The Massage Therapy Niche In Trinidad & Tobago

How To Establish Your Massage Therapy Practice

This blog is a result of a decision I made a couple of months ago to target a specific niche.  I chose the Massage Therapy niche because of personal reasons which I rather not share here.   

What I would like to share is my experience so far with in the niche.  Hopefully as a therapist you will learn something from my experience. 

My research had indicated that the niche was small, maybe a bit too small but I also saw signs of growth and since I had already made the decision I decided to follow it through.   A quick search on the net came up with a school run by a therapist in Marabella. Madam Professor Emeritus Pearl Gopaul.  The website described the school as;

.

 “A…private, non-profit, professional tertiary level institution, educating and training massage therapists for top level careers in these professions.

 Established in 1997 by Pearl Gopaul at her residence, #19 Cedar Drive, Marabella, the school outgrew its space after two years and now occupies 11,500sq.ft. of land at #68 Market Street, the building has an area of 5,400sq.ft”.

 After skimming the site my impression was that this it was a well established organization. 

I called the number on the site.  After explaining who I was and asking to speak to Madam Gopaul, the person who answered advised that I send M. Gopaul an email explaining myself to her.  “No problem”, I said. I left a message with my phone number and got the email address.   

Email sent; no response, no call.

Forgive them Lord… this is a common occurrence in Trinidad so I intentionally leave the barest of information when I leave a message.   

IMHO two forms of message the Madame must have gotten one.  

   

Next I did a search online and located about 3 local therapist.  The first one I contacted went by the single name Rinalda.  She operated in the Port of Spain area and according to her “not originally from Trinidad”.

  After a couple of phone calls back and forth she explained that she could not assist but she offered a few suggestions which I gladly noted.  She also asked to add my email address to her list.  She apparently had built an email list of people she contacted or massaged. 

“Of course”,  I said and have not regretted it yet.   

In fact, I liked them so much that offered to set up a blog for her ; free of charge.  She declined, she was “not that organized”  to consistently maintain a blog.  A short time later she sent me a link to a blog.  It was nicely done but I think she know herself well because don’t think she ever maintained it.   The emails started coming again without any reference to the blog. 

The next therapist I contacted was a totally different experience.  I'll share that with you in another post.  Just want to keep this short.  Feel free to make a comment or just jump off and return some other time.  

Stay blessed. 

Detox Massage: Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Understanding How It's Done 

Article by Randa Khalil & Lina Baker

Visit their site at Pure Inside Out

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a form of massage that stimulates the lymphatic system with gentle massaging strokes. The light rhythmical massage encourages the lymphatic system to eliminate metabolic waste products, excess fluid and bacteria. The technique was invented by massage therapists Dr Emil and Mrs. Estrid Vodder in the early 1930s.

 
The effects of Manual Lymph Drainage are numerous and include general benefits to the nervous and muscular systems. MLD is a great addition to other detox measures, as it encourages fluid flow in the connective tissues.

The lymphatic system is composed of lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and organs. Part of the body’s defense system, the lymph nodes remove microorganisms and other foreign substances. They act as a filtration system that keeps particulate matter, such as bacteria, from entering the bloodstream.
Stimulating the lymphatic system through manual lymphatic drainage will activate all of the above functions as well as encourage fluid circulation and cell regeneration. Both actions promote detoxification, facilitate healing and support the immune system.

“The lymphatic system has a vital role in the body by regulating the immune system, which protects the body against infection. It transports nutrients to cells and eliminates metabolic wastes, toxins and excess fluids from the body. Manual lymphatic drainage is also a very effective way of detoxing the body plus stimulating vital immune defenses. This is a powerful, deep cleansing treatment.” Explains David Goddard, ND

Manual Lymphatic Drainage benefits are numerous and include:

• Clearing areas of congestion such as swollen ankles, puffy eyes and swollen legs
• Promotion of scar tissue healing, torn ligaments and sprains.
• Post-operative healing
• Swelling relief following plastic surgery
• Treatment of lymphedema and other conditions arising from venous insufficiency
• Improving chronic conditions such as sinusitis, arthritis, acne and other skin conditions
• Deep relaxation

Lymphatic drainage is a very specific technique of manual body massage and is regarded by many as off-limits for any manipulation technique, so choose your therapist carefully.

Do it yourself: Simple Lymphatic Drainage

• Gently place your fingers, relaxed, on either side of your neck right under your ears
• Gently move the skin in a downward motion towards the back of your neck
• Repeat 10 times by gradually positioning your fingers lower and further down from your ear.
• Place fingers at the top of your shoulders on either side of the neck
• Gently massage by bringing the skin closer to the collarbone
• Repeat 5 times

Like Manual Lymphatic Drainage, the Detox Bath is an effective detox technique that you can practice in the comfort of your home. Based on an ancestral detox technique created by Louis Kuhne of Leipzig, the father of detox, in the 1880's, it is proven to encourage toxin, waste and fat elimination. The Detox Bath's working principle is to refresh the core area of the body (groin) during 10 minutes daily. This effective detox technique uses only water to enhance the body’s healing capacity as well as improve body tone and skin radiance.

"Coconut Oil Is Great Because It Does Not Stain The Sheets...

Massage Therapy Carrier Oils


"A carrier oil is used to help carry the nutrients to the skin with the essential oils.Therapists need to have knowledge of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to create blends that will work for clients and will not cause adverse reactions."


A press release today from PRLog.org explains the use of carrier oils and the benefits of each.  Very useful information for massage therapist everywhere.  


Enjoy 


The Best Carrier Oils For Aromatherapy Massage. 

Free Internet Marketing Tools For Massage Therapist

Use Professional Internet Marketing Tools To Make Money Online & Promote Your Massage Therapy Business

Finally...The world's first "ALL DONE FOR YOU" marketing system, that is completely free with no strings attached! 

Do you want to add to your massage therapy income by giving away a free membership to a super high converting new program?

• For beginners launching a massage therapy business online
• Or for massage therapists who know a little about online marketing
• Even the advanced therapist with an established online presence

Actually, It doesn't matter one bit what your skill level is right now. 

This revolutionary new program has been getting praise across the net.

What's it about? 

It's about giving you no more excuses to avoiding your online success! 

It's about allowing anyone the opportunity to succeed working online, regardless of their financial situation and/or experience level.


This system has tools to market all aspects of your business online.

It's free to join and NO it doesn't make you upgrade to access all the goodies! Like I said, it's about removing all the excuses to not using the internet to increase your business.

Join today for free, and begin building your own list and earn commissions while you build your business.

Watch this 3 minute video, if you like what you see, click the link below and join;

Create your free plug 'n' play marketing system account! This members area includes your professionally designed video squeeze pages, autoresponders, email broadcast system, text message lead alerts, ad campaign tracking, stats, advanced lead manager, and much more! 

You must complete the entire sign up form to get access, but, once you create your account and login, you can edit your information at anytime. 

Once you have completed the form by clicking on "Create Your Account" below, check your email to access and store your account information in a safe place for future reference. 

When you get to the page the video you just viewed will be replayed, just click the "Join For Free" button to begin.  Start below...

Are You Making This Classic Massage Therapists' Marketing Mistake?

Don't Become Victim To This Offline Marketing Pitfall

Remember the there by five card that doctors used many years ago before computers were invented.  They called it their "patient card", a 3x5 card with scribbles about the patient.  

It started with the patient name, it may or may not have had an address but at a minimum, it recorded the date the doctor saw the patient and the reason for the visit.

These cards accumulated into hundreds and sometimes thousands. This was the doctor’s patient database.  Not that he called it that himself, to him and everyone else at the time it was a “patient card”. 

Times have certainly changed and unfortunately many massage therapists do not see the need for keeping a “patient cards”.  It was extremely important to his practice.  Ok, you're no doctor but the idea behind it is the same; longevity of your practice. 

In marketing these cards would have been labeled "customer/client cards",  We refer to it as a customer database i.e. a collection of information on every customer, client or patient. You would think that a database requires a computer?  It does not.

Even without a computer you should have a database. This is more important than getting new clients. 

Not doing this is the biggest marketing mistake made by many massage therapists.  It creates a huge hole in their business operations.  The sad fact is if their great grandfathers saw the need for it on copy books; why is it being ignored today?  

Computers do make it a lot easier to accumulate, record and manipulate the information as various needs arises but it is not absolutely necessary.  

Without a customer database you are just a peddler in the market place looking for the best price for your services.  Think about a market vendor at the local market and you will get the picture. 

Decide quick, today, that you must build a client data base.  Take the quickest route even if it means a plain sheet of paper.  Don’t leave it for tomorrow, this is extremely urgent, the future of your business depends on it. 

    

There are many benefits, just think creatively and you may be able to come up with some yourself.    

As we go along I will share a few tactics you can use with your database. Test everything and see how it works. Start with your past clients.

That’s all for today.

Stay Blessed.

Massage Therapists In Trinbago Should Celebrate Ash Wednesday

A Cultural Phenomena - A Captive Market 

Ash Wednesday should be the beginning of the year for Massage Therapists in Trinidad and Tobago.  

There is no other time of the year when so many Trinbagonian are hurting from using muscles that were only used last year. 

Walking, chipping, jumping  and palancing penerates muscles and sinews and cartilages; they pain.

The muscles in my lower foot from the tip of my toes to my calves are mushy and painful.  Having quite a few contacts in the industry I felt that at least one would contact me and offer their services.  

What really hurts was when I had to call the person I had my last massage with, (I hate calling her my MT anymore) she did not call me. But I still made the appointment for this afternoon. Does that say anything to you? 

It was only after I made the appointment that I thought about what actually happened.  This is not how it was supposed to work. 

I had recommended to one MT last week that she take advantage of the captured market of weary masqueraders but I think she was more focused on masquerade.  

I suggested that she give a couple of the band owners she knew a small flyer offering each a free massage.  My idea was to offer a foot massage for about 10 minutes each. 

The person would have to make an appointment for the free massage and be qualified to receive it.  . 

The intention is to separate the people who are open to a massage from those who are not and to use the ten minutes to up sell them on a full body massage.  

There is nothing like having a captive audience where you can begin the consultative selling process. 

Everyone in the country who played Mas this year have aching feet today unless they played the Mas on a float.  

If you are a therapist without clients today you should certainly reconsider your marketing. 

If you are a client with aching feet, contact me and I will recommend a good Massage Therapist in your area. 

The number is 686-7396

Why Every Massage Therapist In Trinidad and Tobago Should Use Facebook

The #1 Reason Why Every Massage Therapist in Trinidad and Tobago Should Use FaceBook

Facebook has become synonymous with the Internet in Trinidad and Tobago.

In fact, when you put meaning to the statistic generated within Facebook the numbers tell an interesting story.

Here are some findings with interpretations.

As of March 2nd 2011 there are:

Exactly 403,860 people 13 to 64+years old registered on Facebook who actually live in Trinidad and Tobago. With a census population of just over 1.228,691 according to World Stats, it means that approximately a third of the population in T&T are registered on Facebook.

The total internet usage in Trinidad and Tobago is reported to be 485,000 representing 39.5 % of the total population now get online.


Eighty three percent of the people on the Internet in Trinidad and Tobago are registered on Facebook.

Compare the 33% of the total penetration on the Internet in T&T to the 77% penetration in the United States.

Would you imagine that there would be a greater percentage of people in the US registered on Facebook?

Not so, the US penetration is only 43% compared to T&T 83% Facebook penetration.

Facebook has penetrated the psyche of Trinbago culture almost as much as the Internet.

Here are some other interesting Facebook statistics on Trinidad and Tobago. Facebook calls this the "estimated reach", i.e. the number of people in a particular age group in Trinidad and Tobago that Facebook reaches:

• There are 218,040 people on FB who live in Trinidad and Tobago between the ages of 18 and 25 inclusive
• There are 275,740 people on FB who live in Trinidad and Tobago between the ages of 25 and 50 inclusive
• There are 36,000 people on FB who live in Trinidad and Tobago between the ages of 50 and 64 inclusive.

These are interesting statistics because now it can be concluded that Facebook has a reach, in the 18 year olds and above, of 529,780 Trinbagoians.

That is more than the Express (45K), Guardian (40K) and Newsday (40K) a total circulation of 125,000 daily. Facebook reaches five times as many Trinbagoians. .


What does all this mean to massage therapist in Trinidad and Tobago? It means that all these entities cannot ignore this social network. It means that they must find a way to leverage it to accomplish their missions. Facebook is not fading away.


Some of the early adopters will be the first to maximize the Facebook potential but many will continue to see it as just another social network. It is a social medium but it’s also a communication medium with the pre-requisite infrastructure to support any type of communication.

Users have the ability to use email, instant chatting and sharing information all within the network. It’s the ideal medium to maintain constant contact with any group, company, organization or a significant segment of the Trinidad and Tobago population.

Ignore it at your own peril.

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