The footpath from the subway to my university led up the Boston Commons through the State House and down to the other side of Beacon Hill. I took the path often, going to the right side cut-through of the State House to avoid the somber figure sitting on a stone bench in front of the … Continue reading The Path to Progress
Chair massage is a great way to deliver massage services – and it offers independence for many therapists who don’t want to be limited to table services. This new era of chair massage is a big step forward. When it started more than 25 years ago, chair was seen by some traditional massage therapists as … Continue reading Touching the Masses
When a massage therapist has been working for a while, it can seem as if some body parts are talking during the session. Well, not verbally, of course, but spinning a yarn, letting it hang, somehow bringing their troubles up on the table. Hey, we touch folks know verbiage and the written word are not … Continue reading If This Bicep Could Sing….
Massage therapists may think they are immune to injury, even though many of us came to do massage after recovering from injury. We’re helping people, after all, so that should be a win-win. We win, the clients win, all is right. Oh, and then that little thumb screams tingle-tingle in the middle of the night. … Continue reading Thumb Scrum
When will this get better? When will my pain be gone? When can I do what I want to do – when I want to? Tough questions for us massage therapists to handle. Truth, we don’t usually know. Massage does marvelous things for the mind, body and soul – but what it does is often … Continue reading Offering Reassurance and Hope to Your Clients
Effleurage & the Flaming Snowplow Most massage therapists make a habit of getting massages, as do I. A good massage is always appreciated, but at times it is hard not to be a “back-seat” massage therapist. Recently I was looking forward to some relief for a strained deltoid when the effleurage began on my … Continue reading Effleurage & the Flaming Snowplow
Well, it wasn’t the most pleasant story I saw on TV news last night: A report about multiple incidents of women receiving massages from male therapists and complaining of sexual touch. It’s tough to talk about what’s an ugly truth in the massage therapy field. Some people in our field may not be doing massages … Continue reading The Bottom Line
A regular table massage client loves to two-time this massage therapist every chance she gets. I do not mind at all. My client has fibromyalgia, travels frequently and loves to get chair massages. The service she uses most often is at an airport near her employer’s national headquarters. She looks forward, especially on a day-hopper … Continue reading Seated and Ready
We massage therapists see a lot of people seeking relief. If it isn’t the upper back and neck, it is the lower back and legs. I’m a fan of giving people something they can do, on their own, to loosen up. Most people go from doing a lot of movement in their salad days to … Continue reading Playground Moves
We had a wonderful time picking out decorations for my mother-in-law’s 90th birthday party. Pink table-covers, birthday lawn signs, a banner and bubble-making bottles, clean fun for all of us youngin’s. We’ll also be running around next weekend picking up a vanilla cake with white and pink frosting, tamales, sandwiches and the “Happy 90th” balloon. … Continue reading History at Your Hands