by Pallas Hutchison

The internet has hundreds of websites on anatomy, health and various conditions. A few clicks on WebMD is a lot faster than actually going to the doctor and sitting around a waiting room. The temptation to self-diagnose is understandable; however, please resist. Here's why:

1. ​One symptom, multiple conditions. Most symptoms occur for more than one condition. For example, fatigue is a symptom of PMS, influenza, some thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia and anemia. These are all very different conditions with different treatments.
   
2. Effective treatment requires the correct diagnosis. ​​Attempting to treat after self-diagnosing may help. However, if the diagnosis isn't correct, it may be counterproductive. For example, a simple mistake with vitamins can be harmful. Adding supplements to a daily routine can be dangerous because the body gets rid of some and stores others, potentially building up toxic levels. For another example, think back to when leeches and blood letting were common medical treatments. While it may be effective in some instances, this practice would also further weaken already ill people.  
3. Scare factor : high. ​Websites are set up to show all of the conditions that match, from mild illness to terminal disease. The search engine will bring up everything in between that matches whatever criteria is entered. A few strokes on the keyboard could result in elevated stress - and all of the physical manifestations of stress - on top of whatever is already going on. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of poor health.

When something goes wrong in the body, a trip to the doctor will at least narrow down the possibilities and start the healing process.

by Pallas Hutchison

I consider myself ridiculously successful for my age and experience level. I don't mean my experience as a massage therapist; I mean my experience in the business part of my industry. Running a business is amazing and terrifying and rewarding and frustrating and liberating and overwhelming... Being a parent on top of that, and a college student, I frequently get asked how I manage to everything done. The truth is, I don't. But I get enough done that I keep moving forward.
Everyone's experience is different but I'd like to share a few thoughts on how I manage to juggle my many responsibilities. These are the same steps I use to direct my business's growth and to help my kids with big school projects.

1. Put it in writing! "If you don't have a plan, plan to fail." The old adage still has a lot of truth to it. I may not have a fully written business plan but I have written down my goals for my business, for my finances, for my personal life... By putting it in writing, I make a commitment to aim at that target.
2. Figure out where you are right now. You need to know where you are now to figure out the steps to get you to your target. If you want to more family time, figure out where you are spending your time. If you want financial stability, figure out what you're actually bringing in and where you're spending it.
3. Create a plan. Put your current status and your target side by side. Brainstorm on how to get from point A to point B. Follow every "what if" path you can think of before deciding what steps are the best for your objective. Once you've come up with a few ideas, write everything down. Breaking it down into small, manageable steps will make big plans less overwhelming. Consider writing things in a calendar; commit to when you'll get each thing done.
4. Revisit, refocus and revise. No plan is perfect and, the bigger the plan, the more effort required. Some pieces will fall into place, others need multiple attempts to get it right. Revisit your plan to see how you're doing. Where are you now? Do you still have the same target? Refocus on what your target is and revise your plan as needed. If plan A falls through, you have already brainstormed a plan B and a plan C and a plan D... It's harder to get derailed if you have back-up plans at the ready.
5. Reward yourself! Give yourself credit for what you accomplish along the way. Whether that means a day off after a big accomplishment or an extra glass of wine with dinner. Staying motivated is easier when you acknowledge your successes.

​What tricks help you get things done? Share your thoughts and stories below!

By Pallas Hutchison

We have a disclaimer on our website and intake form stating that we reserve "the right to refuse service to any client who has acted in an inappropriate manner." A surprising number of people have asked for clarification about this. Here are a few of the things I look for:

1. Sexual jokes, suggestions or requests: The "happy ending" line is getting old. Massage has gotten mainstream enough the public should know that is an inaccurate stereotype for 99.99% of massage practices. At this point, it's simply not funny and only makes you look ignorant.
2. Requests to be undraped, especially if nude: Proper draping is part of the code of ethics for state licensing and for most professional massage organizations. Additionally, we don't want to see or touch your genitals. If you are cold or overheated, we will accommodate you to the best of our ability but certain areas stay covered, period.
3. Trying to touch the massage therapist: An accidental touch is one thing, but multiple times is not accidental. We touch you, not the other way around.
4. Heavy breathing, moaning or groaning throughout massage: We want you to enjoy a massage. Relaxation noises are not the same as sexual pleasure noises. We know the difference.
5. Moving hips: If you're moving around because the pressure is too much or uncomfortable, let us know. Otherwise, it looks like you're humping the massage table.
6. Requesting all butt work: Personally, I think the glutes are under-appreciated and definitely deserve some attention. However, spending an entire hour on the them generally leads to #4 & #5.

What happens if you do any of the above? First, the massage stops immediately. You will be re-draped and the massage therapist will step out of arm's reach. Second, the massage therapist will explain what you did/said that was inappropriate. Third, you will be given the choice of stopping that behavior and continuing with your massage or ending the massage and not being welcome to return. Consider it a one-time get-out-of-jail-free card. Most people get the hint. Throughout my ten years as a professional, eight clients have been fired for inappropriate behavior. Please don't give anyone a reason to add your name to a "Do Not Book" list. My previous post talked about how we, as massage therapists, respect our clients. We ask for that same respect in return.