After qualifying in ITEC Holistic Massage (Clare Maxwell Hudson School) in 2004 I registered as a sole trader with my business Amica Health in April 2005. One year into the business I thought it might be useful to review and share some of the experiences I have had of working as a Massage Therapist to date. It would be great to write about some of the fantastic discoveries I have made such as the therapeutic benefits of massage for the Practitioner (I always feel at peace and content during and after working) or the fascinating variety of the work, the amazing people you get to work with or the sense of fulfilment experienced through massage. However, this piece is going to focus on the business side of massaging.

I first met Ros, a busy TV executive, in late 2000; she was looking for 'de-stressing' after a particularly gruelling schedule. The initial treatment followed my mandatory case history and highlighted no primary health risks and gave no cause for concern apart from the impact the usual ‘21st century stressed lifestyle’ has on the body. Neck and shoulder stiffness were, therefore, dealt with quickly and effectively using predominately therapeutic techniques with some mild myofascial releases to the SIT muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor), rhomboids and levator scapulae. This 21st Century Lifestyle also seems to present a recurring pattern of ‘rigidity’ of the trapezius, sternocleidomastoids and scalenes.

Nurturing touch during pregnancy, labour, and the postpartum period is not a new concept. Cultural and anthropological studies reveal that massage and movement during the childbearing experience was and continues to be a prominent part of many cultures’ healthcare.1 Studies indicate that most of the more peaceful cultures use touch prominently during pregnancy and early childhood.2 Midwives, who for centuries have provided maternity care, have highly developed hands-on skills.