Every massage therapy student should have to read at least one textbook.

I was required to take a minimum of 750 hours of schooling to become a licensed massage therapist in the state of Arizona. Roughly translated, that’s nine months of school four full days a week. Most of the curricula focused on anatomy, pathology, practical application, and ethical considerations. In order to maintain my license,  I need to take 25 hours of continuing education classes every two years.

If I had still been living in San Francisco when I decided to get a license, I could have been granted a “General Practitioner Permit” with 100 hours of training, or an “Advanced Practitioner Permit” with 200 hours of training.  In other words, if I go back to California and prove that I meet those minimum requirements, I would basically be a   General+Advanced-Advanced-Advanced Practitioner.

Somehow, I don’t think I qualify to be considered a massage therapy superhero. I also don’t think that each California school hour is twice as educational as an Arizona school hour.

What’s even more confusing: California, like some other states, doesn’t have set of statewide regulations. Even worse is that some states do have a set of regulations, but they allow their cities to impose separate regulations that therapists must adhere to. If a massage therapist wants to move over to a neighboring city, she might have to change her policy or even take an extra exam. (Of course, if that therapist moves to a different state, she might have to take an extra 900 hours’ worth of classes.)

Certain cities’ regulations are downright offensive. While I was sitting in a Scottsdale, Arizona cadaver lab to learn the ins-and-outs of human anatomy, some California would-be massage therapists were submitting to STD tests in order to become certified. Massage licensing regulations are all over the place (or for some states, nonexistent.)

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) estimated in 2008 that there were between 265,000 and 300,000 massage therapists and massage therapy students in just the United States. The U.S. Department of Labor estimated that the massage therapy field would see a rapid 20 percent increase in employment from 2006-2016.

I think it’s laughable, yet also sad, that such a booming industry hasn’t yet found a way to establish a cohesive set of strict regulations. I don’t necessarily think that massage therapy should be formally standardized across the United States, but I do think that all states should establish their own regulations. I also think that all states should set similar standards.

It just doesn’t seem right to me that, while I provide injury treatments and while therapists in New York are working to obtain 1,000+ hours of training, massage therapists in some parts of the country are still called “masseuses” in the way that strippers are called “exotic dancers.”

Regulating massage therapy will:

1. Help ensure that all clients are safer because all therapists will have been background checked.
2. Ensure that all therapists have met a minimum set of educational requirements so that clients will be able trust who is treating them.
3. Set ethical standards and allow the law to apply appropriate punishments to those who break those standards.
4. Increase the amount of clinical studies performed in regard to massage therapy and encourage insurance companies to cover massage as a result of proven results.
5. Encourage massage therapists across the country to feel more united as a team.

It’s time to get the ball rolling.

If you’re interested in finding out more about regulations in your state or city, check out the following links:
Massage Therapy State Boards and Licensure
Massage Laws and Legislation in the United States and Canada

Legitimate massage therapy businesses shouldn't display this sign.

“You do massage therapy? Do you like being a masseuse?”

Well, I wouldn’t really know what it’s like to be a masseuse because I’m a licensed massage therapist (L.M.T.) in the state of Arizona. Unfortunately, that statement almost makes me sound like I add the fancy acronym to all of my magazine subscriptions as if I were a doctor. I’m not really that uptight, but I do have a legitimate reason to squirm away from the “masseuse” title.

The word “masseuse” originated in French to describe a female who gives massages and “masseur” describes a male who gives massages. “Masseuse” describes me, right?

Yes and no.

A licensed massage therapist can always be considered a masseuse/masseur but a masseuse/masseur isn’t always a licensed massage therapist. Now that massage therapy has started to become regulated in this country, most states won’t allow unlicensed individuals to charge for massage. People who aren’t licensed, certified, registered, etc. in their states do give massages on the sly, but they can’t profess that they meet state or city requirements.

Some masseuses/masseurs may be self-taught experts of anatomy and physiology. They may be better at my job than I am. (I suppose they can call themselves massage therapists as long as they don’t purport to be licensed.) Others just hand out business cards that say, “I’ll rub you the right way,” and, “Feeling knotty?” They will give you a back rub. Some masseuses/masseurs may work out of their homes, others may do outcalls, but many of them work at massage parlors, where the clientele expect a little more than a massage.

The terms “masseuse” and “masseur” were used on a regular basis in the United States for so long that it is still normal for anyone to use them interchangeably with “certified massage therapist,” “licensed massage therapist,” or “registered massage therapist.” But, as one who went through the 750 hours of schooling to obtain a license, I’d prefer not to be linked to a name which indicates that I may wear stilettos and a tube top on the job.

So, if someone ever calls me a masseuse, I don’t get huffy and say, “I can’t believe you just called me that!” I might, however, offer a gentle nudge in a more affirmative direction by nodding and saying, “Yes, I am a licensed massage therapist.”

Your abdomen is your friend.

The abdomen isn’t merely a container for most of the body’s internal organs; it is also contains emotions. Have you ever received terrible news and had the feeling that your heart has plummeted into the pit of your stomach? I have.

Some of us experience tension mostly as headaches while others of us deal with stomach problems connected with daily stress. Body stress actually begins in infancy. Many babies experience abdominal distress on a regular basis (often linked to colic,) and children get tummyaches when they are stressed out about school or friends. As we get older, we usually fall into one of two categories: headache people and stomachache people.

Sure, we might all get both every once in a while, but one type of discomfort is definitely prevalent. While I feel fortunate to be able to say I’ve never had a migraine headache, I can’t say the same about excruciating stomach pain. Most of my stomach troubles came at a time when I was being treated for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Not surprisingly, a study published in “Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics” found a direct association between GAD and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Emotions are indeed very physical. It’s the reason why getting a massage doesn’t just feel good physically, but also allows us to leave the table feeling like life is completely worthwhile. The best part is that, while massage does help reduce physical ailments, its benefits are multiplied because a healed mind contributes to a healed body.

I’m disappointed that massage therapists don’t spend much time working in the abdominal region. I currently have one client on whom I perform regular weekly abdominal massage, and the treatment is truly a mind-body experience for both of us.

If you get a lot of stomachaches, I encourage you to ask your massage therapist to focus on your abdomen for at least a few minutes every session. Because the abdomen can be so closely connected with emotional reservations, receiving a massage in that area can feel a little more intimate or even invasive in the beginning. Over time, however, you will get used to having someone else apply healing touch in that area, which I believe will allow you to release some of what is causing the discomfort.

I also encourage you try some basic abdominal massage techniques on yourself:

1. Lie flat on your back with a thick pillow just below your knees.

2. Rub your palms together until you feel heat radiating from your hands.

3. Let your hands rest side by side and palm-down just below your navel. Feel the steady rise and fall of your abdomen as you take slow, deep breaths. Focus on every breath, allowing your body to relax under the warm weight of your hands.

4. Using the full surface of both palms, massage your abdomen in clockwise circles to follow the natural digestive pathway in your colon. Start with small circles directly around the navel, gradually working your way out toward the edges of your torso. Let your hands work in a flowing motion by alternately stroking with one as you lift the other.

5. Let your massage last as long as your body is receptive to it, but try to work for at least 10 minutes to start with.

Tips:

• You can massage your abdomen through thin clothing, but working directly on your skin with a warming massage oil is a more effective way to induce physical and emotional relaxation.
• Check out this video if you want to see some advanced techniques.

Warning:

Abdominal massage is contraindicated for anyone:

• In the first trimester of pregnancy
• Actively undergoing chemotherapy
• Experiencing a flare-up of IBS or Crohn’s Disease
• Recently recovering from abdominal surgery
• With an abdominal aneurysm
• With cirrhosis of the liver
• With angina pectoris
• With an active infection or cancer in the abdominal region

Massage minutes go by faster than the rest.

If you’ve ever been to a spa or any other place where massage therapy is offered, you probably know that massage therapists provide treatments for assorted lengths of time. Three typical massage lengths are 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes.

The most common massage in a spa environment is a 60-minute massage. As a massage therapist at a chiropractic office, I’d say I give about an equal amount of 30-minute and 60-minute massages. I give occasional 90-minute massages and have only given a single two-hour massage.

Which should you choose? The one that’s best for you depends on what you expect to get out of your massage.

30-minute Massage

• What it is:A 30-minute massage is a great maintenance massage for one area of the body. (Most of my 30-minute clients enjoy my combination shoulder, low-back, neck, and scalp massage.) It can also offer you a quick breather in the midst of a stressful day. Another major “pro” of a 30-minute massage is that it’s usually pretty cheap.

• What it isn’t: 30 minutes isn’t the intended length of time for a full body massage; it simply isn’t enough time to adequately address all areas of the body. If I were to break down a general full body massage into 30 minutes, I wouldn’t have enough time to do extra work on any of the muscles after I warmed them up.

60-Minute Massage

• What it is: 60 minutes is enough time to fit in a relaxing full body massage. An hour gives me time to warm up muscles pay a little extra special attention to problem areas. A 60-minute massage will be more expensive than a 30-minute massage, but many massage therapist offices and spas won’t actually double the cost for double the time. Generally, you’ll get more massage for your buck if you choose a longer massage. (For example, if a chiropractic office charged $40 for 30 minutes, it might charge $65 for 60 minutes.)

• What it isn’t: Some clients don’t feel that 60 minutes is quite enough time for them to be on the table when they want a well-rounded treatment. As a therapist, I agree. I can give a full-body massage in 60 minutes but I still feel rushed. For example, sometimes I’ll have already worked on a person’s back for 20 minutes but then run across a problem area right before I go onto the next body part. I have no choice but to tell my client something like, “I can continue to work on this spot and not work on your arms and legs, or I can just continue on

90-minute+ Massage

• What it is: 90 minutes is blissful. It’s enough time for me to slow down, ignore the clock a bit, and listen closely to what a client’s body is telling me. It’s also enough time for me to try out new massage techniques. Some of my clients say, “Once you try a 90-minute massage, you will never want to go back to shorter ones.” A 90-minute massage is naturally more expensive than your other options, but it also is usually cheapest per minute. I couldn’t say whether you should get a 30-minute massage every two weeks or one 90-minute massage every six weeks; that really depends on how often your body needs maintenance.

• What it isn’t: A 90-minute massage isn’t for people who have trouble lying in one position for extended periods of time. It also isn’t a frequent treatment option for people who are on a tight budget. However, I urge you to try it once to decide whether it suits you.

Caution: After you get your first massage, you may be addicted for life.

Caution: After you get your first massage, you may be addicted for life.

So you’ve never gotten a massage.

Well, there has to be a first time for everything! Many clients come to me for their first massage, not exactly sure what to expect. They have an idea of what a professional massage should be like based upon some combination of what their friends tell them and what they see in the movies.

Trust your friends more than you trust the silver screen. I’ve got to say that movies provide an interesting depiction of massage therapy. While some representations are accurate, others are wildly different from the real experience. For example, most of my clients don’t look like supermodels. Secondly, not every client chooses to dress down to nothing. Finally—and most importantly—my massages are always purely platonic.

The truth is: the massage experience is different for everybody, but you should never feel uncomfortable when you are on the table. Every good massage therapist should know that and make sure that you feel at ease throughout the whole experience. However, I have to add that most massage therapists aren’t mind readers; you need to be able to feel comfortable asking questions and voicing your concerns whenever they come up.

Just to ease your mind a little in advance, I’ll lay out some common questions/concerns about a first massage and briefly respond to each.

1. I have a medical condition. Is it OK for me to get a massage? Many people with medical conditions find relief from their symptoms when they receive massage regularly. However, certain conditions are contraindicated. Some conditions, like rashes, may only be contraindicated locally (or directly on the site of the condition,) while others are more serious. Talk to your doctor before you get a massage. Once your doctor gives you the thumbs up, make sure your massage therapist knows about your condition.

2. When should I show up for my first massage? Most therapists prefer that regular clients show up at least 10 minutes early, but you should show up at least 20 minutes early for your first massage. You will need to fill out an intake form and have plenty of time to use the restroom, etc. Not all clients are aware that their massage time usually starts when they are left alone in the room to get on the table. If you show up early and are on the table by your slated start time, you generally will get a longer massage.

3. Do I have to take off all of my clothes? (Even my underwear?) You don’t have to take off all your clothes if you feel uncomfortable removing all of your clothes. In fact, some massage modalities don’t require you to take off any clothes. However, if you are experiencing low back or hip pain and you are going to receive anything like a Swedish or Deep Tissue massage, your therapist will be able to access more muscles if you remove all of your clothes. Know that even if you are fully unclothed, your therapist will only remove the sheet from one small area at a time as he or she works on it.

4. How often should I talk during the massage? Some massage clients find that they are able to unwind more if they get to know their therapist a little bit in advance. Others find talking completely unnecessary. Massage therapists are used to having talkers and non-talkers. However, your therapist should check in with you periodically to make sure you are comfortable and to inform you if/when you need to change your position on the table.

5. Is massage painful? It shouldn’t be painful for you. Your therapist will work to your pressure tolerance and ask you how you feel: don’t lie if you’re not enjoying the massage. The only person you’re hurting is yourself. If you’ve decided to get a massage in order to relieve some pain, you may experience some discomfort when your therapist does condition-specific work. Even then, your therapist should check in with you to make sure he or she is working within your threshold.

6. What happens if I accidentally get aroused? Sometimes things like that happen even when you don’t have sexual thoughts running through your head. All good therapists should know that and not think anything of it. However, if you begin to act based on any of those sensations (e.g. you touch your therapist or make insinuating comments,) your massage therapist reserves the right to—and very well should—end the massage right there and refuse to give you massages in the future.

7. What if I feel so relaxed that I end up falling asleep? Great! I encourage my clients to fall asleep. I especially find that clients who don’t get much sleep at home are able to fall quickly asleep during a massage. Most sleeping clients’ bodies are so relaxed that I am able to make more progress than I would be able to if they were tensing their muscles the whole time. Also, don’t worry about snoring. Therapists hear that all the time.

8. What should I do after my massage? Stay relaxed! Take deep breaths and be mindful of your body for the rest of the day. After the post-massage sleepy, trance-like state wears off, you should feel well-rested and maybe even have a heightened sense of clarity for the rest of the day. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water. Water is a great natural way to flush toxins (natural metabolic byproducts that come to the surface during a massage) out of your system. I once didn’t hydrate properly after I got a massage and I didn’t feel so great a few hours later.

9. Should I leave a tip? Just as you would tip a hairdresser or server, leave your therapist gratuity if you think she deserves one. Since I work in a chiropractic office where not all clients realize they’re even allowed to tip, I’m very grateful for any tips I receive. Be aware that therapists who work at spas only earn a small fraction (~20-30%) of what the massage cost, and therapists who work for other therapists or chiropractors typically only receive about 40% to half of what the massage cost.

Do you have any other questions? Send me a note on my contact page and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Give the gift of massage this season.

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect Christmas gift for your friends and relatives this year, may I make a recommendation? Get them a massage.

I know, I know. It’s a bit predictable for a licensed massage therapist with a massage therapy blog to recommend massage as a present, but who could possibly be better equipped to make a case for it? It would be a sin for me not to say something on its behalf.

Massage is easily transportable. You don’t have to assemble, ship, or wrap up a massage gift certificate. Simply put the certificate in an envelope or gift card holder and slide it into your mom’s stocking or send it to your cousin eight states away.

Massage can be for anyone. Even your dad, who says he already has everything, can enjoy a massage for Christmas. It certainly won’t be another gag gift to pile into his den. Even your great aunt could benefit from massage. If an older relative is wary about getting a massage for the first time, you can also buy a massage for yourself and offer to take her out for a spa day. Once she finally goes she’ll be hooked.

Massage is a great way to say thank-you. This year, skip out on the gift baskets or extra tips for your child’s teacher, the mailman, and your hairdresser. A massage gift certificate is more personal and it will go a long way for people who endure stressful days to make your life better.

Massage can also be a great group gift. Talk to your superiors at work to arrange (and pay) for a corporate massage therapist to come to your office. After your coworkers get a seated massage, they will go back to work feeling a little less stressed out—and a little more thankful for you—in the midst of the workplace holiday mayhem.

Massage can fit many budgets. You can opt to splurge on a 90-minute hot stone massage for your best friend or get a 30-minute pick-me-up for the members of your immediate family. I also mentioned in a previous post that many cheap massage deals are out there. If you want to buy in bulk, consider getting all of your family members (even your least favorite ones) certificates for a 10-minute chair massage at a massage station in your local mall. If you decide to hand out gift certificates before Christmas Day, you will give them a good excuse to take a little rejuvenating break from their holiday shopping.

Massage can be free. When I was a little kid, I used to give my mom the gift of “coupons” for things like free hugs and house vacuuming. It sounds a little silly, but if someone gave me a home-made coupon for an eight minute back massage, (example here) I definitely wouldn’t laugh or complain. Would you? I urge you to try it out if you’re strapped for cash. An added bonus: picking up the new skill could make you everyone’s favorite friend/relative in the very near future.

Massage therapy students are sometimes required to give out free chair massages.

Do you want a massage therapy license? Here are some steps you need to take to get one, whether the idea of becoming a massage therapist is just a passing thought or it is your lifelong passion.

1. Find massage therapy license regulations for the state you live in. If you live within the United States, massage therapy license requirements vary state-to-state. In some states (Arizona, for example) they have been regulated across the entire state. However, if you live in a state like California, massage therapy license requirements vary by city. Go here to find a list of requirements by state. To gather more up-to-date information on your state, use a search engine and enter a term such as “massage therapy license Texas” (or replace ‘Texas’ with the state you actually live in.) Sites created by your state government are the most accurate. Decide right now if you can truly commit to the hours, cost, and work necessary to complete a full program.

2. Visit a website  like this one to find nearby schools that will cater to your needs as a potential student massage therapist. You may also want to type “massage therapy schools” and the name of your city into your favorite search engine to make sure you’ve located all of your possible options. What you find will vary greatly depending on where you live. If you live in a more rural area, you will probably have to travel a bit to find the school you’re looking for. If you live in a bustling, modern metropolis such as Seattle or New York City, your main predicament will be sifting through all the available massage schools in order to find the one that suits you best.

3. Call the massage therapy school(s) you’re interested in attending to schedule an interview. Most schools will have an admissions counselor/specialist whose job it is to show you around the school and answer any questions you may have. Be aware that this person isn’t necessarily a massage therapist.  Her job is to recruit new students.

4. Ask a lot of questions at your interview, including:
-Is the school accredited?
-What types of classes will you take?
-What are the qualifications of its instructors?
-Does the school help students obtain their massage therapy licenses by providing the necessary paperwork, etc.?
-What kind of job placement assistance does the school offer?
-What is the school’s reputation?
-Do classes prepare students to take any massage therapy license-required state and/or national exams?
-What is the cost of tuition and who do you talk to regarding financial aid?

5. Choose a school and get ready to sweat. Because massage therapy is being looked at as a legitimate form of complementary and alternative health care, more and more rules are regulating it and making a massage therapy license more difficult to obtain. Expect to take in-depth anatomy courses and ethics classes. Also expect to give away a lot of free massages before you obtain your massage therapy license. Extra work is a good thing because it means that massage therapists are increasingly being respected as legitimate practitioners rather than as “masseuses” and “back rubbers”.

Insurance coverage is money in the bank.

In December 2008, the National Health Interview Survey showed that about 38 percent of American adults and around 12 percent of kids are treated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) of some sort. Kaiser says that at least 75 percent of adults have at least tried it. Some people receive treatments such as massage and acupuncture to complement their conventional medical care, while others rely solely on such therapies as alternative medicine .

Based on conversations I’ve had with my clients, I believe that a much larger percentage of the population would try—and regularly seek—alternative medical assistance and preventative care if insurance companies were willing to cover more of it.

The good news is that insurance companies are starting to see the light when it comes to covering CAM. Because consumers’ interest in CAM coverage has increased dramatically in recent years, insurance companies have started to offer coverage for treatments like chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture and sometimes even naturopathy and biofeedback.

You owe it to yourself to find out if your insurance plan covers massage therapy or other CAM treatments. At the risk of sounding like a Geico advertisement:  A few moments could save you lots of money on complementary and alternative medicine. Here’s how to do it…

Just look at the details of your insurance plan by scanning your insurer’s website, reading the handbook you were given, or calling a knowledgeable agent. If you find that a CAM treatment is covered, investigate what limits are in place. For example, find out if there is a cap on how many visits you can make to a chiropractor and decipher how much you can spend. Know that even if your plan doesn’t cover a treatment, it may offer a discount on certain CAM treatments.

If your insurer is riding with the times, congratulations! Here comes the tricky part. When it comes to actually getting things covered, you will need to:

1. Have a reason to go. Even if your insurance company does cover something, a caveat is that you probably won’t get it covered unless you have a legitimate medical reason to need treatment. Is your back giving you problems because you aggravated it at work? Could chiropractic care and massage therapy potentially prevent you from needing costly surgery in the future?
2. Find a doctor willing to refer you to an alternative practitioner. Your primary care physician may be willing to help you out.
3. Find an in-network provider that “counts” on paper. For example:  I, a massage therapist, can perform 30-minute massages covered and coded as “trigger point massage” under some insurance plans because I work for a chiropractor who works with many insurance-covered injury cases. However, if I were working for Massage Envy, chances are slim at this point (2009) that your insurance would cover a massage from me.
4. Run it all by your insurance provider before you jump on the table (massage, chiropractic, or otherwise.) Better safe than sorry.

If your insurer is still a bit behind the times, you aren’t necessarily doomed. Directly ask your insurer to give you reasons why a particular CAM treatment isn’t covered. A representative may mention something regarding lack of scientific evidence. Now’s your chance to shine: Visit this website and do some research of your own. You may be able to find sound evidence that a certain treatment is effective. If you do find that evidence, cite it and dispute a denied claim.

Even if your individual attempt doesn’t end up working in the short-term, your efforts will not have been in vain. When enough people bring complaints and supporting evidence to the table, insurers will begin to change their minds about what gets covered.

Take a stand and be part of a revolution!

From what I’ve read, Bob Hope got a massage every day of his professional life. The man lived to be over 100 years old! Wouldn’t it be great if we each had the money to hire a personal massage therapist? Maybe if that were the case the world would see less war. Maybe we’d hug out our problems the way our parents told us to when we got into fights with our siblings.

So the reality is that most of us don’t have money like Bob Hope and political leaders aren’t quite hugging out war-related issues. Yet another reality is that massage is now turning into less of a luxury and more of a necessity. More massage therapy options are giving people (such as struggling massage therapists and freelance writers) the chance to get a well-deserved, quality massage at a discount.

Here are four major ways to find a cheap massage no matter where you live:

1. Look Up Massage Therapy Schools – Just use a search engine to locate massage therapy schools in your city. Most massage therapy schools require their students to have a certain amount of hands-on hours at a student clinic. Massage therapy school websites will give you the information you need to determine the cost of a student massage. If the site itself does not give you this information, the school will definitely provide a phone number. Massage therapy schools often charge between $25 and $40 for a 50 to 60 minute long treatment. That’s less than a third of what you would pay for a massage at most spas. Schools are even cheaper than Massage Envy, plus you won’t have to worry about schools automatically taking money out of your bank account every month.

2. Visit a Chiropractor’s Office – If you can’t find a massage therapy school near where you live, visit Google once more to find local chiropractors. More and more, chiropractors are hiring massage therapists to provide an assortment of massage therapy modalities for patients. Chiropractors also generally charge much less than a spa would charge for a 50 to 60 minute massage. The office I currently work for has a sliding scale depending on the services a person chooses to receive from us, but our “Wellness Package” is very popular. With that package, $40 covers a single 53-55 minute massage or two 25-minute massages per month.

3. Find Cheap Seasonal Deals – This method will take a little bit of research on your part, but if you manage to snag a great deal you won’t regret the effort you put into it. When you look around at spas and hotels near you, you will find that, especially around special occasions like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, most places that offer massages will also offer cheap massage deals. A common discount is something along the lines of a “2-4-1 Romantic Getaway Massage”.

4. Travel Off-Season – If you’re only looking for a luxurious spa day at a discount, the best way to find a fancy cheap massage is to plan an off-season vacation to a place like Scottsdale, AZ where there are tons of luxurious day spas. In Scottsdale, this means: visit during the summer! It is sweltering hot between the months of May and September, and many spas have to offer cheap massage deals because most people don’t want to “vacation” in 112 degree weather. The weather really isn’t a big issue if you’re planning to spend most of your time getting pampered indoors anyway. Keep an open mind!

Tips/Warnings:

• When you visit a chiropractor’s office or massage therapy school for a cheap massage, don’t expect a bells-and-whistles treatment that involves aromatherapy, cucumber eye masks, chanting, and rain sticks. You may be able to find one, but if actually you do I’d like to hear about it.
• Avoid “cheap massage” places that are open until midnight. This also goes for “cheap massage” places where the therapists wear long fake nails and high heels.
• There is a chance that visiting a student clinic will mean that you get a less experienced therapist. This may occasionally mean that the quality of the massage is diminished, professional massage therapists also vary in quality. (Besides, you can simply opt to visit on a different day if you want to avoid getting the same therapist.) Let student therapists know if you have any health conditions so they can ask supervisors for assistance if necessary.

My About section already offers a little bit of insight about why I started this blog, but I don’t think that a formal overview entirely portrays who I am.

Who am I and what makes me a reliable guide?

Well, to fully cover the most significant aspects of my life I’d need to make myself a large cup of strongly caffeinated tea and have a few hundred extra hours on my hands. I don’t have a few hundred hours at my immediate disposal, but I do have a blog, an indefinite future, and a few spare hours here and there. I’m excited that, in time, I’ll have the chance to let my personality and some credibility shine through these virtual pages.

For now, let me make it clear that I don’t think of myself as a massage therapy guru of any sort. I’m still very new to the field, but massage therapy as it is currently known is also somewhat new. I’m proud to be a licensed massage therapist in a time when more and more research is being dedicated to understanding therapeutic massage therapy as a medicine in its own right. (Did you know that massage therapy is the most commonly used form of complementary and alternative medicine in U.S. hospitals?)

I’m excited and honored that you’ve chosen to join me as I also educate myself about the endless healing potential of human touch.