CANINE MASSAGE Career Path Keeps Dogs Healthy

exploring today’s touch therapies

See Pages 37, 65 SEE 74-75 PAGE 114

ISSUE 235 • DECEMBER 2015 • massagemag.com MAKE MONEY WITH PASSIVE INCOME! WAYS TO ROLL AWAY 6PAIN & TIGHTNESS HELP FOR THE CHRONICALLY DEPLETED CLIENT

SPECIAL The Placebo Effect SUPER-CHARGE YOUR MARKETING CANINE MASSAGE Career Path Keeps Dogs Healthy

| Contents December 2015 Issue 235

28 38

Shiatsu: History and Evolution Cover Story The elegance of shiatsu, which evolved Canine Massage: Specialized Career Path 28 from the Japanese manual therapies of anma Keeps Dogs Happy, Healthy and anpuku, is in its simplicity of touch with gentle, sustained pressure. Most human massage techniques can be adapted to dogs, and by Michael DeAgro, L.P.C., A.O.B.T.A.-C.I. 34 regular massage benefits them in the same ways it benefits people. It helps our furry friends relax, increases circulation, boosts Therapeutic Touch: Energy Work healing, and brings about a sense of well-being and safety. If you’re Makes It to the Mainstream an animal lover, choosing a career in canine massage promises great personal rewards—and with almost 80 million pet dogs in the U.S., it Although complex in its philosophical can also be a professionally rewarding path. 38 underpinnings, Therapeutic Touch is simple to learn and can be practiced by anyone with by Ann Tarvin, C.M.T., H.T.P. compassion and intent to heal. by Denise Coppa, Ph.D., R.N.P.

The Chronically Depleted Client: Touch for Systems Under Stress Our world is full of sources of stress. Clients 44 burdened with a multitude of chronic stressors may be difficult to treat; their systems may overreact to even gentle therapies. To help them, focusing on patterns and relationships related to restrictions is key. by Eric Moya, C.S.T.-D. Read “The Mindset for CranioSacral Therapy,” by Judah Lyons, at massagemag.com/cstmindset.

December 2015 Issue 235

50 Attend Conferences: Grow as a Massage Professional A myriad of information and education exists online—but going in person to a massage therapy conference provides valuable opportunities for learning, expanding your business and networking with colleagues. by Ariel F. Hubbard, L.M.P. 54 The Placebo Effect: An Exploration of the Body-Mind Neural tissue reaches into and communicates with virtually every other tissue in the body, so a simple thought can change your physiology. by Brian Fulton, R.M.T. Regular Features

PRACTICE BUILDING Departments 22 Passive Income: 3 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success 14 To Our Readers by Coach Cary Bayer In Our Mailbox Read “Sublet Your Office Space for Passive Income,” by Coach Cary 16 Bayer, at massagemag.com/subletpassive. 18 News & Current Events 26 EXPERT ADVICE 42 New Products Your questions answered by industry experts. In this issue, Mary Riley, L.M.T., M.Ed., shares her tips for getting into the business of 66 Educational Resources and massaging elite and professional athletes. Development 68 Conventions & Events 32 THE MASSAGE MAGAZINE LIST The Top 7 Ways to Super-Charge Your Marketing 70 Marketplace and Classifieds With a few simple tweaks, you can transform basic marketing efforts into powerful promotional tools. 72 Display Ad Directory by Allison Payne 73 Reader Expressions LIVING IN BALANCE Read more of your colleagues’ responses 58 to this month’s featured question at Keep Doing the Work You Love: 6 Ways to Roll Away massagemag.com/readerexpressions. Pain & Tightness by Cat Matlock, L.M.B.T., R.Y.T. Read “The Power of Therapeutic Rolling,” by Cat Matlock, L.M.B.T., MASSAGE Magazine is published monthly by R.Y.T., at massagemag.com/powerrolling. MASSAGE Magazine Inc., 820 A1A N, Ste. W18, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. Subscriptions: USA surface RESEARCH REPORTS $19.95/year; Canada surface $30/year. 64 Thai Massage Eases Spasticity of Cerebral Palsy; Massage Decreases Cortisol Level of Coronary Patients Visit massagemag.com/newresearch to read this month’s online Research Exclusive, “Massage Eases DOMS, Boosts Recovery in Bodybuilders.”

M | Online Contents|home page for the successful massage therapist

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THINKSTOCK massagemag.com No one is more familiar with the sometimes stomach- churning hills and valleys of life than people who set out to MASSAGE e-News establish, grow or even just maintain their own businesses. Our email newsletters deliver If you run your own massage practice, you probably exclusive articles, tips, news and Bookmark our Massage News page to already know there is rarely a straight line to success—and information directly to your inbox. keep current on the latest news about the even when there seems to be, that situation will inevitably massage profession. change at some point. Fortunately, the opposite is true, Subscribe for free at massagemag.com too: Strings of unfortunate events can be punctuated by Careers Resource Center small triumphs, or years of struggle finally pay off in the form of success and a feeling of lightness. Follow us on The problem is that while you’re struggling through Instagram: difficult periods in your life or business, your mind might @massagemag overemphasize the negative and overlook the positive. If you dwell too long on the negative, it can have a permanent effect on your sense of self as well as your Sponsored by Massage Heights, this thoughts, behaviors and well-being. resource center is designed to provide Visit massagemag.com/findhappiness massage therapists with news, information to read the rest of this tip. and articles related to career development, success as an employee, professionalism, Jim Hjort, L.C.S.W., is a licensed psychotherapist, coach, excelling as a team player, and customer mindfulness meditation instructor, and founder of the Right service. Visit massagemag.com/resources. Life Project (rightlifeproject.com), which helps you work with the different dimensions of your life to be happier and reach your full potential. Blogger Spotlight John F. Barnes, P.T., L.M.T., Online Exclusives N.C.T.M.B., writes the “Myofascial Release” blog on massagemag.com. He is an • The Power of Therapeutic Rolling international lecturer, author and authority on • 2015 Holiday Retail & Gift Guide myofascial release, and an acknowledged • Massage Eases DOMS, Boosts expert in the areas of massage therapy Recovery in Bodybuilders and physical therapy. He is president of • The Mindset for CranioSacral Therapy Myofascial Release Treatment Centers in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and Sedona, Arizona, • Sublet Your Office Space for and has taught more than 100,000 therapists Passive Income worldwide in his Myofascial Release Approach. See these and more under Current Issue at massagemag.com. THINKSTOCK

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Q: How do I subscribe? A: Order online, by mail or by phone. Order online at massagemag.com and click on our subscription link. Order by mail by MASSAGE Magazine’s mission is to provide to massage and touch therapists the tools, submitting a subscription card to: information and resources to help them succeed both in their businesses and their session MASSAGE Magazine rooms. We give readers the latest news affecting the massage field, in-depth feature articles, P.O. Box 5027 educational technique articles, accessible business advice, informative profiles, and inspiring Brentwood, TN 37024. stories of how touch promotes well-being on individual and global levels. We connect readers Order toll-free by calling (888) 883-3801. to each other, and to the organizations and manufacturers providing exceptional opportunities and products. We believe healthy touch has the power to create a better world, and that by Q: How much does a subscription supporting and educating massage and touch therapists, we are playing a role in that creation. cost? MASSAGE Magazine is dedicated to ongoing growth and improvement—both in editorial scope A: U.S. surface: $19.95/year; $29.95/two and content, and as a healthy business doing good work in the world. years or $39.95/three years. Canada/Mexico: $33.95/year; $57.95/two MASSAGE MAGAZINE years or $76.95/three years. International air: $48.95/year; $87.95/two Editor in Chief Sales Office Personnel years or $111.95/three years (prices and Karen Menehan Director, New Media Controller and Director of payments in U.S. funds). [email protected] Thomas Greve Publishing Operations Associate Editor (904) 567-1570 Jared Smith Q: When will my subscription start? [email protected] A: Your subscription will start 4-6 weeks Allison Payne Circulation Manager and [email protected] from the date you place your order. Donnell Curley Staff Accountant

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• Reader Expressions provides a forum • Suggest a colleague, or yourself, to be Q: Is MASSAGE Magazine affiliated for you and your colleagues to discuss a interviewed for a news or feature article. with any associations? variety of issues. • Visit us online at massagemag.com for A: No, it is an independent publication • Share news happening in your community, exclusive news and articles. and not connected to any association, school, workplace or association. organization or institution. • Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/ • If you are inspired, pleased, angered or massagemagazine to network with Q: Can I receive a free sample issue? intrigued by anything we publish, express colleagues, enter contests and receive A: We are unable to provide complimentary your views by writing a Letter to the Editor. special offers. samples. However, you may call (904) 285- 6020 to purchase single copies. Send your ideas, feedback, editorials, leads and letters to [email protected]. Q: I have a question not answered here. Who do I contact? Subscription Services: Please visit massagemag.com or call (888) 883-3801 A: Please visit massagemag.com and click on the “Manage your print subscription” The information in any article is not meant to replace hands-on training. Readers must ensure they have received adequate training before attempting to apply any technique referenced or link under Contact Us. described in MASSAGE Magazine. Opinions and endorsements expressed herein are not necessarily those of MASSAGE Magazine. Letters Q: I have an editorial question. to MASSAGE Magazine or its editors are assumed intended for publication in whole or in part and may Who do I contact? therefore be used for such purposes. Letters become property of MASSAGE Magazine. Reproduction of this A: Please email Karen Menehan at publication in whole or part without written permission is prohibited by law. ©2015 by Magazine MASSAGE [email protected]. Inc. All rights reserved. Canadian subscriptions: Canada Post Agreement Number 7178957. Send address changes and blocks of undeliverable copies to IBC, 7485 Bath Rd., Mississauga, ON L4T 4C1 Canada.

M | To Our Readers

ho comes to mind their pet to be a companion. I am one of those people. I don’t when you think about even like to call Coco “my dog,” as that implies ownership. specialized massage Over the years he’s been in my life, I’ve learned without a clientele? Seniors and doubt that Coco, who is a toy poodle, has a unique personality, Wathletes are at the top of most lists, in part sense of humor and loving heart. He also has all those because research has indicated benefits of typical best-friend behaviors: He listens to me, whether he massage for these people. Those dealing understands what I’m saying or not; and he loves to just hang with various conditions, from arthritis out with me, go on walks, get belly rubs and snuggle on the

PHOTO BY KELLY MENEHAN to post-traumatic stress disorder, might couch to watch a movie on Netflix. come next. Then there are people engaged In return, I am solely responsible for his shelter, feeding in specific occupations—members of the military and office and health care. If he needs massage as he ages, I will find workers among them. a trained therapist to augment those belly rubs—and as Physical conditions, health challenges and specialized the number of dogs living with people increases in the U.S., jobs aren’t confined to humans; dogs fit into these categories canine massage could represent a growing specialty. as well, and benefit from massage therapy in much the same Canine massage therapists work on aging or injured dogs way people do. Many of the massage techniques used on to address pain and stiffness; they also might work on police human clients may be adapted to dogs—although specialized dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, hunting dogs, military dogs training in canine anatomy and physiology, and animal and dogs that participate in agility and athletic trials. Other massage in general, is necessary before launching this type of massage therapists teach workshops where people who live practice. with dogs can learn simple strokes to keep their furry friends “Canine massage is a broad field,” wrote Ann Tarvin, flexible. C.M.T., H.T.P., in this month’s cover story, “Canine Massage: Just as with a human specialization, canine massage Specialized Career Path Keeps Dogs Happy, Healthy.” “Almost therapy offers multiple opportunities to expand one’s practice any technique of human massage can be adapted for our furry and help create good health on the planet—in this case, one friends: Swedish, relaxation, positional release, energy work, dog at a time. craniosacral, trigger-point and water therapy are all in my I’d love to know what you think of this issue. I’m at toolbox.” [email protected]. Tarvin also noted that 63 percent of Americans who have a pet consider it to be a family member, and 36 percent consider

Meet some of the contributors who helped Contributors | create this month’s MASSAGE Magazine

Ariel F. Hubbard wrote “Attend Cat Matlock wrote “Keep Eric Moya wrote “The Ann Tarvin wrote “Canine Mary Riley wrote this month’s Conferences: Grow as a Doing the Work You Love: Chronically Depleted Client: Massage: Specialized Expert Advice column, Massage Professional” for 6 Ways to Roll Away Pain Touch for Systems Under Career Path Keeps Dogs answering this question: this issue. Ariel provides & Tightness” for this issue. Stress” for this issue. Eric Happy, Healthy” for this What’s the secret to working in-person and online Cat has been a trigger-point is a lecturer and instructor issue. Ann owns Balanced with pro athletes? Mary has massage classes and private therapist specializing in on manual therapy and Paws Canine Massage and provided sports massage to treatments, and has worked in chronic pain since 1993. CranioSacral Therapy for is a pet massage instructor. professional and armchair the holistic health field since She instructs in anatomy the Upledger Institute, and She sees both human and athletes since 2009. She is 1994. She lives in Tustin, and kinesiology, and offers former director of education canine clients and teaches certified in Active Release California. continuing education for at the Esalen Institute. He basic canine massage for Techniques and Active massage therapists. She lives lives in Northern California. dog owners. She lives in Isolated Stretching. She in Asheville, North Carolina. Plainfield, Indiana. practices in Berea, Ohio.

M | In Our Mailbox

Reader Feedback

DIVERSITY MATTERS Over the last 30 years, I have noticed that a very high percentage of the images of massage professionals, and many of the images of massage clients, are female. This was most evident in the cover of MASSAGE Magazine’s August issue, when nine former covers were shown, all of which exclusively featured females—with the possible exception of the infant, whose gender was uncertain. As part of the roughly 25 percent of the massage profession that is male, I am disappointed to see the lack of gender diversity in the subjects selected to illustrate MASSAGE Magazine covers, articles and advertising. I do not believe the profession is accurately portrayed. Mark W. Dixon, C.M.T., B.C.T.M.B. Newport Beach, California

I’ve been subscribed to MASSAGE free weights and stretch, I Magazine for about four years. What I feel having a good workout [have] noticed over these years is that has definitely helped me keep up with Editor’s Response: MASSAGE on the [cover] there is always a picture the endurance and range of motion I Magazine recently published two of a female. In most articles, a massage need while massaging. Truth be told! articles to help massage therapists therapist [is referred to] as “she,” “her,” Denise M. Warren succeed in the medical environment: “hers.” Via massagemag.com comments “Hospital Massage: Consumer Ivan I. Demand Drives Specialty,” and Via email MEDICAL MASSAGE SUCCESS “You Can Be Just What the Doctor I have been interested in working Ordered: An 8-Step Guide to Physician Editor’s Response: We try to in hospitals for a long time, and Referrals.” Both articles ran in our picture males in at least 20 percent even earned my medical massage April 2015 issue and may be ordered of photos and articles, to reflect the certification. However, I lack the by calling (904) 285-6020. A Google massage field’s demographics related connections of being involved with search also brings up training in to gender. We also aim to refer to doctors who are willing to be open to medical massage, as does the website massage therapists and clients as both the idea of manual therapy. of the National Certification Board “she” and “he” in articles. It’s good I have searched online and for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork for us to hear that people notice, and found nothing, and when I have (ncbtmb.org). M we will continue to try our best to had nurses and doctors as clients, present a diversity of genders, races, I inquired if they have any infor sizes and ages in our images and text. mation for me where I can start, but they did not. Speak Up! WORK OUT FOR MASSAGE I live in the big city of Houston, If you are inspired, pleased, [In response to “3 Ways Massage is Texas. Where can I find resources? angered or intrigued by anything Like a Marathon”; massagemag.com): Must I move to another big city? we publish, express your views by I enjoy my job as a massage therapist How can I contact others who are writing a Letter to the Editor. Send because it’s physical. I had a desk job interested? your ideas, feedback, editorials, prior and I’m too squirmy to sit for Julio Daniel Chavez, L.M.T., M.M.P. leads and letters to hours. Since I love to work out with Houston, Texas [email protected].

M | News & Current Events

ormal research in mas- parallel to the muscle.” Fsage can be a challenge, How Do You Measure Best’s team is also working on $ according to Thomas Best, a pilot study to accurately mea- M.D., Ph.D.—but many recent a Massage? sure force used by therapists 1,107,892 studies taking place in while giving massage. Best’s lab at Ohio State Their concept, a glove University are making containing pressure progress at overcom- transducers to ing its limitations. Best, measure the pres- a professor of family sure applied, could medicine and division allow therapists director of sports to try to mimic medicine in family laboratory findings medicine, highlighted from animal stud- his team’s work at the ies on humans. National Center for While Best Complementary and Integrative among others. One major chal- and reproducible forces to the acknowledges that much Health (NCCIH) in Bethesda, lenge, noted Best, has been the muscle tissue of rabbits, as well more research into massage is Maryland, on September 21, question of how to measure the as measure markers of muscle needed, his work with animals in an hour-long force typically used to inflammation and repair. suggests what many massage lecture, “Massage apply massage. “It is hard to compare therapists may have already Therapies: From “With massage, therapist to therapist or even experienced in the field—that Lab Bench Top to as you apply a load within the same therapist if force is only one of many the Patient.” to any kind of soft they don’t know how much factors that makes a difference Best briefly tissue—in our case, force they are applying,” Best in how tissue responds to outlined some skeletal muscle—it’s told MASSAGE Magazine. massage. challenges mas- incredibly important “Muscle will respond to different The NCCIH’s video recording sage researchers that you understand amounts of force differently— of Best’s lecture, “Massage COURTESY OF THOMAS BEST THOMAS OF COURTESY face, citing a lack Thomas Best, M.D., Ph.D. what load you’re that is well-known from other Therapies: From Lab Bench of dose-response applying and actually studies of muscle loading or Top to the Patient,” may be studies and objective evidence; quantify those,” Best said in the unloading. We can overcome viewed online or downloaded at a need for standardization of lecture. this problem, since we measure massagemag.com/tbestlecture. protocols; and the fact that He and his team have both the compression force— massage’s biologic mechanisms developed a mechanical device pushing into the muscle—and —Allison Payne of action are not well-known, that can apply measurable the shear force, force along or AFMTE Launches Letter-Writing Campaign he National Center for an interview with MASSAGE TComplementary and Magazine, evidence of the two Integrative Health (NCCIH)’s above-noted points is found mission is to “define, through in the online roster of the rigorous scientific investigation, National Advisory Council for the usefulness and safety of Complementary and Integrative complementary and integrative Health and the history of research health interventions and their grants posted to the NCCIH’s roles in improving health website. and health care,” according to its As of press time, the NCCIH website. had not replied to a reporter’s

However, the mission of the PHOTOS BY THINKSTOCK request for responses to the center, which operates under the The most recent newsletter mentary health care institutions AFMTE’s assertions. umbrella of the National Institutes from the AFMTE included an [and] appoint the mandated For more information, including of Health, isn’t being fulfilled article announcing a letter-writing number of licensed integrative the AFMTE’s ideas for talking the way it should be, according campaign to encourage the health care practitioners on its points and the address to which to leaders at the Alliance for NCCIH to “stop the erosion of Advisory Board.” letters may be sent, visit afmte. Massage Therapy Education the commitment to improving the According to AFMTE Vice org/ihpc-letter-writing-campaign. (AFMTE). research capacity within comple- President Stan Dawson, in

18 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Amount Massage Envy locations raised during 2015’s Healing Hands for $ Arthritis, a one-day event 1,107,892 to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

Bill Would Regulate Minnesota MTs

where it landed in 2015. Minnesota’s massage he year 2016 should see therapists have been governed Tthe continuation of a bill in by a freedom of access law, Minnesota that would regulate which allows practitioners of massage therapists throughout complementary therapies to the state. Legislators working offer their services to clients on behalf of the Alliance for dependent on the sharing of Legislation of Massage Therapy information about the training (almtmn.org), which has been and practices related to the active in Minnesota since 2008, therapy offered, since the are working on strategies to push Complementary and Alternative the bill past the House Govern- Health Care Freedom of Access ment Operations Committee, Act of 2000 was passed.

MTs of the Future Receive Scholarships

scholarship This fall’s schol- A program arship winners awarded five are Heather massage students Chappell $1,500 apiece and Hayley toward tuition, Morsey, both in October. students at Finger Each winner’s Lakes School of school also received Massage in Ithaca, $500 to enhance its New York; Christina curriculum. Pico, a student at The Beauty Changes Lives Bellus Academy in Poway, Foundation (beauty California; Rebecca Roberts, changeslives.org) and Massage a student at Finger Lakes Envy (massageenvy.com) have School of Massage in Mount awarded more than $1 million Kisco, New York; and Barbara in scholarships since 2012, Whiteman, a student at Lincoln according to a press release. College in Normal, Illinois.

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 19

M | News & Current Events

NIH Releases Data on Americans’ Use of CAM n the U.S., adults who use complementary included acupuncture; ayurveda; Iand alternative medicine (CAM), including biofeedback; chelation therapy; chiropractic; massage, spent almost $15 billion out of energy healing; special diets, including pocket for their sessions, according to vegetarian and vegan, macrobiotic, Atkins, Trends in the Use of Complementary Health Pritikin and Ornish; folk medicine or traditional Approaches Among Adults: United States, healers; guided imagery; homeopathic 2002–2012, published by the National treatment; hypnosis; naturopathy; nonvitamin, Institutes of Health (NIH) this year. nonmineral dietary supplements; massage; “This amount accounts for 20-25 percent meditation; progressive relaxation; qigong; tai of all out-of-pocket spending to treat or chi; and yoga. manage pain, including complementary The most money—more than $13 and conventional care,” noted an NIH press billion—was spent to address back, neck release. The report is one of the NIH’s and joint pain, and arthritis. “Back pain National Health Statistics Reports. was the number one condition by far, The CAM approaches asked about at $8.7 billion out-of-pocket,” the press release noted. “Most of the complementary approach spending for back pain—$4.7 PERCENT OF AMERICANS billion—was for practitioner visits rather than WHO USED MASSAGE dietary supplements.” Results of the survey of almost 90,000 2002 5.0% Americans indicate that the use of 2007 8.3% nonvitamin, nonmineral supplements were came in at second place all three years. Use 2012 6.9% the most-used type of CAM during all three of massage therapy dropped by 1.4 percent years the study was conducted—2002, 2007 —Source: Trends in the Use of Complementary Health from 2007 to 2012. Approaches Among Adults: United States, 2002–2012, and 2012. Deep-breathing exercises, either Results were published in the Journal published by the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov). used solo or as part of another approach, of Pain. M

M | Practice Building Passive Income BLOSSOMSTAR/THINKSTOCK

3 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success by Coach Cary Bayer

assage therapists are usually paid by the • Sessions other massage therapists perform hours-for-dollars model, in which they • Product sales trade an hour of their time and talent for approximately $75 of their clients’ money. • Affiliate marketing MBecause of the limited number of hours therapists can work, this limits potential income significantly. 1. Sessions other massage therapists perform. The time-for-money model is the opposite of the Once, while coaching an American Massage Therapy royalty scenario, in which people such as writers, actors Association state chapter president, who we’ll call Mary, and inventors receive passive income, or compensation I discovered she was so busy that new clients sometimes for work they did in the past. Massage therapists can waited several weeks for an appointment. Her reputation adopt the passive-income model too, and receive money was excellent, so most of these prospects were perfectly even when they’re not doing anything. This presents an willing to wait. Some, however, weren’t—especially if enormous breakthrough possibility for income. they were in pain. This article will explore three channels through Consequently, Mary often referred such people to which massage therapists can receive income passively: another good therapist. This was great for the person in

22 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | pain, for the therapist getting a new client and, until that If you bring in a second therapist, check your session, for Mary, because she was making life better for state employment laws, as some states require such a these two people. Then, I brought to her attention some therapist to be paid as an employee. If you proceed, have business facts she hadn’t examined. a lawyer draw up a contract outlining the terms of the For her generous referral to the other therapist, my arrangement. A non-compete clause, which will prevent client, Mary, got a hearty thank you, as well she should the contracted massage therapist from working with any Passive Income have. That’s because she just gave that therapist a new client worked on in your business for a year, is standard client. In her session, I proceeded to show her what a new and wise. If you omit such a clause, you’re vulnerable client is worth. Using a modest $75-per-massage fee, an to losing clients. If your therapist is enterprising, your average once-a-month session frequency results in $900 clients could quietly switch to him, especially if he hangs per year. The average length of such a client, according to a shingle of his own and charges a lower fee. research I’ve done among veteran massage therapists, is three years. Hence, the average new client yields $2,700 2. Product sales. I conducted a poll of 200 massage in income to a therapist—not including any referrals that therapists, and discovered close to 85 percent of them client might bring, or referrals that her referred clients were in the habit of recommending products to clients bring. that the clients could buy elsewhere to augment benefits Mary realized the referral she’d given to the other they received on the therapists’ tables. These included therapist earlier that day might cost her $2,700-plus in Epsom salt to soak in after some massages, analgesics, revenue. In her case, it was considerably more because ice packs, music used during sessions, and homeopathic her fee was $85, not $75, which means she had just given products such as arnica. away a potential income of $3,060. Ouch! I have often driven to a pharmacy, health food store or “So what would you recommend I do instead?” my New Age bookstore—or used the Internet—to purchase client asked. “For new clients who won’t wait several weeks,” I How many clients the second therapist is said, “refer them to another therapist who works for you.” responsible for bringing to the table—yours or “How would that work?” she asked. his—will vary depending on your arrangement. I told her a 60/40 model was quite common and fair. The therapist taking on the session would get 60 percent of recommended products. So have your clients. That costs the $85 massage ($51), with Mary getting 40 percent ($34) them time, energy and money for gas and oil. Wouldn’t it for providing the overhead and client. Thirty-four dollars be easier if, as a massage therapist who’s already recom- every month or week is nice passive income, especially mending such products to your clients, you simply gave if, while the therapist does the massage, you’re taking a them another, much easier option? Namely, let them buy nap, having dinner with your significant other or playing directly from you before leaving your office. That way, your with your kids. clients don’t have to drive anywhere or Google anything— This second therapist would be an independent and they can pay for these things while paying you for contractor to help with overflow, perhaps someone their massage. You will actually do them a great service by employed at a franchise massage clinic or spa who wants having these items available to buy in your office. to see clients outside of his regular venue. The money you To proceed with product sales, establish relationships make from the sessions he does in your session room is with companies that wholesale massage-and-spa- your passive income in this scenario. related products, purchase them at wholesale prices, How many clients the second therapist is responsible and then sell them to your clients at retail prices. Often, for bringing to the table—yours or his—will vary there’s a 40-percent discount for buying wholesale, so depending on your arrangement, but typically the owner there is a considerable profit available to you. If you’re does the marketing, advertising and sales strategies to uncomfortable selling at the same prices other retailers attract clients. Linens, laundry and oil arrangements can charge, discount them 10 percent as a courtesy. (Or, be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. If you supply each, get clear on, and get over, why you feel uncomfortable ask for a 50/50 split of the massage fee. making the profit you could be making.)

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 23

M | Practice Building

Your profit from retail sales is not passive in the same sense an actor’s royalty is passive when a TV show is rerun, but it’s pretty close.

You might have noticed I referred to the products you I’d like to add a word of caution for any massage already recommend. Because most massage therapists are therapists who are involved in multi-level marketing uncomfortable with sales, I don’t recommend you sell any- (MLM) programs. I have discovered a large number of thing you’re not already recommending. If, however, you’re massage therapists are involved in MLMs to augment one of the rare therapists who is comfortable with selling, their incomes. Here’s my coaching: Don’t recommend and you like the idea of buying wholesale and selling retail, to clients after their sessions any of the MLM products then by all means stock items you don’t ordinarily suggest or services you currently represent. I say this because few massage therapists have mastered the innocent that you believe would benefit your clients. art of selling, and mixing business with business can Your profit from retail sales is what’s referred to as be clumsy for many—and can tarnish existing client passive income. Technically, it’s not passive in the same relationships, which are very delicate. But if you’re a sense an actor’s royalty is passive when a TV show is massage therapist involved in an MLM and you happen rerun, but it’s pretty close. It doesn’t take much time or to be skilled in sales, you can probably share the MLM energy to take a bottle of essential oil off your shelf and with your massage clients without any negative record the sale later in your accounts book. repercussions. Just do it gracefully, and don’t discuss To generate passive income from product sales takes some sales during or directly following a massage, when the up-front work, including time involved in choosing what client is suggestible. you will stock, finding suppliers, creating a display area and inventory system, talking with your accountant on how to 3. Affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is the term record sales tax, and filling out state income tax paperwork. given to arrangements made between individuals or

24 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | businesses, which affiliate loosely with each other in a because they are worth potentially many thousands of variety of ways. The advent of the Internet has made it very dollars over the course of time. easy for entrepreneurs to refer clients to one another in exchange for a finder’s fee, with website software tracking An open door where the referral came from. The hours-for-dollars model has been typical in the I, for one, give 10 percent as a finder’s fee to anyone massage profession for decades—but new technology who refers a client to me for coaching, or a student to me and business practices have opened the door for passive for my meditation class. Many other people have similar income and increased financial success for massage programs, and as a massage therapist who your clients therapists. Will you walk through that door? really like and trust, your recommendations carry a great deal of weight. Coach Cary Bayer is a keynote speaker and marketing This means you can contact a life or business coach, coach (themassagemarketingcoach.com). His three dozen yoga or Pilates instructor, real estate broker, nutritionist— publications include the three-book Grow a Rich Massage basically, anyone with a robust client base—and establish Business series and two DVDs, one of which has been affiliate marketing relationships with them. Your contract translated into Japanese. He has coached 300 massage should spell out the referral fees they will give you if any therapists. His 15 continuing education seminars and of your recommendations bear fruit, and you will do the webinars—in particular, “Build a $100,000 a Year Massage same with them: If they refer business to you, you will pay Business in Just One Hour a Day”—are very popular among them a finder’s fee. therapists. M Affiliate marketing can bring you passive income checks of, say, $50 or $100, but you might be writing Read “Sublet Your Office Space for Passive Income,” by similar-sized checks to your affiliate-marketing partners Coach Cary Bayer, at massagemag.com/subletpassive. for bringing you clients. Where the profit is for you is in the long-term relationships with those new massage clients,

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 25

Knowledge Fit Complement Ask Simplicity

M | Expert Advice What’s the Secret to Working with Pro Athletes? PURESTOCK/THINKSTOCK

Mary Riley, L.M.T., M.Ed., responds

n any given day, you might find me studying it all started with a solid foundation and the attitude that film to see how a client’s injury occurred, I can never become complacent if I want to be the best— catching a flight to go help a player who is on especially in what is traditionally a man’s world. the road, researching soft tissue modalities and I am often asked, “How do I get into massaging Otechniques, or taking continuing education workshops. But professional athletes?” There is no simple answer, since most of my time is spent working with my clients, to help everyone’s journey is different; however, I can offer some them reach and maintain the elite physical condition their key pieces of advice, if you’re willing to put in the effort. jobs require. My life as a sports massage therapist is demanding and Find a mentor. I was fortunate to find a massage mentor hectic, but my passion for my work allows me to thrive in who took me under her wing and taught me the ins and this field. I wouldn’t have it any other way. outs of massaging in the professional sports world. She Little did I know that only one month after becoming a opened a door for me, and I was able to grow as a massage massage therapist I would find myself working with some therapist and soak up the knowledge she shared. Find of the most accomplished athletes in the world. I’ve worked someone who is doing what you want to be doing and with world and Olympic champions in many sports; ask for help. Most massage therapists want to help new athletes in the NFL, NBA, MLB and UFC; triathletes; and therapists be successful and are flattered to be asked to be a more. There are many ways to get to this level, but for me mentor.

26 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Know your passion. After having my daily pain from No matter the location, you’ve got to make the best of the a neck injury cured through massage therapy, I knew that situation and deliver the exceptional treatment the athlete I wanted to do the same for others. Also, I love the world expects and deserves. It’s also important to feel safe and of sports. I have a degree in sports management, was a comfortable in your environment. So, if going to a hotel is college athlete and coached various teams after college. By not in your comfort zone, set that boundary. combining my love of sports and my desire to help others through massage therapy, I found my life’s passion. Practice self-care. Massage therapy can be physically demanding. Seriously, have you ever met a professional Build your skill set. You must find a way to stand out athlete with small muscles? I’m guessing no. Even the ones in the sea of massage therapists. Decide on a modality that who look small are not. As a woman, I will never be able will help you become better able to support athletes and the to compete with the muscles of a 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound demands they place on their bodies. I chose Active Release football player. That means I have to hit the gym to Techniques—but no matter what advanced technique you optimize my own muscle strength, but also keep up on my decide on, get good at it and continue to build on your skill body mechanics so I don’t injure myself. set regularly. You also need to study athletes on all levels to Network and market yourself. This is one of the big- understand their unique challenges, their movement gest challenges I face. The key to getting your foot in the within their sport and the most common injuries they door is to create a connection. This is where your confidence

Don’t be afraid to network with local high school and college teams to get some experience under your belt. They might be your connection. face. Use this knowledge to come up with a massage and perseverance will be paramount. Reach out to the train- maintenance or treatment plan that keeps your client’s ing staff and strength-and-conditioning coaches on a team. body operating at its best. Professional athletes want to Share your qualifications and offer them a free massage. If know that you are working hard at being your best, too. you are respectfully persistent, you will get a response. Once you have one client on a team, that client will be Develop and exude confidence. As a woman working your best advertising. Also, don’t be afraid to network with with professional athletes, I cannot stress the word local high school and college teams to get some experience confidence enough. Professional athletes put their trust in under your belt. They might be your connection. I have you, and they want only the best. If you don’t believe you many high school athletes who are making their way to the are the best therapist for them, I can assure you that they pro level now. won’t believe in you either. Working as a sports massage therapist has been one Manage time. If you want to build a business with of the most rewarding experiences of my life. There is professional athletes, you will have to manage your time nothing greater than seeing an athlete go out and achieve wisely. It’s important to be available for your clients, amazing results, and knowing I played a small part in accommodating last-minute schedule changes or the “I that achievement. If this is the career path you decide to pulled a hammy in practice” calls. Initially, this means that pursue, you will find the same great rewards and meet you probably will not have much of a personal life. Once extraordinary people along the way. you have established relationships, though, you will find a balance that works for both you and your clients. Mary Riley, L.M.T., M.Ed., has been providing sports massage to professional and armchair athletes since 2009. She is Set boundaries and be professional. Being a sports certified in Active Release Techniques and Active Isolated massage therapist is not a 9-to-5 office job. There are Stretching; and is on the State Medical Board of Ohio occasions where you might be massaging a client in a hotel Massage Therapy Advisory Committee. She opened Synergy room, a hallway, the athlete’s home or even a locker room. Sports Therapy (synergysportsmassage.net) in 2012. M

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 27

ZSOLT HORVATH/THINKSTOCK ZSOLT

History and Shiatsu Evolution by Michael DeAgro, L.P.C., A.O.B.T.A.-C.I.

nderstanding shiatsu requires The rise and fall of anma knowing something For many centuries in Japan, anma enjoyed of its history. In the high status as a method of medicine. Anma sixth century, Chinese training became the basis for medical training Umedicine entered Japan. It introduced not only for bodyworkers, but for acupuncturists, a manual therapy, known in Japan herbalists and all medical practitioners. Also, as Anma. Anma translates in Japanese as anma further developed in Japan it produced as press (an) and rubbing (ma). As Japan a sophisticated method of abdominal manipulation embraced Chinese medicine, anma became a well- known as anpuku. Anpuku introduced the highly known manual medicine for treating disease and sensitive pressing technique that later became the restoring health. foundation of shiatsu.

28 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Over time, anma’s status slowly diminished due to the Chinese bodywork techniques from the original anma government restrictions on its scope of practice and a tradition. Most current styles of shiatsu practiced today growing Japanese fascination with Western medicine. have evolved from one of these three traditions. Anma practitioners were forbidden to diagnose or practice As shiatsu spread outside Japan, its forms diversified the specialized touch of anpuku. By the 20th century, the based on the creativity of new generations of teachers public practice of anma was being firmly regulated, with in the field. The American Organization for Bodywork the perception of its original method being reduced to Therapies of Asia (AOBTA®) lists several forms that meet that of something providing pleasure and comfort. This their national educational standards: tragedy for anma laid the groundwork for the emergence • Japanese Shiatsu of what we know today as shiatsu. • Macrobiotic Shiatsu The birth of shiatsu • Zen Shiatsu • Five Element Shiatsu In the early 1900s, manual therapists wanting to avoid • Shiatsu Anma the restrictions placed on anma practitioners started • Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu calling their work shiatsu, which simply means finger (shi) pressure (atsu). Under this new name, they reclaimed Examples of other respected forms are Tao Shiatsu, the skills of anpuku diagnosis and the focused pressing Quantum Shiatsu, Shin So Shiatsu, Hado Shiatsu and technique unique to its practice. In 1919, a practitioner Zenki Soho Shiatsu. In spite of their differences in style, named Tenpeki Tamai published one of the first books on the newly reconstructed When this pressing technique is applied method, titled Shiatsu-Ho (Shiatsu Therapy). diagnostically to specific points and As interest in shiatsu grew, some practitioners believed pathways, the effects can be guided toward it necessary to establish its specific organs and tissues. approach as fundamentally different from anma to restore its status as manual medicine. Accomplishing this goal meant showing all forms include elements of Chinese medical theory scientifically that shiatsu could produce a healing and the unique pressing technique for which shiatsu has effect. Two key figures driven to make this happen become well-known. were Tokujiro Namikoshi and Shizuto Masunaga. These two pioneers were part of a research team that How shiatsu works successfully demonstrated that shiatsu’s pressing The point pressing technique and use of the Chinese technique significantly increased the parasympathetic channel system distinguish shiatsu from other forms Shiatsu nerve response, supporting a restorative state of body of bodywork. The fundamental touch of shiatsu is to and mind. In 1964, shiatsu gained its own licensing and combine sustained, perpendicular, stationary pressure on qualified itself as legitimate Japanese medicine, among the receiver’s body with a clear concentration of empathic other medical arts. feeling for the recipient. When this quality of pressing is done skillfully, the response is a tangible increase in Schools of shiatsu parasympathetic response and microcirculation; and Namikoshi and Masunaga both established schools of significant changes to fascia. shiatsu in Japan, which represent two of the most widely When this pressing technique is applied diagnostically known lineages of shiatsu in the world today. While to specific points and pathways as mapped by Chinese both had an equal commitment to explaining shiatsu in medicine, the effects can be guided toward specific modern scientific terms, Masunaga wanted to reintegrate organs and tissues of the body. The same parasympathetic the Chinese medical principles that shiatsu evolved from, responses observed in the recipient are also observed while Namikoshi chose to emphasize its association with in the practitioner, providing mutual benefits. This more modern Western science. In addition, there also symbiotic effect is unique to shiatsu’s method of using remain lineages of Shiatsu Anma, which retained many of relaxed effort to elicit change.

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 29

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| www.massagemag.com | July 2014 | MASSAGE Magazine | | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | 17 30 Learn shiatsu A community of practitioners The elegance of shiatsu is in this simplicity of touch The majority of the international shiatsu community with gentle, sustained pressure. While anyone can learn continues to identify itself as a distinct profession its most basic technique, the profundity of shiatsu is of manual therapy for the purpose of preserving its in knowing when and where to apply that technique lineages, philosophy, scope of practice and training through proper diagnosis of the channels and points. methods separate from other bodywork systems. To this Acquiring this skill requires entry-level education effect, it has historically joined its efforts with those of specifically designed for shiatsu therapy. practitioners of other Asian bodywork therapies who Shiatsu curricula include studies in anatomy, share the same goal. This combined effort led to the physiology and pathology from both a Western and creation of the AOBTA in 1989, as well as a national board Chinese medical perspective. Its paradigm of assessment exam for the practice of Asian bodywork therapies by the and treatment are based on the cosmology and principles National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and of Chinese medicine. Chinese medical theories are an Oriental Medicine. integral part of Shiatsu Therapy training, as is true for all Asian bodywork therapies. Educational standards Michael DeAgro, L.P.C., A.O.B.T.A.-C.I., is director of the for entry-level training have been well-established by Zenki Lotus Institute in Traverse City, Michigan, where he in- organizations such as the AOBTA in the U.S., the Shiatsu tegrates his work as a psychotherapist and Chinese medical Society in the U.K., and the European Shiatsu Federation. practitioner. He specializes in manual therapies of Chinese- While many massage and bodywork schools include Japanese traditions and classical Chinese herbal medicine. elective coursework in shiatsu technique as an adjunctive He is a former director of education and certified instructor modality, it is much more than an alternate mode of member of the American Association for Bodywork Thera- touch. Shiatsu is best understood as a methodology of pies of Asia (aobta.org). M manual medicine with its own cosmology, principles and practices that evolved independently of Western massage and bodywork traditions.

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 31

As a massage therapist, you may already have the basics of marketing in place—your business cards, a website and social media pages, advertising and discounts. With a few simple tweaks, you can take those efforts beyond basic and transform them into powerful promotional tools.

Basic: Your Name or Practice Name Basic: Appointments by Phone Super-Charged: An Attractive, Consistent Logo Super-Charged: Online Appointment Think about your favorite brands—chances are they have Booking few, yet eye-catching words; for example, eBay, Nike or Coca- “Efficient online software for appointment Cola. When coming up with a logo, keep graphics clean and 1 booking and business management is 2 simple; choose colors that reflect the mood of your practice; essential for growing your business,” says and be sure your logo stands out, yet is easy to read. “Use a font that is Geoffrey Spooner, vice president of sales and marketing special or unique,” says Michael C. Lyons, MASSAGE Magazine’s art director. for Click4Time (click4time.com), which provides online Since your logo is such an important part of your practice’s image, appointment scheduling and business management consider having it designed professionally; software, and will soon offer encrypted e-charting. sites such as designvation.com can According to Spooner, a feature-rich system must connect you with designers who can provide online and mobile access for clients, providers produce an effective logo even if you and business owners to manage their appointments; have a limited budget. generate automated appointment reminders, which “Be consistent with your logo’s will help reduce no-shows; automate communications, use,” says Lyons. Have the designer invoicing and getting paid; manage employees and give you electronic files of the logo in contacts; and handle marketing, 24/7. color and black and white, in formats including .jpg, .gif and .eps, so you can include your logo on your website, stationery and any other products you use to promote your business. THINKSTOCK IMAGES:

Basic: A Business Website Super-Charged: A Mobile-Friendly Business Website Google ranks mobile-friendly websites—those optimized to look good and function well on mobile devices—higher than 3 sites that aren’t mobile-friendly, which means your website will show up sooner in search results when people look for businesses like yours on Google. You can test your practice’s site at a site such as urlitor.com. If you find room for improvement, many free or low-cost site builders, including weebly.com and activemobi.com, feature clean, stylish, mobile-friendly templates. As you revamp your site for mobile, says Spooner, remember that existing and new clients must be able to access your site on their smartphones, find what they want and take action quickly, with a small number of clicks.

32 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Basic: Pretty Business Cards and Brochures Super-Charged: Easy-to-Read Business Cards and Brochures Take a look at your business card. Is it easy to read? 4 You don’t want potential clients stumbling over words set in a cursive font, or squinting to see type that’s too small to read comfortably. While it’s important for your card to be attractive, it’s more important that clients can instantly find critical details, such as your phone number and website address. Make sure your name and contact information are presented in a clear, simple font, and that you don’t crowd the card with too many words or images, Lyons recommends.

Basic: Printed Gift Certificates Super-Charged: Online Gift Cards Having a free or low-cost gift card service, such as the one offered by thegiftcardcafe.com, integrated into your 5 website enables existing clients to buy and print out gift cards for family and friends right from your site. “Keep clients engaged with packages, ongoing daily deals and specials,” says Spooner. At the end of 7 their first visit, he adds, give new clients a gift card toward their next visit.

Basic: Distributing Fliers Super-Charged: Mailing Basic: Ads with Lots of Words Targeted Postcards Super-Charged: Simple, Powerful Ads 6 Passing out fliers is hit-or-miss. For a When you’ve paid for advertising space, it can be relatively low cost—as low as $0.183 tempting to try to squeeze as much information into per piece—you can mail a promotion to your ad as possible. Resist that urge and highlight the every home along specific mailing routes most important things potential clients need to know. of your choice, using the U.S. Postal For example, are you offering a special deal for first- Service (usps.com, in the Business tab). time clients? Can they book an appointment through If you don’t yet have postcard or your website? Make those key points the focus of other promotional pieces to mail, you your ad, and make them eye-catching. End with a call can outsource the design, printing and to action, telling them what you want them to do— deployment of your campaign for a such as “Make your appointment today.” relatively low price. “Companies “Keep it simple,” Lyons says. “If your ad is a like VistaPrint or ImageMEDIA promotional offer, focus on just that. Use a photo or offer both printing and mailing illustration that gets attention, a simply stated offer services,” says Lyons. and an easy-to-follow call to action.”

Allison Payne is MASSAGE Magazine’s associate editor, as well as managing editor of For more marketing tips, visit futureLMT.com, MASSAGE’s website and e-newsletter for student massage therapists. the Business Tips section of massagemag.com.

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 33

Specialized Career Path Keeps Dogs Happy, Healthy Canine Massage by Ann Tarvin, C.M.T., H.T.P.

t was a beautiful spring day for the Humane Society Canine clients Dog Walk and Adoption Event at the local park, but Regular massage benefits dogs in the same ways it the little red chow mix, Misty, cowered fearfully benefits people. We share the same basic anatomy and in the back of her cage, growling under her breath physiology and the need for touch. As in people, massage Iwhenever people approached. The other adoptable dogs triggers a relaxation response that releases endorphins and were on leashes enjoying their day away from the shelter, increases circulation, which helps speed healing of injuries hoping to meet their new families. and regulates body functions through homeostasis. And, Misty was going nowhere until one of the volunteers just as in humans, endorphin release gives the animal a asked if a massage might help her relax. She stood passively sense of well-being and safety. on my table, head and tail both drooping. I began very Many of my canine clients are older slowly, just holding her quietly and letting her feel friendly dogs, often with chronic hip or back energy. Gradually, I began long, soft strokes, and she began problems. While a single session may to relax. As I carefully moved to more detailed massage strokes, her head raised and she began to look around. Her tail rose into a chow-like puff. I worked on her for about 20 minutes. The last time I saw Misty, she was headed down a park trail with her companion, sniffing, wagging and off to find her new family.

34 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | make them more comfortable, only regular attention side and finding no problems, I was finally able to locate will yield the full benefits of bodywork in chronic a tight muscle in his right shoulder. He was veering left conditions. To make this care more accessible and help because his loose left stride was longer than his tight people reduce the overall cost of caring for their aging right one. After a quick positional release, he was back companions, I teach a basic course with techniques with the team, running straight and as fast as ever. anyone can use with their dogs at home. We cover Athletic dogs participate in many competitive sports, the distinction between massage and petting, a brief including agility, Frisbee, flyball, dock diving, and line introduction to how animals respond to our energy, coursing. Like their human counterparts, they train and a basic relaxation routine that can be used with any regularly for their chosen sport and are in excellent basically healthy dog. physical shape. They are prone to the same athletic Sometimes, the work is very specific. Adriane, an injuries as humans—sprains, strains, trigger points, elderly husky, had hurt her back at doggy day care and overuse injuries and broken bones. was still in pain after two trips to the veterinarian. Some detailed work on her spine located an irritated nerve that Canine massage is a broad field. Almost was relieved by some forward pressure on a vertebra. I showed any technique of human massage can be her worried owner how to adapted for our furry friends. gently hold this position when the pain returned, and the problem gradually subsided. Canine massage is a broad field. Almost any technique Four-legged athletes of human massage can be adapted for our furry friends: Swedish, relaxation, positional release, energy work, Bongo, a Jack Russell terrier, had traveled halfway craniosacral, trigger-point and water therapy are all across the country to compete in the international in my toolbox. Acupressure is also a helpful skill for flyball event, a relay race for teams of four dogs. He was canine work. Trained vet technicians can get additional normally a good competitor, but in the practice runs, he schooling in physical therapy and rehabilitation for kept veering left, confusing the dog who followed him animals. and slowing the whole team. After checking Bongo’s left Specialized focus Canine massage is the perfect arena for me. I have loved dogs since I was a toddler, but did not want to be a veterinarian. In fact, canine massage changed my life. Ten years ago, I was on my third career as an accounting clerk and had no experience with massage in any form. One Sunday, the local paper ran a human interest article on canine massage with a photo of a Dachshund mix receiving a massage to help her recover from a stroke. The little dog had a smile of pure bliss on her face and my immediate thought was, “If I can make a dog that happy, I finally know what I want to do when I grow up.” That is still the motivation in each session—to return the comfort and happiness dogs have given me. ZOONAR/ERIK LAM/THINKSTOCK ZOONAR/ERIK

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 35

Dogs don’t describe their symptoms verbally, so I often ask the client to consult a veterinarian to have confirmation of my JAROSLAV FRANK/THINKSTOCK assessment before I work.

With no massage background, I enrolled in the table and will inevitably find yourself working on the PetMassage Training and Research Institute in Toledo, floor with some of the larger animals. Ohio. There, Jonathan Rudinger, R.N., L.M.T., one of the Quick reflexes are helpful to hold a dog who startles pioneers of canine massage, opened a gate that has led me when you hit a tender spot. Of course, you still need through canine massage and energy work to eventually people skills, because no dog comes to you without a include human massage. Still, I find the canine work to human attached. You need to be able to explain what be the most rewarding. you are doing and why you think it will help the dog. However, interest alone is not enough. While a love (It is often harder to communicate with the person —U.S. Census Bureau of dogs is the obvious starting point, those interested than with the dog.) You need to have confidence in in canine massage also need to be comfortable with all your work and a good sense of the boundaries of your types of dogs. Experience as a rescue volunteer and dog knowledge. training or animal behaviorist experience is a definite Because dogs don’t describe their symptoms to you plus. In addition, you need to be in good physical shape, verbally, I often ask the client to consult a veterinarian because you will be lifting heavy animals onto your to have confirmation of my assessment before I work.

36 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | It is also good to develop a list of vets who are interested in holistic work such as acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine or chiropractic. With experience, you can often develop a referral network with them so that each animal can receive the most effective treatment possible. As a caution, you should also be aware that laws for animal massage practice are not as uniform from one state to another as they are for humans. You can check on your state’s laws at the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork/Association of Canine Water Therapy website (iaamb.org/laws-by-state.php). The same site also has a listing of schools and workshops you can attend. This specialty career path can be financially rewarding, as a growing number of Americans choose to have dogs in their homes. The Humane Society of the United States estimates there are almost 80 million pet dogs in the U.S., and statistics from surveys conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association indicate that 63 percent of U.S. pet owners consider their pet to be a family member; 36 percent consider them to be companions. (Just 1 percent considers pets to be property.) Further, the APPA estimates that $15.73 billion will be spent during 2015 on veterinary care for pets, and $5.24 billion spent for grooming and boarding services. Various sources show that pet ownership— especially of dogs—is projected to continue to increase by about 3.4 percent each year, through 2018. Deep-belly sighs Over the years, I have worked on young, athletic dogs and old, stiff dogs. I have worked on injured dogs and abused dogs. I have worked on dogs confused by changes in their home or family and dogs afraid of thunder and fireworks. Never once has a dog read my brochure and said, “I don’t think that will help me.” The most rewarding moment is always the deep-belly sigh that simply conveys the sentiment, “Oh, my, that feels good.”

Ann Tarvin, C.M.T., H.T.P., of Balanced Paws Canine Massage (balancedpaws.com), holds an Instructor Level Certificate from PetMassage® Training and Research Institute in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis’s Therapeutic Massage Program, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has both human and canine clients and teaches basic canine massage for dog owners. She lives with four wonderful dogs. M

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 37 by Karen Ball, N.B.C.R., L.M.T.

Therapeutic JUPITERIMAGES/THINKSTOCK Touch Energy Work Makes It to the Mainstream

by Denise Coppa, Ph.D., R.N.P.

any of us are frustrated with the intentional and compassionate use of universal energy accepted, Western medical approach to to promote balance and well-being.” Therapeutic Touch health care. In many cases, traditional is a complementary, transpersonal healing approach medical approaches to illnesses don’t go used by practitioners educated in the therapy to Mfar enough in making individuals truly well. Millions reduce anxiety, accelerate relaxation, decrease pain, of dollars are spent annually on complementary healing and enhance an individual’s potential for achieving modalities that offer comfort, hope and alternatives to wellness. traditional medical approaches. Therapeutic Touch, like many complementary Therapeutic Touch is a complementary energetic therapies, is facing scrutiny by researchers. I will note technique that can provide a context upon which true just three completed studies and their outcomes here: healing can occur. • The authors of “Effects of Therapeutic Touch on Therapeutic Touch is defined by the Therapeutic Pain, Function and Well Being in Persons with Osteo- Touch International Association as “a holistic, Arthritis of the Knee: A Pilot Study,” published in The evidence-based therapy that incorporates the Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice in 2008,

38 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | found that Therapeutic Touch, administered twice a week through which the Therapeutic Touch practitioner uses a for eight weeks, decreased pain and stiffness associated cognitive process to assist the client in rebalancing subtle with osteoarthritis. The Therapeutic Touch sessions in biodynamic energy systems. the study did not affect knee stability or range of motion. Therapeutic Touch is based on the assumption that • Postoperative surgical patients showed lower levels there is a universal biodynamic energy, shared by human of pain, cortisol and natural killer cells—a type of beings, that can be accessed and influenced by the white blood cell—after receiving Therapeutic Touch Therapeutic Touch provider through interaction with the treatments, according to a September 2010 study in the client on an energetic level. The human energy life force Journal of Holistic Nursing, “The effect of therapeutic touch metaphor is shared by many philosophical and spiritual on postoperative patients.” traditions, known as chi in China, qi in Japan, prana in • In a September 2010 study published in Evidence- India and the vital force, or holy spirit, in many Western Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, “The Effect traditions. It is thought to circulate throughout the of Therapeutic Touch on Pain and Fatigue of Cancer physical body and contributes to—some say is necessary Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy,” subjects received to—maintaining normal physiological, psychological a 30-minute Therapeutic Touch session once a day for and spiritual functioning. five days. Patients in the group that received the sessions Therapeutic Touch shares this assumption with other showed decreased levels of pain and fatigue compared healing modalities, such as reiki and qigong. The goal in to the group that received the standard care for cancer accessing this human energy field for healing is to assist patients undergoing chemotherapy. However, the value of Therapeutic Touch does not reside The concept of healing, as espoused only in its scientific foundation, but in the fact that helpful outcomes through Therapeutic Touch, involves the can be achieved by any individual who has the compassion to learn conscious engagement of the client’s own the modality and the intent to help energies with this universal energy. or heal.

Technique development the client to establish and maintain balance, symmetry Therapeutic Touch was developed as a mode of and constant flow to foster a healing state, according to transpersonal healing in the early 1970s by Dolores Krieger. Krieger, Ph.D., R.N., a professor at New York University’s The concept of healing, as espoused through School of Nursing, and Dora Kunz, an internationally Therapeutic Touch, involves the conscious engagement known clairvoyant healer. It quickly became adopted in of the client’s own energies with this universal energy. the health sciences as extensions of various professional Healing is a balanced flow of this personal energy, health care practices. By the year 2000, Therapeutic Touch achieved through unobstructed connection with the was practiced at more than 100 medical inpatient and universal energy. It is facilitated through a caring outpatient facilities in more than 30 countries. relationship between the client and the Therapeutic At Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury, Touch provider through expanding consciousness that Minnesota, for example, Therapeutic Touch, along with results in a sense of wholeness and balance, according other energy-based therapies, is offered to patients at the to Krieger. Therefore, healing is an undulating process Healing Arts & Natural Care Center. Likewise, inpatients that requires the energetic engagement of both parties, at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut, have facilitated by a compassionate, intentional process access to a range of complementary medicine services, initiated by the healer. including Therapeutic Touch. And the Overlook Medical Although complex in its philosophical underpinnings, Center in Summit, New Jersey, includes Therapeutic Therapeutic Touch is a simple process to learn, and as Touch as part of its integrative medicine program described earlier, can be practiced by anyone with the available to cancer patients. compassion and the intent to heal. There is a step-wise process that is supported by the Therapeutic Touch Conscious engagement International Association (therapeutic-touch.org) Krieger speaks of Therapeutic Touch as a teaching guidelines utilized by qualified Therapeutic contemporary interpretation of ancient healing practices Touch Teachers to initiate, advance and maintain the

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The actual laying-on-of-hands concept is loosely applied, since the provider does not have to physically touch the client.

education of suggesting that the only obstacle to engaging in this Therapeutic Touch practice is a lack of compassion. providers. While The provider also uses cognition in terms of a specific WAVEBREAKMEDIA LTD/THINKSTOCK WAVEBREAKMEDIA simple to learn, intention to assist the client on his or her healing the initiation journey. The process begins with a centering or focusing into the process of the provider’s consciousness, establishing the intent of Therapeutic Touch encourages lifelong experiential to facilitate the client’s attainment of a healing state. learning through which qualified Therapeutic Touch The provider does not expect or preconceive a specific Teachers mentor students from basic to advanced levels. physical, emotional or spiritual outcome. The client is visualized as an integration of the biodynamic energy Compassion in action with the physical body. As Krieger explains, the Therapeutic Touch process is The actual laying-on-of-hands concept is loosely accompanied by distinct shifts in consciousness on the applied, since the provider does not have to physically part of the Therapeutic Touch therapist that underlie touch the client. The outreach or assessment of the client the accepted process and practices of Therapeutic Touch. is typically conducted by using the hands in a scanning Emphasized throughout is the call of compassion, motion four to five inches from the physical body,

40 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | starting around the head and proceeding to the feet. including massage and physical therapies. Simply During this phase, the provider searches for information decreasing anxiety and encouraging relaxation has been in the form of obstruction in energy flow, asymmetry in shown to facilitate healing in all traditions, including in the field or changes in temperature. Western health care settings. Once the client is thoroughly assessed, the The technique can be learned through workshops provider proceeds to rebalance any areas that remain throughout the country. The best way to access asymmetrical or obstructed. This can be achieved information on Therapeutic Touch workshops, through various methods of sending, receiving or research and other educational resources is through modulating energy. It is usually during this phase that the Therapeutic Touch International Association. the rebalancing or healing takes place. Therapeutic Touch can be learned and utilized Lastly, the provider reassesses the field to determine if by anyone with the compassion to work with other there were any shifts in the flow, congestion or energetic human beings, using the intention to accelerate a temperature asymmetries. This process takes no longer wellness state. than 15 to 20 minutes and is terminated when the provider picks up specific energetic cues from the client Denise Coppa, Ph.D., R.N.P., is a membership trustee that the treatment is complete. for the Therapeutic Touch International Association (therapeutic-touch.org). She has 30 years’ experience in A wellness state the practice, teaching and research of Therapeutic Touch. The most useful outcome of a Therapeutic Touch She is also coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner treatment is the facilitation of the relaxation response in Program at the University of Rhode Island. M the client. This can be achieved even by providers who have completed just a basic workshop. Therapeutic Touch is an adjunctive treatment modality that can be used with many other modalities,

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 41

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The Chronically Depleted Client

Touch for Systems Under Stress

by Eric Moya, C.S.T.-D. FRANCESCO CURA/THINKSTOCK

ometimes clients can seem so complex, so When the client called me, he understandably had hypersensitive, so … depleted. Thinking questions about CranioSacral Therapy and whether it over the past 18 years of practice, I find these would be helpful for him. He wanted to know what the complex clients seem to be more numerous technique was about and how it worked. He wanted Snow than they used to, both in my practice and in to know what the likelihood might be that this type conversations with other practitioners. of work might help him. Jamie also wanted to know Earlier this year, I had a new client, Jamie*, referred what my previous experience was with clients similar to me by a local psychotherapist. They were doing to him. some wonderful therapeutic work together for a I should mention, of course, that by profession, variety of physical and psychotherapeutic concerns. the client is a well-trained and practicing physician’s The psychotherapist referred the client because she assistant. Understandably, part of the discussion had heard that CranioSacral Therapy might be able to involved letting me know that he had been through help with some of the physical symptoms related to the full battery of tests and differential diagnoses for severe exhaustion, muscle fatigue, eye sensitivity and his symptoms, yet, his particular symptoms continued emotional depression. to evade an easy path of treatment.

44 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | As we talked, it was clear that Jamie had many A complex world symptoms across multiple body systems, as well as The world around us is continuing to grow in many ongoing stressors in his life. Wonderfully, he was complexity. In the modern world, innovations in the also fully committed to turning around his own health areas of mobility, travel, communication, technology and regaining a sense of resilience in his life. The work he was doing with his psychotherapist was helping and information are exposing us to an increasingly The tremendously. He was also engaged in regular meditation complex landscape that is changing more quickly than practices, and was truly open to anything that might we can easily adapt to. In the recent past of even the last help. century, people may not have traveled or been exposed As we talked, I was able to describe a little bit of how to ideas, people and cultures outside of their immediate a CranioSacral Therapist might view chronic depletion, community. Individuals were not exposed to the same Chronically and I was able to give him a sense of how previous clients level of interdependence, connection, diversity or need have progressed through treatments. I was also able to for adaptation that we consider normal now. The world give him a good sense of how the first session might look. is simply growing in its complexity—economically, My overall message was meant to convey that it was socially, ecologically, politically and biologically. worth a first session to see if CranioSacral Therapy We have to evolve—but evolution is a slow process might benefit him; to reinforce that his full professional that puts our system under stress. The system is then Depleted experience as a physician’s assistant was welcome in the session; and to reassure him we would work together to either able to adapt, or not. The gap between our empower him to make his own best decisions about his stressors and our capacity for compensation is growing health and treatment plans. with each year at an accelerating rate. Our body-mind- spirits are showing the effects of this complexity and Hosts of problems stress. Client Clients like this are much more common these days than when I first It is time for manual therapists to rework our began practice 18 years understanding and adopt our skills to match ago. Sometimes clients come in seeking relaxation an increasing problem. or general well-being, but more often than not, clients seem to present with a myriad of complex problems that seem unrelated to each other, having traversed a As manual therapists, we are privileged to be at that medical system that works to treat the various symptoms intersection of the individual and the world, as our individually. clients present with a variety of stress-related challenges: Additionally, clients with these hosts of problems can TMJ problems, digestive disorders, sleep difficulty, sometimes have adverse treatment reactions. It’s as if muscle tension, pain disorders, emotional difficulties, their systems are hypersensitive and over-reactive, and environmental sensitivities and autoimmune difficulties that what would normally be considered a very gentle among them. Most of these problems defy single-session treatment might result in several days of discomfort. answers, and too much time can be wasted looking for a It’s common in bodywork circles to talk about a healing cause of what is really a much more global problem of a crisis, but that explanation alone is rarely satisfactory system burdened by patterned and chronic stressors. Our for someone in distress—and it does little to solve the clients are looking for help. problem. In worst-case scenarios, the healing crisis explanation Resilience vs. depletion really only functions to absolve a well-intentioned One of John Upledger, D.O., O.M.M.’s greatest gifts in practitioner of responsibility for a treatment that his development of CranioSacral Therapy was the deep actually pushed an overly sensitive system a bit too far. core belief that the client is the best teacher; the idea that Basically, it is time for manual therapists to rework when we listen and are present with a client’s body-mind- our understanding of what is happening and adopt our spirit system, it will show and guide the practitioner how skills to match what appears to be an increasing problem. to work with it.

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When stressors are too great, too patterned or ongoing, a person can end up severely depleted in body, mind and spirit.

Now, on a systemic level, practitioners have to learn in body, mind and spirit. Eventually, a system becomes so new skill sets for working with chronic depletion. severely depleted that any new stressor basically causes a CranioSacral Therapy, with its philosophy and core new crash. The colloquial phrase, the straw that breaks the beliefs of a person having the inner resources, or inner camel’s back, conveys that sentiment a bit. wisdom, necessary for healing, as well as a chosen value I’m reminded of a different client many years ago, of using the least amount of influence necessary to get Susan*, who, when asked to describe her experience the job done, is a perfect approach to both conceptualize of what general adaptation syndrome, or severe and work with the problem of chronic depletion. adrenal burnout, was like, she described sitting on the To begin with, depletion or resilience is understood couch and being unable to do anything, and then the as the gap between stressors and the capacity for phone would ring and she would just break down in compensation. Pretty easy, really; if a person’s stressors tears. Once a person’s system has achieved this level are greater than her ability to compensate, she is in a of hypersensitivity, we would definitely call him depletion phase. If the opposite is true, then she would be chronically depleted. gaining resilience. It’s possible to assess and evaluate this condition It is natural in the course of life for us to flow from with CranioSacral Therapy. From a CranioSacral point resilience to depletion and back as we adjust accordingly. of view, the vitality and quality of the system becomes When stressors are too great, too patterned or ongoing, almost nonexistent, and the resources for healing however, sometimes a person can end up severely depleted become so diminished that there is little available

46 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | to correct even the most basic of tissue restrictions. global view of how the system is reorganizing itself for Also, any minute stressor—even that of normally better health. gentle bodywork—can easily send the system into a Imagine a mobile hanging from the ceiling, a hyperreactive state. beautiful mobile with many different parts all in Basically, with a chronically depleted client, releases exquisite, balanced relationship with each other. When are slow, adverse treatment reactions are common, and you pick up the mobile from its core attachment, the a lot of factors come together that make it likely for the entire pattern becomes apparent and balanced. If you therapist to feel unsuccessful and, perhaps, the client to try to pick up the mobile from anywhere else, however, terminate early—even while these clients represent a the pattern collapses and isn’t accessible any longer. population in great need of support. Working with epicenter is similar, in that it is kind of like identifying a pattern of restrictions and contacting Work with epicenter them at the balance point for the network. To work with chronic depletion, we have developed When working with chronic depletion, we must a different dimension to blending with the body-mind- take a multi-session and multi-factorial approach to spirit so as to begin to palpate the qualities of chronic improvement. Good client education, tracking progress depletion. We have also developed different processes across multiple sessions, and thinking in terms of a of treating a hypersensitive system. These processes contributing factor approach rather than causes are all part are based more on identifying patterns of restriction of the picture when working with a chronically depleted as opposed to finding individual restrictions; and on client. processes of treating relationships between restrictions In other words, working with chronic depletion rather than the restrictions themselves. This process is is usually a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a gentle and called working with epicenter, and is a very gentle way of holistic way of working with a complex situation while working with great specificity without sacrificing the supporting the body’s innate healing capability and

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using the least amount of influence necessary to get the There may very likely be more work to be done, but job done. recognizing that tapering off of sessions is possible is a Most importantly, people get helped. great sign of progress in the client’s health and well- being. Shape the future Our world will likely not become less complex in the When Jamie, the client mentioned at the start of future. Massage and bodywork offer people a respite this article, came in for his first session, his system from the stress and demands of the modern world, and did show signs of being chronically depleted, both in could help shape a more peaceful and connected future. whole-body evaluations and in the story he told about his experiences. In the treatment process, we were able *Client names have been changed. to find a way to work with his patterns of dysfunction rather than focus on individual restrictions. The result Eric Moya, C.S.T.-D., is a lecturer and instructor on manual was a gentle-but-powerful session that did not throw therapy and CranioSacral Therapy for the Upledger his system into chaos, but instead helped his system Institute (upledger.com), and former director of education resources reorganize more functionally. at the Esalen Institute. His professional backgrounds Thus far, we have had eight sessions together over are in massage therapy and psychotherapy. He lives in three months. Over the course of those eight sessions, Monterey, California, and has private practices in Carmel Jamie’s system has begun returning to resilience, his and San Francisco. M sleep patterns and digestion have improved, his level of physical fatigue and eye sensitivity have diminished, and he has a deep sense of returning back to himself. Read “The Mindset for CranioSacral Therapy,” by Jamie is also tapering off his sessions and no longer sees Judah Lyons, at massagemag.com/cstmindset. the same need for sessions that he did at the beginning of the therapeutic relationship.

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Grow as a Massage Attend Professional Conferences

by Ariel F. Hubbard, L.M.P.

ith so much information and education readily available online, a massage therapist might be tempted to refrain from traveling to a professional conference. Attending Wa conference entails spending—on a hotel room, conference fees, meals and travel—not to mention the time spent away from one’s practice. However, the benefits to a therapist’s personal and professional development, as well as to the success of his or her business, gained by conference attendance outweigh drawbacks. When massage therapists attend a conference, we are met with opportunities to connect with our community, learn more about our trade and meet new people. What we may not be aware of are eye- opening opportunities to understand our business, expand career growth opportunities, and elevate the experience of our work. When I recently asked massage therapists about the benefits of attending a professional conference, several of them commented on the educational, social and purchasing-opportunity benefits. Additional advantages are developing a career direction and expanding an understanding of the massage profession. Attending a conference “really expands your horizons, to get a sense of who is involved in the industry,” said Cherie Sohnen-Moe, president of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AFMTE). “It can be eye-opening … it helps people understand the business of massage. “You might attend a class on myofascial release [at a conference], but afterwards, you might find out FUET/THINKSTOCK

50 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | how people avoid burnout, or keep their jobs or practice,” massage, but to engage in the activities necessary to run a Sohnen-Moe added. “It is a great way to get feedback from successful massage business. people on all aspects of the industry from around the When a therapist informs his clients that he will be country, and all around the world.” attending a conference to learn an additional technique, it underscores his value as an expert. The news may Meet colleagues even be implemented as a marketing tool in social media Meeting and talking with colleagues, mentors or email marketing to stimulate client bookings by and researchers is an intangible benefit that makes communicating that a different service will be offered. conferences valuable to a massage professional’s career. Discerning clients are excited that their massage Networking takes place before and after continuing professionals consistently gain tools, which may lead education classes, in the exhibit hall, and at social events them to book additional appointments and refer other folded into conferences by their producers. clients. “Imagine a workplace full of interesting massage thera- Specialized conferences, such as that presented by the pists where you can collaborate, problem-solve, talk shop AFMTE on massage education, or the triennial conference and have fun,” said massage therapist Kelly Bowers, who presented by the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) works at Freed Bodyworks in Washington, D.C. “Multiply on massage therapy research, offer more streamlined that by 10—or 100—and you’ve [got] a massage conference.” educational offerings. A conference is basically “a building full of people Attendees of the 2016 International Massage Therapy who know things I don’t know, who are excited to hear Research Conference, for example, “will have the chance about what I do know, who understand the intricacies of to attend a variety of presentations spotlighting the our work better than even the most empathetic friend or latest cutting-edge massage therapy scientific research,” partner,” Bowers added, “and who are jazzed to be there.” Networking and interaction Ongoing trends, regulatory issues and concerns with peers, role models and hiring professionals helps for the industry are all processed, contemplated, therapists develop their argued and discussed at conferences. career paths. The fresh ideas, people, vendors or products encountered could change a therapist’s practice. Learning said MTF President Jerrilyn Cambron, Ph.D., D.C., L.M.T. to innovate with a technique or business software can “Attendees will also return home with helpful resources, assist therapists in growing their business. We may be new connections and continuing education units,” she inspired by research or mentors, or an inspiring teacher added, “[and] the conference is an incredible opportunity may ignite a desire to become a massage instructor. for massage therapists and health care providers to learn about new research findings that contribute to Continuing education the massage therapy profession.” [Editor’s note: Turn Learning the latest techniques assists in preventing to page 68 for a current list of upcoming massage and one of the biggest challenges to a massage career: burnout. complementary health care conferences.] When massage therapists practice the same techniques repeatedly, we may experience physical damage to our Your profession joints and tissues via repetitive strain. When addressing the future of the profession, some The educational offerings at a conference are like a of the best ways to learn about what is happening with “smorgasbord,” Bowers said. “Conferences are an excellent regulations, techniques and research is to learn from place to sample a subject,” she added. “That four-hour class people who are addressing them, creating them and may be all I need, [but] if it really grabs me, I’ll take a discovering results of massage firsthand. full-on continuing ed class later. If it doesn’t grab me, I’ve Ongoing trends, regulatory issues and concerns for learned that without a major outlay of time and money.” the industry are all processed, contemplated, argued and We, and our clients, may also experience boredom, discussed at conferences. Being physically present inspires which reduces motivation not only to give or receive people to participate in organizations or take actions that

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Attending conferences helps massage therapists ask, “What is the future of massage as a profession?”

they might not otherwise without direct exposure to what “By [attending conferences], you see that you are is happening now. not alone,” Sohnen-Moe said. “There is the individual “When more than one person works on something, experience, and then there is the outward result by having there is a synergistic effect,” said Sohnen-Moe. “So many people getting together, talking, relating—it changes the people have decided to do projects, or [find] ways to serve whole industry.” an underserved population or [join] forces to help change Attending conferences helps massage therapists ask the or impact regulations … to respond to community needs. questions, “What is the future of massage as a profession?” “There is power in numbers,” she added. “You might and “What is my future in massage?” As we engage with find some cohorts who get together to spearhead projects others, we can make decisions about where we are headed. that might positively affect the whole profession.” “Conferences are also a reality check,” Bowers said. “I can get myopic about what it means to be a massage Build community therapist based on the limits of my life. Conferences show Conferences help massage therapists put our work me the broader picture of what our entire profession is into context, because we can sometimes feel solitary in about. our work. Sharing results, insights and approaches helps “I always meet someone with a completely different alleviate the loneliness massage therapists often feel in our understanding of what it means to be a massage therapist profession. and is as correct about that as I am,” she added. “It opens Working alone tends to give massage therapists a my eyes and resets my worldview.” myopic vision of our profession, which can be corrected Attending conferences gives us the context to see when we interact with other therapists by asking, “What is possibilities for ourselves, for our practices, and for how it like for you to work in this profession?” we would like to participate in the future of our profession. “It is always fascinating for people to discover what the scope of practice is and how it varies,” Sohnen-Moe said. Ariel F. Hubbard, L.M.P. (arielhubbard.com), is approved by “It also makes people more humble, because they get to see the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & that they are not the only ones doing certain things, and Bodywork as a continuing education provider. She provides [more] thankful for what [they] have, because [they] hear of in-person and online classes and private treatments, and other people’s challenges and struggles.” has worked in the holistic health field since 1994. She wrote The realization that the profession is part of the overall “Approaches to Trigger-Point Therapy: Pain Patterns and health care system nationally and internationally becomes Tracking Methods” for MASSAGE Magazine’s June 2015 quite real when you are surrounded by hundreds or even issue. M thousands of colleagues.

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54 AGSANDREW/THINKSTOCK | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | |www.massagemag.com 2015 |December Magazine |MASSAGE Effect Placebo The Exploration Exploration Body-Mind the most important Westernthe most important philosophers of the past few centuries. of to dualism.due was slouch though, no his is theory Descartes and still considered of one cited is the as whipping boy the commonly reason Descartes René for this system of thought, mind from body. It natural seems in conversation to separate to mind from degree. body some mind complex. However, to more me it helped than anything, let of go the idea of separating introduced to book This me work. bioenergetics other and esoteric approaches to the body- Many years ago, Iread Ken Dychtwald’s Bodymind book, Fulton,by Brian R.M.T. of the An An . Admittedly,. title the drew to me the uch more than a philosopher, his “Unfortunately, the proponents of these two opposed views work on physics, physiology and [holistic and allopathic] have tended to generate more heat math was also incredibly profound. than light. Too often each side has assumed the truth of its own His mathematical theories have had position without providing evidence, as if it were obvious.” powerful lasting effects, and are a —Dylan Evans in his book Placebo: Mind Over Matter in Mpart of everyday usage in modern geometry, calculus, as Modern Medicine (2004). well as optics. What he has come under fire for mostly is his dualistic theory of the human body, which saw the The fact is, our brain does not operate in a vacuum. body was a physical entity that adheres to the laws of Neural tissue reaches into and communicates physics; whereas the mind (or soul) on the other hand was with virtually every other tissue of the body. The considered a nonmaterial entity that does not follow the discovery in the 1980s that our brain communicates laws of physics. directly and indirectly with the immune system Descartes argued that only humans have minds, and led to the very interesting and developing field of that the mind interacts with [the] pineal gland to affect psychoneuroimmunology. Since neural tissue reaches the body. Like many great thinkers, he was right about every nook and cranny of the body, a simple thought can many things, but was not infallible. It turns out that all change your physiology, and numerous studies support animals have pineal glands, and all sentient beings are this fact. now clearly considered to have minds. Separating the mind from the body may serve a Candace Pert purpose in some specific circumstance, but just from a Another interesting fact about the mind-body link philosophical viewpoint, any separation or disconnection came out of [pharmacologist] Candace Pert, Ph.D.’s work from the whole can be viewed as a root of disease. It is only on the biology of emotion. Her earlier work led to the my personal opinion, but I believe that true health involves a healthy connection to all things around one’s self. It is perhaps a scary concept when carried to the extreme, With each new discovery we can see since “all things” include those things (and that the concept of separating mind those people) that our own value system may view as good or evil. But really, I don’t from body is a completely arbitrary see how it can actually be any other way. and mistaken idea. However, rather than going down this road of philosophy and personal opinion, I will return to slightly more tangible ideas. discovery of endorphins. Pert originally hypothesized I will make the assumption here that most of us working that neurotransmitters associated with strong emotion in the manual therapy field are not so much Cartesian- would only be found in the limbic system of the brain. minded, seeing the body parts and systems as being Instead what she found was that these chemicals are separate from one another, as we are holistically oriented, ubiquitous throughout the body. So in fact, the whole seeing the body and mind as basically inseparable and all body experiences emotion, not just the brain. systems within it as integrated. This is our intuitive sense It is difficult to shed the Cartesian way of viewing the as bodyworkers, and modern science reaffirms that belief. body, but with each new discovery we can see that the I will, however, readily accept though that there will concept of separating mind from body is a completely always be people on both sides of the fence on this matter arbitrary and, largely, a mistaken idea. As you let go of and these two following quotes spaced almost 2000 years this separation, the concept of mind affecting body, or apart illustrate this ongoing debate: placebo effect (or whatever you choose to call it) falls very comfortably into place. This point is being emphasized “This is the great error of our day in the treatment of the because as a practitioner if you do not genuinely believe human body, that physicians separate the soul from the body.” in the placebo effect in your practice and in your —Plato, in reference to Hippocrates’ approach. [clients] (and in yourself for that matter), you will not

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 55

Women’s breast-support needs during massage vary, whether they have large or small breasts.

Many processes within the body are controlled at a sub- or non-conscious level.

see therapeutic outcomes that are as positive as if you just memories but also thoughts. These unconscious sincerely believe in this healing phenomenon. thoughts are part of our programming that we have adopted and can contain anything, such as underlying The unconscious & assumptions about failure or success in life or when subconscious mind performing tasks. The major difference with the Before going further, let us clarify the terms subconscious mind is that we can choose to remember unconscious and subconscious. There appear to be varied events or thoughts that it contains. definitions even within the psychiatric community on The subconscious part of your mind can be viewed as this matter … but we need to come to some agreement on the part of your conscious mind that is not part of your this if we are to have a fruitful discussion, so these terms momentary conscious processes, for example: your will be described and clarified. address, your phone number or your first pet’s name. Unconscious is the term usually used in psychology Before reading this, you were not conscious (thinking to refer to the thoughts we have that are out of reach right now) of these facts, but should someone ask you of our consciousness. A traumatic childhood event, a for them, you are able to bring them to the conscious repressed memory, or a very distant memory that we level by pulling them from your subconscious. For the can’t access at our choosing are examples of unconscious purposes of our discussion, this is the basic difference memories. Memory of these events can be triggered between subconscious and unconscious thoughts. by psychoanalytical methods or by events such as a The other very important aspect of the unconscious scent or a familiar place. The unconscious contains not and subconscious from a strictly neurological

56 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Women’s breast-support needs during massage vary, whether they have large or small breasts.

perspective is just how many processes within the elements at play. Their instinct is telling them to protect body are controlled at a sub- or non-conscious level. the area. Most of what goes on in our bodies does not require Many therapies that you can employ will address consciousness. This involves everything from heart this component of injury, directly reprogramming rate, blood pressure, digestion, healing, immune system the nervous system or essentially reprogramming activity, thermoregulation, even most motor control the conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind and breathing to name some of the more obvious simultaneously. Some examples of these modalities functions. We are all able to sleep at night, so obviously are neuro-linguistic programming, passive stretch are able to hand the entire ship over to unconscious therapy, Feldenkrais, the Alexander Technique, processes. However, many processes are a blend of Trigenics, Neuromuscular Integration and Structural conscious and unconscious control. Alignment and Neuromuscular Therapy, just to name a Let’s look at something such as motor control. few. The goal in almost all of these therapies is to either When you are learning a task, such as walking for reprogram movement, or to tell the mind that it is okay example, there is a tremendous amount of conscious to move again, essentially removing the block between involvement; however, once the task is mastered mind and body. most of the activity is relegated to subconscious This too is clearly a portion of what is going on processes. Breathing is another obvious example with the placebo effect. The block is somehow lifted, where subconscious processes manage it very well, but allowing the body-mind system to do what it already the conscious mind can step in at a moment’s notice knows how to do … that is, heal itself. and alter breathing patterns. As it turns out, most bodily processes allow for some degree of conscious Brian Fulton, R.M.T., has practiced massage therapy intervention; some obviously more than others. since 1999, with a focus on Soft Tissue Release, So let’s see how this applies to what we do. There treating repetitive strain injuries, and ergonomics. This is a tremendous amount of guarding that can take article was excerpted from his book, The Placebo place after any injury, and one might assume that Effect in Manual Therapy, by permission of Handspring guarding is the conscious mind at play, and to some Publishing (handspringpublishing.com). M degree it is. However, if you tell your [client] that the tissue in a given area of their body has healed completely and they believe in your expertise, then their conscious mind has accepted it. If they are still guarding the area then clearly there are subconscious and possibly unconscious

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 57

M | Living in Balance Keep Doing the Work You Love 6 Ways to Roll Away Pain & Tightness

by Cat Matlock, L.M.B.T., R.Y.T.

ain in the body is always a result of some kind of imbalance. This imbalance can be due to disease, injury, structural limitation, or muscular and fascial tension. When you experience pain in your body, your body is trying to tell you Psomething is wrong, out of balance or at risk of injury. As therapists, we see the result of tensional imbalance every day with our clients. They come to us to open up their locked tissues and help them to relax. While we are working with our clients, leaning over our tables day after day, we create tensional imbalance in our own bodies. The torso, the front of the upper body—especially pectoralis major and minor—and the belly, become short and tight over time. The back and posterior shoulders, generally speaking, become long, tight and weak. In the arms, often the biceps become short and tight, while the triceps become long and weak. The wrist flexors and extensors become dysfunctional as we hold our wrists in an extended position and then load our weight on it, using the heel of the hand for the pressure of the strokes. Even as we try to keep our PHOTOS BY ERIC WILSON / 828PHOTOGRAPHY Cat Matlock demonstrates how to reduce tensional Rolling biceps Rolling triceps imbalance. Shown here: Rolling pecs at the wall

58 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Keep Doing the Work You Love

backs straight, we still lean over a table, putting our As you roll around on your foam roller and balls, erector bundles under constant strain. you will want to use long, deep breaths; breathe into Add this all together, and you’ve got a lot of your belly with diaphragmatic breathing; and sink therapists working with chronic tension and often your body on the exhale to foster a shift in the nervous wrist, shoulder and back pain. This is why self-care is system. so critically important in our profession. Enter self-massage—with therapy balls and foam Begin with movement rollers—and effective stretching techniques to restore I recommend starting with some movement of the balance. Studies are indicating that the use of foam parts of the body you will be rolling out. Begin with rollers and therapeutic rolling with balls increases standing up and rolling your shoulders up and down flexibility and range of motion, and decreases pain while taking some deep, sighing breaths. Breathe in faster than stretching alone. and lift your shoulders up to your ears, breathe out with a sigh and drop shoulders away from the ears. Do Breath and brain this several times. Then swing your arms around in It is helpful to recognize that tension in our bodies big circles and in both directions. Next spend a minute is also a result of stress in our modern lives. Chronic or so just shaking your arms and hands in the air. pain is stressful. Our lives, our busy-ness, driving and traffic and work all add stress to our lives. Get on the ball Unfortunately, if we are under chronic stress, The first thing you will need is a ball, or a few balls. as most of us are, it means we regularly engage I like to have an assortment of balls available, as some the sympathetic nervous system—fight, flight or areas respond better to a softer ball and some areas need freeze—which feeds muscular tension. Using the a smaller and firmer ball to get into the deeper layers, breath as a bridge into the nervous system to shift especially in the forearms. A few good balls to have are into parasympathetic mode—rest, digest and heal—is a tennis ball; a toy play ball with air inside that is about invaluable in reducing muscular tension. 4 inches in diameter and has some give to it; and a ball

Rolling wrist flexors Rolling wrist extensors Rolling between shoulder blades Rolling upper traps at wall

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 59

M | Living in Balance

Stretching pecs Shrugging shoulders Stretching rhomboids

about the size of a golf ball, but softer. A handball works upper back and shoulders. Our pectorals tend to be very great for this size; a super bouncy ball can work, too. tight, so use the softest ball you have at first. Using your You can do an Internet search for therapeutic and larger air-filled toy ball, step up to a wall and place the physical-therapy balls as well, rather than gathering ball between your chest and the wall. Place the ball at the sports balls. top of the pecs just under the collarbone. Rock your body side to side, rolling the upper pecs. Roll around a while, Breathe into the belly then find some tender spots, just one or two, and pause, Stand and breathe, letting your belly get really big on sink your body and relax, take a couple of breaths, release the inhale and softening on the exhale. Do this four times. and move on. You will return to this breath as you roll out your tissues. Now move the ball lower an inch or two and repeat

Don’t try to get every single tender point. When you begin, you will be surprised at how many tender points there are.

Roll around on the tissue for about a minute to loosen the process. You will roll side to side for about a minute, the fascia, then hold for a couple of breaths on tender spots find a tender spot or two, sink in, breathe deeply, then to release the trigger points in the muscles. Step closer to move on. the wall for more pressure, and farther away from the wall As you get to the central area of one side of the chest, for less pressure. If you feel like you are bruising yourself, you will find you are going over what feels like a speed back off and use a softer ball. My motto is, “No pain ... no bump. This is pectoralis minor. As you find this typically pain!” tender muscle, carefully sink into the tenderness there, Don’t try to get every single tender point. When you breathe, then release. begin, you will be surprised at how many tender points Now turn your body so that the ball can work into there are. Just do a few in any given area so you’re not the front of the armpit, the intersection of the chest sore the next day. Remember to breathe deeply and keep and anterior shoulder. You can roll or pin and stretch; relaxing as much as possible. Be kind to your body. Err on sink into a spot and then do some arm movement while the side of too little pressure. pinning the spot under the ball. Following is a short practice to release the chest, shoulders, upper back, and wrist flexors and extensors to 2. Roll the upper arms. Using a smaller, firmer ball, help you care for yourself and keep you doing the work perhaps a tennis ball, begin to roll down the biceps and you love. triceps. Some spots will be very tender.

1. Roll the pectoralis major and minor. Releasing 3. Roll the forearms. To roll the wrist extensors, place the pecs should come first and is critical to releasing the your hand along the outer thigh and trap a small ball

M | Living in Balance

Stretching wrist flexors Stretching wrist extensors Shaking arms and hands

between your forearm and the wall, halfway between behind you and turn away from the wall, pressing your elbow and wrist. Lean in and bend your knees up and hand into the wall, and stretch the pecs. Do some shoulder down to roll the ball up and down. You will typically find shrugs and circle your arms as in the beginning of the very tender spots in the upper third of the forearm near practice. the elbow. Cross your right arm over the front of your body and To roll the wrist flexors, you can place your hand pull across to stretch the rhomboids and middle trapezius. behind your back and trap the ball between your arm and Face the wall and bring your palm to the wall at the wall. Then rock side to side for your rolling. Again you shoulder height, then slide your hand down the wall to will find most of the tender trigger points in the upper increase the stretch in the wrist flexors. Flip your hand third of the forearm closer to the elbow. Find, pause, sink, over and place the back of the hand to the wall, gliding breathe, release. the hand up the wall to increase the stretch in the wrist extensors. 4. Roll between the shoulder blades. With a tennis Shake out your hands and arms for a full minute. Take or similar ball, turn your back to the wall, then drop the some deep breaths. ball between the shoulder and the spine near the bottom corner of the shoulder blade. Bend and straighten your Be your best knees to glide the ball up and down. You are treating the Sometimes stretching a tight area can make it worse— trapezius, rhomboids, and even some erector muscle tissue. but just a little bit of targeted rolling and stretching each The middle trapezius will have tender spots on the central day will keep you feeling good so you can be the best line between the spine and the scapula. The rhomboids massage therapist possible. will hold their spots closer to the scapula. Be gentle in this area. It’s often stretched out long and tends to be very Cat Matlock, L.M.B.T., R.Y.T. (catmatlock.com), has been sensitive. a trigger-point therapist specializing in chronic pain since 1993. She instructs in anatomy and kinesiology, and offers 5. Roll the upper trapezius and levator scapulae. continuing education for massage therapists in trigger-point Roll the ball up to the lower attachment area of levator therapy and self-care with therapeutic rolling. She runs a scapulae. You will have to arch your body forward to angle yoga studio in Asheville, North Carolina, where she offers your body so that you can get into this area. Tilt your body group rolling classes. Check out her new YouTube channel slightly toward the side that you are rolling. Rock side to with rolling videos. M side, bend and straighten the knees, and roll the ball all around this upper area of the shoulder, above the shoulder Read “The Power of Therapeutic Rolling,” by blade. Work across the top and out toward the outer upper Cat Matlock, L.M.B.T., R.Y.T., at massagemag. corner of the scapula to get all along the top of the upper com/powerrolling. trapezius.

6. Stretch it out. Once you have done the rolling work, you will want to stretch. Place your hand on the wall

62 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com |

Integrating Therapies for Pain International Massage Therapy Research Conference SAVE THE DATE May 12–15, 2016 SEATTLE

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for more information: www.massagetherapyfoundation.org

Registration Opens in November | www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 63

M | Research Thai Massage Eases Spasticity of Cerebral Palsy One 30-minute session of Thai massage decreased muscle spasticity among young people with cerebral palsy, according to recent research.

he study, “Effects of Thai Massage on Spasticity from 0 to 4—0 being no increase in muscle tone and 4 T in Young People with Cerebral Palsy,” involved 17 indicating rigid flexion or extension. subjects ages 6 to 18 with a diagnosis of spastic diplegia, Prior to the massage, the median score of the subjects which is a common form of cerebral palsy that affects on the Modified Ashworth Scale was 1+, which translates the lower extremities. to “slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a Each subject in the study received 30 minutes of Thai catch, followed by minimal resistance throughout the massage on the lower back and both legs. According remainder (less than one half) of the range of movement.” to the researchers, the practitioner used gradually Following 30 minutes of Thai massage, the median increasing thumb pressure with no pain, applied to each score of the subjects on the Modified Ashworth Scale point along the Sen Sib. was 1, which translates to “slight increase in muscle “Sen Sib are imaginary lines along postural muscles tone, manifested by a catch and release or minimal of the body,” stated the study’s authors. “These muscles resistance at the end of the range of motion when the are proven to be tightened and exhibit myofascial pain affected part is moving in flexion or extension.” syndrome.” This change in scores represents a significant For each point along these lines, the practitioner improvement in spasticity among the subjects with applied thumb pressure until the subject reported a cerebral palsy after receiving Thai massage as compared “comfortable” feeling. Then, this pressure was held for to before the intervention. five to 10 seconds before moving on to the next point. After performing this protocol on the lower back and both legs twice, the Thai massage therapist “applied Authors: Pisamai Malila, Kantarakorn Seeda, Savet Machom, gentle passive stretching twice for the affected muscles Nutthakan Salangsing and Wichai Eungpinithpong. and joints.” The main outcome measure for this study was Sources: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of the spasticity of the right quadriceps femoris muscle, Associated Medical Sciences, and Research Center in which was evaluated by testing resistance to passive Back, Neck and Other Joint Pain and Human Performance, movement before and immediately after 30 minutes of Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Originally published in Thai massage. The researchers measured this resistance June 2015 in the Journal of the Medical Association of using the Modified Ashworth Scale, which ranges Thailand, 98, S92-96.

64 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Massage Decreases Cortisol Level of Coronary Patients A full-body massage lasting around 60 minutes and administered by a nurse resulted in significantly lower blood cortisol levels among patients in a coronary care unit, according to recent research.

he study, “Comparing the effect of whole body Authors: Mohsen Adib-Hajbaghery, Rahman T massage by a specialist nurse and patients’ relatives Rajabi-Beheshtabad and Abolfazi Ardjmand. on blood cortisol level in coronary patients,” involved 90 patients in a coronary care unit, with a mean age of Sources: Trauma Nursing Research Center and Physiology around 58. Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, These patients were randomly assigned to one of three Iran; and Department of Nursing, Dehdash Imam Khomeini groups: massage by nurse, massage by a relative or routine Hospital, Yasouj University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Origi- care control group. Those in both massage groups received nally published in March 2015 in ARYA Atherosclerosis, 11(2), one full-body massage that lasted approximately 60 126-132. M minutes. The massage intervention took place on the third day Visit massagemag.com/newresearch to read this the coronary patients were in the hospital. The researchers month’s online Research Exclusive, “Massage Eases report this day was chosen for the massage because the DOMS, Boosts Recovery in Bodybuilders.” acute phase of care had come to an end by day three. For the patients who were assigned massage from a relative, the selected relatives received two hours of training on how to perform the massage techniques according to specific guidelines. The main outcome measure for this study was the blood cortisol level of the patients. This was measured by taking a blood sample 30 minutes before the massage began and again 15 minutes after the massage ended. In the control group, two blood samples were taken at intervals similar to the massage group. Results of the research revealed that the median blood cortisol level in the group that received massage from a nurse was significantly lower after the massage as compared to before, dropping from around 282 nanomoles to 197 nanomoles. In the group that received massage from a relative, the median blood cortisol level dropped from around 304 nanomoles to about 211 nanomoles, but this decrease was not statistically significant. In the control group, the median blood cortisol level rose from around 265 nanomoles to about 297 nanomoles. “In general, the findings indicate that massage as an external stimulant may decrease cortisol level as a stress hormone,” concluded the study’s authors. “Then, it could be expected that this modality may be effective for decreasing patients’ anxiety.”

| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 65

M | Educational Resources and Development Improve Your Skills Build Your Business: At Home • Online • In Person

66 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com | ALLIANCE FOR MASSAGE THERAPY EDUCATION

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| www.massagemag.com | December 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 67

M | Conventions & Events

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?’ve taken so many fabulous courses orearm Massage by Shari Auth. ny class put on by L.M.T. Success I over the 16 years I’ve been a massage F This helped me not to rely so much A Group; amazing instructors and therapist, but the courses I have on my hands and fingers. information. benefited most from and use in my Michael Bittner, L.M.T. Stephanie Mitchell daily practice are CORE Institute’s facebook.com/massagemagazine Roanoke, Virginia Advanced Sports Massage with Bryan Buckley, and Orthopedic Massage with rauma Touch Therapy at the ranioSacral Therapy with Tad Whitney Lowe. T Colorado School of Healing Arts C Wanveer. Meaghan Maillet is the most amazing class I have taken. Meri Short Vienna, Virginia It has changed the way I practice at a Greensboro, North Carolina fundamental level. Helping my clients yofascial Release with John to calm their limbic system and be able he four most influential CE M Barnes, P.T. I’m amazed … how to truly sense their bodies allows them T classes I have taken are Sacred effective it is with my [clients]. There is to heal at a much deeper level both Lomi in Hawaii; Donna Jason and a knowing in years of experience that, physically and emotionally. Tom Cochran taught the class. Next is with a little new teaching, can open Cathy Lewis Michael Young’s Repetitive Use Injury whole new avenues of healing for the Denver, Colorado [Therapy]. The third one is Howard client. Rontal’s myofascial class. Finally, Alice VanderHorst ll of the classes I took for Judith Walker’s Neuromuscular Marshall, Michigan A oncology certification with Gayle Therapy classes. MacDonald. My favorite was the one Greg Hurd able Thai Yoga Massage by Heath for training in the hospital setting in Worcester, Massachusetts T and Nicole Reed. It’s amazing to Portland, Oregon, at Oregon Health learn a new technique with a twist to & Science University. [It was] career- omilomi with Gloria Coppola [was save your body mechanics. changing. L an] awesome five-day course. Ali Higgins Elizabeth Jenkins Tom Hurley Queen Creek, Arizona Richmond, Virginia Durham, North Carolina

assage and MediCupping is the ecrets of Deep Tissue Massage by nything with Judith Aston—I M best continuing education class. S Robert Haase. A credit her with saving my career. [I am] able to do so much with it and Rufino Zisumbo The assessment, specific fascial my clients absolutely love it! Spokane, Washington release, movement coaching and Carolyn Winbush ergonomics have kept me going strong Alpharetta, Georgia ranial Release Technique with for 17 more years than I thought I C William Doreste, D.C.—great had. Aston Kinetics can be used in o question: Pre- and Perinatal research behind it, many practitioners conjunction with any other technique. N Massage Therapy with Carole writing about successful changes in Michelle Wald, L.M.T. Osborne, a four-day course that changed clients, and you usually get instant Austin, Texas M my life and my practice, and inspired results you can see, and so can your me to become a CE teacher myself. clients. David Lobenstine Patricia Miller New York, New York West Palm Beach, Florida

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76 | MASSAGE Magazine | December 2015 | www.massagemag.com |