tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1250480 2008-07-10T09:25:32-07:00 News and information about schools and continuing education. TypePad tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14185 2010-03-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-03-01T12:00:07-07:00

The 2010 World Massage Festival, "A Massage Reunion," will be held June 17 through June 21 at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. The World Massage Festival is a continuing-education event where massage professionals can register for up to 24 NCBTMB-approved continuing education hours of workshops.

By Editorial Staff The 2010 World Massage Festival, "A Massage Reunion," will be held June 17 through June 21 at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. The World Massage Festival is a continuing-education event where massage professionals can register for up to 24 NCBTMB-approved continuing education hours of workshops. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14157 2010-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Happy New Year! I have observed with fascination and wonder as our professional associations have willingly given away huge chunks of massage therapists' traditional scope of practice. Most professions have associations that hire lawyers and lobbyists to fight tooth and nail to expand their scope of practice. Not ours. We give up more and more every year. Look at the state massage laws passed by our associations in the last few years. We have given up traction, stretching, exercise and joint mobilization, and saddled ourselves with establishment licenses in some states. No other health care providers have to obtain establishment licenses. Why are we doing this to ourselves? At times, I've surmised it was just desperation to get some law, any law passed. That coupled with ignorance of the professional regulation "game."

By Ralph Stephens, BS, LMT, NCTMB Happy New Year! I have observed with fascination and wonder as our professional associations have willingly given away huge chunks of massage therapists' traditional scope of practice. Most professions have associations that hire lawyers and lobbyists to fight tooth and nail to expand their scope of practice. Not ours. We give up more and more every year. Look at the state massage laws passed by our associations in the last few years. We have given up traction, stretching, exercise and joint mobilization, and saddled ourselves with establishment licenses in some states. No other health care providers have to obtain establishment licenses. Why are we doing this to ourselves? At times, I've surmised it was just desperation to get some law, any law passed. That coupled with ignorance of the professional regulation "game." tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14134 2009-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

Last year, I authored a white paper entitled, "On Becoming a Profession: The Challenges and Choices that will Determine Our Future." This provided an overall analysis of how the field of massage therapy was organized, in relationship to the structure found in mature, or fully-formed professions. There were also policy recommendations directed to the leaders of the stakeholder organizations for foundational changes that would bring greater consistency and congruence to teaching, practice and regulation of massage therapy. In the 18 months that have elapsed since the publication of that paper, there has been a considerable amount of activity on the massage therapy landscape.

By Rick Rosen, MA, LMBT Last year, I authored a white paper entitled, "On Becoming a Profession: The Challenges and Choices that will Determine Our Future." This provided an overall analysis of how the field of massage therapy was organized, in relationship to the structure found in mature, or fully-formed professions. There were also policy recommendations directed to the leaders of the stakeholder organizations for foundational changes that would bring greater consistency and congruence to teaching, practice and regulation of massage therapy. In the 18 months that have elapsed since the publication of that paper, there has been a considerable amount of activity on the massage therapy landscape. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14135 2009-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in translational research.1,3-5 This research looks at ways in which the evidence that emerges from basic research in laboratory settings can become more clinically usable. In other words, how scientific evidence translates into what you and I do with our hands, assessments, treatments and re-education of patients towards better posture, breathing and ergonomics.

By Leon Chaitow, ND, DO In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in translational research.1,3-5 This research looks at ways in which the evidence that emerges from basic research in laboratory settings can become more clinically usable. In other words, how scientific evidence translates into what you and I do with our hands, assessments, treatments and re-education of patients towards better posture, breathing and ergonomics. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14142 2009-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

In oncology massage, we work with a diverse clientele, with wide-ranging clinical presentations. There are clients in survivorship, perhaps with lingering effects of cancer and cancer treatment in their bodies. There are clients in treatment, whose health can change from week to week, or hour to hour. There are clients at the end of life, whose body systems adapt gamely each day to shifting internal environments. And there are clients who are in the throes of diagnosis, in varying stages of health, navigating a barrage of information that we can only imagine, if we haven't been there ourselves.

By Tracy Walton, LMT, MS In oncology massage, we work with a diverse clientele, with wide-ranging clinical presentations. There are clients in survivorship, perhaps with lingering effects of cancer and cancer treatment in their bodies. There are clients in treatment, whose health can change from week to week, or hour to hour. There are clients at the end of life, whose body systems adapt gamely each day to shifting internal environments. And there are clients who are in the throes of diagnosis, in varying stages of health, navigating a barrage of information that we can only imagine, if we haven't been there ourselves. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14143 2009-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

Kudos to Dr. Janet Kahn, PhD, and the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) for their successful efforts to ensure that alternative practitioners have a place in the new national health care legislation. They managed to get an amendment into the Senate health care take-over bill that adds the language "licensed complementary and alternative medicine providers and integrated health care practitioners" to the definition of the health care workforce. This is huge.

By Ralph Stephens, BS, LMT, NCTMB Kudos to Dr. Janet Kahn, PhD, and the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) for their successful efforts to ensure that alternative practitioners have a place in the new national health care legislation. They managed to get an amendment into the Senate health care take-over bill that adds the language "licensed complementary and alternative medicine providers and integrated health care practitioners" to the definition of the health care workforce. This is huge. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14126 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

Join thousands of massage therapists in the largest event in the history of massage for a live conference without ever leaving your home. The World Massage Conference is a live, web-based massage conference that will be held November 12-17, 2009. Participants can log onto the conference at any time for presentations from more than 70 experts in the field either live or at their own convenience from recorded broadcasts. (For those who do not have access to a computer, audio will be available by phone.)

By Editorial Staff Join thousands of massage therapists in the largest event in the history of massage for a live conference without ever leaving your home. The World Massage Conference is a live, web-based massage conference that will be held November 12-17, 2009. Participants can log onto the conference at any time for presentations from more than 70 experts in the field either live or at their own convenience from recorded broadcasts. (For those who do not have access to a computer, audio will be available by phone.) tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14127 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

The 2009 American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) national convention held September 23-26 in Orlando welcomed more than 1,800 attendees and nearly 100 vendors, making it the largest annual AMTA convention ever.

By Editorial Staff The 2009 American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) national convention held September 23-26 in Orlando welcomed more than 1,800 attendees and nearly 100 vendors, making it the largest annual AMTA convention ever. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14128 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Council of Schools (COS) was terminated in September after a unanimous vote by the AMTA national board. After months of evaluation, the AMTA's Governance Committee recommended the association's board of directors (BOD) vote to remove sections of the bylaws that refer to the COS, effectively dissolving the COS as an AMTA organization. And on Sept. 22 at the AMTA BOD meeting, board members made a unanimous vote to end the 27-year relationship with the Council of Schools, effective Oct. 1, 2009. But while the relationship ends abruptly, mutual concerns over incompatibility between the two entities had been growing for some time.

By Christie Bondurant, Associate Editor The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Council of Schools (COS) was terminated in September after a unanimous vote by the AMTA national board. After months of evaluation, the AMTA's Governance Committee recommended the association's board of directors (BOD) vote to remove sections of the bylaws that refer to the COS, effectively dissolving the COS as an AMTA organization. And on Sept. 22 at the AMTA BOD meeting, board members made a unanimous vote to end the 27-year relationship with the Council of Schools, effective Oct. 1, 2009. But while the relationship ends abruptly, mutual concerns over incompatibility between the two entities had been growing for some time. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14131 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

Massage Today encourages letters to the editor to discuss matters relating to the publication’s content. Letters may be edited for space and clarity, and published in a future issue or online. Please send all correspondence by e-mail to editorial@massagetoday.com or regular mail to: Massage Today P.O. Box 4139 Huntington Beach, CA 92605

Massage Today encourages letters to the editor to discuss matters relating to the publication’s content. Letters may be edited for space and clarity, and published in a future issue or online. Please send all correspondence by e-mail to editorial@massagetoday.com or regular mail to: Massage Today P.O. Box 4139 Huntington Beach, CA 92605 tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14091 2009-10-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-10-01T12:00:07-07:00

Recently, I have had the opportunity to attend a couple of events off the beaten path from my usual trade show and convention stomping grounds. This year, I wanted to make a concerted effort to find out what is going on in some of the places I had not historically frequented. Most years, you can be sure I will be at the American Massage Therapy Association's national convention, as well as the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA) convention. These two powerhouse annual events are always informative, fun and full of friendly faces. Some I have known for years, and more that I have the privilege of meeting for the first time. I will most definitely be in attendance for these events in 2009, but this year, I thought I might branch out a bit more and see what is happening in other parts of the world as well.

By Angie Patrick Recently, I have had the opportunity to attend a couple of events off the beaten path from my usual trade show and convention stomping grounds. This year, I wanted to make a concerted effort to find out what is going on in some of the places I had not historically frequented. Most years, you can be sure I will be at the American Massage Therapy Association's national convention, as well as the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA) convention. These two powerhouse annual events are always informative, fun and full of friendly faces. Some I have known for years, and more that I have the privilege of meeting for the first time. I will most definitely be in attendance for these events in 2009, but this year, I thought I might branch out a bit more and see what is happening in other parts of the world as well. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14099 2009-10-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-10-01T12:00:07-07:00

I have been a massage therapist since 1992 and an educator since 2000. If you have read any of my articles, you know I teach the business curriculum at Swedish Institute in NYC but have also taught in Boston and in continuing-education settings around the country. My life is all about the business of massage and teaching students how to "work smarter, not harder." That being said, this profession requires hard work, especially at the beginning when trying to build a practice. Even after a practice is established, hard work is still needed to keep clients coming back and maintain a certain level of success.

By Jenn Sommermann, LCMT I have been a massage therapist since 1992 and an educator since 2000. If you have read any of my articles, you know I teach the business curriculum at Swedish Institute in NYC but have also taught in Boston and in continuing-education settings around the country. My life is all about the business of massage and teaching students how to "work smarter, not harder." That being said, this profession requires hard work, especially at the beginning when trying to build a practice. Even after a practice is established, hard work is still needed to keep clients coming back and maintain a certain level of success. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14107 2009-10-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-10-01T12:00:07-07:00

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Council of Schools (COS) has faced strong criticism from its own association this year. After months of evaluation, the association's Governance Committee recommended the AMTA board of directors vote to remove sections of the bylaws that refer to the COS, effectively dissolving the COS as an AMTA organization. And on Sept. 22 at the AMTA BOD meeting, board members made a unanimous vote to end the 27-year relationship with the Council of Schools, effective Oct. 1, 2009. While the relationship ends abruptly, mutual concerns over incompatibility between the two entities had been growing.

By Editorial Staff The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Council of Schools (COS) has faced strong criticism from its own association this year. After months of evaluation, the association's Governance Committee recommended the AMTA board of directors vote to remove sections of the bylaws that refer to the COS, effectively dissolving the COS as an AMTA organization. And on Sept. 22 at the AMTA BOD meeting, board members made a unanimous vote to end the 27-year relationship with the Council of Schools, effective Oct. 1, 2009. While the relationship ends abruptly, mutual concerns over incompatibility between the two entities had been growing.