How to Choose the Right Massage Therapist for You – Part 2

How to Choose the Right Massage Therapist for You – Part 2

different types bookies there

This might be a surprise to you or maybe not, but all massage therapists are not created equal, not all massages are the same, any more than all bodies are the same. I bring this up because it occurred to me that the major reason people may not like to try another therapist is loyalty to their therapist or fear of the unknown. After all we like the massage we’re getting, so why change therapists? Well, let me explain.

When you first schedule your appointment the front desk staff asks questions to not only get you the best time for your schedule, but also to try to match you to the best massage for your goals and the best personality fit between you and the therapist you will be working with. Usually our staff nails it, but, sometimes, this doesn’t work out so well which isn’t a surprise, we’re trying to make all these decisions within a five minute phone call.

Did you know if you don’t mesh with the massage type, the style of massage used by your therapist you can (and should) ask for different things for your next massage? Or if you and your therapist don’t jibe personally (hey, it happens, no harm, no foul) that we don’t think twice about scheduling anyone with another therapist who may suit you better, we’re cool like that. We know that everyone isn’t meant to get along and so we have other therapists for you to try, until you find the right fit for you.

Massage Type: There’s a vast pool of massage types that we in the business call “modalities”. In the bodywork world we know that there are different massages that work best on different pathologies (issues) in the body, based on your needs and your goals, we book a massage based on what you say you’re looking for. On the day of your appointment we do further intake to ensure that we’re doing the best massage for what you’re looking for by discussing what your goals are and come up with a plan together.

Massage Style: Massage style refers to the way the massage therapist applies their massage techniques. Each therapist does more than one massage modality, but their massage style is what brings it all together in a treatment that is customized for you each time you visit. You may have a deep tissue massage from one therapist and a deep tissue massage from another therapist and they are completely different. It’s like Frank Sinatra and Sid Vicious both recorded “My Way” but they are vastly different (and you’re bound to prefer one to the other)!

Choosing your massage based on type, style, and personality fit may take a few times, but when you get that right combination, you will know it and it’s worth the pursuit. We look forward to helping you find your right fit for the results you’re looking to achieve.

That’s the Rub,

Lisa

How to Choose the Right Massage Therapist for You – Part 1

How to Choose the Right Massage Therapist for You – Part 1

Massage Therapist Interviews at That's the Rub

I don’t know how many of you know what goes into hiring of a That’s the Rub massage therapist. It occurred to me that in case you were sitting on the fence about how to choose your massage therapist above and beyond our biographies that it might give you great confidence to know that I have pre-selected for you. What does this mean? This means that I have taken my years of expertise in hiring and training well over 300 massage therapists for many of the top resort spas in the country, and working with many of the best therapists in the field, to good use.

We don’t hire just anyone at The Rub. Each potential new hire goes through two interviews: first with Jim, other staff members, and even the occasional client who happen to be coming by (we hold these in the Relax Lounge, so if you ever see and interview going on, PLEASE feel free to join in), then with me. At which point they come back again for a technical (or practicum interview) to show me their skills and how they might fit into The Rub culture. No matter who they are or how much experience they have, if they don’t fit what we do to some benefit of themselves and The Rub, I don’t hire them. That means they will also provide the most benefit to YOU, the client. We have many different therapists that cover a spectacular range of specialties and what people need, because people’s needs are different. We customize the massage for you and what your body needs at the time. We don’t do cookie cutter massage, you deserve better than that. You deserve to have a therapist who will look at your body as being unique to only you and work with you towards your healthcare goals.

I once did a massage therapy practicum with an interview candidate which was the most unique version of massage I’ve ever had and nothing like I expected. When she first began I was wondering what she was doing (and I’ve been a therapist for 18 years). I tell you this because you need to know that all massages are NOT alike. For every person on the planet there is a different interpretation of how that massage therapist will treat your body. I always think about how we are going to market this massage, this therapist…but this one was so different, so strange. Adopting Steven Covey’s first seek to understand, I asked her what technique she was doing and she said “Trigger Point and Myofacial Release, done in a way that I’ve interpreted it.” Now I’ve NEVER had this interpretation before, but while I lay there trying to figure out how this would fit with The Rub paradigm I realized my back had released and no longer felt tense in areas that I had felt all day. As she was following the fascial lines I could feel little crackles of release and how they correlated to other areas of my body (it’s all connected) in twitches and sighs of letting go. She ended the massage with a little cranial sacral and I felt relaxed yet energized at the same time. After she left I had an epiphany of how she fit into The Rub, we are always about unique massage techniques that give way to results. More than relaxed, I slept deeper than I had in over week and I woke up ready to seize the day and another opportunity to bring something special to someone else. That’s what massage is, something special — not everyone can do it and it brings something to everyone who experiences it. Of course, I hired her immediately.

Every person’s massage is different based on the needs of the individual’s body, as well as the techniques and the skills of the individual therapist, but our message remains the same: The Rub continues to bring the best bodywork to Bloomington, one body at a time. Welcome to The Rub!

That’s the Rub,

Lisa

Thank YOU, Bloomington! You Chose US!

Thank YOU, Bloomington! You Chose US!

Readers' Choice Bloomington's Best Day Spa

Thank you, thank YOU, THANK YOU! We know you have lots of choices where to get your massage and spa services, and YOU chose us as Bloomington’s Best Day Spa in the Herald-Time’s Readers’ Choice Awards — we couldn’t be more honored!

In October, 2009, That’s the Rub opened it’s doors with one massage therapist (Lisa), one room, and one computer geek (Jim). Just over five years later, Lisa and Jim are still around, but That’s the Rub has grown a bit: We’re proud to be home to the 10 (TEN!) best massage therapists ever assembled, a spectacular tarot reader, the finest front desk team you could ask for, six unique treatment rooms decked out with local art, a brand-new Body Boutique!

We’re only as good as our clients and customers, and YOU are the BEST in the World!

Thank YOU!

That’s the Rub,
Lisa, Rachel, Theresa, Holly-Lynn, Gabrielle, Krystal, Elizabeth, Jess, Tonya Fay, Carol, Daun, Emily, Kaeli, Madinah, Hazel, and, of course, Jim!
PS – Oh yes, and in case that wasn’t enough, last week we ALSO had our 500th LIKE on Facebook, AND we performed our 15,000th massage at That’s the Rub! WOWZERS! You folks REALLY are the very best!
The Center Turns 5!

The Center Turns 5!

The Center is 5!

Bloomington, Indiana’s very own That’s the Rub Massage Therapy Center turns 5 Years old this month! When we first opened The Center’s doors in 2010, we had one therapist (Lisa), one admin guy (Jim, a full-time Indiana University student at the time), three rooms, no desk (Lisa did her first client intakes sitting on a pink plastic filing box), no art, and no store. Things have changed just a bit as we’ve grown to six rooms, twelves therapists, The Body Boutique, and the BEST CLIENTS EVER!

To celebrate, we’re offering the Anniversary 3 Pack Series. This is a LIMITED OFFER (Available March 2015 ONLY!) of three (3!) massages for 15% off. You have 6 months to use them and you don’t have to schedule them now. The Anniversary 3 Pack is available in 2 flavors: 60 Minute Signature for $191.25 or 60 Minute Premium for $204.00. How about that, get three massages AND save money…now that’s something to celebrate! And before you ask, yes, you can buy more than one 3 Pack (buy 20 if you like), but they all have to be used in the next 6 months. Purchase yours online now, swing by the shop, or give us a call at 812-333-3393!

Interview with Massage Therapist and Owner Lisa Keplinger

Interview with Massage Therapist and Owner Lisa Keplinger

Lisa Keplinger, Owner of That's the Rub

As you may or may not know, That’s the Rub is the dream and brainchild of massage therapist extraordinaire, corporate spa consultant, and all-around fantastic individual Lisa Keplinger. Every now and again, someone out in the big, wide world recognizes what an amazing entrepreneur she is and calls for an interview about her story, and her ideas about the future of massage therapy (for the record, she’s got a lot). Today we’re delighted to share with you the most recent one done by a leading massage industry education magazine. 

1. Tell us a bit more about you and your practice as it is today? i.e. are you a solo practitioner or a business owner? If solo, what kind of an establishment do you work for, how large is it, what is the clientele like, what is the specialty offered? If it is a business that you own, kindly include the same time of relevant information that will give the reader a good idea about your establishment/practice. Please also include where you live and work?

I’m a business owner and a solo practitioner among many. The business is That’s the Rub Massage Therapy Center. We have five treatment rooms, eight massage therapists, a Tarot reader and an acupuncturist, we also have three front desk staff and a wonderful marketing manager.

Our clientele varies. We are a college town (Bloomington, IN) so we work with a lot of professors and students alike. There are also many businesses around us because we’re downtown that a lot of people from the surrounding businesses also come to see us.

Our specialty is our Therapeutic Rub. It’s focused on exactly what their problem areas are, then we pick them apart and put them back together again with an integrative deep tissue, myofascial and massage to name just a few of the modalities that most of us do. Then we all also have our individual specialties that come into play.

We consider ourselves family and is a family owned business. My husband/business partner and I established That’s the Rub Massage Therapy Center in March of 2010, we’re about to celebrate our four year anniversary. Each therapist is an independent contractor and is responsible for their own schedule/communication with our front desk staff to keep things running smooth and in an orderly fashion.

2. Tell us why you chose to go into massage and at what point in your life did you decide to do so? What were you doing at the time? Where did you first hear about the massage career? What factors influenced your decision? What were you looking to get out of this decision? CONTINUE READING

– READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW  at: http://www.massagetherapyschoolsinformation.com/lisa-keplinger/#sthash.kza3jMmX.dpuf