Hanging out on a big ol rock on the ascent up Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks a couple of years ago!
So it's been almost a year already since I graduated from school to become a licensed massage therapist (LMT), and the experience thus far has been a lot like the uphill ascent of climbing a mountain: very challenging, but not in a bad way. I love challenge, and welcome it and embrace it.
I'm sure some of you, when you saw the title of this blog, may have said to yourselves, "A male massage therapist? I'm not sure if I would be comfortable receiving a massage from a male..." And you would definitely not be alone in thinking that. At the spa that I work at, I hear this on a very regular basis from (potential) clients who call to book an appointment. Or they will ask, "Are any female therapists available?" This is a very common occurrence, and makes finding work as a male LMT quite a bit more difficult.
Now I guess I can sort of understand where they might be coming from. Maybe they don't have a great history with men. Maybe they have different ideas or thoughts about what a therapeutic massage means to them. Maybe they are only comfortable being touched by their significant other. But I would like to say a few things about my profession that may be lost on these types of people.
As an LMT, I am a healthcare professional, just like any doctor, nurse, or chiropractor. People come to me primarily because they are having health problems that need to be addressed. Really when it comes down to it, people come to me because they are too stressed, whether it's physically, mentally, or emotionally. As an LMT, I simply provide a different means of healing; doctors may use pills and surgery, chiropractors may use adjustments and supplements; I use non-judgmental, non-sexual, caring human touch through the physical manipulation of soft tissue.
All of these methods have their place in the healthcare industry, and my hope is that I can convey to everyone who may be skeptical about male LMTs is that we are just like any other healthcare professional, and when considering getting a massage, finding the LMT who does the best job possible for you should be your first priority, male or female. Relating to that, you should also be able to feel as safe, relaxed and comfortable as possible with your LMT, which leads back to the initial issue, "what if I'm not comfortable with a male massage therapist?"
All I ask is that you view the field of massage therapy to one of providing healthcare, and if the male therapist is the only one available when you call to book your appointment, give it a shot, you may find that you enjoy and benefit from your massage just as much as if you had a female therapist. I have experienced personally that people who tend to at least give it a chance end up changing their minds about male LMTs. I have had quite a few clients re-book with me for more massages, even though they were worried and skeptical about receiving a massage from a male in the first place.
What do you guys and gals think? Would you be comfortable receiving a therapeutic massage from a male LMT? Why or why not?
-Evan