Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68013
"Massage therapists work with bodies, but don't listen to warning signs from their own. Self-care and personal safety are part of the journey of listening to our bodies and living in our bodies." Wendy Marsh, massage educator You might consider carrying any of several common personal safety items or keeping them in your office. Some self-defense tools are more practical than others in a massage therapy setting. Personal sonic alarms that resemble pagers are loud enough to disorient attackers, as well as alert others. Some of these work automatically once pulled off your belt. "Tactical" flashlights small enough for your key chain or belt are available with astonishingly bright, disorienting strobes. They can also simply light up the way to your car. Disabling repellent (pepper spray) are a step up the spectrum toward more active self- defense for emergencies. Some report keeping these in a handy cabinet. There are also sprays available for personal wear that are made to closely resemble a cell phone or pager. For outcalls, many remote car lock controls have a panic button that sounds the horn. A cell phone, and someone expecting you to call with your status, are also important parts of an outcall routine (see Outcall Safety Checklist, page 42). In the final analysis and in the reality of the private physical contact setting massage therapists work in, and rightly cherish, personal safety can ultimately come down to physical training and the mind-set to use it. This is the ultimate acknowledgement of personal responsibility for your own well-being. It is also the ultimate empowerment for your own peace of mind and self-confidence. Many therapists are reluctant to consider taking this step, but it doesn't need to be intimidating and it doesn't require black-belt levels of mastery to be effective. There are two basic ways to go here: self- defense training and martial arts. The best source for a proven, no- nonsense short course on practical self-defense is often through local college or university community outreach programs or women's centers. These programs generally emphasize mental awareness aspects, as well as physical responses. Many are available in a women-only setting. You may also find this type of training through government or nonprofit rape crisis centers or victim assistance programs. A good self-defense class can be an educational, enlightening, and energizing group activity, important for not only your professional training but your personal development as well. Purely from a business point of view, it might turn out to be an opportunity to network with potential clients. Martial arts can also be a particularly effective choice for massage therapists, for more reasons than you might think. Linda Wilkinson, a practicing massage therapist who is also a nurse practitioner, highly recommends taking a martial arts class. She took a hapkido class with some other parents after signing her daughter up for a children's tae kwon do class. She found that she greatly enjoyed it. The weekly class "was fun, low-key but effective; and not intimidating or scary." Beyond the social aspect, she felt she learned enough after a few months for useful physical protection. The hapkido form of martial arts emphasizes self-defense, simple joint locks, and pressure points. There are other benefits that make martial arts a natural complement to massage therapists' work. Most forms of martial arts training emphasize chi (energy) and awareness of your own body and of others. For Marsh, the choice was aikido. "Aikido is all about your relationship with the other person, their body language, directing their negative energy back at them." Sohnen-Moe also highly recommends martial arts training. "It increases self- confidence," she maintains. "It also strengthens your body, which increases your safety in terms of injury." The final step, after developing strong procedures, evaluating your workplace, and preparing yourself, is to stick to your plan. As Sohnen- Moe says, "Don't get sloppy. Always do an intake, even if shortened. Be smart no matter how much you think you need the appointment." therapy client. He is a sport shooting enthusiast and has taught personal protection and defensive pistol use. Contact him at beetschen1@cox.net. Dennis Walker is an attorney and massage visit massageandbodywork.com to access your digital magazine 45