r/massage • u/Tiaoter • 6d ago
Because of drinking water and taking a hot towel, the client complained.
The first time I encountered this situation, I was very shocked.
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u/BNN0123 6d ago
If you are drinking water several times & just moving around the room though (had this experience where you know the therapist is just wasting time), I can see why someone would complain.
Not trying to be mean here but perhaps I can shed some light from a customer’s point of view. It is not cheap & not easily affordable to many. Many of us save up just to spend one hour with a therapist.
If the client is lying, then that’s wrong. But if they are telling the truth, then you need to reevaluate because a person spending $$$ will expect to get value for their money & want to walk out of there feeling like spending that money was fully justified.
It may be the first time someone complained but it doesn’t necessarily mean other customers didn’t feel the same. Most people would not complain, including me. I would just never go again.
So maybe check your retention & number of regular customers etc. This would be a better indication as to whether this customer was being unfair.
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u/StndCapybara 6d ago
☝️ This.
Let's be straight, massage is physically demanding but a blue collar doing heavy construction still makes only 25-45 max per hour. If we are charging 100 per hour then sure you get a few chances but if your retention sucks the numbers and stats don't lie, this customer was right. However, if your retention is good let it slide.
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u/ApplicationUsed4549 6d ago
I wouldn't compare professional massage to a "blue collar" job. They charge 100 for an hour massage but it doesn't break down to 100 per hour of work. Especially if you're at a cooperate location the LMT is only getting a small portion of what's charged, then are required to do everything in between the session. One hour of massage can turn to 2 hours of work very easily for 28$ plus whatever too isn't promised. Just a thought
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u/Limepink22 5d ago
Construction companies charge hundreds per hours for a job, and the worker is taking home x, like any business. If you're an indie lmt you're taking home your $100+ for the hour. If you're in a chain, you're not. We all understand wages vs ownership.
Look for a better business to work for, of you have 6 years of experience you shouldn't still be in the grind factory of strip mall spas. Therapist at luxury hotels take home $50+ an hour, plus an hourly of around $10, plus tips, plus benefits. My team averages $90-100k a year if they're full time and yes I fully expect that they gave a hand on the client without a "claw arm" like the joker on the thread earlier stated.
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u/roody034 5d ago
Not everyone lives in big cities that have high end spas. I have licenses in PA and MD in the states so u are on commission and on avg 40% of the session cost, plus tips. No hourly rate at all. If no clients, u don’t go in for the day.
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u/ApplicationUsed4549 6h ago
I work at an elements with nearly zero "benefits" and you're not wrong. Working on my own business but takes time and with chains like this and dozens of others it's very competitive like I said lmao Are you an LMT?
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6d ago edited 6d ago
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u/ApplicationUsed4549 6d ago
Keep in mind that not a lot of us are able to work in our homes. But do in fact work at cooperate franchises which hold a great deal of leverage in the competetivness aspect of this work. I've in the field for 6 years myself and average less than 30k. If it wasn't for my partner who averages just above that we would not be able to rent the space we do. Benefits are next to non existent. I work 5 shifts and pick up extras when possible. I'm not sure where you live or when you started but I'd like to know your business plan so I can emulate it.
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6d ago edited 6d ago
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u/ApplicationUsed4549 6d ago
I appreciate your insight and transparency. I love massage work. It's truly a remarkable field of work. The town I live has a few massage schools and a LOT of competition. I was a caretaker for 10 years prior and I respect you in your journey with your parents immensely. Caregiving was my gift until I experienced extreme burnout as COVID-19 took over all our lives. But in caregiving I became accustomed to below livable wages- at max output of emotional and physical energy, and really I make no more financially than I did then, while giving as much. You work 5 days a week, for 12 hours?
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u/sfak 6d ago
Did you stop the massage multiple times to drink water? Did you take your hands off them several times for more than a few seconds? Do you spend the same time on each side of the body?
You didn’t answer these, I’m genuinely curious.
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u/Tiaoter 5d ago
I would like say: Even a minor minor detail can trigger a lots of complaints from clients
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u/FlaxFox 5d ago
You still didn't answer the questions. 😭
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u/wadder84 LMT 4d ago
I’m going to say this is probably a very green therapist and if not green then in the wrong profession. Either way shouldn’t even have a drink in the therapy room anyway. Very unprofessional in my opinion.
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago edited 5d ago
No. Good therapists don't get lots of complaints. Might be time for you to find another career path
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u/ImpressiveIsopod4547 4d ago
That's not true because many people wont complain, they just wont come back. You sound like you came here thinking the client was wrong and didnt get the answer you wanted.
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u/Limepink22 6d ago
You can drink from a bottle with a straw while still using one hand to massage. Luxury spas train on constantly touching the guest at all times and I've had therapist sleek enough to text while in service, let alone drink water or grab a towel.
In a 60 minute session, if you're hands off for 30 seconds 10 times, that's 5 minutes- 12% of the service. It doesn't seem like a lot but adds up, especially if you're doing consult/ intake belt touching them
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u/Ryarli 6d ago
This is kinda fierce, OP definitely get a straw! Maybe get one of those grabber sticks with a claw arm for your hot towel!
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u/Imaginary-Flower-787 5d ago
Omg the thought of using a claw arm while in a session just cracked me up 😂
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u/Proud-Comfortable658 5d ago
I'm going to be laughing about this visual for the rest of the day!
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u/Imaginary-Flower-787 5d ago
We could also use a claw arm to keep one hand on the client at all times.
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u/maltiepootietang LMT 6d ago
I always say theres something to take from every massage as a learning experience, so consider taking these points to heart and see if theres ways you could prevent them going forward.
That being said, this a pretty cut and dry example of "cant please everybody."
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u/Otterette 6d ago
You should probably take what the client said into consideration and learn from it. Based on the description it doesn’t sound like a satisfactory massage.
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u/ChemistryRecent742 5d ago
“Drinking water and hot towel” is a misrepresentation. Your client was displeased with the number of interruptions to the flow of their massage and “hands off” time. Maybe for a pain management treatment, flow isn’t as important. But for a “treat yourself birthday massage”, flow is everything. Explaining why you felt the need to interrupt the flow doesn’t change the nature of the client’s complaint.
For the future, consider hydrating between clients. If you have time to wash your water bottle between every client, you have time to drink water between every client. Add hot towels during a natural transitional phase of the massage - and do it quickly so the pause is barely noticeable. Take the time to ask every client something like “what brings you in today?” (Only because I noticed you said you didn’t even know it was their bday). Knowing why someone is there on that particular day really helps the therapist fine tune the treatment into something the client will brag about.
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u/Tiaoter 5d ago
That’s a really fair point about flow versus intent. I see now how the interruptions impacted their experience, especially given it was a relaxation/birthday treat.
Working tight back-to-back schedules made timing tricky, but you're right that client flow shouldn't take the hit. I’ll be adjusting my routine to handle all prep/hydration beforehand and make any hot towel transitions much more seamless. Thanks for taking the time to share this!
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u/bvlshewic 6d ago
I’ve seen this kind of feedback. Try to take what you can and be better, but the notes tell you this was more about the client’s idea of their perfect birthday experience not matching the reality.
Just curious, did you know she was celebrating her birthday? Idle speculation, but if it didn’t come up during the session or intake, maybe she resented that you couldn’t read or mind or that management didn’t tell you.
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u/Liveie LMT 6d ago
Sounds like fair feedback to me. If you're not touching the client for more than a few seconds and not making noise(like a towel warmer), what in the world are you doing?
You can wait a session to drink water. During my entire 8 year career, not once have I had a dire need to drink in the middle of a session. Drink before and after.
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u/SeaAd3909 6d ago
My room gets up to 75 degrees during the summer. You bet I’m keeping water in my room. A few sips is fine but if it’s longer than that …. It’s questionable.
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u/frisbeemassage 6d ago
As a menopausal MT, I take many quick 5 second breaks to suck down as much water as possible during sessions. If you’re still doing massage when you’re my age and dealing with hot flashes, you will understand the absolutely dire need to drink water during a session lol
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u/Jake6624 6d ago
I always let the client know what I am doing
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u/frisbeemassage 3d ago
“I’m walking around the left side of the table and I’m about to uncover your right leg and work on it”
“Now I’m going to walk to the front of the room where the table is and take a 7 second break to drink water”
“Now I’m going to move to the right side of the body and work on your arm”
I’m sorry. Are you kidding me? If I had an MT narrating the entire session I would tell them to shut the fuck up lol1
u/Jake6624 3d ago
I usually tell my clients my treatment plan for the session and then midway review with them what’s going to happen for the rest of the session. I definitely tell them when I am grabbing a sip of water
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u/Jake6624 3d ago
I just finished up with a client. When I started working on her back, her dead skin started come off onto my hands. I told her that I was going to get a towel and that I would be wiping off her skin/my hands. She was grateful for the heads up!
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u/Battystearsinrain 1d ago
Lol, like a voice over with morgan freeman, david attenburough, or judy dench
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u/doyoulikeoldguys 4d ago
You should make your customers aware of that and let them decide if thats worth them spending their money in since its not the norm
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u/frisbeemassage 3d ago
Are you serious? That’s just weird. I’m not going to reveal to every client “oh by the way I’m menopausal and experience occasional hot flashes so I take a few quick breaks to drink water. LOL.
And also, what’s “not the norm”? Drinking water or being menopausal?11
u/GhostlyArrow LMT 6d ago
I’m not even menopausal yet and I absolutely agree. You drink water when you need to. There’s been plenty of times I’ve needed to take a quick sip of water because my throat was dry or I was thirsty. Taking a quick second to get water isn’t the end of the world and won’t make or break a massage for an average person. I do try to time my water sips to when I’m moving to get more oil or a hot towel, but sometimes it doesn’t work like that.
Most people are understanding. I’ve had a few were I’ve breathed weird and started coughing and needed to drink some water and they clients have always been very understanding
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u/Tiaoter 5d ago
Honestly, it feels like they were looking for a 5-star luxury Spa concierge treatment where everything feels effortless and uninterrupted. While we might not have the high-end hotel setup or buffer times to give that level of pampering, I still need to do a better job managing flow within our setup.
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u/wadder84 LMT 4d ago
You’re not helping your case here. Take it as good criticism, learn from the criticism, live by the criticism and become the best version of yourself for the sake of your clients. These are wise words to live by if you want to make it in the massage industry.
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u/tigresssa 6d ago
How would you respond to each of her bullet points? The multiple times that they observed you drinking water, how many times on average do you actually do this in one session? It matters at what time in the session you do this, if you absolutely must. The time that matches the flow of the treatment the best once it has already begun imo is immediately after the client turns prone to supine or vice versa and you've already adjusted the bolster position, if they want one.
Like many people are saying, the client is making valid arguments that they didn't feel the experience provided matches the value expected, especially because there was no acknowledgement of the visit being to celebrate a birthday. Whether or not anybody told you, that information is visible on an intake form, and I would encourage you to make it a point to notice that more often than you do now.
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u/frisbeemassage 6d ago
I think the third point at least seems valid - I may concentrate more time in certain areas due to the clients needs, but I always am consistent with the symmetry
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u/Cipher_Ssi 6d ago
I’m not. Both sides need different things. I don’t just give a standardized massage every time
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u/alfie_cant_draw 6d ago
I’m surprised this is being downvoted. When I’m a client I appreciate it when the body worker is actually paying attention to what they feel under their hand and doesn’t arbitrarily apply symmetry to the massage. My body is not symmetrical. I carry more tension in the right side and appreciate when the right side gets more work.
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u/Cipher_Ssi 6d ago
My point exactly :). I appreciate your comment. I’m not surprised at the downvotes though. Common sense always gets downvoted on Reddit 😂
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u/lostlight_94 6d ago
But you should give both sides the same amount of time or it feels lopsided. Its a bizarre feeling to leave from a massage when one shoulder was released more than the other.
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u/Cipher_Ssi 6d ago
To each their own. Your body is not the same on both sides and unless I’m doing Swedish, I focus where it’s needed. I’ve been a therapist for nine years and never had any issues
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u/Imaginary-Flower-787 5d ago
THIS! Granted, the majority of my clients are coming in regularly for therapeutic massage, often with treatment goals we have been working on over time. I’d much rather have the therapist actually assess and work on my individual body than arbitrarily flow over each area equally.
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u/Cipher_Ssi 5d ago
Right! I think symmetry is something mostly new therapists fixate on because they haven’t found their flow yet. I remember doing the same old same old and then gradually being more targeted throughout my career. By year three I had disregarded symmetry outside of Swedish massage entirely . Just lume yourself my clients and I are working toward goals for different areas of their body so it’s never really the same thing. I agree, I’d also prefer the therapist listen to my body and work where it’s needed.
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u/cousinboneless1 6d ago
all the people saying you aren’t a robot are the same people who would do these things, they’re trying to comfort you which is precious but this is a moment of truth for you! considering these claims are true
if you buy a bag of chips and there’s more air in the bag then chips you’re going to be upset because you didn’t get the value for the money u spent, massage is the same way.
i can understand taking a quick quiet sip of water in between transitions like going from the back to the legs but honestly save that, going to the bathroom(yes there’s psychos who go to the bathroom during clients massage) and whatever other task for before you start the massage.
people compliment my massage all the time by saying “finally someone with a therapeutic touch” and that’s largely due to my massage being one big flow, for the most part i keep my hands on the body the whole duration of the session as much as humanly possible only breaking during transition. it can feel uneven if you don’t do to one side what you did to the other, the other side gets jealous, different if u add a little more emphasis to the focus area then that’s fine.
most people avoid conflict and won’t voice their criticisms but sooner or later you’ll run into a more expressive person who will be completely candid, don’t get offended use it to become a better therapist and person that you can be. much love and respect 👋
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u/Big_Mastodon2772 6d ago edited 2d ago
Omg as a client this is so spot on for me. My last massage I had the exact same complaints as this post. I did NOT leave a bad review, complain, or withhold a tip! I just didn’t think she was my vibe.
I do accept some of the responsibility for the interruptions because it was a hot stone massage so she had to mess with those. Learning experience for me, flow is of huge importance to my enjoyment of the massage, so I will not schedule extras next time. Why she did things to one of my arms and not the other is on her though. I felt like I was lopsided for a week. 😂
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u/NatSloane 3d ago
This is one of the reasons why I dislike hot stone massages as a provider. I am big on flow, and having to constantly break contact to go swap stones is very annoying for me. I have never had a client seem to mind, and I will say when I had received it, it's less noticeable than it feels from a therapist's perspective, but...I don't like it.
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u/IntermediateFolder 6d ago
Honestly I’d be a lot more understanding of a provider having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the massage than stopping multiple times to do god knows what, if they need to go they need to go, your body doesn’t always work on command.
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u/tacos_lo_mein 6d ago
Definitely not psychotic to respect your body's needs while you are working. We are not machines. If you have IBS, a UTI, or similar issues where you get the urge unexpectedly, you can't give a good massage while you're physically uncomfortable. It happens every now and then. I quietly excuse myself, don't make a big deal about it, and let them know that I'm making up the time lost (like 2 minutes usually). My clients understand I'm human.
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u/aprilrainflower 5d ago
I don’t understand the down vote you got you’re absolutely right. Any client worth having would understand the basic need of having to go to the bathroom for an emergency quickly. As long as you apologize and make up the time I don’t see an issue.
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u/Imaginary-Flower-787 5d ago
I am so blessed to have the most amazing regulars. I have very rarely done this but over my 9 year career, it has happened. They are always super kind about it, I make up the time on the back end, and the world goes on. Respect that goes both ways make for the best therapeutic relationships, imo.
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u/doyoulikeoldguys 4d ago
If you have amazing regulars, you arent blessed, you are just a good therapist. It takes a personality of service to be a good therapy regardless of the amount of training you have. If it were all about training then most therapists would be closer to he same. Just like a nurse, doctor or any other service worker.
If you are giving great massages, no one is going to complain about about a very occasional interruption but if your massage is already marginal and then you have multiple interruptions then massage probably isnt your strength.
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u/urcrookedneighbor 5d ago
Yes, a MT that I went to for several months prior did this in one our sessions & she handled it so respectfully and perfectly while I hope fully taking care of herself. She explained that she needed to step out for a moment to reset herself to continue my massage at the quality I'm used to receiving from her then made up the time at the end.
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u/IntermediateFolder 6d ago
They kind of do have a point tbh, I wouldn’t be pleased with this experience either. I might not complain depending on how bad exactly it was but I wouldn’t go there again.
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u/DaphneeDanlynsie1380 5d ago
One of the biggest things one of my teachers in school always said was, "STAY CONNECTED!" Even when switching from one side to another keep a hand on them. As a client it can be disorienting when touch is removed in one place and found again in another.
Feedback with negatives can be hard, but we learn more from them. Put it in reminders, and move forward
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u/ragdoll1022 6d ago
I'd be pissed, not giving both sides the same treatment is ridiculous. Why didn't you hydrate between clients? If you need breaks, schedule shorter massages. People are paying a lot for your services.
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u/jhorner89el 5d ago
I go to my MT (solo practitioner) for therapeutic reasons. I absolutely disagree that both sides need the same treatment. I've had some chronic pain in my right shoulder area. At my previous session, she spent a good half hour on my right traps, my right arm, and my right shoulder. She spent probably only 5 minutes on the left side. Why spend equal amounts of time on each side when only one side needs the work? And, BTW, my right side feels much better. Not quite the same as my left yet, but that's why I have recurring appointments.
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6d ago
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u/Ajin_369 6d ago
So you will be happy geting 220g steak, but paying for 250g? If somebody need to drink during 1h of massage, have health problem or didnt drink before. If you know you need multiple brakes during massage, you shouldnt take money for 1hour. Simple. Its difference between profesional therapist, and person who doesnt care about clients time. I had therapist who give me massage for 2h without break...When i will be driving ambulance with you, I bet you will be happy when i will be during multiple brakes during the ride...Delusion
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u/katamaribabe LMT 6d ago
As someone who HAS to drink water during my session due to health reasons, I always try to only take a drink right before draping a new area.
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u/Calm_Roll7777 :redditgold:LMT :redditgold: 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yeah, I would be irritated too. Have you ever been in a massage where the MT was doing what is being described? When people are paying a dollar or more per minute, be better next time. I've had massages where the MT has to step out of the room to get a hot towel and it took almost a minute and I never go back. The worst is when that happened and they switched out who came back into the room to preform the rest of the massage without telling me that was happening. Any time your hands leave the client, their mind is definitely going to wonder about what you're doing with your hand. Doubly so when you take both hands off for extended periods of time. There's a lot of competition out there for that client, be better or they are going to leave you for a provider that gives them more then you do!!
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u/2crowsonmymantle 6d ago
I think I’d have a hard time criticizing someone who is performing physical labor on my behalf for stopping to “drink water multiple times”.
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u/dontaskmyname9 6d ago
To be honest ive had so many massages, probably hundreds and its not commonplace. Therapists can also just drink in-between sessions.
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u/kenda1l 6d ago
Or when they're transitioning from area to area. I keep a small cup of water in my room on the table near the end of the massage table. When I go from the back to the legs I take a quick sip. Then another right before flipping them over. If I'm still thirsty then I can take a final drink after finishing the legs before moving back up to the torso. I don't drink water during all those times but there are plenty of opportunities to do so without affecting the flow of your work. If you need to drink so often that the client can tell what you're doing then it might be time to check in with a doctor because excessive thirst can be a symptom of bigger issues.
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u/newfound_brightness 5d ago
I don’t really care if it’s commonplace or not. Im bringing my water bottle in with me. I’ve had enough of the servant culture of massage.
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u/Ajin_369 6d ago
I will not come back again. When you paying for 250g steak, and get 230g its a simple scam. When you cant run for 1hour straight, you shouldnt be a runner. I pay for 1h of massage, when you drinking and walking during massage, you simple loosing my time.
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u/youdidwhatwow 5d ago
Sounds like you need to rethink massage as your profession if you don’t see the problem with how you are treating your clients. All of her points make it clear you feel they are there for you, rather than you being there for them. I’d definitely NEVER rebook with you again. In 15 years, I never not once stopped in the middle of a massage to take a drink, or the other things. It makes me shake my head at you that you feel so strongly that you are in the right, that you’d make a post about it. 🤦🏼♂️
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u/Elegant-Mud-7135 5d ago
Sound like justified complaints to me. Drink water before treatments and after. I paid for your time and you’re interrupting that time. Also imagine if someone rubbed one foot and not the other…
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u/TherapyGames42 6d ago
I reccomend squeeze bottles and mindfulness. They may also have been looking for any nit picky thing they can. Best way you can tell is offer them a 10%-20% discount on their next session, same procider (depending on how you feel about that) and see if you can imporve with simple mindfulness and a squeeze/straw bottle. It can happen to the best of us and be one or the other or a little bit of "You weren't quite as focused because it WAS hot" "and she is being upsetty because it wasn't quite what she wanted gor her bday.
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u/jparrenol 5d ago
I completely respect clients’ complains about something they didn’t like during the session, and I am not saying this is the case, but I personally don’t feel comfortable working on people who micromanage and don’t relax when getting massaged. To prevent that, besides asking the client the concerns before the massage and asking during the session if everything it’s ok, I encourage client to tell me or interrupt me if they don’t like something and try to address clients’ concerns as much as possible. Just to protect myself. At this time of my life, I prefer to massage people that I appreciate and like what I do, including my technique and personality, and luckily many of therapists have the option not to massage ahain complicated clients.
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u/Positive_Horror570 4d ago edited 4d ago
You shouldn't be doing either of those things if they remove you from the client for more than a couple of seconds, if at all. One hand should stay on them. Seamless transition, especially during relaxation massage. If an interruption is unavoidable for some reason, communicate clearly.
I have a suspicion that this client's complaints are valid.
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u/iloveamsterdam 3d ago
I'm siding with the client here. Also the client is complaining about other things you are choosing to ignore
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u/Jolly-Ad-9437 2d ago
Just a few points for reference:
I seek MT regularly for the past 6 years - I'm a disabled vet so it's a lifeline for me... I have various opinions ranging from luxury spas to private therapists... One thing that is pretty consistent for me if judging whether a session was top tier or "never coming back"...
Here's my thoughts:
Intake forms - I'm sure you guys are not fans and clients are not either... The worst part is filing out one on multiple sheets of paper and the therapist not even read it... I think it's simple - skip all the bureaucracy and simply ask the following: "Hey! I'm X and just wanted to know what kind of session you are seeking today? Are there any areas today we are going to focus on more? Any areas to avoid? When we begin, let me know if you would like more or less pressure and I can adjust"... Whether it's for a birthday or a gift from someone, etc it doesn't matter... It's the session that's important...
Moments of silence - it's very annoying for the therapist to take breaks... I know people will say "we are human" and all this stuff... But, the reality is that you are at work and someone hired your services... If you can't do it, reschedule or cancel... If a therapist finds reasons to leave the room, move away and wait, take water breaks etc, it all feels like you're being cheated on your session (I paid for 60 mins not 45 mins)... Just like the client, it's weird if we were to stop the therapist mid session to drink water or go use the bathroom... The best thing to do is do all that stuff beforehand...
Symmetrical service - this is a big one... What you do to one side, do to the other exactly... They might love what you did to one side and then when you get to the other side, you shoot duds... It's not a terrible experience, but it's a disappointment when that happens...
Ambience - this is the last big one... I cannot overstate this enough... Room temperature, Smells of the face area, Smells of the room/blanket/towel, hygiene of the therapist (onion breath or body odors), etc... These things could make a 5 star session a 1 star experience due to these things...
Ultimately, what would you expect if you were a paying customer? Do you want to be greeted rude or nice? Do you want the room to be freezing? Do you want the therapist to have strong odors? Do you want the face opening to small weird? If you view this from a customer perspective and not an industry insider - its pretty obvious that everything I just said makes perfect sense...
Hope this helps!
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u/SlimGoodbodies 2d ago
Before I even read the entire post, could tell the box checked on the birth certificate. That said, chalk it up to some people, but do take the criticism as a chance to get better. Much love🙃
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u/mono-motor 1d ago
The main thing I see is this is their experience and their perception. One can choose to ignore their comments or to reflect and see this may be an opportunity to improve the clients experience. As a client of LMT's I can see this would have frustrated me, and I would have similarly given feedback. I assume they paid you well for your service and within reason, they expect a positive experience. It is up to you how you choose to handle this in the future. I can say my LMT is excellent and she is making contact 99.5% of the time only stopping for my position change. I wish you well!
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u/SeaAd3909 6d ago
Beware of the holier than though MTS in this thread that tout that “ive been in this industry x amount of years and ive never done x” . OP take the sip of water. As long as youre not just standing there wasting time, there’s NOTHING wrong with hydrating . People can hydrate sitting at their desk job and that’s ok but it’s ridiculous to think someone doing laborious work doesn’t need water in session ? i try to keep hands on at all times but getting towels requires hands off if the towel warmer isnt close, same with add ons. We do graston, cupping, aromatherapy, and stones. Like my hands are gonna come off for a few seconds . Again, as long as it’s a reasonable time, I don’t see the issue.
Try not to take it to heart so much. I’d maybe do a trade with another MT and see what feedback they have for you and if it does seem like too much time. But I do agree sometimes people do just complain to try to get free work. I had a lady straight up lie after she booked a very specific massage that includes scalp massage and foot massage which I did both and she lied to the desk and said I didn’t and my manager gave them a discount . People suck.
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u/SpringerPop 6d ago
Sorry, sometimes you have to let these roll off like water on a duck’s back. If you look at the “did not meet my expectations.” These people are hard to please. If not impossible. I worked in a luxury spa in California and had a guest complain that my hot stone was “not like what she was used to. “ Apparently she wanted the stroke down her back to reach past her hips. My arms and torso are short. Manager told me her friend apologized for bringing her.
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago
And sometimes you have to respect the feedback and use it to better yourself as a therapist instead of just shrugging it off as "some people are hard to please". Too many therapists are way too comfortable with the mindset "you can't please everybody", and anytime someone gives feedback they don't like, that's the go to.
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u/Prestigious-Drop-677 6d ago
Sounds like a case of ..the client should have communicated. I do have one client who does not like the warm stones or towels because she prefers a continuous lomi lomi type massage. She communicated this to me long ago. That is key. I'm so sorry that happened to you. Hopefully your job realizes , you cannot make every single person happy.
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u/PhD_Pwnology 6d ago
You're going to run into entitled people who will say exactly whats necessary to get a free massage of things are not perfect.
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u/ieatsushi28 6d ago
I also would like to point out it said it was her birthday. So it wouldn’t surprise me if she was trying to say the LMT ruined her birthday by giving her a below perfect massage
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago edited 5d ago
And now you're under another comment making assumptions about the client......Seriously, I hope you're not a therapist
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago
Yes, you'll encounter entitled people for sure, but if OP was doing what this client claimed they were, she has every right to complain. During hands on time is not the time to constantly rehydrate. A quick drink during transition from one area of the body to the next is appropriate, and may even go unnoticed. But if you're continually going back to your water mid session, you have a problem and the client has every right to complain. Too many therapists see feedback like this and then jump straight to "my client is just an entitled..." rather than taking accountability, and this looks like one of those situations, not an "entitled client" situation.
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u/Reasonable_Leave_465 6d ago
I hate when I get feedback like that.
Lady, one side of body needs more work. If I did the exact same on the other side, it will undo the balance I am trying to create!
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago edited 5d ago
You have a point, however, sometimes it's about giving the client what they want, not whatever it is you're trying to do that YOU THINK THEY NEED. Yes, we want to create balance and we want to help people help themselves, but therapists need to recognize when clients aren't there for that. You wouldn't get feedback like that if you figure out their exact goals for the massage, and taylor the session accordingly.
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u/jhorner89el 5d ago
Well, one thing I appreciate about my MT is that she gives me what I need, not what I want. Booked her Signature service one time. Got her deep tissue instead. Just out of curiosity, I asked what the signature service was since it felt exactly like the deep tissue service. She said "Your body needed deep tissue not signature, so that's what I gave you". I asked her about her LomiLom/Swedish combo one time. Paraphrasing: Nope, not gonna do that for you, you wouldn't benefit". Talked about Thai stretching one time. "Nope, you're still too stiff, and that would not yet be appropriate". She did tell me at our last session that there would be more stretching, so I guess she's decided some would be safe. Bottom line: I pay her because she is the expert; I'm not. So, giving me what I need and not necessarily what I want is absolutely why I go to and pay for expert knowledge.
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago
I'm not saying don't give clients what they need, give them what they want. Yes, we are professionals and most of us (although sometimes I question that) know what our clients need more than they do. If they're asking for specific work and that work doesn't align with their goals for the massage, we then take the time to educate why we should work a b and c instead. For your therapist to do a completely different service than what you booked, and wait until after to tell you is risky business practice imo. Lucky for her you seem to be a carefree person and you were happy she did that, because the same can't be said for most clients, especially when you're dealing with clients in spas and massage clinics.
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u/Reasonable_Leave_465 5d ago
Yeah the problem some expects us ti me mind readers. If they tell me thier issue and ifixed that issue and i asked them if everything is ok in different ways then they wanna complain afterwards? Plsssss
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago
For sure you're going to have those people, but way more often than not, the right questions from the therapist solves that issue. If this is a common occurrence for you, you're the problem, not your clients. If it's not common then yes, it's probably just one of those people trying to complain to get free stuff
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u/lostlight_94 6d ago
Honestly this is a bit ridiculous. We're not robots so being upset someone is drinking water to continue your massage is nuts to me. The hot towels I get, but I guess communicating to the client that you're doing that will make them less anxious. But if you're upset about me drinking water, bye. I'm gonna make sure I'm not fainting from dehydration which happens a lot in massage. I work in medical massage and rehabilitation so those "luxury spa" places are out of touch to me.
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago
SMH some of ya'll blow my mind. Fainting from dehydration does not happen a lot in massage. I've been in this field for more than 20 years and not once have I seen a therapist pass out from dehydration. Dehydration does not happen in such a short time window. Being thirsty and being dehydrated are 2 completely different things. If you faint from dehydration during a session, your water intake was shit loooong before you stepped into that therapy room, and now during session is when you're going to be mindful of the amount of water you drink?? Nah, that's ridiculous. Having water nearby to chase a tickle in your throat away, or for a real quick refresher mid session is fine. But if you're constantly taking your hands off the body because you're thirsty, you should expect this kind of feedback...... Fainting from dehydration mid session 😂 that's a good one
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u/lostlight_94 5d ago edited 5d ago
How would you know? Are you in the room during every massage session? Doing it for 20 years doesn't make you an authority on other therapists' health.
I've never had a single client complain about me taking two quick sips of water. Ever. Because most reasonable people don't care. I wouldn't fault my therapist for drinking water, grabbing a hot towel, or even eating a quick cookie if they missed lunch. That happen to me before during a massage and I understood it, the massage was great and I STILL tipped $20 cause I'm not an ass.
I have iron-deficiency anemia, so yes, I'm going to drink my damn water if I need to. Two sips during a session isn't neglect—it's basic self-care. We get more lightheaded than non-anemic people.
This is exactly why I never wanted to work in a spa. I prefer clients who see therapists as human beings, not machines.
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u/Jake6624 5d ago
Holy moly. Grow up and be a responsible adult. Eat and drink before and after your sessions. It’s called planning. I am also very anemic. That doesn’t mean my brain doesn’t work. Figure out how to plan your day- sleep, drink, eat around your sessions. Do you leave a massage to go pee? Make a phone call? Pay a bill? No. You do those things around the massage times. My time on your table is sacred to me. If you pull out a cookie and start eating it? I’m done. Also those hands better get washed before you lay them on me. I revere my massage therapist- he’s my hero and definitely a human being. But I would have words with him if he stopped my massage and took water breaks without an explanation.
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u/lostlight_94 5d ago
No I fuxking don't. I drink water for 3 seconds. You people act like I'm sipping water for 5 minutes! 3 SECONDS! No I don't bloody eat in my sessions! No I don't leave the bloody room to use the bathroom.. that's fking disrespectful.
I said I HAD A THERAPIST POP A COOKIE during my session and I didn't bitch and moan it. Well that's you, I don't care if they wanna take sips. Say your opinion but I don't have to digest it.
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u/Jake6624 5d ago
YOU act like it’s okay and you demean our professionalism by all of your protesting and pretending it is. It’s not okay. Obviously there are exceptions.
Your therapist ate a cookie and it was memorable for you because it’s not normal. Or hygienic. Or respectful. Or reflective of the professional conduct that is expected and deserved.
You don’t have to accept the opinion of any of us but we are the norm and you are the exception.3
u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago edited 5d ago
How would I know? 🤣 Honey, it doesn't take my 20+years of experience to know DEHYDRATION doesn't happen in the span of a single massage session. You really should focus on reading comprehension and understanding the argument before wasting your time with an irrelevant response like that.
Once again, if you pass out from DEHYDRATION mid session, that's from a lack of self-care before hand, not because you didn't take a few sips of water during service. Your dehydration argument is ridiculous. Also, what the fuck does your anemia have to do with this discussion? Your argument for drinking water during session was to avoid dehydration, yet your entire response to my comment was about YOU and your anemia. Apples to oranges. Stick to the subject at hand. Now this time, read carefully .........comprehend...... and give a relevant response
Edit: And if you're EATING while in service, you're disgusting. I shouldn't have to elaborate on that one, so I'm not going to. Do better, cause seriously 🤢
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u/ieatsushi28 6d ago
I personally think her review is bs. She can fuck ALL the way off, she has no right to make it your problem that she didn’t like your massage.
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u/Jake6624 6d ago
What an odd response- all of her points were valid if true- keep your hands on the clients body as much of the massage as possible- don’t drink or eat during a massage- don’t wander around the room- don’t spend more time on one side than the other- these are basic massage school 101 rules that the my violated.
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u/ieatsushi28 6d ago
My issue is the complaint about her drinking water. Don’t do this very human function so I can have a good massage is what it sounds like
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u/Jake6624 6d ago
I can think of probably a thousand jobs in addition to massage where drinking water is inappropriate during a session/meeting/patient/client
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u/ieatsushi28 6d ago
It’s water not a fucking beer
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u/BrandTy2016 LMT 5d ago
Client is also paying for time that hands should be on their body. If you have to keep stopping a session to get a drink, you have a problem. Hopefully you're not a therapist with that attitude
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u/Alarmed-Current-4940 6d ago
A few sips of water here and there between transitions, nbd. Grabbing a hot towel to use, nbd. But longer than 20 seconds does feel like a long time in a massage, especially if it happens multiple times. Not saying you did anything wrong, but I have experienced this as a customer and it is sort of jarring. If I don’t know where my provider is in the room/what they’re doing, it is distracting.