Massage is for EveryBody Week

Celebrating Inclusivity and Diversity During July—and Every Month

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) invites you to join us July 16-22, 2023, to celebrate Massage is for EveryBody week. For more than two decades, ABMP has carved out space to specifically promote the importance of bodywork. To that end, last year we added the five guiding principles below, to help underscore our commitment to inclusion:

Guiding Principles

Because Massage is for EveryBody, we will:

  1. Serve as advocates for the powerful physical and emotional benefits of massage and bodywork.
  2. Support and advocate for efforts that bring massage and bodywork to underserved populations.
  3. Spread awareness of career options in the massage and bodywork profession.
  4. Honor the healing role practitioners play in our communities.
  5. Emphasize the importance of self-care, including receiving regular bodywork, for massage therapists and bodyworkers, and their clients.

 

$1,000 Awards Available

To honor and support massage therapists and bodyworkers, ABMP is giving away ten $1,000 awards to practitioners who live these values. Practitioners can submit a video link or written entry, and tell us how you support the Massage is for EveryBody guiding principles in your practice. Videos should be less than two minutes long; essays 300 words or less.   Read the 2022 winning essays here. 

Submit your story, and tell us how you support and celebrate Massage is for EveryBody!

 

How Can You Get Involved?

Participating in Massage is for EveryBody week doesn’t have to be complicated! There are many ways to partner in your community and share the benefits of massage and bodywork during this event, and simply posting the benefits of massage on social media throughout the week is a great way to advocate that massage is for every body

 

Reflect and Share

Use this week to reflect on the good work you do. How do you impact the lives of your clients with your hands-on work? How does your work make a difference in the world? What is the importance of massage in your own life? Then share this with your clients so they understand the passion and commitment you bring to the treatment room.

 

Share on Social Media

We will create content for you to share throughout the week of July 16–22. Watch our social media pages and simply share the posts to spread the word in your community.

 

Be Creative!

Take inspiration from other ABMP members who have created special ways to bring touch to their communities and plan your own unique promotion.

  • For every 60-minute massage booked [during Massage Week], 15 minutes were donated to someone in need. (Amy Groner, Ohio)
  • Every client [during Massage Week] received a 60-minute gift certificate to give to someone else who would benefit from a bodywork session. Advertising the promotion in advance filled her schedule! (Cath Cox, Colorado)
  • Ask others to nominate a person doing good work—a volunteer, advocate, tireless worker, friend, shoulder to cry on—to receive a free massage. (Megan Spence, New York)

 

Use These Massage Week Materials

Share our Massage Week video, use our content, post our podcasts, implement our brochures and images for your use—all Massage is for EveryBody marketing materials available to you here, for free! 

 

Volunteer or Offer Discounted Chair Massage

Think about the people, causes, or events that inspire you, and share your work. Here are some ideas to get started:

  • Animal shelter staff
  • Firefighters
  • Homeless shelter residents and staff
  • Hospice care staff
  • Hospital staff
  • Local community events (e.g., concerts, farmer’s markets, 5Ks)
  • Nursing home residents and staff
  • Police personnel
  • Teachers
  • Anyone or any cause that speaks to you

 

Donate or Raise Funds

  • Donate gift certificates or a percentage of your sales to local charities and other deserving individuals or organizations.
  • Put a special tip jar in your office to raise money for a local charity or organization.
  • Encourage clients to bring in canned goods to be donated to your local food bank.
  • Create a Pay it Forward campaign that clients can contribute to.

News

Texas Introduces Second Exam Option for Massage Therapy Applicants

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation announced that massage therapist applicants now have a second licensing testing method from which they can choose, the Texas Massage Therapists Examination. Learn about exam registration, cancellation policies, and location sites.

Florida Bill Requires Gender-Exclusive Restrooms

Florida lawmakers passed a bill that requires individuals to use, and certain public spaces to provide, restrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth. Find out how House Bill 1521, signed by Governor Ron De Santis, may affect your school.

Arizona Repeals Communication Proficiency Tests

The Arizona legislature adopted House Bill 2012, which eliminates the requirement for the State Board of Massage Therapy to establish communication proficiency requirements for applicants applying for a massage therapy license.

Blog

How Many Massage Therapists Are in the US?

Massage Therapists in US 2023

Based on the work conducted for our 2023 process, ABMP estimates the number of massage therapists in the United States at approximately 321,493, which is down from the height of 2019’s estimate of 334,221.

Join ABMP at the Premiere Orlando Show

ABMP at Premiere Orlando

ABMP is thrilled to partner with Ann and Lynn Teachworth of Trunamics to offer two CE courses in the massage therapy track at Premiere Orlando, June 3–5, 2023.

Benefits

Podcast: Exploring Plantar Foot Pain

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Kristin and Darren are joined by Whitney Lowe to discuss common causes of foot pain (including Morton’s Neuroma), muscle-tendon pathology, and some treatment options for each one.

Podcast: All Islands Meet Underwater

On this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Doug Nelson and Jennifer Crozier discuss why opening a massage therapy clinic is a viable career path and how community relations are the best marketing strategy.

Podcast: Knowing Expectations in the Work Environment

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Nate Nordstrom and Carrie Wiedemann from Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa join Kristin and Darren to discuss knowing your expectations in the work environment and how open communication during an interview can help set the tone during your tenure.

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