TFTFL-Virus Interruptus- My Career

An open letter to my Massage Therapist Colleagues and our Clients,

So here we are. Our profession, amongst others, has been temporarily sidelined by COVID-19.

Deemed a nonessential service. We were instructed to shutter. I know some of you took great umbrage to that. But don’t. We know better. Our clients know better.

However, in the best interest of ourselves, our families, colleagues and clients we need to help create the gap to slow this virus down. We must lead by example. But we are far from nonessential.

I have been reading some of the posts on massage sites, and hearing how you are missing your clients, missing caring for people, missing doing your passion. 

In talking to some of you, I hear your worry about those clients that rely on you to help their  day to day function. 

Talking to my own clients, I hear their concern, about how to manage their own issues until they can get back on the table. Some have also expressed their concern for my family’s well being on the economic side of things, offering to pay for the missed appointments or purchase gift certificates, to help where they can. The mutual respect and care between therapist and their charge is a wondrous, and far from nonessential thing.

Right now, in this time of fear, physical distance, anxiety and anger we are also experiencing the physical symptoms of extreme stress. Muscle pain, sleeplessness, headaches, shallow breathing, restlessness and muscle tightness. Some may be feeling exhausted, short tempered, emotional or numb. If someone already has an underlying physical or mental health condition this extra stress can exacerbate issues, and/or create new ones.

This is tough on every body.

Therapists, we will be needed far more that you know. Not just for those clients that have been distancing, but those clients that have been deemed essential workers and had to go out into the altered world day after day. They will need pain relief. They will need compassion. They will need connection. They will need relaxation. They will need us. When we get to the point that we can be of help again, we need to be ready.

I know you all want to get back to work, not only for them, but for ourselves too. We are feeling all of the same things, we are dealing with not knowing how long we will not be able to make our livelihood. We are dealing with the uncertainty of illness. 

We need to look out for each other. So take this time. Rest, exercise, practice self care. If you did not have one already, create a routine for yourself now, because you will need it later. 

We will be back before you know it, doing what we do, and it will get busy. Be proud of your career and what you’ve chosen to do. We are essential.