Comments on: The need for Male Massage Therapists http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/the-need-for-male-massage-therapists/ Explorations in the Theory and Practice of Massage and Bodywork Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:52:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Julie Onofrio http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/the-need-for-male-massage-therapists/#comment-1481 Julie Onofrio Thu, 29 May 2008 03:58:52 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=398#comment-1481 I think that 'forewarning' men is part of the problem. It sort of creates the whole problem. You can educate men as to the issues that they will be faced with but 'forewarning' them is setting them up for failure - at least that is what I think. The thing is that many places do dissuade clients from seeing a male massage therapist just by the way they do ask - like they ask with a descending voice - Do you want a male or female? I also think spas train people not to talk more but if a massage therapist is just working for themselves they tend to just talk more. Julie I think that ‘forewarning’ men is part of the problem. It sort of creates the whole problem. You can educate men as to the issues that they will be faced with but ‘forewarning’ them is setting them up for failure - at least that is what I think.

The thing is that many places do dissuade clients from seeing a male massage therapist just by the way they do ask - like they ask with a descending voice - Do you want a male or female?

I also think spas train people not to talk more but if a massage therapist is just working for themselves they tend to just talk more.

Julie

]]> By: Margo Zelenski http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/the-need-for-male-massage-therapists/#comment-1470 Margo Zelenski Wed, 28 May 2008 20:02:07 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=398#comment-1470 I also agree that it would be great to have more men in the industry. However, I think it is essential for schools to forewarn men about the difficulties they will face as therapists. There are many men and many women who are still uncomfortable receiving massage from a man. It may take a little longer to build up a regular clientèle. As the owner of a massage facility, you have to walk a fine line when scheduling clients with a male therapist. Obviously, you don't want to dissuade a client from going to a male massage therapist, but you don't want an angry client walking out because they didn't know they would be having a male therapist. I believe the issue of conversation during the massage should be addressed through training at the spa facility. Neither men OR women should be subjecting a client to unwanted conversation during a treatment! I also agree that it would be great to have more men in the industry. However, I think it is essential for schools to forewarn men about the difficulties they will face as therapists. There are many men and many women who are still uncomfortable receiving massage from a man. It may take a little longer to build up a regular clientèle.

As the owner of a massage facility, you have to walk a fine line when scheduling clients with a male therapist. Obviously, you don’t want to dissuade a client from going to a male massage therapist, but you don’t want an angry client walking out because they didn’t know they would be having a male therapist.

I believe the issue of conversation during the massage should be addressed through training at the spa facility. Neither men OR women should be subjecting a client to unwanted conversation during a treatment!

]]> By: Sean Slovik http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/the-need-for-male-massage-therapists/#comment-1214 Sean Slovik Tue, 20 May 2008 16:43:17 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=398#comment-1214 An innteresting perspective you mention about the boundary issues involved in conversation while on the table (female therapist vs male therapists). I had not considered that, but I believe you are right now that I look back at my own experiences. As usual, i thank you for the inbound link. Sean An innteresting perspective you mention about the boundary issues involved in conversation while on the table (female therapist vs male therapists). I had not considered that, but I believe you are right now that I look back at my own experiences.

As usual, i thank you for the inbound link.

Sean

]]> By: Keith LaGrone http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/the-need-for-male-massage-therapists/#comment-1167 Keith LaGrone Fri, 16 May 2008 07:35:22 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=398#comment-1167 I appreciate this article, and completely agree with it. I have to admit, I was also apprehensive about working with men when I first started working as a massage therapist. I had to learn in class, and then through our school's public clinic. I have come to almost prefer working with men, and women who are active. I am nervous about going into the field, looking at spas and preferrably sports and therapeutic areas, knowing that I am a male therapist who won't be shown the love. Despite the skills. Thank you, Jody, for your response. Communication and rapport building are now more important than ever. I appreciate this article, and completely agree with it. I have to admit, I was also apprehensive about working with men when I first started working as a massage therapist. I had to learn in class, and then through our school’s public clinic. I have come to almost prefer working with men, and women who are active. I am nervous about going into the field, looking at spas and preferrably sports and therapeutic areas, knowing that I am a male therapist who won’t be shown the love. Despite the skills.

Thank you, Jody, for your response. Communication and rapport building are now more important than ever.

]]> By: Jody Hutchinson http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/the-need-for-male-massage-therapists/#comment-1163 Jody Hutchinson Thu, 15 May 2008 18:09:25 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=398#comment-1163 Thanks for the great article! Having been in massage in central California for over 20 years I endured the issues of gender at a local spa. I would be on call for one day and when all the rooms were full of female therapists, there was no work for me. The spa would have three females and one male on shift. One of my colleagues figured out that men did approximately 25% of the massages! There was one job at a tennis resort where the massages were segregated, we were only allowed to work on men. After going into private practice I found it best to work in the sports and therapeutic side. I worked for two males docs:am MD and a DC. I had a good run there until the insurance industry stopped allowing massages. Now that I've had my own office for over 10 years, I have succeeded in establishing myself. I get many referrals from male MDs, PTs, etc. I have about a 70 percent female clientele and I rarely have gender issues. Many people come to see me because I have a great skill set, communicate clearly and have excellent boundaries. Many of these skills I had to learn and they are as important as my massage techniques. I have a couple of clients that come for relaxation, most are working with PTs or other providers and need more therapeutic work. I would say that men need to learn listening and communication skills as well as boundaries. It is important to be impeccable with your work and constantly evaluate your practice. Cheers, Jody Hutchinson,ncmtb Thanks for the great article! Having been in massage in central California for over 20 years I endured the issues of gender at a local spa. I would be on call for one day and when all the rooms were full of female therapists, there was no work for me. The spa would have three females and one male on shift. One of my colleagues figured out that men did approximately 25% of the massages! There was one job at a tennis resort where the massages were segregated, we were only allowed to work on men.
After going into private practice I found it best to work in the sports and therapeutic side. I worked for two males docs:am MD and a DC. I had a good run there until the insurance industry stopped allowing massages.
Now that I’ve had my own office for over 10 years, I have succeeded in establishing myself. I get many referrals from male MDs, PTs, etc. I have about a 70 percent female clientele and I rarely have gender issues. Many people come to see me because I have a great skill set, communicate clearly and have excellent boundaries. Many of these skills I had to learn and they are as important as my massage techniques. I have a couple of clients that come for relaxation, most are working with PTs or other providers and need more therapeutic work.
I would say that men need to learn listening and communication skills as well as boundaries. It is important to be impeccable with your work and constantly evaluate your practice.
Cheers,
Jody Hutchinson,ncmtb

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