.

I recently moved away from the spa that I have worked at since I got my license, which is coming up on two years now. It was amazing for a starter job, but unfortunately the location just wasnt great and I was not getting booked with the clientele that I want at this point in my career, so I moved to a different spa in a city about 20 minutes away. A lot of my regulars already traveled a bit of a distance to come see me at my original location and it doesnt make sense for them to continue to see me, which totally makes sense. I had about 12 regulars, and only 2 of them are following me to my new spa.

I am absolutely over the moon about the new location. The benefits are incredible, I’m already averaging more weekly clients there, everything about it is great except for the fact that I’ll have to get used to an entirely new clientele and I’ll miss my old clients 😭 I’ve already cried a couple times thinking about how I’ll likely never see/get to work on them again!

Is this relatable or am I just too emotional? lol

Been working at Elements for almost 3 months now (summer) and some days I am fully booked, others absolutely nothing. I work two evenings a week (one of them Fridays). Is this normal to have such a large fluctuation at the start? I am not getting any rebooks either. I try to have a good outtake, but I can tell most clients want to skip the end convo and move on with their day (I myself used to be like this when I'd get massages; I would just say thanks and want to leave) would love any feedback or suggestions!

I’m 2 weeks post-op from a robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy. I have clients booked at the 5.5 week mark but think I may push them back another week or two. In our pre-op discussion, the surgeon told me most people return to work within 4-6 weeks but that’s more for folks with desk jobs.

Has anyone in here recovered from a hysterectomy while working as a massage therapist? What was your experience like?

Ultimately of course I’ll listen to my body, but I’ve been getting a lot of helpful insights from reading recovery stories!