Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/97768
media gathering place for more than 10,000 massage therapists and bodyworkers from across the country. Master the Fundamentals Mastery is possessing or displaying great skill or technique in a certain area. Some suggest it takes a minimum of 10,000 hours, or up to 10 years, to master something. These numbers vary from person to person and are dependent on skill and other factors. Luckily, you have an opportunity to practice your skills with each massage session. Most massage therapists are encouraged or required to continue their education, and some are taught that mastery comes from more information. I do believe that continuing to learn is a good idea; I have hundreds of hours of advanced classes under my belt. However, most of my mastery has come from my day-to-day practice of working with clients. Eric Stephenson, massage veteran and director of education for iMassage, teaches hundreds of hours of continuing education (CE) each year. He says, "Techniques added on weak fundamentals are ineffective, and neither serve the client nor the massage therapist well." What, then, are the fundamentals that you need to master for career longevity? They are proper body mechanics, being present, and good communication with the client. Body Mechanics Practicing proper body mechanics allows you to use your body with maximum efficiency and effectiveness. You were most likely taught body mechanics in some form during your massage training, but they must be continually perfected in your day-to-day massage practice to avoid injury. Injury is one of the reasons many therapists drop out of the profession. While there are many philosophies surrounding body mechanics, there are a few essential components: • Keep your core, hands, pelvis, and shoulders facing in the direction of your work. • Keep your head, spine, and wrists in a neutral position. • Position yourself behind where you work, not on top of it, with your hands in front of you and shoulders down and relaxed. • Apply techniques from your center, shifting weight in the legs. • If you feel pain when you are working, pause, take a breath, and readjust your body to a place of ease. Being Present Being present is the second key to mastering the fundamentals. Presence is paying attention and being fully engaged in delivering the massage session. It is often challenging to maintain presence amid life's distractions. Even the traffic jam you faced on the way to work can linger in your mind. The easiest way to cultivate presence in a massage session is to prepare to enter the room in your own unique way. I stand outside the door, close my eyes, take several deep breaths, then enter the room. When I find myself distracted during Connecting regularly with my mentors offers me a place to vent frustrations about my practice, vet business ideas, gain insight about certain clients, and gain support both professionally and personally. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 69