Massage & Bodywork

September | October 2014

Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/365665

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 65 of 140

picture perfect After you set up your space, take one last step inside. Enter with fresh eyes, playing the role of a client. What is your very fi rst impression? How does the space make you feel? Does it wordlessly communicate a sense of welcome? Is there an obvious place to hang your coat and store your belongings? Is checking in for your appointment seamless and intuitive? Is it easy to fi nd the restroom? Are any wires or cords visible? Can you move fl uidly around the room, or do you feel cramped? Are the linens clean, crisp, and fresh? Walking through the experience of being your client—from session start to fi nish— can provide you with fresh insights. Once your massage room is picture perfect, it is time to do just that: take pictures! You should have high-quality images to share on your website, online review sites, and marketing materials. A picture tells a thousand words, and, in time, it will reach a thousand clients, so hire a professional to take photographs that will present your practice in an ideal light. Like other aspects of your massage practice, your offi ce design will grow and evolve in the years to come. Whether you're starting from scratch or redesigning your current space, your offi ce should be your home away from home and a refl ection of you, so create a memorable place that you—and your clients—will love to return to again and again. Kayse Gehret is a massage therapist who includes celebrities, professional athletes, and rock stars as clien ts in her Northern California practice. She is the author of Body/ Work: Careers in Massage Therapy (Soulstice Media, 2010) and founder of Soulstice Spa, a massage therapy spa and vegan product line based in Sonoma Wine Country. Contact her at kayse@soulsticespa.com. prominent pieces that add character without cluttering the room. Tapestries add warmth to a space while reducing noise. It can be fun to invite local artists to hang their creations in your offi ce at no cost in exchange for promoting their work to your clients. If you display information such as your qualifi cations, code of ethics, or business policies, decoratively framing these will draw attention, complement your offi ce design, and brighten up your shelves. Think of the natural elements— air, earth, fi re, and water—and bring some of them into your massage room. Fans and diffusers are calming and keep the air fresh and fragrant. An aquarium, fountain, or shades of blue in your décor can add a soothing water element. Plants are wonderful ways to bring nature indoors, and there are a number of hardy, easy- to-care for plants (bamboo, ferns, succulents, or umbrella trees) that thrive with minimal attention. Fresh fl owers add a happy element to any setting; we fl oat a single gardenia in a bowl in each of our treatment rooms at Soulstice Spa and clients rave about them. Heated tables, hot towels, stones, and fl ameless candles provide the fi re element in a welcoming, yet safe way. your client's relaxation. You may choose a stereo system, CD player, iPhone or other device, or an online music streaming service. Music is deeply personal and many clients have strong preferences, so I keep a range of music on hand to accommodate a variety of tastes. Whatever medium you choose, the music should be commercial- and interruption-free, and should not cause you to stop and restart the massage to attend to it. White noise machines are also a great investment. The gentle whirring sound is relaxing, and minimizes outside traffi c noise and voices. Decorations: If you have a small space, limit your wall hangings and other decorations to a few I t p a y s t o b e A B M P C e r t i f i e d : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 63

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Massage & Bodywork - September | October 2014