Should I Tip My Massage Therapist?

A question that I often get is "should I tip my massage therapist?". There are a couple of different thoughts on this within the massage community.

Some therapists, that do strictly treatment work, do not accept tips. Their reasoning is that they are part of the health care world, and would you tip your doctor or dentist? Even among them, there are some that do accept tips, as they recognize that it is the client's way of showing appreciation, and they don't want to offend the person by not taking the money. It really depends on where they work. For therapists that have their own office, it's a personal matter. If they work for someone else, it might be against the rules to accept any form of tip.

For massage therapists that work in a spa setting, tips are very much appreciated. The percentage that they make off of each massage is generally half or less of the price of the service. Even then, the tip should not be required, but some of the newer chains of massage businesses automatically include a tip, so be sure to check and see if that is the case. If you weren't happy with the service, then you shouldn't have to tip.

Massage therapists that are self-employed can set their own prices, and should be setting them high enough so that they are able to make a decent living without having to rely on tips.

I've heard that business owners shouldn't be tipped. I can only guess that it is because they get the full amount of the service charge, as opposed to an employee who only gets a percentage.

I think tipping is truly a matter of personal discretion, and no one should feel obligated to leave a tip, especially if they weren't happy with the service. Now if your therapist did an excellent job of meeting your needs, and seeing to your comfort, then it would be appropriate to tip, business owner or not.

This is what I tell my clients, or anyone that asks about tipping for massage: I explain to them that while tips are always appreciated, they are never required or expected, and that they will receive the same level of excellent service and care whether they tip or not. And that another way to "tip" me is to refer their friends and family to me for a massage. I have some clients that have never tipped me, and others that always do. They all get treated the same.

As far as how much to tip, most people tend to tip like they do in restaurants, which is between 15 percent to 20 percent.

If you can't afford to tip in addition to the massage, don't worry. Most of us truly enjoy our work, and just seeing the look of utter peace and calm on our clients face is good enough, and that tells us our job was complete.

Cross Fiber Massage Training

Find Cross Fiber Massage Training in the United States and Canada. If you are looking for specialized education in one of the many massage modalities practiced today, cross fiber massage training is as unique as its name implies. Often referred to as "Canadian Deep Muscle Massage," cross fiber massage training teaches students a specific technique that provides fast pain and stress relief.

Future practitioners taking cross fiber massage training learn a distinct bodywork method comprised of several massage therapies including Pilates, Rolfing, Pfrimmer, lymphology, and trigger point therapy, among others. During cross fiber massage training, students learn friction techniques that stretch and broaden large muscle groups; which are similar to those methods administered during a deep tissue massage.

In most cross fiber massage training programs, students are introduced to advanced anatomy studies, pathology, physiology, kinesiology, range of motion, and body mechanics. Additionally, students gain hands-on clinical training in cross fiber massage and other integrative massage techniques.

While no two courses are the same, a number of cross fiber massage training programs may be offered as part of a larger massage therapy curriculum, or as a continuing education or certification course.

One of the positive healing techniques that is taught in a cross fiber massage training course entails the gentle rubbing of targeted muscles; then progressively, deepening the rubbing method. In doing so, cross fiber massage helps to release and restore sore and inflamed muscles. Because it is frequently facilitated as a rehabilitative massage therapy, cross fiber massage training is not only offered as a therapy for humans, it is also taught in many equine and small animal massage programs as well.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding cross fiber massage training, let professional education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Cross Fiber Massage Training
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Is A Massage Therapist Career Right For You?

It's no secret that more people are looking for new careers. Probably the biggest reason is the current state of the economy. With so many people out of a job, or in a job with shrinking hours and benefits, people are looking for a new skill set that will sustain them and their families for years to come. One popular field many are getting into is massage therapy. But is it all that some think it is? Here's a closer look at what you can expect as a massage therapist.

To begin with, you'll have to be state licensed and certified. Some states will also require that you have a business license and carry insurance! Not only that, but some are requiring 4 years of training and school before you can sit for the certification test! Sure, there are still states that allow a Bachelor degree or trade school degree to be eligible for certification, but more and more are going with longer school requirements. It will pay to check to see what your state requires.

Many people who enter this field so so because they think there's fast and easy money to be made. Such is not the case. Sure, you have a few individuals making over $50,000 per year as a Massage Therapist, but these individuals have been doing this many years and have worked hard building up a loyal client list.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that the salary of an experienced therapist is around $16 an hour. So that means that beginners will earn even less. The sad fact is that many beginners will leave this field in a matter of years due to several circumstances, low pay being one of them.

If you're lucky as a massage therapist, you'll find a salon or agency to work for. I think the lure of this business is that you can be your own boss and have low start up cost. But if you dig deeper, you'll see it may not be as economical to start up as your own boss as you think.

You'll have to buy all your equipment. If you'll be working out of your home, you'll need to dedicate one room to nothing other than a massage room. I'd say it was a safe bet to say that most beginners work out of their cars. They meet their clients at their homes or place of business to perform massages. They also work all kinds of strange hours in order to fit in picky clients. This isn't for everyone and is also one reason so many choose to leave the field after getting into it.

Finally, you'll have to put up with a wide range of personalities, not all of them good either. Some folks think that if they're paying your, they call the shots. They can be demanding and heartless. If you're the type of person who wears your heart on your sleeves, then you may want to look at another line of work!

But if you decide to stick it out, then you may find being a massage therapist as a rewarding and enlightening career choice!

The Importance of Physical Therapy

With scientific advancements and improvements in the preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic medicine today we have solutions and treatments for almost all medical issues; however, holistic ways of treatment are still popular all over the world for a number of reasons. They are totally natural and organic and are not associated with any short-term hazards or organic damage to tissues. Anyone can be a candidate for holistic methods of treatment like physical therapy and chiropractics. Physical therapy is very effective in treating the symptoms of diseases without any risk of long term complications.

Physical therapy can be employed by every individual in order to improve the stiffness of muscles and joints that occur in the setting of inflammatory joint diseases. These diseases include arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis) that limits the range of motion and causes moderate to severe pain. PT helps in removing the toxins, inflammatory mediators and free radicals that causes pain, redness, inflammation and disease.

Traumatic injuries that occur as a result of accidents (road traffic accidents, falls or physical impact) can lead to injury to ligaments, bones, muscles, tendons, joint capsule or cartilage. Physical therapy helps in the healing of tissues by providing warmth and support to healing muscles and tendons for healthy recovery.

Age-related wear and tear changes affect the integrity of joints and little can be done to repair the damage; however, by employing PT exercises, further damage can be prevented and complications can be decreased. Moreover, physical therapy improves the range of motion and pain-free activity across damaged, osteoporotic joints and also prevents the damage to nerves to improve numbness, paresthesia and other symptoms.

Unlike other field of medicine, physical therapy governs all aspects of healthcare. If you have certain risk factors, these exercises can help in preventing diseases and complications by improving blood circulation and stability of bony architecture in medical conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, osteopenia, chronic steroid therapy and others. PT exercises performed by athletes, elderly patients with low physical mobility and pregnant women decreases the risk of damage to joints and ligaments. PT exercises in the elderly and hospitalized (bed-ridden) patients helps in preventing bed-sores, infections, deep venous thrombosis and other complications.

In case of certain injuries like torn ligaments, osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint diseases, bone aches and other issues, physical therapy exercises promote natural tissue healing and repair. Injuries are a part of sport-related activities and most athletes avoid surgical procedures to avoid the risk of damage to other vital structures and also to reduce the time for post-op recovery. PT exercises help in achieving both the treatment of injuries and the promotion of early post-op recovery in case of surgery.

Physical therapy exercises are widely used for rehabilitation after major surgical procedures all over the world. After major surgeries, early mobility and physical activity is very important and determine short hospital stay and early recovery. This therapy is used for rehabilitation in patients after cardiac surgery to promote early return of circulatory function of heart. However, since vigorous activity is not indicated, physical therapy exercises are the only option to restore normal circulation. Physical therapy can also be used following surgery involving major vessels for deep venous thrombosis in order to prevent the formation of thrombus, embolus and lymph edema by promoting blood flow across the vessels and also helps in healing. It's used in surgeries of the gut that increases the risk of thrombosis and other issues and any surgery that involves bones, skeleton, ligaments and muscles for healthy recovery.

The most important component of physical therapy is to educate patients and other individuals about its importance. Education and awareness about physical therapy exercises helps in the prevention of a number of health related issues and complications.

Thai Massage - A Parody On Its Curious Double Standard

Warning: If you do not have a sense of humor, do not read this Thai Massage article. Read at your own risk!

Recently I checked out the website of a major US Thai Massage association (I won't name them here) to find out what it takes to publish an article on their site. I enjoy writing articles about Thai Massage and have been doing so for years. I publish them on three of my own healing arts websites and they have been republished by hundreds of other websites. After practicing and teaching Thai Massage in Thailand and other countries for 12 years and running an online Thai Massage video training school, I have lots of interesting topics to share. So I naively thought that those credentials would get me a foot in the door.

Now back to the website of the Thai Massage association. Their rules state that the article cannot appear anywhere else, that they have the rights to the article, that I have to submit proof who I have studied Thai Massage with, plus I have to submit evidence that I had a certain amount of study and practice hours, and at least one of my massage teachers has to be approved by them as a qualified teacher by their standards.

I almost fell off my chair when I read that and decided to pursue different venues. Too much trouble in my opinion. But it is their site and their rules, and they can make up whatever rules they like. I have no issue with that at all.

You see, I live in Thailand, and we don't have so many rules here, and if there are too many or too complicated rules, nobody will bother to follow them anyway. They call it sabai sabai or maipenrai, roughly meaning "take it easy", "it's cool", "everything is okay", or "no worries mate" if you live in Australia. I find that much easier to live with, but that is just my personal perspective.

But here is the funny thing: If those same rule-obsessed Westerners come to Thailand, suddenly everything changes. They ask their favorite Thai Massage therapist where she learned all this good stuff. When she tells them that she learned it from her grandma, the westerner will nod appreciatively and admire grandma's skills.

My most important Thai massage teacher is quite a genius. He is intuitive, somewhat psychic, highly creative, and all around very good at what he does. But he is also quite odd, at least from the western perspective. Class is supposed to start at 9 am, but might actually start at 9.30 or 10 am or whenever he feels like. Then the teacher will chant mantras for another half hour and then proceed to dispense his wisdom via extended talks about his views on life.

When all is said and done, he will take a cigarette break right in the classroom, and then finally get around to demonstrating the massage therapy techniques. He will keep smoking and even take naps when he feels like it. But whatever you think, he is one of the best Thai Massage teachers and many students come back year after year to study with him. Well, there are a few who freak out and can't handle it. It's their loss.

This isn't the US of A here, it's a different world. If you try to apply your standards of how you think things should be, you will be in trouble because things here are the way they are here and not how they are elsewhere. What was that saying again? "When in Thailand do as the Thais." But I think the Romans have a trademark on that saying.

So those rule obsessed Westerners have no problem with their grandma-taught therapist and their chain smoking and story telling master teacher in Thailand (and don't get me wrong, he really is a master teacher). But now let's turn the tables. If I show up in the West and tell people that I can do a great Thai Massage because my grandma taught me well, they will call the police on me and throw me in the prison cell block which is reserved for those who dare touch anyone without the proper documentation, licencing, training, CEUs, disclaimers, insurance, and various paid up professional association fees on the state and national level (did I forget anything?)

Even if I do manage to set up a Thai Massage class in the West (which of course I am well qualified to teach), and I show up an hour late, tell lots of wise stories (at the expense of teaching time), puff cigarettes in the classroom and nap once in a while, I would get thrown out of the facility, all students would demand their money back, and they would sue me for tactile malpractice (a serious offense).

So as you can see, there is a quite a double standard in the Thai Massage world. But variety is the spice of life, and I stay safely on my side of the fence here in Thailand. Maybe you should visit too. Chances are you will have a great time!

Colorado Massage School Selection - Questions to Ask Before Selecting a School

 Considering a career in massage in the state of Colorado? If so, you have many great massage schools to choose from. Of course, making the choice is a personal thing. Some students have to choose between necessities in a program and features that are pretty nice. In many cases students need a program that is flexible so you can juggle work and family while you are working to become a massage therapist. There are definitely many factors to be considered if you are looking for a good Colorado massage school, so here are a few important factors to keep in mind to choose from the available schools within the state. 

When you are trying to figure out which Colorado massage school is the wise selection for you, one important factor is the cost of tuition. You want to ensure that the program you choose if affordable. Not only is the tuition important, but you need to make sure that there is plenty of financial aid available. Other important factors include the time it takes to complete the course, the accreditation of the program, and the location of the school. 

Of course, you need to keep your career goals in mind as you make a selection from the available schools around the state of Colorado. Think about how the school and program will help you reach those goals. You can do this by thinking about you want to achieve with the education you get in massage therapy. Here are a few questions to think about. 

Question #1 - Do I plan on owning a practice of my own?

If you are going to have your own practice, you are going to have different goals. This means you'll need to know how to run the business end of your own practice too, which some programs do offer. Check to make sure the school you go to will offer you the education you need to accomplish this if it happens to be your personal goal. 

Question #2 - Do I want to find quick employment in a salon, hospital, cruise ship, or spa?

Some schools offer programs that are great if you want to find quick employment. Check with the school to see if they help their students find jobs. Some of the Colorado schools provide programs for student placement, which means it becomes easier to find a good job in Colorado massage when you complete your education. 

Question #3 - Who do I really want to end up treating?

You could treat specialty patients, including those with injuries, athletes, or elderly people. However, most of these career goals will include some specific education. If you have someone specific in mind that you want to treat, ensure you'll get the education needed to choose that career path. 

There are a variety of different schools all across the state of Colorado that you can consider. Just a few of the great choices include Anthem College Colorado Massage School, Institute of Business and Medical Careers, Boulder College of Massage Therapy, Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy, or the Colorado School of Healing Arts. These are only a few of the choices available to you. It's also a good idea to tour the school, find out more about their programs, and find out about their graduation and placement rates before you make your final decision on the Colorado massage school for you.

6 Great Tips in Choosing Physical Therapist Assistant Schools

To become a physical therapist assistant, requires acquiring your degree/certificate from accredited physical therapist assistant schools. These schools are not only on-campus schools but there are many available online for students who are working and cannot go to school at the same time. Hence online schools have become increasingly popular because of their flexibility and affordability.

With so many physical therapist assistant schools offering PTA program, it is not an easy task to select one for oneself. You need to be very careful and attentive not to miss any aspect when deciding on the right school.

How to choose a school?

1. Be sure that the school is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Else your degree won't be accepted and you will not be allowed to practice legally in any medical setting.
2. Look for schools that are nearby if you can't go to far away schools. Depending on your lifestyle, now you also have the option to opt for online schools.
3. Another very important aspect to look into is the financials; whether you'll be able to afford the particular school. Search online for all these details regarding the school you wish to apply. Online program are less expensive as compared to the on-campus school programs.
4. The school should also inform its potential students about the educational process, program details and other relevant terms and conditions.
5. Read school reviews and find out its ranking. Find out its graduates' success rate. How well they're doing in the industry.
6. Be sure if the school's credentials are transferable to community college / university. This is important because if you decide to pursue a physical therapist program, so that you don't have to start all over again.

A complete list of accredited physical therapist assistant schools can be found on APTA's website.

These training programs usually take a couple of years. After completing the two year degree program, you are conferred with an Associate's Degree. Training requirements vary from state to state. Some states may also require some form of licensure or certification. These programs have been structured in a way to provide general medical education as well as specific physical therapy courses. Laboratory classes and clinical experience are also part of the program. Students are given the skills and knowledge needed to follow treatment plans, therapeutic techniques and procedures, functions of the human body. Students are also taught organizational as well as human behavior which is a major requirement of the job.

Hence, students at the physical therapist assistant schools are prepared and trained with the required skill set necessary to treat patients with mobility issues and help them have a better quality life.