Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/530196
TELL ME … By Tara Doyle ABMP Social Media and Marketing Coordinator | tara@abmp.com How many fi rst-time clients do you remember? Some may leave a lasting impression for outrageous reasons like walking naked into the gym next door while in search of the massage room, as MT Rob Flammia experienced. Maybe another touched your heart because of a dire situation, and through your healing touch he avoided surgery and was able to play catch with his fi rst grandchild, as Millie Akbar, a therapist in New Jersey, encountered. Before clients are educated in the proper massage etiquette and culture, misunderstandings and false perceptions can occur. But there is also promise and excitement in having fi rst-time clients; you are their guide into a new world of massage and bodywork—the Sacagawea to their Lewis and Clark as they explore new territory. What Was Your Most Memorable First-Time Client Experience? ❱❱❱ WRONG ROOM! OR FAMILY TIES Many embarrassing circumstances can occur during a massage and bodywork session—fl atulence and draping issues, to name just two. It can be tricky to navigate how to respond and react to an awkward moment with a new client. Open communication, maturity, and humor can be keys to moving past the experience. Michael Roberson, a CMT in California, spoke of a client who broke wind on his table: "Without a beat, she popped her head over to look at me and said, 'Well, I guess this makes us family!' and she put her head back down. We continued with the massage without further incident." Differences in culture can also affect viewpoints on proper draping and what is appropriate. Rob Flammia of California writes about his experience with a visiting professor from France. The fi rst-time client walked into the neighboring gym with only a towel draped over his shoulder while in search of the massage room next door. "I heard the commotion, shrieks of laughter, dropped weights, and the stern directive from the head of the center saying, 'You must be looking for the massage room. It's in there!' Hardly ruffl ed, my new client walked into the room muttering, 'Americans ...'" while in search of the massage room, as MT Rob Flammia experienced. Maybe another touched your heart because of a dire situation, and through your healing touch he avoided surgery and was able to play catch with his misunderstandings and false perceptions can occur. But there is also promise and excitement in having fi rst-time clients; you are their guide into a new world of massage and bodywork—the Sacagawea to their Lewis and Clark as they explore new territory. ❱❱❱ WRONG ROOM! OR FAMILY TIES Many embarrassing circumstances can occur during a massage and bodywork Differences in culture can also affect viewpoints on proper draping and what is appropriate. Rob Flammia of California writes about his experience with a visiting professor from France. The fi rst-time client walked into the neighboring gym with only a towel draped over his shoulder while in search of the massage room next door. "I heard the commotion, shrieks of laughter, dropped weights, and the stern directive from the head of the center saying, 'You must be looking for the massage room. It's in there!' Hardly ruffl ed, my new client walked into the room ❱❱❱ FINALLY PAIN-FREE OR CHASING ZZZs First-time client experiences can also leave emotional marks, touching hearts and reinforcing the healing power of therapeutic touch. Massage and bodywork can be an emotional release, both for the client and the practitioner: "When I was fi nished with [a new client's] massage, she was crying, and she said it was the fi rst time in her life she had absolutely no pain. The next day she called and said it was the fi rst time in more than 40 years she slept through the night," says Rufi no Zisumbo, a therapist in Washington.