How to Redesign Your Massage Menu for a Post COVID-19 Future

As we start transitioning back to in person work, we’re all asking the same questions: 

• What will the post-COVID massage world look like?

• How long will the changes be in place?

• How can we provide services and assurances that will allow our clients to feel safe as we transition back into in person services?

• How can we safeguard our massage businesses during this time and in the future? 

While we don’t have all the answers, we can do the necessary planning it takes to help ensure a successful reopening. As public health professionals and state officials determine when it’s safe to return to work, it’s important to begin considering what your services will look like in the post COVID-19 future.  

You can start by asking, what type of massage will your clients feel most comfortable receiving and ultimately what your clients will be most inclined to purchase? Additionally, the International Spa Association recommends adding low to no touch service options as part of your menu, and to avoid services where the face is touched. At first this might seem impossible in the massage industry, after all touch is our business.

That’s why we’ve come up with five low to no touch treatments for your spa menu! If you aren’t trained in the following modalities, consider investing in continuing education opportunities during this down time to increase your chances of success upon re-opening. 

1. Ashiatsu

The Ashiatsu method uses feet instead of hands to provide massage. While this isn’t necessarily a low or no touch modality, the therapist’s face is further away from the clients face. Additionally, hands come in contact with more germs than feet - all of which may make the client feel more comfortable.

2. Reiki

Reiki is an energetic modality that promotes relaxation, connection, and healing. It can be performed on various parts of the body either with hands applied to the body over clothes, or just above the body. A Reiki practitioner can choose to work on parts of the body that are not near the head/face. Reiki is a great tool to use with those who are experiencing stress or trauma. To learn more about Reiki, check out our blog, Is Reiki and Energy Work Woo-Woo? 

3. Craniosacral

Craniosacral work is similar to Reiki in that it is performed on a clothed client. While some of the main Craniosacral techniques involve the head and face, there are many that can be used on the rest of the body. Craniosacral is a light touch technique that calms the nervous system and is said to relieve pain and a variety of dysfunction in the body. 

4. Yomassage®

Yomassage is a mind-body massage modality that can be offered with energy work and/or Swedish techniques. Each Yomassage session begins with a ritual of five minutes of deep, restorative breathing, or a unique mindfulness inducing guided meditation to keep you grounded. Throughout the session, the client is guided into several restorative stretch positions while a Yomassage therapist provides massage and guided meditation. 

Yomassage sessions can be done 1:1 or in a small group setting (most likely with family and friends the client has already been quarantined with). In addition to the Signature Yomassage class, other Yomassage  offerings include Energetic Yomassage which utilizes Reiki or other energy modalities, and Yomassage Self-Care which is an educational class/workshop that teaches guests how to use a combination of mindfulness, breath work, and massage balls to facilitate self-massage and provide trigger point therapy. 

Click here to see examples of treatment menu descriptions for the various Yomassage offerings. 

5. Virtual Offerings

Continue to include virtual offerings as part of your menu. Clients will return at different paces, with various comfort levels. Make sure you have something for everyone! For more details, check out our blog on 12 services you can offer virtually. 

You can find more information about what to consider as you re-open, as well as data on consumer’s comfort level with returning to spa treatment in our blogs Re-opening Toolkit and Are Consumers Ready to Return?

If you want to join the Yomassage community, you can do so through our free Yomassage Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/yomassage. 

For more info about Yomassage, follow us on Instagram and listen to our podcast!