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Life/Spiritual Coach, Medical Massage Therapist
People who use spa services regularly are spending up to 20% more than necessary
Massage franchises such as
Spas are an excellent choice when you just want to treat yourself. Spas can offer a variety of massage services such as Thai massage, couple massage, and stone massage sessions. Depending upon the length and type of massage you book, you will spend between $75 - $200 plus the tip you pay the therapist.
As a specialized massage therapist in private practice for over 17 years, I have the privilege of being able to work one-on-one with clients as part of their health and wellness process. I provide a combination of therapeutic, spa, and medical massage therapies coupled with life and spiritual coaching. Typically, you will not find a therapist with this level of expertise and professionalism working in a spa or a chiropractor’s office.
By the time a therapist chooses private practice, they have most likely had experience working in a spa or chiropractor’s office. After gaining experience, a therapist realizes they could make more money, better serve their clientele, and have the benefits of working for themselves. They developed their skill level and knowledge, invested in years of continuing education, and made a commitment to make massage therapy a full-time profession. Generally, a therapist who chooses private practice will have the emotional maturity and professionalism required to maintain a loyal clientele. Because they are in private practice, they can offer a level of care that simply is not possible in a spa or franchise environment.
The massage services offered in a spa or franchise will most likely be offered by a private practitioner for prices that are comparable to and usually less than a spa. For example, spas charge an average of $115 - $150 (plus tip) for a 90 minute session. A private therapist such as myself charges $120 where you receive therapeutic bodywork that is tailored specifically to your needs. The knowledge gained by the private therapist about your needs builds trust between the two of you as the relationship deepens and grows. This is key to how well your body receives the work.
Next, the private practitioner usually has control over the environment in which the two of you are working. In a spa or franchise setting, there will often be outside noise in the hallways that creates a disturbance in the massage room just as you are beginning to completely relax. In private practice, noise levels, the choice of music, the types of oils or lotions used, the design of the room, and the overall feel of the room is controlled by the therapist. This adds to the experience that you have when you get a massage.
Finally, when you choose to work with a private therapist, you choose to support a local business person instead of a large corporation. As a personal client, the private therapist is vested in your best interests. They have the time and ability to learn what your healthcare priorities are and will work to help you reach your goals. In a spa or franchise, the therapist does not have the time to develop a relationship of any depth beyond encouraging the client to ask for them again if they ever come back.
In summary, the benefits of spending your massage dollars with a private therapist are 1) a guaranteed high level of experience, expertise and skill, 2) tailored and specialized care, 3) quality of environment, 4) support of a local business, and 5) a quality relationship that benefits your health.
The best way to find a private therapist is to ask for referrals from friends, co-workers, or neighbors. You can also review reliable websites such as Understanding Health at www.understandingholistichealth.com. You will find practitioners from around the
Choose a franchise for convenience or a spa when you want to pamper yourself. For regular care, choose a private practitioner. You will spend less money in the long run and receive better care than any spa or franchise is capable of giving you.
4 comments:
What rubbish-At over 525 massage Envy clinics throughout America Massage Envy has thousands of Licensed Massage Therapists who have 5, 10, 15, even 20 or more years experience as part of our team. Certainly we also have newer therapists.
Are you suggesting that when you were a newer therapist that you were no good at giving massages? Did you warn your clients of that? Did you charge 1/2price or less for the first 5-7 years of your practice? I think not. In fact I'd suggest that in some ways you had better attitudes & work ethics then than you now do.
Unfortunately like many therapists you fear the change that has allowed millions more people to experience the joy of massage because Massage Envy has brought massage to the masses making it affordable, convenient, AND still very professional while freeing up therapists to just do what they want to do-give great massages without all of the hassle of trying to make it on their own and struggling while trying to compete with the real world of modern massage therapy
I am very familiar with spa massage therapists who may choose to work in franchise situations on a long term basis. For those who choose to stay in that environment that I have personally interviewed, they choose to practice rote routines, often have no knowledge of kinesiology, anatomy, physiology, or pathology, have no discernable palpation skills, and view the work as just a job that is better than working for minimum wage.
Additionally, my professionalism and attitudes about massage therapy have, in fact, increased over the years as I work to educate the public about the benefits of massage therapy.
I have been in private practice for 17 years. When I first started out, for about 6 -7 years, I actually did not charge people because I was practicing part time and did not feel it was ethical to charge people when I felt I was still new and learning. It wasn't until after I learned Craniosacral Therapy that I started charging people.
The quality of massage therapy offered by franchises serves a particular segment of the population. For those people who require advanced care or more therapuetic benefits offered by a highly trained and skilled therapist, a private therapist will always be the best choice.
When it smells like bull it probably is bull. I understand you are working for a large corporation, guess private practice isn't all it's cracked up to be. I can't believe someone lowered their standards and hired someone that's so self involved and arrogant. You spend your time critizing places like Spa Envy yet you sold yourself out.
When it smells like bull it probably is bull. I understand you are working for a large corporation, guess private practice isn't all it's cracked up to be. I can't believe someone lowered their standards and hired someone that's so self involved and arrogant. You spend your time critizing places like Spa Envy yet you sold yourself out.
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