Although you adore massage therapy, you know its high physical and emotional demands. It would help if you took good care of yourself and your body because there is a real risk of burnout or damage. Learning multiple techniques for massaging your clients, especially those who demand deep treatment, is one approach to ensure you can continue practicing therapy until you decide you want to stop.

Most massage therapists are constrained by their energy levels, not the quantity of time available. Less than the standard 40-hour work week, full-time massage therapists often visit between 20 and 30 customers weekly. Massage therapists must learn to be productive because their energy levels are constrained. The objective is to learn how to provide therapeutic results for your client without wearing out your body.

If you think that being a massage therapist means being big and strong, you are likely exerting much more effort than is necessary to complete your work. Even a deep massage doesn’t require a lot of strength. Instead, it requires skill. Here are some ideas to help make your massage routine less labor-intensive.

1. Count on me

Drop your total weight onto your client instead of forcing your way through their body, engaging the tissue with your weight rather than with muscle power. Pushing into the tissue with muscular force is taxing and carries the danger of going too deep.

To reach the first layer of tight tissue, place your weight on the tissue; you will sink to it naturally. You will descend to the next layer of tight tissue as that one releases. Working gradually, layer by layer, will help you generate a deep massage that is neither harsh for the recipient nor taxing you.

2. Large Jobs Demand Large Tools

You require a big box of massage tools to handle the variety of problems your clients come to you for help with since there is a phrase that goes, “If the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer everything looks like a nail.”

For instance, learning to massage with your forearms has many advantages. First, you may work longer with less stress on the more delicate joints in your hands since your forearms are more resilient than your hands, fingers, or thumbs. Additionally, discovering techniques that lessen the strain on your hands and fingers might lead to a longer, more fruitful career.

Think about saving your hands for massages of the client’s head, face, fingers, and toes. Your forearms may become more sensitive as you utilize them throughout the massage, giving you a larger surface contact area. Additionally, by expanding your job area, you can solve a broader range of problems that your clients could face in a shorter time.

Forearms are excellent for leaning into tissue since they provide a solid base of support onto which you can rest your body weight while simultaneously providing a smooth and comfortable point of touch for the client.

3. How far do you go down?

You might need to modify the height of your table when you employ your body weight to accomplish more profound work with your clients. Make sure your table is low enough so you can put your weight onto your client before the session even begins. Lower your table by one more notch if your client is large or strong and requests deep work. Maintaining your health during your massage career involves making sure you are comfortable.

4. Relax!

Is it possible to do less while still receiving the same results? Most of us massage our customers with more vigor than is necessary. While rubbing, be aware of your breath and body. While working, deliberately deepen your breathing, and unwind all the muscles unnecessary for massage. You’ll save energy by relaxing, and you’ll also be more productive.

Also, remember that our clients can sense us just as we can feel them. Your clients will be more at ease the more relaxed you are. You aren’t doing yourself or your customers any favors if you leave a massage feeling tenser than when you arrived.

5. I feel stretched out

Before applying massage, try putting a tense muscle in a stretchy position. By doing this, you can massage the muscle more intensely without increasing your workload. The client who wants you to exert pressure on a tight area should also be avoided. Most of the time, closed areas are a symptom rather than a source of pain. Spend some time identifying the pain’s cause. You won’t need to apply a lot of pressure to release the discomfort because the pain’s origin is frequently quite sensitive. When it does remove, the troublesome area your client is complaining about might also be.

6. Client involvement

The majority of people don’t pay much attention to their breathing. Especially if you are massaging a tight area, remind your clients to breathe. For instance, request their permission to live in the region you are massaging. This soothes your customer and improves blood flow to that spot. Use their breath as a simple and effective tool to achieve more profound physical and mental calm.

7. Physical Mechanics

Use proper body mechanics. Make more use of your legs than your arms. While receiving a massage, adopt an expansive posture. Your legs will automatically get active if you take a wide stance. With each massage stroke, move your complete body over your client’s body. By doing this, you may be sure you’re using your weight rather than muscular force. Maintain a straight back, an open chest, relaxed shoulders, and a slightly indented navel toward your spine to prevent overarching.

Without a doubt, massage therapy is a physically demanding career. However, discovering strategies to work more productively without compromising the outcomes you achieve can help you stay in the line of work you enjoy.