Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/108504
business side between each client so you can treat it like it's your first and only session of the day. Do: Listen to your clients It's All About You (And That's Ok) Dedicating your life to helping others is wonderful; ignoring your own needs is not. These simple steps will help you put yourself first every once and a while (which is a good thing). Don't: Have a set routine What's the number one complaint from clients? Their therapist didn't give them the session for which they asked. Listen to your clients and ask questions until you really understand what they want. What does focusing on an area mean to them? Fifteen minutes? Forty minutes? Set expectations for the session to avoid disappointment; share your treatment plan so you're on the same page. Be willing and able to adapt your flow and the amount of time you spend on each area of the body. What are other ways you can personalize their session? Allow clients to choose their own aromatherapy, music, and table temperature. Ask them what techniques they really love (then do more of those) and which techniques they don't love so much (and minimize or let go of those). One client may love that thing you do on the trapezius and another might hate it. It's good to know who's who. Don't: Forget to make money to afford your time off The kind of day off you don't want—zero clients on the schedule—might just happen on its own, unfortunately, but the I'm-away-on-vacationand-am-actually-breathing kind of time off takes a little planning. Tracking your sessions each year will help you pinpoint when you naturally tend to have a slump in your client load, which is the perfect time for you to schedule a break. The downside? Your income stops when you're away from the office. Budget accordingly in the months before to soften the blow. Do: Put yourself in your clients' shoes Do: Get inspired and remember why you started doing bodywork Don't: Wear them home Have you received a session in your own office space? It's an invaluable experience. How comfortable is your table? What's it like to sit in the client intake chair? What noises and smells do you pick up on? Has the tick, tick, tick of your clock slowly driven you crazy by midsession? Don't: Let yourself get bored It's easy to get stuck in a rut when you've been doing the same thing year after year. Luckily, our field gives you lots of opportunities to stay refreshed and inspired. Get bodywork from different therapists who practice a variety of bodywork styles. Read professional magazines (we can recommend one) and challenge yourself to try at least one new technique or product from each issue. Take a continuing education course to deepen your knowledge in a modality you already practice or, better yet, try something totally new and outside your normal groove. Follow the social media accounts of other practitioners and industry experts. Find unique ways to energize your practice and keep it fresh for you and your clients. Do: Deep clean your office space Don't: Think watching Office Space is a substitute Another complaint high on the I-won'tgo-back-to-see-that-therapist again list? Dirty office space—really. The state of your office reflects on the quality of your work, whether it's an accurate reflection or not. Pulling out the vacuum cleaner may just mean keeping clients. Do: Plan time off 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 an ABMP education facilitator who 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. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 29