Wash your massage table sheets within 24 hours of use.

Oil stains on sheets are a thorn in the side for every new therapist. Depending on the type of lubricant (massage oil, cream, gel, etc.) and massage sheets (cotton, poly, blends, etc.), some of these tricks may not work for you. You’ll have to do a bit of experimenting to find the best way to care for your massage linens.

Pretreat

Pretreat noticeable oil stains right after the client leaves. You can use Dawn dish soap, Zote soap, or a number of other treatment products that other therapists swear by.

Extra Detergent Power

Some therapists add a grease-cutting product to the wash. Along with your laundry detergent, you can add a small amount of Dawn detergent (about 2 Tablespoons) to help dissolve the oil. Be careful not to add too much, since you don’t want the extra suds to overflow the washing machine.

A trick that fry cooks use is to add automatic dishwashing detergent (such as Cascade). This type of detergent works well in washing machines, since it doesn’t create as many suds as regular dish detergent.

Before Washing

Wash your massage linens within 24 hours to prevent oils from setting and turning rancid. To keep the oil from setting, store the sheets in a black plastic bag until you can wash them. Keep the sheets out of the sun, away from heat, and with as little air in the bag as possible.

Wash and Dry

Don’t overfill the washing machine. Sheets need plenty of room to get clean. Wash in hot water, and line dry if possible. Dryer heat sets stains, so only use the dryer if the oil stains wash out completely.

If you dry your sheets in the dryer, set it to low heat or air dry and use dryer balls to speed up the process.

Other Tricks

Instead of changing how you wash your massage sheets, you can also change the type of lubricant (cream or lighter oils like jojoba and grapeseed are less likely to stain than a heavy massage oil), use higher quality sheets, and buy patterned sheets (they hide oil stains better).

At some point, you need to retire your sheets. To save money, keep an eye out for clearance sales throughout the year, and replace sheets a few sets at a time rather than all at once.

Earthlite sheets and linens

We are expanding our selection of Earthlite products, starting with massage table sheets and covers. Earthlite massage table linens are designed for professional use in spas, offices, homes, and anywhere you travel with your table.

New Earthlite Products Available at OneTouch:

• Disposable Headrest Covers (100 count)
• Earthlite Basics Flannel Sheet Set
• Samadhi-Pro Flannel Sheet Set
• Samadhi-Pro Fitted Sheet
• Samadhi-Pro Top Sheet
• Earthlite Basics Fleece Massage Table Pad Set
• Samadhi-Pro Fleece Massage Table Pad Set

Free shipping is available on all orders to the continental U.S.

A hot stone warmer keeps your stones at the right temperature.

Stone massage treatments can work in almost any treatment room. As long as you have a place to plug in the heating unit, you can offer hot stone massage to your clients.

Heating the Stones

Your massage stones should be heated in a stone warmer unit with precise temperature controls (not just high / low). Always heat your stones in water. The warmer unit should be large enough to cover the stones completely with water.

Do not use a microwave, hot plate, heating pad, or oven to heat your massage stones.

Use an accurate thermometer to check the temperature of the water. The temperature should not exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lining the Stone Heater

Use a non-skid mat or a white towel on the bottom of the heating unit. This protects the heating unit, prevents clanking noises when you put the stones back, and helps you see the stones better against the white towel.

Reheating the Stones

To reheat a massage stone for use on the same client, return it to the heating unit. It should be ready to use again in 3-4 minutes.

Testing the Stone Temperature

Since each stone is different, it can heat up at different rates. Just because one stone is the right temperature doesn’t mean all of the stones are at the correct temperature. Also note that as you remove most of the massage stones from the heating unit, the remaining stones will get hotter faster.

Test each of the stones in your hand before use. You should be able to hold the stones comfortably in your hands for at least 5 seconds. If the stones are too hot, let them cool for a few minutes before testing again.

Stone Layout

Create a layout system within the heating unit. Replace stones in the same place each time. This will save you time when searching for the right stones. The less time you spend searching for stones, the more time you spend hands-on with your client.

Gayle Steffens of TherapureBODYworks LLC and ImaMassage.com

Gayle Steffens is a massage therapist in California and co-owner of TherapureBODYworks LLC and ImaMassage.com. She shares her personal experience in the health and wellness field and offers advice for new massage graduates below.

What made you decide to become a massage therapist?

The first time I remember hearing the word massage was when I was about 10 years old. I would watch my friend’s mom always complain about her back and ask my friend (her daughter) to massage her shoulders. I thought it was so neat how great her mom felt after she was done. I remember her mom saying, “Oh Annie, you just have the strongest hands! You’re going to grow up and massage all those football players!” I remember thinking that that’s what I wanted to do…more massage, it didn’t have to be the football players.

Skipping forward to high school. I would work on the girls on my volleyball team while we waited to play, but the true turning point when I knew for sure that I wanted to practice massage was when I took a class on reflexology. I started doing mass research on massage and reflexology and the benefits it had on the body. Imagine that something as little as working on a hand or a foot could down-regulate the nervous system, affect the back, and even help aid in digestion…or if done improperly, [could cause] constipation! Massage seemed to fit in my personality to help teach people and to help heal people.

What advice would you offer to a recent massage graduate?

I hope as you were going through school you made great acquaintances and friends, because they will help you greatly on your path! Through the friends I’ve made I’ve been connected to other forms of practice like Reiki and hypnosis.

Also I would suggest getting your state certificate or license right away! I suggest having your own table. The first table I bought was a OneTouch table! It still is with me, but now I use it for events.

You need to know whether or not you want to work at a spa, at a chiropractor’s office, or for yourself right away—if so, do you want to have your clients come to you, or are you willing to go to them?

I think it’s smart to start off someplace and build clientele until you’re able to go off on your own. I started at a fitness club called Equinox. I now have a sturdy clientele where I wouldn’t have time to work for a spa or club.

Know you have the right to refuse to work on anyone. I choose my clients; when I first meet them, it’s an interview for me as [much as] it is for them.

Know your price and don’t veer from it. Know your worth.

Looking back, what would you have done differently starting out as a massage therapist?

Honestly, I don’t think I would have done much different. I probably would have saved for taxes a little differently and also would have added the tax amount into my charge. I would have added the tax into the fee so I get paid my “x” amount that I want and know I can live off of.

What is one thing that has really made your business take off?

Word of mouth is what greatly helped my business. Going to events and volunteering services like 10 minute chair massages can explode a business, especially if you collect contact info. When you go out and touch people, it lets them get to know you and your touch so [that] if they can’t hire you, they could possibly refer you to someone that can!

I used different techniques, and I didn’t treat my clients like I was forced to work on them. I am grateful for every client that I have.

What keeps your clients coming back?

Honesty, listening to the client’s body, and suggesting ways to self-maintain are how I keep my clients coming back. The majority of my clients are weekly clients.

I also spend quality time with them. From the moment I enter their home we are talking about their body, how they’re eating, what they’re doing for exercise, and how it relates to and affects their body. I only offer 90 minute sessions and up, unless your body really can’t handle that.

Besides telling my clients the truth, I don’t know what keeps them coming back! You’ll find that some people will absolutely love you and others will find a different therapist that works best for them.

About Gayle

Gayle Steffens has been a licensed massage therapist since 2009. She is a graduate of California Healing Arts College and the co-founder of TherapureBODYworks LLC and ImaMassage. Originally from Minnesota, Gayle moved to California right after high school to pursue a career in wellness! She loves dogs and being active. Surfing, painting, smiling, rock climbing, karate, and hiking are some of her favorite things to do, outside of studying Japanese and healing modalities.

Although many therapists and bodyworkers love the idea of being their own boss, the in’s and out’s of running a business aren’t something most massage schools focus on teaching their students.

Marketing, in particular, is a tough job for massage therapists, many of whom are introverts.

We published an article in Massage & Bodywork (May/June 2012) focused on marketing tips for introverts. See the article online, or watch for it in the print edition of the magazine delivered to ABMP members.

Massage & Bodywork - Marketing for Introverts article

Sneak Peek:

“Spa owner Heidi Lamar has seen plenty of therapists come and go in her years hiring for Spa Lamar in Arizona. ‘Some are quite comfortable handing out their [business] cards wherever they go, but others would rather walk barefoot across shards of glass,’ Lamar says. ‘My busiest, most successful therapist is one of those. How did he become my highest paid therapist? The old-fashioned way: he does a great job, and he has been at the spa for almost 10 years.’

Lamar’s example proves that you don’t have to force yourself to act like an extrovert in order to fill up your appointment book. You don’t need to stand outside your office with a sandwich board yelling out to people on the street. All you need to do is figure out what type of marketing strategies fit your strengths and put them to work…” Read more

This portable massage table comes with a backrest lift.

Ready to buy your first portable massage table? Since a massage table is the most important piece of equipment you’ll buy, it’s important to know what you need in a massage table for your clients and for yourself.

Table Weight

Will you be carrying your massage table to other locations? If so, check the total weight of the table. If you don’t carry your table very far or very often, you can get by with a heavier, sturdier table. But if you travel often, you’ll want a lightweight massage table. Aluminum is lighter than wood—and strong enough to withstand regular use.

Width

The table dimensions are important for two reasons: (1) your body mechanics, and (2) your clients’ comfort. The massage table’s width affects your body mechanics. If the table is too wide, you can strain your body by reaching too far. If the table is too narrow, your clients might not feel safe or comfortable enough to relax.

Padding

The type of padding and thickness varies. You can choose from high-density foam, memory foam, and a combination foam of several densities. Thicker padding is more comfortable for clients, but if you do sports massage or similar therapeutic techniques, you might want a firmer table. You can always add more padding as needed with egg crate foam and a fleece cover.

Extras

This is where your massage table becomes more specific to your needs. The type of work you do will determine whether you need a shiatsu cable release, a backrest lift, Reiki end plates, or other features. You can also customize your massage table with a built-in face hole, side arm extenders, a length extender, or a specialized face cradle, among other features.

The full lotus position is the most stable and most difficult meditation position.

If you prefer to sit on the floor for meditation, a zafu and zabuton can make your sitting posture more comfortable. Below are descriptions of the basic seiza and lotus positions for meditation.

Seiza Position

The seiza position involves kneeling, with your buttocks resting on your heels. For comfort and support, you can kneel with the zafu between your legs or under your buttocks. Kneeling with your buttocks on your heels can be uncomfortable for beginners, since your knees may start to ache or other body parts may fall asleep.

Burmese Position

To assume the Burmese position, sit on the zabuton with your legs folded in front of you, one in front of the other. Your knees and buttocks will form the base of a pyramid structure. Use a zafu to raise the hips slightly for more comfort.

Lotus Position

To transition into the quarter lotus position from the Burmese position, lift one foot and rest it on the opposite calf.

For the half lotus, rest one foot on the opposite thigh. This position is almost as stable as the full lotus position. Both knees should touch the floor, and your spine should be straight. Alternate legs for each sitting.

For the full lotus position, cross your left foot over your right thigh and your right foot over your left thigh (or vice versa). As in the half lotus position, alternate legs with each sitting.

Precautions

Be careful not to force any meditation position. Your knees should be strong, healthy, and flexible for any of these sitting positions. Do not force a certain posture. The body should be comfortable, upright, and relaxed during meditation.

Sarah Snider, owner of New Feeling Therapeutic Massage

Thanks to Sarah Snider, a massage therapist in Minneapolis and owner of New Feeling Therapeutic Massage, for her advice to massage students, recent grads, and massage therapists looking to improve their practice. Sarah specializes in relieving chronic pain through sports, relaxation, and trigger point therapy techniques.

1) What made you decide to become a massage therapist?

“I have always enjoyed using my hands and interacting with the physical world around me. Before going to massage school, I worked at a non-profit organization. I enjoyed the feeling of helping people and contributing to the community, but it was difficult to see the direct results of my work. Massage therapy offers immediate feedback and gratification—for me and the client.”

2) What advice would you offer to a recent massage graduate?

“Part of your role is to educate your clients about massage therapy. Most people don’t realize all the benefits of regular massage therapy, or they don’t understand how it would benefit them. Be patient, stay informed on any new studies or developments, and keep learning and talking to people.”

3) Looking back, what would you have done differently starting out as a massage therapist?

“I would have made self-care more of a priority. It’s easy for me to go about my daily life and then suddenly realize that I haven’t had bodywork in nearly a month. I found I do better when I practice what I preach. Trading massages is also a good way to stay in touch with your massage school classmates and learn new skills.”

4) What is one thing that has really made your business take off?

“Referrals. Nothing is more powerful the personal testimony of my clients. Most people are busy and need a few exposures before they come in, but when they do, they’re hooked!”

5) What keeps your clients coming back?

“Clients notice the little things. I have a clean, cozy office, soft sheets, and lots of padding and a heating pad on the table. A great massage in a great environment makes a big difference to make my clients feel comfortable and to encourage them to take care of their health.”

About Sarah
Sarah Snider is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, a graduate of the massage therapy program from the CenterPoint School of Massage and Shiatsu Therapy, and a CranioSacral Therapy I graduate of the Upledger Institute. She is also a member of the American Massage Therapy Association’s sports massage team. Sarah also has over four years of experience working at massage clinics, spas and chiropractic offices, frequently helping clients relieve chronic pain, especially headaches due to muscle tension and trigger points.