Massage therapists suffer from professional isolation... and it hurts us

Most massage therapists spend their days in dimly lit rooms, listening to ambient music with semi-conscious clients for hours on end. That’s oversimplifying of course, but you get the idea.

Heck, if you’re reading this, you know what it’s like. It’s peaceful, relaxing, physical work that’s deeply rewarding. It’s also incredibly isolating.

Whereas in other fields there is ample opportunity to network and interact in socially meaningful ways with colleagues, this usually isn't the case for massage therapists.

One of the blocks to networking is likely the financial cost. Someone has to put on an event and cover the expense. And not surprisingly, massage therapists often don’t have a lot of extra cash sitting around to throw parties and invite 30 of their peers to join.

Then consider this: a majority of massage therapists describe themselves as introverts and empaths. Unsurprisingly, these are the least likely personalities to want to show up to a social gathering and mingle - even when they are available.

Finally, massage therapists are spread out all over. In any given community there may be only a handful of busy, stressed out massage therapists who may or may not even know each others' names.

Put all of this together and you've got a lack of opportunity, lack of will, and lack of familiarity with professional networking.

So what’s the cost of this isolation?

There are some amazing phenomena that happen in rich professional networks. Unfortunately for people who are disconnected, they miss out on these major benefits.

1 - OPPORTUNITIES It’s all about who you know when it comes to opportunities. If you need employment, an office to rent, or a cash infusion from a weekend event - you’re bound to find resources in your professional network more often than in the classifieds. 2 - COLLABORATION

When people meet together in a social context ideas flow between them like honey. Group problem solving leads to breakthroughs that don’t happen in isolation. Collaboration leads to more innovation, and major shifts in how industries run.

3 - QUALITY OF LIFE

The more people feel connected, and part of a greater whole, the more their sense of self-worth increases. Well networked people feel more confident in their knowledge of the industry outside their niche. They can even feel happier!

So what can we do, as massage therapists, to stop isolating and start collaborating?

Doing my part, I created the Inner Circle for the Marketing for Massage Visionaries program.

Members of the Inner Circle have the opportunity to meet live in video conferences each week to discuss business creation and growth.

You see your colleagues' faces, hear their voices, and get connected with them in real ways. This goes beyond social media - where interactions are superficial and limiting. The Inner Circle is a network of business-minded professionals supporting each other to create and grow their ideal practices.

Want to learn more? Check out details about the program here:https://www.path2practice.com/marketing-for-massage-visionaries