Too often, massage therapists forget what a session looks like from a massage client’s perspective. By doing little things like spinning magazines in the waiting room, offering snacks and water, and tracking your clients’ tastes in music, you can keep your practice fresh and attractive to clients who come only once, and for clients you see a week. once.
Whether you have your own massage practice or work as an employee in a spa or other professional setting, it’s important to make a good first impression and then continue with reliable service every time you massage your clients. Too often, massage therapists forget what a session looks like from a client’s perspective. These tips will help you keep your practice fresh and attractive to clients who come in only once, and for clients you see once a week. These ideas are meant to be additions of course, and are not meant to replace a consistent, quality massage. The client should always be treated with unwavering service, punctuality and professionalism by the massage therapist.
Reception / Waiting Area
When your clients arrive, the first thing they should feel welcome into your practice.
You or the receptionist should check it out, offer them something to drink, and if you’re not ready to see it right away, offer the client a chair in the waiting room until the massage. Clients should be comfortable in the waiting room, but remember that the waiting room is not meant to be a place to “hold” clients until you have time to see them. The massage therapist should make sure the waiting room is a quiet place for the client to decompress before the session, but that doesn’t mean the client has to be there for very long.
It’s a good idea to keep a table in your waiting room with a pitcher of water and fresh glasses, so that your clients can stay hydrated before the massage. Clients often come in for massages after a long day at work or after being stuck in traffic on the highway, and providing small healthy snacks like granola or fruit bars can also be appreciated by hungry clients before the massage. Therapists should provide a variety of family-friendly magazines that cater to both men and women. Make sure to rotate your magazine often so that while waiting for the massage, clients are not forced to read the same content week after week.
In the Massage Room
Before greeting your client, run through his S.O.A.P notes and review any notes of musical preference or aversion to aroma from previous massages. Clients may be bored with certain CDs, and it’s a good idea to take small notes of what music you listen to during each session and review these notes to make sure your choice of music stays fresh, magazine-like. Additionally, many massage therapists burn scented candles or oils in the treatment room. Make sure you periodically ask your clients if they like the scent or not, and if they don’t, be sure to take notes on this too.
After you greet and escort your clients to your massage parlor, be sure to explain to them what to do with their clothes and shoes before the massage. For regular clients, you don’t have to repeat your entire speech every time, but the massage therapist should always say something like “I’ll knock in a few seconds once you’ve got time to hang up and get comfortable on the table” before going to prepare for the massage. . Clients who have received massages before likely know the drill, but massage therapists should always give each client the same attention and care as new clients instead of just saying something like “ok, see you in a few.” When clients undress, be sure to have a variety of places available to store personal items. The massage therapist should provide at least two hooks behind the door for coats and clothes, maybe a small basket for shoes (this makes them easier to move if you find them on the road during the massage), and a small container for personal items like cell phones, watches hands, jewelry, etc. When not providing this facility during the massage, clients may feel frustrated about having to fold their clothes on a chair, or may feel awkward about hanging their clothes by the door. By providing a few choices, you make everyone happy.
Of course, you should approach your treatment sessions with the same professionalism and care that you do during each massage. The therapist should make the environment attractive, but remember that it is massage clients who are most attracted to it. Stay focused, listen to the loud God your clients, and consistently deliver high quality massages.