Successful Bodyworker Podcast

Why have a membership as your sole service? This episode uncovers the 4 vital reasons that selling a membership will help your longevity, brand and client retention. Community is the biggest perk to building one - think about a time where you were part of a group or community, specifically around one topic or interest. For me it was a bass guitar membership and that was the first time I really felt like part of something! Building relationships is one of the most important things for business (especially massage) and should always come before the money.

In this episode I answer all of your burning questions about what we are all about, what we aim to solve for all of your burn out problems. You can turn to the internet to get self care content, but none have the experience that I do on the matter or our unique approach to the equation. Jump in to see all that we have to offer you. Check out the show notes to this episode at www.successfulbodyworker.com/post-46

Planning this far in advance will ensure that your goal is large enough and exciting enough to stick to. Don't be another new years resolutioner and give up a few weeks in. Making a goal that is large enough to achieve the success you want will not come easy, but if you stick to your commitments in achieving this goal, no roadblock will be large enough to stall you! 

A common myth among therapists is that all you need to have good body mechanics and pressure is only table height and the use of bodyweight. This flat out isn't true. . . These two things don't mean anything without strength and in this episode you are going to find out why.

The need to grow and expand your business may be obstructed by the fact that you just have too much on your plate. Hiring new therapists will give you the ability to do just that! Listen as I jump into the 4 signs that it might be time for you to hire new therapists, opening a multitude of doors for you to grow as a therapist.

In episode 42, I talk with Daryl DJ Turner about how to use social media ads correctly! Among many things, he is a massage therapist turned massage and wellness marketing specialist and understands a thing or two about making valuable and profitable ads. We discuss what platforms therapists should be marketing on,  the ins and outs of what to include in your ads, what modality works best for content, important metrics to pay attention to in your ad accounts, and what tactics work the best in attracting the perfect client to your table. This is going to be a must for anyone wanting to learn more about ads!

There are some great situations where you can offer promotions in your business, ones that can offer great value to your existing clients and also ones that prospects can gather interest to your practice. As a whole - if promotions or discounts are used too often, it will eventually devalue you. That's not the end result we want with promotions. That being said - they should be used sparingly and sometimes in a way that is subtle. Join me as a explore the best promotions that you can offer your clients!

Have you had situations in your career where you questioned you moral compass? In this episode we talk about how and why you NEED to be charging what your worth, dealing with those negative clients and also those clients who just want more and more from you! Do you have boundaries?

Do you know how to stop solicitation before it happens? Do you know how to diffuse the situation after it has already happened? In this episode I talk with my friend Joyce Gauthier! You may know her as the Sailing Massage Therapist and by her other brand Respect Massage. She is doing some great things in the world of massage therapy as well as building an awesome community who wants to change, support and educate not only therapists, but clients alike. If you have any of the above problems, check this episode out because it is going to be a game changer!

A few times each year, we will be going back through the back catalog of some of our best and golden episodes for those who are just joining us or who haven't had the time to revisit all of our episodes! 

We have taken some audio from episode 3 "4 Reasons why New Therapists Burn Out, from July of last year! This will be diving into some important reasons why brand new therapists burn out and some tips to help prevent them from occurring. 

We are gonna be doing something a little different a few times a year. . . There were a few episodes of the SB Podcast that were really popular so we have decided to take them out of the vault, dust them off and give them back to the listeners that liked them and for those who haven't gone back through the back catalog of episodes! In this episode we go back over why abdominal bracing is so important to therapists. Make sure to check out the show notes and watch the Abdominal Bracing Youtube video!

Chances are - if you've been a therapist for a while - you've had aches and pains in your neck, QL, thumbs, low back or shoulders at some point.

The simple answer?

There are some bad habits that we all have picked up along the way from working on many clients. . . habits that may feel normal or comfortable to your body just because they have become habitually adapted.

What they may be causing you might surprise you though. . .

Listen as I explain these 5 habits in depth and explore some ways to toss these habits to the curb.

In this episode, I talk with my friend Gretchen about the origin of cupping as well as some ways that you can work on yourself and clients with cups to promote longevity! 

More than half of therapists within Successful Bodyworker Facebook Community say that there was not a great emphasis on self care in massage school. . and this is one of the reasons why burnout among therapists is so prevalent. This one is specifically for all of my brand new therapists and in this episode, I dive into 4 great tips that will help you maximize your self care and take your mindset and injury prevention to the next level. 

Are you a therapist that suffers from anterior shoulder dominance? With a lot of western modalities, they place a lot of stress and torque on the anterior shoulder and it's no wonder why our shoulders get injured. In this episode we talk about how you can change the habit at the root of it's cause, some exercises to strengthen the antagonist muscles associated with the anterior shoulder and also some manual therapy techniques we can use to loosen these tissues. 

Why automate vs. do everything yourself? Simply put there are too many moving parts that make a truly successful business run and the more you can take your finger off the pulse of controlling every aspect, the more that you can focus your time and energy on what you do best. Learn how you can automate these 5 things: email marketing, ads, scheduling software, scaling your hands on business by hiring therapists and hiring specialists like content markers, etc!

What do you commonly hear when it comes to individuals that have an injury? The usual narrative is negative, and when negative thoughts are followed by actions, most times that sets a person up for failure. In this episode, we will explore a good way to approach an injury using law of attraction in order to shift your mindset to one that is more conducive to having the type of outcome that you want.

In this episode I go into detail about the 3 common types of injuries or pain that we deal with as therapists, and how to relieve some pain and tension experienced by these injuries. This is by no means a definitive list, as many therapists have different types of injuries, by commonly they are caused by these three things!

Have you ever had a chronic holding pattern? Chances are that you likely have or currently do, because we are a product of what we do day in and day out. A key proponent to tight musculature that have a share in creating these holding patterns are due in part to weakened antagonist muscles.
What can we do to limit this pain and tension? Find out in this week's episode!

Progressive overload is a great way to truly make progress in your life. It simply means: to be better, you must do better. It seems simple in theory, but all too often therapists fall into the trap of being comfortable and complacent by saying "Everything is where it should be and I don't need to do anything else." This is fine if that is how you truly define success, but it seems that this is said because they are afraid to go out and really get what they want. To truly achieve what you want, remember this: The dial won't move unless you move it. Sometimes this comes naturally, but for some it takes force. 

In this episode and interview, Jason Carter and I chat about his new and upcoming appointment scheduling software named. . . you guessed it. . . ApptHero. What really sets this apart from other booking softwares on the market is that on the backend of things you have different integrations that all work together to make this the ultimate package, things like online booking, phone or text notification for recent bookings, email marketing, and even a waitlist. How does this affect your self care, you ask? Well, automating some of the important tasks in your business like scheduling, follow ups, appointment reminders and digital marketing will take stress off your plate and allow you to focus more of your energy on what you were meant to do - working on your clients. Keep checking in as this software grows heavy with more and more features, because it's really going to be a game changer!

Learn about the method my guest Andrew Frankson created to help not only clients, but therapists as well. He has written a book describing the method in great detail: Muscle Fiber Methodology. He also teaches the MFM live course to help therapists learn this amazing method!

What is success? How do you define it? What does it mean to you personally?  Many people place a lot of value on everybody else's perception or metrics of what a successful person is. Some think being wealthy, being able to travel, not working for a boss, or having a garage of nice cars is standing atop the pinnacle of success. What if I were to tell you that for some, it isn't all about those nice things.  What really makes you HAPPY?  What if getting to a point in your career gives you the freedom to end your day at 2pm, leaving the rest of the day open to play with your kids, travel or play video games? If that is what makes you happy, then you've won.  That's not to say that having a business or a career isn't important. That is the lifeblood of what you do, but it isn't everything. Some therapists make 100k but get there and find that they aren't all that happy. Some get injured along the way. What was it all worth to end up injured and unhappy?  Think about what true happiness means to you, and make your goals reflect that! 

Are you accustom to hopping on camera to talk about your passions, and what you love to do? If not - you are missing out on a big opportunity to let people know you and what you do! In this day and age, there is an easier or more free way to market yourself and let people know what your brand stands for. In this episode, Chrisie talks about how she helps people specifically who are introverted get to open up a little more on camera, and how to market themselves specifically in the realm of facebook groups! Enjoy! 

In light of the Thanksgiving season, I want to start an initiative for everyone listening to start practicing gratitude daily for 21 days. Linked to my Facebook and Instagram posts will be a 21 Day Gratitude Challenge! 

What is one factor that ties mindset and mental burnout? Confidence. In this episode, Richard explains what stands between lack of confidence and success in your practice, and some tips to have a better overall mindset to keep from mental burnout.

My friend Elyse Robertson and I discuss some possible reasons that this type of burn out happens to therapists, how she is currently preventing her own burnout and how other therapists can benefit from some of these energetic self care practices.

My guest Melinda Loo explains a little about her solution to help keep therapists thriving in a competitive market. Her four pillars of success are mindset, business, self-care, and technique, and she believes that with great focus on each of these pillars you will not only keep from burning out, you will create a practice you only dreamed possible! 

Are you unhappy with what you are currently making in your career? 

Has it caused to re-examine your career path? 

A lot of therapists are quick to point the finger at their employer, or someone else when things go wrong, but when it comes down to it, we have to own our own mistakes, learn from them and grow, so we don't keep repeating those same mistakes. This is one thing that we dissect in this episode to uncover why therapists are feeling financially burnt out. 

Plenty of people know that they have to drink a lot of water in order to stay hydrated, but I have a few questions for you: Do you know where you water is coming from? Do you know what is in your water? Are you absolutely certain that the water you currently drink is optimally hydrating you? These are questions that you should be answering.  In this episode, my guest Rachel Mayfield will be supplying a good solution to not only proper hydration but the global crisis of plastic and recycled waste!

This episode will go into depth about some things that I supplement with that aid in my performance as a therapist and athlete. Supplements never take the place of food, as whole foods pack a one-two punch of vital nutrients that you can't get anywhere else, but if you have deficiencies or instances where food isn't always the easiest to eat on the go. then supplements can definitely help!  

In this day and age of ease of access and fast food everywhere, it is getting more and more difficult to get good dense calories and nutrition into our bodies. If you have trouble with nutritional habits and preparing meals, this episode will help you to understand not only what I eat for performance, but how I prep these foods!

This is a subject that I think is sometimes shrouded in mystery. What do I eat a therapist? How much do I eat? How do I eat in a way that will level up my performance? These are all things that I hear commonly amongst therapists. In this episode I give you a few tips on what you can do to feel your best throughout your day and especially between clients. 

Listen as Noel and I talk about some considerations for sports massage. Some key points are that you want to have your knees slightly bent, trunk engaged and your legs in line with your stroke. Noel also explains the 5 applications of Sports Massage and how to implement each one differently! 

This was a great one. Join me and Julie as we chat about her considerations for Ashiatsu barefoot massage, and how she got into the field. It's interesting to note - when she started her journey, she was 86 lbs, so for anyone saying that they are too light for this modality, she claims to be one of the deeper Ashiatsu practitioners in the game! For anyone thinking about starting Ashiatsu, or need help with body mechanics, using your body weight or engaging your trunk, this will be the episode for you! 

On today's show me and guest Amber go not only go into depth about body mechanics for Thai Yoga massage, but she also explains that it is a multi faceted modality that takes proper coordination between you and your body having a higher vibration in order to help your clients. It isn't only JUST physical bodywork, it can be meditation, herbal, nutritional and hands off energy work. Sometime's you have to take care of your own mind as a practitioner just as much as your body. Enjoy!

Did this question reel you in? I hope so! Today's show will get into whether or not deep pressure is all it's cracked up to be, and 6 recommendations on how to make deep pressure a little easier on your body if you tend to use it often in your practice! 

As with last weeks episode on sitting, we can achieve a good balance between sitting and standing and take care of holding patterns that tend to take flight when doing one or the other. Learn as I uncover why having a neutral spine and abdominal bracing is so important for standing.

Do you prefer to sit in your practice? If not, this will give you some reasons to do so. As therapists, just working 4 hours a day and 5 days a week (which is pretty average, I would say) will equate to about 960 hours if all you do is stand. If body mechanics aren't made a priority then chronic holding patterns can arise. Standing isn't a bad thing, but with this episode I explain why achieving a good balance of the two could benefit you in multiple ways! 

I am very excited about this month of August, I will be rolling out the red carpet on some body mechanics considerations for different instances we all deal with on a day to day basis. We will start this series off with abdominal bracing. This is the most important and fundamental thing when it comes to body mechanics because our abdominals are one of the first things to fire first in just about anything we do. Explore this episode with me as I explain what bracing is, how to effectively brace, and the difference between hollowing and AB. Hope you enjoy! 

If you've been in the game for a while, you will have likely experienced one or more of these issues. It sadly comes with our territory. This episode will help you deal with these low back pains and issues so it won't happen again!

Yes, we all want to have more longevity, greater prevention of injury and deeper pressure, but it does take actual work to get. Explore as I uncover the four reasons how and why strength endurance training will help you in your practice! 

It isn't the type powerlifters or sprinters need. 

It is the type that will give us not only more strength but more endurance.

Enter strength endurance training! 

This is the type we need to achieve better longevity and the ability to add more hours if we so need it! 

Hope this helps! Listen to next weeks episode as we dive into why this training will help you in your practice!

If you are currently in Massage School or within your first 1-2 years, this episode is for you! Listen as I dissect the 4 main reasons why new therapists burn out. At SB I commonly see physical burnout,  and the main contributing factor is having this kind of "superhero" mindset as we all call it. I know we all mean well by this, but right off the batt, this can break your practice. Couple this with not making enough at a franchise, it can eventually lead to emotional burnout as well. If you are feeling burnt out, what are your reasons why? 

If you're working within a franchised massage business, the answer will most likely be no! 

Your time and effort are worth more to you than what you would give in a franchise. 

Listen as we delve into 2 tips that can help your efforts scale better, and lean more towards having the most longevity in your career! 

What is your effort worth? 

I want to explain to you exactly why I created Successful Bodyworker. Perhaps similar to you, I sustained an injury that made me question my career as a massage therapist. Because of an imbalance in my career and powerlifting, I had to re-examine what my training program looked like and tailor it to my career as a bodyworker and powerlifter. This program and much more on self care is what I bring to the table to help you the therapist become the strongest version of yourself and crush an entire work week without fatigue!