3.7.2016

I’m putting my thumbs to good use outside the treatment room a few days a week managing the front desk at Yates & Co., and loving it!  
I have a couple of days off each week and had been looking for a part time gig to fill those times when Jim asked me to help keep our place in order. Thought about it maybe ten seconds before taking the gig. What a wonderful way to make extra cash, sharpen my management skills, and create more exposure for my massage practice! 

So I’ve completed my first week of 9-5 reception duties (minus a few hours of massage) and there are tons of little details I’ll be mastering these next few months. But the big picture of this work is clear: I’m here to keep everyone looking and feeling good. I set the mood for the day with chill tunes and the smell of coffee, and do whatever is needed to let my staff focus on keeping their clients happy. And if that means offering a little hand massage with your tea, everyone’s a winner 😉

1.18.2016

  
Foot Massage and Chair Massage are an awesome way to fill up slow days and to meet new clients who are hesitant to try a full body session. After five years in this industry I would hate to turn my back on the basics, so I’m going to set up a $1/Minute Massage Station in one of the empty nail desks once a week and see what happens :). 

1.6.2016

Huge leak incident today at the salon. The hose feeding water into the toilet snapped, and by the time we noticed it the bathroom floor had a nice inch-thick layer of water. This was the end of the night, myself and a stylist coworker were getting ready to close up when we hear this ominous rushing water sound. Christ! It was a real cluster. So by the time we were able to get the valve closed my feet were freezing and my head was throbbing, and I said, “I need a drink.”

Things like this happen, and it’s gonna be fine in the end, hopefully not much water damage. Before I meet my buddies tonight, I think it is important for me to remember that crazy, unexpected, annoying, exhausting things happen, and not letting them keep you down is down to brain power and positivity. A cocktail or two will feel warm and relaxing alongside my friends, but my feeling is there is an important distinction between having a drink versus needing a drink. That one word changes the phrase remarkably. It is the difference between having control over your stress, and not having it. 

So I’m gonna head into the bar and have a drink with my friends, and maybe vent a little about how crazy things got. And I’m gonna have a good laugh, and move on :).

Gender Preference in Massage – Cool/Not Cool

  Yesterday I had a client cancel their scheduled hot stone session because they found out a man would be their Massage Therapist, and I am trying to work through my feelings on the matter. I was able to blow off some steam by taking a long run, and the view I got lent some great perspective. This is not the first time a client has expressed a gender preference, and it will not be the last, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what drives people to have a preference to begin with.

In an ideal world everyone would feel as though massage is simply a therapeutic, professional experience, and it would not matter whether it is a man or a woman providing the service. Part of my discomfort is that I can understand why anyone cares one way or the other. There is a long history of religious and cultural influences, gender stereotypes, male privilege, and sex work disguised as massage, that all shape our feelings about who performs our bodywork. So long as I am not being personally insulted, I try not to judge someone’s choice. Massage therapy is my passion, and it just sucks when someone is unable or unwilling to receive my services because of my gender.

I am a man, therefore I benefit from my male privilege whether I like it or not. I am more likely than my female colleagues to be seen as an expert and business professional. As a man I am far less likely to be hit on or harrassed, intimidated or condescended to by my clients. There are endless reasons why this client may have decided they don’t like massage with a man. Maybe they like a light pressure and assume a male MT’s pressure would be too heavy. Maybe they were hit on by a male MT and can’t get comfortable with another guy. Maybe they’re a creep. What if it was just a convenient excuse not to come in? 

The reason does not matter. What is important is that so many people have discomfort surrounding touch. There is platonic touch between friends and families, erotic touch between lovers, and professional touch like in massage or a medical setting. Preserving a healthy sense of touch is all to do with respecting the boundaries of our various relationships, so even if we use the same exact hand to touch a spouse, or a cousin, or a patient, it is our intention that makes the difference. We live in a world that glorifies sex and violence, while also demonizing them, so it is not surprising that anyone could have negative intentions, or negative expectations, associated with touch. 

An ideal world does not exist, but I think we all owe it to ourselves to treat each other with respect, to feel safe, to understand that we are as likely to hurt others as we are to be hurt. I have no illusions that being a massage client is to make yourself vulnerable, and not everyone is ready to trust that I am as professional as I say. The best I can do is continue to serve my clients well, to gently try and convince folks who are reluctant to get a massage with me, and to challenge those who misrepresent my trade as sex work. I promise anyone who spends time in my professional care, my practice is a safe place, and I am here to help men and women alike to feel their very best.

Why We Knead: Grief

Working in a Salon is a lot like being a Cab Driver or a Bartender; folks will tell you the intimate details of their stress, from their pet peeves to outright tragedy. 

When we experience grief, it is a head-to-toe, body-and-soul tension beyond tension. The very breaths you take can become shallow and scattered, which in turn can increase anxiety and wear down your posture. The mental pain feeds the physical pain, in a viceous loop that must be broken to begin healing.

Massage is one way to begin processing grief. Sometimes we can be so wrapped up in our heads, it is a relief to allow someone to take some control away from us, to allow ourselves to be pampered. If you’ve lost a loved one, you know how hard it can be to bare the burden of the aftermath – planning memorials, replying to well-wishes, still having to work and feed your family, all these things weigh heavy on our shoulders. 

We will all process grief differently, whether through massage or other means. The important thing to remember is that we are still here, and we still deserve to vent, to decide how much we will handle, to accept a helping hand.

Why We Knead: Scar Tissue

There are tons of reasons to get massage. My goal is to list them all.

Scars mark the road to recovery from surgery and injury alike, but once the threat of infection is gone, they have a pesky habit of sticking around. Sure they look cool, but when scar tissue limits your range of motion, it is time to send it on its merry way. 

 I’d like to introduce Mary.



You know why she’s so happy? It’s because she can move again! After her abdominal surgery, the inevitable scar tissue began pulling and tightening. Mary is a busy woman, and she needs to be able to move comfortably to get things done. We began a protocol of 60-minute sessions twice a week in order to reduce her stubborn surgical adhesions over a two-month period. We’re talking intense, highly-focused work directly into the abdomen, where there is very little bone to stop the pressure. The work is pretty intense, but she’s a tough lady, and the results from our very first session were enough to encourage her to continue.



Healthy muscle fibers line up nice and neat like the toothpicks above. When injury or surgical trauma happens, muscle fibers shoot across the trauma/incision every which way just to close it up.

If you were to place a hand over the clump of toothpicks and roll back & forth, they start to align. 

Edit

A piece of scarring will be much smaller than a bunch of wooden sticks, and infinitely more stubborn, so our sessions need to be consistent to fight back. We apply what is known as Cross Fiber Manipulation, where we sink into the affected tissue, and proceed to saw back & forth perpendicular to the muscle in question. What you are left with is a series of fibers that start to line back up properly, and with regular exercise to strengthen those connections, scar tissue stays at bay.

Thank you Mary for keeping me busy with massage, it’s clients like you who help me pay my bills and apply the work I love

Forget Gift Certificates, go DIY for Valentine’s Day

I’ve scrambled for last minute gifts once or twice, but thankfully my girlfriend loves massage, so I will always have a backup plan. Forgot to get something? If your Valentine loves massage therapy, here’s a Life Pro Tip: Give the gift of Massage. With your own two hands.

My job is to help the good people of Los Angeles to relax, pointing out muscle tension and kneading it loose. Clients give me their time and trust for the chance to turn their muscles off for a while, and they would do it daily if I didn’t have to charge them. But you! You can do it out of the goodness of your heart, you wonderful, generous person!

Material things come and go, give your Valentine the experience of a great massage. Grab a few basic supplies, set your intention, and listen well – Here is what you need to craft a safe, effective, and much-appreciated gift for that special someone

1. Pre-Game

My sessions always start with a quick chat. I ask questions about how people move their muscles throughout the day, and it gives me a picture of which areas work hardest. Does your Valentine have a long commute? Work at a desk all day? Practice sports? What kind? Ask about aches, pains, and let your Valentine guide you.

2. Gear

Honestly, if you have a free pair of hands, you don’t need anything else to provide an excellent massage. But with just a few tools, and a little ambiance, you can pull off a wonderful spa treatment that won’t soon be forgotten. First thing, I suggest a Massage Table or a high bed (about the height of your knuckles as you stand next to it) as a starting point for Classic European-style massage, along with a set of sheets, and a little massage cream/oil. Not sure what to use in a pinch? Try coconut, avocado, sesame, or apricot oils if you can’t find a lubricant made for massage therapists. Even a basic body lotion will do, but you will need to use small drops of warm water to keep the glide. If you don’t have access to a bed or table, you can start on the floor, padded with thick blankets or a futon – this is a great option when clients prefer clothes-on massage.

Go the extra mile! Dim the lights a bit, add a nice candle with a subtle scent. Pillows, soothing music, blankets, cucumber-lemon water, a robe. Think amenities!

3. Draping

The process of exposing areas to work on while keeping sensitive areas covered is worthy of several workshops. To keep it simple, move the sheet around with the help of your Valentine. The drape is there for warmth and comfort, so tuck away loose areas before you start maneuvering muscles. Clothed clients should be dressed comfortably with garments you can move freely in.

4. Move like a Pro

Stand up nice and straight, or in a good lunge if you are working off of the floor. Drop your shoulders and remember to breathe. You will want to start slowly, checking in with your special someone for pressure. Place oil/lotion in your hand, not directly on your client’s skin, and remember that a little bit goes a long way. Aim for the big fleshy parts of the muscle, avoiding direct pressure on the spine and other bones. Keep your grip light to avoid hand cramps, and move slowly. Have you remembered to breathe?

Clothed bodywork will omit lubricants, involving more kneading and compression than the gliding strikes of a Swedish style. You can practice on yourself a bit beforehand to get an idea of what feels right, just remember to have fun!

5. Take your time, then move on.

Nothing ruins the mood for massage quite like feeling rushed. Be sure to move slowly enough to really feel tight knots and stiff areas. But don’t linger on trouble spots. You may ask, “How long do I work on an area before I move on?”. One of my favorite teachers would reply, “How long does it take to use the bathroom?”

Indeed. Try tackling just three or four major areas for 15-20 minutes each, but overall, do what feels right.

I think you will find that helping someone tackle stress is rewarding and fun, and may get you more brownie points than actual brownies would. Be excellent to one another, Happy Valentine’s Day :).

Embracing My New Digs

I’ve now spent three months with Yates & Co. Salon, and it’s been such a breath of fresh air to feel so in-control of my craft! Jim Yates is here six days a week making folks look amazing, and I’m looking forward to learning more and more from him.

Now that my schedule has settled down since leaving Equinox, I’ve been tweaking my treatment room to suite my tastes, and it’s been quite fun. I’ve still got some shelves to put up, maybe get a small carpet for clients to step on coming off the massage table, more lighting options. We’ll see, but today I’m feeling really nice about the whole setup.

That Good Kind of Tired

I’m spent all day at work and I’m still working. That’s me taking a rest between sessions. I spent the better part of the day at Yates Salon, with four hours of Massage on the books spread over nine hours – meeting clients and updating my service records in between. Ran around doing errands (for work) and got home around 10PM. The laundry will be done by 1AM, and must be folded immediately because that’s just how I roll. Laundry has become a very big part of my life these last five years. Have you ever folded a fitted sheet, and shed a tear of joy? I have.

I’m excited to open the salon tomorrow, assuming no one beats me to it. I want to be the one to make that first batch of coffee.