Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68009
loosening your boundaries, which can be confusing to clients, but making sure they feel welcome. Small kindnesses can make a difference. Right after completing Rolfing training, I had lunch with an experienced Rolfer, a woman in my community. She had a solid practice and I was eager to hear her advice about how to build mine. However, I was dismayed when her only recommendation was, "You need to smile more." I brushed this off as a trivial suggestion. It took a long time before I realized she was right. Looking somber can make clients feel judged. Clients need to feel that we care for them. DON'T LOWER YOUR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS When the rent is due, it may be tempting to fudge a bit on your usual values. For instance, you may consider telling a client you're accomplished in a technique you barely know, working when you're sick, or even ignoring a new client's inappropriate sexual remarks. But a red flag should go up when you hear yourself justifying your choices with "I need the money." Stepping outside your usual principles puts you off center and clouds your judgment. I learned that lesson the hard way more than once, but this was the most dramatic example: Stepping outside your usual principles puts you off center and clouds your judgment. visit massageandbodywork.com to access your digital magazine 107