Friday, August 17, 2012

Active Myofascial therapy first meeting

Hi everyone,

Today we started the first session of Active Myofascial Therapy~ The Diamond Method. I am planning on re-opening my business in South Florida. I took the Fresh Start program with Irene, and she just opened my eyes on a different aspect of running my massage practice. I registered for the Active Myofascial Therapy class because I wanted to bring something unique to my clients. I am trying to gear my practice toward a clinical setting instead of just pampering. 

My flights and hotels are booked are booked for the seminar. I will be in San Francisco, California with my mother and my four month daughter. Since my husband is a diamond member, we will be staying at the Hilton on Fisherman's wharf for 4 days. I recommend everyone starting a new business to bring something unique. 

Today, I basically cut up a few things that I would like to order, I read a couple of old Massage magazines, and to my surprise, I found an article by Irene Diamond on how to get referrals from physicians. The reason I admire Irene so much is the fact that she doesn't tell you to go do this or do that. She shows you how to do it, most of the time she does the work for you. How easy is that??? 

Starting up my day spa with my 4 months old daughter

Starting up my business with my daughter.

I hate the idea of leaving my daughter with a family member to work for someone else. I believe the very first year of a baby's life is crucial to their success. It is a challenge because I am exclusively breastfeeding my daughter and she's a newborn. My life revolves around her schedule. 

As we are get along, you'll get to partake in my journey of starting my day spa business from scratch.
I took a six months coaching program with Irene Diamond during my pregnancy. I would be listening to Irene's recording, and my baby would kick and jump around with so much excitement. I believe coaching is absolutely necessary. I thought I could read all the books about massage, and set up my practice. I was so wrong! I believe someone with experience in the industry is the best investment ever. It saves you time, money, and heartache. I truly mean it when I say heartache because when I opened my office last year on January 1st 2011, I only had a few clients that would come back. I was also doing my internship at a nursing home full time, I was pregnant, and working as an IC at another spa on the weekend to help me sustain the business. I hated the idea of doing Groupon and living social. I did not want all that stress. 

There God gave me my heart's desire, but I was still sad. I was very sad because I was working very hard just to pay off my rent and my massage therapists. I knew I was good! The problem was Location...Most of my clients were tourists, so they were not rebooking. I only had a few that would rebook on a monthly basis, just a few like three. It was quiet an experience! I also felt so disorganized because I did not have any system in place. I would read books and articles, but then I would forget about them. Therefore it was not productive.

With the coaching program, you get the essential. You get to have a calling system, gift card system, marketing system. The system keeps everything organized in case someone has to step up for you. I have absolutely no regrets about that venture. By the way my daughter turns four months today. 

My princess is four months old today. She has given birth to my soul. I have never been so happy in my life. Annie, mommy loves you so much... It's indescribable! I have so many plans for you baby girl, for now, I will just cherish you as you grow.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Fresh Start Massage Practice with my daughter


Well, this is truly going to be a challenge. I am already juggling several things at once, and now I am adding blogging to it. My daughter will be four months old tomorrow, so she is very demanding. If I am not breastfeeding, I am burping her or putting her to sleep.

Today I manage to use a notebook to drop down a few notes. There is a spa supplier company that I use, and they mailed me a catalogue, so I was looking at some jars to put in my delicious body scrubs that I will be using on my clients, and sell in the boutique side. It is all organic! I am planning on making different types: Lavender, Chocolate cake, Lemongrass, Honey & Cinnamon, Lime/Lemon Citrus, Ylang Ylang, Ginger, and rosemary.
I also plan on making a Body Mist Cocktail to spray after a facial: It's quiet easy to make!

Now, my daughter is crying she wants mommy's attention. I am back! The next thing that I worked on today is to look at some other day spas menu.  I get some great ideas for my signature massage by adding some creative touch up.

My day is very unpredictable. Some day I wake up very energetic, and some day I wake up tired and not in the mood of doing anything. As you can see, my schedule revolves around my daughter. She is spoiled.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Active Myofascial Therapy ~ The Diamond Method















Active Myofascial Therapy Advanced Certification Seminar ~ for Massage Therapists, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and healers who want to provide stellar rehabilitation therapy to patients and clients


If you want something to change, you have to do something different… That's why I signed up for Irene Diamond's seminar. I look forward to taking my massage practice to the next level.


Irene has been teaching Active Myofascial Therapy ~ The Diamond Method across the
United States since 1989.
 
Many therapists have said this 
AMT Practice-Success System 
has changed their practice monumentally!

Diamond Tip:

Because the pain relief and structural improvement results you will provide as an Active Myofascial Therapist will be so valuable to your clients and patients, once you have learned the Diamond Method, Irene encourages you to up-your-rates AT LEAST $20 more per AMT session,  so you can begin to earn back your investment as soon as you begin practicing AMT.

(So, if you work with 5 clients a day, and you charge $20 more per session — you earn an extra $100/ day in your pocket!)


Because, you took time off to study, learn and improve your clinical skills, AND, you will now provide life-altering relief for your clients, You do deserve to increase your rates.
(and we’ll support you in doing so.)\


Thursday, August 2, 2012

High Risk Pregnancy


Hi everyone,

One of the reason I love working with pregnant women is because I have been through it with great success. I had a very high risk pregnancy, to keep the stress down, I get weekly massages. Not only it helped me to relax, decreased pain, but also I my hormones were more in synced.

 I was admitted to the hospital due to lack of Amniotic fluid. I spent 30 weeks on bedrest, weekly progesterone shots starting at 16 weeks gestation. I had to have 2 cerclages to keep the cervix close. I was also dealing with Gestational Diabetes.
I was having intense contraction on that Sunday. My daughter was born the following day at 1:45am, a healthy and beautiful baby girl.



Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Protocol for Couples Massage



Spa By The SeaSeasoned spa-goers are not generally the ones who book couples massages. Guests who book couples massages view it as an afternoon activity to spend time together much like going to dinner or a movie. They are not likely to make spa-going a habit. A couple’s massage is more like an event for them.
You and your massage therapy colleague need to keep this in mind when servicing both partners. Your approach should be straight forward: greet the guests, show them to the couple’s suite and indicate which massage table you and the guest will be working.
Allow them to take a sensory journey and smell the aromatic oil blends. Let them decide which scent appeals to them. Let them know if they choose different scents, the aromas will not clash while they are receiving their massages. Have a consultation with the guest and find out if this is their first massage. Instruct them how you would like them to lie on the table. If they kept under garments on, draping should be modest around these areas. The wife does not want to look over at her husband whose briefs have been pushed down exposing his rear end when he purposely kept them on for a reason.
Remember, this is not a competition between you and the other massage therapist as to who can become the diva of the treatment room. It is not a contest as to who can elicit more sounds of relief (moans) coming from one partner or the other. I performed a couples massage with a massage therapist who had never done a couples massage. She clearly went overboard on the husband who was new to massage. She was performing Thai massage and stretching him into a pretzel to the point where his gasps and moans were embarrassing for both his wife and I. The wife did not enjoy her massage and scowled the entire time. The movements you perform should be on the same wave length as the other massage therapist so as not to cause distractions while the guests are trying to relax.
The techniques used should be standard Swedish or Deep Tissue with the added benefit of aromatherapy. Hot stone massage is another favorite but I do not schedule them in the same room as it becomes too hot and uncomfortable for the massage therapists who are working. It can also be disruptive to each guest if a massage therapist is retrieving stones from the heater.
You and the other massage therapist need to coordinate the couples massage so that each partner feels as though they received the same quality service as the other. Warm towels, tapotement, and the ability to address all areas of concern both supine and prone will be discussed by the couple after the treatment. The treatments do not have to be synchronized but you should take notice of anything that stands out from the other services provider’s technique and your own. Communicate. Tapotement is loud and can be heard by the guest at the adjacent massage table. They may wonder why they weren’t “chopped” like their partner was.
Conversation should be kept to a minimum and all communication with the guest should be in a whisper tone. Couples massage may be someone’s first introduction to massage. It may be something they have always wanted to experience but parts of it may be foreign to them. It is your responsibility to give a safe and comfortable treatment as you are the voice of this profession and your touch will influence this guest as to whether they will return.
by Cara Solomon

Friday, March 2, 2012

Make each clients feel Special

Each client deserves to feel special. Always create a welcoming atmosphere for them, they will truly appreciate it. It adds value to your service! Unlike Chiropractor's office, my clients are seeking relaxation in a clean and beautiful setting. I trust all of you to create that atmosphere for them. Clean sheets, scented candles, rose petals, just be creative. Guess what??? next time they are booking an appointment, they will ask for you by name. You also look more professional!

That was my massage room from my 1 bedroom apartment 3 years ago. I turned my dining room into a massage room LOL. I can be creative!!!





My office at Southpoint (super clean)


Performing Chair Massage At UNF


Sharing how I used Facebook to market my business