HOW TO GIVE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER A GREAT MASSAGE...

 

 

HOW TO GIVE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER A GREAT MASSAGE...

 

 

 

Would you like to know how to give your significant another the most fantastic massage they have ever had?  I’m talking about one that they will be thanking you for and telling their friends & family about for MONTHS?  One so good that they will SWEAR they received it from a professional.  It is very simple.  Just read this blog and it will tell you everything you need to know to do so…

 

            A few months ago, one of my Facebook friends posted an article on his page about how to give a woman a sensual massage.  When I read it, I was not at all pleased; especially when I saw that it was supposedly written by another LMT.  I noticed that he had removed it the following day; after I messaged him my opinion of it. All I can say is that there is NO WAY I would have written it.

 

            I received my first massage 20 years ago.  It was at my gym by a therapist named Lindsey who was very knowledgeable and professional.  Three years later, I received one by a therapist in private practice who ended up becoming my personal therapist and industry mentor; Amos Hall.  I never had massage in a spa or any of those places where the therapists wear lingerie and give sexual favors.  For this reason, massage always had a therapeutic connotation to me.  So based upon those experiences, I have never seen massage as a “beauty treatment” or “foreplay”.

 

            10 years ago, I decided to start MT school.  At the time, there were four programs available locally and I quickly eliminated two.  One of the remaining two was ASHA (www.ashamassage.com); the school I decided to attend.  The first Open House I attended was theirs and it seemed to have a good program.  However, I needed to see what the other school had to offer before I made a final decision.

 

            The other school also had a nice event and was very informative.  However, there was something that just didn’t feel right to me and I wasn’t quite sure what it was.  So I decided to attend another ASHA Open House.  It was basically the same as the one I attended earlier with a slight exception.  The second time, the school Owner and Founder - Jim Gabriel - gave a demonstration.  When he did, I knew exactly which school I needed to attend.

 

            In his demo, Jim asked for a volunteer from the group who had any muscular pain or discomfort.  He asked questions about her problem, medical condition, occupation, medications, range of motion, etc; in other words, an intake interview.  From there, he asked her to lie down and asked the group how he should treat her problems.  Naturally, we all guessed WRONG.  He then told us which muscles he would need to address first and why.  After working on this person, she reported feeling relief from her previous symptoms and demonstrated increased muscular range.  I knew right away THAT was the type of work I wanted to do; which was similar to the type of massage work I had always received.  It also let me know why I was NOT impressed with the other Open House I had attended.

 

            There were actually a few things that I did not like about the event at the other school.  But the one that stood out the most was a portion that most people seemed to like; the “Give and Receive massage” segment.  This occurred after the informational portion and had the group pair into smaller groups of two. From there, we following along with an instructor and gave each other “backrubs”.

 

            In retrospect, I realize that I didn’t care for it because it was all too simplistic.  There were no intake questions, no mention of contraindications – just lie down and rub on each other.  In other words, it was the stereotypical view of massage as being just a “rubdown”.  I understand it was just an Open House, but it set a tone for me as a potential student.  I was definitely NOT looking to go somewhere to learn how to do “backrubs”; especially considering that the tuition was in the $10,000 range.  I was more interested in learning skills that would allow me to help people with muscular pain and problems.

 

            And that was my problem with the aforementioned article and others similar to it.  The fact that another LMT supposedly wrote it was even more infuriating.  How do you expect people to take your profession and work seriously when you have ridiculous articles – written by supposed industry professionals – talking about how to give a woman a massage to get her turned on?  Do Physicians write articles about how to give sexy pap smears and breast exams?  Do Chiropractors write articles about give your loved one a smoking hot lumbar or upper cervical spinal adjustments?  Do Physical Therapists or Athletic Trainers write articles about how to perform sultry post-injury rehab sessions?  No wonder so many consumers think that $39/49 is a reasonable price for professional massage therapy.  Apparently, it is something that ANYONE can do.  Why not just read the article and give each other massages?  Or, just go to your local McMassage/McRub franchise and save some bucks?  After all, it is all the same, right?

 

            WRONG!

 

            Recently, I attended a Massage CE class taught by non-Massage Professionals (yes, this will be a later blog).  One of the instructors mentioned how he used to be a Massage Therapist YEARS ago.  He claimed that when he became one, the only requirement was to take a weekend class (Huh?!).  His reason for telling us this was to try and convince us that massage is a “natural ability” and that school sometimes gets in the way of this.  So why isn’t he a MT now?  Turns out, he blew out his shoulder performing his “natural ability” at some spa.  And why did he blow out his shoulder?  Because I doubt seriously that hisweekend training course taught the Body Mechanics necessary to perform this work; which is one of the things Professional Massage Schools teach.

 

            So much for the “Natural Ability” theory. . .

 

            Sorry to destroy your illusions, but Massage Therapy is NOT some New Age Holy Calling that was imparted on me by the Sun Goddess.  It is a skill which I learned in a PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL.  I attended the aforementioned school four nights per week for over a year to attain 775 classroom hours.  I had courses in Anatomy/Physiology/Pathology, Therapeutic Swedish, Clinical Sports Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Nutrition, Hygiene/Sanitation, Business, Professional Growth & Ethics, and Hydrotherapy.  My curriculum also included working in the Student Clinic, performing Community Service, and attaining CPR Certification; as well as prep for the National Certification Board Exam.  Was it easy?  NOT in the least!  In fact, one of the courses gave me such a hard time that I had to retake it in the weekend program; which delayed my graduation another 6 months.  But I felt it was much more prudent to UNDERSTAND THE MATERIALthan get a piece of paper.  So, I actually spent about 18 months in MT school.

 

            Some “Natural Ability”. . .

 

            And let’s not forget about Continuing Education after MT School.  In order to maintain my state license, I must earn 24 CE hours every 2 years; 12 of which must be taken in a classroom setting.  Although some think it is simply a “Money Game”, I think it is necessary.  Can you imagine what would happen if professionals did not update and upgrade their skills?  I certainly wouldn’t want to go to a doctor who hadn’t learned anything new since Med School.  I know some MT’s who are still using the same two-step they learned in MT School.  How do I know?  Their formerclients have told me while I was working on them. . .

 

            For the record, the types of “massage” articles I read are usually of a clinical and orthopedic nature; possibly because the focus of my practice is pain relief.  I could give nice, simple relaxation massage…but for what my clients pay, I think I should give them more.  Some of my favorite authors/researchers are Leon Chaitow D.O.Whitney Lowe, and James Waslaski.  I am not interested in articles about “rubdowns” or “sexissage”; since that is NOT what my clients come in for.  Those types of “massage” require no skills whatsoever; which is why the Internet is full of those kinds of How-To articles.  Or, you could just save money and drive down the street to your unfriendly neighborhood McMassage franchise.

 

            But you didn’t read this to hear about my background and qualifications.  Nor did you come to find out how to give your loved one sorry, watered-down lotion rubs.  You read this in order to learn how to give your significant other a great,PROFESSIONAL QUALITY massage.  The secret to giving them this type of massage is this:

 

            Are you ready?

 

            It’s a really radical concept. . .

 

 

            HIRE A PROFESSIONAL, HIGH QUALITY LMT!

 

            Or, make it even simpler and just click here.

 


Thank you for your time,

 

            Raleigh McKeever LMT, MBA, NMT

            Founder and Managing Director

            RPM Muscular Therapies Clinic LLC