SOCIAL MEDIA HAS CHANGED...

Social media has changed the way we view massage therapy, and sometimes not for the better. If you are overwhelmed and intimidated by the “massage imagery” you are seeing, you are not alone!

Instagram or TikTok massage influencers often show highly stylized videos of themselves, with photogenic models, minimal draping, and borderline inappropriate techniques or table gymnastics. These videos, while provocative, do not show the reality of therapeutic massage in the real world. It is important that we help clients understand the difference between stylized imagery and the reality of massage. Clients should be educated, and we can help them develop an understanding of real massage. From draping, recommended techniques, breaking down the routine, and what to expect, massage therapists need to be clear and concise in helping clients decide what is best. 

However, communication is something massage therapists struggle with in general. Communication is not taught in massage school, and some of us lack the confidence to clearly engage with our clients. But we cannot allow social media to dictate what our clients see as massage therapy. It is up to us professionals to set the stage for helping clients understand what we are about. As we move the profession forward, we need truth and transparency in our profession to keep elevating ourselves in the minds of clients.

Be well and take care!