Being out of Synch – with Massage Therapy!

I sometimes wonder if those of us involved in massage and the art and science of high touch (rather than high tech) are a little out of synch with the times. Well I don’t wonder – I know I’m, at least a bit, out of synch. Then I remind myself of how a piano is…

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Massage Therapy Hall of Fame (and Self Horn-Tooting….awkward :)

Today I’m being inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame.  Thank you to Mike Hinkle, the World Massage Festival, and the world of massage therapy and bodywork for this recognition.  So many people spend their whole lives teaching and/or working with clients with virtually no appreciation outside of their immediate circle.  So thank you…

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Peace is a Need, So is Work! Massage Combines Peace and Work.

Seth Godin writes a fantastic blog.  Every day he comes up with brilliant tips on life and work.  Here’s his from today – “When is it due? Here’s the schedule. Follow it. There’s your in box. Empty it. When something is imminent, speed up. When you’re off the deadline machine, take a breath and poke…

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The Evolution of Slowness – Massage Helps Thoughtfulness

Deliberation is born of joy. — Rumi Andrew Taylor Still, Osteopath’s founder, said the body contains all the healing substances it needs.  And indeed humans have within their nervous systems equally the antidote to the social epidemic of excess stress. The autonomic system embodies the advantage of a speedy, whole body response to changing circumstance. …

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What are Energy and Structure? Clarity will Help our Massages!

As you may notice, over the last few weeks in this blog I’ve been focusing mostly on structure/energy, art/science and their integration in bodywork.  Bit-by-bit I want to assemble a position paper that helps brings clarity to these things and helps our field take a closer look at integrative healthcare.  Thanks for listening and your…

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Animal Massage

Animal massage has become quite popular of late.  Dogs, cats, horses…really, most animals can experience dramatic health benefits as a result of skilled touch.  This is largely human massage performed on animals other than humans. However, animal massage at its best, of course, is performed by these other animals. My cat, Sparky, simultaneously performs acupuncture…

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Energy in Bodywork & Massage Therapy

The broadest use of the term energy in bodywork has been applied to bodywork that consciously aims at more than just soft tissues.  The scientific method is empirical.  It looks at and works with what is there.  In the case of a human, what is there is a body, and certainly mind and emotions as…

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Stand By Me! – a song for massage therapy?

In 1962 Ben E. King recorded the song, “Stand By Me.” In this appeal – to whom? – his lover, God, his massage therapist? – he calls up the courage it really does take to stand up and live our lives each day. It is sad, terrifying, joyous, maddening, inspiring, and mundane to live our…

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Massage Therapy with Two Eyes

Energy work and structural work are two sides of the same coin. The most effective therapy arises from an approach that respects the unity of structural and energetic aspects of both therapist and the client. The various arguments for and against energy work, for and against insistence on evidence-based therapy, are certainly passionate. The best…

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3-D Massage – Disease, Disposition & Destiny

In my last blog piece, I outlined three realms of massage/bodywork – wellness, orthopedic, and holistic.  We can also look at three purposes for massage and bodywork.  These relate to the “3 D’s” – Disease, Disposition and Destiny. DISEASE People come to us with dis-ease.  It may be a physical disease – an injury or…

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