Massage Therapy Awareness Week

I always wanted to find a profession that helped to make people’s lives better, and reducing pain for people does this.  Being a massage therapist has allowed me the freedom to choose my schedule, and to stay close to home.  I could not have picked a better profession.

I felt that MTAM seemed to be the most professional of the associations, it’s very well established  and I appreciated that it encouraged standards that would encourage regulation.

I have a small studio with a separate washroom and office area on my property, but it is located a little bit away from my home.  I prefer to keep things very professional despite having a studio located on my home property, as I feel that this helps my clients to feel safe and respected and to trust what I tell them despite a world full of misinformation.  I wear appropriate scrubs, I have a professional clinic management system, and I prefer to use modalities where I can explain what it is doing from an evidence based perspective.  I am fortunate that I can get to know my clients, as they book up to a year in advance and I do not have to have a large turnaround.  However, in order to maintain professional boundaries I do not socialize much locally due to my small community. My clientele varies so much as it is primarily people from my community.  Some of my clients attend my fitness classes and I help them to work through their issues during exercises and with manual therapy,  others just come to treat specific issues and of course some people simply come for relaxation. I try to make sure to treat specifically when working with clients, not just generally.   I have just added Shockwave therapy to my practice and am excited to build up a clientele for this new modality!  

By far my best moments are when clients tell me that they have suffered for a long time with a problem that they no longer have.  I had one person who could not even move or stand anything but the lightest touch for years but can now use the limb functionally and exercise without thinking about it.  I have had people who struggled with debilitating back pain for years who now are able to live normal lives. I also love when I see people who had lost movement even without the debilitating pain then be able to regain function.  For many people regular massage stops them from going into a pain cycle, as with some fibromyalgia clients. These are the constant victories that we see in practice that keep me inspired.

I would first of all say to make sure to maintain your assessment skills.  Make it a daily practice to review your special tests until they are down.  Secondly, your health is what you need to maintain your profession, so take care of yourselves.  Thirdly, if you decide to remain self employed or an independent contractor I would say that you should consider reviewing short and long term disability plans (some of the long term plans offer a return of premium so discuss your options with a couple of advisors) as well as looking into self employed EI options to see if that would be right for you.

When going through my AT education, I noticed that I enjoyed the hands on portion of the job. Evolve has a transfer program for ATs, which uses university credits, making the decision to go back to school easy. I enjoy rehab and helping people feel better.

MTAM was an easy pick for me. They presented as a well put together organization that supports its members and they have lived up to it. Joining the Marketing and Communications committee has allowed me to be part of decisions for the members and is a great way to network and be involved in the things that matter for our members.

I see a lot of general population, ranging from 7 years old up to people in their 90s. I do therapeutic treatments, mostly focused on concerns that my clients present. Most of my practice is deep tissue treatments. I work with my clients and make suggestions on exercises to do at home that fit into their lifestyle. I offer prenatal massages with a pregnancy bolster. I also do cupping and will be taking the CoreStones course at spring conference.

At the beginning, learning how to be an independent contractor was the biggest challenge. Any treatment related challenges are fun and keep massage interesting. My newest biggest challenge has been taking the leap of faith to open a clinic.

I think every day has some form of a highlight. I am lucky to have a dedicated clientele that makes each day special.

Take care of yourself. Go for massages/PT/AT/chiro! Exercise to stay strong and do any rehab your body needs. Also find a place to work that values you and what you contribute to the clinic.

I knew from my time in the Athletic Therapy program that I enjoyed working one-on-one with clients and that I particularly enjoyed doing manual therapy. Being taught by Garth Beddome in the Sports Massage course (at U of W) gave me some insight into the field, as well.

The MTAM had done a presentation at our school while I was student, and they must have left an impression on me! Having been a part of other professional associations, I am very happy with my choice to join MTAM. I find MTAM to offer a wide variety of continuing education opportunities, many of which are free, and to be very supportive of their members.

My treatment philosophy is that all forms of healthcare should be a collaboration between the practitioner and the patient. I want my clients to take ownership of their health and their healing. In my practice, I try to encourage my clients to ask questions, clearly state their expectations, and to be active participants in their massage experience. I’m very into self-advocacy and I want my clients to feel comfortable advocating for themselves.

My biggest challenge has been figuring out what’s next – what are the next steps for me professionally? I currently run a solo practice, which can be isolating at times, and I don’t think I have figured out how I can best contribute to the profession at large.

Two years ago I opened my solo practice, which has been amazing. It has forced me to really think about how I want to do things and to determine what my values as a therapist and business owner are. In March, 2023, I gave a presentation to the general public at Pecha Kucha Night Winnipeg on the importance of healthy boundaries with your massage therapist (I believe the tagline was “Boundaries are Rad: how to use them to get your best massage ever”). I loved getting people to think about massage a little differently!

You want your clients to have a positive experience, and the easiest way to do that is to manage their expectations. Talk to them about how they see the treatment going, ask questions, make sure you’re on the same page. The one question I always make sure to ask is: What is your highest priority for this appointment?

High school biology sparked my fascination with pregnancy and birth physiology, leading me to explore careers like midwifery and nursing. A chance massage appointment introduced me to prenatal massage and birth support, inspiring me to pursue massage therapy. Since graduating in 2014, I’ve supported hundreds of pregnant and non-pregnant clients alike.

Initially, joining MTAM was the easiest option after massage therapy school. I’ve remained a member because they truly support their members and advocate for our profession at various levels. I believe we fill a very important role in health care and I feel that the MTAM understands that.

I believe massage therapy strikes a unique balance between therapeutic touch and nervous system co-regulation. I love that it not only feels great but helps people work through pain in a way that’s pleasant and supportive. To me, massage is about helping clients connect with the story of their body – using touch to “ask” if it’s okay to let something go. It’s less about “fixing” or “breaking up tissue” and more about creating space for their nervous system to adjust, and turn down the pain alarms when its ready. This philosophy means I generally avoid heavy, deep pressure. Instead I aim for a ” hurt so good” approach – therapeutic and relaxing without overwhelming the nervous system

One of my biggest challenges as a massage therapist is trying not to fall into the same routine with clients and prioritizing self-care. At times, its easy to feel like the bodies and people I work with blend together, making it a challenge to approach each client as unique. Being intentional about how I show up and being present for each person is a priority for me.
Like all humans, I sometimes struggle to prioritize my own self-care, both outside of and between treatment hours. Remembering to move my body in ways that bring me joy, incorporate regular stretching, and keep up with consistent treatment appointments is an ongoing challenge. However, I know that taking better care of myself allows me to show up more fully for my clients.

Some of my biggest career highlights have been supporting and witnessing over 40 babies enter the world. I find the physiology of birth extremely fascinating and it floors me every time! One of my favorite things about this job is building relationships. I love being part of someone’s self-care routine—whether monthly, bi-monthly, or annually. I deeply value being a part of someone’s journey however big or small my role may be.

• Building genuine relationships with clients is a key, small gestures, like following up on personal details, show you care.
• Be okay with not knowing all the answers and stay curious.
• Tune in to when your client no longer wants to talk and give them space to just receive.
• Remember, you are the common denominator in each treatment.
• Grounding yourself, working through your own tensions, and finding your flow improves the experience for the client

From a young age I knew that touch had a power in it that made people feel better. I’ve always been a hugger and that’s how I was able to show my feelings, when it was hard for me to verbalize as a shy, introverted kid. I think my love for massage therapy started to develop when my older sisters would pay me to give them massages. LOL. But then I started to look and thought, yah, I could really do this. However, growing up in a small community, my parents wanted me to go to University and so I did. But it was not for me. It took some twists and turns, but I somehow found my way back to the idea of massage therapy. I knew I wanted to help people and so it was really just a natural choice for me.”

“I love massage therapy, and as an advocate for the progression of massage
therapy, becoming an MTAM member was an easy choice for me. The resources & support MTAM provides has helped me through the phases and challenges of my practice, and has created a community that I truly needed working on my own.”

Though the main focus of Melysa’s practice is on treating the upper body, she finds it helpful to include other methods to promote nervous system regulation. Struggling with her own depression, along with headaches and jaw pain, she began to look into ways to help relieve her symptoms while also improving her mental health. This is where her love for facial massage began!

Feeling the benefits of this practice, and seeing the benefits on her skin, Melysa realized she could enhance her RMT skills and further her education through Gua Sha, Acupressure and Facial cupping, and has built a treatment around the
head, neck and face.

By focusing on integrating a more holistic approach, she hopes to put an emphasis on increasing awareness of registered massage therapy as a complementary therapy in mental health care. “Supporting those individuals through their mental health struggles, I knew that there is more needed to build a role for massage therapy in the mental health community and I am still working on that
today.”

I have had several big challenges through my career, and COVID was definitely one
of them. Navigating a failing business partnership, increased overhead and
decreased clientele left me financially depleted. My mental health was at an all time
low and I was really worried about my future in this profession. But it was in this
time that I was able to reflect, rediscover the power of massage therapy, and begin
to create something I felt truly needed to develop my skills in.

Some of my career highlights would be participating in various volunteer positions with MTAM, such as Challenge for Life, the Wellness Bike and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Sitting on the Marketing Committee has also allowed me to interact with many great members, instructors and be part of a community of like minded professionals

Advice I would give to new RMTs is that you don’t have to be everything to everyone. Not every client/patient is meant for you and that’s ok. Build a network within the RMT community and refer out.

There are enough patients to go around and you should work with the people that most align with you.

Also don’t feel that you HAVE to take any extensive continuing education right after graduation. Focusing on getting your hands on as many different bodies is how you will organically find what modalities or techniques, and style best works for you. And also you wont spend money on training that you may or may not use.

But education and learning are so important so also don’t hesitate to ask
questions! Find a mentor – or 2 – and work toward building a massage therapy practice  that you love.

I chose to to become an RMT because I loved working with people, and I really wanted to be in the health care field. I also new that what ever path I chose, I was going to open my own business for it.

I chose to join MTAM because they gave me the support I needed when ever I had a question or concern. They also offered continuing education, which I felt was important in my development as a massage therapist.

With my massage practice I always wanted to be different and stand out. When I first opened Pure Escape, I took what I liked best out of 3 different businesses I worked at to make my business stand out from the rest. I have never been afraid to change my business, see what works, what doesn’t and change again.

I started as a massage clinic when i first opened for the first 8 years. At the request of clients, I added spa services to enhance the experience. I am now pivoting once again in year 22. I have gotten ride of the all the spa services and and turning the business into a wellness center. In the next few months we will be introducing our clients to Athletic Therapy, Osteopathy, and an in house Doula. I have never been afraid of change, and I like to push the boundaries of the industry.

The biggest challenge I have faced has been with recruiting enough staff to meet our clients’ needs.

Often prospective RMTs would see the spa atmosphere and think “they only do ‘relaxation’ massages there”. This is the furthest thing from the truth.

It has always been an uphill struggle to find staff but we keep promoting our ability to fill any new RMT’s schedule and give them a full practice from day 1.

I am proud that I have had such great staff retention. Ranging form almost 20 years, to multiple 15 years and many that have found a home here, that have stayed almost their entire career. I am also proud to say, I was the first clinic to introduce direct billing to over 20 insurance companies before all the online portals were available. The ups and downs with that have been crazy. For example, the first year I did it I lost $10 000, because the insurance companies were sending the checks to clients and not back to the clinic. I solved that one day, with quick thinking, it would take to long to explain, but if you ask me how i did it i will tell you. I also solved the late fee issue we charge clients if they miss a portion of their appointment. Again ask me about it as it would take to long to explain. I really am not one to pat myself on the back, as I dont let me highs get to high or my lows to low. I chose to work hard, and do the best I can for the staff that have chosen to be here.

Two pieces of advice I would give new therapists are:

Don’t work for someone who is not a massage therapist. They will never understand how hard this job is and what it takes out of you.

Second, once you are done school go work somewhere that can fill your schedule. You have so much knowledge and good intention when you are done and you need to practice, practice, practice until you can start putting the pieces together and seeing the patterns in client after client. That is what will make you a great therapist. Also, work at a place that does not see you as a dollar sign. A place where you are heard, and when you have questions, they will be answered.