When I first started massage school, I initially thought I’d be entering the spa industry. However, before I finished my training, I discovered a therapeutic bent in my style. During my advanced training, I had to complete case studies in my practical work, observing and documenting the effects of consecutive bodywork sessions. This provided context for how massage works as a therapy.
After starting my private practice, I declared that I would never work in a resort or spa, or live in a tourist town, because I didn’t want to work in a setting where I primarily saw people only once. I wanted to help people rehab injuries, alleviate chronic pain, and support them in wellness lifestyles. Although I intentionally create an environment for relaxation, I can’t help but focus on a holistic, therapeutic outcome.
During an initial intake with a new client, I make an effort to understand what’s going on and the client’s goals. In the first session, I am just getting to know a person’s body, health history, and wellness goals. It’s a lot to see them only once.
See: WHY THE FIRST SESSION WITH SOMEONE IS MY LEAST FAVORITE.
Fast forward a couple of decades (and most certainly by divine design) …HERE, I find myself now living in a tourist town. The Almighty has a sense of humor, aye! But the joke’s not on me. What an incredible place (Pagosa Springs, CO) to get bodywork! Quiet, calm, forests, hot springs, rivers, lakes, mountain views, nature galore.
Now, I find myself figuring out how to do what I do best and still serve tourists. Embodiwork Studio is not a day spa with multiple therapists on duty. We are a private practice that offers a high-quality therapeutic bodywork experience. It’s more than a massage.
Unless you come for more than a couple of hours, we won’t be able to complete a full-body massage. Not the way that we work (detail, precision, and patience). If you have an injury or a chronic condition, you will likely need more than one session anyway. I’ve worked with thousands of bodies with nearly every condition you can imagine. I’ve come to see that bodywork is a pillar of health, and the one-and-done approach doesn’t fit my philosophy.
The worst part about working with tourists… is when we hit it off. When you like our style and the environment we provide, I enjoy helping. Then it’s GOODBYE! Have a wonderful life! Never to see you again. It happens more than I like.
So, if neither of us is getting the most benefit from working together, it’s not an ideal situation. And honestly, I can no longer try to work like this. I’ve decided to change the way I work with tourists. Not to exclude them, but to work together most beneficially.
Working together in the way I am proposing will give you better results, and those results will last longer if you come more than once, as long as you don’t undo them by having too much fun… or by working too hard.
As I mentioned in my last blog, massage gets better with time. Just as consistent working out and/or a stretching practice does, bodywork progresses and begins to produce significant and lasting results, and that’s the most rewarding work for both of us!
How we work with tourists:
If you are visiting Pagosa Springs and interested in getting a massage at our studio, please note the following:
1. We are scheduling with tourists interested in receiving two or more hours of bodywork sessions @ our studio.
2. Reservations must be made in advance – please no last-minute bookings.
3. If you only have time for a single session, it must be a minimum of a 2 – to 3-hour session. See Tourist Page
If it is too late, please keep us in mind when planning your next trip here. We do our best to accommodate our clients with times that work well for them, and we tried for a while to work loosely with tourists, but it wasn’t ideal. If you pass through again, please keep us in mind when planning your trip. We hope you enjoy your visit to our beautiful mountain town!
If you are interested, click the Book Now button and complete the form. Thanks! And may we all embody health. Cheers!
