massage therapy journal

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Healthy Preparation

You’ll be in a better place to listen to your body if you plan ahead. Good health insurance may pay for treatment, including bodywork, physical therapy or other forms of help. A good savings plan can be a lifesaver for salary replacement during time off. Disability and workers’ compensation could help as well.

Remember you are taking care of your business when you take care of yourself. "Clients do come back," says Greene. "People don’t come to you because of any one technique you do—but because you’re you, a whole package of who you are."

Even if you can’t take a complete break, you can still learn how to work effectively—and safely—with low-level symptoms. When Ahuna can’t take a complete rest, she’ll do self-massage, seek bodywork from others, or simply make time to sink into a hot bath with essential oils at the end of a long, achy day.

Try modifying your technique when working, using your elbow or knuckle instead of your pained thumb, for example. You might also incorporate lighter techniques into your practice for the days when you have flare-ups. During those times, build in more time between sessions so you can stretch and relax, or ice your injury.

And here’s another reason for continuing education: You can tuck different, less physically demanding modalities into your toolbox, such as lymphatic drainage, craniosacral work or energy work for when your body needs a break. "There are so many forms of bodywork that you can do that are less physical, especially if you work for yourself," says Greene.

Think of symptoms as your friends, telling you to pay attention. "With early and effective treatment, most symptoms subside and go away," says Greene. But you may need to adjust to a new normal, since any time you get an injury or symptom, you can assume there is at least one thing you’ll be changing.

However, it’s all training for life. "Life is about change and adapting to circumstances," says Greene. "It’s not always easy, but very possible." This attitude will help you if you ever come to the point where giving up your practice is a real possibility. "I had to stop working as a practicing massage therapist," says Greene. "I went into research, writing and teaching, and I have had a lot of success. I want to defuse the idea that there is not life after massage therapy. There are many ways to stay in the profession."

Whatever happens, the key words echoed by each expert are: Be good to yourself. "Massage therapists are my heroes," says Orloff. "Be aware of the healing, sacred work that you are doing."

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