Have you started practicing again? What is happening in your state? Here in Massachusetts, I have been able to see clients since August. It has been slow going, but I am ok with that to some extent. Both my mother and my mother-in-law have had significant medical challenges in September and October. Two of my teenagers are back to school, both are at the school half time, and attend remotely for the other half. I began teaching a new group of students at my massage school 3 days a week, and we have our usual fall household tasks. All of a sudden, life seems to be super busy again.
I thought I would share with you how I have adjusted my practice since COVID arrived. One of the first things I did was to add an online payment and booking option to my website. I decided to use Square Appointments since I already had Square credit card payments that I used with a small device attached to my phone that would swipe the card. I did not want people touching my phone to sign for the payment anymore, so now they can pay right on my website or I can send an invoice right after our session. This has made this so much easier in so many ways.
The next set of protocols are not necessarily easier, but certainly do-able, and not as bad as I had anticipated. When they arrive, they are immediately guided to the restroom so they can wash their hands thoroughly before we start. I wear a clean mask and a clean cloth apron with every client. I have them fill out a form answering the usual set of questions about exposure to covid-19, fever, symptoms, travel etc.
Outside of the session, I have encouraged one-hour sessions over 90-minute sessions with a special offering $25 off their 3rd one-hour session. I also like this for the fact that I would rather they come more often and receive one golden nugget of awareness at each session. I believe that changing patterns needs repetition, not overwhelm!
Overall, the new protocols are easy to adjust to. I get more and more used to wearing a mask every day. I hope you are all finding ways to adjust and adapt to these new ways of doing things.
Blessings,
Linda MacConnell
USTA President