Massage & Bodywork

November | December 2014

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F r e e m u s i c d o w n l o a d s f o r C e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s : 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 29 that momentum carry you forward to make some minor (or major) tweaks to your space that will refresh and enhance the experience for you and your clients. Evaluate your current space in these two areas: Performance: Are there things you or your clients need in your space that would make the session work better? Is there something you could offer in your space that would set you apart from other therapists in your area? It could be something big like an electric table or soundproofi ng, or smaller items like dimmable lighting, foot bath, new face cradle, table warmer, different size bolster, client chair, etc. Style: What things can you change about the look of your space to just fl at- out make you happier every time you walk in the door? A new rug, artwork, plant, or paint color can refresh a room quickly and inexpensively. Identify two things you want to change or add over the next two months. Get your clients involved by asking for their ideas and feedback—it's their space, too! LS: Your modalities and techniques: Is your technique boring? Is your massage session the same over and over and over? Throughout the past two years, I have become a voracious consumer of massage; I have always received massage, but between running, ice hockey, and the aging process, I have become even more dependent on it. I visit several different therapists (all outstanding ABMP members), and each has a different style. That suits me, because I generate variety in my massage by seeing different therapists. But how do you make that happen for your clients (who you may not wish to share with others)? One way to improve variety in your sessions is to learn a new modality. My suggestion: try before you buy. Go get some bodywork yourself. What speaks to you? Support your fellow bodyworkers and get a better understanding of what different modalities do and how you might incorporate them into your repertoire. KC: Your self-care: It doesn't matter what you do to change any other aspect of your practice if you're not able to work because of illness or injury. And, let's face it: life is a whole lot more fun when we feel good. There's no magic formula for what good self-care is. It's personal. That's what's so wonderful about it (or challenging, depending on the day). I encourage you to spend a little time creating your own incredibly personal and incredibly wonderful self-care plan. First, fi gure out what works best for you in the self-care realm: what makes you happy and what makes your body happy? Do those things, but also embrace the spirit of change and try something new this month. Create a fun combination of things you know you love doing and things that might just be your next favorite thing. Then, smile happily to yourself in anticipation as you place yoga classes, meditation time, and hikes (or whatever makes you smile) on your calendar and plan your healthy, energy-inducing meals for the week. Your practice will thank you. Les Sweeney is ABMP's president and resident blogger. Contact him at les@abmp.com and read his blog on www.abmp.com. Kristin Coverly, kristin@abmp.com, is the manager of professional development at ABMP and teaches workshops for therapists and instructors across the country. Both are massage therapists with business degrees who care about you and your practice. Want more? Check out their ABMP BizFit video tips on www.abmptv.com. BUSINESS SIDE

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