Blog Post: Male Massage Therapists - Overcoming Challenges

Any male massage therapist who has been out of school for a while and sought work in the field is aware that it's not always that easy to find work. Besides the fact that we have an enormous number of licensed massage therapists in Florida crowding the market, and many people do appreciate and enjoy receiving bodywork from male therapists - particularly those who like deep work and strong hands - the majority of people seeking massage here in South Florida seem to be more comfortable with a female. Some people call it discrimination - and I suppose that is not untrue, but at the same time, massage therapy is a personal service and we must respect the preferences of our clients when their comfort and ability to relax is of utmost importance.

So what is a male therapist to do in order to make it in the field? Having run Body Well managed massage therapy for the past three years has provided some insight - here are a few tips:

My first suggestion is to go out and purchase a decent massage chair. People are not as finicky about the gender of their therapist when it comes to mobile chair massage service for corporate offices or at special events so you have a better chance of getting work doing them. The nice thing about chair massage is also that the jobs often last several hours, as opposed to a single hour, so you can generate more income per job (even though you might make less per hour than a table massage session, depending on where you practice).

Another suggestion is to make the most of every client. Each time you go to a job - especially in home massge - that is another chance to generate a repeat client. Make sure to attend to every detail, such as your client's comfort, the techniques they prefer, setting a nice mood with music, etc. Tailor the session to each individual client's needs and preferences and you will have a better chance of being called upon to see them again.

Finally, work on your deep tissue massage skills. As I mentioned earlier, many people choose a male therapist because they feel that they will get someone strong who does deep tissue. Therefore it is in your interest to be able to provide a great deep tissue massage. Consider finding a practice partner, or look into classes, seminars, videos or any other means of practicing and learning how to give a satisfying and effective deep tissue massage. Receiving massage is also one of the best ways to learn about what works and what doesn't.

Keep these tips in mind and you will increase your odds of making a living in the massage profession.

In health,

Daniel Melmed

President, Body Well Inc.