Dressing The Part Of A Massage Therapist
Do you have a uniform? Should you?
Welcome back to another Monday with the Mavens. We created the Massage Mavens blog to connect with and educate self-employed massage therapists working to grow as business owners.
It can be lonely working for yourself – and we’re here to remind you that while you’re in business for yourself, you don’t have to be in business by yourself.
While we cater our content to independent MTs, all massage therapists are welcome here; whether you run your own independent massage therapy studio, you contract in a clinic, work in spa, or you are still in school.
“The way we dress affects the way we feel. And the way we feel affects our ability to get stuff done and influence people. Call it superficial if you want, but researchers have a different name for the link between what we wear and how we feel: enclothed cognition.”
- New York Times
What kind of work wardrobe have you assembled for yourself to wear to work?
Do you feel proud, confident, and in-charge when you wear it?
Look, I’m not the fashion police. Wear what you want to wear to work. Massage therapy is a physical profession, and business casual is just not going to work for us…
But there is something to be said for having designated work clothes.
“Dressing the Part” sends a clear message that you take yourself seriously as a professional. Clients are paying you their hard-earned money for a service; showing up clean and put together is a signal to them that you appreciate them and that they’re in good hands.
“Dressing the Part” lightens the mental load of running a business. Having a dedicated work wardrobe of comfortable, presentable items means it’s just one less thing to think about int he morning.
“Dressing the Part” can become part of your getting-ready-for-work ritual. One of those people that does better when you take a moment to ground yourself and set your intentions for the day? Building a literally physical transformation into your routine is powerful.
“Dressing the Part” has been shown to improve self-esteem and imposter syndrome. The New York Times article I quoted above is just one of many articles discussing as much.
Plus. “Undressing When You’re Done With The Part” (my favorite benefit, personally) helps reinforce the boundaries between Work Life and Personal Life. Pants off? Bra off? Notifications and Emails off as well!
No one says you need to go out and buy a wardrobe of Scrubs if scrubs aren’t your style.
What they do say is to put yourself together - however that looks for you. For massage therapists, that means a bare minimum of:
Clothes: clean, appropriate, and NOT pajamas.
Smell: not offensive.
Teeth: brushed.
Hair: styled however you like (but purposeful…not bed-head)
Feet: Clean! Please for the love of all things self-care, if you prefer to work barefoot, don’t’ make your clients stare at your dirty, smelly feet while they’re face down. (Yes, clients have complained about that at previous jobs…often enough that management had to call a staff meeting.)
And, on a personal note. If you are someone struggling with Imposter Syndrome in the early years of building your studio, maybe scrubs are the right choice right now.
They certainly were for me. Still are, honestly - because I love how simple it makes my day. I work 4 days a week, so I have 4 sets of matching black scrubs, and now I don’t have to think or stress.
At the end of the day — whether you collect a new work wardrobe for your massage studio, or stick with your favorite band’s tee fresh out of the dryer — remember that Dressing The Part has been shown as a helpful investment in your business. (Plus “uniforms” are a business expense. Yay for tax deductions!)
Thanks for stopping by!
As always, we’d love to hear how our content has helped you improve either your studio, your mindset, or your revenue as a self-employed massage therapist.
Rachel Martin, LMT, is an independent massage therapist living in Denver Colorado. Having built her solo massage studio to capacity, she now spends her free time helping other massage therapists do the same. Check out The Bodyworkers Business Collective, Queen Street Marketplace, and The Techy MT to learn more.
