Fundamentals - Task 5

Sustainable Massage Practice
By Suzanne Cunningham

Massage is an organic experience, therefore it makes sense to link it to sustainability. Sustainability is more than just looking at our impact on the planet. In this blog I will address the efforts we can make in our massage practice to preserve Earth, but also look at the implications to ourselves, to our networks and to the economy.

When considering massage in the context of a therapist working on a client, there are many ways in which we can work to make it as organic and sustainable as possible. In Nicole Cutlers online article How to Practice Eco-Friendly Massage (July 21, 2008), she provides some excellent examples of what to incorporate in our practice. Some of them are as simple as making a wise choice when purchasing items from our supermarkets and department stores.

Using organic products wherever possible is highly recommended. This includes “organically grown cotton linens [which] are produced without the use of pesticides; they use sustainable practices such as crop rotation and support beneficial insect life” (Cutler, 2008). The use of organic massage oils and creams is also strongly encouraged. They have a two-fold advantage as they follow the same sustainable principles in their production, but they are also a great way of directly looking after yourself and your clients well-being by limiting the toxins present to be absorbed through the skin. This can also be taken one step further by using, plant and mineral based laundry detergents (which I currently do).

Where possible, buy in bulk. Instead of using several small containers and having a large amount of waste, it is possible to use one large storage container and repeatedly top up a dispenser. Often buying in bulk is cheaper than buying the same volume in smaller containers. Some suppliers may even offer a discount if you return the empty containers (eg: The Body Shop). Due to the low volume of clients I currently have, this is not yet a major consideration for me. However, once I have a higher client work load, bulk purchasing of oils will be something to prioritise.

To take sustainable practice further, the environment in which you practice should be considered. Efficient insulation and heating of the premises should be a high priority. Currently, my room has very little ceiling insulation and no under floor insulation. Both of these are going to be remedied very soon as there has been a noticeable change in recent weeks as to how high the heater needs to be and how long the heat is retained in the room. For those who are renting premises this can be a little difficult to ensure, however, wise decision making when renting a location can save a lot of expensive heating measures in the long run. Insulation requirements will vary from region to region, however, if you want to keep your space warm or cool, adequate insulation makes this a much more efficient process.

Sharing premises with another therapist or complementary healthcare provider could be a good way of sharing many expenses and the environmental impact, instead of replicating it in many different locations for a single use. In addition, wise booking of clients can also assist. If you have two or more clients back to back, this can be more sustainable than having one in the morning and one in the evening. You will either have to use extra energy reheating the area for the second client or use a large amount in keeping the area warm for the entire time. Less energy use = less drain on the environment.

The type of heating (or cooling) systems also needs to be considered as some are more efficient in different environments (radiant versus convection). As safety is paramount, there may be some limitations on what can be selected, but it pays to do your homework to see which type is going to be suited to the space and materials in your work environment.

So, by combining wise insulation, heating and time management you will be able to make a significant difference to your energy use, thus your impact on the environment and the size of your heating bill! Using energy efficient lighting takes it just one step further.

Reuse and recycle is another method to use to keep your business environmentally sustainable and keep costs down. I re-use printer paper - drafts of assignments, emails, etc - basically anything that is not confidential. They get sliced into pieces and used for grocery lists, to-do lists, book marks, phone messages, and so on.
Cutler (2008) says this about recycling, “Considered to be the ultimate green act, participation in a recycling program makes a big impact on preserving the environment”. Any items that can be recycled should be recycled through your local council (or other available systems).

However, there are more areas that massage is relevant to sustainability than the environment. There are the very human, social and economic impacts which have many flow-on effects into our society. For example, by therapists remembering to keep massage sessions to the specified time, and managing workloads so that they don’t burn out, this provides sustainability of our massage providers. If they are looking after themselves and each other, they will be available to provide outstanding and ongoing care for their clients.

The so called “human sustainability” (McQuillan, 2009) factor of massage can be measured by the improvement in our own and our clients physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Although many may say the latter two cannot be measured, most will report an improvement in their sense of general well-being, which is a form of self measure – we all know when we are feeling better after a period of ill health or stress!

By educating clients to become more self aware, they grow and learn more about themselves. They will often feel inclined to become more active, perhaps in an effort to get fit and strengthen weakened muscles, to manage stress levels or reconnect with their personal and professional networks in a more positive way. As clients become more self aware, they may also choose to further their education about their health - perhaps by changing their diet to reduce the volume and type of toxins entering the body, becoming aware of any food intolerances and just being generally more aware of what makes them feel better. In addition to managing their stress by having a physical outlet, some may even feel positive enough to address the source of their stress and eliminate it completely. This self awareness is another area in which I need to address my massage practice. By not making my diet and exercise a priority, I regularly run low on energy and optimism. This is not sustainable!!

These, and many other factors which can come directly from receiving regular massage, can flow on to affect other areas of our society. As discussed in my blog The Effects of Massage on the Autonomic Nervous System, oxytocin is a chemical in the body that is attributed to “the ability to bond and form healthy relationships with other people” (Cunningham, 2009). As massage can increase a persons natural level of oxytocin, clients will hopefully be leaving their sessions with an increased feeling of warmth and compassion towards others. This can only but have a positive effect on those they connect with. If this is combined with a reduction in stress levels, be it because they are no longer in pain from muscle tension, or they have an increased level of “feel good” hormones, a person is more likely to be calmer, more positive, less emotional and more rational. This can only bode well for their interactions with others.
I have experienced this first hand recently. After completing several assignments my stress levels dropped markedly. This resulted in me having more physical time and emotional “head space” to provide positive attention and energy onto those around me. Positive facial cues and warm responses replaced the frowns, tight lips and crisp replies that were previously dealt out. Although I could feel the change in myself, it was the comments and reponses from those around me that have had the most impact. Therefore, the professional relationships we build with our clients and the physical effect we have on them through massage will have an enormous impact on the way they interact in their other relationships, building social sustainability.

“Economic sustainability” is something we should all be striving for. By building a great business we hope to have a fabulous income. Ok, realistically it will be a good income, enabling us to live a comfortable lifestyle and have a little disposable income. If we are able to comfortably cover our costs, we are more likely to feel positive about spending our profit on other industries – hospitality, travel, adventure, clothing and textiles, and so on.

Looking at it from another angle, if as massage therapists we are treating workers in these other industries, hopefully they are fit and well, therefore more productive in their industry, reaping the economic rewards and having the disposable income to also contribute to the economic cycle. People who feel better do more! These people who are feeling better will also hopefully have the time and energy to consider the world around them instead of only have the energy to get through their day.

This positivity, combined with economic growth, can have enormous effects on our environment. People will have the time and energy to consider the choices available to them (eg: Fair Trade coffee). If they have the economic growth, they will have the income to pay slightly more for the socially and environmentally sustainable products. As many of these products do cost more than their bulk and commercially produced counterparts, it will only be by the buying power of those who can afford it to change the supply and demand see-saw so that there are more of these products available, therefore hopefully having an increasingly positive impact on our world and our own sustainability.

It is astounding to consider the far reaching effects massage may possibly have, and it is exciting to be considered a part of such an organic and important process. There are many things that I must personally consider and address as I continue to make my business sustainable, and I believe I have already made some solid ground in the right direction.



Resources

Cunningham, S. (2009, April 2). The effects of massage on the autonomic nervous system. Message posted to Suzanne Cunningham – Massage Therapist [Web Log]: http://suzmassage.blogspot.com/


Cutler, N. (2008, July 21). How to practice eco-friendly massage. Retrieved May 21, 2009, from
http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/mt/archives/2008/07/how_to_practice.html


McQuillan, D. (2009). Fundamentals – ethics (Sustainable massage practice). Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://elluminate.tekotago.ac.nz/play_recording_confirmation.html