A Day in the Life of a Massage Therapist

A Day in the Life of a Massage Therapist...

What is it really like to be a massage therapist?

This is what my typical day actually looks like. I have been a massage therapist since 1987 so I have been at this awhile and think I have it down to suit my lifestyle.

I currently work 3 days a week in my downtown Seattle Office. I usually work 11am to 7pm. I take a regular lunch break every day. I go in later to miss the traffic, which around Seattle can be pretty challenging. I usually spend my mornings walking, writing and planning my day. I call the office to get any current messages. I try to call people back within an hour of two of their original call. I also check my email and get back to people really quickly. People calling in to try to get in that day are usually wanting a person to talk to and want a massage right away so if you don't get back to them asap, you might lose them to another massage therapist.

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I commute by bus to the office and then walk part way from the bus stop to prepare my thoughts and intention for the day. I usually see clients on the hour, back to back with a few small breaks and lunch in between.

My typical clients are stressed out business people who work within a few blocks of my office. They work at computers all day and under a tremendous amount of stress. I do take insurance and see many with injuries or things like carpal tunnel or headaches or back pain of some sort. In WA State, we can be providers with insurance companies- one of the few states that allows this. I have seen a variety of injuries and interesting situations.

My goal in working with people is to just follow their lead. I try to educate people as to what massage is really doing and what it means when they have tight muscles. I do a combination of deep tissue work and triggerpoint therapy.

I see usually 4-6 clients a day. I use twin sheet sets on the massage table and pillows and bolsters all with covers that need to be laundered in between clients. That's a lot of laundry a day but it is just part of being a massage therapist.

I usually schedule clients on the hour and will schedule 2 appointments back to back, making it require that I be on time and be efficient. I usually take a half hour break then in between 2 hours of doing work to return phone calls, do insurance paperwork and get all that laundry done.

I have taken the time to learn about websites and have created a highly optimized website that is really informative to educate potential clients about what I do. I have a Twitter feed on it so that I can let people know if I have an opening each day or get a last minute cancellation. I have to keep my schedule full or I won't be able to make ends meet.

Many of my clients come in with pain of some sort and usually leave with some sense of relief not only of the pain but they feel better in their lives - nicer to the people that they work with and their partners and family. It is amazing to be such a part of people's lives. Just the other day I had a client tell me that I gave her hope when no one else thought anything could be done.

It is very rewarding most of the time, but it also can be challenging working with insurance companies, people in pain, and balancing everyone's schedule. Pain doesn't seem to like schedules and people are busy. And did I mention how much laundry I do?

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