It's not even necessary to have strong handsif you can use feet, elbows, knees, etc. But all that is Asian style and much more difficult (although to some extent possible, except for feet) on a table.
The female MTs could get more power if they used some of these techniques, and the males could save their hands. But either way, the males are going to have more body weight at their disposal.
In my case my MTs feet are particularly effective on the glutes and lower body. There's real power there capable of turning just about anybody, even the largest guy, into jello. :-)
Elaine
Dec 10, 2009 Rating
Male MT testimonial by: Howard
Elaine, thank you--you'd make a great spokesperson for us male MTs! :-) Most of my regular clients say the same things about the difference between male and female MTs, but these are people who are OK with one, too.
Unfortunately, the people I've met who will not let a male MT touch them could never be convinced to even try one--it's some sort of emotional/psychological/homophobic issue, not a physical issue.
But it was somewhat entertaining to watch a client who'd refuse a male MT, then keep returning week after week, trying one female MT, then another, then another, just trying to find one with strong hands! :-)
I worked with some very good petite female MTs and they would dread working on these people (mostly bigger guys) who'd push them throughout the massage to "go deeper!", so they'd beat themselves up in order for the client to get the massage they were after.
And while a new, inexperienced female therapist was slammed with appointments, I'd sometimes sit there with my stronger hands, more experience, and zero appointments. :-(
That's life as a male MT and I learned to accept that reality long ago. As a result, I keep giving my best to each person whom I DO get the chance to work on.
Dec 10, 2009 Rating
Wow, I am so surprised to hear this. It by: Elaine
doesn't really make sense, if you think about it. Usually men are stronger than women (a gross over-generalization, I realize, but they *are* usually heavier) and will tend to have a wider range available to them, so to speak. They can be gentle when appropriate, and they apply a larger force (weight) than woman generally can, when appropriate.
I would never take a Cessna when I could be flying in a Turbojet. :-)
In any case, perhaps this bias is changing, at least in certain areas. I'm in Santa Cruz (near SF), which may be more hang-loose than other areas of the country.
Elaine
Dec 07, 2009 Rating
The gender issue is real... by: Howard
I agree with Raul that we male massage therapists should look at the positive side of this issue. However, from the day I first considered going to massage school and interviewed an experienced male massage therapist I knew to learn more about it, I began preparing for what he honestly told me that I would face in the real world: MOST people do not want a male massage therapist and that includes both men and women. For that reason, there are MANY clients we will never even get a chance to prove how good we are, how professional we are, and how much we can help.
Sad, but true.
From the six years I spent splitting my week at two of the largest and busiest massage centers in our county (each business has 15 to 20 MTs and 8 massage treatment rooms), I learned that about 2 out of every 3 people will not make an appointment with a male MT and/or will ask for a female MT. This is why I had to work many more hours each week than the female MTs in order to get enough appointments to make a living.
The positive side of that is that it forced me to become the best I could be and made me shoot for the goal of being a much better therapist than any of the female MTs just to stay in the business.
One of the two massage centers was owned by a male MT who did the male MTs a HUGE favor: when a walk-in or a call came in for a massage, we were instructed to offer one of the three male MTs FIRST; if the person said they'd prefer a female, we would then offer the first female in rotation.
This actually balanced out the amount of appointments pretty nicely, which never would have happened in a regular MT rotation (as it was set up at the other place I worked). Since all the MTs there also had to work the front desk when we weren't busy, I gained a lot of experience in offering appointments to the public and could feel out the gender issue for myself.
So yes, it IS a real issue, but don't ask any of my regular clients--they'll tell you that they think it's crazy to worry about the gender of the MT...but think about it--they were (like Elaine) already part of that 1 in 3 people who were OK with a male MT! :-)
Dec 05, 2009 Rating
p.s. - male MT just hired as sole MT in woman-run hair salon by: Elaine
I thought the male MTs here might like to hear that my MT (the guy I posted about last month with whom I had the arousal problem) was just hired as a the sole chair-massage practitioner in a woman-run and operated hair salon in my neighborhood catering almost exclusively to women.
In most salons I've seen with chair massage, there's a woman MT. But the owner of this place hired him on the spot after having a session from him at another chair massage place.
So I don't think there's any bias against male MTs, at least on the part of female clients. And this salon owner clearly doesn't think there is, either, or she wouldn't have wanted him as the only MT to work on HER clients.
Just a data point for you male MTs.
Dec 03, 2009 Rating
I agree with Raul once again. I don't by: Elaine
understand why male MTs think there's an issue to be overcome. Most women I know would prefer a male massage therapist - not so they can get turned on or anything but just because there's a nice polarity there, it feels "right" to be in a man's hands rather than a woman's. And maybe because women who DO tend to get turned on by massage would feel even more uncomfortable if that happened with a woman therapist.
And yes I agree, starting with chair massage is an excellent idea. That's how I met my MT. I would not have felt safe simply inviting him or anyone into my home to give me bodywork whom I hadn't had some experience with in a neutral environment first.
I don't know how men feel about this.
Dec 02, 2009 Rating
my two cents on 'overcoming' by: Raul Alberto
I for one have realized that when i feelor think that i must 'overcome' i feel like im climbing uphill and its very steep and if i stumble ill fall. That being said i do not try to see it as this needing to overcome anything.
Im a male lmt and there are those who won't even see a problem with that, many who do not think twice about gender so this is where i target my energies. Yes there are some who will never get around to being ok with a male therapist, don't focus on them. Instead focus on how you can easily get those who would be open to experience what you have to offer.
For me chair massage has worked well, i recommend this to every male lmt i know. I love doing chair massage and it keeps those who were afraid at first to drop their guard.
