Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72093
THE BABY BUMP Returning from maternity leave as a massage therapist is not as simple as walking back into the workplace with a full schedule. Massage therapy is a difficult business to reenter, largely because it is so physically demanding. Take this into account when planning your finances prior to leaving the workplace. Begin the slow transition back to work by reaching out to clients and letting them know when you will be available again, but don't plan on taking all of them back at the same time. "I measured my maternity leave by how my body felt, not by the amount of money I had saved," Jackson says. She, like most other therapists, slowly reintroduced her body back into the art of massage by taking on a single client, then gradually adding additional time in the therapy room over several weeks and months. Many massage therapists choose to keep their workloads to a minimum, even after returning to the clinic. "When I was preparing to return to work, I sent an email out to my clients letting them know when I was returning and what my hours would be," Miller says. "I suggested they call right away to make their appointments as I knew my schedule would fill fast since I was only having limited hours." Lindberg also listened to her body and worked with her boss to ensure she could handle scheduled appointments. "I told her that I didn't want to do any real deep work," she says. "For the first two weeks, I was working on people who just wanted relaxation, not deep work." Your clients and employees will need to realize that you are a changed person now that you're back from leave. This wasn't just a vacation; it was a drastic life change. Because of this, continue to communicate with everyone about how your newfound responsibilities might affect them, all the while maintaining your professional boundaries. Though many therapists worry about losing clients while taking a maternity leave, just as many are impressed with how well these same clients adjust to the changes. Keep in mind that many of them have started families as well and are familiar with the need to put family first. "I was surprised that a lot of clients that were particular about their times, or really difficult to find a time for, took a very large shift in their scheduling habits and currently take whatever is available," Jackson says. Realize that as a new parent you will likely have some restricted schedule availability because of doctor appointments, sick days that require a caregiver to be home, and other unforeseen circumstances. Mothers who breastfeed will need to rearrange their schedules to accommodate nursing needs. Regardless of the financial, physical, and professional stresses that come packaged with the new bundle of joy, just about everyone acknowledges that parenthood is worth it—and that it is also nice to return to the life of a massage therapist. Horne recalls the moment when she stepped back into her office as she prepared to return to work. "I remember thinking I missed the smell of my office, the way the sheets smell, and the way the massage lotion smells, and I felt sad," she says. "I felt an overwhelming sense of something that was missing in me because I had not massaged someone in five months, so I knew it was the right decision to come back." Las Vegas is home for writer JoAnna Haugen. She loves to delve into a variety of topics ranging from travel to financial and management issues. Contact her at www.joannahaugen.com. Celebrate ABMP's 25th anniversary and you may win a refund on your membership. ABMP.com. 81