Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1078860
13. STAY UP LATE, GET UP EARLY, WORK AT FULL SPEED EVERY DAY Eat whatever you can find, whenever you can find it. And for heaven's sake, don't ever get any quiet time or exercise. Because you will be this young and strong forever. PLEASE IGNORE ALL THAT WHICH CAME BEFORE Would you seek massage from someone who behaves like this? I hope not. And yet, these actions are not uncommon. I see them being done and discussed in public forums every day. I have seen people using our title of massage therapist complaining about clients in public. I have seen people using our title who allow their liability insurance to lapse and then cause a serious injury. I have been treated like a piece of meat on the table. I've been scolded by my massage therapist because I flinched when her touch was too deep, too fast. How does this happen? How did those fresh, eager, motivated people end up like this? I think lots of reasons contribute, but the biggest one is that somewhere along the way people lose their belief that the work has deep value that goes far beyond an hourly rate. That's when the shortcuts begin to creep in. That's when we stop taking care of ourselves—physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually, and that's where things begin to fall apart. When you don't take care of yourself, you don't thrive. Your clients don't thrive. And the profession doesn't thrive. So, today, I have a call to action for all MTs. First, take care of yourself. Second, watch for behaviors in yourself and in your colleagues that devalue our profession. Offer your supportive feedback to make appropriate adjustments in those behaviors. Because we need you. The profession needs you. So few people can claim to have a following that is so clearly and purely devoted to service and to making the world a better place. We need your heart, your energy, your dedication, and your mindful influence on the future. I am a pretty realistic person. I would love for you to remember that a geezer like me has every faith that you not only can but will move our profession forward. What does that mean? I hope it means you will take your work seriously. I hope it means you will remember that from the moment you greet a client to the moment you wave goodbye, you are setting a standard—not only for yourself, but for everyone who calls themselves a massage therapist. Set that bar high. I'd like to finish with a thought by an Indian poet named Rabindranath Tagore: I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life is service. I acted and, behold, service was joy. Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, (available at www.booksofdiscovery.com), now in its sixth edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. She is also the author of Pathology Perspectives for this magazine. She is available at www.ruthwerner. com or wernerworkshops@ruthwerner.com. 9. CONVEY LOTS OF JUDGMENT TOWARD YOUR CLIENTS You can judge what they eat, if they drink coffee, if they smoke … I once had a fascinating conversation with a young man who was eager to open his practice in which he intended never to work with overweight people. And there was that delightful Facebook thread in which a woman posted that she adds a "fat surcharge" to her overweight clients because they're so much more work. I wanted to know if she also charges more for tall clients, since they require more steps to move from the foot to the head of the table. 10. FILL THE QUIET SPACES IN YOUR SESSION WITH FRIENDLY CHATTER This is especially true when you talk about religion and politics. Sometimes clients will want to talk about personal challenges. Be sure to interrupt them and change the subject to talk about you: they especially love to hear all about your own injuries and illnesses. 11. IF YOUR CLIENT IS NOT GETTING BETTER ON A SCHEDULE THAT SUITS YOU, BE SURE THEY KNOW IT'S THEIR FAULT If they flinch or wince during their session, also their fault—they should know better. 12. IF YOUR CLIENT IS IN PAIN, EMPHASIZE THAT THEY ARE BRITTLE AND MAYBE GOING TO BREAK "Boy, you're a real mess" is a phrase that's sure to keep 'em coming back. Treat them like they're made of spun glass. Don't teach them any self-care or home-care strategies; that will just shorten the time they need you. Build a culture of dependence: that's what leads to long-term clientele. Mind of an MT provides a space for your voice in the pages of Massage & Bodywork magazine. Have your own insights or inspiration to share? We'd like to hear from you. Email editor@abmp.com. Yo u r M & B i s w o r t h 2 C E s ! G o t o w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e t o l e a r n m o r e . 17