massage, bodywork, and alternative wellness: a conversation on accessibility in modern healthcare
- ptpbodywork
- Feb 16, 2023
- 6 min read
the cost of pain
how can massage therapists provide access to care?
as i continue to forge down the path of providing therapeutic massage and bodywork within the northern arizona region, there is a constant question beckoning to me - how the heck can people afford this?! i look back to the majority of my early work history in flagstaff, primarily food service work, and reflect on the long hours, physical labor, and lack of benefits and healthcare options. all that on top of inconsistent and meager wages leads to a lot of stress and not a lot of self-care.
massage and bodywork is often written off as an excess or luxury, and is rarely covered by insurance and benefit plans. in flagstaff and the surrounding area, the price of a massage (craniosacral and acupuncture, as well) ranges from around $1.50-2/minute, or $90-120/hour. of course there are practitioners working far above and below these figures. but it brings up the point that alternative medicine options can be pricey out of pocket expenses in a world where we live on tight budgets.
is getting a massage accessible?
i give value to my time, skills, and knowledge. i also see the value in maintaining a relevant and competitive pricing structure so as not to become a victim of "perceived value" or chronic savings-seekers. the double edge here being that pricing can quickly become a barrier to access and equitable opportunities for healing. at peace through presence, we accept HSA cards and have adopted a sliding scale pricing model with the intention of providing care to people, not dollar signs.
stressed and broke?
i have long valued receiving massage and therapeutic touch, but often found myself aghast at the prices associated with it. as i stepped into the role of becoming a licensed massage therapist in arizona, i struggled with asking for money from clients and often undervalued myself. i also struggled with incredible bouts of exhaustion - both physical and mental - sometimes getting so low that the very notion of providing treatment to a client seemed to make climbing the san francisco peaks look like a walk in the park. the dichotomy of needing to fill my own cup and take care of myself was often over-ruled by what i could do for my clients, even if it meant suffering a bit myself. this was amplified by the idea that the price of bodywork should be affordable for everyone, not just those with deep pockets.
"this is how it's supposed to be, right?" was a question circling my mind. but when i looked around at many of my peers, i saw a common theme - either they were burnt out and exhausted beyond belief; or they were full, glowing, and working exactly when and how they wanted to. "i'll choose the latter," i thought. and so i did.
massage is fundamentally, physically demanding and requires a great amount of time, strength, and energy. there are techniques and tricks to adapt and ensure proper use of body mechanics so that a fulfilling, life-long career is possible. according to associated bodywork and massage professionals, the "burnout rate" for massage therapists is right around 66% (with some figures as high as 88%) within the first 3 to 5 years after completing a certification program. the main reasons cited for this are physical injuries and ailments tied to the profession and mental strain and fatigue due to the nature of the work. many of us are too caught up in making ends meet that we forget to take care of ourselves. and if our cups aren't full, how can we possibly hope to fill someone else's? (another reason why i love shiatsu is that it incorporates full body movements and variations for the practitioner! check it out!)
the bottom line is this: massage is priced the way it is because it is a very demanding profession. it is important that massage therapists are compensated appropriately, so that they can offer the best and most honest care. massage is often on the more expensive side of the things we do, but when we compare it in context to other healthcare modalities, it is actually quite affordable (not to mention the fact that a 60-minute appointment is 60 minutes of hands-on, interpersonal time, not a seven-minute doctor's visit). the average cost associated with it is high, but it doesn't have to be. there are ways and means for us as massage therapists and wellness practitioners to provide opportunities for dynamic pricing and sliding scale models.
who cares for the caregiver?
the short answer is: us. we take care of us. as human beings in general, and professionals in our field, it is our responsibility to be responsible for ourselves.
but asking for a little help never hurts, either.
boundaries are an important part of taking care of the things we make time for. saying no is a powerful tool for self-growth and self-care. receiving regular bodywork, drinking enough water, elevating our heart rates and sleeping deeply. letting ourselves be less attached to financial forecasts and outcomes and instead serving from a place of deeply grounded gratitude with an intention of empowering community through wellness. these are the ways in which we, as massage therapists and bodyworkers, can start to empower ourselves and our peers.
time is of the utmost importance to me. more so than being financially wealthy, i value my time: spent with others, spent with myself, spent doing as i please.
my practice and offering is time: time to be present with the body. michael shea, a major contributer to the field of biodynamic craniosacral therapy, writes, "presence heals." and i wholeheartedly believe this. when we take the time to feel, we create an opportunity to heal. i value the time i get to spend with clients, and i want them to be able to access that time, even if they aren't the ceo of their respective profession.
creating opportunities for access
as bodyworkers and business owners, we have a voice in creating the paradigm around massage and bodywork. do we choose to echo the reverberations of "too expensive", "if only i could afford it", and "treat yourself." or do we take the reigns and create the culture and conversation around the value and cost of natural medicine? a conversation that says, "yes, you can!", "let's find a price that works for both of us," and "take care of you to take care of others." there is a world of options we can consider to offer our work to everyone within our communities.
discounts and deals
*didn't he just say don't discount yourself?!*
yes, i did. but don't forget to stay humble, too. if we're being honest, we all love discounts and incentives. even if the savings associated are minimal, there is a very real psychological component to the idea of saving money or getting a deal. creating ways to incentivize clients to take care of themselves more regularly through packages or frequency discounts goes a long way in helping our communities heal.
sliding scale and open clinic models
there is so much power in collective healing, both in a specific setting and looking at a whole community.
a model that is commonly practiced in alternative wellness is the "sliding scale," meaning there is a range in price an individual can choose to pay for any given session or appointment. for example, a business may provide therapy on a sliding scale basis for a fee of $25-50 per session. the client can then pay what they can afford within that range for that time. they can pay the same amount each time, or a different amount each time. they will still receive the same care and service, regardless of what they can give financially. at peace through presence, we have recently adopted this model into our pricing structure. for reference, a 60-minute massage costs $69-89.
the "open clinic" model is a bit more broad in the specifics, but generally is a weekly, monthly, or quarterly clinic offering therapeutic services that is open to the public for little to no fee. there are no barriers, such as memberships or paywalls, in the way of gaining access. often, these models have sliding scale pay structures or are donation-based. it is not only a great way to serve community need, but also to spread awareness about alternative health and wellness options that are less common in the public sphere.
an organization that has done a wonderful job of incorporating these two models in flagstaff is stuck community acupuncture. check them out after your massage!
the tip of the iceberg
these are just a couple of ideas and models, but there are so many ways in which massage therapists and bodyworkers can create opportunities for access to their work, without having to suffer themselves. it's up to us to create awareness and access to the work we offer and change the paradigm around it. once everybody knows, our doorbells will be ringing with the calls.
why us?
at peace through presence, i believe money should never be a barrier to access. i strive to give lasting value to every one of my clients, regardless. i take time to listen - to both you and your body - and ensure that you are heard, empowered, and in control. give yourself a chance to feel good with a uniquely tailored session. get in touch today and let’s see what kind of opportunities we can create together.
- cole burford ~ lmt
offering the gift of time
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