8 "Big" Small Things Every Practitioner Should Keep an Eye On

Providing an excellent massage experience is completely different from providing an excellent massage. Sometimes, there is so much focus on massage skills and techniques while in school that other details of the overall experience get overshadowed. Plus, there are things that instructors might think are common sense and don't say anything about, yet they need to be said—just as there are particulars that, as a practitioner, you might not consider all that significant but your clients might (and likely do).

Here are my top eight "big" small things that every thoughtful practitioner should keep an eye on.

1. Use Clean Sheets

Regardless of the lubricant you use and the claims that are made by the companies that sell them saying they will not stain your sheets (or, on the flip side, that sheets you buy won't stain), anyone who has been in practice for more than a couple years will tell you there's really no way to avoid sheets becoming used beyond an acceptable level.

Use hot water when washing . . . check!

Use bleach . . . check!

Wash them the same day . . . check!

Dry on low heat . . . check!

Soak before washing . . . check!

These steps don't matter in the long run. If you use your sheets at least once a week, the lubricant you use will either stain them or cause them to eventually smell rancid, not to mention the stains they will get from clients who get spray tans or wear tanning lotions. You can prolong the life of your sheets by taking the above-mentioned precautions. But eventually, the sheets will wear out. And when they do, invest in new ones.

Visibly clean sheets convey a more professional image and are, therefore, worth your extra time and attention.

2. Get Out Those Makeup Stains

While we're on the topic of clean sheets, let's talk face cradle covers. The primary concerns that arise with face cradle covers are stains from makeup, particularly foundation, mascara, and lipstick. It can be difficult to get them out. The best way is to address them immediately.

If you notice a face cradle cover has been stained by mascara or other makeup, do the following immediately after the session:

• Use a butter knife to lightly scrape any surface level debris away (don't over scrape or you could damage the fabric).
• Do a quick wash, massaging in the cleaning agent. Effective products to use include degreasing dish soaps, makeup remover, or (believe it or not) shaving cream.
• Wash the linens the same day at the end of your shift.
• Take note whether the stain has been removed before putting the linens in the dryer. If not, repeat these steps until the stain is gone. Drying sets the stains deeper and makes them more difficult to deal with later.

3. Provide Accoutrements

This is a good next point, because you might consider providing makeup-removing wipes to avoid the preceding scenario. Of course, not every client who wears makeup will want to remove it. But some might. Every little opportunity to save yourself time counts.

Other useful items that add an extra touch include hair ties (for managing that postmassage hair), period products, breath mints, hand sanitizer, small tissue packs, mini bottles of water, and light snacks (such as single-size bags of pretzels, granola or candy bars, and fruit juices for clients with low blood sugar). If even one client a month takes you up on one of these, that is one person whose day you have made better, and they will remember it.

4. Use Fresh Lubricants

This is another one of those "Well, of course I do that!" type of recommendations. I have personally received massages where I could smell the lubricant was slightly rancid. If your practice is very busy, it's likely you won't run into this issue because your supplies turn over quickly. However, if you are just starting up, then you are likely to be less busy and, therefore, using less product. In addition, you might be on a tight budget, decide to buy in bulk to save money, and end up not using the product before it goes bad.

You can prolong the life of your product by refrigerating it. But when it goes bad (even a little bit off), don't use it. Also, don't try to cover up a rancid smell with essential oils—it doesn't work. While your client might not know exactly what they smell, they'll still know something is off. And that matters.

5. Designate a Place for the Client's Clothing

In many cases, practitioners provide a chair that doubles as a place for clients to sit presession and postsession and a place to leave their clothes during the session. This isn't a terrible idea, necessarily. But there are some clients who need to sit down when they undress and dress. Some clients are particular about hanging rather than folding their clothing (especially business attire). It's better to provide a separate place.

The most practical and simple options are to provide hooks on the wall or back of the door. Having a hanger or two available is also a nice touch. Another option is to offer a basket for foldable clothing and personal items. This can be placed under their chair, under the table, or in a shelving unit. It also keeps the room neat, tidy, and professional.

6. Keep a Robe Handy

I learned this one the hard way. Early in my career, a client needed to use the restroom mid-massage. Because I didn't have a robe available, they had to completely re-dress. Again, this isn't entirely bad, but if the client really needs to go quickly, or if you just applied lubricant that might soil their clothing, the situation quickly becomes less than desirable. So, keep a robe handy. And make sure to wash it after each use, even if the client only wears it for five minutes.

7. Monitor Room Temperature and Noise

For me, there's nothing more distracting than receiving a massage in a cold room. Some practitioners might say this is unavoidable because they don't have control over the temperature, yet there are easy ways around this situation. Affordable investments include:

• A small space heater if the room needs to be warmer. They aren't very expensive and can produce a lot of heat.
• A fan if the room needs to be cooler.
• Rice bags or other packs that can be heated or cooled.
• A table warmer. However, even this won't fix a cold room that can be shocking when getting on and off the table.

Same goes for noise. While it can be difficult to control outside noises, you can implement sound barriers. These might include a sound machine, noise-canceling devices, or even a fan. Be sure to have a sign on your door stating you are in session and communicate kindly and professionally with surrounding businesses as soon as possible to alert them to the kind of work you do.

8. Be Mindful of Slip and Fall Hazards

I can't say enough how important client safety is. And this is one area that is often overlooked—most notably when it comes to cords and hard floors.

Any cords running across an area where clients walk could potentially cause them to trip. First, try to direct cords from the table to an outlet that is near the table and out of the client's path. If you must have a cord running where a client would walk, be sure it is covered with a floor cord cover that is adhered to the floor at each end with duct tape or another adhesive to prevent it from sliding across the floor. Do not run cords under rugs because this can cause overheating and possibly result in a fire.

When you sweat the small stuff, your clients will notice the difference between you and the practitioner who doesn't.

Additionally, if you work in a room that has hard floors, be sure to place a rug under the table so when clients get off the table, they have a warm place to land (hard floors can be cold) and aren't likely to slip if they still have lubricant on their feet. To that end, it's also a nice touch to wipe the bottoms of their feet with a warm towel, preventing slippage altogether.

The Little Things Matter Big Time

Are these eight things so small that it seems like they're needless to say? Yes. But they need to be said because they get overlooked. When you sweat the small stuff, your clients will notice the difference between you and the practitioner who doesn't. It only takes a small amount of mindfulness and effort to make a big difference.