There are many things clients do regularly that can contribute to their overall tension. Though they may be aware of the areas that hurt, they may not be aware of what is causing them discomfort. When you educate clients about small changes they can make in their daily routine, you are equipping them with the tools they need to achieve long-term tension relief. You will not only give your clients the relief they need, but also feel the satisfaction of knowing you helped change someone's life for the better.
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There are many things clients do regularly that can contribute to their overall tension. Though they may be aware of the areas that hurt, they may not be aware of what is causing them discomfort. When you educate clients about small changes they can make in their daily routine, you are equipping them with the tools they need to achieve long-term tension relief. You will not only give your clients the relief they need, but also feel the satisfaction of knowing you helped change someone's life for the better.
Related: 5 Fitness Tips to Share with Your Clients
The long-term goal of my practice is for my clients to see me because they want to, not because they have to. My greatest accomplishment has been helping others live life to the fullest, and it has helped me cultivate a successful career.
Bringing Up Self-Care
Client's activities between sessions are just as important as coming in for their massage appointment. If a client needs to focus on recovery, their body will not be able to heal if they do intense activities every day. Focusing on restorative activities and giving their body the fuel and nutrition it needs to heal will encourage an improvement that you will both notice.
Effectively communicating in a short amount of time can be difficult. I suggest doing this during the massage, as you are working on the specific muscle group if your client is receptive to a conversation during their appointment. If not, you can give them a few tips at the end of their session to try between now and their next appointment.
Be respectful of their session preferences of conversation or silence, and don’t try to force this in if they have requested a silent appointment or seem to be less talkative. Sometimes it is easier to give them one task at a time, and if that is all you have time for, let that be okay.
I prefer to pick one or two areas for them to focus on for one to three months before moving on to another area. The most common focus areas tend to be the face, neck, chest, forearms, hands and feet. These areas of our bodies hardly ever get to truly rest, aside from when we sleep. Thankfully, these areas only take a little bit of work to gain noticeable relief.
Simple Self-Care Tips
It's important not to make your client feel like they have to drastically change their daily routine right away to feel better. Some feel overwhelmed trying to find an extra 30-60 minutes to do a full self-care routine. You might be surprised how one small change can have dramatic results and how easily it can be incorporated into a daily routine.
Related: 5 Self-Care Steps for Your Morning Routine
Most clients have time to massage their hands while at work, roll their feet on a massage ball at their desk or do some simple stretching on their lunch break. Encourage them to look for a few 2-5 minute breaks throughout their day to incorporate their self-care. Keep it simple, start small and focus on creating attainable habits.
Shopping for self-care tools can be confusing for some clients. Keep a running list of self-care tools that you have tried and recommend, which can be reassuring that the guest is making a good purchase. In fact, keeping a list of recommended items on your website can be a great educational tool that saves you time.
Using something they already have at home can be helpful for those on a budget. Don’t discourage guests from creating a self-care routine if it's not within their financial plan. Useful suggestions can include using a tennis ball instead of a foot massager ball, or aromatherapy they have at home versus buying something new.
Educating them on care that doesn’t require equipment can help the habit stick! They can massage an essential oil they already own into their hands and feet before bed. They can practice meditation, clearing their mind and releasing thoughts that stress them out. One of the most relaxing things they can do is take a few slow, deep breaths—and that doesn’t cost a penny!
That being said, spa products and herbal assistance can be very beneficial. One of my favorite recommendations is Honey Lavender Herbal tea from Yogi Brand Tea, followed by a hand and foot massage with my favorite FarmHouse Fresh lotion. Remind guests that having special products for their self-care routine can make it an exciting ritual they look forward to doing every day. Creating enjoyable habits that can become sacred personal rituals can help guide your clients to being their best selves. After all, this profession is all about helping others feel their best and live their life to the fullest.
