Up-skill Education for Day Spas

...her approach to massage was in a fashion similar to one would buff their car...

I started my Day Spa in our small tourist town back in 2007. I was excited to train a couple of local ladies to offer massage and other day spa menu items. My pre-requisites were to be open to constructive criticism and committed to learning. They also had to have a natural, relaxed ability to touch another human in a therapeutic way. In order to evaluate this, I requested each potential team member to demonstrate their skills on me.

One, in particular I remember approached her ‘try-out’ massage in a fashion similar to one would buff their car. She turned out to be the best and most requested at my day spa for several years. I recognized in her touch, once the buffing and polishing was done, there was a brilliant gem ready to shine.

Under-promise. Over-deliver.

Time and time again I hear resigned disappointment

At best, the feedback is disappointment or apathy.

At worst, the feedback is that the client ended up bruised!

Redefine the 'SPA' massage stigma

I imagine a time when your Day Spa feedback excitedly reports ‘that was the BEST massage i’ve ever had!

I don't expect much

I want for your spa business to attract the quality of client who expect a sensational massage- and go home glowing with praise, excitedly telling all their friends.

The food was good at least!

We want great food and an EPIC massage experience.

You want this for your spa clients too, right?

I wish they were better trained

This one hits the business owner where it hurts. Why? Because there IS something you could have done to deliver a better experience to your spa guests.

If only the massage was better

If you operate a Day Spa experience, with food, drink and body treatments, we all know your guests aren’t going there exclusively for the food. The crowning glory is the massage. Make it be one they rave about!

TRAINING GOAL: To deliver a Therapeutic Massage your clients RAVE about!

Pre-requisites: Trainees should already have a solid massage practice/ technique and be open to incorporating new techniques into their repertoire.

Trainees should revise in particular, basic musculoskeletal anatomy

Trainees should expect and welcome constructive criticism, considering it a special gift that leads to expansion of knowledge.

If you are planning on training your massage therapists from the very beginning, send me an email to ask how I can assist you in selecting potential employees, and training them from the very start.

How to achieve?

This training contains a two-pronged approach.

1/ Initial training of three 2-hr sessions with up to three trainee therapists per session.

2/ Regular ‘critiquing sessions’– where therapists perform their massage on the trainer (Corynne) as they would with a client, however, Corynne provides a running commentary and critiques the massage in order to highlight areas of improvement and provide positive feedback on areas the therapist is doing very well. These sessions are 90 minutes in duration and allow 15-30 minutes for massage therapist Q and A and revision of specific techniques.

The recommended schedule is monthly for the initial 3 months, then once every 3 months after that. It is important that in-between, the therapists trade massage with each other, and commit to providing and receiving graciously, constructive feedback. This truly is the key to your (and their) success.

Each training session is 2 hours long and designed to address:

-skills, techniques and basic anatomy pertaining to such techniques

-I will share the techniques I have found to be most effective and widely received by my clients, the ones when they say ‘Wow, nobody does THAT!’ techniques, that keep people coming back- Corynne’s unique tips and tricks.

The sessions will involve mostly hands-on work. Each massage therapist will ‘receive’ the technique from me, perform the technique back on me, and should be allowed time after the training to practice on each other (outside of the session time).

It would be helpful to know a little about your massage therapists before I get there. How many, their background, training, years of experience/ preferred modality. This will help me prepare more specifically to them.

Recommended to start with three sessions preferably on consecutive days, or at most, within 10 days.

Session ONE would cover the BACK, including hips, glutes, quadratus lumborum and psoas.

Session TWO would cover the FRONT (including shoulders, chest, neck, head, jaw)

Session THREE would cover techniques addressing FEET, LEGS, ARMS, and tying it all together.

Manager topics and considerations (we can meet separately to discuss)

– protocol for employees or clients with cold/ flu/ sickness/ skin conditions.

– what to do if the therapist notices a possible contagious condition in a client and doesn’t feel comfortable to continue.

– standard procedure for when a client asks for a happy ending or when things get weird (it happens!!)

– contraindications for massage

– constructive criticism and creating a safe place where employees learn to love to receive it.

– timing/ scheduling of appointments/ length of time for therapeutic massage in order to provide optimal experience

– importance of client communication to determine what they REALLY want. ie. are they truly up for getting a full therapeutic massage that is basically a treasure hunt for all the knots and adhesions the therapist can find, or would they prefer more of a combination of relax with some key techniques for relief. This can be determined by a carefully created questionnaire to fill out upon reservation.

– Language considerations and how to get really clear communication even in a second language.

Training Investment: $600 for three sessions of 2 hours each session.

Critiquing service Investment: $100 per 90 minute session.

Note: Critiquing service only available after initial Training Investment, not stand-alone.

Location: prices are based on travel in the 25km radius from Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Travel time further afield will be compensated for on a case-by-case basis.

Possibility exists to exchange trade for hotel stays or other experiences. Just ask!