Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/557366
F r e e S O A P n o t e s w i t h M a s s a g e B o o k f o r A B M P m e m b e r s : a b m p . u s / M a s s a g e b o o k 91 No. 7 Obstacle: I FEEL GUILTY GETTING A MASSAGE The people who feel guilty about getting a massage tend to be those who care for others. They help family, friends, a cause, or an organization get through a difficult time or a big project. They are people who give of themselves and feel they should be using this time and money to do something for someone else. It's not because anything inappropriate happens during their appointment or that massage itself is a bad thing. If clients are caring for somebody else, much is being asked of them. They can only give so much without replenishing their source of energy. Help them make the time to take care of themselves so they can continue with the care they are providing. The quality of their care, and their life, will greatly improve. They may find they have increased energy or more patience when they feel good and are not worn down. Airlines instruct their passengers in case of an emergency to put on their own oxygen masks first, before taking care of others. Clients taking care of themselves doesn't mean they are selfish; it lets them recharge and restock their reserves to continue to assist those they care about. Massage helps relieve the burden of stress. It alleviates the physical pain brought on by stress, overuse of muscles, an injury, or a medical condition. The clamp around the head is loosened and the headache goes away. Necks can turn and backs can bend without screeching pain. The mind gets a break, and a new outlook on the issues at hand and their solutions comes a little easier. Is that anything to feel guilty about? No. 8 Obstacle: MASSAGE IS TEMPORARY Some people like massage, but they don't like the fact that the benefits are temporary. That is true, but everything you do for yourself physically is temporary. You can enjoy a holiday feast, but you will get hungry again. You can get a great night's sleep, but you will get tired again and need more sleep. We practice personal hygiene on a regular basis—we don't go weeks without showering or brushing our teeth. One great workout doesn't last for months. Our bodies have needs that require regular attention. Massage and other forms of health maintenance are indeed temporary, but that doesn't mean they are not valuable. A headache, stiff neck, back pain, stress, or other ailments do not go away on their own. Action needs to be taken to make it better. Massage is a way to help us feel good along with our other regular activities. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES CONCLUSION These objections come up in massage-related conversations at times, so work on understanding them and practice responses you are comfortable with. Some people will also mention objections on the phone before making an appointment. Since there is not a lot of research on the Internet, answer these questions on your website. If you don't have one, you can build one quickly and easily through ABMP's site. A business blog is another great place to expound on these topics. It gives you plenty of space to explain what to expect and how you work. People can read it privately and learn about issues they may be embarrassed or reluctant to talk about. If you don't blog, you can link to an informative post, but be sure to obtain permission before posting it on your site. On my business blog, I deal with questions a lot. My most-read posts are from the group of topics in this article. The most-read post overall is consistently about what to wear. People search for the answer to this every day. The same material can be used on a blog, your website, emails to clients, in printed material, and in conversations. By becoming familiar with the questions people have and having an answer to them, you can remove the objections potential clients have about massage. Barry Hatfield is a licensed massage therapist with a practice in Hudson, Ohio. He writes a blog directed to massage clients at hudsonmassage.wordpress.com and he can be found on the major social media sites.