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You Would Not Regret It

Rinalda, Free Lance LMT Trinidad & Tobago

Massage Therapy Is Not All Massage, It Also Requires Listening

Today's post is a contribution from Rinalda a local Trinidad and Tobago Licensed Massage Therapist who I have mentioned in a previous post.  

Rinalda has graciously given permission for her articles to be shared in this blog.  I find this pieces interesting for anyone involved with massage therapy.  Read and comment if what she writes appeals to you too. 

You can view Rinalda Site here. 

Her article follows:

Her Subject: Para

Namaste

Did I ever tell you that I had twelve fingers?  The question was asked by one of my old friends (Lady M) at the Home.  I was massaging her arm, and she was reflecting on her life.  Yes, she had told me that before, but it pays (sometimes) for me to have selective Alzheimer’s so that I could listen with fresh ears to the (same) story.  I invited her to tell me about it.

She had the extra two little fingers that I remember being prevalent during my childhood.  Now I guess fertility drugs (the excessive chemicals in our food) have done a good job at ensuring that the foetus is configured correctly).  In her case, her father took her to a Doctor in Barataria to have the fingers surgically removed when she became a young lady.  She’s in her 80s, so don’t even ask who was that Doctor.

After finishing with her arms, I sat on a stool and placed her foot on my lap and began working on it.  As I did, another lady (Lady D), came across and whispered that she did not get any lunch.  Not a morsel for the day.  Her facial expression bemoaned her situation and demanded that I do too.  I was saved the need to respond when Lady M said that she was lying.  I am not lying!  Declared Lady D.  And with that she held the chair handle and went down on her knees swearing: Lord Jesus, if I am lying, kill me right here!  Please!  I interjected.  I could do without Lady D falling down in front of me.

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Lady D got up and pointed her finger at Lady M and declared her a damn liar.  Lady M pointed back her finger shouting: damn you!  Now, now, ladies and gentlemen...damn is not a word per se.  It is a very specific command that esoteric folks understand well enough not to use it casually.  Unlike them, many mothers have messed up their children’s lives by simply swearing it at them repeatedly.  Not to mention their own, for having uttered it.

According to one of my Teachers, these Homes for the Elderly are departure lounges.  For whatever reason, my soul has business with souls who are on their way out to catch their flight.  Yes, I’m like a prettily dressed waitress serving drinks and cakes, and mopping up spills  in the lounge.  Just keeping the folks comfortable and in readiness for the sudden arrival of their plane.

Lady D again implored my help.  She explained that she was a staunch Catholic.  (Uh-huh.  Remember her?)  And, as a staunch Catholic, she would not lie.  Point taken.  Lady M explained that they were both seated at the table a while ago having lunch and that Lady D ate all her food.  Me!  Not me!  I had nothing (palm facing out, her hand move like a windscreen wiper) for the day.  You are lying.  Lady M insisted.  And Lady D was back on her knees swearing: Lord Jesus, if I am lying this day, don’t let me get up from here.  I asked Lady D to please arise.  

I do not wish to be present the day that prayer is answered.  She returned to her seat mumbling, and I was fine with that.  Better than that the damning pointing exchange.  It was verified that Lady D had breakfast, snack, and lunch.  Her denial remained.  There goes Alzheimer’s for you.

No offence intended, but if being a staunch Catholic is going to get you into your 90s with a miserable attitude, you may want to drop the staunch...from now.  I know a many regular Catholics, and they are fine.

Over to the men now.  The guy who was alone in the back room with the terrible temper and major kidney problem that partly caused his feet to be hung on in a most mentally disturbing way, took his flight.  The Doctor came to see him one day and took a blood sample.  The next day (after reviewing the test results) the Doctor called and suggested that they immediately send him to the hospital.  The ambulance took him to the hospital and he was admitted.  Less than 24 hours after he took his flight.  Hmmm.  A strange bed can do that to you...make you jump out.

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The other two guys are as one would prefer departure lounge folks to be...pleasant, jovial, and the likes.  They debated who should get massaged first, as it was presumed that last person to get massaged, gets a longer massage.  Is that so?  Yes.  They have observed that.  Hmmm.  Mr R was done first.  He has gotten quite pale.  I suggested that he spend some time out in the living room where he would get some sun.  He wants to go out in the gallery.  That is not allowed unsupervised, and a part of him has decided that it’s that or nothing.  I told Mr F that he should encourage Mr R to leave the room sometimes and get some sun.  Mr F said that he is accustomed to son, he has five, but Mr R on the other hand has no children.  Oh!

It was then Mr F’s turn to have a massage.  He studied, in faraway places, subjects in the line of Sports, so he could advise me on the appropriateness or inappropriateness of this and that, including postures.  He did his share of Football managing and flew hither, thither and yond with teams.  I’m not a sports person, so while he enthusiastically shared, I listened, if only to have my ignorance obliterated.  And, as important as he and his work were, I never heard of him before he showed up in the Home.  This Earth we walk on is a very level playing field...you are brought up, and you are brought down.  Level.

Anyway, he also likes to speak of things, uh, paranormal.  He was born with a cord or coil or whatever the correct word is.  In English, his psychic abilities are keen, too keen for his liking...a burdensome gift.  More so now that he is lounging.  Understood.  The closer one gets to the other side, the thinner the veils become.  All is seen for the One that it really is.  He shared a few experiences, to which I could have related, and the conversation would have gone on forever, but I had a client on their way to my house and I needed to be home before they arrived.

The massage was good, but the conversation was better, said Mr F.  It is good to have someone to talk who does not make you feel like you are strange.  Strange?  That’s my surname.  I promised to get permission to sleep over one night.  We’ll jam the two beds together and I will turn to Mr. R and talk a bit, then turn to Mr F and talk a bit.  The Matron was tickled.  It is believed that the next morning they will have to get a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers to get Mr F out from under my skin.

Speaking of strange, I lay in bed one afternoon (recently) with my eyes closed and immediately had a vision of a little lady (less than 2ft in height) standing in the bedroom saying something to me.  


These beings come and go all the time...  I felt no inclination to engage her.  She began speaking in a raised tone.  Hmmm.  I decided to open my eyes.  I could not.  Okay.  I decided to sit up.  I could not.  I’ve heard perfectly logical explanations for what I experienced.  It is okay for the man in the dark to feel that the thing coiled up in the corner is a snake.  No point convincing him that it is not what he thinks it is.  When dawn comes he’ll see it is a rope.

One of the things about these entities is their knack for obedience...to the highest bidder.  They (she was not alone) came to me for something, and would not leave without it.  Shutting my body down does not mean shutting me down, because I am not my body.  This they already know, but it would be unlike them not to bluff.  I engaged them mentally...otherwise called spiritual warfare.  If the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, then our battles aren’t.

Knowing the name of the entity reveals its function.  But I really did not care to know what she/it/them came to accomplish.  Before I dismissed her I asked who sent her.  That way I could do the Return to Sender thing without delving into the contents of the parcel.  Every craftsman is obligated to initialling his work.  It is basic protocol.  So a person can know at who sent what to them if they simply flip the envelope and read the back.  However, we are often too scared at the appearance of these entities to do such. 

These are the conversations that Mr F and I could have without anyone flinching.  And if you are gifted to see these entities as regularly as he does, you will understand how distracting it can be.  Higher entities are also seen.  But whether a sense of fear or awe is induced, in the moment that it happens, it can interfere with the regular functioning of that person until they learn to control their reaction.  You cannot control what you see, but you can control the way in which you respond to what you see.  A sighting is a conscious intersecting of worlds/realities.  Where there is an intersection there are options...things can go good, or very bad.

I went out to do a massage the morning in question, as I was on my way back home...walking up my street, I saw a vehicle approaching.  It belonged to a neighbour...with whom I have never had a verbal exchange.  There was another car parked in the street, and I averaged that there would be insufficient space for the other vehicle to past near it and still leave room for me.  So I stepped aside and waited.  The car inched pass and stopped near me.  The window came down.  The driver, a mature lady, smiled.  Hello, are you my neighbour?  Yes, I responded.  With that she stretched her hand out of the vehicle to shake mine.  I took it.  She said her name.  I said mine.  She drove off.

This was the moment of exchange.  The fleeting handshake that led to that odd-looking little lady showing up in my bedroom.  This neighbour of mine has been observing me and decided at some point that she wanted some of whatever it is that I seem to have.  So she figured out a way to make physical contact with me.  Had I been the only resident of the yard, it may have been easier for her to just leave something for me to step on.  And, had I been differently configured, this could have ended with a Priest trying to sort me out.

Of course, my dear neighbour is aware that her strategy did not work because that which she sent out would have returned to her.  It’s called boomerang...some call it obeah.  Now it’s either she backs off, or doubles her efforts.  Supernatural bullying may be her way of acquiring/maintaining her standard of living.  Vampirism is real on all planes of reality, so it is not for me to make this a personal issue. 


 She is doing what she probably came to Earth to do, and it behoves me to get on with my purpose too.  The strength of a damn is not tested by a low tide...we all want to be surrounded by nice people, but a worthy opponent is invaluable.  The Sympathetic Nervous System needs its Para counterpart.

If you try to contact me and I’m unavailable, know that I’m busy tacking up the holes in my aura.  Handshakes are getting tedious.  Phew!  A woman’s work is never done.

"If you can describe it, then it's not Zen."

If you got this far, let us know what you think.

Sex and Trinidad & Tobago Massage Therapists - Part 2

Massages with Happy Endings

Why are Trinidad and Tobago men so obsessed with sexual satisfaction when they hear the word “massage”?

This is a question we focused on in the last post on this topic.  One Massage Therapist attributed the pervasive misconception to the history of massage in Trinidad and Tobago.  Citizens of this country were introduced to massage not as a healing art but as a precursor to sex. 

In the early years the only commercially available massages were done in what was known as Massage Parlors.  Men were offered erotic or sensual massages usually performed by scantily dressed, very attractive young women.  

It was a legitimate way for both encumbered and single men to “get off” without the guilty feeling of having paid a prostitute or “make a fare” as it is said in Trinidad.

Massage therapy is relatively new in Trinidad and Tobago when compared to older cultures.  It was the emergence of a culture of sports that legitimate Massage Therapy really began getting a toe hold in Trinbago.  Most dedicated athletes appreciate the therapeutic value of a well done massage.

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How To Minimize The Risk of STDs & HIV Aids Infections in Trinidad and Tobago

Mainly because of sports, more local men became certified Massage Therapists with the ability to execute a professional Swedish, Deep Tissue or Acupressure massage.  This was the catalyst that transformed the perception of the industry for a significant of men in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ironically, now men are fending off women with the same misconceptions of their mail counterparts.     

Most legitimately certified massage therapists must constantly be on the alert to weed out clients seeking massages with “happy endings”. 

In the real live example in my last post, I promised to share how what was a legitimate appointment turned out.  I called to confirm and the conversation was short and disappointing.  Here’s how it went...

“Hello I’m calling to confirm your appointment for a full body massage at 8:30 AM”

“Yes, I’m getting ready to come out there right now” he said, then continued.

“I have one question to ask; do I get a release at the end of the massage?”

“Do you mean you will like to be jerked off after the massage?” knowing the answer before I asked.   

“Yes” he answered.

“No” I responded, “you are looking for a different type of massage, we don’t do those.”

“Ok” he said.  “I’ll call you back”

“Have a nice day” I said, as I hung up the phone.

Dammit admit it.   Trinidad and Tobago men and women do have misconstrued idea of Massage Therapy.  We know that now.  The more important question is not why but how. 

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How can legitimate massage therapists turn this thing around? 

Education is the obvious answer. 

But how do we re-educate a cultural belief?  How do we change men’s minds?

Marketing 

Follow this blog we share with you some of the marketing strategies and tactics you can use to educate your market.

I see it from a marketing perspective and maybe you don't. Feel free to suggest how this could be done, share it with us.  Let us know what you think.  

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Sex and the Trinidad and Tobago Massage Therapist

Men Seeking Sensual Therapeutic Massages

All massages are sensual but what we are referring to here is erotic or sexual.  

In Trinidad and Tobago there is a thin line between a Massage Therapist and a masseur.   Most adult men think that the word "Massage" has everything to do with sexual satisfaction.  

 Licensed Massage Therapist who are not willing to do what Masseurs do must be adept at screening out male clients who assume that a full body massage includes massaging their private parts.

Literally hundreds of Massage Parlors, offering sensual or erotic massages, have sprung up in every city in Trinidad.  What clients will find in these parlors are Masseurs who cater to an overwhelming national male need for sexual gratification.  The masseur’s only qualification is a pretty face and attractive body, certification is welcomed but not a necessity.  They can easily pass themselves as Massage Therapists with "Extra Benefits" benefits all based on compensation.  

It becomes hard for most men to tell the difference between a therapist and a masseur.

The following is an example of what can happen when an ad is placed in the Health Care Classified Section of the Express.  The ad specifically states therapeutic massages by appointment or home service.   The phone rings…

“Hello” I said, answering the cell phone I used in my classified newspaper advertisement.  I am an independent Massage Therapist renting space in a Massage Therapy office in San Juan.  

“Hello, I’m calling about the ad for a therapeutic massage” the voice on the other end said.

“Would you like to make an appointment?”

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“No, not yet, tell me what do you offer?  Can you tell me something about the massage?

“Sure” I said. “You will get a therapeutic massage that relieves stress and promotes relaxation.  Your acupressure points will be massaged to stimulate your circulatory and nervous system to function better.  At the end of the massage you will feel totally different.”  I assured him.  

A red flag should have gone up then instead I continued with a question…

 “Have you ever had a massage done before sir?”

Yes, I have”,  he responded, "it’s just that the woman that did it… well I lost her number and cannot get back in touch with her. 

“Would you like to make an appointment”?   

“Yes I would” he responded.  “Can I come in for an early appointment on Tuesday?”

“What’s early to you sir?”  I asked.  

“Eight thirty”, he answered, “I go to work for 10 AM and I want to be massaged before I go”.

“OK, not a problem, I’ll see you then.  Here’s how you get to our place…”

 The point today is that Massage Therapists must exercise caution when meeting new clients.   There was nothing much in our conversation to trigger any suspicions if you are naive to what can transpire.   

There is a significant segment of men in Trinidad and Tobago who know the awesome therapeutic value of a well done massage.   These men get regular massages as evidenced by the number of well established massage establishments in the country.  

However and unfortunately we still need a lot of education or re-education to occur before the scales are tipped.   In a society obsessed with sexual satisfaction and machismo the only solution would appear to be a change in legislation or enforcement if laws do exist.   

This is how it turned out. 

4 Marketing Tactics Independent Massages Therapist Should Use

Massage Therapy Marketing For Beginners

Massage Therapy schools in Trinidad & Tobago do not include sessions on how to build a massage therapy business.  Every year hundreds of new Massage Therapists graduate with varying degrees of skill levels, in other words some have embraced the discipline and others are just so-so.    

All compete in the market for the available clients.   How you market your business whether you are just starting or have had your certification for a number of years will determine your success. The following are four basic tactics that every Massage Therapist should use to market their services. 

1.  Word Of Mouth:  By far the best way to get more clients is word of mouth.  That is someone telling their friends about your ability to give an effective massage.  This form of advertising is also the most inexpensive.  You start by letting your friends and associates know about what you do asking them tell their friends and associates.  Unfortunately, in order for this type of advertising you must first be good at what you do and secondly it does not work overnight and can take a few years to become a sustainable form of advertising. 

2.  Referrals:  This is very similar to word of mouth in that you do require your clients to tell their friends and associates about your business and it could cost you nothing.  It’s different because it should become an integral part of your business.  In other words it must be a system you have that you execute with every client.  For example, you may have a referral process where you discount future massages for each client when they refer another paying client.  Point on this system is that each and every client you get must know about it and it should be in writing.  Use the free intake form to get data on your clients.  Get it from this post. 

3.  Classified Newspaper Ads:  Now you are paying, although it’s not much and the cost of these ads can be recuperated easily.  This assumes that you know something about how to place a classified ad and the words you use to attract clients.  It’s too much to go into the mechanics here but where you place the ad in the classified section is important as important as the words you choose.  Most ads are sold by the number of words you use.  Bear in mind that a classified ad is not intended to sell your business.  The purpose is to get prospects to call.  If you try to do anything else with the ad, it will not work.  

4.  Flyers:  This is a little more expensive tactic that can return significant returns; however, it must be done strategically.  That is to say, yes you want to do flyers targeted to a niche.  The returns on mass audience flyers are generally pitiful.  Flyers works best when a specific niche of your market is targeted.  For example, you can focus on the hotels and tourist markets.  Make flyers and distribute in hotels, motels and guest houses in Trinidad and Tobago.  Make arrangements with the hotel management to offer a massage service as part of their hotel package.  Offer the hotel a monetary incentive to include your service in their advertisements.   

The bottom line is as a new or even old Massage Therapist you must find a way to incorporate as many of these basic strategies in your marketing.  The goal is to build a more sustainable practice.  You can sit on your massage fingers and complain or get up and do something.  If you do nothing else, at the very least you could employ a systematic word of mouth strategy tied to a referral system.   

Start reimbursing yourself for the tuition to learn what you know, now is the time to get it back. 

Most Massage Therapists Have The Shoe Maker’s Problem

Caught In The Trader’s Trap

He builds and repairs shoes for hundreds of customers while ignoring holes in the soles of his own shoes.   Massage Therapist almost never get a massage themselves.  They don't realize that unlike the shoemaker their entire business depends on their health. 

Whether a Massage Therapist works for an organization or is independent, finding the time to have a massage on their own body is almost impossible.  No doubt, it is easy, and most do, self massage when they feel a pain but for many of the pains they cannot effectively massage.  

The truth is that Massage Therapists are similar to doctors, lawyers, plumbers and shoemakers.  In fact, any profession that relies on an individual’s skill for sustained income falls under that is called the “Trader’s Trap”. The pitfall is that their economic survival depends on their good health.  If, or should I say when,  their health is affected in any way, they immediately lose their income.  

The irony is that most Massage Therapists know the benefits of a therapeutic massage; yet they come up with reasons like “I’m too busy”  “I can’t find anyone to massage me”  or  the classic “I don’t need one”.   It's the same excuses that many of their clients use when they try to avoid having a massage done.

And take a guess which part of the body feels the pain first.  Yes, you are right, the feet.  Most Message Therapists are on their feet most of the day which will eventually take a toll after a few years.  

What's your excuse?  When's the last time you had a massage done on your feet or whole body?  

Take your own medicine and get a massage soon, no one knows the benefits better than yourself.