September/October 2020
Technique
-
Overview of Muscle Pathologies
By Whitney LoweWhen a client presents with soft-tissue pain, muscle problems are usually one of the first issues massage therapists will suspect. But what is the actual pathology affecting those muscles? It is essential we understand what type of muscle problem may be at the root of our client's complaint.
-
Rethinking the Body's Stress Response
Touch therapy has proven to be an effective outlet for relieving frustration, aggression, and anxiety. Let's look at some studies and effective tools for touch therapy.
-
The Anatomical Machine
The body is, after all, a complex machine, which means we are technically mechanics. Let's take a look at what "machine" means in terms of human anatomy.
-
The Hand in the Brain
By Til LuchauYour hands are truly sense organs. Each hand has about 100,000 nerves, and each of its five fingertips has over 3,000 mechanoreceptive nerve endings, most of which are finely attuned to pressure. Let's look at more details of the nerves of the hands.
-
Tapping into the Wood Wide Web
By Cyndi DaleHow can a bit of tree knowledge assist your bodywork and help your clients? To explore these questions, I'm going to approach the topic energetically through physical and subtle energy.
-
Surfacing Hidden Suffering
As clients return to your table, the possibility of emotions rising to the surface as you come into contact with the neuromuscular and fascial structures that hold them is inevitable. How can you support your clients when these emotions arise?
-
Breathing, Positioning & Blood Clots
We need to be prepared for how to work with clients during circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. For those therapists who work with prenatal and postpartum clients, this is especially important.
-
Hydrotherapy in Your Practice
Cultures all over the world have used water for eons to soothe aches and pains, relax minds and bodies, and detoxify and rejuvenate. Today, bodyworkers continue to use hydrotherapy in new and creative ways. Let's dive in!
Critical Thinking and Essentials
-
Hamstring Stretches
Learn how to easily stretch your legs between sessions with these two options for hamstring stretch.
-
Where Do We Go from Here?
By now, you've put in place a pretty strong financial foundation for your massage practice. So, what's next?
-
Activate Your Center
We are living through one of the most significant periods of change in our lifetimes. The adage "the only constant is change" can't mitigate the widespread upheavals to our normal routines. Consider this fresh perspective derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
-
Back in the Game
"I can't believe how much better that feels!" A client says. For all of us massage therapists, hearing comments like this produces incredible satisfaction. And today, those words were even more powerful.
-
Avoid Making False Claims
By Laura AllenMaking false claims and inflated promises to clients about our work is unethical, sets the client up for unreasonable expectations, and can come back to haunt us. We'd all like to think we can help every client who comes through the door, but that simply isn't true. Promising a client you can "fix" their issues can backfire on you, in spite of your best intentions.
-
Masseter
By Christy CaelThe masseter is a thick, strong muscle and typically the most prominent muscle of the jaw. Here, we'll learn its parts, origin, insertion, and actions.
-
Where We Work is not Who We Are
By Cal CatesMassage therapy is an admittedly diverse discipline. So many techniques. So many perspectives. But it's also health care, and here's what I mean.
-
COVID-19 Related Complications
By Ruth WernerBecause the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus affects so many tissues in so many ways, and because its effects can be long-lasting, massage and bodywork clients who have had this infection may bring with them some health concerns that are relevant to our work with them.
-
The Customer is Always Right. . . But are They Really?
As massage therapists, our product may not be sofas or lamps or fancy lingerie, but we are selling a product. Every time a person comes into our clinic or practice or spa or gym, they are buying a product from us. Simply put, they are buying massage therapy. So while it may seem odd to see us arguing that massage therapists are salespeople, we are. Let's unpack why this is important.