Massage for Massage Therapists

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In this Post: Massage for Massage Therapists, how novel is that! We are in need of massage just as much as the next guy, and there are a few different ways we can receive this much needed work! Ohuhu Health has sponsored this post. 

I am all about self-care. And what better way to practice a little self-care than in the form of massage? As massage therapists, we all know the benefits a good therapeutic massage can provide. It’s not so much convincing us that a massage would benefit us. It’s more about finding time in our busy lives to schedule a session. 

My goal is to receive massage AT LEAST once a month. I have a handful of “competitors” whose work I love! It’s funny when clients ask me who I see when I need a massage because the answer varies so much. If I’m mentally fatigued, I see a completely different practitioner than if I’ve just hiked a 14er. And that’s okay, we all have a little different approach to treating the body! And sometimes our bodies need these variations. 

Once you have picked the practitioner who best meets your needs at any given point, the question arises, should you trade services, or should you simply pay them to receive the work you need? 

There are pros and cons to both scenarios, so you should give it some thought before you decide which method will work better for you. 

Some Things to Consider 

• Sometimes when therapists are trading work, they don’t give the same priority and professionalism to the session. They may reschedule, be less client-centered, or skim off time. 
• If you feel like you gave a stellar massage, but don’t feel the person you traded with reciprocated in the same manner, you may begin to resent the trade or the therapist. This then defeats the purpose of performing the trade. 
• Did you know that trades are still considered taxable income? It’s true, can’t pull anything over on Uncle Sam. 

Tips for Having Successful Massage Trades

• Only trade with people who you feel have a high level of professionalism. This way, you won’t become resentful and burnt-out from such exchanges. And remember the old adage, “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” If someone proved to be a bad trade partner, don’t let yourself get sucked into trying out a trade again. Learn and move on. 
• Consider carefully if you want to do a back to back trade, as it is harder to fully receive when you are about to jump up and give a massage right afterward. 
• If the idea of a massage trade feels exhausting, don’t do them, simply pay. I know one massage therapist who “trades” back and forth with another therapist, but they pay each other. The same 100 dollar bill has been swapped back and forth for years. Energetically, this is what works for them. No one ever feels indebted to the other, each session is treated with the utmost professionalism, and the therapeutic focus is left intact. 

But what about those times when we can’t get in to see our favorite therapists? I know I’ve been there! I’ve either waited too long to schedule an appointment, or my body has an acute situation that needs immediate attention. 

This is when some good self-care tools come in handy! 

Recently, I discovered the Ohuhu Shiatsu Massager. And while it isn’t quite the same as an actual hands-on massage, it is a pretty wonderful tool between sessions! 

Sometimes I’ll have one little spot that kills me. The spot that no one can seem to work enough. That is where this tool comes in handy! 

While it is marketed as a neck massager, I find it particularly helpful for an old hip injury that shouts at me from time to time. The beauty of this device is that you can literally apply it to any part of your body and receive the benefits of its heat-optional rolling balls. I currently have it propped between the back of my chair and my left gluteus. It feels amazing! 

The Ohuhu Massager is small enough that it can fit into your carry on luggage and is definitely coming with me when I head to Indianapolis next week for the AMTA National Conference. If I had had it with me years ago when I was sitting in an airport, feeding money into a massaging chair as I breastfed my son, I would have saved a lot of quarters!

One caveat, it does need to be plugged in to operate. Included in the package is not only a standard plug but also one that can plug into your car’s cigarette lighter — making it versatile for car travel as well. 

Another great thing about this tool is that it has arm straps. These straps serve two purposes. One, they are a comfortable place to rest your arms, and two, they give you the ability to control the amount of pressure applied. By pulling down on the straps you receive a bit deeper of a massage. The Ohuhu does have a timer that shuts the machine off after 20 minutes so that you don’t overdo any one area. And while this device is small, it is mighty! Truly, it is amazing how “strong” this massaging tool is!

Whether you are using a tool like the Ohuhu Massager, paying for a treatment, or trading services, make sure to include massage in your self-care routine! We can only provide truly GREAT massage work when we feel good in our own skin. Neglecting self-care is foolish and detrimental to the health of our businesses and our bodies.