Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68009
HEART OF BODYWORK KEEP YOUR SPIRITS UP For most people, building a massage practice has never been easy. Right now, everyone knows the economy is going through a rough time and it's taking a toll on some people's practices (but not everyone's). And no one knows when things will begin to turn around. Though it's not useful to dwell on the negative, that's easier to say than do, especially if we judge our self- worth by the number of clients we see each week. So, the first rule is, don't blame yourself for what is beyond your control. The second is, given the slow economy, you might want to find a financial backup right now—something that makes money and keeps you from feeling desperate. Third, keep networking and trying new ways to attract clients. Some people like to give talks to groups to get better known, others like to fine-tune their website or think of new ways to drive traffic to their website, or to offer discounts. All of those approaches can work, so do what is easiest and most fun for you. My own experience sounds magical, I admit, but I found that when my Rolfing practice was slow, if I put my energy into just about anything— whether it was planning a Rolfing demonstration in a nearby city or even doing volunteer work unrelated to bodywork—pretty soon my practice was healthy enough that I didn't have time to do the demo anymore and had to excuse myself from the volunteer work. Maybe it seems obvious that sitting around waiting for something to happen isn't useful, but many of us have had to learn that lesson over and over. If you tend to be hard on yourself when things aren't going well, try instead to be gentle with yourself. If you spend an hour today on practice- building efforts, give yourself a pat on the back. (Although being kind to yourself isn't the same as being self-indulgent, a rewarding scoop of chocolate ice cream sometimes can't be beat as a motivator.) APPRECIATE YOUR CLIENTS These days when clients may be difficult to recruit, it's good to be extra appreciative of the ones who are there—both in your heart and in that extra warm towel for their feet. Again, this doesn't mean Save the Date May 13-15, 2010 Seattle, Washington Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Research CoMpleMentary anD IntegratIve MeDICIne More details will be available soon at www.massagetherapyfoundation.org 106 massage & bodywork july/august 2009