It is easy to make simple mistakes when starting in the massage therapy world. It’s true. And these little mistakes could cause you a setback on your progress or even cause damage to your work. The good news is that they are easy to spot, and easy to fix, once you know they are there!
Using too much force
It is common for newbies in the field to think the more force applied is equal to better results. Wrong! In fact, it can often mean a worse outcome for your client.
Too much force can cause your client discomfort, and can decrease your control, leading to faster fatigue.
To do this right:
Focus more on your control than your strength! Good massage is about being precise and balancing the pressure applied to a client, it doesn’t need a lot of strength or force.
Not maintaining your posture
Another mistake is to focus on your client, while forgetting yourself. Your own posture is very important!
Poor posture can lead to bad outcomes for your own body (such as pain in the back or wrist), loss of control and bad results for your work.
To do this right:
Maintain proper body alignment while providing support for yourself through proper weight distribution. Avoid overworking your back in this position to avoid long-term effects of this common beginner’s mistake.
Skipping over the fundamentals
New massage therapists love the advanced techniques! It is no wonder, these techniques are impressive.
However, trying to learn all advanced techniques from the start can lead to a very unsteady movement. A client feels this. And your own progress could be slower.
To do this right:
Master those basic strokes first, then take it slow with the advanced. You cannot rush the learning process!
Lacking attentiveness to client feedback
Different bodies respond differently to pressure. If you don’t listen, you won’t get good results. If a client is tense or uncomfortable when your pressure is increased they will probably feel better if you lower the pressure. Listen for these feedback cues:
Tension in the muscle Verbal feedback Body reactions
To do this right:
Pay attention to client feedback! Adjusting the pressure and technique accordingly will always result in a better experience.
Moving too fast in the process
You may hear massage therapists joke that they are “working fast”. However in the real work, speed can actually cause a bad outcome for your client if applied too quickly or too early in the practice.
Moving too quickly can cause uneven pressure or a loss of detail. And the overall flow in the work can be lost as well.
To do this right:
It is best to go slow and steady for the highest quality experience.
The Take Away
All of the successful massage therapists were at the point you are now. The difference is, they made these mistakes and then they learned from them.
If you want to make sure you are learning effectively it is important that you focus on the control, and safety of your own body, and your practice will improve faster then you think.
Progress is not about perfection in massage therapy! You just have to be aware of your own progress and learn!