What do massage therapists wear

Potential clients often find us through our online presence; before ever reading any of the information we provide via our website and social media, the client is beginning to form their expectations based on what they see. Is your first impression one that exudes professionalism?

For example, it would be confusing to a client to see you dressed in formal attire online and then dressed in shorts and T-shirt in person. But with such a wide range of working environments, how do we know what is both professional and what allows us the flexibility of movement that is required to perform bodywork?

If you are an employee, your clothing options are most likely determined by your employer. Not only does your appearance represent your professionalism as a massage therapist, it also represents the professionalism of your place of employment. If you are an independent contractor or the owner of your practice, you have full control of your clothing options. If this is where you are in your practice, think about the image you want to portray to potential clients and what that image says about the services you offer.

Do you want clients to see you as a strictly medical practitioner who has a high level of knowledge and skill to treat their pain and dysfunction? Or maybe you want your clients to see you as a spa therapist who specializes in luxury-level relaxation. The majority of massage therapists are solo practitioners whose services fall somewhere between strictly medical and strictly spa, making it even trickier to determine the most appropriate professional appearance.

Some specialized modalities require a greater level of flexibility in our movements or are required to be performed barefoot while other modalities require us to dress for the environments where they will be performed. If the type of bodywork you offer or the environment where you are offering it require more casual clothing choices, you can still present a professional image and level up your practice.

Here are some quick tips to help you send the message that you are a skilled professional:. Think about the jobs your ideal clients are likely to have. Instead, they should opt for footwear that meets the following:. Nelsonville, Ohio Contact Us.

Skip to main content. See All. It means that the clothing you wear to work is reflective of your integrity, mindful of your environment, and includes a nod to context. Does what we wear at work, or when representing our business outside of work, really matter? Well, yeah. We touch people. There are health and hygiene issues. Also, many of us own businesses. So we're looking to project a certain amount of credibility and trustworthiness in our outward appearance.

And if you're an employee, you may be rewarded if clients request you for future appointments, so it probably matters that you project some credibility, too. If a client hits on me or expects sexual services, is it my fault?

Because I must be dressed suggestively? But no. It is never okay for any client to behave inappropriately or be disrespectful. At the same time, it's vital to remember that ours is a profession fraught with innuendo and historical and current connections to prostitution and human trafficking. Even the most clinical, upright, khaki-and-polo-shirt-wearing professionals have been on the receiving end of icky intentions.

So be mindful of that. If you regularly find yourself on the receiving end of unwanted advances or suggestions, you could be inadvertently sending the wrong signal with your clothes. I can't tell you that. No one can. In a field this diverse, there simply cannot be an effective or useful 'general rule'.

And anyone who starts spouting off suggestions as though they apply to everyone is an asshat who doesn't understand nuance. There is no general rule. So what set of criteria do we use to mindfully decide if we're dressed appropriately for our work? This is where context and judgement comes in. And I think you can nail that down by navigating a series of questions. Prompts, really. Will you stick out, in a negative way, if you are dressed in a very different manner than your coworkers? Do you care?

Most importantly, will looking dramatically under or over-dressed as compared to your coworkers affect the care you provide to clients? This could be an issue in a structured medical environment. If you want to do rounds with an oncology team, neither flip-flops sanitary issues or dressy high heels not non-slip soles are acceptable.

Do you often have a variety of activities scheduled in one day or do you have business and networking situations only on non-client days? If you do short spot treatment massage in a PT clinic, your options for work clothes are very different than an Ashiatsu therapist. An Active Isolated Stretching practitioner has different wardrobe needs than a Craniosacral therapist. And those of us who use oils need fabrics that wash well and rinse clean.

Do my earrings make noise? Do the pants require a belt that will interfere with my oil holster? Can I get my shoes off quickly if I decide to throw in some Ashiatsu? If I do pec work, will the client get a face-full of my bare armpit? When I lean over to do some leg stretches, will my top gape open? I wore Star Wars leggings, flip flops and a black t-shirt to work the other day.