Wanting to change

[jason s]

my routine and technique.

I learned a generic swedish (start facedown) massage. I practiced for a couple of years and then took four years off to raise my kids, I'm now back working and feeling discombobulated. I am currently working in a massage spa, a little like ME only they actually take care of the therapists and we are paid a decent wage. The majority of my work is fluff and buff so I need to do something to distinguish myself so that I can build clients.

I think I want to change my whole massage routine. Essentially throwing out everything I learned and start over. I don't have a lot of cash to do additional classes so if I change anything I'll have to learn it myself.

Is this a crazy idea? Can I do it?

 

[I have a bear spot]

Wanting to change

Welcome to the board. Where are you located? You maybe able to find another therapist on this board in your area who maybe willing to help you out.

 

[Ghost Child]

Wanting to change

Thanks for the welcome!

I'm in NW Arkansas. I have a group of massage friends and I've asked all of them but no one has changed their routine from the way they were taught.

 

[Shania]

Wanting to change

If you cannot afford to take any further training at this time, then look up different modalities you may be interested in & find videos showing them on youtube. Perhaps you can experiment with taking a couple of the simpler moves (even if they are still considered Swedish) with a couple of your therapist friends and you'll all be able to at least switch-up what you're doing in your sessions.

Other than that, it may be time to look up a couple of new people with whom you can do some trades & learn something new from the way they work!

 

[rae rae shorty]

Wanting to change

I think what started the idea was getting massaged by a couple of my friends (they all went to the same different school about ten years ago). They had such a cool different approach to massage. My fear is that if I start to change my massage quality will suffer and while we all trade, I can't monopolize their time to have them teach me.

 

[gdaddy]

Wanting to change

I might have hesitation because I dislike the feeling of being lost in a massage, not know what I am doing. kwim?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Wanting to change

These "Body Part" threads may be useful:

• http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/search.php?keywords=body+part&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sr=topics&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

And, Massage Pearls.

Also, if you take the time to read through this and the Spa Section, you will probably find some other helpful threads.

 

[Tyler N]

Wanting to change

I think what started the idea was getting massaged by a couple of my friends (they all went to the same different school about ten years ago). They had such a cool different approach to massage. My fear is that if I start to change my massage quality will suffer and while we all trade, I can't monopolize their time to have them teach me.

Can all 3 of you meet up to do a trade? You can observe each while they work on the other...

 

[Kareena]

Wanting to change

Thanks for the welcome!

I'm in NW Arkansas. I have a group of massage friends and I've asked all of them but no one has changed their routine from the way they were taught.

I highlighted the part that struck me as most horrible about your situation. NOT ONE has tried to "color outside the lines" or improve upon the ABCs they learned in school????? I am seforum.xxxgered with disbelief, and yet with a sinking feeling I actually believe you. :shock: ... That's a sad situation! t010

Stop worrying about having a "routine" of any kind. Every body is different, so the very notion of having a stock routine in professional practice is a dead end. There is also a very good chance that many of the things you learned in massage school are wrong. Blindly following a stock routine based upon false precepts is how you guarantee mediocrity and seforum.xxxnation.

You have already experienced a different approach. Get out there and experience a wider variety of work, and ask the MTs you see more than once to change the order of their work, or to only focus on one or two areas, etc. Challenge them a little and see how they rise to those challenges.

In your own work, start by reviewing what you learned, then question it. Start your clients face up and play with different ways to proceed from there. Do some massages with clients in sidelying positions, or skip the legs while still working the feet. If you don't already do abdominal work, experience it and then try it. Do you know how to do any specific work for painful conditions? Pick an area of interest and study the hell out of it. Try new things in EVERY massage you do - but base them on anatomy, physiology, and what makes sense for that client.

Whatever you do, get out of that rut and DEVELOP!!!! Don't wait until something changes. Be the change you wish to make.

 

[Somebody]

Wanting to change

I think what started the idea was getting massaged by a couple of my friends (they all went to the same different school about ten years ago). They had such a cool different approach to massage. My fear is that if I start to change my massage quality will suffer and while we all trade, I can't monopolize their time to have them teach me.

It all comes down to practice. When I want to learn something new, I experiment on my closest friends and family. It's a little clunky at first, but I manage to iron it out if it's worth it. I'm sure your quality won't suffer by learning new tricks of the trade.