Thai Massage – What’s In It For The Therapist?

The answer that comes to mind most easily is “money” – massage therapists can make $60.-, $70.- or even more more per hour. But the focus of this article is everything except money. After having done massage therapy for many years, I know that money alone is not a good enough reason to be in this profession.

Thai massage happens to be my specialty but the concepts in this article really apply to any massage therapist. Every therapist knows the rewards and challenges of this work, and I intentionally choose to highlight only positive aspects in this context.

What is massage all about?

Good massage therapy is not just about technique, anatomy, fixing something, client intake, filling out forms, complying with regulations, etc. Have you ever experienced a massage session where everything was done right by the therapist, but in the end you felt like you were just an object that was pushed around, kneaded and squeezed?

And have you ever experienced a massage session where you felt the energy, attention, the love and the passion of the therapist, and in the end you felt like in seventh heaven?

How to recognize good therapists

Good therapists are not just good technicians, they love their work. They want to really make a contribution, they want to do their part to make the world a better place. They sincerely want to help people and they believe in the power of a loving and healing touch. They have an energy about them that makes one feel at ease. People trust them, like them and confide in them.

Good therapists have a passion for their work and they keep learning and improving and studying. They have some miracle stories they could tell and they have loyal and devoted clients. They don’t need to advertise much since people are drawn to them by word of mouth. The quality of their work and their touch speak for themselves.

Passion instead of burnout

Sure we all have to make money, but massage therapists whose only motivation is the money they can make will be lacking most of the above mentioned qualities. They will get bored with their work and they will suffer from burnout sooner or later. Their work will have a mechanical quality, they experience no magic and no miracles happen to them.

Rewards besides money

A therapist who has a calling, a passion for their work can develop personally by becoming more sensitive to energy,  more intuitive, more kind and empathetic. Such therapists are artists in their field like gifted musicians, painters or dancers. They all thrive through the connection they experience in their vocation, and they all know about magical coincidences where sometimes everything just falls perfectly into place.

Such therapists put their heart and soul into their sessions and they often have wonderful experiences with their clients who are many times grateful, appreciative and uplifted by the work they received. The therapist can get as much satisfaction from the reaction of their clients than from the money they get paid.

A calling versus a job

Good therapists make the world a little better place every time they work on someone, and in turn they themselves get positive energy and inspiration from a higher source in some way. Any interaction with other beings is essentially an exchange of energy. This can be totally unconscious and mindless or it can be intentional and inspired. Good therapists instinctively develop a feel for energy exchange and learn how to direct it in a positive way. 

Massage mechanics and healers

Good therapists enjoy their work. They develop their technical skills along with their personal growth.  Rather than being “massage mechanics” they take on the qualities of healers. They might get paid well for their work, but they also get paid by who they become in the process, namely a more intuitive, loving, sensitive and compassionate human being who plays an active part in making this world a better place to live in.

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