I realize I’m taking the risk that every person reading this will think I’m talking specifically about them. Well, I’m not. I’m simply taking this opportunity to dispel the myth of what to wear under those sheets.

All of my clients get the same schpeel on their first visit. “Undress to your comfort level whatever that may be….”. I’ve had everything from pants to nothing. In all seriousness, it truly does not matter to me. The comfort and security of my clients overrules anything and everything. If I have a client on the table that is not able to relax completely because they are a nervous wreck about being naked then our session will be interfered with and full effectiveness will not be reached. So the rule will always be to make sure that you, the client, are comfortable with every piece of your experience whether that means you wear nothing or something.

In the end, it’s the client’s decision but I’ve had so many questions about this I thought I would address it from my point of view. And that is, I’m a massage therapist, I work with the soft tissue of the body and my work is best when applied directly to the skin. I have am trained to be meticulous with draping so that the client who does decide for the full monty will still feel safe and respected throughout their session.

I make it very clear from the get-go, I do not accept gratuities in my practice.

You see, before becoming a massage therapist I always hated the tipping game.  ‘He’s the owner, do you tip the owner?’ ‘How much did I tip last time?’  ‘What if I tip less by mistake, will she think I didn’t like my service?’

For me, there was always an air of confusion around tipping.  Many times I found myself thinking about it during the session which undoubtedly diminished my experience.

When I decided to become a massage therapist, I knew two things: 1) I would go into private practice 2) I would not accept gratuities.

As my education ensued, I learned more about the ancient skill of massage and felt, many times over,  it’s profound benefits.  I learned that massage is not a luxury, it is a necessity.  Everyone in my class recognized that massage therapy is health care.  We talked casually in class a few times about tipping and I think it was summed up best by one of my classmates who compared it to tipping a doctor.  Of course, it made so much sense, decision not to accept tips confirmed.

Now, I understand that this policy would be difficult to uphold in a spa, clinic type setting when the therapist is receiving a percentage of the actual cost. But for me, it made sense.  I was going into private practice.  I would have complete control over my business, my rates and my policies.  I would be collecting 100% of the fees (me and Uncle Sam that is) and I figured if I ever needed my clients to pay me more, I would simply raise my rates.

It’s been 4 years since I started my practice and I have only received positive feedback from clients about my non-tipping rule.  They respect it and they appreciate it.  I know this because they tell me all the time.

As massage therapists, we know the best results come when clients are educated in self-care and take an active role in their healing. We understand how much self-care will help maintain the progress made in our treatment sessions. For long-term health and healing, self-care is a necessity; we know this. So why do I find many massage therapists not caring for themselves? It’s the same excuse given by our clients: No time.

Read Full Article on Massagemag.com