massage therapy journal

keeping you in touch.

  

Those extra touches
(that won’t break the bank)

1. Keep everything clean!
Cleaning may not be your idea of a good time, but if you make a habit of making sure that nothing gets too dirty in the first place, you’ll save yourself from only needing a serious cleaning session every couple of weeks. To stay on top of it, keep everything current. Magazines in a reception area should be current and free of dust, says feng shui expert Rodika Tchi, BA, MSc, CFSC. “It’s constant work, but it really pays off.”

2. Display a simple arrangement of fresh cut flowers.
Fresh flowers can get pricey if you’re replacing them every few days. It would be wise to create a relationship with a local florist to find out the seasonal flowers that will last longer than a week or two, or you can spring for a potted plant.

3. Use an energy element like water to add a tranquil ambiance.
So long as it’s not too loud and overpowering, water can be very soothing, says Tchi. Hydrotherapy desktop water fountains come in many shapes, sizes and prices, but if you do a simple search online you’ll find that there are several to choose from that are under $300. Try www.aquaarts.com.

4. Instill confidence in your clients.
Treat your clients respectfully by sending the message that you are there to heal. Clients want to see the name of the therapist who will be massaging them, so have certification and credentials clearly displayed in the reception area.

5. Infuse a little luxury.
Where the treatment room typically has a more clinical atmosphere, I like the lushness that a changing room can offer—richer designs, high-end robes, says Olson. Since you are dealing with a smaller space, you can do things like cover one wall with a glazed river rock tile. You can also add some decadent texture to the space with locally made textiles or elements such as textured glass, and metals such as copper and bronze. Elements with interesting surfaces engage the sense of touch, which contributes to your clients’ overall experience.

Making it work:
Read how one massage therapist redid her entire treatment area
for $500.

Milford Massage Therapy is like the “Floyd’s Barber Shop” of Milford, Ohio, says Debbie Phenix, LMT, who runs the practice with two other massage therapists.

Phenix has been a bargain hunter for a long time, out of necessity, she says. So naturally, her business was no exception. “I went to thrift stores and yard sales to find sheets,” she says, where Phenix was able to mix and match sets, while paying $1–3 for brand new ones.

When Phenix gets a massage CD she doesn’t like, she recoups some of the cost by reselling them as “gently used.” However, stores like Target offer a great selection of massage CDs for $10 apiece and give customers the chance to listen before buying at in-store kiosks. To play the music, Phenix went to a discount electronic store and bought a three-changer CD player for $39 on closeout.

“I can spot a good deal pretty easily, but there are so many ways to save that are easy for someone who isn’t looking that hard,” says Phenix. When she took a hot stone class and saw a $395 price tag attached to the heaters being offered in the catalogs at the time, Phenix knew she could do better.

“I went to Wal-Mart, bought a roaster for $39, headed to a local stone depot and hand picked a whole bucket of rocks for $11.21.”

Phenix also has an antique buffet that she added new handles to and asked a friend to cut new glass, which now serves as her display case for products that she sells to help make money out of the space. Why pay for shipping if you don’t have to? That is something Phenix lives by, which helps if you are not married to any specific type or brand of product.

“Call the vendor you usually use and see what is being discontinued, then stock up on it,” she says. There are some things that Phenix doesn’t scrimp on, like massage oil and cream, but she says you can always try other things. “Always be on the lookout for a deal. I once found essential oils on sale at a hospital gift shop for 75 percent off.”

Inside Milford Massage, the door to Phenix’s treatment room is adorned with a strand of blue lights. “My favorite color is blue,” she says, which is why the treatment room has an ocean theme. Phenix bartered massages with a friend who is an artist to paint a mural on the wall, adding a white cabinet with a light oak top for her massage creams and essential oils, a fountain, candles from a factory direct closeout store and low lighting.

“Blue is calming,” she says, adding that her clients love it. “Although I’m the one who has my eyes open during the massage, so I have to love it, too!”

Tips from the Pros
 Clair S. Molony, designer

  • Make a bed that you can lie in—meaning make sure the space is comfortable to you.

  • Go back to the basics. If you don’t overthink you can come up with some really brilliant ideas.

  • Bedding can be expensive. Don’t get caught up in thread counts. You can get nice, soft sheets at a reasonable price.

  • Bargain shop! Hit neighborhood garage sales for side tables, artwork or neat lamps where you can easily replace the shade.

  • While new car smell may be appealing to some, it’s not to everyone. Same goes with your practice. Skip the plug-ins and opt for something more neutral, just so long as it doesn’t smell “commercial.”

Bryan Olson, interior designer
www.olsonleavydesign.com

  • Limestone is a good, cheap alternative to ceramic tiling.

  • Try checking out hotel outfitters resale where you can sometimes luck out and find higher-end pieces at severe discounts.

  • Pick up a book on feng shui, such as Practical Feng Shui: Arrange, Decorate and Accessorize Your Home to Promote Health, Wealth and Happiness by Simon Brown.

Rodika Tchi, BA, MSc, CFSC, feng shui specialist
www.Tchiconsulting.com

  • The head of the massage table should be the farthest thing away from the door. This creates a feeling of safety and security.

  • Make sure that there are no sharp angles pointing at the table. This will cause restless energy and your clientele may not return.

  • It is bad energy in your reception area to have your back facing your clients.

Mark Miller, architect
www.zenplusarchitecture.com

  • Temperature is very important, especially since your clients will either be naked or in very little clothing. Pay close attention to your thermostat.

  • People feel differently about music. Personally, I do not prefer it during a massage treatment. It never hurts to find out your client’s preference so you can customize each client’s visit.

  • If your practice is in your home, be careful about what your clients see on their way to the massage therapy room. You don’t want to lessen a client’s confidence in you before the massage has even occurred.

Amanda Nevels is a Chicago based writer and creative director for Girls Advancing Business (g.a.b.), a marketing communications company dedicated to helping small businesses on a budget succeed. Visit her website at www.gabbiz.com.

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