a community of practitioners

July 2009 Blog Posts (70)

TMJ anyone?

Has anyone had experience offering relief for TMJ via massage? Need advice.

Added by Cindy Keene on July 13, 2009 at 6:11pm — No Comments

5 Tips for Going Green in Your Massage Practice...(and a cool new web tool to check out)

Going green is certainly a trend of late and of interest to many massage therapists. Although I have written an entire post about this idea on my own blog , I wanted to share this new animated video blog here instead. Hope you enjoy the short clip about 5 Tips for Going Green in your massage, spa or wellness business!

Click here to watch… Continue

Added by Felicia Brown on July 13, 2009 at 6:08pm — No Comments

The Power to Facilitate with "Zone Analgesia"

Imagine a person coming into your office with acute or chronic back discomfort and you inform them you are going to eliminate their discomfort in about 20 minutes by creating "Zone Analgesia" as you work specific reflex areas of their feet. This may seem a little far out or unreachable, however I do this every day in my practice as well as the courses I instruct. I invite you to visit www.orthoflexology.com to learn more.

Added by Scott Kingsbury on July 13, 2009 at 7:59am — No Comments

CPR First Aid renewal

This Tuesday, July 14th, at Freedom Valley, 3185 York Rd., Gettysburg PA; includes optional pediatric; Am Heart Association; 2 year certification; taught by Hanover Hospital. Call or email ASAP: 717.451.0488 or INFO@PMImassage.com Morning or evening class option; one day only. Sponsored by PA Myotherapy Institute, 668 Route 194 North, Abbottstown, PA 17301

Added by Wilhelmina (Willi) Breighner-Bla on July 12, 2009 at 1:03pm — No Comments

Sleeplessness

Sleeplessness and its associated challenges represent one of the most common complaints seen by physicians. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, inadequate sleep affects approximately 60 million Americans each year. Typically, sleeplessness worsens with age, and is more prevalent among women. Research shows that musculoskeletal pain and dehydration may prevent sleep. Studies also show mental component, with depression and stress being the predominant triggers to… Continue

Added by Shelly Slocum on July 12, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

AMTA & ABMP Responses to NCBTMB Announcement

Once again, our professional membership organizations have spoken, and once again, the NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) is not paying heed. I reported back on June 25 that the NCB has a new initiative in the works to expand their scope from a certifying body into a membership organization.

ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals) was the first to respond, and AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) has now followed suit in… Continue

Added by Laura Allen on July 12, 2009 at 11:45am — 2 Comments

Feeling the Heat:The Energy "Phenomenon"

I was reading recently about MT's struggling with energy over loads occurring during massage treatments. If you've experienced something like this good on ya! You're connecting with your clients on a deeper and more valuable level than simply manual technique based massage.

We all learned manual technique as the core of our required training for certification/licensure. Depending on our school's focus, energy techniques landed some where between a core competency and dangling on the… Continue

Added by Ruthellen Wood on July 12, 2009 at 11:12am — 7 Comments

RE: Insurance Billing for Massage

Massage Insurance Billing Class: http://tinyurl.com/llxkd6

HCFA 1500 Instructions: http://tinyurl.com/m86832

HCFA 1500 From: http://tinyurl.com/n8ws6g

More Free Forms: http://tinyurl.com/nslnwz

Insurance Tips: http://tinyurl.com/n32clk

CPT Codes:… Continue

Added by massagenerd on July 10, 2009 at 6:32pm — No Comments

Creating Peace with Your Hands

Think of yourself as a massage athlete. Manual therapy demands skill, strength, and endurance, just like a track and field runner or baseball player. The symptoms of overtraining are just like an athlete and include fatigue, lack of energy, pain, insomnia, and depression. Rest is essential for the treatment of overtraining. You can take your resting heart rate in the morning and if it is higher than the previous day, you may not have recovered from the previous day.

Insightful strategies… Continue

Added by Karina Braun on July 10, 2009 at 4:35pm — No Comments

Awesome music to play during a massage

I just wanted to let everyone know about this music. I am always looking for great relaxing music to play during massage. Go to www.evzonemusic.com to hear and buy George Skaroulis' music. I met George in June at a Greek Festival, and I am blown away by his music. I play his music at home and my 6 month old puppy lays her head on the CD player and goes to sleep. It is very calming and relaxing. Check his website out you won't regret it. Shipping is free when you purchase CD's from his website.

Added by Kathy Bradley on July 10, 2009 at 2:57pm — No Comments

Organic Herbal Compresses Thaiyurveda™

After trying out many different compresses both made in the USA and imported from Thailand I never found one that I could open up and really identify the herbs in it. I am a Thai Massage teacher and I wanted to provide my students with a resource that I could put my name behind and that's how Thaiyurveda™ was born five years ago. I use wild-harvested herbs and organic herbs to make our herbal compresses. I make the herbal blends based on Thai Medicine, Ayurveda and Folk Thai medicine knowledge… Continue

Added by Camille Western on July 10, 2009 at 12:30pm — 1 Comment

On MTBOK Independence

Early July is the right time to talk about independence, at least in this country - don't you think?

You have read some about the fact that the MTBOK is sponsored by six organizations well known to the profession (see the previous post with our Press Release.) In a later post I will talk a little about the many other related organizations who we will continue to include in our goal to be as inclusive as possible while we build the MTBOK. But today I wanted to say a little about the… Continue

Added by Chip Hines on July 10, 2009 at 9:00am — 10 Comments

Selecting Massage Therapy Continuing Education Classes

Selecting Massage Therapy Continuing Education Classes

By: Ariana Vincent, Ariana Institute, Austin, Texas

There are many wonderful opportunities in the massage community designed to deepen your educational experience by participating in a classroom environment utilizing kinesthetic hands-on techniques or by participating in interesting and informative online massage therapy CE courses.

Researching CE Requirements

To begin your… Continue

Added by Ariana Vincent, LMT, MTI, BCTMB on July 8, 2009 at 3:55pm — No Comments

RE: Aromatherapy Upgrade

Continue

Added by massagenerd on July 8, 2009 at 3:50pm — No Comments

Integrating Advanced Nutritional Therapy into a Current Massage Practice.

My name is Shelly Slocum and I am an AMBP member and licensed massage therapist in KY. I am writing because I know that a lot of massage therapists are health oriented and would like to integrate their current practices to include herbs, supplements, and nutritional coaching for their clients. For massage therapists, we are accustomed to spending $250- $1000 for continuing education. So my solution, as you read my story, was to expand my practice to include wellness services.

After… Continue

Added by Shelly Slocum on July 8, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Stone Medicine: An American Indian Healing Art

A soft drum beat echoes down from somewhere above your head as you lay on a massage table. The vibrations move around you and resonate deep within your body. You let out a deep sigh as you begin to relax. You smell sage and feel the rush of air as smoke is fanned around your body on the wing of a bird. Your body lets go of one more layer of tension as you allow yourself to be drawn into a healing space.

Warm stones are placed on your belly… Continue

Added by Shanna Schultz on July 8, 2009 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) News

Hello all! My name is Chip Hines, and I'm the Project Manager for the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Project. Im tremendously excited by this work which puts me in the middle of something that I think will provide great value to the Massage Therapy profession. At the same time, I get to work with a group of very talented and energetic folks who are creating the ground work for the project - a Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge.

A great deal of background work has brought us… Continue

Added by Chip Hines on July 8, 2009 at 10:30am — 6 Comments

Reposting: Exciting News About Pizza Discounts! (More on the Shenanigans of the NCBTMB)

This is a repost of my June 25 blog, from my primary blog that originates on the Massage Magazine website. It is on RSS feed on my page on this site for those who are interested in my previous posts. Although I occasionally write about other subjects, my main focus is writing on the politics of massage. I will definitely be posting original blogs in this spot. Thanks to Les Sweeney and the rest of the ABMP staff for offering us this great site.

Yes, it’s true! Soon the… Continue

Added by Laura Allen on July 8, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments

STRONG

have the strength

Added by Michelle Strong on July 8, 2009 at 8:56am — 1 Comment

Centering and The Healing Power of Touch

Centering and The Healing Power of Touch

Remember to focus on the healing power of touch and its importance in your life and in the lives of those you touch.

One touch can soothe, comfort and convey caring in a way words never can. Touching has the power to heal, connect us, and ease pain. It also lessens anxiety and softens the blows of life. The simple act of touching is so powerful that it can slow your heart rate, decrease your blood pressure, and… Continue

Added by Ariana Vincent, LMT, MTI, BCTMB on July 7, 2009 at 10:42pm — No Comments