Do It With Intention | Business & Marketing for Massage and Bodywork Therapists

As bodywork businesses begin to open up across the country, I've been hearing a lot of talk on offering discounts in your practices. On today's episode, I'll answer a listener question on discounts and will share what recommendations I give to my students in The Bodywork Project when it comes to discounted services. By focusing on yourself, your own business and your own results, you can make the...

I consider myself a lifelong learner and I'm always excited to learn something new, especially related to bodywork -- I'm sure you do too! But taking all of those bodywork classes or learning a new modality doesn't necessarily translate into a full or successful business.   On today's episode I'll explain what you need to do to fill your massage and bodywork practice faster. If you follow your hea...

While honoring the innate wisdom of your client's body is wonderful, not offering your professional opinion on the next steps to their healing is actually doing your client a disservice. On today's episode I answer a listener's question on how to know how often a client should come back for the next appointment, while still honoring their individualized healing journey. This week on the Do It With...

Have you ever felt jealous or envious of another massage or bodywork practitioner? Ugh. I know I have, and it can be so difficult to admit — we don't want any of that bad karma! If you are struggling with this, please know that it is natural. Take a deep breath, eat some chocolate (my must-have in times of stress) and think about what you are doing today to take baby steps in moving your practice...

Building your massage and bodywork practice isn't a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach. Just implementing some quick tips or learning a new modality won't solve all of your problems. There is so much more to designing a profitable business where you can serve others and make a really great living doing it. On today's episode, we'll revisit the 5 areas you need to have in place in order to b...

As a bodywork therapist, you know that dreaded feeling when your perfect work day gets turned around by a last-minute cancellation. Cancellations can be so discouraging — somehow, we always feel like it's our fault and we don't want to face the painful process of dealing with them. On today's episode, I'll share with you my own cancellation policy, and ways that you can set up your practice, so th...

Students and colleagues are finally getting back into hands-on work as massage and bodywork practices re-open across the country. As this transformational work continues, I've been getting a lot of questions on setting time boundaries and starting and ending sessions on time. We all know from either the practitioner perspective, and from being clients ourselves, that sinking feeling of running beh...

Paid advertising can be a powerful tool for growing a business, and it requires thought and intention. On today's episode, I'll walk you through key considerations to think about before you spend your money on advertisements for your practice, so that you can follow your heart and build your practice with integrity, without wasting your hard-earned dollars. This week on the Do It With Intention Po...

In my almost 17+ years in the bodywork industry one of the questions I get most often is, "Should I accept tips or not?" Many massage and bodywork practitioners have strong opinions on allowing tips in their practice, so on today's episode I walk through my perspective and experience around the topic and how I've navigated it so I can be truly present with each client. I've learned over the years...

Over the past year it has been so inspiring to watch my Bodywork Project students pivot their businesses during the pandemic to continue being of service to their clients. I am thrilled to have Julie Taylor , an experienced nurse practitioner, herbalist and reflexologist, join me on today's episode as she shares her experiences in doing what she has always done in her career — pivoting with her pa...

It can be an agonizing part of your business -- for all bodyworkers -- to raise your rates as you are working every day to be of service to your clients. But, if you do the clarifying work to intentionally land on the right pricing for your practice, you will be able to step into each session with purpose. On today's episode, my friend and Bodywork Project student, Jennelle Thimmesch , shares her...

So many bodywork therapists are working through losses from this past year – loss in their businesses, personal lives, or even loss of loved ones from Covid-19. For bodyworkers, it can be difficult to see beyond that grief and to continue being of service to others. On today's episode, I am so thrilled to sit down with my friend and Bodywork Project student, Kristy Denton , to take a real, honest,...

As bodywork therapists, we have the good fortune to meet many unique and special clients who walk through our doors looking for help on their healing journeys. Just as there are people in your life who you don't perfectly mesh with, there will always be clients who just don't sit well with you. Or, to put it bluntly, bug the heck out of you. How do you continue to offer premium services to clients...

When I was first starting out in my bodywork business, my revenue goals were always just to make "more." But what happens when you can never reach that target of more? On this week's episode, I want to build upon your vision and goals for your business we've been talking about the past couple of weeks, and consider how your revenue targets fit into that vision. When you know that you are making en...

As the new year unfolds, I am so excited to see and hear about your inspiring visions that you have set for yourself and your bodywork practice for 2021 and beyond. Once you have your vision, though, then what? On last week's episode I shared with you 7 simple steps to start envisioning how you want your life and business to be over the coming year. But in order to make your vision a reality, you...

Welcome to 2021! What a wild year it has been. I am so proud of you for getting to this point with your courage, perseverance and flexibility. So often this year I have heard people say they are so ready to get back to "normal." But, instead, I want you to think forward, and take this opportunity to have a reset in your business and life. On today's episode, I invite you to think about how you env...

As this wildly unique? weird? unbelievable? year of 2020 comes to a close, I hope you've had time for reflection as you go through your end-of-the-year routine. Wait, you don't have an end-of-the-year routine? I encourage you to have some sort of routine where you get organized, take stock, and get yourself and your business ready for everything wonderful that is sure to come in the new year. On t...

In order to be a successful bodywork practitioner, it takes time: between managing clients, charting sessions and finding time for yourself, where does the business side of your practice come in? To have a successful and sustainable massage and bodywork business you must make the time to develop the business side of your practice. On today's episode I share with you some of my favorite ways to get...

I know all of you big-hearted therapists out there have clients that would be delighted to give you a testimonial on the great work you are doing. Some testimonials are way more effective than others, and it's also very important what you do with the testimonials so they can be as effective as possible. I go deeper into this topic with The Bodywork Project students, but I'm excited to share with y...

I know all of you wonderful bodywork therapists out there are making a huge difference in your clients' well-being. But, oftentimes it can be intimidating for clients to refer your services to friends and family when they don't know all the minute details of how your subtle touch modality works. I have run into this situation many times as a CranioSacral Therapy practitioner, and on today's episod...

Face it, 2020's been a bitch. With the holiday season now in full swing, I know if you are anything like me, you're craving time to recoup from emotional, spiritual or physical burnout from the year behind you. On today's episode I share with you another small, but oh-so-powerful bodyworker business byte to use in your practice over the holidays as a gift for yourself and your business. I often fi...

As this crazy year is beginning to come to a close, I know there is so much variability and uncertainty in your businesses and personal lives. I want to continue to be of service to bodywork therapists like you as you navigate through the rest of the year, so with each episode over the coming weeks, I am offering you bodywork business bytes . Join me on today's episode as I discuss some important...

There is so much uncertainty in the world around us that it can feel impossible to keep ourselves centered and grounded. What I've learned from my own experiences is that the act of giving gratitude helps me to feel calmer, more joyful and more optimistic – something we all need going into this sure-to-be-unprecedented winter season. Sharing your gratitude will not only bring positivity into your...

With the world around us feeling like things are changing daily (hourly!) it is important to keep perspective and take time to be still. On today's episode, I have a wonderful conversation with Ntathu Allen , a yoga and meditation teacher and author. She shares her wisdom on taking the time to take care of ourselves as bodyworkers and healers. And she gives suggestions for getting clear around you...

When it comes time for a client to continue on their life's journey after completing their work with you, it can be an unsettling transition for you, their bodywork therapist. But what a wonderful accomplishment it is for you both to be at a place where your services have impacted somebody's health and well-being! On today's episode, as we continue with the WHAT TO SAY series, I walk you through s...