Massage Business Experts Inc.

Massage Business

Talking about different massage businesses, here's an experience I had. I went to visit the Massage Envy in High Point N.C. yesterday, March 29. I was very surprised that the front desk person did not do everything in his power to get me on the massage table.  I took a friend with me when he said he could not give us an hour at the same time I couldn't believe it.  He informed me that he could start one of us at 10:30 and the other at 12pm.  I asked if he could do chair massage he said yes, that it would be a dollar a minute and it would be more expensive than getting on the table.  He did not want to charge me a dollar a minute, I had the money, I wanted a massage, we both wanted a massage, instead he opted not to take my money at all.  I sat around and talked to him for over an hour about the business and how it was going.  He never again said anything about getting my friend and I a massage.  Just that he would rather do table massage than chair massage was amazing to me. When I was running my massage center I would do anything to accommodate the customer and get them the massage they were looking for ASAP.  I was very surprised that a corporation like Massage Envy was not prepared to give massage at a moments notice.  He could have called somebody in or he could have given us both thirty minutes each (we could have split the hour available at 10:30).  He should have done anything to get me what I was looking for and to make the company some money.  There are 11 rooms available for massage and I did not see anybody working.  I asked him to give me a tour of the place, it was set up beautifully even with muzak piped into each room with a volume control.  They also had a light dimmer in each room so the therapist has control over the amount of light as most massage therapist like to work in the dark.  I was very surprised to see that none of the rooms were busy.  In massage business of any kind you have to give the client what they are asking for and be able to give the best quality of service in the industry.  If the manager of a group practice does not have experience with massage it is very hard to sell massage.  As bodyworkers, we are mostly running small businesses where you can't afford to have people walk away from your business.  Every person who comes into your office or who calls on the phone requesting your service should be made to feel like they are the most important person and you will do everything to accommodate their needs.  This makes the customer feel important and brings them in and then back again if they are happy with your service. This was not my experience at Massage Envy, I never did get a massage. If you want business you have to be available to do business.  Massage business is all about customer service and getting the clients massage.

Getting Massaged

For the health of yourself and your massage business you must get massage.  Massage Therapists, when is the last time you had a massage?  I hope the answer to that question is yesterday.  I am sure for most of you that yesterday is not the answer.  It is more likely that the answer is months ago.  How can therapists whose job it is to take care of other people not take care of themselves?  Massage Therapists can be the absolute worst at taking care of themselves.  We are in the business of giving massage but alot of the time we can't seem to find the time to get massage for ourselves.  How can we expect our clients to take our advice about getting massage if we aren't following our own advice and getting massage ourselves.  As massage therapist we need more than anybody to take care of our own bodies and recieve massage.  Recieving a masaage is one of the best ways to learn new techniques especially after masage school is over. Recieving massage tunes you into your own body, it also reminds you of where the muscles are and how effective massage really is. Exercising, getting massage and drinking lots of water are  some of the best things you can do to stay in tip top shape for your self and your clients.  Massage therapist are usually only in the field for five years because they get burned out, or have a physical injury that makes it so they can't work.  Do yourself a favor and don't burn out so quickly.  Take good care of your body and your hands.  Learn good body mechanics and use elbows and other body parts besides your fingers.  There are books you can read like "Heal your Body" by Louise Hay and "Save your hands", injury prevention for massage therapist by Laurieann Greene. So remember to get a massage often for your health and the health of your business!

Taking Care of Your self

As a massage therapist in the business of taking care of other people  consider your first priority is to take care of your self.  If you don't put yourself first and take care of your health how on earth will you be able to take care of other people? It's easy to put your clients and your family first. You may keep saying "oh I will get around to it", when it comes to taking care of yourself.  Try to change that and start to put yourself first. Start with a workout routine in the morning before you see your first client.  This workout can be a jog around the block, a walk with your dog, a workout at the gym or any other way that you can exercise. Do this before you try take care of other people, put yourself first.  This is a very important ritual for you to start immediately.  As soon as you do and you have done it for 21 days it will become a habit. Then you will find you need the exercise in order to get your day going, especially before you start pouring out your energy to help your clients. Your clients will notice how much stronger and calmer you are. your business will improve, your sleep will improve and your overall energy will improve. Taking care of yourself benefits everyone in your life especially you. So cheers to you for taking care of you!

Chair Massage business Proposal

When your massage business is getting started and you write a proposal to get the massage business going for example proposing you will do chair massage in a business setting.  Writing a winning business proposal is the key to this process. Writing a business proposal lets you design on paper how  you are going to handle the business details. This will allow any business owner to see on paper what will happen with your business and how it will benefit their business.  I am going to give you business proposal as a way to get any business to buy massage for their employees or at least allow them to get massage during the day while they are at work and the employees can pay by the minute.  This proposal is written as a way to recruit business for you.  You set the day and the time and then let them decide when they can use your services or not.

On-Site Massage for the Workplace

On-site massage is a short, seated massage which:

* Comes to your workplace.

* Is given by a professional massage practitioner.

* Lasts from 5 to 30 minutes, uses no oil, and takes place with the
employee fully clothed.

* Usually covers the head, neck, shoulders, back, arms and hands
and can be adapted to special needs.

* Leaves employees feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready to
return to work.

A portable massage chair, designed for comfort and support, is
often used. It is supplied by the massage practitioner and can be
set up and dismantled quickly in almost any location.

A simple, cost effective way to:

* Relieve stress

* Improve employee morale

* Increase productivity

* Lower health care costs

* Show staff you care

I will work on Wednesdays for on-site massage, targeting
businesses in North Asheville. My fee will be $55 per hour. I will
set a minimum of 2 hours per visit at least once a month. The ideal
scenario would be starting at 9 am and working until 5pm,
working with three different businesses. I would earn $330 per
week or $1320 per month with my new on-site service. The on-
site service will also give me the opportunity to talk to people
about their health and give out information on classes, vitamins &
herbs, massage and other retail products.

More Newsletters

Newsletters can be informational and also tell a story.  You can give clients the information of how to recieve massage or what benefits they can get from massage.    Massage is a stress reliever so we are going to give you an article to use for information purposes that you can for pamplets or for promotional material that may be going to a company to help them get their employees taking good care of themselves.  We all need massage so spreading the word in newsletters and other informational ways is good for everybody.

Stress can cause acute muscular tension, causing problems for many people because muscular pain hinders sleep – the body’s time of repair and renewal. Muscle tension can make everyday activities painful and difficult, increasing fatigue and irritability leading to more stress. Emotional stress can also lead to increased production of chemicals such as cortisol and nor epinephrine. Unfortunately, an excess of these chemicals can cause more anxiety.

Massage relieves muscular tension easing pain and releasing endorphins; which bolsters our sense of well-being and helps us sleep. Increased circulation from massage flushes out excess toxins that are stored in muscles and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain. Plus, massage is great for relaxation, clearing the mind and revitalizing the senses.

Massage provides a safe caring environment and gentle techniques to release physical tensions which facilitate the expression and release of suppressed emotional trauma. You will reconnect with your inner wisdom and innate healing ability.   

Newsletters for business

Today we are putting another example of a newsletter for you to see and use.  This is an example of how to write an informative newsletter and give your clients an idea of what will happen when they come for a massage.  It covers what they should talk to the therapist about and what they can expect to happen when they get there and on the table.

While massage is luxurious and rewarding to the mind, body and 

spirit, there are ways to reap more benefits out of a session:

Information: Arrive 10 minutes early to talk so that 

your therapist can customize your sessions based on 

your body’s specific needs. S/he needs to know how 

much exercise you get, or that you spend your day 

lifting heavy objects or sitting at a computer. 

Talk about old injuries, the knee surgery you had 

two years ago may seem trivial by now, but it has 

changed the way you walk, causing opposing 

muscles to compensate for the injury as well as 

the healing process. Talk about how much pressure 

you need. 

Breathe: The therapist will give what seems like 

more than enough time to get undressed and onto 

the table. Use it to breathe and to get into your 

mental "space." Lie down and take a few deep breaths. 

It’s time to stop thinking. Feel your body sink into 

the table with each exhale. Continue breathing 

throughout the session. When the therapist sinks an 

elbow or thumb into a tight spot, your deep breaths 

will help break up that tension. 

Relax: Your body should remain limp. Don’t try to 

"help" the therapist by holding your arm/leg/head 

up while s/he massages or stretches it. That 

defeats the purpose. The therapist’s job is to 

coax muscles into "letting go".

This is best done when the muscles are in a relaxed 

state. Try to avoid wiggling, talking and gesturing.  

Don’t talk. There is no such thing as an awkward 

silence here! This is your time, and therapists are 

used to working quietly. Although they are eager to 

get to know you better,it is easier to tap into that 

intuitive place when they can concentrate on how your 

body is responding to their touch.

Talk: If you want the therapist to go deeper or 

lighter, say so. Don’t leave them guessing how much 

pressure you need. A good therapist is never offended 

by a client’s specific needs. Let the therapist know 

if something is uncomfortable.

Repeat: Regular massage is preventive medicine. It 

took a long time for your neck to hurt like that. 

One session will speed your recovery, but it won’t 

fix the problem overnight. In fact, once your neck 

feels better you may notice that now your shoulders 

hurt. The injury is moving out of your body. Now 

that the muscles in your neck are loosening, the 

tightness in your shoulders is more evident.  

Regular massage will keep your muscles healthy 

and able to ward off more problems. 

Keep in tune with your body and what it tells you

each day!

what is massage

Part of getting information to your clientele is creating a newsletter. The clients love to read about massage and learn more about the service. With a newsletter you can inform them on different topics.  We will give you a few different examples to copy to get you started writing your newsletters. This one gives very basic information on what massage is.

What Is Massage Therapy?

Massage has been described as "the healing touch." Often referred to as bodywork or somatic therapy, massage therapy refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body. It consists of a group of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body, using primarily the hands. The massage therapist can also use other areas of the body, such as the forearms, elbows or feet. These techniques affect the musculoskeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body.

The goal of massage therapy is fairly straightforward: to positively affect the health and well being of the client. Numerous physical and mental health benefits have been attributed to massage, including reducing stress and aiding in relaxation; reducing the heart rate; lowering blood pressure; increasing blood circulation and lymph flow; relaxing the muscles; reducing chronic pain and improving joint range of motion. Specifically, people have found that therapeutic massage can help manage a variety of conditions:

Physical Benefits:

·        relaxes the whole body.

·        loosens tight muscles.

·        relieves tired and aching muscles.

·        increases flexibility and range of motion.

·        diminishes chronic pain.

Mental Benefits:

·        reduces mental stress.

·        improves concentration.

·        promotes restful sleep.

·        aids in mental relaxation.

·        assists in recovery from injuries and illness.

·        strengthens the immune system.

·        reduces tension headaches.

·        calms the nervous system.

·        enhances skin tone.

Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. In fact, Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine," referenced massage when he wrote, in the 4^th century B.C.: "The physician must be acquainted with many things, and assuredly with rubbing."

Actually, massage therapy is not so much rubbing as stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, pressure, and various other techniques. Specific styles of massage therapy utilized by therapists may include, but is not limited to, the following:

·        Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but without relying on the use of needles. This technique involves pressing on certain points of the body to relieve pain. Acupressure attempts to promote maximal flow of "qi," the vital energy or "life force" believed by some to flow throughout the body.

·        Craniosacral therapy involves massaging the bones of the skull and the lower spine (the sacrum). Proponents of this type of therapy claim that massage can loosen or release restrictions or "blockages" in the body that can contribute to pain and dysfunction.

·        Deep-tissue massage uses slow strokes, direct pressure, or friction, applied across the grain of the muscles with the fingers, thumbs or elbows. Deep-tissue massage works deeply into the muscles and connective tissue to release chronic aches and pains.

·        Lymph drainage involves the application of light, rhythmic strokes. This technique is primarily used to help conditions related to poor lymph flow, such as inflammation, edema and neuropathies.

·        Neuromuscular massage is massage applied to specific muscles, often used to increase blood flow, release knots of muscle tension, or release pain/pressure on nerves. One type of this therapy is also known as Trigger Point Therapy, in that concentrated finger pressure is applied to "trigger points" of muscular pain.

·        Reflexology is based on a system of points on the hands and feet thought to correspond or "reflex" to other areas of the body. The technique is thus specific to particular body parts (most often the feet), but is intended to assist the entire body.

·        Shiatsu/acupressure are systems of finger-pressure massage based on the Asian system of healing, which treats special points along "meridians" — channels of energy flow (or Qi or Chi) in the body. The underlying belief is that blocked meridians can cause physical discomfort, and that techniques applied to specific meridian points can "release" the blockage, thereby balancing energy flow.

·        Swedish massage: Generally regarded as the most common form of massage, Swedish massage involves manipulation of the muscles and connective tissues of the body for relaxation or health maintenance. Swedish massage uses five basic massage techniques to relax muscles and body tissues.

Having a Business Partner

My experience with my business partner has been awesome.  We really compliment each other and we can rely on each other.  One thing I have found out about business is that you have to check everything all the time.  If you have a business partner you both need to check everything all the time.  Jody and I have found that each of us has our own special something to add to the business.  I have the time and the follow through to handle the financial side where I deal with the day to day running of the business and the accounting of the money and dealing with the accountant.  Jody deals really well with the massage therapists and the clients and the marketing.  Each of us has our qualities but I participate in what she does and she participates in what I do.  Each of us then has the knowledge of both sides of the business.  We both have to make decisions for the company so if you are not paying attention to the whole company you will not be able to make informed decisions.  Jody and I have managed to keep our company on track by keeping each other informed of what is going on inside the company.  Each of us has special concerns and insights but we compliment each other and give advice and depend on each others expertise.  If you are not aware of the financial picture of your company and you are depending on your partner to do that for you because you don't understand or it is to boring you are doing yourself a terrible injustice.  Not paying attention to the money is why most business partnerships fail.  Both parties involved are responsible for the financial well being of the company so you both need to be tracking the money.  For our business we used a daily sheet that had all the income for each day that was rang up on the cash register as cash, check or charge.  Each Thursday we would do payroll and all the bills so at the end of each week we have an account of the income versus the expenses for each week.  Some weeks we made money some we did not but we both were aware of what the income was for the week and we could make informed business decisions for marketing and expenses based on the income we are making.  Most business experts would tell you not to take on a partner they would say don't give away your company you should just hire somebody to do the work you cant do.  I found that people really work hard when there money is on the line.  People who have their lively hood at stake will give it everything they have in order to make it go.  Business partners have a stake in the business they are not just employees who do what you say so you have to make sure you can work well with them.  That is where Jody and I got very lucky.  I was already working for the business when Jody said she needed a partner so I already new where she needed help and I was pretty sure I could do what she was not able to do.  We both had to take a huge leap of faith to make this partnership and business work.  We were both willing to take on the challenge and were both true to our word as far as doing what we said we would do.  This you have to have to have a successful  partnership.