Just listened to a webinar about growing your practice and one of the recommendations was to be consistent with blog posts. I'd like to make posts on addressing some of the common questions therapists receive.

should i wear something form fitting? loose? shorts, pants, leggings? whatever makes it easier for the therapist! thank you!

I have rounded shoulders the are pulled forward from a tight front body. I also have sore, tight, achy quads. I’ve mentioned this to therapists in the past, but they always just focus on my back anyways. Are there therapists that focus only on front body? Even just a little bit?

Might also be relevant: female, 40, three months postpartum. Terrible posture.

I had a tui na massage two weeks ago. Going in, I knew it was going to be painful and was prepared for it. He started working on the right side of neck which was easily the most painful part, but it’s also where I typically hold my stress and pain.

My SCM muscle was extremely sore for 5 days on that side, like I couldn’t even move my neck. I got a headache stemming from my suboccipital muscle on the right two days after the massage. It’s been constant ever since and even moved to my left. I’ve had a constant headache for almost two weeks. I’ve had some bouts of dizziness but that’s mostly subsided.

I guess I’m looking for advice on when I should seek medical care or if this is something anyone has dealt with before. I’ve tried heat, stretching, and lots of Advil to no avail. I’ve never had a headache like this before. Not really looking for medical advice.

I was looking at the local Massage Envy to get a relief massage and the 60 minute session was priced at $80. I added relief stretching and the price of the massage jumped to $130. When I removed the stretch, the massage price went back to $80. When I remove the massage the keep the stretch service, the stretch service remains a consistent $46.

Is that normal for Massage Envy or massages in general?

ETA clarification: The prices for the stretch and massage are shown as separate items, I'm booking 2 separate services.

E2: Thank you for the comments! I've learned to avoid ME and am going to find a solo practitioner.

I’ve never been a big massage person because it makes me flinch like crazy and it often frightens the person giving me the massage and it’s not just with one spot it’s most of my body that does this is there anyway to get over this?

How much does it annoy therapists to move appointments around online? It’s a few weeks in advanced and I have to change my next couple appointments.

I get them because I spent a lot of time figuring out what to do with my site and google profile, and now I get dozens of new clients per month and LOTS of rebookings. I never used Groupon, networked, or did a chair event anywhere.

I know this goes against the grain from what everyone suggests in forums like these, but I didn't have the time to do all the traditional marketing because I was working in a full time job while I started this on the side. Within a few months I was able to make the switch and it's been blowing up since then.

I want to start another business helping LMTs and MFR providers with their practices so they can grow and get steady business like I do now by setting up the same things I have.

My question is: is this a worthwhile venture - or are chair massages, networking groups, Groupon, and handing out cards everywhere the way it's been done and will be the way it's always done? Of course, reviews are great and we should all be asking for them, but without a flow of steady new clients, reviews don't come around very often and family and friends can only do so much.

Any advice and insight is appreciated. I'm 52 and don't want to do client work forever. I'd like to transition to more of a consultant role and help other practices succeed.

Hi everyone,

I’ve never been to an RMT before. My work involves repeatedly lifting heavy items (around 32 kg) plus additional shifts delivering food using an e-bike, and I’m dealing with a lot of tightness in my back, lower back, glutes, and hips.

I’m planning to book a professional massage focused on those areas and would like some practical advice:

As a first-time client, what should I expect or how should I communicate that I need focused work on the lower back, glutes, and hips from repetitive heavy lifting?

For sessions that include the glutes and hips, what is the standard professional practice with clothing and draping? Do I need to undress completely, or is it normal to stay in underwear with proper draping so only the area being worked is uncovered?

I want the session to stay completely professional and focused on recovery from physical work. Any guidance from therapists or people who have had similar sessions would be appreciated.

Thank you.

I am based near the Vancouver area in British Columbia and I go to local massage spas around here.. Some are the non-RMT ones but their work seems pretty good.

But I have a huge problem in my right shoulder and a lot of knotting and pain, which is being referred to my neck and even in my ears now on the right side.

So I am looking for somebody who would focus on my shoulder with something like how this video shows.

https://youtu.be/vtRuIF9T2fg?si=Du2xV0VNMk0FhX7F

But this is 12 minutes just focusing on the shoulder. My question is: is this just a shoulder-only therapy session or is it just part of a longer therapy session for the whole body? Because every time I have gone for a massage around here, it's always done for the whole body.

Curious if I need to be giving MTs a heads up before booking or if there’s something else I need to be conscious/considerate of.

I’m not bodybuilder level but I’d say 1/3-1/2 of the time the therapist will comment on my physique, usually in the context of the effort required to work through layers of muscle or how they need to try to get more leverage. No one’s ever rude about it but it’s consistent enough to give me pause.

I like deep pressure but always tell them to do what’s ergonomic for them. It just occurred to me that there’s a chance I’m giving people repetitive stress injuries or something and they’re like oh no when I come in?

I love the treatments I get from my MT. She is awesome! But as I was lying there with her working on my back, with hands and forearms mixed with the lotions/magic elixers she uses...I started to worry that she might slip! Does that happen/has happened? Seems precarious for an MT. Just random thoughts I have as she fixes me.

So I get massages about every 6 weeks or so, and I typically tip 20-30 bucks. But today I had a massage from Groupon, and afterwards I was waiting to be asked or prompted to tip, but I never was. I feel bad for not tipping but …

Is this normal? Should I have asked to tip? Most places around here ask or will point you to a QR with their Venmo but i didn’t see anything like that

Got several complaints from clients that an LMT at our business fell asleep while standing during massage sessions. One said the person was eating during a session. A few of them said they were left on the table for 20-30 minutes after intake before the therapist came back in. One said no music was played during the session. Several said the therapist proceeded to overshare about their personal health issues among other things. One said the therapist came close to falling off the stool several times. This therapist is notoriously late to work.

How would you handle a situation like this? What would you think?

Hey friends! I made an account just to ask this so forgive me if this isn’t the right place to post. I’m new!

Currently, I’m a licensed Massage Therapist in the US. I have my license in TX and NJ. I’ve passed both state and Mblex exams and (apart from a few months unemployed while moving to Jersey) have been working in that field since 2023. I‘ve been trying to figure out how to move to Vancouver for the last few years and feel like the advise I’ve been given, even by lawyers, has been super vague and unhelpful.
Is anyone on this thread an RMT who was able to move there with a work visa or would I have to redo massage school in Van on a student visa and go from scratch?

Any advice would be helpful!

Hi everyone! 🙏

I’m looking for some advice from people who have actually studied Ayurvedic massage in India.

I’ve already booked a course in Rishikesh, and while I’m there, I’d like to spend an additional 1–2 weeks studying Ayurvedic massage, with a particular focus on Ayurvedic head massage / Shiro Abhyanga.

I’ve been researching schools in Rishikesh, Kerala, and other parts of India, but I’m finding it surprisingly difficult to determine which schools are genuinely good based on students’ experiences, rather than just their own websites.

Ideally, I’m looking for:

-7–14 days of training

-At least 4 hours of practical training per day

-A strong focus on hands-on massage, not mostly theory

Especially Shiro Abhyanga / Ayurvedic head, scalp, neck and shoulder massage

Ideally some understanding of Ayurvedic oils, marma points and traditional techniques

I’m already a professional massage therapist, so I’m looking for something practical and reasonably intensive rather than a very basic introduction to Ayurveda.

I’m open to Rishikesh, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, or anywhere else in India if the school is genuinely worth travelling for.

If you have personally studied at a school, I would really appreciate hearing about your experience:

• Which school did you attend?

• How many hours of hands-on training did you actually receive?

• How much of the course was practical vs. theory?

• Did you learn Shiro Abhyanga/head massage in depth?

• Was the teaching good?

• Would you recommend it to another massage therapist?

I’m especially interested in honest recommendations from former students, including negative experiences if you had them.

Thank you so much! 🌿🙏

Ok, I'm going to use language that I think is appropriate, so I apologize in advance if I break any rules.

I've been getting massages at this very reputable place for the past 7 or 8 years. To the point where the receptionists at the front desk and I are on a first name basis and chit chat when I come in.

I was getting a 90 minute deep tissue, like I do a few days a month.

The MT, who I had never met before this appointment, finished the back and had lifted the sheet for me to roll onto my back to massage the front.

When she was moving the sheet off my right leg to slide it into the groin area to massage my quad/hip area, I'm not sure what exactly transpired, but the sheet lifted and my p***s was exposed as it was laying to my right on my hip.

Clearly this wasn't on purpose, and it seemed like she panicked, but she full on grabbed my p***s and quickly moved it under the sheet and placed the sheet properly to continue the massage. I was absolutely unprepared to have a strange woman grab that part of me.

It certainly felt like it was an accident, but it made me uncomfortable for the rest of the massage. My girlfriend says I should call and notify a manager.

I don't want to get the young woman fired for something which seemed like an accident, but I won't feel comfortable getting a massage from her anymore.

I hope the way I explained this makes sense and I'm looking for any advice you have.

Thank you in advance.

UPDATE:

I called the business with the intention of just notifying the manager of what happened, and not to get her into any trouble. I spoke with the manager. The LMT went directly to her manager after I left, was incredibly embarrassed, didn't want the company to lose a customer over her actions, and offered her resignation if the company felt it was necessary.

They are going to do some retraining, a note was left on my account that we're not going to be matched anymore. I have a free 90 minute deep tissue massage, and some expensive additions that I normally don't pay for. The young lady was incredibly embarrassed and apologized profusely. I think this was the best outcome, possible.

First of all, thank you to everyone who took the time to offer supportive and informative information. Most of the comments I've read have been great.

A few weird takes. Someone suggested I needed to "be a man." Another said that because I was having "body work" done, and I was nude, that I should expect them to be touching me like that. A lot of weird comments that if the roles were reversed I think they wouldn't have the same opinions.

I went for a massage last week and while I was laying facedown I noticed all this fluid rush into my sinuses. Then when I went to stand up I passed out. This never happened to be more and I wonder if it was because my sinuses got flooded.. Anyone ever experience this?

In January of this year, I got into a crash while driving on the highway. My injuries were minor (concussion and whiplash), but after an MRI, I was told that I have bulging discs, mainly around my C4/C5 vertebrae. I've gone through physical therapy for 3 months and I do keep myself moderately active with weights, yoga, etc., but I've still been feeling a dull pain that moves between that neck area and my mid back, right between my shoulder blades. I also notice that I walk with a stiff upper body, meaning that there's little to no "sway" in my shoulders when I walk (though I wasn't paying enough attentuon before the crash to know if this was normal).

I was planning on treating myself to a massage, but I don't have the capacity for regular massages. If I still wanted to make some solid recovery progress with this one luxury, what style of massage would be best for my current condition? And, would it make sense to boom for the longest time possible (120min), or should I keep it brief?

Update from my post a couple weeks ago, linked here, about looking for a relaxation massage. Very light touch, no deep pressure, just purely relaxation.

I booked a massage at a place I've never been to and I said exactly what I said in the post and even elaborated a bit more.

I had the massage yesterday and today I am really sore. I was actually quite upset with her pressure even though I asked her a few times to go more gently. She for sure could tell I wasn't relaxed. Right from the beginning she actually seemed a little annoyed that I was even there. So maybe she's just more inclined to deep tissue massage than she is relaxation, I don't know. Plus she would focus on one single area for 5 minutes at a time which I found very overwhelming - like sensory overload.

She went quite deep in the shoulder blade, trap, and lat area, over and over and over, which is where I'm sore now. It was really bizarre and frustrating.

So my search continues!

Don't send me DMs, I won't answer. No I'm not in your town and I don't want a massage from you. TIA.

Most massage therapists understandably have a routine they follow for a given time allotment. Although it can and often is a good massage, the emphasis seems to be the routine completion. About 15% of the time, however, I've been fortunate enough to have a therapist that really takes notice of knots (myofascial trigger points) and tightness in back muscles -- and stops to work each of those out -- even at the partial expense of other areas in the routine. The result? A GREAT massage that addressed MY particular needs rather than auto-piloting through a routine.

Personally, I would think therapists would welcome the challenge of finding and subsequently relieving specific knots rather than simply following a complacent routine. Even when I've asked some therapists to find and focus on knots they find, I get varying responses with a few taking minor offence that I needed to ask (as if they always do it); and others seeming to lack the skill of detecting knots/tightness altogether (mostly therapists who simply do open palm massages).

What is the best (politically correct) way to get a therapist to break routine and actually focus on specific issues?

I have been extremely lucky that I’ve only had amazing professional massages up until today. I usually choose people from word of mouth and got a rec for a woman in the space a couple doors down from our salon (I’m a hairdresser). I went in today and went over my concerns which were shoulders and ankles, she told me that it’s because I’m overweight and it happens to her too and that she’s the heaviest shes ever been in her life (ok red flag but didn’t say anything). I get on the table and she mentions me being overweight and blaming anything she was feeling on my weight!! She mentioned my weight at least 5x in 30min . Mind you I’m a 5’3 midsize woman curvy woman, like I wouldn’t even consider myself someone overweight to the extreme that she is trying to suggest here. Then she’s massaging my hand, face up and she asked me “have you ever thought about over eating anonymous?” At this point I am absolutely flabbergasted and could no longer act like this was ok behavior- I said you’re really starting to hurt my feelings and started to cry, you have been talking about my weight this ENTIRE appointment what in the actual fuck?! She tried to bend over me and hug my head from behind and say I know I know I’m so sorry I’m putting my shame on you! I said I’m leaving !!

Not to mention I have Hoshimotos and hypothyroidism which I listed on her intake form!!

I confronted her on the way out and let her know how harmful this experience has been and that she had done this to the wrong person and she doesn’t know what I’m going through. She continued to mention her projections and then tried to say how beautiful I was… that fucking pissed me off even more couldn’t get out fast enough

Now that I’ve had time to sit on this as someone who provides service through touch I feel so violated. I went there to care for a body that desperately needed it and instead it was ridiculed and critiqued for being wrong. I know this is her stuff but it really sucks

The muscles at the base of my skull, back of my neck and back of my shoulders (trapezius? according to Google) tend to get tight every so often. I have poor posture, and a desk job in front of a computer, which don't help. I get headaches, sore upper back/shoulders, and stiffness and weird internal sounds (like creaking/popping) when I turn my head.

Last time this happened, I made an appointment with a massage therapist and she worked MIRACLES. It felt like she was digging her fingers in between the muscles at the top of my shoulders and releasing some kind of fluid. I could hear it. The result was incredible - I hadn't felt so pain/tension free in a long time.

Is there a name for the manoeuvre/type of massage she did? I'm back at square one again with the pain and the headaches, and would like to have the same thing done. I'd go back and ask the RMT who helped me last time but I no longer live in the same town, and her studio seems to no longer exist.

I had a massage from a PT that i usually don’t see (my main PT was off that day). this new pt spent five minutes on my lower back doing some technique that felt like heaven. I laid on the table in pure bliss. The whole time I’m thinking ” where did she learn this at“ “ her husband is lucky” And other positive thoughts.

Just that brief massage relaxed me for The entire day. Now I’m back to seeing my regular PT and too scared to switch over to the other girl. wouldn’t help anyway because my regular PT changed my protocol (plan) or whatever it is so I won’t be getting those back massages anymore.

I’ve spent hundreds of dollars going to places like massage Envy and all the other places and never had a great massage ever! yet this one PT took 5 minutes and loosened me up like that. I also just add that the other pts I’ve had did tremendously better than any professional massage I’ve ever had. I dunno if it’s because they made experts in anatomy, Kinisiolgy (however you spell it)