Episode 002: The Best Advice We Ever Received as Massage Therapists
Today, we’re diving into the best advice we’ve ever received as massage therapists—guidance that’s shaped our practices and our day-to-day work. So grab your tea, sit back, and get ready for some insightful advice that’s helped us thrive in this profession.
From finding your niche to setting strong boundaries, we’re covering three key pieces of advice that have been game-changers in our journey. These insights can help you, too, as you build a fulfilling, sustainable career in massage therapy.
1. Find Your Niche (and Your Ideal Client)
The first piece of advice may seem obvious but is essential: find your niche and identify your ideal client. When you’re just starting, it’s tempting to be a “jack-of-all-trades.” But over time, working with a specific type of client or focusing on a certain style can lead to greater fulfillment and success.
Why Your Niche Matters
Having a niche helps you connect with clients you’re passionate about helping. Jackie explained how she found her groove working with mothers, including pregnant clients who often just need that hour of peace and rest. It brings her joy when her clients relax so deeply they drift off to sleep. As Jackie noted, “99% of my clients are amazing, and those who come for regular sessions almost become like friends.”
Finding Your Focus
Think about who you most enjoy working with. Maybe you feel drawn to sports massage, helping athletes recover and stay at their best. Or perhaps, like David, you find joy in working with clients on movement, helping them achieve physical goals like running or simply being active with their grandkids. This kind of focus makes the work feel purposeful and motivates you to keep learning and growing in your specialty.
Finding your niche helps build a client base that resonates with you and values your expertise. This is where career longevity and job satisfaction start to grow. The right clients don’t just pay the bills—they bring joy to your work.
2. Trust Your Intuition
Another invaluable piece of advice? Trust your intuition. As therapists, we work closely with people, and we often sense things clients might not say directly. Tuning into this inner guidance can help us provide better care and build trust with clients.
Balancing Intuition with Technique
While technical skills and assessments are essential, sometimes intuition guides us to areas that need attention. David shared a story of working on a client who hadn’t mentioned pain in a specific area, but his intuition told him to focus there. Later, the client admitted to holding tension from work-related stress they hadn’t thought to mention.
Why Intuition Is Key in Massage
Massage therapy is as much an art as it is a science. Many clients won’t share every detail, sometimes because they don’t realize how stress or emotions contribute to their physical pain. As therapists, we need to balance our technical skills with our intuition to provide the best care. As Jackie put it, “Clients don’t always give us all the details right away, but we often sense what’s happening before they tell us.”
When working with clients, allow your intuition to complement your technique. Sometimes the body tells us things before the client does, and trusting yourself can lead to more effective treatments and a stronger client-therapist bond.
3. Set Boundaries for a Sustainable Practice
The final piece of advice that’s transformed both our practices is setting clear boundaries. It’s tempting to be overly available to clients, but without boundaries, it’s easy to burn out. Maintaining a balance between professional dedication and personal time is crucial to long-term success in this industry.
Learning to Say No
Early in his career, David admitted he struggled with boundaries, often taking last-minute client calls or working on his days off. This “always available” approach quickly led to burnout. Now, he sets clear hours and limits client contact outside of working hours. “I had someone call me at midnight once for an appointment,” he shared. “I let it go to voicemail, and I’m glad I didn’t answer.”
Respecting Your Own Needs
Jackie, too, has learned to protect her downtime. She keeps strict limits on her availability, even as clients often try to book outside her set hours. “I already work until 9 p.m. on two nights a week—that’s enough!” she shared. Saying no can be hard, especially when you feel connected to your clients, but it’s necessary to protect your energy and maintain a sustainable career.
Advice Recap
Boundaries ensure you have the energy and mental space to provide quality care. By clearly communicating your availability and setting limits, you protect your own well-being and ultimately become a better therapist for your clients.
Honourable Mentions: Other Essential Advice We’ve Gained
Aside from these top three, we’ve received other advice over the years that’s been invaluable. Here are some quick but essential tips to remember:
- You Don’t Have to Do It All
Running a massage business means wearing many hats, but you don’t have to do everything alone. Consider outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping, scheduling, or even laundry if it lightens your load and allows you to focus more on your clients. - Self-Care Is Not Optional
Massage therapy is a physically and emotionally demanding job. It’s easy to tell clients about the importance of self-care, but as therapists, we often forget to take our own advice. Regular massages, stretching, and rest are vital for avoiding burnout. “I used to be better about getting a massage every month,” Jackie shared, “but it’s easy to let it slip.” - Continue Learning
Whether it’s taking a new course, attending a workshop, or reading up on the latest research, continuing education is key. The more you learn, the more you can offer your clients. David has found value in exploring different massage techniques over the years, which has kept his practice fresh and engaging.
Why Good Advice Matters
These pieces of advice have shaped how we practice and run our businesses, making our work more enjoyable and sustainable. Massage therapy is a beautiful, rewarding career, but it also requires a strong foundation to make it in the long run. Each of these insights—finding a niche, trusting your intuition, and setting boundaries—gives you the structure to keep doing the work you love without losing yourself along the way.
So, here’s our advice to you: reflect on what kind of therapist you want to be, take care of yourself, and remember that you’re building something meaningful with each client interaction.