2-hr massages, plus and minuses?

[Carrie K]

Hi everyone,

i wondered if you could help me make a decision about whether and how often to do 2-hour massages. This post is a bit long; i hope it will help someone else too! I began my practice about a year ago, offering 1, 1.5 and 2 hour massages, with 2-hours at a pretty discounted rate (first $80, then $90). I started doing this (1) as an unusual promotion, (2) because my favorite massages have gone on "forever" (3) I like the way it changes mine and my clients' sense of time, gets people off the fast-track, (4) providing a long session at a low rate ensures I have as much time as I feel I need, (5) I was inheriting someone's clients, and felt the extra time gave me a *chance* of living up to clients' expectations. 90% of my clients want deep work (deep massage/deep tissue/rigorous Swedish)--it's very rigorous for me. I thought that only some people would want the 2-hour, but nearly all want the 2-hour. My practice is, on a 'typical' good week, three 2-hour massages five days a week.

I'm trying to figure out whether/how I could make this schedule feasible. Therapists warned me the 2-hour ones would be exhausting, and I do tend to have very limited energy at the end of the day. Right now it sometimes feels physically taxing, but perhaps as much or more emotionally taxing (I have talkative clients, and I only at key points in the massage facilitate quiet--often a full hour or more is talking! Feel free to 'cuss me out' about this, for my sake and theirs!!) I think sometimes the massage is better because of the talking, and sometimes worse. My body mechanics seem pretty good (no pain in hands, etc, knock wood!) but my body is not right now in good alignment, which is def. contributing to the fatigue.

How many of you offer a two-hour massage? How easily has two-hours gone for you? With great alignment and/or emotional/energetic boundaries and techniques, do you find you can do it pretty easily? I know it's different from person to person, but whatever feedback you can provide I'd love!!

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[xboy332000]

I offer a two-hour massage, but I don't get a lot of takers. I love it because I don't feel rushed and can spend the time needed on a particular "hot spot". I've done a three-hour massage on occasion, too, and the time flies...BUT those not being the norm, I don't think it really applies to your practice, with most of your massages being the 2 hour ones.

Because you can only do three of these in a day, you need to increase your rate. I don't have a low rate for my longer massages; I charge $60/hour regardless of how many hours. It's $90 for a 90 minute massage....the time and skill required is not less in the second hour. Paperwork, laundering set-up, etc. are all just as much a part of a longer massage. I understand encouraging the longer sessions, but I've chosen not to do that with reduced rates. I think it would be difficult for you to go from a big reduction in rate to no reduction, but you could just raise your rates to a more manageable level with a simple notice and no fanfare.

How much time do you schedule between 2 hour massages? I think *enough* time would be crucial, so that you can rest a bit, eat something, stretch really good and still have time to change over the room and do SOAP notes. I'd think half an hour would be minimum.....maybe maximum, too, as I'd want to end the day at some point, lol.

I think it is neat that you offer that. Not a lot of people do, and I love those endless massages, too!!!! After my last two hour massage I felt so good for DAYS.

I don't have any opinion on the talking. Some people NEED to talk. I have changed the subject when politics have come up, saying that we'd better not talk about something *quite* so non-relaxing or they'd never know they had a massage : . Otherwise, though, it's different from client to client, therapist to therapist, and client/therapist relationship to client/therapist relationship! I don't like "rules" about that.

 

[A J]

I offer two hour sessions. I, too, charge the same flat rate per hour regardless of session time. Possibly because of the price, not many clients go for it... 90 minutes is the most popular length in my practice.

I do not discount for longer sessions because although basic setup/reset time is the same for each session length, energy expenditure and recovery time are not.

Part of what makes two hour sessions workable for me is that I don't do 120 minutes of rigorous swedish/deep tissue. For relaxation clients I incorporate more energy work, and for therapeutic clients I incorporate more specific and focused work (a lot of fascia work and specific energy work lately).

 

[mrfrudd2006]

I don't do them, I think I'm to ADD to spend that much time with one person. :

 

[Candice W]

hi sanantonio -

Are you making enough money to cover your bills, are you happy with the rate you charge and are you comfortable doing massages for that long?

In my situation, I pay 30% to the yoga center I work at for each table massage. That would leave me $60 or $30 per hour, which is still a decent wage compared to spa work.


Talking that the client initiates is fine; imo, it is as valid a form of emotional release as crying or laughing. I do not think a MT should start conversations, and definitely should not monopolize the session time with idle chatter.

 

[Africa Renee]

HI, thank you so much for all your thoughtful responses!!

I love this site.

Denise thank you, I am making enough, though, Sharon and EgoMack, I agree that one doesn't spend less energy in the second hour of a massage--if anything you might be a bit more tired from the long work. A flat rate per hour makes more sense and probably would give me some extra energy .

I typically leave an hour between massages, but I find a half-hour or even 45 min. is often better since my body doesn't cool down in between--and an hour leaves me too much time to nap with my dogs.

I'm glad y'all aren't appalled by the talking. I think talking and the client-therapist relationship can be such a complicated area...I'm going to look for more threads on that!

Would love to hear any other thoughts...this is very helpful!

 

[CubanCutie]

G-d bless all of you that can do 2hr massages on a regular basis. 90 min is enough time for me to get what I need to get done. I don't think I would have that kind of energy.

The only time I have done 2 hr massages is on my wife. With her I just don't look at the clock and I massage away untill I feel I've helped her as much as possible. Doing that, there were times her massage lasted 50 min and once 2hrs 10 min. Mostly its falls in the 1 hr 45 min range. But to make sure that I do an entire 2 hrs.....all I can say is wow!!

As far as price, I charge a slight discount for 90 min because 1) I only have to launder 1 set of linens and 2) I prefer to do 90 min rather than 60 min so I try to steer people to 90 min.

 

[Binst is happy]

calmhead, you raise a gooood point: efficient modalities, a thread in itself. I picture Rolfing and structural integration, as extremely efficient, since they organize the whole body. And many people have told me that energy work--"running energy" simultaneously to or instead of hands-on work--can be super efficient. Stretching and warming the body often speeds everything else up. I know many of us also push Egoscue, (careful) yoga, and cardio, since alignment, stretching and strength would reduce many clients' muscle tension. But it always seems as if there are so many layers to work! I heard Ida Rolf once spent 2-hours on the retinaculum of an ankle. For specific injuries I usually don't need a full two hours; the extra time is often in opening up the finger and wrist joints, working the feet and toes, and on the scalp and face, but I don't always get to them. I know a man who likes two hours of reflexology, Swedish and deep tissue on his feet and legs!

 

[Isadora]

I have only done a couple 2 hour massages and I have to be honest here. Don't care for it at all! I wonder if thats because I also don't like to be on the table that long. I like to receive 60 minutes, no longer. I get very antsy. My mind wanders and I start thinking of all the stuff I have to get done. I just don't have the luxury in my life right now to take that much time. I mean I suppose I could if I where willing to give up something like my daily run or yoga. Now for giving I think if you enjoy that and have clients that do also thats fantastic. Might give you a nice nitch market. I would be careful about the discounts and go with the flat rate. You never know if it really takes off that may the majority of your work. You have to figure in your personal energy costs as well as the fact that you could maybe have worked on 2 clients during that time. Anyways, thank goodness like someone said there are therapists like you for those who want the longer sessions.

 

[Ginger Billy]

I love long massages, giving and receiving.
I guess the promotion would make the most sense if you were short on clients, but ultimately everyone as you said will have to decide what's right based on individual circumstances.
Most of the massages i do are 90min. or more. Hydration is vital for me to keep going. I open and close with energy work and usually do a variety of lomi, shiatsu, tui na kinda tied together with Swedish. For me the busy chatter of some peoples minds is more exhausting than the predominately deep work that i do. If i am going deep, there is usually no chatter as we are both focused on the task at hand. I draw the line in that an appointment with me is not a social call. A professional demeanor can go far in making this obvious.

Aloha.

 

[CipBerGreelia]

I love getting 2 hour massages. The one's I have gotten could have actually been done in 1 1/2 hour as far as how much 'work' was done but it was just lying on the table being nurtured for that long. Like even though he spent extra time on my back it wasn't anything more than what could be done in an 1 1/2 hour session with someone who is focused and works more efficiently.

I am not sure if I could do one but it is an interesting marketing concept. I have learned to work too efficiently!!

You should charge what you need to make a Great living and not feel resentful about doing such long massages.

( I think they are worth more than just doubling your hourly rate.)


Julie

 

[chinamigarden]

2-hr massages, plus and minuses?

Right now it sometimes feels physically taxing, but perhaps as much or more emotionally taxing (I have talkative clients, and I only at key points in the massage facilitate quiet--often a full hour or more is talking! Feel free to 'cuss me out' about this, for my sake and theirs!!) I think sometimes the massage is better because of the talking, and sometimes worse. My body mechanics seem pretty good (no pain in hands, etc, knock wood!) but my body is not right now in good alignment, which is def. contributing to the fatigue.

I find that listening/responding to people talking to me ends up feeling WAY more physically and mentally taxing than doing the work alone, particularly when they are getting work which requires me to think or pay attention to their bodies in some way. In fact I'd say if there's anything that has made me feel burnt out over the years it's the listening/talking before, during, and/or after the massages that has done me in. I would dread two hour vigorous massages with talkers. So I'm projecting alot of my own feelings into this when I say, you really may need to look at books or classes on professional boundaries or maybe even some psycho-somatic bodywork skills if this is the type of clientelle that you want to serve.

These clients are getting talk therapy (just meaning a 'captive audience' type of talk therapy) and body therapy for cheap! I've had some people come to me who have admitted that they don't really have anyone else in their life to talk to the way they get to talk to me.....not like dirty secrets or anything, just a captive audience who is listening to whatever they want to talk about. I've decided that I don't really want to do psychosomatic work, so my boundaries there are fairly good. But I am still working on my own boundaries for the captive audience talkers. Some days listening and responding to chatter is more draining then others and I am not quite sure how to let the client know that on some days they get one or the other but not both.

Definitely up your rates and the people who need to drop out will and you'll feel more emotionally/physically energized....or they won't drop out, but you'll be making a better wage for your time spent with them and you'll feel more emotionally/physically energized.

 

[SecuritySupportAV]

2-hr massages, plus and minuses?

How many of you offer a two-hour massage? How easily has two-hours gone for you? With great alignment and/or emotional/energetic boundaries and techniques, do you find you can do it pretty easily? I know it's different from person to person, but whatever feedback you can provide I'd love!!

I offer 2 hour massage but not at a reduced rate. I charge more.

1 hour - $75
1 & 1/2 hour - $115
2 hour - $160

Two hours is not hard for me, and I enjoy them. I find I have more people who ask for 1 & 1/2 hour massage than 2 hours though. I think I'd enjoy having a 3 (2 hour massage) per day practice. That would be fun. But I don't think I'd want it consistently.

I have a tendency to move slower with a 2 hour massage and it gives me time to really think about "other areas" I would not normally have time to work, unless I was doing 1 hor spot work. For example, if I am doing a 1 hour neck and traps, I can work the anterior cervical musculature without a problem, but in a 1 hour full body, unless I have a concentration on the neck, I just can't spend all that time up there and under the clavicles. So, a 2 hour, would give me the ability to do the neck (occiput, post/ant and clavicles) in depth for an hour and still get in a nice full body. Or let's say the client needs indepth foot work. I'd have a great 45 mins. just for the feet/ankles and anterior tibialis, that I might not get in a normal session.

Most of my clients are talkers. I can easily have a client that talks the whole session. It hasn't been a problem for me personally.

Hope that's some helpful input.

 

[Drummer435]

I myself don't do 2 hr massages. I have a hard time body and energy wise with an hour. I do alot of deep tissue, NMT work and it is hard on my hands and such. I would love to receive a 2 hr massage though!
As for the talking, I have a good mix of talkers and non talkers. I enjoy the talkers sometimes as they help move the clock along, plus I love feedback.
I will have to get a 2 hr massage soon and get a first hand opinion... I love the research part of my job!

 

[It Girl]

WOWWW

1) was soo interested that some people charge more as the session gets longer. why not?? it does take extra effort to work without a break.

2) tribute, so true that some clients are getting "talk therapy" and "massage therapy" for cheap. good lucks--I am going to look for threads on that. i do think that's a big part of the drain. my vision of an ideal practice (as opposed to MY practice) would be a wholly professional demeanor, a la Bobblehead (you make it sound so easy)...

3) the efficiency question is an interesting one. pueppi I relate to your description of why the extra time helps. there are so many techniques for making a massage more efficient, and that I'm learning (stretching, reflexology, energy work, assisting with emotional release, or working solely on alignment, as in Rolfing or structural integ., on the basis that all else will follow). On the other hand, I love that story (is it true?) that Ida Rolf once spent 2 hours on the retinaculum of an ankle. with the two hours, I can usually get in some work on the wrist and the joints of fingers and toes, on deep hand muscles, face and scalp muscles, sometimes on the front of the neck and throat... there are only a few occasions where I've felt like I couldn't make use of the full two hours they had booked. I can take more time, but I generally don't feel less efficient.

 

[Kia Koala (Go Phils!!!)]

I gave my first two hour massage to my husband last week for his birthday as well as a trade for a photography shoot he did so I could have a good headshot. I used hot stones which is always a longer process for me. The hot stones kept me nice and grounded as I worked.

I have to say I wasn't completely exhausted after the work but I couldn't imagine doing another in the same day.

In some ways I think it might be nice to offer this as an initial massage with clients when I am getting to know their body and it would provide more ample time for assessment.

I sure wished I knew where all of you two hour massage therapists are because when my husband got off the table I thought I have never experienced receiving a two hour massage and I wonder what that is like ;0)

I say go for it if it speaks to you to offer two hours...it may help set you apart marketing wise. I think it is great for those people that have a tough time relaxing and find it is only in the first hour that they finally let go...sort of like when you go away for a week on vacation and you feel like if you just had one more week you would finally relax completely...

Take care!

 

[fishie]

thank you--such thorough and thoughtful responses. julie and pueppi, the idea of charging MORE for the second hour is inspiring --seriously. and thanks to everyone, I feel more confident that such frequent 2-hour massages are sort of "extreme massage" (for those who haven't tried it, I think you do just build up strength, after a while; I'm now thinking it's not having a little mental break that's the hardest part). It'll take me a while to figure out exactly how to tackle it, but I'm going to start by upping the rate on 2-hours for new clients--maybe to $110 .

the question of efficiency that a few of you raise is so interesting, and complex, and I know can be controversial. i hesitate to comment on it because it's such a big topic, but wanted to try... There are of course so many techniques (a few of which I know) for facilitating work--such as stretching, properly warming the body, reflexology, energy work, psychosomatic work, using Rolfing or structural integ to improve alignment (to in turn trigger so many other releases), or doing the deep long myofascial releases. And I have had a fewww times when I thought, "this person doesn't need a full two hours," or, "what this person really could benefit from is (daily stretching, exercise, etc)." But I second pueppi's description of what a 2 hour enables her to do---it does feel slower, but usually not less efficient, and sometimes it's more because I can, depending on the situation, get to everything I need to, all the hot spots and related areas, in one session. I can also often get to some of the real nitty gritty areas, such as finger, toe, and wrist joints, the many foot, scalp and face muscles, or all the deeper glute muscles... And I think I heard right that Ida Rolf once spent 2 hours on the retinaculum of an ankle...(yes, I think about that a lot : )

Thank you again and again, this has realllly helped.

 

[ichliebedich]

thank you--such thorough and thoughtful responses. julie and pueppi, the idea of charging MORE for the second hour is inspiring --seriously. and thanks to everyone, I feel more confident that such frequent 2-hour massages are sort of "extreme massage" (for those who haven't tried it, I think you do just build up strength, after a while; I'm now thinking it's not having a little mental break that's the hardest part). It'll take me a while to figure out exactly how to tackle it, but I'm going to start by upping the rate on 2-hours for new clients--maybe to $110 .

the question of efficiency that a few of you raise is so interesting, and complex, and I know can be controversial. i hesitate to comment on it because it's so complex, but wanted to try... I know there are so many techniques (a few of which I know) for facilitating work--such as stretching, properly warming the body, reflexology, energy work, psychosomatic work, using Rolfing or structural integ to improve alignment (which will in turn trigger so many other releases), or doing the deep long myofascial releases. And I have had a fewww times when I thought, "this person doesn't need a full two hours," or, "what this person really could benefit from is (daily stretching, exercise, etc)." But I second pueppi's description of what a 2 hour enables her to do---it does feel slower, but usually not less efficient, and sometimes it's more because I'm not distracted by the clock and can, depending on the situation, get to everything I need to in one session. I can often get to, for instance, finger, toe, and wrist joints, scalp and face muscles, and/or all the deeper glute muscles... And I think I heard right that Ida Rolf once spent 2 hours on the retinaculum of an ankle...(yes, I think about that a lot : )

Thank you again and again, this has realllly helped.

 

[Dark]

I've recently been thinking of offering 2 hour massages to clients. My natural time without a clock to give a massage would be 90 mins. For Hot stones I can't do a fully body massage in less than 90 mins. I generally work slowly so a 90 minute massage is not very taxing on my body. With a 2 hour massage I would probably incorporate more stretching.

There are some UK therapists who offer 2 and 3 hours sessions. I think 3 hours is a bit long.

I have a few clients who really like talking to, but every now and again I will say to them that I am going to shut up so they can just zone out and really enjoy the session. I do sometimes find if I talk too much I'll start to tire quickly.

I charge a flat fee per hour.

You could use the 2-hour massage as your marketing niche.

 

[Shayy <3]

I received a two-hour session today.

It was heavenly.

Still have that post-massage haze about me but wanted to share ;D

Emily