Massage Bill of Rights

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Title: Massage Bill of Rights

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Author: Wayne Mc

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Massage Bill of Rights

Copyright 2005 Wayne Mc

Massage is both an art and a science.

Let me begin with some general terms and facts to give you

more of an idea about massage therapists that are certified

and licensed. With this information you will probably

surprise your therapist with how much you know and you’ll

be able to ask the right questions when making your next

appointment.

Licensing maybe by the city where the therapist works or a

State License. California has NO state licensing, but has

licensing by each city. Licensing is through the police

department and has nothing to do with massage therapy. In

other states massage therapists can get a license through

the state. Massage therapist may be required to publish

their license when advertising, similar to contractors and

home remodelers.

CERTIFICATION and LICENSING

Certification or licensing may require 300 hours of

training (basic) to 500 hours to 1000 hours of training.

Certification of hours is usually with an accredited

school. Some licensing may require a Certification plus

hours of working with clients.

There is a lot of inconsistency with licensing (or

non-licensing) state by state or city by city. For that

reason, clients can find great massage therapists through

several Massage Therapy Associations. These associations

have their own standards and ethics that their members

adhere to.

SCIENCE OF MASSAGE

A massage therapist can complete 300 hours of training in

about three months. In general, a therapist will learn the

SCIENCE of massage or the basic massage strokes, an

introduction to the muscle and skeletal system and probably

an introduction to deep tissue massage. A massage therapist

with 300 hours of training can do a good massage.

ART OF MASSAGE

The next milestone is 500 hours of training. This is the

ART of MASSAGE. The massage therapist will learn more about

muscles and how to blend relaxing massage strokes with

effective deep tissue work to get the knots out of your

back.

ART and SCIENCE OF MASSAGE

A massage therapist with 1000 hours of training is very

dedicated to their profession and is a specialist. This is

the ART and SCIENCE of massage therapy. The therapist will

have completed over two years of training and knows the

finer points of massage therapy.

YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

Massage therapy is like fine dining. You have the choice of

dining at a local café if you’re on a budget or you can try

fine dining. A massage appointment can be one hour or an

hour & half.

If you want a massage to feel great and be relaxed, then a

therapist with 300 to 500 of training would best fit your

needs.

If you have a lot of body tension or your body feels all

twisted and out place, then you’ll probably want to work

with someone that has over 300 of training. If you are an

athlete or workout, you probably want someone with 500

hours or more.

Before booking your appointment, tell the therapist what

kind of massage you are looking for. If the massage

therapist is too busy to talk to you on the phone or seems

a little cold, then call someone else. By the time you

finish talking with the massage therapist you should

already have rapport or some kind of comfortabilty with the

therapist.

MASSAGE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE CLIENT

As a new client visiting a massage therapist you do have

rights. You have the right to say " No " . I know this sounds

obvious, but I can not tell you how many clients I have

talked to that have endured a massage because they felt

they were obligated to go through with the appointment.

Within fifteen minutes of your appointment you should know

if the massage therapist is there for you or just going

through the motions. There is a bond, or a sense of energy,

that you can feel and know that your therapist is connected

with you.

If it doesn’t feel right, then say thank-you and leave. Or,

ask the therapist to make whatever adjustments are

necessary to make it feel more comfortable. A massage is

NOT about pain. Yes you may experience a little of

discomfort. As my teacher once said to me, " If the client

sits up like a fish, then lighten your pressure. "

I remember I had a very well trained massage therapist

working on me once and " he knew what was best for the

client. " Yes he was trained and he knew what he was doing,

but that was not what I wanted for a massage on that day. I

thanked him and left. A few months later I booked another

appointment with him when I needed a more " detailed "

massage.

If you decide to leave you may be obligated to pay for the

session. Personally, I would rather end a session and pay

rather than stay and endure something that is not what I

need or feels like a suit that doesn’t fit.

If you are not asked to pay for the session, you may tip$10

as a courtesy for the therapist who took the time to book

the session. Hopefully this won’t happen.

MASSAGE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE MASSAGE THERAPIST

A massage therapist has the right to be treated like a

person and professional. As a client you should always

arrive on time and leave when the time ends.

A therapeutic massage by a licensed therapist is not erotic

bodywork. If you did not ask for this before booking a

session, then do not assume this is included with the

massage. Some people think this is always included with a

massage – don’t assume anything, ask!

The massage therapist can ask a client to leave for not

respecting their boundaries or for any various reasons

discussed.

Draping or covering a client during a massage is for both

the client and the therapist. It defines the boundaries

between therapist and the client. Personally, I prefer a

massage without being covered. I always ask about draping

before I book an appointment.

FINAL WORDS

As a massage therapist, it is a great joy to give a massage

and to nurture another human being. It has many health

benefits and is more than a luxury for the rich and famous.

Our bodies need to be touched and nurtured. It is what

makes us feel alive and makes us more loving and kind to

others around us.

You can make two people happy today. Call a massage

therapist today and relax into health.

About the Author:

Wayne Mc is a licensed massage therapist and the

founder of 123relax Massage Directory. To find a Health

Therapist near you visit us at

http://www.123relax.com and

http://www.HolisticWebDirectory.com