Massage Therapists: Take Care of Yourself First

Long hours of back-to-back sessions can lead massage therapists needing a massage of their own. In order to take care of others, you’ll need to take care of yourself. Here are a few ways to provide self-care in order to be productive for your clients.

1. Give yourself massages between clients - As a massage therapist, you’re already aware of the benefits of having massages regularly. During your downtime, focus on some self-care and tend to the tools of your trade (your fingers/hands/arms). The Gelliflex^® Abacus^® is the most customizable hand/arm self-therapy device on the market and provides relief to those suffering pains caused by overuse or repetitive activity. You can easily set it up to target the areas you want: from your fingers to the upper arm and everything in between.
2. Maintain good body mechanics - As a massage therapist, you’re constantly moving, especially in repetitive movements. Maintain good techniques in posture, bending, moving and lifting in order to avoid injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
3. Stay full and hydrated - Since massage therapy is a physical job, treat it like exercise. You exert almost as much as you would during a moderate workout session if you’re tending to four clients a day. Not only is it important that you remain hydrated like you would when exercising, you also want to keep your energy up. Having nutritious snacks on hand like fruits and nuts will keep you from crashing or grabbing something unhealthy after work.
4. Stretch - Before exercising, you should normally stretch. Similarly, you should do the same before the sessions. Since you’re constantly on your feet and exerting pressure when performing massages, light stretches can help you avoid cramps or pulling muscles during a massage session. BAC Massage Therapy shares 10 daily stretches that can come in handy.
5. Keep your mood and mentality in check - It’s just as important to maintain your emotional and mental state as it is your physical well being. This will help provide an enjoyable and stress-free environment for your clients during their massages. If you’re not feeling 100 percent, find ways to recharge and boost your mood: spend time with loved ones, do an activity you enjoy, meditate, or just sleep in and get plenty of extra rest.

Self-care is vital for improving and prolonging the career of massage therapists. By following these tips, you can aim towards many successful years doing a job you love.