100 days, 100 voices

This week, I worked with one of my amazing clients, Mary, and I had to share what she's been up to. She recently returned from an incredible journey, traveling all through the US. Her goal was to travel for 100 days and interview 100 people. Well, she interviewed 105!

She interviewed people from all walks of life, every skin color, every economic status, every political stance, every religious viewpoint. She began to see some wonderful commonalities and themes emerge. Through her entire adventure, she never once had to pay for lodging. She was taken in by the kindness of strangers.

It's an amazing world we live in...

http://www.exchange09.com/

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

Birthday Massage Special.... ends soon!

Dear friends,

I had a really great birthday last week and all of you made it even better! I had to extend my birthday special out another week! For this limited time, a one hour massage is only $50! Tell your friends!!

I still have a few more openings on Wednesday morning to early afternoon, Thursday morning, Friday early afternoon and Saturday afternoon.

~

I'm also looking for feedback on my massage practice. Anything you'd like to share to help me improve. I've already received some wonderful suggestions!

Here are a few sample questions...

What do you like best about your massage session? What could I do better?

What do you think about my massage rates?

Are there are massage techniques you'd like me to learn?

So, send me your feedback! If you do, you'll be entered into a drawing to win a massage gift certificate! I'll extend the deadline to July 4th and announce the winner soon afterwards.

Until our paths cross next....

Blessings and love,
Hamid : )

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

Craigslist Therapeutic section gone to the dogs

Craigslist has become tolerant of sexual ads in the Therapeutic section. Maybe they just grew tired of policing the site, since they have also removed any way to flag an inappropriate ad.

So, now the section is it's a lowly mix of a few legitimate LMT's and a several ads for poorly veiled prostitution. Truly sad.

I imagine if Governor Kulongoski has his way and suspends the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists (OBMT), it will become even more difficult to make a distinction between our professional, therapeutic status as complimentary healthcare workers and the rest of the sexual riff-raff.

My massage therapist friends, there are better ways to get the word out there and advertise your business! Build a website, hang fliers, teach a class.... become the light others seek.

Blessings and love,
Hamid : )

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

Expanded hours and sliding-scale massage clinic

Dear friends,

Life brings transition. I always feel change, even when difficult, can bring us valuable lessons. We evolve through overcoming these challenges.

This lifetime is a healing process. A letting go of both old and new wounds and allowing a new, more vibrant, alive energy to take it's place.

Years ago, I started a process of intentional healing... a path I still trot along today. I've seen my way through much of my physical pain, which has lead to letting go of so many emotional and spiritual sufferings. I'm not the same person I was. And, life continues to be transforming!

I've been working with so many amazing clients! We've been finding freedom from chronic pain. We've been finding hope!

EXPANDED HOURS and SLIDING-SCALE MASSAGE

Now that I'm finding more energy in my life, I want to expand my hours again. I'm now open to evening sessions throughout the week and will be offering 30 and 60 minute sliding-scale massages on every Saturday. If you can't make it on Saturday's, but need the sliding-scale, please talk to me! Finances should not be a hindrance to self-care!

Hamid's sliding-scale massage clinic... click here!

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

OBMT and MBLEx taking a few jabs

Here's an interesting article on the recent attention given to the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists and the licensing exams...

Massage Board and MBLEx Under Fire

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

Birthday Massage Special!

It's my birthday next week! So, from June 22nd - 26th, 60 minute massage sessions are $50! Please, only one massage per client. Please mention this special when making your appointment.

My friends... thank you walking this earth. You walk a brave and noble path simply by living this lifetime.

Blessings and love,
Hamid : )

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

A massage therapist's response to craigslist ad charges

An astute reader e-mailed yesterday in response to my previous post about craigslist now charging for ads in the Therapeutic section.

Hamid, I read your blog. I am a massage therapist in California. I too am very disappointed in the new charges.....Just an FYI, If you post in Beauty services or Small Biz it is free and your post will still come up when people search on massage and services or even just massage...

Erin M.

Thanks Erin! Great tip!

So, I posted my ad in the Small Biz section today without a problem. And, it looks like ads in the Therapeutic section have become quite sparse. Perhaps if I run a big discount special I'll post in the Therapeutic section again. For now, it's a waste of money.

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

Craigslist now charging!

It appears Craigslist.org is now charging to run ads in the Therapeutic section at $10 for a 7 day run. Plus, they won't allow a link to your massage website!

No thanks Craigslist! I haven't paid a dime in advertising in years... not going to start now. Perhaps it's a way to weed out the ruffians, but it's also weeding me out too.

So, my two bits for my fellow massage therapists... get yourself a website and work on web optimization to get your site listed high in the search engine rankings. Transcendingtouch.com continues to be the most successful way to market my massage therapy practice here in Portland, Oregon.

~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon

Suspend the Massage Board?

On Friday, May 15th, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, proposed that the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists, and several other state boards be suspended.

An excerpt from the transcript...

GM is going to have to live without Pontiac – even though there are probably millions of loyal Pontiac owners. Well, every state agency, board and commission has its loyal supporters too.

I get that. But the money simply isn’t there anymore. Some government functions have to go – at least for the foreseeable future. Oregon state government can no longer be all things to all people.

That’s why I am asking the Legislature to suspend a wide variety of agencies, boards and commissions.

These include: The Board of Occupational Therapy, the Board of Massage Therapists, the Consumer Advisory Council, the Commission for the Blind, the Board of Licensed Dietitians, and the Advocacy Commissions – among others.

I am also preparing for possible consolidation – among others – the Aviation Department, and all of the health-related agencies, boards and commissions.


The entire .pdf transcript from his speech can be found here...
Governor Kulongoski's speech to the Portland City Club

This topic has spurned a great deal of heated discussion amongst Oregon Licensed Massage Therapists. I'm sure members of the others state boards are having similar debates!

I'll write more on this very soon....

Until then, leave a comment and share your opinion!


~
Hamid LMT - Massage therapist in Portland, Oregon