You’ve been saving up all year – stashing your tips, making the most of your work schedule so that you are prepared to take time to travel far and wide to that 3 day massage class, or 4 day massage convention that you have been SO excited about….

MAN THAT SOUNDS SO AWESOME! 3 days of receiving massage? A working vacation!??!

OK wait. This is the part not everyone thinks through all the way.

Your body is about to get weirded out for a few days, best prepare.

Why? OK here’s the thing: you are about to get ~at least~ 2 hours of massage daily. If you haven’t had any massage in a while, that is a lot of bodywork in a short span of time, and it’s not always going to be working on things that are ideal for you. You may not be able to completely bliss out during the massage in class, because you need to pay attention. Plus, when its your turn to give massage for extended periods of time, you’ve got to be present and not “massage drunk” while trying to learn and not hurt your partner, so these variables can sometimes throw you off your game.

How can you get ready for this?

Let your excitement for learning start now! Have you ever received a sample of the style of massage you’ll be training in? Consider receiving a few of these style massages before class from someone who is already trained so that you’ll know how you are possibly going to physically/mentally/emotionally/energetically react to it. This also helps you experience the work and learn something by ‘osmosis’, so to speak. Many of my students who have already felt the work that I’m teaching them have said that they were able to better understand the stroke, and have the opportunity to enjoy it in the moment!

Get your own tissue-issues addressed ahead of time.

The massages in class shouldn’t count as the only bodywork you receive this month – and if the work is much different than what you usually receive, it could throw you for an unexpected loop. You’ll be travelling, sleeping on a new bed, socializing later than normal, and you’ll be out of your normal routine. All this could unintentionally irritate or flare-up dormant, forgotten old injuries or conditions. It could also give you a lot of “WOW” moments, where you’ll not only learn something new technically, but also maybe something about yourself. Being in tune with your body before and during class could help change your life!

Maybe consider receiving a few longer-than-usual massage sessions ahead of class, so that you have a better idea of how your body (and patience) may react to this marathon of massages. That way, when you are on the last day of class and you’ve accumulated 6 hours of receiving bodywork over the past 3 days, you’ll have some massage endurance training under your belt!

Also – using the massages you receive in a class (where someone is learning how to do something for the 1st time) shouldn’t count as your own bodywork or self-care. It’s not going to be as good as if a pro worked on you. So, Treat yo’ self, and get a few real sessions catered to your needs before you step into a class and get under the feet of another student.

Step out of your comfort zone.

As Massage Therapists, we mostly spend hours at a time every day with just one person, sometimes a group setting knocks us out of our comfort zones. Sometimes the comradery is exactly what we need. We can all easily feel overwhelmed from processing new information and new body movements. There’s annoying florescent lights, someone has a squeaky voice, something smells weird, it’s too cold, the music isn’t always your jam, and you are just doing your best NOT to check the voicemails and emails that are piling up in the background.
Dude, I know. Trust me. Taking a class and attending a convention is hard.

Keep the dedication to your practice.

You are doing the right thing by attending live training. Your job during these days of training is to feel the work and be a sponge. To challenge your way of thinking. To learn something new. You are here to soak up the wonderful experience of this learning environment. It’s your time to grow, to be humbled by the knowledge and appreciate the experience that surrounds you in your colleagues. To make new friends and contacts. Revisit your beginners mind. To offer something different than the rest of your town – or to bring back new skills to your community. You are here because you respect the massage industry. By attending conferences, trade shows, conventions and live workshops in person – you are honoring the tradition of touch that our profession is built around.
You showed up. You took the steps to get here. You can do this!!

To stay at my best during massage conventions and classes, these are the creature comforts that I try to remember to bring:

• A cozy blanket
• Fuzzy or fun new socks
• That weighted eye-pillow with a headband that I never use (for while I receive massage face-up!)
• Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans (this is how I stay human and keep my sanity about me)
• A bath bomb or fizzy from Lush to spoil myself with in the hotel room.
• A foam roller or my Yoga Tune-Up balls (to fix and reward my body after all the practice massages have been done to me)
• Emergen-C water additives – for vitamins, electrolytes, and the night-time version even has melatonin!
• Headache medicine – because you know it’s going to happen
• Headphones – so you can actually hear your voicemails when you do get a chance to listen!
• Walking shoes – because not only will you be walking the convention floor a lot, you should also get outta there and go walk around outside!
• An extension cord… why? So that when there is only 1 electric plug open on that rare wall outlet that you ~might~ find, you can reach it, and have those extra 2-3 plugs at the end of your cord to plug your phone and laptop into!
• Going to the AMTA convention? Don’t forget all your state pins from last years lanyard! (If you didn’t know, pin collecting is a thing!)
• Business cards – even though they’ll probably get lost by the person who needs them most.
• Your favorite linens. Don’t bring just any set – you are unfortunately going to be judged by massage therapists by your sheets, it can’t be helped, so make sure they don’t have that rancid oil smell or stains on them. I’ll be bringing my Star Wars sheets.
• Might as well bring your fluffy fuzzy table and face cradle cover, so you have something soft to lay on under your sheets for 2 hours at a time!
• If bringing your massage table – for Ashiatsu you’ll want the widest, sturdiest beast you’ve got. All of our Center for Barefoot Massage training campuses are equipped with safe, strong tables, so we more than likely won’t need yours. For most any other class, check with the instructor, you’ll probably get away with that light-weight aluminum one…. but bring your best face cradle platform and face cradle cushion! Treat yo’self.
• If bringing a massage table – DEFINETLY bring the table cart. Don’t wreck your already stressed out body by lugging that equipment over your shoulder. Get some wheels.
• Double check the list of things your instructor wants you to bring to class. (Don’t be THAT PERSON who didn’t read the pre-class email. Come on, you are a professional – do the work.)

Bring a Friend!

Lonely? Unsure of the are you are traveling to? Need moral support while learning a particularly difficult technique? Want to immerse yourself in your career without turning the whole trip into a family vacation? The best thing to bring to your next continuing education class or massage convention is your best massage friend! There’s nothing like sharing this crazy, fun, and life altering experience of learning than with a like minded soul that you can relate to and use as your anchor in stressful situations. The buddy system works! You’ll meet lots of new friends in class and around the convention – so be open to meeting more of your long-lost tribe!

Listen to Jeni & Mary-Claire on the Massage Business Blueprint Podcast talk about all the things you should ask CE instructor before attending their CE class!