“Do no harm” is an oath that massage therapists (and other healthcare providers) take when they pursue their work in the healthcare field. It sounds simplistic. Obvious. To me, it means: Listening (without interrupting) Asking carefully chosen questions without placing assumptions on a person’s condition Admitting when I don’t know or don’t have an answer
Dear Community, I hope you are as well as you can be right now. The recent events of police brutality and white supremacy have been occupying my mind more than anything in the past two weeks. It is infuriating to witness, but I am doing my best to educate myself on my white privilege and
With the current healthcare crisis sweeping the globe, I feel it is important to address this issue from a couple of different perspectives. Firstly, if you’re just starting a cold, flu, or have a sore throat, skipping your massage appointment is the best thing you can do. Massage isn’t going to help you get better
Working with clients who have PTSD and experienced a traumatic event is an honor and a privilege. PTSD develops in people who have seen or experienced an event that is shocking, scary, or dangerous. These events may be from war, domestic violence or abuse, or other trauma. It’s what happens to their bodies when their
Last week I spoke in an interview with Caroline Ruderman about this type of massage. Deep tissue massage is appropriate for many different people with various health concerns. From chronic low back pain to an acute knee injury, to managing an autoimmune condition, massage can help alleviate pain while reducing stress. And from my own
I’ve had clients tell me that other massage therapists have commented on their bodies. Whether it’s a compliment or what sounds like a condescending remark makes no difference. Commenting on someone’s body without being prompted by the client is inappropriate. There are times when things come up, such as shifts or intentional movements made by
Does massage help release toxins from your body? No. Just no. I occasionally hear therapists make this claim with clients after a session. I think what they mean to say is, our bodies do an incredible job on their own releasing waste products. The major organs of the body, specifically the kidneys, liver, intestines, and
One of the main reasons I hear from people who want a massage but don’t receive bodywork often is because it is a luxury. It’s too expensive. Or, it should only be saved for a special occasion. I speak a lot about the importance of regular bodywork as part of a self-care routine. And I
“Can you feel the knots in my back?” It’s a question I am asked often during a massage session. Well, there is no such thing as a “knot” in your muscle tissue. It’s a little more complicated than that. There are trigger and tender points in the body that cause us to experience pain and
This word, or words such as “heal” or “healing” are thrown around in the wellness world. And I used them. All of the time. I considered and even prided myself as a healer. For others, and for myself. This year I reevaluated my definition of what healing means to me and my work. I realized
