Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/398416
F r e e m u s i c d o w n l o a d s f o r C e r t i f i e d m e m b e r s : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 91 KEEP CALM AND MASSAGE ON much of an impact on the improvement of your client's carpal tunnel syndrome. The soft-tissue work is what matters. If you still feel strongly that zoning out will help the client achieve her goals, you'll need to express that. Here's a script: "I want to make sure you're getting the full benefit of massage, and some of that involves deep relaxation during your session. So I'm going to suggest we don't talk at all today, and instead, you try to let your mind go blank, or maybe think of your happy place." This script may or may not work for you and your style of communication. Adjust it to fit your needs. If the client is on board, awesome. If the client is not interested, get over it. This is your issue, not the client's. And your issues have no place in the treatment room. ESTABLISH A FOUNDATION FOR RELAXATION Now that you've decided to encourage a little more mental relaxation during the massage and the client is on board, how exactly do you accomplish it? With new clients, it starts with what you do well before the client ever calls you or enters your treatment room. START WITH THE BOOKING PROCESS Great professional relationships begin well before a client gets on your table. They begin the moment a potential client picks up your business card or lands on your website. Be sure your website is simple and easy to navigate. Ditch the fancy music and animations. Many people are browsing the web while at work or in line at a store, and don't appreciate surprise wind chimes and pan flutes, or videos that start on their own. TELL CLIENTS WHO YOU ARE Have a great biography on your "About" page, and include a professional head shot. Remember to include bits about your activities in the community, and avoid using jargon and details about continuing education classes, credentials, and modalities clients won't understand. If you practice any specialized modalities, your blog is a great place to describe those techniques and why someone may want to try them. Frequently asked questions like, "Do I have to take all my clothes off for a massage?" are great topics for blog posts, too. After a few minutes on your website, potential clients should feel like they know a little bit about you as a professional and know what to expect during a massage. If you've done your job well, they will schedule an appointment. CLEAN YOUR OFFICE This sounds silly, but it's something we often overlook. If a client is putting her rings on a dusty shelf or looking at oil stains on the carpet, she may find it hard to relax on the hopefully clean sheets. Turn all the lights on and clean your space well and often. SHUT OUT NOISE This is also a no-brainer. Run a fan or an air cleaner for white noise and place near the source of the noise (usually a door or window). That's it. A little goes a long way here. PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE There are a variety of ways to help clients feel comfortable with the massage experience. Providing a welcoming environment, from the first contact throughout the entire experience, will only increase your clients' ability to relax on your table. ESTABLISH RAPPORT FROM THE START As soon as you book the appointment, send a confirmation email with directions to your office and any information your client might need. You could also include links to your site's "Frequently Asked Questions," other blog posts, your cancellation policy, or just a short and simple explanation of what to expect at their first visit. ASK ABOUT THE MUSIC It could be that the client cannot stand your Mozart for Massage or your chime- filled nature noises, but is too shy to say anything. Have a few options on hand and start asking clients what they want. Try saying, "I've got some new music on the iPod; are you feeling like mellow piano or oceans and chimes today?" Let the client choose and see if that