Masseurs who enhance reputation of Song's parlor
October 19, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AS a massage parlor owner, Song knows all about the pros and cons of hiring the blind. The biggest advantage comes from tax breaks for hiring disabled people.
"We pay a 9 percent income tax rate by hiring four blind massagers," said Song. "That's about half the tax a normal company would pay."
Song spends 6,000 yuan (US$903) a month to rent an area of 80 square meters on the second floor of a spa and yoga center, and another 20,000 yuan on salary and other overhead costs. He said he earns a net profit of about 5,000 yuan a month.
The massage parlor charges 45 yuan for a 45-minute back and neck massage, 68 yuan for more advanced therapies such as electro-acupuncture, and 120 yuan for bone manipulation to ease spinal and other pains.
"People are usually reluctant to visit the doctor for small ailments such as back and neck aches," Song said. "Besides, the atmosphere of a hospital is too depressing for people to relax and enjoy a massage."
Based on skills and methods from traditional Chinese medicine, massage has become popular among office workers who spend much more time sitting in front of the computer than doing exercises in the open air.
"More and more young people are coming here to ease their sore neck or back, or just to relax from their daily burdens," Song said.
The industry in the past 10 years has had to shake off a shady reputation linking massage parlors with prostitution. For Song, hiring the blind helped improve the image of massage.
"We have challenged the stereotype with what we are doing," Song said. "A message has been sent out that businesses like ours are professional and legitimate, and we are also doing some good for society."
His parlor has seven beds in two rooms, with curtains to protect privacy.
"Some customers feel more at ease being massaged by someone who is blind," Song said. "And our blind masseurs are hard-working and stable. They cherish the opportunity to work."
However, there are limitations. Finding the right blind people to hire has its obstacles.
"We cannot afford an all-blind staff because blind people have their own shortcomings," Song said. "Some are suspicious because they cannot see, some are difficult to communicate with, and some have trouble learning new skills."
Song, who started in massage when he was 20, still does continuing education classes at a military hospital once a year, and then communicates what he learns back to his staff. The blind masseurs in Song's parlor provide the most basic massage services for customers.
"For safety's concern, we always keep our blind staff away from therapies requiring high heat or electricity," Song said.
"Of course, those are the more profitable services for the parlor."
"We pay a 9 percent income tax rate by hiring four blind massagers," said Song. "That's about half the tax a normal company would pay."
Song spends 6,000 yuan (US$903) a month to rent an area of 80 square meters on the second floor of a spa and yoga center, and another 20,000 yuan on salary and other overhead costs. He said he earns a net profit of about 5,000 yuan a month.
The massage parlor charges 45 yuan for a 45-minute back and neck massage, 68 yuan for more advanced therapies such as electro-acupuncture, and 120 yuan for bone manipulation to ease spinal and other pains.
"People are usually reluctant to visit the doctor for small ailments such as back and neck aches," Song said. "Besides, the atmosphere of a hospital is too depressing for people to relax and enjoy a massage."
Based on skills and methods from traditional Chinese medicine, massage has become popular among office workers who spend much more time sitting in front of the computer than doing exercises in the open air.
"More and more young people are coming here to ease their sore neck or back, or just to relax from their daily burdens," Song said.
The industry in the past 10 years has had to shake off a shady reputation linking massage parlors with prostitution. For Song, hiring the blind helped improve the image of massage.
"We have challenged the stereotype with what we are doing," Song said. "A message has been sent out that businesses like ours are professional and legitimate, and we are also doing some good for society."
His parlor has seven beds in two rooms, with curtains to protect privacy.
"Some customers feel more at ease being massaged by someone who is blind," Song said. "And our blind masseurs are hard-working and stable. They cherish the opportunity to work."
However, there are limitations. Finding the right blind people to hire has its obstacles.
"We cannot afford an all-blind staff because blind people have their own shortcomings," Song said. "Some are suspicious because they cannot see, some are difficult to communicate with, and some have trouble learning new skills."
Song, who started in massage when he was 20, still does continuing education classes at a military hospital once a year, and then communicates what he learns back to his staff. The blind masseurs in Song's parlor provide the most basic massage services for customers.
"For safety's concern, we always keep our blind staff away from therapies requiring high heat or electricity," Song said.
"Of course, those are the more profitable services for the parlor."
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