How to Effectively Practice Ashiatsu and Thai Massage After Class

resources Jan 19, 2022

Practice Makes Perfect Progress

Practice sessions are one of the most important things a massage therapist can do to grow as an ashiatsu and/or Thai massage practitioner. We HIGHLY recommend setting up practice sessions for the days immediately following a class. Consider practice sessions a part of your training and get them scheduled at the same time you register for a course. We recommend conducting practice hours equal to or greater than the number of hours you spent in class.

Think Ahead

Go ahead and start thinking about WHERE you will conduct the practice sessions and begin gathering equipment and supplies BEFORE the class. Reach out to a few friends and family members who have been asking you for a massage and put them on your practice day schedule. And remember to print out and complete the session note forms so that you can collect feedback and document your progress. 

13 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Practice Sessions

BEFORE THE PRACTICE SESSION STARTS

  1. Treat your practice client like you would any other paying client.
  2. Create a welcoming space that invites constructive feedback.
  3. Have them fill out an intake form and perform a general health assessment.
  4. Give an overall explanation of the session you will do and remind them that you will be asking for feedback throughout. Ask them to use the 1 – 10 pressure scale to provide feedback about the depth and intensity of your work.
  5. Review the questions on the feedback form with your client BEFORE you start the session so they know what you are looking for.

DURING THE PRACTICE SESSION

  1. Use the beginning of the session to establish a rhythm and flow.
  2. Don’t start asking for feedback about every single technique and detail right away. This is distracting. Pick a few of the moves that you know you need to work on and ask about those.
  3. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification on any feedback you receive that you don’t understand.

AFTER THE PRACTICE SESSION

  1. Allow some time for your client to talk to you about how they feel once the session is over. Encourage them to give you more information than just “I feel so relaxed” or “that was amazing.” Ask them to identify the specific areas of their body that feel relaxed and clarify what was so amazing.
  2. Ask them to complete the feedback form before they leave in order to get fresh and accurate feedback about the session
  3. If you feel like they give good feedback and that you work well together then ask them to come back for another practice session after you have worked on a few more people with different body types. 

ADDITIONAL TIPS

  1. Don't practice on your paying clients.
  2. If you practice on your paying clients anyway then do it AFTER/SEPARATE FROM the time that they pay for. Let them know you are learning something new and you would like to offer them a free sample as a treat.

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