By Courtney Slivka
When attending lab classes in massage school, you receive the valuable experience of practicing your massage strokes and techniques. However lab sessions also provide students with the chance to develop a sense of professionalism.
Though there are many different facets of professionalism, one of the most important entails remaining in contact with your client through a session to provide the best possible experience. In order to truly tune into your client’s needs and comfort level, it is essential to develop strong communication skills.
The most successful massage professionals know the importance of working the edge. When you hear of people working the edge, they are using enough pressure in a massage to make the session effective for the client, yet not so much pressure that their client feels a great deal of discomfort. How do you know if you are working the edge? You can find out by communicating with your clients through a pressure scale.
Oftentimes, massage therapists use a pressure scale of one to three. When using this scale, it is necessary to explain the scale to your client before the massage even begins. Use one to signify too little pressure, three to demonstrate too much pressure, and two to mean just the right amount.
Remember that you can adapt your own system for gauging pressure, but it is important to keep it effective yet uncomplicated. Your client is there to relax and feel better, typically not to engage in extensive conversation.
Working on your fellow classmates at massage school is a great opportunity to practice using your scale and communication skills throughout a massage. Additionally you can use your classmates’ feedback to gain a greater sense of just how your massage feels to someone on the table.
Oftentimes you may have one perception of your massage yet your client feels something entirely different, especially in the beginning of your studies. Communication is a tool that you will need in order to find a balance between what feels right from your perspective and your client’s.
When in school it is also important to remember that communication works both ways. Offer feedback to your classmates when you are the one receiving massage. Let them know when you feel too much pressure, or when you would like to feel more pressure. If you have questions about their technique, feel free to ask them. The same goes for praise. Do not hesitate to let your classmates know that you appreciate their efforts.
In any therapeutic relationship, communication plays a huge role. Take advantage of your time in school to learn more than anatomy and massage strokes. Make an effort to become a more effective communicator, and you will see great results in all areas of your life, in and out of the massage field.
