SargaThai

I couldn’t physically offer deep tissue massage.

I tried digging in with my elbows or doubling up my thumbs and sinking in, but the client would inevitably just ask for more pressure.

Then I learned how to use my feet, body weight, and leverage with SargaThai.

Now I can give deep pressure without feeling wrecked afterward.

But what happened next surprised and delighted me…

I don’t actually enjoy giving deep tissue massage.

And that’s okay.

Because the point isn’t to become the LMT everyone else expects you to be.

The point is to find the work that feels most like you.

Sometimes that means learning a new skill.

Sometimes that means discovering what you’d rather not do.

Both are valuable.

For me, deep tissue wasn’t the destination.

It was part of the education that helped me find what I truly love and want to offer.

What’s your go to when someone asks for deep tissue massage?
And rolling your eyes is a complete answer…and, of course so is “I honor them.”

A local LMT lets her pit bull climb onto the table and fall asleep on her clients.

And I can’t stop thinking about it.

Mostly because I had to put my lil friend, Pippa, down this week and the idea of a giant dog head resting on my low back sounds extremely comforting right now…

Also, I’ll admit that the headrest would turn into a sobbing tissue, but hey we are feeling all the feels around her.🥹

Anywho…What I really love about it though is that this LmT let something from her actual life become part of the massage experience.

And I can’t stop thinking about all of us out there rubbing yet another muscle and quietly wondering…

“Is this it?”

No!!! It doesn’t have to be.

I’m not saying go get a dog and put it on your massage table 😂

I’m saying, what parts of your world could you bring INTO your work?

Something you love that makes the experience more interesting.
Something that makes you feel a little more like yourself while you’re doing this job.

For you AND the client.

Remember massage doesn’t have to fit the mold this industry keeps trying to squeeze us into🫶

So you decided you’d love to work with a specific population… Ahhmazing!

Now ask yourself:

Why does the work I already offer make sense for them?

For me, I love working with adults with special needs
and the way I work happens to be a really good fit.

✔️ They can keep their clothes on.

✔️ They don’t have to interact with me much if they don’t want to. They can get comfy, stay face down, if they prefer, and just receive.

✔️ I use a lot of broad, foot-based compressions through the clothes. For many of my clients, that broad pressure feels really comforting. No pokey elbows.

Those are little things I probably wouldn’t have thought much about before.

But for the people I want to work with? They can matter A LOT.

So don’t just ask yourself WHO you’d love to work with.

Start noticing why the work you already love doing might be a really great fit for them.

This is Part 3 of my special Pop. series 💛

Updating your practice and your website to draw in a special population (niching) doesn’t mean we have to blow up everything we have built…

It can be a small trickle.

Maybe you go on your website today and mention what lights you up about working with them.

Share a testimonial from someone in that population

And/or education or experience you have with that group.

Then go to a group function that supports this population…

For me it’s volunteering at social night for adults with special needs. Once a month.

It doesn’t have to be huge. Just make your intention known. 🫶🫶🫶

Part 1: If you lost that loving feeling for massage I’m creating a lil series for you.

Working with special populations (you can call it a niche also) in massage can keep us in this career for the long term

AND

create massive positive change in this world.

So if you are feeling like something is missing in your practice or just ready to try to niche out then this series is for you.