How to Make Massage Therapy Clients Feel Like They're Getting Special Spa Treatment

If you're already a massage therapist, then you and your clients know that massage is a great stress reliever as well as a great help with relieving muscle aches and pains. But have you gotten into a rut with your practice? Do you want to kick things up a notch or two?

No matter what type of practice you have—whether you practice individually out of your own office or own a healing center or salon with several therapists on staff—you might be wondering what are the best complimentary services you can add which will only require a minimal time and money investment. Here are some suggestions that are easy to implement and your clients will be more than happy to try.

Most of these techniques could be classified as relaxation inducing. If you already specialize in relaxation massage, then you understand the concept of setting the right tone for a session. But if you do something like sports massage, then you may want to do a few things differently.

You want to create a pampered, spa-like atmosphere. This can include things like adding candles, a screen and dimmed lighting to darken the room and ambient music. Some of this you might be doing now, so you're already on your way creating an ambience.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils in various applications to treat emotional and physical health problems. I believe the name causes some confusion and at first glance can make people believe it's all about using scents for stress relief much like a candle. But aromatherapy is a complex alternative health field that utilizes quality essential oils, not synthetic fragrances, to benefit clients.

You don't have to be an expert to give an aromatherapy massage, though knowing what oils to use and why is imperative. An aromatherapy massage session can involve simply mixing a small amount of essential oils needed for the desired effect (i.e. relaxation, stress relief, emotional baggage) with the base oil and using that during the massage.

If you would like to step up your aromatherapy massage practice, you may be interested in the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy and the International Federation of Aromatherapists. These two organizations provides up-to-date info on industry regulations as well as where to get aromatherapy training.

A lot of people who don't like the idea of going under the knife but would like some of the benefits of a facelift might be interested in facelift massage. This type of work helps relax and tone the facial muscles. I used to practice a technique called Belavi which is now called Belanina Facelift Massage. It included components of a spa facial with a deeply relaxing face, neck and shoulder massage.

While specific training is excellent, you can create your own techniques to cater to your clientele. One example would be to incorporate facial acupressure points to an extended face and neck massage.

Massage with rocks? You might be asking how on earth that could be relaxing. It's actually something you need to experience to understand. The rocks are kept heated at a low heat and then oiled and placed on the body in strategic areas including the hands, legs, buttocks and back.

The massage therapist then works on the other areas of the body while you're receiving the benefits of the heat. Whether you believe stones have healing powers or not, it's an experience that transports you into a deeply relaxed state.

Cold stone massage works much the same way. These are often incorporated into facial massage or to other areas of the body which need cool therapy. There are specialty courses you can take but you can also learn to do this on your own to add another dimension to your massage practice.

You can also combine gem and crystal therapy with any of the other therapies listed. This works very well with energy therapies discussed later. Consult with your clients about what effects they want to achieve with healing crystals. They may even have some of their own stones they would like you to use during the session. You can do a full-blown laying on of stones or add appropriate crystals at the foot or head of the massage table or anywhere else you feel is right.

I remember when Reiki therapy was considered some weird new-age fad. While this gentle healing system hasn't become completely mainstream, it has become much more widely accepted and is even practiced in some clinical settings and hospitals.

An in-depth explanation of Reiki or other energy healing systems is beyond the scope of this article. But to put it simply, the belief is that we are more than just physical beings with physical bodies. Our emotional, mental and spiritual selves affect our physical state and vice versa. The theory is that these 'other' bodies exist on an energetic level. I personally take this a step further and say that massage therapy is also a form of energy healing. If you believe that all matter is energy moving at different rates, then this makes sense.

But I won't get into the different philosophies of energy healing. If you are interested in adding this work to your practice, then my advice is to first try it for yourself if you haven't already. If you're already versed or trained in energy therapies such Reiki, polarity, cranio-sacral, then begin to slowly add it to your practice. You can offer full sessions or add some energy work to a general massage treatment.

Two resources to learn more about all aspects of energy healing are the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine and the International Association of Reiki Professionals.

Instead of learning a completely new healing modality, you may prefer to add select spa specialties to your practice. These are not only popular but can be lucrative as well. Some include hand and foot paraffin therapy, clay and herbal wraps and full body exfoliation techniques such as salt and brush exfoliation.

In a salon I worked in, we would add massage oil to sea salt and gently exfoliate the client's body. They would then rinse off in the shower and we would proceed with the massage as usual. Their skin felt smooth and refreshed afterward.

Some supplies you can get at beauty supply stores such as the paraffin and heater. The paraffin usually comes scented. You immerse the client's hands in the paraffin, then wrap in plastic and place a mitt or even a mitt combined with a heating pad over them for deeper heat therapy. This is especially relaxing for carpal tunnel sufferers or anyone who works with their hands all day. It also has the moisturizing benefit of paraffin. You can easily incorporate this into a massage routine.

Spa and Bodywork Market is a good source for supplies and education in spa specialties. The massage school you graduated from is also a good resource for more info.

A good way to price your services is by the going rate in your area. Call around to see what others are charging. If you want to give clients a deal, consider giving them sample treatments or discount coupons for your new services. Make sure to be clear when the regular prices will go into effect.

You also need to know the legality of any new techniques you add to your practice. Likely, you're already familiar with specific licensing laws of your area regarding massage therapy, but do you know what the laws are regarding energy healing? The professional massage and alternative health organizations you belong to will be of great help in this regard.