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The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A massage therapist notices that more clients are reporting their use of topical hormone medications. Somehow, this never came up in massage school. Is the massage therapist at risk for being dosed? It's possible, but it's nuanced. Listen for more information! Resources: Commissioner, O. of the (2021) Investigation of skin-to-skin transfer risks of topically applied transdermal hormonal drugs, FDA. FDA. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/science-research/fda-stem-outreach-education-and-engagement/investigation-skin-skin-transfer-risks-topically-applied-transdermal-hormonal-drugs (Accessed: June 3, 2026). Could Testosterone Gel Exposure Pose Risk to Close Contacts? (2025) Medscape. Available at: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/could-accidental-exposure-testosterone-gel-risk-your-close-2025a1000qpg (Accessed: June 3, 2026). Estradiol Gel: Uses & Side Effects (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20075-estradiol-topical-gel (Accessed: June 4, 2026). Hariri, L. and Rehman, A. (2026) "Estradiol," StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549797/ (Accessed: June 4, 2026). Khan, S. and Sharman, T. (2026) "Transdermal Medications," StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556035/ (Accessed: June 3, 2026). Medication Patches and Implications for Massage Therapy | ABMP (no date). Available at: https://www.abmp.com/Massage-and-Bodywork-Magazine/Issues/julyaugust-2024/medication-patches-and-implications-massage-therapy (Accessed: June 3, 2026). Should I be worried about secondary transfer risk with testosterone gels? (no date). Available at: https://www.trted.org/articles/should-i-be-worried-about-secondary-transfer-of-my-testosterone-gel (Accessed: June 4, 2026). Sjöström, K. et al. (2022) "A review of adverse events in animals and children after secondary exposure to transdermal hormone‐containing medicinal products," Veterinary Record Open, 9(1), p. e48. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.48. Types of Estrogen Hormone Therapy (no date). Available at: https://www.webmd.com/menopause/which-type-of-estrogen-hormone-therapy-is-right-for-you (Accessed: June 4, 2026). Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Save your hands for the smaller structures and start getting your clients underfoot! At the Center for Barefoot Massage, we teach you how to enhance your pressure using gravity and physics and help your clients recover from persistent pain through nerd-level anatomical attention to detail—we just happen to use our feet to do it all! From the slow, down-regulating glides of our FasciAshi Fundamentals strokes to the proprioceptive "pattern-interrupts" of our Barefoot Matwork techniques and the resisted movements from our Stretch Therapy class, we offer a complete suite of evidence-based tools for deep, myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage—we nicknamed our approach "FasciAshi." Worried about your body size in relation to your clients? Our innovation—the suspended Ashi-strap—allows a more diverse population of massage therapists to regulate and vector their weight and pressure distribution with clinical precision, making deep work effortless on a variety of client bodies. At the Center for Barefoot Massage, we believe the future of massage is afoot! Find when and where our CE classes are happening next at centerforbarefootmassage.com.
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia shares a simple referral strategy she discovered that helped fill her schedule quickly. Easy to implement and highly effective, this approach shows how your existing clients can become your best source of new bookings, without adding more complexity to your marketing efforts. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Resources: Fast Five It's on sale now. Usually, USD $347 but right now $167 for 50% off this mini-course. You'll also receive 4 CE credits with NCBTMB in the US. You can find it at:https://go.healthleaderco.com/fastfive Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center Sponsor Save time and reduce stress with MassageBook. It's not just software—it's a comprehensive solution that handles online scheduling, payment processing, and marketing campaigns, making it easier for you to provide your clients with top-notch care. Enjoy free, unlimited access for 30 days and save on your monthly subscription with your exclusive ABMP member discount. Special Offer: Right now, MassageBook is offering listeners $50 off when they sign up with coupon code ABMP50. Start your free 30-day trial today and transform your practice with tools designed to increase bookings and streamline client management. Connect with MassageBook: Visit their website: MassageBook Follow MassageBook on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Meet the Researchers! Rachelle and Nicole launch a new series of conversations with fascia researchers from around the globe. Our first guest is Caterina Fede from the University of Padua, Italy. Caterina's work focuses on the microanatomy of fascia — the cells, gels, and fibers that determine what fascia is made of and how it's organized. In this conversation, she walks us through the layered architecture that connects the skin to muscle and explains how superficial fascia differs structurally and functionally from deep fascia. If you've ever thought of fat as just the layer you pass through to get somewhere deeper, this conversation might leave you with a whole new perspective. Resources: LAB COURSE: Journey into the MATRIX www.anatomyscapes.com/MATRIX for more information about "Journey Into the MATRIX: the Fascial System" dissection lab workshop. LAB COURSE: Dissection Lab Intensive https://www.anatomyscapes.com/DLI for more information about the "Dissection Lab Intensive" lab workshop. Check out the Anatomy for Touch column in the Massage & Bodywork magazine at https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/anatomy Find out more about AnatomySCAPES! Connect with us! Website: anatomyscapes.com FB: facebook.com/AnatomySCAPES IG: instagram.com/anatomyscapes YouTube: youtube.com/@anatomyscapes Email: info@anatomyscapes.com Host: AnatomySCAPES Co-Directors, Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley, are NCBTMB-approved continuing education providers and teach anatomy explorations for hands-on professionals online and in person. They co-author the "Anatomy for Touch" column in Massage & Bodywork magazine and enjoy helping therapists better understand how anatomy relates to what they are feeling through their sense of touch. Nicole Trombley: As a massage educator, Nicole draws on her passion for human biology to help therapists better understand the tissues under their hands. She owns and operates Equilibrio Massage in San Diego, CA, where she has specialized in massage for pregnancy and postpartum since 2004. Rachelle Clauson: Rachelle loves teaching therapists about the structural organization and beauty of the human fascial system. She served as the Director of Creative and Administrative Affairs for the Fascial Net Plastination Project, and owns Flourish Bodywork, her private practice where she has offered hands-on bodywork in San Diego, CA, since 2003. About Our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry. www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs www.heightswellnessretreats.com https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/ https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
With more than 3 billion monthly active users and 500 million people engaging with Stories every day, Facebook remains one of the most powerful marketing tools available for massage therapists and wellness professionals. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia Crook breaks down how to use Facebook strategically to promote your business, connect with clients, and stay visible in a crowded online space. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Resources: Fast Five It's on sale now. Usually, USD $347 but right now $167 for 50% off this mini-course. You'll also receive 4 CE credits with NCBTMB in the US. You can find it at:https://go.healthleaderco.com/fastfive Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center Sponsor: Save time and reduce stress with MassageBook. It's not just software—it's a comprehensive solution that handles online scheduling, payment processing, and marketing campaigns, making it easier for you to provide your clients with top-notch care. Enjoy free, unlimited access for 30 days and save on your monthly subscription with your exclusive ABMP member discount. Special Offer: Right now, MassageBook is offering listeners $50 off when they sign up with coupon code ABMP50. Start your free 30-day trial today and transform your practice with tools designed to increase bookings and streamline client management. Connect with MassageBook: Visit their website: MassageBook Follow MassageBook on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
After years of misdiagnoses, medication sensitivities, injuries, and setbacks, a massage therapist is diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition that causes non-typical seizures and intermittent paralysis-like weakness. Despite being unable to work, she continues advocating for the FND community and wants to help educate massage therapists about the benefits of safe, informed touch for people living with the condition. In this episode of IHACW. . ., Ruth explores Sarah's journey, the realities of FND, and the role massage therapy may play in supporting those navigating complex neurological challenges. Resources: Functional Neurologic Disorder | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (no date a). Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/functional-neurologic-disorder (Accessed: May 8, 2026). Functional Neurologic Disorder | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (no date b). Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/functional-neurologic-disorder (Accessed: April 28, 2026). Functional Neurological Disorder (Conversion Disorder) (no date). Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17975-conversion-disorder (Accessed: April 28, 2026). Functional Neurological Disorder, Reframed | Harvard Medicine Magazine (no date). Available at: https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/functional-neurological-disorder-reframed (Accessed: May 8, 2026). Ranford, J. et al. (2020) "Sensory Processing Difficulties in Functional Neurological Disorder: A Possible Predisposing Vulnerability?," Psychosomatics, 61(4), pp. 343–352. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psym.2020.02.003. "What Is FND" (no date) FND Hope International. Available at: https://fndhope.org/fnd-guide/ (Accessed: April 28, 2026). What Is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)? (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17975-conversion-disorder (Accessed: May 8, 2026). Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry. www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs www.heightswellnessretreats.com https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/ https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Making the leap into full-time massage practice can feel exciting and intimidating, but it doesn't have to be a blind jump. When you understand where you are in your journey, focus on the right priorities, and build step by step, creating a sustainable practice becomes far more achievable. Elicia explains how the right mindset, consistent marketing, and a solid system can help build a business that supports not only your finances, but the way you want to live and work. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Resources: Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ **Free 50 min Class** The 3 Ways Scars Cause pain and restriction in the bodyhttps://go.healthleaderco.com/3ways-scars "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center Sponsor: Save time and reduce stress with MassageBook. It's not just software—it's a comprehensive solution that handles online scheduling, payment processing, and marketing campaigns, making it easier for you to provide your clients with top-notch care. Enjoy free, unlimited access for 30 days and save on your monthly subscription with your exclusive ABMP member discount. Special Offer: Right now, MassageBook is offering listeners $50 off when they sign up with coupon code ABMP50. Start your free 30-day trial today and transform your practice with tools designed to increase bookings and streamline client management. Connect with MassageBook: Visit their website: MassageBook Follow MassageBook on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In second episode of a two-part series of Fully Booked, Elicia walks us through a simple step-by-step approach when raising prices, how to communicate changes confidently, and how to keep attracting the right clients as your massage business grows. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Author links: Join us at the ABMP CE Summit! Tuesday, May 12, 2016. This online event—including 3 hours of CE—is FREE for everyone in the profession. Register here! Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ **Free 50 min Class** The 3 Ways Scars Cause pain and restriction in the bodyhttps://go.healthleaderco.com/3ways-scars "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center Sponsor: Save time and reduce stress with MassageBook. It's not just software—it's a comprehensive solution that handles online scheduling, payment processing, and marketing campaigns, making it easier for you to provide your clients with top-notch care. Enjoy free, unlimited access for 30 days and save on your monthly subscription with your exclusive ABMP member discount. Special Offer: Right now, MassageBook is offering listeners $50 off when they sign up with coupon code ABMP50. Start your free 30-day trial today and transform your practice with tools designed to increase bookings and streamline client management. Connect with MassageBook: Visit their website: MassageBook Follow MassageBook on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Do you have clients who are athletes? This is something you won't want to miss. Dr. Portia Resnick is an associate professor at Cal State Long Beach, who loves working with athletes, both as a trainer and as a massage therapist. Her new book, The Anatomy and Physiology of Sports Massage is published by Human Kinetics. It looks at manual therapy for high-level athletes, incorporating anatomy, sports-specific knowledge, and clinical decision-making. She uses a great I Have a Client Who story about a college athlete who has an injury and follow-up surgery. She tracks how she was able match bodywork goals, anatomy, and client input to get the best possible outcome. Resources: The Anatomy and Physiology of Sports Massage Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Are you a manual therapist ready to expand your clinical reach, deepen your effectiveness, and work with greater confidence? Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes. For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding. CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond. Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes. Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month. Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession. Website: upledger.com/courses Email: upledger@upledger.com Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ Save your hands for the smaller structures and start getting your clients underfoot! At the Center for Barefoot Massage, we teach you how to enhance your pressure using gravity and physics and help your clients recover from persistent pain through nerd-level anatomical attention to detail—we just happen to use our feet to do it all! From the slow, down-regulating glides of our FasciAshi Fundamentals strokes to the proprioceptive "pattern-interrupts" of our Barefoot Matwork techniques and the resisted movements from our Stretch Therapy class, we offer a complete suite of evidence-based tools for deep, myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage—we nicknamed our approach "FasciAshi." Worried about your body size in relation to your clients? Our innovation—the suspended Ashi-strap—allows a more diverse population of massage therapists to regulate and vector their weight and pressure distribution with clinical precision, making deep work effortless on a variety of client bodies. At the Center for Barefoot Massage, we believe the future of massage is afoot! Find when and where our CE classes are happening next at centerforbarefootmassage.com.
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this first episode of a two-part series of Fully Booked, Elicia explores why raising your prices is essential as costs increase, the real fears that hold therapists back, and what can happen when you keep putting it off. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Author links: Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ **Free 50 min Class** The 3 Ways Scars Cause pain and restriction in the body https://go.healthleaderco.com/3ways-scars "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center Sponsor: Jane is a practice management platform for health and wellness clinics, used by more than 245,000 practitioners worldwide. Jane helps practitioners schedule appointments, chart treatments, bill insurers, and get paid all in one secure, beautifully designed platform. Learn more about Jane at jane.app/demo and if you're ready to get started, use the code ABMP1MO for a one-month grace period on your new account. For more details, visit jane.app, jane.app/pricing, and jane.app/features.
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
As massage therapists, we use our sense of touch every day, but how do we know what we are feeling with our hands? Nicole Trombley and Rachelle Clauson break down the art of recognizing the tissues we touch by examining what palpation is, exploring how our hands are perfectly equipped for the task, and discussing the "touch dialogue" that starts from the very first contact. Resources: LAB COURSE: Journey into the MATRIX www.anatomyscapes.com/MATRIX for more information about "Journey Into the MATRIX: the Fascial System" dissection lab workshop. LAB COURSE: Dissection Lab Intensive https://www.anatomyscapes.com/DLI for more information about the "Dissection Lab Intensive" lab workshop. Check out the Anatomy for Touch column in the Massage & Bodywork magazine at https://www.anatomyscapes.com/anatomyfortouch Connect with us! website: www.anatomyscapes.com FB: facebook.com/AnatomySCAPES IG: instagram.com/anatomyscapes YouTube: youtube.com/@anatomyscapes email: info@anatomyscapes.com Host: AnatomySCAPES Co-Directors, Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley, are NCBTMB-approved continuing education providers and teach anatomy explorations for hands-on professionals online and in person. They co-author the "Anatomy for Touch" column in Massage & Bodywork magazine and enjoy helping therapists better understand how anatomy relates to what they are feeling through their sense of touch. Nicole Trombley: As a massage educator, Nicole draws on her passion for human biology to help therapists better understand the tissues under their hands. She owns and operates Equilibrio Massage in San Diego, CA, where she has specialized in massage for pregnancy and postpartum since 2004. Rachelle Clauson: Rachelle loves teaching therapists about the structural organization and beauty of the human fascial system. She served as the Director of Creative and Administrative Affairs for the Fascial Net Plastination Project, and owns Flourish Bodywork, her private practice where she has offered hands-on bodywork in San Diego, CA, since 2003. About Our Sponsors: Are you a manual therapist ready to expand your clinical reach, deepen your effectiveness, and work with greater confidence? Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes. For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding. CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond. Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes. Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month. Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession. Website: upledger.com/courses Email: upledger@upledger.com Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness. At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry. www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs www.heightswellnessretreats.com https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/ https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia breaks down how understanding your audience can completely transform the way you market your clinic, attract clients, and fill your schedule with less effort. When you know exactly who you're speaking to, your messaging becomes clearer, your content resonates, and booking starts to feel natural instead of forced. Elicia explores the four levels of client awareness, from those who don't even realize they need help to those actively searching for solutions. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Author links: Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here! Fast Five is a mini course from The Health Leader Co with simple, fast strategies to bring in clients right now. Watch it, do it, and see bookings flow. Normally $347, but ABMP listeners get 50% off with code ABMPPOD. You'll also earn 4 CE credits in the US. Check it out here: https://go.healthleaderco.com/fastfive "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center Sponsor: Jane is a practice management platform for health and wellness clinics, used by more than 245,000 practitioners worldwide. Jane helps practitioners schedule appointments, chart treatments, bill insurers, and get paid all in one secure, beautifully designed platform. Learn more about Jane at jane.app/demo and if you're ready to get started, use the code ABMP1MO for a one-month grace period on your new account. For more details, visit jane.app, jane.app/pricing, and jane.app/features.
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A client asks for a specific technique on their face. They have a bad reaction. Then they say they didn't want work in that area anyway, and by the way, they had a skull fracture four years ago. Now they're leaving because they feel a migraine coming on. The therapist is left wondering what just happened. In this episode of I Have a Client Who . . ., Ruth unpacks this interaction, what may have been going on for the client and their bones, and takes a closer look at where things started to break down. Has this ever happened to you? You're not alone. Resources: Cheatham, S.W. et al. (2025) "International Expert Consensus on Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization Precautions and Contraindications: A Modified Delphi Study," Healthcare, 13(6), p. 642. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13060642. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (no date) Physiopedia. Available at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Instrument_Assisted_Soft_Tissue_Mobilization (Accessed: March 13, 2026). Skull Fractures: Types, Treatment and Prevention (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/skull-fracture (Accessed: March 13, 2026). Handling Head Trauma | ABMP (no date). Available at: https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/issues/winter-2025/handling-head-trauma (Accessed: March 13, 2026). Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness. At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry. www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs www.heightswellnessretreats.com https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/ https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
You can be doing everything right—your marketing is working, your systems are in place, and clients are coming in—yet your calendar still ends up with unexpected gaps. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia breaks down why rebooking is the key to consistency and how to stop constantly chasing new clients. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Author links: Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here! Fast Five is a mini course from The Health Leader Co with simple, fast strategies to bring in clients right now. Watch it, do it, and see bookings flow. Normally $347, but ABMP listeners get 50% off with code ABMPPOD. You'll also earn 4 CE credits in the US. Check it out here: https://go.healthleaderco.com/fastfive "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Running a successful massage practice is not just about the work you do with clients. It is also about the systems behind the scenes that keep everything running smoothly. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia explores mechanics: the systems and back-end processes that help your business operate efficiently, consistently, and without unnecessary chaos. When your workflows are clear and repeatable, you spend less time scrambling to remember what comes next and more time focusing on the work that actually grows your practice. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here! Fast Five. It's a brand-new mini course from The Health Leader Co that gives you the fastest, most effective strategies to bring in new clients right now. It's designed so you can watch and implement immediately and get bookings flowing. It's on sale now. Usually, USD $347. Right now, it's $167. You'll also receive 4 CE credits with NCBTMB in the US. You can find it at: https://go.healthleaderco.com/fastfive "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A school administrator and massage therapist wants guidance on how to respond to a student who is reluctant to work with clinic clients who report a history of herpes. Is this a significant risk for massage therapists? The reality is that anyone with a history of herpes simplex can shed the virus intermittently, even without visible symptoms. However, the risk to massage therapists who follow proper hygiene and self-care protocols is extremely low. In that sense, herpes falls into the same category as other infections that may be transmitted through direct contact but are effectively managed with consistent hygienic practices. The key issue is not the client's infection status; it is the therapist's adherence to appropriate hygiene protocols. Resources: Ang, J.Y. et al. (2012) "A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Massage Therapy on the Immune System of Preterm Infants," Pediatrics, 130(6), pp. e1549–e1558. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-0196. Contributors, W.E. (no date) Genital Herpes Treatment Options, WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/genital-herpes-treatment-options (Accessed: March 7, 2025). Globally, an estimated two-thirds of the population under 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (no date). Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-10-2015-globally-an-estimated-two-thirds-of-the-population-under-50-are-infected-with-herpes-simplex-virus-type-1 (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Herpes simplex Information | Mount Sinai - New York (no date) Mount Sinai Health System. Available at: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/report/herpes-simplex (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Herpes simplex virus (no date). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus (Accessed: March 6, 2025). How many people have herpes? Myths, facts, and statistics (2020). Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-many-people-have-herpes (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Kaneko, H. et al. (2008) "Evaluation of mixed infection cases with both herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2," Journal of Medical Virology, 80(5), pp. 883–887. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.21154. Line is blurring between human herpes simplex viruses (no date) UW Medicine | Newsroom. Available at: https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/line-blurs-between-human-herpes-simplex-viruses (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Products - Data Briefs - Number 304 - February 2018 (2019). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db304.htm (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Ramchandani, M. et al. (2016) "Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Shedding in Tears, and Nasal and Oral Mucosa of Healthy Adults," Sexually transmitted diseases, 43(12), pp. 756–760. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000522. Rapaport, M.H., Schettler, P. and Bresee, C. (2012) "A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Repeated Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Healthy Individuals: A Study of Mechanisms of Action and Dosage," Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(8), pp. 789–797. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0071. Usatine, R.P. and Tinitigan, R. (2010) "Nongenital Herpes Simplex Virus," American Family Physician, 82(9), pp. 1075–1082. (2025) "Herpes Simplex Treatment & Management: Approach Considerations, Medical Care, Consultations." Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/218580-treatment (Accessed: March 7, 2025). Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes. For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding. CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond. Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes. Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month. Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession. Website: upledger.com/courses Email: upledger@upledger.com Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ Somatic Mindfulness helps massage therapists prevent physical and emotional burnout by integrating somatic principles into bodywork. Created by Fernando Rojas, LMT, PhD, Massage Hall of Famer, Master Somatic Therapist, Educator, and author of Embodied Presence & Attuned Touch, it teaches self-care as a professional skill so that the therapist's own wellbeing becomes the method for creating the conditions for healing and clarity of purpose. Through continuing education workshops, somatic touch training, and mindful self-study, Fernando helps therapists work sustainably, communicate clearly, and rediscover meaning in their practice. https://somaticmindfulness.co/ https://www.facebook.com/somatic.mindfulness https://www.instagram.com/somatic.mindfulness/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Marketing is one of the biggest sticking points for massage and bodywork professionals. Most therapists were never taught how to market themselves, and the idea can feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia explains how clearly sharing your story, your values, and the difference you make in clients' lives helps the right clients find you and choose you with confidence. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Author links: Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here! "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Up to two-thirds of the human body is made of water — that's a lot of H2O! But where does all that water actually live in our anatomy, and why is it so important? In this episode, Rachelle and Nicole take a macro and a micro view of water in our bodies — where it lives, how it's organized, and how it keeps us moving with ease. They zoom in on the extracellular matrix and discuss some unexpected ways that tissue hydration contributes to stiffness and pain, and how massage therapists can impact the organization of water to create meaningful change for our clients. Resources: LAB COURSE: Journey into the MATRIX www.anatomyscapes.com/MATRIX for more information about "Journey Into the MATRIX: the Fascial System" dissection lab workshop. LAB COURSE: Dissection Lab Intensive https://www.anatomyscapes.com/DLI for more information about the "Dissection Lab Intensive" lab workshop. MINNESOTA NWHSU Massage Symposium, March 6-7, 2026: https://www.nwhealth.edu/continuing-education/massage-therapy-symposium/ ONLINE COURSE Check out Understanding Fascia's Role in Low Back Pain in the ABMP CE Library https://www.abmp.com/learn/course/understanding-fascias-role-low-back-pain Find out more about AnatomySCAPES! Connect with us! website: www.anatomyscapes.com FB: facebook.com/AnatomySCAPES IG: instagram.com/anatomyscapes YouTube: youtube.com/@anatomyscapes email: info@anatomyscapes.com Host: AnatomySCAPES Co-Directors, Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley, are NCBTMB-approved continuing education providers and teach anatomy explorations for hands-on professionals online and in person. They co-author the "Anatomy for Touch" column in Massage & Bodywork magazine and enjoy helping therapists better understand how anatomy relates to what they are feeling through their sense of touch. Nicole Trombley: As a massage educator, Nicole draws on her passion for human biology to help therapists better understand the tissues under their hands. She owns and operates Equilibrio Massage in San Diego, CA, where she has specialized in massage for pregnancy and postpartum since 2004. Rachelle Clauson: Rachelle loves teaching therapists about the structural organization and beauty of the human fascial system. She served as the Director of Creative and Administrative Affairs for the Fascial Net Plastination Project, and owns Flourish Bodywork, her private practice where she has offered hands-on bodywork in San Diego, CA, since 2003. About Our Sponsors: Are you a manual therapist ready to expand your clinical reach, deepen your effectiveness, and work with greater confidence? Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes. For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding. CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond. Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes. Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month. Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession. Website: upledger.com/courses Email: upledger@upledger.com Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness. At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry. www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs www.heightswellnessretreats.com https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/ https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Our brains filter millions of bits of information every second. This what helps shape how we think, make decisions, and act in our business. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia Crook discusses how clarity in your messaging helps to reduce confusion, hesitation and burnout, why goals help turn unconscious drift into intentional growth, and how our beliefs can shape our behavior and actions. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Author links: Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here! "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this inaugural episode of Fully Booked, Elicia Crook takes us behind the curtain of her massage journey, shares key differences between massage in Australia and America, and explains why mistakes can be our greatest opportunity for growth. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/ Author links: Website: https://healthleaderco.com/ Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here! "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A client has a very traumatic experience with their kidney transplant surgery in 2017. Ever since, they have lived with chronic, intractable neck and head pain that doesn't respond to any treatment they've tried so far. A recent CT scan reveals some calcium deposits inside the cranium but - is that the cause? Can massage therapy help? Are there any options for this person? Resources: Anwar, Z. et al. (2011) "Superficial temporal artery calcification in patients with end-stage renal disease: Association with vascular risk factors and ischemic cerebrovascular disease," The Indian Journal of Radiology & Imaging, 21(3), pp. 215–220. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-3026.85371. CNN, C.S., Special to (2014) 'I couldn't move': Patients who wake up during surgery, CNN. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/28/health/wake-up-during-surgery (Accessed: November 14, 2025). Healthcare, G.E. (2020) Waking Up During Surgery: A Nightmare | Clinical View. Available at: https://clinicalview.gehealthcare.com/article/waking-during-surgery-patients-worst-nightmare (Accessed: November 14, 2025). Kiroglu, Y. et al. (2009) "Intracranial calcifications on computed tomography: pictorial essay," Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4261/1305-3825.DIR.2626-09.1. Li, Xuelong et al. (2022) "The association of renal impairment with different patterns of intracranial arterial calcification: Intimal and medial calcification," Atherosclerosis, 363, pp. 42–47. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.11.012. Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A simple question turned into a deep dive, and I learned a ton along the way! A client has an implanted vagus nerve stimulator. Now what? In this episode of I Have a Client Who . . ., Ruth explore's how vagus nerve stimulators work, why they're used, and the precautions massage therapists should consider. Plus, we discuss the exciting possibilities these devices hold for a wide range of treatments. Resources: Ben-Menachem, E. (2001) "Vagus nerve stimulation, side effects, and long-term safety," Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology: Official Publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society, 18(5), pp. 415–418. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/00004691-200109000-00005. Lerman, I. et al. (2019) "Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation alters neural response and physiological autonomic tone to noxious thermal challenge," PLoS ONE, 14(2), p. e0201212. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201212. Mandalaneni, K. and Rayi, A. (2025) "Vagus Nerve Stimulator," in StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562175/ (Accessed: October 22, 2025). Olsen, L.K. et al. (2023) "Vagus nerve stimulation: mechanisms and factors involved in memory enhancement," Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 17. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1152064. Tariq, K. et al. (2020) "A case report of Vagus nerve stimulation for intractable hiccups," International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, 78, pp. 219–222. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.12.023. UCL (2025) Vagus nerve stimulation could help people get more exercise, UCL News. Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/jul/vagus-nerve-stimulation-could-help-people-get-more-exercise (Accessed: October 22, 2025). Vagus Nerve (no date) Physiopedia. Available at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Vagus_Nerve (Accessed: October 22, 2025). Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): What It Is, Uses & Side Effects (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17598-vagus-nerve-stimulation (Accessed: October 18, 2025). Wu, Q. et al. (2024) "Current status of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for tinnitus: a narrative review of modern research," Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18, p. 1405310. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1405310. Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Darren and Kristin are joined by Doug Nelson to discuss how collaboration between MTs and PTs can accelerate client outcomes and strengthen the continuum of care. Doug shares how to navigate professional boundaries, build effective communication systems, and offers practical advice for massage therapists looking to establish stronger referral relationships as well as the importance of a shared language between disciplines. Resources: Douglas Nelson is Board Certified in Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Bodywork, beginning his career in massage therapy in 1977. Seeing over 1,200 client visits annually for decades, he is also the owner of BodyWork Associates, a massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL. with 21 therapists that was established in 1982. He is the founder of NMT MidWest, Inc., providing training in Precision Neuromuscular Therapy™ across the USA. He has personally taught more than 13,000 hours of continuing education and is the author of three books. Doug is a past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. Hosts: Darren Buford is senior director of communications and editor-in-chief for ABMP. He is editor of Massage & Bodywork magazine and has worked for ABMP for 22 years, and been involved in journalism at the association, trade, and consumer levels for 24 years. He has served as board member and president of the Western Publishing Association, as well as board member for Association Media & Publishing. Contact him at editor@abmp.com. Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at ce@abmp.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Collagen is everywhere in the body. The 30 trillion cells that make up the human body are held together in a matrix of collagen fibers that provides structural support and gives the body its recognizable form. In this episode, Rachelle and Nicole explore all things collagen—asking if we are really "losing" it as we age, explaining its role as the body's "glue," and discussing why understanding this matrix is essential for massage therapists. You'll learn about the different types of collagen, how the matrix adapts to movement and injury, and how massage techniques communicate with the fibroblasts that build and remodel this dynamic matrix. Resources: LAB COURSE: Journey into the MATRIX www.anatomyscapes.com/MATRIX for more information about “Journey Into the MATRIX: the Fascial System” dissection lab workshop. LAB COURSE: Dissection Lab Intensive https://www.anatomyscapes.com/DLI for more information about the “Dissection Lab Intensive” lab workshop. Check out the Anatomy for Touch column in the Massage & Bodywork magazine at https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/anatomy Find out more about AnatomySCAPES! Connect with us! website: www.anatomyscapes.com FB: facebook.com/AnatomySCAPES IG: instagram.com/anatomyscapes YouTube: youtube.com/@anatomyscapes email: info@anatomyscapes.com Hosts: AnatomySCAPES Co-Directors, Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley, are NCBTMB-approved continuing education providers and teach anatomy explorations for hands-on professionals online and in person. They co-author the “Anatomy for Touch” column in Massage & Bodywork magazine and enjoy helping therapists better understand how anatomy relates to what they are feeling through their sense of touch. Nicole Trombley: As a massage educator, Nicole draws on her passion for human biology to help therapists better understand the tissues under their hands. She owns and operates Equilibrio Massage in San Diego, CA, where she has specialized in massage for pregnancy and postpartum since 2004. Rachelle Clauson: Rachelle loves teaching therapists about the structural organization and beauty of the human fascial system. She served as the Director of Creative and Administrative Affairs for the Fascial Net Plastination Project, and owns Flourish Bodywork, her private practice where she has offered hands-on bodywork in San Diego, CA, since 2003.
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A client was prescribed oral birth control to help manage symptoms of perimenopause. The medication caused a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which then caused a pulmonary embolism (PE). Altogether this forms a potentially deadly phenomenon called venous thromboembolism (VTE). She survived, and she's fine. But here's the thing: her PE was just two weeks ago, and she wants to receive deep massage to her neck, back, and shoulders. Yikes, right? Or maybe not? Listen in for some key decision points about this question. Resources: A Doctor's Note is Not Good Enough… and what is better: online self-paced continuing education course, available here. Massage & Bodywork magazine, “Helping Clients with Complex Conditions”, Jan/Feb 2023, available here. Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Teresa Matthews is a nationally accredited massage therapy continuing education provider, a massage school owner, an athlete and personal trainer, and now… a published author. Her new book, Self Defense for Massage Therapists is now available and—in my opinion—should be considered a required topic in massage therapy beginning education. In this interview Teresa shares how this project developed, and her priorities for teaching massage therapists to be safe at all times. Resources: Amazon Link https://www.amazon.com/Self-Defense-Massage-Therapists-Practical-Unacceptable/dp/196464433X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39XAX4TO7ALSU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.07_RSFDiCJH2iEEUP788kydrLxru2BrauQPS3y8KPOM.7ZJz26zVx2KmsxyawQELZ8YGoQsOtlombTZqVl23hFs&dib_tag=se&keywords=self+defense+for+massage+therapists&qid=1753384542&sprefix=Self+defense+for+massage+t%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1 Global Book Publishing link: https://globalbookpublishing.com/self-defense-for-massage-therapists-a-practical-guide-to-prevent-unacceptable-behavior-habits-to-promote-personal-safety/ Recent article in Massage & Bodywork magazine: https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/self-defense-massage-therapists Teresa's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/teresa.taglionematthews Teresa's IG page: https://www.instagram.com/teresamatthews10s/?hl=en Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Darren and Kristin speak with Chris Curry about his massage therapy origin story and the journey that inspired him to guide future therapists. Chris also opens up about his experience competing in massage therapy competitions, including what he won and what he learned. Finally, he gives listeners five practical tips to elevate their next massage session, straight from an award-winning massage therapist. Resources: Chris Curry is an award-winning massage therapist and instructor practicing in Denver, Colorado. He specializes in therapeutic and medical massage techniques including myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, structural integration, and craniosacral therapy. Chris believes in a holistic approach to wellness, where massage therapy is not just a treatment, but a gateway to a balanced and healthier lifestyle. This combination of different modalities creates a truly unique and powerful massage, catered to the client's specific needs. Chris has worked with professional sports teams and athletes. And he owns and runs his business Discover Wellness Massage. And Chris represented Team USA at the 2024 and 2025 World Championship of Massage. For more information about Chris, visit discoverwellnessmassage.com. Hosts: Darren Buford is senior director of communications and editor-in-chief for ABMP. He is editor of Massage & Bodywork magazine and has worked for ABMP for 22 years, and been involved in journalism at the association, trade, and consumer levels for 24 years. He has served as board member and president of the Western Publishing Association, as well as board member for Association Media & Publishing. Contact him at editor@abmp.com. Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at ce@abmp.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com PMNT: www.pmnt.org MassageBook: www.massagebook.com
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A seasoned massage therapist has just started working at a prestigious facility where client intakes are only conducted on the fly, and nothing is documented. Almost immediately, two clients present with complex situations that could be made substantially worse by thoughtless massage. What to do? In this episode we explore this complex question. I have some thoughts from the massage side of the equation, and I also turned to an industry expert, Sherrie Tennessee, PhD, to help understand this from the point of view of the businesses. I also speculate on what it would be like if I were Queen of the World, but that's a bit beside the point. Resources: Sherrie Tennessee, Ph.D., CHE, Founder, SpaSOS | Author | Educator | Industry Speaker Website: www.spasos.com SpaSOS: Revolutionizing Your Spa with Wellness Technology https://youtu.be/Pk2T0ygfoqk?si=ZOn9tJf7c6FD44FR Author: How to Open a Wellness Center: 31-Day Guide www.amazon.com/How-Open-Wellness-Center-Workbook Instagram: @thespasos YouTube: @spasos LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sherrie-tennessee-phd/ Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com PMNT: www.pmnt.org MassageBook: www.massagebook.com Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. MassageBook is offering listeners $50 off when they sign up with coupon code ABMP50. Start your free 30-day trial today and transform your practice with tools designed to increase bookings and streamline client management. Connect with MassageBook: Visit their website: MassageBook Follow MassageBook on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
The musculoskeletal system is at the heart of anatomy education for most massage therapists. But when we add the fascial system, how does that change the movement story? In this episode, Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley discuss a lesser known part of the force transmitting system of the human body: the myofascial expansion—precise anatomical connections where skeletal muscles insert into fascia, not just bones. These fascial connections amplify muscular force and provide crucial neuromuscular coordination through nerve feedback systems. Ever misjudge stepping off a curb? That's your fascial system at work. Understanding myofascial expansions helps therapists work more effectively by looking beyond the individual muscles and considering the more expansive interconnected whole. Resources: UPCOMING COURSE: Journey into the MATRIX www.anatomyscapes.com/MATRIX for more information about “Journey Into the MATRIX: the Fascial System” dissection lab workshop. UPCOMING COURSE: Dissection Lab Intensive https://www.anatomyscapes.com/dissectionlabintensive for more information about the “Dissection Lab Intensive” lab workshop. Check out the Anatomy for Touch column in the Massage & Bodywork magazine at https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/anatomy Find out more about AnatomySCAPES! Connect with us! website: www.anatomyscapes.com FB: facebook.com/AnatomySCAPES IG: instagram.com/anatomyscapes YouTube: youtube.com/@anatomyscapes email: info@anatomyscapes.com Host: AnatomySCAPES Co-Directors, Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley, are NCBTMB-approved continuing education providers and teach anatomy explorations for hands-on professionals online and in person. They co-author the “Anatomy for Touch” column in Massage & Bodywork magazine and enjoy helping therapists better understand how anatomy relates to what they are feeling through their sense of touch. Nicole Trombley: As a massage educator, Nicole draws on her passion for human biology to help therapists better understand the tissues under their hands. She owns and operates Equilibrio Massage in San Diego, CA, where she has specialized in massage for pregnancy and postpartum since 2004. Rachelle Clauson: Rachelle loves teaching therapists about the structural organization and beauty of the human fascial system. She served as the Director of Creative and Administrative Affairs for the Fascial Net Plastination Project, and owns Flourish Bodywork, her private practice where she has offered hands-on bodywork in San Diego, CA, since 2003. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com PMNT: www.pmnt.org MassageBook: www.massagebook.com
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A client has a recently placed stent in their left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. The therapist isn't clear about safety. What to do—get permission to work? Or get information to work safely? (You get two guesses, and one of them doesn't count.) This episode explores a helpful communication to establish client safety—and an example to us all! Resources: I Have a Client Who: Femoral Artery Stent (episode 77) I Have a Client Who: Cardiac Catheter (episode 297) I Have a Client Who: TAVR (episode 465) A Doctor's Note is Not Good Enough (and what is better) online self-paced CE class Helping Clients with Complex Conditions (no date). Available at: https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/helping-clients-complex-conditions (Accessed: 13 June 2025). Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com PMNT: www.pmnt.org MassageBook: www.massagebook.com Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. MassageBook is offering listeners $50 off when they sign up with coupon code ABMP50. Start your free 30-day trial today and transform your practice with tools designed to increase bookings and streamline client management. Connect with MassageBook: Visit their website: MassageBook Follow MassageBook on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Darren and Kristin are joined by Allison Denney to discuss the challenges of navigating today's digital landscape, where content is abundant but not always trustworthy. Allison explains why people are quick to trust influencers, how to develop discernment online, and the dangers of misleading pain-relief claims. Resources: Allison Denney is a certified massage therapist and certified YouTuber. You can find her massage tutorials at YouTube.com/RebelMassage. She is also passionate about creating products that are kind, simple, and productive for therapists to use in their practices. Her products, along with access to her blog and CE opportunities, can be found at rebelmassage.com. Hosts: Darren Buford is senior director of communications and editor-in-chief for ABMP. He is editor of Massage & Bodywork magazine and has worked for ABMP for 22 years, and been involved in journalism at the association, trade, and consumer levels for 24 years. He has served as board member and president of the Western Publishing Association, as well as board member for Association Media & Publishing. Contact him at editor@abmp.com. Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at ce@abmp.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Earthlite: www.earthlite.com PMNT: www.pmnt.org Won Institute of Graduate Studies: www.woninstitute.edu Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Earthlite Unlock an exclusive 20 percent discount on all Earthlite products, from portable tables and chairs to professional sheets and oils. Visit earthlite.com, create an account, and enter your ABMP member ID during registration. Plus, enjoy free ground shipping on orders over $75 and a flat rate of $395 for stationary or electric lift tables. (Prices subject to change at any time.) Significant savings on everything you need to enhance your practice. We are proud to assist you as the “World's No. 1 Brand in Massage!” Sign-up page: https://www.earthlite.com/customer/account/login/referer/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWFydGhsaXRlLmNvbS8~/ Won Institute of Graduate Studies As a massage therapist, you understand the power of touch. Now, imagine offering a deeper level of holistic healing. At Won Institute of Graduate Studies, our Master of Acupuncture Studies program will equip you with the ancient wisdom and modern techniques of acupuncture. Enhance your ability to address the root causes of imbalance and provide comprehensive care. Learn more at woninstitute.edu. The final deadline of July 1 for fall 2025 is coming up. Enroll today! Website: www.woninstitute.edu Degree: https://www.woninstitute.edu/academics/master-of-acupuncture-studies-degree/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woninstitute/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A massage therapist wonders about the communicability of herpes from lesions on the sacrum: How might this infection spread from one person to another? “I Have a Client Who . . .” host Ruth Werner takes the opportunity to talk about herpes epidemiology, communicability, and asymptomatic viral shedding. You won't want to miss this one! Resources: ABMP Education Center: https://www.abmp.com/learn/courses Hygiene: Critical Updates for Massage Therapists Protect Your Practice: Public Health and Contagious Diseases, Part 1 and Part 2 Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Earthlite: www.earthlite.com PMNT: www.pmnt.org Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal! Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Earthlite Unlock an exclusive 20 percent discount on all Earthlite products, from portable tables and chairs to professional sheets and oils. Visit earthlite.com, create an account, and enter your ABMP member ID during registration. Plus, enjoy free ground shipping on orders over $75 and a flat rate of $395 for stationary or electric lift tables. (Prices subject to change at any time.) Significant savings on everything you need to enhance your practice. We are proud to assist you as the “World's No. 1 Brand in Massage!” Sign-up page: https://www.earthlite.com/customer/account/login/referer/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWFydGhsaXRlLmNvbS8~/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
With political and economic uncertainty all around us, how can business owners prepare for the inevitable ups and downs? In this episode, Allissa shares practical strategies, and mindset shifts to help you stay grounded, adaptable, and ready. Resources: Chelle Doetsch Owner, New Yew in Michigan: www.newyewhealing.com How to Better Serve Your Neurodivergent Clients: https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/how-better-serve-your-neurodivergent-clients Ep 495 – How Much Do I Need in an Emergency Fund https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-495-how-much-do-i-need-emergency-fund-business-or-pressure-allissa-haines Ep 460 - A Spending Freeze to Reset Finances https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-460-spending-freeze-reset-finances-business-or-pressure-allissa-haines Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A 70-year-old client fills in an online intake form, saying she has myasthenia gravis, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. She only takes Synthroid, and says her hypothyroidism and hypertension are well controlled. She has low back pain and muscle soreness. At first glance, this seems fairly simple. MG does not appear to be a major factor for her, because she is not controlling it with medication. But a closer look reveals some possible tangles between MG, hypothyroidism, and some cautions about hypertension drugs. Join me as I completely overthink this situation, it will be fun! Resources: Barnes, S. (2023) Massage is not just a luxury for those of us with myasthenia gravis | Myasthenia Gravis News. Available at: https://myastheniagravisnews.com/columns/massage-is-not-just-luxury-those-us-with-myasthenia-gravis/ (Accessed: 16 April 2025). Myasthenia Gravis (no date a) Physiopedia. Available at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Myasthenia_Gravis (Accessed: 16 April 2025). Myasthenia Gravis (no date b). National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/myastheniagravis.html (Accessed: 16 April 2025). Myasthenia Gravis | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (no date). Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/myasthenia-gravis (Accessed: 16 April 2025). Myasthenia gravis - causes, symptoms, treatment, pathology (2016). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYGxGdu9MsQ (Accessed: 16 April 2025). ‘Myasthenia Gravis: Practice Essentials, Background, Anatomy' (2024). Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1171206-overview (Accessed: 16 April 2025). Myasthenia Gravis: What Is It? (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17252-myasthenia-gravis-mg (Accessed: 16 April 2025). Sheikh, S. et al. (2021) ‘Drugs That Induce or Cause Deterioration of Myasthenia Gravis: An Update', Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(7), p. 1537. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10071537. Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com American Massage Conference: www.massagetherapymedia/conferences Earthlite: www.earthlite.com Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA American Massage Conference Get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement as the American Massage Conference (AMC) arrives to Disney Springs near Orlando, Florida (May 16th-18th, 2025)! With a legacy of 17 successful years in Ontario, Canada, this premier event, proudly hosted by ONE Concept Conferences and expertly produced by Massage Therapy Media (MTM), boasts a lineup of presenters from across the nation and around the globe. The American Massage Conference began in Atlanta in 2011 and has been hosted through the years in San Diego, Chicago, and Virginia Beach. The conference provides educational opportunities with engaging one-, two-, three- and four-hour class formats, networking opportunities, masterminds, MTM Talks, demonstrations, and an extensive exhibitor tradeshow. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience filled with education, networking, and the celebration of massage therapy excellence! ABMP members receive a special discount to attend this in-person conference—log in to your ABMP account to access the discount code and register today. Website: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences Earthlite Unlock an exclusive 20 percent discount on all Earthlite products, from portable tables and chairs to professional sheets and oils. Visit earthlite.com, create an account, and enter your ABMP member ID during registration. Plus, enjoy free ground shipping on orders over $75 and a flat rate of $395 for stationary or electric lift tables. (Prices subject to change at any time.) Significant savings on everything you need to enhance your practice. We are proud to assist you as the “World's No. 1 Brand in Massage!” Sign-up page: https://www.earthlite.com/customer/account/login/referer/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWFydGhsaXRlLmNvbS8~/
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Before making a big purchase or financial change, try living like you've already made it—for at least three months. This simple practice helps you adjust to new expenses, identify what's truly essential, and build savings in the process. It's a powerful way to test decisions with real-world impact—before you're locked in. Resources: Annette Montgomery, practicing LMT in Indiana and founder of Bolstered, a virtual support community for Massage Therapists Find more about Annette at www.annettemontgomery.org and on Instagram at @the_annettemontgomery Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Taking the leap into full-time massage is a dream for many practitioners, but it can feel daunting. Whether you're just starting out or looking to make the transition from a part-time role, the step to full time is one that requires courage, planning, and action. Kristin and Darren are joined by Elicia Crook to talk about what's holding people back from taking the leap in becoming a solo practitioner, and ideas to help them overcome the fear of being a business owner. Resources: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit massagechampions.com. “Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice”, by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025. ABMP CE Center Hosts: Darren Buford is senior director of communications and editor-in-chief for ABMP. He is editor of Massage & Bodywork magazine and has worked for ABMP for 22 years, and been involved in journalism at the association, trade, and consumer levels for 24 years. He has served as board member and president of the Western Publishing Association, as well as board member for Association Media & Publishing. Contact him at editor@abmp.com. Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at ce@abmp.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com American Massage Conference: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA American Massage Conference Get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement as the American Massage Conference (AMC) arrives to Disney Springs near Orlando, Florida (May 16th-18th, 2025)! With a legacy of 17 successful years in Ontario, Canada, this premier event, proudly hosted by ONE Concept Conferences and expertly produced by Massage Therapy Media (MTM), boasts a lineup of presenters from across the nation and around the globe. The American Massage Conference began in Atlanta in 2011 and has been hosted through the years in San Diego, Chicago, and Virginia Beach. The conference provides educational opportunities with engaging one-, two-, three- and four-hour class formats, networking opportunities, masterminds, MTM Talks, demonstrations, and an extensive exhibitor tradeshow. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience filled with education, networking, and the celebration of massage therapy excellence! ABMP members receive a special discount to attend this in-person conference—log in to your ABMP account to access the discount code and register today. Website: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Fascia has been a hot topic in both research and hands-on therapy for some time now. While the idea that massage therapists affect more than just muscle isn't new, defining exactly what "the other stuff" is has proven trickier than expected. Today, multiple definitions of fascia are debated worldwide. To bring clarity and foster better communication, a new, unified definition has been proposed in the Journal of Anatomy (January 2025). Join hosts Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley, co-directors of AnatomySCAPES, as they dive into this fascinating, global discussion, sharing insights from their recent participation at the Winter School Research Conference in Padua, Italy, on this episode of The ABMP Podcast. Resources and Author Links: www.anatomyscapes.com/MATRIX for more information about “Journey Into the MATRIX: the Fascial System” dissection lab workshop! Curious about this new proposed definition of fascia? Check it out here in the Journal of Anatomy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39814456/ Join AnatomySCAPES for their upcoming fascia-focused webinar Scar Tissue: A View Beneath the Surface. This webinar will take place on May 1 and you can register for this FREE on their website: website: www.anatomyscapes.com FB: facebook.com/AnatomySCAPES IG: instagram.com/anatomyscapes YouTube: youtube.com/@anatomyscapes Hosts: AnatomySCAPES Co-Directors, Rachelle Clauson and Nicole Trombley, are NCBTMB-approved continuing education providers and teach anatomy explorations for hands-on professionals online and in person. They co-author the “Anatomy for Touch” column in Massage & Bodywork magazine and enjoy helping therapists better understand how anatomy relates to what they are feeling through their sense of touch. Nicole Trombley: As a massage educator, Nicole draws on her passion for human biology to help therapists better understand the tissues under their hands. She owns and operates Equilibrio Massage in San Diego, CA, where she has specialized in massage for pregnancy and postpartum for the past 20 years. Rachelle Clauson: Rachelle loves teaching therapists about the structural organization and beauty of the human fascial system. She served as the Director of Creative and Administrative Affairs for the Fascial Net Plastination Project, and owns Flourish Bodywork, her private practice where she has offered hands-on bodywork in San Diego, CA, for the past 21 years. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com American Massage Conference: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA American Massage Conference Get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement as the American Massage Conference (AMC) arrives to Disney Springs near Orlando, Florida (May 16th-18th, 2025)! With a legacy of 17 successful years in Ontario, Canada, this premier event, proudly hosted by ONE Concept Conferences and expertly produced by Massage Therapy Media (MTM), boasts a lineup of presenters from across the nation and around the globe. The American Massage Conference began in Atlanta in 2011 and has been hosted through the years in San Diego, Chicago, and Virginia Beach. The conference provides educational opportunities with engaging one-, two-, three- and four-hour class formats, networking opportunities, masterminds, MTM Talks, demonstrations, and an extensive exhibitor tradeshow. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience filled with education, networking, and the celebration of massage therapy excellence! ABMP members receive a special discount to attend this in-person conference—log in to your ABMP account to access the discount code and register today. Website: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
What if you suddenly couldn't work? Business or Pressure host Allissa Haines breaks down how much money you should have set aside in an emergency fund and the key factors that influence that number. From fixed expenses to income replacement strategies, she walks you through the options to help you stay financially secure in uncertain times. Resources: Barry Hatfield, Main Street Massage https://hudsonmassagetherapy.com/blog/ Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A contributor sent me several descriptions of people dealing with the aftermath of Lyme disease, hoping for some answers to the questions this mysterious condition brings up. Sorry, no answers here—just more questions. Chronic Lyme disease, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, Long Lyme… whatever you call it, it's hard to get a handle on it. But here's a starting place. Resources: Long-Term Lyme Disease, Controversies and Challenges, July/Aug 2022 Development, P. (no date) 73: Long Term Lyme Disease: What Helps? (with Ruth Werner) | The Thinking Practitioner. Available at: https://www.thethinkingpractitioner.com/e/long-term-lyme-disease-what-helps-with-ruth-werner/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025). Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com American Massage Conference: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA American Massage Conference Get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement as the American Massage Conference (AMC) arrives to Disney Springs near Orlando, Florida (May 16th-18th, 2025)! With a legacy of 17 successful years in Ontario, Canada, this premier event, proudly hosted by ONE Concept Conferences and expertly produced by Massage Therapy Media (MTM), boasts a lineup of presenters from across the nation and around the globe. The American Massage Conference began in Atlanta in 2011 and has been hosted through the years in San Diego, Chicago, and Virginia Beach. The conference provides educational opportunities with engaging one-, two-, three- and four-hour class formats, networking opportunities, masterminds, MTM Talks, demonstrations, and an extensive exhibitor tradeshow. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience filled with education, networking, and the celebration of massage therapy excellence! ABMP members receive a special discount to attend this in-person conference—log in to your ABMP account to access the discount code and register today. Website: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
What happens in your personal budget inevitably impacts your business budget (and vice versa). Business or Pressure host Allissa Haines walks through the basics of creating a personal budget, which ultimately could help your business budget. Resources: Erin Copelan, Owner of Erin Copelan Massage: https://erincopelan.com/resources/ Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Join Kristin Coverly as she asks massage and bodywork experts Les Sweeney, Whitney Lowe, and Ruth Werner “What's a common challenge for you and how do you overcome it?” Gain inspiration you can immediately apply to your personal and professional lives! Resources: ABMP Education Center: https://www.abmp.com/learn/ ABMP CE Summit: Neck https://www.abmp.com/summit Todoist App: https://www.todoist.com/ Book: “The 5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins, https://www.melrobbins.com/5secondrule Video: “The 5 Second Rule Explained” https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhW2xUEb-B-ZBONmUi1m7h10c4x_RVEeT Kristin Coverly Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at ce@abmp.com. Les Sweeney Les Sweeney is the President and CEO of ABMP. For questions about this episode reach out by emailing expectmore@abmp.com Ruth Werner Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. Whitney Lowe Whitney Lowe is a known authority in the field of massage therapy, with a 36-year career marked by clinical work, research, publications, and teaching in advanced massage principles. He specializes in treating pain and injuries using massage and is one of the pioneers of the orthopedic massage approach. Lowe's Orthopedic Massage Program stands out in its engaging and accessible design and comprehensive curriculum. Students, whether learning online or in-person, praise Lowe for his approachable style and personalized training. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com American Massage Conference: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA American Massage Conference Get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement as the American Massage Conference (AMC) arrives to Disney Springs near Orlando, Florida (May 16th-18th, 2025)! With a legacy of 17 successful years in Ontario, Canada, this premier event, proudly hosted by ONE Concept Conferences and expertly produced by Massage Therapy Media (MTM), boasts a lineup of presenters from across the nation and around the globe. The American Massage Conference began in Atlanta in 2011 and has been hosted through the years in San Diego, Chicago, and Virginia Beach. The conference provides educational opportunities with engaging one-, two-, three- and four-hour class formats, networking opportunities, masterminds, MTM Talks, demonstrations, and an extensive exhibitor tradeshow. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience filled with education, networking, and the celebration of massage therapy excellence! ABMP members receive a special discount to attend this in-person conference—log in to your ABMP account to access the discount code and register today. Website: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Managing an irregular income and planning for less predictable expenses is a big challenge for many business owners. Allissa works through the process to prepare for the leaner times, without sacrificing your own paycheck. Resources: Sarah Cheney, LMT Bloomington Athletic Massage: http://www.bloomingtonathleticmassage.com Allissa's money coaching: https://www.deepbreathdigital.com/money Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
For his 40th birthday, a man is treating himself to his very first massage. His health history includes a few noteworthy details, one of which is a condition neither his massage therapist nor I had ever encountered before: hereditary spherocytosis. Are there any potential concerns? Possibly. Resources: Hereditary Spherocytosis - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment | NORD (no date). Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/anemia-hereditary-spherocytic-hemolytic/ (Accessed: 19 February 2025). Hereditary spherocytosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (no date). Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/hereditary-spherocytosis/ (Accessed: 19 February 2025). ‘Hereditary Spherocytosis: Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Etiology' (2023). Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/206107-overview?_gl=1*1ulm2jw*_gcl_au*NDQwNzg1MDc3LjE3MzkzMDYxNDM. (Accessed: 19 February 2025). Hereditary Spherocytosis: What It Is, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23058-hereditary-spherocytosis (Accessed: 19 February 2025). Mehta, P. (no date) What Is Hereditary Spherocytosis?, WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/children/what-is-hereditary-spherocytosis (Accessed: 19 February 2025). Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com American Massage Conference: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA American Massage Conference Get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement as the American Massage Conference (AMC) arrives to Disney Springs near Orlando, Florida (May 16th-18th, 2025)! With a legacy of 17 successful years in Ontario, Canada, this premier event, proudly hosted by ONE Concept Conferences and expertly produced by Massage Therapy Media (MTM), boasts a lineup of presenters from across the nation and around the globe. The American Massage Conference began in Atlanta in 2011 and has been hosted through the years in San Diego, Chicago, and Virginia Beach. The conference provides educational opportunities with engaging one-, two-, three- and four-hour class formats, networking opportunities, masterminds, MTM Talks, demonstrations, and an extensive exhibitor tradeshow. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience filled with education, networking, and the celebration of massage therapy excellence! ABMP members receive a special discount to attend this in-person conference—log in to your ABMP account to access the discount code and register today. Website: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
What kinds of account do I need in my small business? We go beyond the usual “checking and savings” to determine what serves you well now and in the future. Resources: Meg Donnelly owner of NoVA Weekend Warriors in Herndon, VA, https://novaweekendwarriors.com Self Employment tax calculator https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/self-employment-tax (calculates federal tax only) The Basic Facts About Women in Poverty https://www.americanprogress.org/article/basic-facts-women-poverty/ Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Darren and Kristin are joined by Jason Erickson to explore Gate Control Theory and Dermoneuromodulation, two key concepts in pain science and nervous system regulation. Join us as we break down these fascinating mechanisms and their impact on health, therapy, and pain management! Resources: Jason Erickson, BCTMB, CPT, co-owns and practices at Eagan Massage Center. A former chronic pain patient, Jason is an internationally recognized continuing education provider teaching classes on pain science, dermoneuromodulation, sports massage, research literacy and more. His articles and podcast appearances are widely featured. For current information on his CE classes, as well as links talked about in this podcast, visit healthartes.com. Hosts: Darren Buford is senior director of communications and editor-in-chief for ABMP. He is editor of Massage & Bodywork magazine and has worked for ABMP for 22 years, and been involved in journalism at the association, trade, and consumer levels for 24 years. He has served as board member and president of the Western Publishing Association, as well as board member for Association Media & Publishing. Contact him at editor@abmp.com. Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at ce@abmp.com. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com American Massage Conference: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA American Massage Conference Get ready to immerse yourself in the excitement as the American Massage Conference (AMC) arrives to Disney Springs near Orlando, Florida (May 16th-18th, 2025)! With a legacy of 17 successful years in Ontario, Canada, this premier event, proudly hosted by ONE Concept Conferences and expertly produced by Massage Therapy Media (MTM), boasts a lineup of presenters from across the nation and around the globe. The American Massage Conference began in Atlanta in 2011 and has been hosted through the years in San Diego, Chicago, and Virginia Beach. The conference provides educational opportunities with engaging one-, two-, three- and four-hour class formats, networking opportunities, masterminds, MTM Talks, demonstrations, and an extensive exhibitor tradeshow. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience filled with education, networking, and the celebration of massage therapy excellence! ABMP members receive a special discount to attend this in-person conference—log in to your ABMP account to access the discount code and register today. Website: https://www.massagetherapymedia.com/conferences
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Money moves in and out of your business, are you tracking it? Allissa walks through the what and how of cash flow, and how to get a grip on it. Resources: Tara Eidse, Terra Massage & Wellness https://terrawellnessaz.com/ Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
For nearly 30 years, Rob Kelly has taught anatomy, physiology, pathology, lymphatic work, and orthopedic massage. Recently, Kelly reached out to “I Have a Client Who . . .” host Ruth Werner to share his observations on how easy it is to misunderstand how the body works and how these stories we tell ourselves can have negative consequences. Kelly and Werner turned their conversation into an episode about the power of language and the responsibility we have to elevate our profession by using words carefully. Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Walk through the process to set and achieve a reasonable financial goal for 2025 without the corporate jargon. Resources: Guest Marcy Basile, massage therapist and chief muscle mover at Connect Bodyworks. Website designer at Blue Setter Creative www.bluesettercreative.com Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Inertia in business is powerful. Business or Pressure host Allissa Haines talks through how to embrace change to improve your next year in business. Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepbreathcommunity/ Sponsors: Jojoba: www.jojobacompany.com HobaCare Jojoba is a premium quality, 100% pure jojoba oil that is highly beneficial for massage therapists. As a single-ingredient product, it aligns perfectly with holistic practices, providing an all-natural, chemical-free massage medium option. Jojoba oil closely resembles human sebum, which allows it to absorb easily and deeply into the skin, delivering a non-greasy, moisturizing experience that doesn't clog pores or cause allergic reactions. This unique property makes it an excellent medium for massage, enhancing tactile contact without leaving an oily residue. HobaCare Jojoba is also shelf stable and will not stain natural fiber sheets. By choosing HobaCare Jojoba, massage therapists can enhance their practice, offering clients a superior, skin-friendly experience that promotes both skin health and overall well-being. Website: www.hobacare.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jojobacompany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojobacompany
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A clear, ongoing written agreement of expectations is a great way to improve accountability and be a professional in every situation. Business or Pressure host Allissa Haines walks through some ideas and examples to gain clarity in collaborations. Resources: Sakinah Irazzary, Disparty in Healthcare https://www.2rmtsandamic.com/episodes/episode/df97a7bf/the-disparity-in-healthcare-with-guest-sakinah Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepbreathcommunity/ Sponsors: Jojoba: www.jojobacompany.com HobaCare Jojoba is a premium quality, 100% pure jojoba oil that is highly beneficial for massage therapists. As a single-ingredient product, it aligns perfectly with holistic practices, providing an all-natural, chemical-free massage medium option. Jojoba oil closely resembles human sebum, which allows it to absorb easily and deeply into the skin, delivering a non-greasy, moisturizing experience that doesn't clog pores or cause allergic reactions. This unique property makes it an excellent medium for massage, enhancing tactile contact without leaving an oily residue. HobaCare Jojoba is also shelf stable and will not stain natural fiber sheets. By choosing HobaCare Jojoba, massage therapists can enhance their practice, offering clients a superior, skin-friendly experience that promotes both skin health and overall well-being. Website: www.hobacare.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jojobacompany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojobacompany
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
A client with Marfan's syndrome, a connective tissue disorder with dysfunctional collagen, has had multiple surgeries for a traumatic accident, and their scar tissue is restricting their ease of movement. Their massage therapist is concerned about how best to help them regain function. When I have questions about scar tissue, I go to the Scar Tissue Diva, Cathy Ryan. In this episode we discuss the difference between “challenging tissue” and working with the fluid environment to improve function. Host Bio: Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com. Resources: Pocket Pathology: https://www.abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app Cathy Ryan, Registered Massage Therapist, at cryanrmt@gmail.com Live and online scar tissue classes through Healwell: https://online.healwell.org/pages/scars-fascia-lymph-landing ABMP CE Library: Scar Tissue Management, with Cathy Ryan and Nancy Keeney Smith: https://www.abmp.com/learn/course/scar-tissue-management-part-1-introduction A short list of Stecco fascial research papers: Adstrum, S. et al. (2017) ‘Defining the fascial system', Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 21(1), pp. 173–177. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.11.003. Stecco, A. et al. (2023) ‘From Muscle to the Myofascial Unit: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(5), p. 4527. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054527. Stecco, C. and Schleip, R. (2016) ‘A fascia and the fascial system', Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 20(1), pp. 139–140. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.11.012. Suarez-Rodriguez, V. et al. (2022) ‘Fascial Innervation: A Systematic Review of the Literature', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(10), p. 5674. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105674. About our Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com MassageBook: www.massagebook.com Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function. Website: anatomytrains.com Email: info@anatomytrains.com Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA Save time and reduce stress with MassageBook. It's not just software—it's a comprehensive solution that handles online scheduling, payment processing, and marketing campaigns, making it easier for you to provide your clients with top-notch care. Enjoy free, unlimited access for 30 days and save on your monthly subscription with your exclusive ABMP member discount. Special Offer: Right now, MassageBook is offering listeners $50 off when they sign up with coupon code ABMP50. Start your free 30-day trial today and transform your practice with tools designed to increase bookings and streamline client management. Connect with MassageBook: Visit their website: MassageBook Follow MassageBook on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn