An Update with Goals

It's been a year since I've been licensed. There have been lots of changes and growth. Some uncomfortable, some surprisingly easy, some unexpected. Like getting fired. Yeah, I didn't expect that or want to admit it when it happened in July, 2010. It was a bit of a shock at the time, I felt totally blindsided . I lived, learned and have grown.

I'm now working for a chiropractor 4 days a week and have my own practice, "Dana Highfill, LMT", open on Fridays. I attempted being open every other Sunday in addition to Fridays, but it really stretches me physically to work 6 days a week. Don't worry, I'm not working 8 hour days, an average of 2-5 hours at the chiropractor and 5-7 hours with my own practice.

At the chiropractor I work every other Saturday in addition to Monday - Thursday. I receive my schedule the day before. Sometimes I only work an hour, sometimes 6 hours, sometimes nothing (often on Wednesdays). I really like the clean environment, structure and clientele. I don't like not knowing my schedule in advance and still being expected to be available if they need me. I would like to have benefits and vacation time.

Aimee Perkins, an LMT in Portland, has started a MeetUp Group for improving the massage community.  I have a lot of ideas that could help us be better supported by our employers and by other massage therapists in our community. I encourage all massage therapists to check it out and attend. Read more: "My Vision for Community" November 9th, 6:30pm.

GOALS:

In 6 months time I would like to work at my own practice 2 days per week while supplementing my income at the chiropractor's. 

In one year, I would like to have weekends off from massage, to work 3 days per week at the chiropractor, 2 days per week at my own office and to gross at least $2000/month. I would like to start offering classes and sessions based on my work with Quiet Thunder and private studies with Tzun Tzun.

In two years time I would like to be working 3-4 days/week primarily from my own office and making at least $3,000/month.

Brooklyn Total Health Clinic (week 2)

I've been at the new location for almost 2 weeks now. Working on so many more bodies, about 8 each day. I'm learning about working with injuries, doing deep tissue, stretching and trigger point therapy.  Also taking chart notes and doing patient intakes.  Loving it.

Plus, working on my own clients on Mondays, Fridays and Tu.-Th. mornings.

Self care:
Lots of Epsom Salt baths to help the body adjust to the amount of bodywork I'm doing.
Monthly massage at Zama
Bi-weekly chiropractic work
eating well through out the day
drinking lots of water
laughing and not taking myself too seriously :)

New Location!

 I have some great news about my massage therapy practice...

I am moving to a new location! Beginning June 14th, I will be at

Brooklyn Total Health Clinic, 3725 SE Milwaukie Ave. (between Powell and Holgate). map link

I am very excited about the new place. I will be working part-time for an acupuncturist (Dr. William Duarte) and part-time building my own practice in the same space.

The space is different from the spa. It is in a very comfortable and inviting remodeled Victorian house; the tables are heated, the major difference is in the health oriented atmosphere. I am excited as I will have lots of opportunity to learn different techniques from Dr. Duarte as well as improving my knowledge of Chinese Medicine.  Please call me if you have any questions.

By appointment only.

• Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-noon, Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm.
• Rates: $30/30 minutes, $55/60 minutes, $80/90minutes
• Contact me by phone or email to schedule a session. 503-442-7177

Discounts available, see the website for more details: www.danahighfill.com

Thank you everyone! I am very excited.

Dana Highfill, LMT
503-442-7177
danahighfill@gmail.com

Changing like the weather

Wow! Lots of changes this month. I've decided to start my own business. I've been working full-time as a contractor for a day spa with only a few clients at my home office.  It is time to shift to something new.

The change will progress slowly. As of this moment, I'm still working full-time at the spa.  I am putting more time and effort into creating my own business and scaling back a few hours at work.

This is a big change for me and it is still sinking in.  I'm am putting this out there to let friends and clients know and to see what some of your reactions are.  I welcome comments, suggestions, concerns, stories, support, basically anything you have to offer.  

Thank you all who've stuck by me as I branch into this new career.

With Love, 

Dana

First month as an LMT

It's been a month since I've been a licensed massage therapist.  I have 3 regular clients and 2 trading partners. I'm also working part-time at a day spa called New Identity.

Until the Spa, I haven't worked since starting massage school. Before that I spent 2 years working part-time, spending my free time learning about myself through classes and activities like chi kung, yoga, dance.  It's definitely a shift for me to go to a job from 11am-7pm each day.

The spa has made me a better massage therapist. I'm learning how to "read" new clients and determine how I can best serve them. I'm also developing relationships with some of the people at work and really enjoying the connection.

...life has interrupted this blog, stay tuned...

I started writing this post about 2 weeks ago and am only now getting back to finish it. Hmm, I guess that makes a pretty big statement about my life style change since going back to work.

This time however, work is different.  After college, I worked as a Project Manager, sometimes putting in 50-60 hours a week, not including time spent lying on the floor recovering from the office.  Now, I'm learning how not to work too hard.  Massage therapists are especially prone to taking on other people's emotional and physical pain, as well as working too hard to please their clients.

Last week, I had 5 clients in one day, 3 in a row, with less than 5 minutes between each and the last one was a 90 minute session! I had an incredible day, I wasn't cranky or worn out when I got home.  I did take a long, hot bath to take care of myself, but mostly I took care of myself during each session so that I could give each client my full attention and not drain myself.  Incredible!  I gave each person 100% while not overextending myself. 

Yes, I'm learning a lot at the Spa. I also realize working at a spa it's not my goal.  My goal is to develop regular clients and help them in taking great care of themselves by offering more than just massage. Part of that is speaking the truth when I feel it being asked of me.  By this I mean, for example, a client walks in talking like she's had 20 cups of coffee, I ask her what's her reason for coming if for a massage and find a way to insert the truth, "It's time to slow down." Whatever she does with this information is hers, but I've upheld my integrity in offering all I can during the session including suggestions to breathe or feel inside themselves.  I feel this is one of the most important parts of my work: to give my full attention and guide a person back into their body. 

The first massage job!

As of yesterday, I have a part-time massage job!  I responded to a post on Craig's List and received a phone call the next day.  She said to be prepared to give a 30 minute demonstration of my work. I showed up to the building a little early. It's a hair and nail salon called New Identity on 11th and Broadway in Portland.  The space is very nicely lit, clean and professional. They do a lot of pedicures and hair. I've only met 2 of the people who work there, both were Vietnamese.  The interview went very well, partly because I had a wonderful 2 hour Thai Massage prior to the interview. Thank You, Margaret!.  I was nervous, but I liked the manager's energy. She was straight forward, honest and it was easy to communicate with her.

Getting a job, newly licensed and just out of school, is a little daunting, especially since I've only held jobs like Receptionist and Front Counter Manager for the past 2 and a half years. I have a BA and am qualified for more challenging work, but just didn't have the desire to put the energy into doing the work. Now, I have the desire to do my best, both in working for myself and for someone else.  That's a first for me.  It's really changing how I do things.  I'm have more integrity and energy for my work.  

...back to the interview.  Sandra and I talked for 10 minutes about the in's and out's of the job, it's based on 60/40 commission. I get 60%, they get 40%.  They would like me to be on premises, or close by, for walk-in clients during the days I'm scheduled. They provide all supplies and clients, I'm to do my own laundry. She showed me the massage rooms. They are small, but very comforting, clean with table warmers, blankets, CD player and a dimmer switch on the lights. 

I asked, "who will I be giving a massage to," she said, "me".  Oh. It was a relief to not have the pressure of being watched like in the state practical exam. It also put more emphasis on my work being judged directly by her.  I left the room, washed my hands in the bathroom, tied up my hair and attempted to leave my jitters in the bathroom.  Tapping on the door to see if she was on the table, I went into the massage room and couldn't see. She had the lights turned very low compared to the bathroom I had come from. My eyes adjusted and I made myself comfortable by taking off my shoes. 

We began talking about what she likes in a massage, what I'd be doing for her and for her to let me know about pressure at any time.  I know that even though people aren't necessarily conscious of it they can feel how I'm feeling, especially when I'm touching them. I knew she could feel the nervous excitement pouring out my hands.  I began with a little rocking on top of the sheet to feel how she holds herself. Typically, this is a shiatsu technique, but I complimented it with Mennell's stroke over the whole body before beginning.  This gave me a little time to adjust before diving in.  


I have to admit, I've focused on Shiatsu Massage for the past 15 months.  I'm comfortable with Swedish, but Shiatsu is home.  I had the slightest hesitation before pulling the sheet back, but didn't let that distract me from connecting with her. I spread the massage gel (also new for me) and let her know I was going to warm up her muscles before getting to the deep tissue massage she had requested.  While I was working she asked, "is this your deep pressure?"  Well, yes in some ways it was, see I don't believe in hurting people.  I think some people feel in order to get deep muscle wringing massage you need to wince and hold back from crying out in pain.  I feel my way through the tissue and desire to release more than just the muscle.  It's the whole body that needs to relax, the body can't do this when the person is in pain.  

In response to her question about pressure, I said it was my medium pressure and that the table was a bit high for me. Then I began to try to force my way in deeper and realized I was not taking care of my own body. Putting an end to that, I began to talk to her about how breathing deeply can help release the muscles and then I talked to her about trigger points. She was really interested and we had a nice exchange about how muscles get knotted and what you can do about it.  She allowed herself to breathe much more deeply once I shared with her that breathing deeply helps pump her heart more, induces relaxation and moves more oxygen though the blood. I worked on a few more of her trigger points and felt some of them release now that she was breathing.  I ended with compression over the sheet on her legs and a 3 minute foot massage.  


The best parts were where I took care of myself, like taking off my shoes and not trying to work so deeply that it hurt my hands. Doing these things helped me open up and feel really good during the massage. People can feel this, again, even if they are not conscious of what they are feeling.  She came out very happy and let me know that she had a few other people to interview, but she would call me in 2 days. She also asked if I had heard from my other prospects, I said not yet, but that I really liked this place. I left smiling. It felt so good to be able to connect with her that way and to know I had taken care of myself at the same time.  


I start next Thursday, Oct. 29th!  Smile. :)