Massage Magazine has made the April 2010 issue available online — for free. It’s another great issue with features on pain relief.

Excerpt from “Trigger Points to Erase Pain” by Eric Stephenson:

The definition of a trigger point varies but usually indicates a is a taut band of tissue containing a nodule that refers sensation to other parts of the body- in other words, a painful muscle knot. There are many types of trigger points:

• Active: produces pain in an resting or moving stage
• Latent: produces pain uponi compression of tissue
• Key: has a pain referral pattern along a nerve pathway that activates a latent trigger point on the pathway or creates it
• Satellite: is created by a key trigger point

Download the entire issue for free here.

Massage & Bodywork, July/August 2010, The Body of Knowledge: What the MTBOK Is and Why You Should Care, Karen Osborn.

The final draft of the nation’s first Massage Therapy Book of Knowledge was unveiled on May 15 at the Highlighting Massage Therapy in Integrative Complementary Medical Research  Conference. This conference represented more than a year of debate and discussion over what the MTBOK  should, and could be. The result is a living document meant to define the profession’s “domain of essential information”, which includes the knowledge,  skills, and attitudes deemed necessary to pratice as an entry-level massage therapist. Creators of the MTBOK say its goal is to create a common language about massage therapy and its professional standards, both for those within the profession and those looking at us from outside the touch therapy world.

Full article here.

Charitable and Educational Events Benefit Communities

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) today announced dates for the 2010 EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, which promotes the benefits of massage to consumers. Massage therapists will hold events between Sunday, July 18, and Saturday, July 24, in communities nationwide. The award-winning promotion is open to both ABMP members and non-members to help build their businesses and visibility.

The use of massage therapy has boomed in the last two decades. Massage has proven health benefits, such as effectiveness in treating persistent back pain and arthritis pain, as well as strengthening the immune system. It also reduces symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and much more. Consumer research shows first-time massage therapy clients report very positive feelings about their experience.

More Info – click here

We would like to introduce you to the new Naropa interns who have joined us in the counseling center. All interns are working toward their masters degree and will be with us for one year.
Tammy Lea McKaskle: Tammy enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, camping and watching movies. She is well-travelled and is looking forward to meeting the students.
Molly Olk: Molly moved to Colorado from the Midwest to study counseling at Naropa. Molly loves Boulder and is looking forward to the opportunity to build meaningful counseling relationships with the students at BCMT.
Kelly Hill Ritchey: Kelly has been in Colorado since 2004 and enjoys kayaking and many other outdoor activities. She is the mother of three children and loves being a parent. Kelly is excited to be interning at BCMT and looks forward to meeting the students.
Wes Rosacker: Wes is one of four brothers who grew up in Florida, Connecticut and Colorado. Wes is passionate about cultivating wisdom and love, while maintaining his fiery spirit in competitive sports.
Kathy Naman, MALPC: Kathy is the counseling center supervisor and a 1982 graduate of Naropa with a masters in contemplative psychotherapy.

We encourage all BCMT students to take advantage of this excellent and very affordable ($5 per session) service.

Excerpt from Credit Cards (by Cherie Sohnen-Moe, futurelmt.com)

Offering your clients the option of paying with a credit card or debit card presents advantages and disadvantages. For many years, the typical massage therapist didn’t accept payment by credit card, but that is changing with the ease and low cost currently associated with a merchant account. In many instances, you don’t even need special equipment—you can process the transaction by phone or the Web.

A lot can be said for making it easy for your clients to pay you. I recommend accepting payment by credit card or debit card, particularly if you sell products or offer classes. In fact, marketing research shows that people are often are willing to spend more if they can pay with a credit card, and then there’s the impulse-buy factor. Advantages that come with accepting this form of payment are added convenience for your regular clients, increased appeal for your gift certificate program, more high-dollar product purchases and an increased likelihood of clients purchasing a package deal for a series of sessions.

Read entire article here.

Full article (by teesblog on July 7, 2010) here.

The Massage for Peace program by the Boulder College of Massage Therapy literally touches hundreds of people each year.

The non-profit massage school helps student share their healing hands with those living with illness, in poverty, and through war and conflict. Each year they offer 10,000 hours of massage free of charge to those who need it most.

As one alumna for the College, Becky Little explains Massage for Peace is “the simple act of reaching out and touching someone. Extending the love, care, and respect that comes from nurturing touch to another human being is a gift that enriches life. The gentle touch of a hand or a reassuring hug reduces fear, anxiety, and loneliness often felt in times of unrest and despair.”

So what does it take to succeed at winning scholarships? It takes work, persistence, and careful planning. We recommend you apply for scholarships throughout your education at BCMT, and we’ll show you how. Here are some tips to get you started on your path to success:
Tip #1: Apply only if you are eligible.
Read all the scholarship requirements and directions carefully to make sure you’re eligible before you send in your application.
Tip #2: Complete the application in full.
If a question doesn’t apply, note that on the application. Don’t just leave a blank. Supply all additional supporting material, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation and essays.
Tip #3: Follow directions.
Provide everything that’s required, but don’t supply things that aren’t requested—you could be disqualified.
Tip #4: Neatness counts.
Always type your application, or if you must print, do so neatly and legibly. Make a couple of photocopies of all the forms before you fill them out. Use the copies as working drafts as you develop your application packet.
Tip #5: Write an essay that makes a strong impression.
The key to writing a strong essay is to be personal and specific. Include concrete details to make your experience come alive: The who, what, where, and when of your topic is important. The simplest experience can be monumental if you present honestly how you were affected by it.
Tip #6: Watch all deadlines.
To help keep yourself on track, impose your own deadline that is at least two weeks prior to the official deadline. Use the buffer time to make sure everything is ready on time.
Tip #7: Make sure your application gets where it needs to go.
Put your name on all pages of the application. Pieces of your application may get lost unless they are clearly identified.
Tip #8: Keep a back-up file in case.
Before sending the application, make a copy of the entire packet. If your application goes astray, you’ll be able to reproduce it quickly.
Tip #9: Give it a final “once-over.”
Proofread the entire application carefully. Be on the lookout for misspelled words or grammatical errors. Ask a friend, teacher or parent to proofread it as well.
Tip #10: Ask for help.
If you have problems with the application, don’t hesitate to call the funding organization.

Have you ever been in pain, received bodywork and still not felt the relief that you know is possible?  Most likely, you are experiencing a restriction in the body that may have originated in the organs, nerves or vascular system that you perceive through the muscles.  Often when clients share about pain, they are attempting to restore a relationship in the body that has been lost.

In addressing pain and loss of motion, the massage therapist uses skills and tools to remind the body of its structure by realigning muscle fibers in relation to their bony attachments.  However, when the pain has originated elsewhere and function is lost, addressing the viscera through its relationship to the muscular body is imperative.  Learning to increase the sensitivity of your touch, and allowing your anatomical knowledge to guide your imagery of the viscera is what you will experience in “Structural Bodywork: The Viscera”.

Webster’s defines structure as  n. a system or organization made up of interrelated parts functioning as an orderly whole, vt. to organize or arrange something so that it works as a cohesive whole.

Through receiving bodywork from a Rolfer, I have experienced the multi-dimensional being of the body, its foundation and function.  After 10 years of years of professional experience and study, I discovered there was an organization to the body I could work with to promote balance and overall alignment.  Including the organs in my treatment seemed to release and resolve deep restrictions and free up the body.  Decreasing pain and restoring movement in relationship to the rest of the body enables holistic healing and allows for the client to experience the physical relief they were seeking.

Learning to understand and perceive these relationships can guide sessions to be more affective and specific. Working with the organs requires a different quality of touch than the muscular body.  Gentle, specific and responsive hands-on palpation that is grounded in anatomy guides visceral manipulation.  As with the muscles, when normal motion is restored, the body functions optimally. In relation to the organs, this can mean an experience of clear digestion, improved elimination, increased energy levels, or decreased pain in an area.

If structural bodywork, illuminating the viscera is something that piques your curiosity, then honor your interest and I’ll see you July 24^th & 25^th! To contact Continuing Education Office at BCMT: 303-530-2100 or continuinged@bcmt.org

I love to read.  I read a ton: novels, nonfiction, the morning newspaper with my coffee and muffin. But I can honestly say I have never, ever cracked a Harlequin romance. Don’t get me wrong. I am a romantic, but I find the covers kind of cheesy. At least I did until my friend, Sean, was hit up to model for a cover.  He’s still weighing the offer, but I can tell you he fits the bill. (See sample cover above – looks a lot like Sean.)

Anyway, Sean may or may not embrace a modeling career, but he is a shoe-in for a career in massage therapy . Yes, he’s got strong arms, but that’s not really what makes a great therapist.  Sean is a great hugger, a touchy-feely person, and he really, really, loves to help people and animals.  And he’s superfit, kind of scary fit. You know the type: kettle ball, bike rides straight up a canyon, protein shakes.  You’ll think I’m making this up, but Sean is also a tiger tamer – handler is probably the correct term. He has volunteered at a rescue in Colorado for years, and has a giant scar on his arm from a “love bite” to prove it.

So I convinced Sean to take a two-day basic Swedish massage class,  that’s offered several times at year at BCMT, to see if massage really did appeal to him. We took the class together, and I can honestly say Sean’s got massage chops. His touch is confident, firm (a bit too firm on my calves, but I felt great later), and he holds a very caring, calm space.

So how does this romance story end: did Sean fall in love with massage therapy? Yes and no. He’s still exploring career options, maybe even pursuing a nursing degree. I really hope he chooses massage. He’d love it, and he would be such a great asset to the community. The most important thing is he’s determined to keep doing work that he’s passionate about. Thinking massage might be a passion for you? The next intro class is July 17-18. And if you take it with a friend–tiger tamer or not–you’ll also get a nice discount.

Article source: newsweek.com. Original article published September 2008.

We know a massage feels good, but it can have a host of therapeutic advantages, too.

The newest cure-all may be an ancient one: simple touch. The Chinese have been using massage for all kinds of medical conditions for centuries. Now, Western research is confirming that massage isn’t just for muscle pain. One of the most surprising findings: massage may help premature babies gain weight. When Tiffany Field, a professor of pediatrics, became a new mother, she massaged her premature infant daughter and was so impressed with the results she later founded the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Massage, it turns out, may boost immunity and help people with a range of conditions from premenstrual syndrome to high blood pressure. It also seems to help soothe pain from arthritis, burns and even surgery. Here are five surprising facts about massage from the research findings at TRI and elsewhere that you can put to use:

1. Pick Your Spot: You don’t have to massage the part of the body that hurts most. If you’re shy about letting a friend touch your aching lower back, for instance, she could help by massaging your shoulders instead. This is because massage creates chemical changes that reduce pain and stress throughout the body. One way it does this is by reducing a brain chemical called substance P that is related to pain. In a TRI study, for example, individuals with a form of muscle pain called fibromyalgia showed less substance P in their saliva (and they reported reduced pain) after a month of twice-weekly massages.

2. De-Stress, Stay Healthy. Massage may boost immunity. Several studies have measured the stress hormone called cortisol in subjects’ saliva before and after massage sessions, and found dramatic decreases. Cortisol, which is produced when you are stressed, kills cells important for immunity, so when massage reduces your stress levels and hence the cortisol in your body, it may help you avoid getting a cold or another illness while under stress.

3. Blood Pressure Benefits: Massage reduces hypertension, suggests a good deal of research. This may be because it stimulates pressure receptors that prompt action from the vagus nerve, one of the nerves that emerges from the brain. The vagus nerve regulates blood pressure, as well as other functions. In a 2005 study at the University of South Florida, hypertension patients who received 10 massages of 10 minutes each over three weeks showed significant improvements in blood pressure compared to a control group who simply rested in the same environment without any massage.

4. Technique Tactics: There’s little evidence to support one kind of massage over another, says Field, so don’t worry about whether your therapist is schooled in Shiatsu, Swedish or some other technique. The key is pressure firm enough to make a temporary indentation in the skin. If you try massage with a partner, use massage oil, which you can find in a health-food store or pharmacist, but test a little on your skin first to make sure you are not allergic.

5. Self Help. You can massage yourself. Although you don’t have to massage the part of the body that hurts to relieve pain, targeting that area does tend to help more. One example is massaging the arms. If you’re in danger of developing inflamed nerves in your hands or arms from repetitive movements (like typing on a keyboard, or even gripping a steering wheel for hours at a time) try massaging your arms for 15 minutes a day. Stroke from the wrist to the elbow and back down on both sides of the forehand