Well, I quit Neem Tree. This all happened a week ago today. Asha (owner of the spa) wanted me to give her a massage, and long story short, she made up a lie and left the table, and called Lana and bitched her out, saying that it was all wrong; I didn't do the circles on her shoulders right, and the pressure was not enough, even though I asked her how the pressure was, and she told me I could give her a "little more," which was obviously not what she really wanted. HOW I ask you, can I read her mind?! What is with these people? I am not a robot. I cannot give the exact same massage to every client with the exact same pressure like a machine. Who would want that anyway? I know the shushupti, the warrior, all that, and I do it just like they do. I don't know what she wants. Ugh. Asha called and left me a message, but she didn't answer when I called back. I just felt like what she did was a total slap in the face. If she would have told me what she really wanted, it would have been different. Instead, she lied and left. How do they expect to keep people when they won't let you have tips, have no clients, won't let you leave if you have no clients, and want to dictate your every move during a massage? I am not kidding you, she even said I wasn't breathing right! COME ON! You are going to tell me how to breathe too! Give me a break. I think if Asha opened a restaurant, she would only serve her own favorite dish, because that's what she likes, so that must be what everyone likes. It's okay to have a signature treatment, but realize that not everyone will be into that. Maybe that's why they are so lacking in clientèle. Anyway, I'm pretty sure I'm leaving; I'm going tomorrow to get my stuff (I brought a heater, my stool, everything). I will still talk to Asha if she wants to talk to me, but I really just don't think I can continue there. That really hurt my feelings. I have enough insecurity about my ability as a massage therapist as it is. I would like to tell her how I feel. Not to mention the fact that they are misclassifying their workers as independent contractors, so they don't have to pay the taxes. I looked it up, and by the IRS's definition, we are NOT independent contractors. I think they are doing it on purpose, which could land them fines, back taxes with interest, require them to pay all the taxes their employees already paid back to the employees, and even result in criminal charges. Lana (the spa manager) said she was sure that I knew what I was doing, and that she would not have booked me if she felt I wasn't capable. I gave her a massage. I gave Josie ( my coworker who is also a massage therapist) a massage, and I gave Zaundra (also a coworker) a warrior in training. Asha said in her message she was going to come train me, but shit, I've been doing massage for four freaking years now, how much training is it going to take? She said in her message that she feels that I have "enormous potential." What? I've been doing massage for four years now with only potential? I see why they have been through so many people. I really like Lana and Josie and Zaundra. They are really fun and everything. I'll miss them. I don't think Asha realizes that it is b/c of her that I am leaving. That was total bullshit. If she can't tell me what she wants in a massage, how can she expect me do it?!! Plus, I just don't think I can stomach being "trained" by someone who is not even a massage therapist. It was hard enough having Lana training me, and feeling like everything I was doing was wrong. I loved the spa, it was so beautiful. I loved the way they treated their clients. They actually care about their clients, unlike Spa Sydell. I just think if a person comes in and pays 110-150 dollars for a massage, they should damn well get exactly what they want and need, not just the standard treatment. I'm truly grateful for the experience; it inspired me to want to open my own spa (well, with my trusty partner, you know who you are ;). It gave me tons of ideas. Now I'm happy to be home with my baby, where I belong. I am not going to try the full time thing again. It just didn't work out. That was a big part of why I couldn't keep working at Neem Tree. To be there all day, with no clients, and have to just sit around thinking about my baby and missing her was just too much. I couldn't take it. That was a big factor in my decision. But mainly, it was Asha. I was really offended by her leaving the table like that, and I think she's forgotten what it's like to be trying to earn your living doing services. Well, that's the story people.