March/April 2016

I receive a lot of emails about some of the issues that come with establishing a practice—whether in spa work or running a private practice. I want to pass on a few of these success stories.

The most common cause of plantar foot pain is plantar fasciitis, and pain on the underside of the foot that is aggravated with activity is often diagnosed as such. But a potential cause of plantar foot pain that can easily mimic symptoms of plantar fasciitis is compression of one of the foot's nerves.

Muscle spindles are proprioceptors distributed throughout skeletal muscle tissue that monitor changes in tissue length. A muscle spindle includes specialized skeletal muscle fibers called intrafusal fibers surrounded by a coil of sensory nerve endings.

A recent review tried to answer this question: “Is massage therapy effective for people with musculoskeletal disorders compared to any other treatment or no treatment?”

Whether we call them spirit guides, guardian angels, the deceased, or God, most professional schools of healing don’t talk about “invisible helpers.” Nevertheless, I invite you to step into a discussion on this subject.

At any given moment, most of us can relax our shoulders more than we realize. Why do our shoulders stay so tense?

Taking pause and noting the qualities you appreciate in clients is a valuable exercise because it’s likely these are the moments that warm you with the knowledge you are doing what you love, for those who value it most.

How strong is your practice’s foundation? Let's test how well you’re performing these core successful-practice essentials.

In my last column, I wrote about playfulness and my realization that playfulness is a feeling that can be brought to anything. And in thinking further, I realized in order to be more playful I need to be more disciplined.

It may not be comfortable, but identifying your limiting beliefs and learning how to flip them is one of the most crucial things you can do to increase your abundance.

Anxiety disorders affect roughly one in every eight adults in the United States. Anxiety and stress are closely related, but they are not the same thing.

Optimal positioning of the head, pelvis, and spinal cord enhances nerve impulses and reflexes traveling to and from the brain.

Does drained or burned out describe how you sometimes feel after a day of bodywork? In addition to practicing good body mechanics and posture, and self-care, also consider practicing earthing, or grounding your body to the earth.

If you’re an employee who works for a spa, clinic, or other massage therapy establishment, chances are you’re able to avoid the "what to wear" dilemma by wearing a uniform. But what about the rest of us?