Over the past several years, I have spent countless hours searching for people in the healing arts that I could patronize. This doesn't seem like a very daunting task, I just wanted a massage therapist, energy worker, and maybe someone who did some other forms of energy healing. I liked the idea of having someone whom I trusted and excelled at their work. I guess the challenge was and is...that this is my profession as well.
Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to partake in the services of many of the worlds "leading spas". I experienced their "world renowned service", and paid their "leading spa's" prices but always left feeling a bit unsettled. One spa in California, with all it's claims to fame and luxury, actually turn out to be quite lack luster, even uncomfortable. The sauna beautiful...the whirlpool clean. I was excited, really excited for great spa services...everything looked very Zen and relaxing. Unfortunately, my dreams were quickly crushed as I was escorted to an area that was divided up by office cubicle walls packed in a very small, tight space. Not only did this give the feeling I was in an office, but made me feel claustrophobic because the space was so limited in size.
I pressed on trying to relax and ignore the surroundings. Suddenly, I started hearing noise from the cubicles all around me. Clients and therapists talking to each other, a man snoring, other music. How was I supposed to relax? I realized then, that I was part of the massage factory system. The spa "business" where the organization tries to get as many clients serviced in one day as possible. Therapists see between 8 and 20 clients per day. YIKES! Which number was I?
I spoke to my therapist afterward(practitioner to practitioner), in a confidential manner and discovered that as a masseuse he was only making a small percentage of what the spa was charging for a massage and completely relied on his tips to make ends meet. However, because the services were so expensive, even the wealthiest of clients were a bit pinch penny, if they tipped at all. I realized this was a very unsatisfactory working environment for him, perhaps even a bit hostile. I thought... how resentful does he feel towards his clients? He was a nice enough man and a decent therapist, but his heart wasn't in it and I could tell, even before we spoke.
After returning home, I began looking for a local establishment for my wellness experiences. In every case I experienced the same circumstance. Though the spas were beautiful, clean, Zen, and Feng shui'd to the nines, they still had underpaid and overworked staffs that kept changing because of unsatisfactory working conditions. Finally, I decided to look for someone whose work and practice resemble my own. After all, I was looking for the experience I was offering my own clients. An environment that offered total focus on the client, a spacious and cozy treatment area, and a wide variety of healing modalities. I started to make a list of my requirements using my own practice as a model to help me decided where I would go for my healing and wellness.
Here are some questions I asked myself:
1. How many clients does my therapist/ practitioner see in one day? I limit myself to 5 clients a day at the most to make sure I had plenty of energy and give each client the time they need. Clients feel comfortable that there isn't someone rushing them off to get on to the next person.
2. Is my therapist/ practitioner happy in their work situation? I love my practice as it is in my home, it is cozy warm and welcoming. I love inviting people in. Could I find someone who shared this philosophy?
3. Can my therapist/ practitioner be flexible and come to me or travel if necessary. I travel frequently to clients homes for massage, thai yoga, private yoga lessons, and hypnosis. Some like the comfort of not having to travel and just staying at home.
4. Can my therapist/ practitioner recommend other reliable practitioners if they do not offer the services I am looking for? I was looking for someone who had educated themselves and had a similar practice to mine, so I only needed to go to one person. I didn't really want to go to multiple people unless absolutely necessary.This was a challenge as my own practice encompasses many healing and wellness modalities. Massage, Yoga, Thai yoga, Hypnosis, Reiki, Reiki Training, Sound Healing, Wellness Workshops, Spiritual Coaching, Intuitive Training, Private Wellness Classes and the list goes on. Plus, giving the client the option to experience any of the above in the privacy of their own homes. It was at that moment that I realized how unique my own practice was and how few people were offering all these service i do in one place.
5. How much is the therapist/ practitioner charging for their services and do I see worth and value there? My rates are set based upon local economic standards, between $75 and $150 an hour depending on the service. I also offer first time clients a sliding scale for their first appointment, allowing them to pay what they feel they can afford to try my services. Most Importantly, I never turn away who is in need.
Luckily, after a bit of research, I found the practitioners I needed. There are 3 of them, but they are local and convenient. I like their enthusiasm and they truly love what they do, which makes all the difference to me. I would encourage everyone to find the same situation for themselves and please contact me if you have questions or concerns about matching yourself to a wellness practitioner.
