Category: Client Relations

Origins of the name “The Monkey’s Tail”

June 29, 2019 admin Leave a comment Client Relations, FAQ

Origin of the Name "The Monkey's Tail"

In the Beginning...

Early 2019

I wanted to massage with both my hands and my feet, using something like a tail to support myself.

I experimented with aerial silks, rope and tree climbing equipment, bungee dance harnesses, and even considered the expensive film production harness that stunt devils use, like in the famous scene in Mission Impossible.

And my favorite band growing up was The Monkees. "We're just tryin' to be friendly! Come and watch us sing and play"
One of my favorite books, which lead me to follow other works by the primatologist Frans de Waal
Furthermore, monkeys are comfortable with their bodies and letting nature do its thing.

There’s also an easter egg. Monkey Tail = MT, just as MT stands for Massage Therapist.

Nowadays

Late 2020

I did a Shamanic Journey and the image of a relaxed monkey with a crooked tail came to my mind. It seemed like it should be the new logo. The crooked tail symbolized a minor setback that a massage could fix, whether it was mental stress or a physical pain that needed some gentle smoothing out.

January 2021

The name evolved from Monkey Tail Massage to The Monkey’s Tail: Evolutionary Massage and Spa. 

I wanted to convey to clients that I take science and evidence seriously. I don’t want to be confused with Goop or New Age practitioners, especially now that I want to offer spa treatments beyond massage therapy. 

I am a life-long student and will always be evolving myself and my work. When I spoke to friends about the name “The Monkey’s Tail”, one was skeptical that it doesn’t sound spa-like at all, and the life of Neanderthals and monkeys just doesn’t evoke relaxation. When I thought of changing it to “The Monkey’s Dream”, another friend said “well, that’s boring. There’s something intriguing about a monkey’s tail. It has a hint of a bygone era. Humans have this tailbone that’s vestigial of a former tail.” 

Massage Teach and Learn May 2019

May 28, 2019 admin Leave a comment Client Relations

Erin and Daniel met up to teach and learn from each other!

Erin purchased a “Massage Therapist’s Guide to Low Back and Pelvic Pain” course. They went over some of the material in chapter 4.

Daniel brought his Tension Release Exercise pamphlet.

We had a difficult time determining exactly which muscle fires first when a person abducts the leg (quadratus lumborum, gluteus medius, or tensor fascia latae). But we are one step closer to understanding the body. Thanks, Daniel!

Massage Myths

May 27, 2019 admin Leave a comment Client Relations, FAQ

Contraindication is a long word with a simple meaning: a reason you shouldn’t receive a particular treatment, such as a massage. There are local contraindications—things like a small wound—that shouldn’t be massaged directly, but that don’t mean you can’t still get a perfectly good massage on other parts of your body. Then there are general contraindications, or situations in which you shouldn’t get a massage at all. Contraindications can be an illness like the flu, a treatment or medication like a strong blood thinner, or even something environmental, like a bedbug infestation at home.

But there’s another kind of contraindication that also seems to make the rounds on a regular basis: the mythological kind. Despite all the scientific advancements we’ve made in studying massage therapy over the years, there are a few persistent misunderstandings that just won’t seem to die. And while tales of mermaids and unicorns can brighten an otherwise dull day, these massage myths unfortunately prevent too many people from getting the professional bodywork they deserve.

Myth #1: You can’t get a massage during the first trimester of pregnancy.

This myth is based around the idea that there is an acupressure point around the ankles that can induce premature labor. Since the first three months of pregnancy are also the time of the highest risk of miscarriage, the wisdom goes, it’s best not to get a massage at all during this time.

Of course, this doesn’t take into account the fact that pregnant women regularly do also sorts of things that put pressure on the ankles.

Like wear shoes.

And given that most people go at least a few weeks before they’re even aware that they’ve conceived, this is basically saying that anyone with the sort of working parts that could lead to pregnancy should stay away from the massage table, just in case.

Luckily, there’s no evidence for any of this. Still, it’s a good practice to give your massage therapist a heads up if you know that you’re pregnant so that they can be prepared to make adjustments for things like loosening ligaments or a sudden sensitivity to smells.

Myth #2: You can’t get a massage while taking painkillers.

You’re hurting, so you schedule a massage. But then you’re still hurting, so you take some ibuprofen … should that stop you?

This myth states that taking a painkiller leaves you unable to tell whether your massage is too deep, which can lead to a massage therapist injuring you accidentally. And this can be a realistic concern, especially if you’re taking strong narcotics for pain. Drug side effects like dizziness, easy bruising, and low blood pressure can also impact your massage session.

In most cases, though, this can be dealt with through open communication, rather than avoidance, especially if it’s a simple NSAID or other over-the-counter medication. When you let your massage therapist know what kinds of painkillers you’re taking, things like pressure, positioning, and duration can all be adjusted to make sure that your session is both satisfying and safe. There is no reason that painkillers and appropriate bodywork have to be mutually exclusive.

Myth #3: You can’t get a massage while breastfeeding.

This myth is so insidious, because nobody needs a massage more than postpartum parents. The idea behind this misunderstanding is the belief that massage somehow squeezes toxins out of a person’s tissues, which are then released into the bloodstream. Since the body is “toxic” after a massage, the story goes, so is any breast milk produced at this time. The choice is between “pumping and dumping” after receiving bodywork, or avoiding massage therapy altogether until the child is weaned.

Fortunately, this isn’t even one of those half-true-but-it’s-complicated situations; it’s 100% false, no question. Normal cell byproducts are filtered by the body and are not a danger to breastmilk, massage doesn’t release toxins, and massage can improve depression, body image, and (perhaps most importantly to new parents) SLEEP.

Myth #4: You can’t get a massage if you weigh too little or too much.

There are so many variations of this one. Skinny people don’t have enough “meat on their bones” to get a massage, they’ll just bruise. Overweight people can’t get a “real” massage because there’s too much fat between their skin and their muscles. People without perfect bodies shouldn’t show their skin to anyone. (And so on. Blah, blah, blah.)

Big people like massage. Small people like massage. In-between people like massage. And massage therapists love providing massage to all kinds of people. It’s a perfect combination! Are there different techniques better suited to bodies with specific needs? Of course. Is weight or size a prohibitive factor? Nope. Not by a long shot. The folks who make these kinds of arguments in the name of “health” are either misinformed or just being mean.

Massage myths aren’t usually malicious, but they can still hurt.

Who knows how many people avoid getting a massage due to some myth they heard from a source they trusted? If you’re one of them, why wait? Since you now know truth from tale, get that bodywork you’ve been dreaming and schedule your appointment today.

What Makes a Bad Massage

May 17, 2019 admin Leave a comment Client Relations

I’ve gotten a lot of massages in the last 16 years – from students, new practitioners, well-seasoned therapists, instructors, and friends. I’ve gotten massages in spas, clinics, school, trade show floors and home offices. I’ve been worked on by practitioners who knew I was also an MT and by those who thought I was a game designer.

Of them, there are just a handful that I remember as truly spectacular. Yeah, I can be a persnickety client. When I’m slapping down my money, I am super picky and highly critical. (I’m not picky at all when it’s free – massage me Any Time).

This is my list of massage complaints I’ve wracked up in my years as a massage consumer.  (The complaints are mostly in my head, I haven’t always expressed them to the therapist or establishment. More on that later.) In the past year, I’ve actually started a Massage Journal where I write down everything about the massage I received – positive, negative and in-between. I’ll get to that later.

  • The intake form was lengthy and irrelevant
  • I had to fill out the intake form by hand while the therapist waited in the other room. I’d have rather typed it out ahead of time or answered the questions directly to the therapist, in person
  • The therapist assumed I knew her protocol because I’m also a therapist, saying “you know the drill” as soon as I arrived, and left the room for me to get undressed
  • The room was too cold
  • There was a white noise machine
  • The massage table was lumpy
  • The face cradle didn’t adjust
  • I asked a question about her location and she said “that is very much too confidential for you.” and when I asked a question about some equipment in her room, she said it was none of my business. 
  • The therapist didn’t address my neck/shoulder/knee or whatever I specifically requested. 
  • The therapist used too much pressure
  • The therapist didn’t use enough pressure
  • I asked for more or less pressure and the therapist acknowledged my request but didn’t actually change the pressure
  • The therapist initiated small talk during the massage
  • I made a request to adjust the heat/music/pressure and the therapist seemed put out.
  • The therapist’s hands smelled like cigarettes.
  • The therapist used a ton of oil and left me greasy, or got lots of oil in my hair after I requested that not happen.
  • Got scratched repeatedly by long fingernails.
  • The therapist used a jasmine scented oil…I hate jasmine, and had to go home to wash it off afterwards
  • The therapist sniffled through the whole massage
  • The office was dirty.
  • The therapist sold nutritional or health products or gave advice out of their scope of practice.
  • The therapist commented on my apparent fitness level.
  • With no warning, the therapist left the room after the treatment. Without a clock, I didn’t know what time it was, if I was supposed to get up or if she was going to come back.
  • The therapist made fun of me for snoring.
  • There was no hook or chair for my clothes, had to just pile my clothes on the floor.
  • The therapist spoke negatively about other clients.
  • I saw her take cream from a bowl that was clearly used with the client before me and obviously cross-contaminated. 
  • The tube or bottle of lotion was noisy. Every time they went for more. Every. Time.
  • The therapist didn’t leave a towel for me to wipe off with.

I’ve experienced the last two without being annoyed by it, but because other people find it bothersome I’ll leave those complaints in there.

With all this said, let’s take a moment to appreciate that I’ve also given some lousy massages in my career (mostly at the beginning, I hope). I’ve probably even committed a bunch of the offenses I complain about.

Moreover, I also realize that many, many of my complaints could have been resolved quickly if I had spoken up. Sometimes I do. Other times I feel like it’s futile. That’s on me. Kinda. It’s also up to the therapist to create an environment where I feel comfortable speaking up. That hasn’t always happened.

I get it.

My career as a really picky client is part of what makes me a better massage therapist now. Most importantly, it’s what makes me very receptive to your feedback.

I know how annoying it is to put your money and time into a massage and not feel satisfied with the experience. I know what it is to leave a massage office feeling like the therapist missed that ‘one spot’  between my shoulder blades that I really wanted worked on.

When you tell me the pressure is too much, I won’t ask you to breathe through it. I’ll back off and find a better way to treat the area. If you’re cold, or warm, or hate the music, I’ll make it better. When you tell me, I won’t be annoyed or put out. I will not think you are high-maintenance. If you make a short conversation and I get too chatty, I will not be offended if you cue me to hush up by saying, “Okay, I’m gonna be quiet now so I can enjoy this massage.”

When you make a request, I will be utterly pleased that you are speaking up, so I can make the experience perfect for you. For reals.

See you on the table soon!