Soma Massage Therapy doesn't take tips, and we never have! Here are 4 reasons why we have this policy in place, and why we think it makes for a better experience for both our clients and our therapists:
1. We already pay our therapists a living wage: Let's face it -- being a massage therapist is a physically demanding job, and it's virtually impossible to work a full 40 hour week without getting injured. For that reason, we pay them a rate that's often often twice as much as the starting pay at most massage studios and spas -- because we believe that if we treat our therapists well, they'll treat YOU well. 2. Trying to figure out a tip can be stressful for our clients: Some of our clients can afford to tip, but many of our clients can't -- and we want massage to be accessible to everyone. Trying to figure out how much to tip your favorite massage therapist without "offending" them while balancing your bills just adds stress and guilt to your session, and you already have enough of that in your everyday life without our help! 3. It's stressful for our therapists too: When our therapists are counting on a steady stream of "good tippers," it can lead to uncertainty and stress if they have a couple of clients who can't afford to leave them a generous tip. And when you can't work a 40 hour week (see point #1), that adds up fast. Paying our therapists a reliable, living wage relieves the financial stress of the job, which gives them more time and energy to focus on YOU. 4. Massage belongs in the health care field, not the service industry: It can be a nice treat to come in for a massage for a special occasion, but it's even better when you treat massage as something you do regularly to keep yourself healthy. Like working out, eating right, and getting enough sleep, the more consistent you are, the longer lasting and better the results will be in your body. Yes, massage feels good, but it's also good FOR you -- and if you've never tipped your chiropractor or your physical therapist before, then why would you tip your us? |
