I have two issues at MT school. I'd love some help & adv

[Mr.Explosion]

I have two issues at school. Scroll down to see the other one.
I would love some advice.

Hello everyone. My name is Alex and I am in massage school (started in October). I have a project due on Wednesday and part of it includes an interview of a massage therapist. I know of a massage therapist who I would only be able to call because he lives two states away from me. The problem is it's really hard to get a hold of him. He is very busy and he wakes up early and goes to bed early...ect. I tried calling him and couldn't get through.

So would some massage therapists mind answering some questions? My massage student friend and I came up with these. Please answer as many as you can, thanks

What parts of your massage therapy education are most useful?


Why did you become a massage therapist?


What parts of your education are least useful?


How do you take care of yourself after a massage?


What are your selling points you use to get a job? (Just to get an idea of your thought process. I would never copy)


How many massages are too many for you to do in a week?


What is your opinion of a fair wage in this field?


What are your client’s most common complaints or ailments that they ask you to improve?


Do you have any specific type of massage therapy treatment you generally give for the most common ailment?

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I have another problem at school. There is a girl at school who nobody wants to be partnered with. She gives horrible massages (torture), her draping skills are scary, and she is very large. Sometimes I don't get a partner and i'm stuck with her. When she is at my head and going down by back, my head is jammed into her stomach. When moving down my side her stomach will pull my draping off my shoulder. She gives no pressure in her massage or range of motion techniques. One time I fell asleep during her massage, and when I woke up she was using her elbow and actually putting pressure on my back, but she kept slipping and going on my spine and scapula! What should I do? I got lucky Friday because I didn't have her as partner, but the other pour soul did and after he said in private to some of the students, "I want it on the books that I had her for two sessions".

Should I talk to the teacher about these issues? Are there any issues that are taboo to talk to about here? My teacher does watch the student give massages and has been upset by the student's techniques and lack of focus...or whatever you want to call it. Maybe if she got some input from someone who has gotten a massage then perhaps something can happen?
The student also likes me and has asked me out twice; she also keeps asking me if I want to carpool together to study sessions that happen during off school hours and so this doesn't help and makes things more uncomfortable in the whole scheme of things. I'm a nice guy and I don't want to hurt her feelings, and so I try to weasel my way out without saying yes or no.

 

[lisaraeneal]

Don't weasel and don't leave her hanging.

Tell her clearly and firmly, "I do not feel comfortable dating anyone from the school becuase of our working relationship but I wish you the best."

More later.

Angela

 

[Gigi the teeth]

I thank you both for your helpful advice! My questions seem to aim mostly at being an employee. My plan for right now is to become an employee after I graduate, get experience, and then go out on my own so thanks for that info ccMarie.

edit: My school actually did talk about professional boundaries as a massage therapist with a client. It didn't even occur to me that I can apply those boundaries with students. heh...

I'll be back to see if anyone has any more input

 

[Los Ojos]

What parts of your massage therapy education are most useful?
- None of it. I learned way more by actually getting out there and working on clients in real life.

Why did you become a massage therapist?

I originally became a massage therapist mainly because I was interested in learning about health and wanted to work in a less stressful atmosphere. I had the old 'I just want to help people' syndrome which I now know is really more about being in co-dependent relationships with clients.

What parts of your education are least useful?

How do you take care of yourself after a massage?

I don't really worry about each massage. I take care of my needs outside of my massage practice which are mainly the need for appreciation, being needed etc.

What are your selling points you use to get a job? (Just to get an idea of your thought process. I would never copy)

I never had a job in massage but I have had my own full time practice for 20 years. I think the thing to do is to find some company that YOU want to work with or create a job somewhere YOU want to work for because you respect that company, their service, procedures etc. Make them sell YOU on why you would want to work for them!
I hear so many horror stories about people working in jobs in massage with low pay, long hours, and so many strange dynamics that I just can't believe that people take such jobs. People get afraid that they won't have a job or have any other choice. There is always a choice - it is just a difficult choice. Find a job that fits your values and who you are.

How many massages are too many for you to do in a week?

I used to about 20 a week, but now I do more writing and making money online as an infoprenuer writing about massage. I only see about 8 people a week -10 at the most and only work 2 days a week. I also charge $90 an hour so I can work less.

What is your opinion of a fair wage in this field?

$35-$45 an hour - but you probably won't find many jobs like that- you have to create them and show the employer how much you can make them and what you are worth to their business.

What are your client’s most common complaints or ailments that they ask you to improve?

Most people come in with back/neck pain of some sort. While people may come in asking me to 'improve it' I try to educate them as to what I do - which is really nothing. They are the ones who do the work no matter what technique I use. The techniques are just a way to communicate with someone in a different way and allow them to feel themselves more.

Do you have any specific type of massage therapy treatment you generally give for the most common ailment?

I have been trained in triggerpoint work and structural integration. I mostly use Focusing (Eugene Glendins work) techniques to help people get tuned into their bodies.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focusing


As far as the person who doesn't give a good massage - tell her just what she is doing if you haven't already. I would be curious to find out how you made out if you told her and/or the teacher or school.

good luck
Julie

 

[Pompal 09.]

Well I told the teacher briefly about the situation after school on Wednesday. She is on top of it and thanked me for the info; she was aware of the situation anyways. Today during massage class the teacher was giving her special focus and making sure she did the techniques correctly. Of course she couldn't watch her like a hawk and correct every little thing for the entire massage. It's still a poor massage, but next Friday is the final for the 1st semester and we have to do a 1 hour Swedish massage. So I figure then she will know how her performance is...at least from a spectator's view.

I just don't know how to give feedback when an entire massage sucks.
She's a very defensive person even to the teacher. She always gives the excuse that her parents and neighbors enjoyed her massages.

I have to massage her for the final 1 hour massage. Today she was giving me tension when I was trying to do certain range of motion techniques. I would tell her to relax and she would, but if I do more range of motion again somewhere else on her body then she would tense again OR blatantly help me (sometimes actively doing the move)...and it makes me look bad too. Do I keep saying relax? If I get stuck with her next semester then someone's gonna die...j/k =P

I thank you all for your information AND I got a 100 on the project

 

[fish apple tree]

Well I told the teacher briefly about the situation after school on Wednesday. She is on top of it and thanked me for the info; she was aware of the situation anyways. Today during massage class the teacher was giving her special focus and making sure she did the techniques correctly. Of course she couldn't watch her like a hawk and correct every little thing for the entire massage. It's still a poor massage, but next Friday is the final for the 1st semester and we have to do a 1 hour Swedish massage. So I figure then she will know how her performance is...at least from a spectator's view.

I just don't know how to give feedback when an entire massage sucks.
She's a very defensive person even to the teacher. She always gives the excuse that her parents and neighbors enjoyed her massages.

I have to massage her for the final 1 hour massage. Today she was giving me tension when I was trying to do certain range of motion techniques. I would tell her to relax and she would, but if I do more range of motion again somewhere else on her body then she would tense again OR blatantly help me (sometimes actively doing the move)...and it makes me look bad too. Do I keep saying relax? If I get stuck with her next semester then someone's gonna die...j/k =P

I thank you all for your information AND I got a 100 on the project

You'll be fine. You won't look bad for your final massage... just be patient, pretend she's a first tiem client for you and that you dont even know her. Things will go ok!

 

[Bloatedtoad]

Well I told the teacher briefly about the situation after school on Wednesday. She is on top of it and thanked me for the info; she was aware of the situation anyways. Today during massage class the teacher was giving her special focus and making sure she did the techniques correctly. Of course she couldn't watch her like a hawk and correct every little thing for the entire massage. It's still a poor massage, but next Friday is the final for the 1st semester and we have to do a 1 hour Swedish massage. So I figure then she will know how her performance is...at least from a spectator's view.

I just don't know how to give feedback when an entire massage sucks.
She's a very defensive person even to the teacher. She always gives the excuse that her parents and neighbors enjoyed her massages.

I have to massage her for the final 1 hour massage. Today she was giving me tension when I was trying to do certain range of motion techniques. I would tell her to relax and she would, but if I do more range of motion again somewhere else on her body then she would tense again OR blatantly help me (sometimes actively doing the move)...and it makes me look bad too. Do I keep saying relax? If I get stuck with her next semester then someone's gonna die...j/k =P

I thank you all for your information AND I got a 100 on the project

I'm glad you were able to speak with your instructor. Good that you were able to approach the situation maturely and have an honest conversation about it.

When you are giving a massage it is helpful to come at every session with fresh eyes and fresh hands. I had a client today who is a regular, regular - every week almost. It would be easy to fall into a habit or routine but nothing about the human body is "routine".

Start your massage fresh - with fresh hands and listen to what her body is telling you. You're going to do great.

 

[conservativegirl]

I just don't know how to give feedback when an entire massage sucks.

While I was in school, for one, I think we had a very mature and open-minded class where everyone was grateful for any and all critique/suggestions. The thing is, you as the receiver have to approach critiques and suggestions in a very diplomatic way. Never say things like "you're doing it wrong" or anything that sounds accusatory. Try commenting on how the specific technique feels to you - ie a little too much pressure, "pokey" (lol one of my faves), doesn't feel like she's on the belly of the muscle, tendon, whatever spot is being worked...and also give suggestions to support the critique, such as "would you mind trying moving over a half inch to the left and maybe slowing down and engaging a little more..." Then be sure to comment on the changes, if it feels better say something very encouraging like "that is perfect!" "that feels like you are totally in the tissue and engaged" ....etc.

I have to massage her for the final 1 hour massage. Today she was giving me tension when I was trying to do certain range of motion techniques. I would tell her to relax and she would, but if I do more range of motion again somewhere else on her body then she would tense again OR blatantly help me (sometimes actively doing the move)...and it makes me look bad too. Do I keep saying relax?

From my experience, simply telling a client to "relax" has the opposite effect - they often tense up even more, or, they can feel extra self-conscious about it. I actually had one client, luckily my b/f, say that when I said things like that to him he felt like he didn't know how to get a massage, which made him uncomfortable. It's great to bring their attention to the area by either verbally informing them "do you realize that you're holding", and also by saying nothing and just employing jostling and other passive ROM to the joint to distract them enough to relax the area on their own. If that doesn't work, move on. No use beating a dead horse, as they say. Then you can have the conversation after regarding your observation that they seemed to be holding in a certain area - and this info often at least gets them thinking about it and brings a bit of body awareness to them, which can help those who want to take part in their own healing process.