I hear stories of therapists out there. Some are doing great. Some are just making it. Some are frustrated.
The times they are a’ changin’. The advent of the Massage Envy’s, etc. has provided many more job opportunities, but at a lower paying rate. Some employers are requiring too many massages without a break, or put pressure on the therapists to sell products. The world economy is shifting, making it harder to have the prosperity that we want. These are difficult times (though I do remind myself regularly really how easy we have it compared to other times in history and many other places in the world.). They call for innovation and originality.
At Lauterstein-Conway we wrestle with how to deliver the education that will result in our graduates being superb, effective therapists; being able to do and enjoy the business-side of massage as well as the therapeutic; putting heart into one’s work so that the therapist connects with the person, not just with their body; being aligned and graceful in movement and mind so the massage results in optimum health for both therapist and client.
For me, what helped the most to get the satisfaction and success I wanted as a therapist was more advanced clinical training. When I really began to understand anatomy and how chronic postural issues maintained pain and how to relieve those tensions, it opened up a whole new exciting world of therapy and service.
It was when I’d had training in Structural Bodywork (with Rolfer, Daniel Blake) that I felt confident to go entirely into private practice. And I’ve never looked back – even when my boss (me) was too self-critical! 🙂
Then in my practice I noticed that some people remained tense even after I’d worked intelligently with their myofascial systems. I realized that some issues were due more to the nervous system’s holding than to the fascial adhesions. So I began exploring psychology of bodywork, shiatsu, and Zero Balancing.
All these provided important insights into the interaction of mind, emotion, and anatomy. Particularly Zero Balancing enabled me to relieve the deepest holding patterns, those maintained within bones and joints. In this way, addressing all the levels and causes of tension in the body, I was able to provide my clients with a completeness of positive results that were much deeper and more long lasting.
Since developing this level of practice, basically all my clients become repeat clients. Almost always they include regular sessions as part of their healthcare. I’ve been doing this now for – gulp! – 33 years and I still love to do it and teach it.
To have the practice you want, you have to make your level of service exceptional. That naturally keeps you inspired and inspiring to your clients — to see and feel the higher devotion to your service and to their process of healing and growth.
Those are all reasons to take advantage of the Advanced Clinical Training beginning here November 7th. This is the only school in the southwest that teaches an Integrative Clinical approach to manual therapy utilizing the primary advanced modalities: Deep Massage, Structural Bodywork, Zero Balancing, Shiatsu, Psychology of Bodywork, Integrative Bodywork.
Don’t miss this chance to infuse your work, your income, and yourself with a whole new and important level of learning, success and therapeutic benefit.