Most people have observed the ebb and flow of nature, from the tide coming in and going out each day to the seasons changing from lavish growth in the summer to cold, still quiet in the winter. Along with nature, our own lives also ebb and flow, from times of packed schedules and financial abundance to phases of downtime and rest.
While this type of waxing and waning is normal, it is important to keep an a finger on the pulse of your massage therapy or bodywork practice, to make sure one of those slow phases does not extend longer than necessary or cause any harm to your financial situation or personal self-esteem.
This is where continuing education can come in so handy, especially if you happen to live in one of the states or regions that require massage therapists and bodyworkers to earn a certain number of continuing education credits on a consistent time schedule, for the renewal and maintenance of a massage or bodywork license.
When continuing education is required, it can help serve as a built-in reminder to explore new territory in the massage and bodywork industry every so often. If you are not required to earn continuing education credits due to any state or regional requirements, it might be a good idea to set your own goals in terms of taking a certain number of continuing education classes per year.
The reason continuing education can be such a great help when it comes to busting a slump at work is because continuing education classes offer a venue for practitioners to learn new things and reignite their passion for the practice of massage therapy or bodywork.
It is no surprise that a bored or exhausted massage therapist may find herself in a slow phase that is lasting a little too long. After all, the energy of the practitioner can be a big part of what draws clients to a specific massage therapist or bodyworker and keeps them coming back. When that energy is tired, bored or negative, clients may be less likely to schedule repeat appointments.
By enrolling in a continuing education course, the savvy massage therapist or bodyworker can actively address what is making him bored or sapping his energy. In essence, these continuing education classes can be used to help strengthen the weak spots or heal the negative issues that may be plaguing a practitioner.
For example, the massage therapist who is continually exhausted and has little energy left to be passionate about her practice may need to think about the source of this extreme fatigue. In many cases, it may be that the practitioner has acquired some bad habits in terms of posture and movement during each session. This could perhaps be addressed via a continuing education class that offers a refresher on proper body mechanics.
As for the bodyworker who grows bored with his daily session work, a continuing education class on a whole new type of touch therapy may be the best bet, so he can weave a different modality into his day-to-day work and gain some much-needed diversity.