The Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® was founded in 1971 in Boulder, Colorado, and is the leading accredited and licensed occupational school in Rolfing® Structural Integration and movement.

We’re excited to announce that two of our PAC publications, Massage & Bodywork and ASCP Skin Deep, were named finalists for the 2019 Folio awards.

Harold Dull, the creator of Watsu, died peacefully in his sleep on July 31, 2019, at his home in Berkley, California. A simple Tibetan ceremony was held to honor Harold; additional plans include a memorial spreading of his ashes in 2020.

Scientists from Harvard University’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute recently published a study in which they claim a chemical found in cannabis has demonstrated “significant therapy potential” in treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Every few years ABMP undertakes a process to query state massage therapy boards in order to prepare a massage therapist population estimate. Our 2019 effort puts the number of massage therapists in the United States at approximately 334,219, a 1.6 percent growth rate from 2016’s estimate of 328,799.

The U.S. Department of Defense's Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) announced Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa as an employer partner to provide spouses of military veterans with a rewarding career in massage therapy.

The Zone Technique, developed by Peter Goldman, DC, and featured in the March/April 2015 issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine, is a system of bodywork based on the concept that aches, pains, diseases, and other discomforts in the body are the result of disturbances in one or more of six zones within the body.

The International SPA Association (ISPA) released its annual findings of the celebratory 20th anniversary edition of the ISPA US Spa Industry Study, marking nine years of steady growth while once again showing increases in all key financial indicators. 

“Mary” is female, in her 40s, has a master’s degree, and she and her spouse make more than $75,000 annually combined. Chances are Mary is a bodywork client. 

The International SPA Association (ISPA) is excited to announce the addition of the ISPA Talent Symposium and ISPA Resource Partner Summit, taking place April 14–15 at The Ritz-Carlton, Bacara in Santa Barbara, CA. This two-day event will be a first of its kind for the spa industry and focus solely on workforce issues.