Never go too deep too quick. Words to live by.

I've been an LMT for about 3 years now and over time my body mechanics got worse and I fell into bad habits (like depending too much on my thumbs or sort of hunching rather than keeping my back upright). Your videos have really helped me to correct my body mechanics and give even better treatments. Thank you!

So many clients want that deep pressure right away. I tell them I'm warming up the area but the complain that it's not deep enough. It's so frustrating.

I used my thumbs so much that I got to the point where I couldn't strike a lighter....working without abusing the thumbs is difficult but extremely important. 9 years into my career and learning to use my tools hasn't been easy but it has prolonged my career. This is all great advice I do hope that beginners are watching your videos, because I learned it all by trial and error- Thank You so much for enlightening those new comers!!

So funny I'm not a beginner therapist, I've been in this profession full time for four years and now I'm on my seventh month, but I wanted to check this out because maybe there are certain things I haven't corrected throughout the years, and the thumbs are a tough one for me to throw away, although I do also use my knuckles, fists, and forearms. The advice about what to say in the post session I will implement! Some of this advice is great for beginners and experienced massage therapists alike. Thank you!

Glad to know I’m not the only therapist that slips up calling hypertonicity, hypertension! :)

This was so helpful. I'm not a massage therapist, but I've been thinking about applying to a school because I've been giving my housemates massages lately and I've grown to enjoy it a lot. I realized very slowly that using my thumbs all of the time was causing my thumbs a lot of pain, and I never thought about warming an area up before putting on the pressure.

I realize your tutorials are for professionals, which I am not. But watching your videos have now given me some basic tools when massaging my husband and daughter in the future. I now know to warm them up first and not to murder muscle knots!!!!!!!! Great info and techniques as well. Thank you

I will say one thing about using thumbs and fingers, and this was "passed" to me by two of my instructors who have been doing massage full time for over 30 years combined: Don't be afraid to use your thumbs or fingers, but also don't over do it. Start off, as you said, using forearms, side of your hand, gravity techniques, but if you never use your thumbs or fingers, you'll never build any strength, you'll fatigue, tire out, and be in pain if you go from 0-60. Start slowly, focus on self care, remember body mechanics (Which you did point out, stacking your weight on a join then deciding to move it with that weight will lead to discomfort or even injury.) Using all your tools is important as well as taking care of yourself. You need endurance, dexterity, and palpating skills to deal with some intrinsic muscles, especially in the hands, feet, and other areas where direct pressure is needed, but an elbow or fist may be overkill.

I’m not a new therapist but this video is a great reminder of the Therapist life. Words to live by. Great video🤓

1st class professional advice. Excellent work Spencer.

I'm not a masseur - I have back and neck issues though: and I wish you were my massage therapist. You're intelligent, thinking about what you're doing, prepared to learn to do your job better. Too many therapists seem to get into a rut and do their job the same way, with minimal interaction. They forget that we like to know what's going on with our own bodies, or, as you say, bombard us with advice afterwards which we're in no condition to absorb. I'm sure this cuts both ways - if you as a client just lie there and expect the therapist to sort you out in one session, you're generally asking the impossible and expecting a quick fix. A problem that's taken forty or fifty years to develop isn't especially likely to be fixed in twenty minutes, though. Building a relationship takes two.

Good advice. As a client, I hated when the therapist does what he wants rather then asking the client. I usually find this in top spas found in hotels rather than basic massage clinics. I would also add hygiene to be important. nine times out of ten, I get a massage after a workout then a shower, so I'm squeaky clean. Nothing worse then being massaged upon and smelling the lunch the therapist just had on his person or having to deal with bad body odor.

As a new massage therapist, your videos are so helpful thank you!

I'm like Leonine below. I have been an LMT for 16 years plus and I have wrecked by hands and body. I suscribed to this guy because 1) I like the way he talks and 2) I truly believe he will save my career. (I suffer from trigger fingers)

I'm starting school soon to start as a Massage therapist and I am really happy I got see these videos so I can take I look what I am getting into before I do it, so thank you!

Spencer, I just came across your videos today. They are exactly what I have been looking for. Love your excellent content. I’m not a massage therapist but I am presently studying anatomy so I appreciate your use of anatomical terms as well as your excellent descriptions of what is going on in the specific area. You are a treasure, keep up the good work and take good care of yourself. Harlan

i am massage therapist in 9 yers until now. but its now good to focus whats the clients wants. you can only perform remedial massage. for the clients wants. example. the back pain.

best advices ever so true all of them. I make most of these mistakes, but will try to change them

I really appreciate your videos man. My girlfriend has been having back pains lately and I figured out that theres a lot more to back rubs than just rubbing someones back for twenty minutes. I feel like I learned a lot from what I've watched

I absolutely love your videos! Something about you is so relaxing! ❤

We don't have knots, we have tough muscle fiber. If it doesn't hurt us, there's no reason to try to work it out. Just make them feel good. When you try to loosen it up I feel worse the next day. I have tough muscle fiber because I do physical work that makes my muscles strong. Just relax me don't try eliminate the strong muscles that I have. Love you bunches. Keep up the good work. Love your channel.

I get regular sports massages and being 'massage drunk' is soooooo true. I get it after every session.

I've refined my practice over the years by adding Graston technique, pin and stretch, and Thai massage. I add these modalities to a basic sports massage and the results are outstanding. I also recommend Doterra products. Essential oils can do wonders for the olfactory system and soft tissue as well.

Super helpful. Especially loved the examples/role-playing you did, as it helps me remember more.

Every video I watch I think how can he top the previous video, but you do! I love this so much I feel like I should be paying you for all this thorough advice. I will be starting clinics soon and I feel so much more confident with all of your tips. I love the advice about not giving too much info. I hope you keep making these videos!!

I love u! I wish u were my massage therapist. Thanks for the content ❤

you should upload a video where you show your massage flow how you transition each move together .

Thank you for the advice.

I don't know how, but I've trusted you for starters

Thank you so much for this video, I'm currently learning massage at college and your videos are really helpful

Spencer is adorable, and such a pleasant voice! I'd like to be a client.

Thank u for sharing this😊my wife always using here thumb to massage me...she said his thumb always painful while she massage me..it was very helpful...watching here from 🇵🇭

I am in college now and I'm glad I see this video

Get the client email. After the session, you can email them suggestions of self care. That way, you can still educate them, but not right after the massage.. They'll appreciate the email and will be more likely to follow the suggestions.

I am a big believer in incorporating massage tools wherever possible to help save/rest your hands. For example, to replace thumb work , I would recommend you use trigger point tools like thumb savers, massage thumb save T-bar, knobble it massage tool and other similar trigger point tools.

The wrestling picture and pile-driver reference cracked me up 😂

I completely agree on warming up the muscles first. But how can you do this when you have to work the whole body in 50 minutes ?

I agree with you , you are not to fight the muscle but less pressure, good stuff you are teaching 👏🏻👏🏻

Wow. Really glad I learned all this at school. Gives me hope when I start massaging people

I'm downloading your videos so i will not forget for my everyday work

Beautiful. You ARE THE MAN of truly awesome massage. . . . G R E A T . . .

Great information, I appreciate it! :)

This was so good. Thank you!

Thank you 🙏🏽

Thank you, this was a very helpful video! Im going to share it with my massage therapy classmates.

Love your videos. You are ALWAYS very helpful. Thank you for sharing.

it's funny, for many times i start warm up for my clients before getting deep in muscles, they just say harder already!

All information noted and very useful. Thank you. You've been very helpful. God bless.

Thanks a lot for all the great advice and knowledge 😃

Thank you, Spencer - excellent!

can't wait to watch more videos from you

thanks for that honest introduction we really appreciate it well I really Do.

Yep.. I tried to 'murder nots' today and went to quick... I actually 'know' these mistakes yet sometimes I still 'fall into trap'. Going too hard and to deep to quick can make you lose clients... 😑 I still want to 'fix' them too quickly

Good advice on client demands!

Absolutely loved this video. Thank you so much for this valuable information. Lots of love from an Australian 🇦🇺❤

I have a really hard time with going too deep too quick. A lot of the clients tell me that they want deep firm pressure and ask me to go deeper as I am warming up. I can get maybe 5 minutes of warming up before they say something... I usually just switch to ironing at that point.

I have never had full one hour massage before last week and don't really know what I needed so he did the universal back and neck shoulders tension unfortunately the therapist didn't do much consult ion before or after the massage even after the second session. I did like the massage though just lacked in communication especially with a newby like me.

Very excellent ! Thank you so much ! From Iran

Very helpful tips. Thank you

Body is a whole and holistic approach to massage is the key. For instance working on the certain part of the foot heals the spine. I find just focusing on the area the client wants is taking away from my work and experience. If there is no trust in my work and client wants to direct my work, we wouldn't be good match, don't mind losing them.

at ifrst, i was like.. "this dude" but after watching, you are very correct in those 5 noob things.

Bro keep the good job with this massage videos.I learn a lot,happy to see the new stuff from you

You're right thank you

Thank you for this video! Thumbs do come naturally for me. Definitely will improve my touch with forearm & fist. 🙂

Thanks!!!! this is what I was looking for!!!

Thank you for this channel 🙏 it's so informative and covers so many questions I've had as a more beginginer therapist !

Thank you again, lol. Ok no more pile driving knots

Thank you, this was very helpful.

👏😄 Great points! I love your videos. Looking forward to learning more from you 👍

I sure wish Spenser would come back to KZfaq. He's knowledgeable

Thank you @HM_massage

Wauw, thnx for the advice, this realy helps, cause I was to eager with meditation excersises at first with my reiki treatments Now I know how I can practice my acupressure treatments with my future cliënts Namasté and have a great evening Greetings, Jackie

Amazing video! I’m having trouble finding the right massage school. The going price is $10,000. I found a school in New Mexico, but I don’t like the state due to some bad experiences there. The seven month course sounds fast and efficient. However, will I have enough time to work while attending school full time? I know there’s no financial aid for vocational training schools. Many of them are scams like Cortiva of Las Vegas and Hands On of Corpus Christi, Texas. The schools are dirty with a disrespectful money hungry staff. Do I need advanced massage techniques to make more money?

Thank you so much!

I enjoyed this movie. Great tips

Thank you for sharing your skills to us.

Thinking about starting school next year. Love your videos it’s great content!

Just got a deep tissue massage. I think she was new. Im more sore now the day after and actually have bruises.

Very good information

In my opinion it would be smarter, if the patients ask the therapist for advice where the problems come from and what spot is more important to work on.

I'm glad to see a lot of people did the first one wrong because I felt really dumb about that lmao

This is great! Perfect advice❤️

Great advice...

This was super useful

Thanks

The great thing about using your elbow is you don't have to use too much of your body weight on it; resting my elbow right on the trigger point is enough pressure for the client, sometimes its even too much pressure for them to handle. #savethethumbs

Thank you man, I’m in Massage school currently and they seem weak but I have no comparisons so disregard that. I’m somewhat confused on how it is all being taught to me?? Is this fairly common before “hands getting on body’s”?? Thank you again

You are so right.. I had a very good lady. And she told me that she had a problem to her arm. And i find that she had problem with her neck. I explained it and "fix" it . so she can move her full hand again. At my first massage a ask about. Hobbies and jobs. So i can find out much faster where they need more. Time.

Thanks very helpful 😄

Great video, dude!

Very informative. U have a nice voice and very clear instructions. Best wishes bro. ❤

Wow! You’re amazing!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom

Super informative to me! Thank you

I'm in MT school right now!

Thank you for those information..

good word of wisdom love it

Thank for the advice Boss

Thank you for this!

I am a Aromatherapy massage therapist I never used my thumbs and my massage is very relaxing it’s not suppose to hurt I always do a client information sheet and using different essential oils, I would like my clients to feel refreshed and relaxed