September/October 2019
Technique
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Zero Balancing
In bodywork, some practitioners focus on physical structure and others focus on energy. Zero Balancing is unique in that it focuses on both simultaneously and consciously. At 90 years old, the founder of Zero Balancing, Fritz Smith, MD, is still teaching us all about it.
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CBD and Massage
Most massage therapists aren't even sure they can legally use CBD, even though plenty of spas and franchises are beginning to incorporate their use. Let's dive into the world of CBD use in massage.
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Why I Use CBD on my Clients
How can CBD and cannibis be used in massage? After research on the different products and processes involved in topical cannabis, I enlisted the help of my long-term clients to be my control group.
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Animals and CBD
With the popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) growing exponentially for human use, what do we need to know about CBD for animals?
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Set Wellness Goals
As practitioners, we're motivated to check in on injured clients and update their goals when doctor referrals or insurance reimbursements depend on it. Unfortunately, retaining these clients is difficult. Setting some wellness goals near the end of their care may help transition injury clients into clients for life.
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Stretching the Piriformis
The piriformis is functionally important as a lateral rotator at the hip joint and for its role in stabilizing the sacroiliac joint. It's important in so many ways...let's explore!
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Current Views on Lateral Epicondylitis
By Whitney LoweThis article will focus on lateral epicondylitis—one of the most common upper extremity overuse problems—but the same principles hold for medial epicondylitis, which is a similar condition affecting the wrist flexor muscles.
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Healing the Hip's Rotator Cuff
The femoroacetabular joint is one of the largest, strongest, and most flexible joints in the body. Let's learn the function of this joint and how to assess for hip pain.
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Massage and Performance Go Hand in Hand
By Cyndi DaleAs a subtle energy practitioner, I've been supporting athletes with my energy work for years. Let's look at how massage and performance can go hand in hand.
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Pain as Punishment
Doug Nelson reflects on our understanding of pain and how that understanding profoundly affects our experience.
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Sidelying
When is the last time you gave or received a massage that incorporated side-lying position? Let's explore it's many uses and benefits, and how to incorporate it into your practice.
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The Science of Yin and Yang
But there are some fundamental truths out there that go beyond science. Many massage therapists rely on that ancient wisdom to drop in and connect with a client.
Critical Thinking and Essentials
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Derry Petty
Derry Petty's career in massage was less a case of knowing what he wanted to do, and more of a case struggling to find the right program and entry into the career.
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Small Changes, Big Impact
I recently read a financial book, David Bach's The Latte Factor, cover to cover. Here's what I learned.
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When You Can't Catch Your Breath
By Ruth WernerCOPD typically begins with ongoing, long-term irritation to the bronchi and bronchioles. And with irritation comes inflammation. Read about how people can be affected by COPD, its symptoms, and treatment accommodations.
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Medial Pterygoid
By Christy CaelLearn how to palpate and stretch the medial pterygoid, a muscle located deep in the lateral jaw.
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Caregivers Benefit from Massage
Caregivers often prioritize the needs of those they care about, particularly when those loved ones are vulnerable. Let this column be a reminder and a helpful guide on how to help yourself first.
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Craniosacral Therapy, Concussions, and CBD
Ricky Williams is an explorer at heart. It's what prompted him to learn massage, craniosacral therapy, yoga, ayurveda, and meditation in his off seasons while playing football.
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Life in the Bones
It's easy to see our work through a tissue and fascia-focused lens. This realization led me to study (and later teach) zero balancing, a form of bodywork that focuses on the skeletal side of the musculoskeletal equation and emphasizes contacting energy as well as structure.
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Thinking About Integration and Completion
By Til LuchauThe word integration is very widely used in our field. But what does integration actually mean?
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Foot Fitness
What story do your feet tell? Here, we have put together a series of healing moves for the feet that rehab or prehab injuries and promote healthy movement.
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Let's Talk About Sex
By Laura AllenEthics education often focuses on clients who sexualize the massage session, but massage therapists are sometimes guilty of the same thing.
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The Art of Saying No
It's so easy to say yes to new opportunities. But saying no is an art, and doing it well will gain you respect and build a helpful sense of confidence.
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Can Craniosacral Therapy Offer Relief for Post-Concussion Symptoms?
After experiencing hands-on CST work in an NFL locker room in 2006, former NFL running back Ricky Williams quickly immersed himself in understanding craniosacral therapy (CST) and its benefits.