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The article offers information on the therapeutic properties of pillossage, a massage technique with specifically designed thermal flax pillows to create deep relaxation and to reduce pain patterns. It mentions that massage utilizes touch, ranging from light to specific deep compression and heated products to create calming massage session for both the body and mind. Moreover, it states that the massage decreases pain patterns and creates deep relaxation and smooth transitional movements.

The article offers information on the myokinesthetic system, a technique that would work well both for the client and the therapist in the treatment. It involves a method where it directs on the combination of muscles to work with during the treatment. It mentions five ways to find out the kind of treatment needed for a particular client which includes nerve pain, postural assessment and muscle testing. It says that such technique provides the skill in knowing the person's nervous system.

The article offers information about the practice of neuromuscular therapy (NMT). It relates that NMT evolved as a manual therapy technique for pain relief. It is most often used to relieve muscular pain or dysfunction and is also used for preventive purposes, post-surgical care, repetitive trauma, and in acute onset mysterious pain. It is noted that NMT protocols rely upon the practitioner's knowledge of anatomy. It can also be integrated in any massage settings.

The article offers information on medicupping therapy and massage cupping in the U.S. One of the advantages of the techniques is that it enables water absorption and renewed blood flow to undernourished and dehydrated tissue and eliminates the old waste and congestion in the body. These two types of massage is advantageous in relieving pain brought about by sports injuries, fibromyalgia, structural issues, arthritis, tendonities and scarring.

The article offers information on the significance of seated massage therapy to a person in the U.S. Through the years, these type of therapy have positively impacted myriads of individuals because of the advantages it offers including relaxation, improve circulation, increase range of motion, decrease pain and help relieve common complaints. The type of massage given to a particular person is tailored to the client's needs, to address his primary complaints.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "It's Time for Two Tiers of Licensing" by Phyllis Nasta in the May 2008 issue, the proper way of dealing with overweight clients and "Massage Franchises: Low Prices and Convenience Bring Consumers to Massage" in the April 2008 issue.

The article relates the author's perspective on how to develop skills that will lead to success. She believes that by doing the things she loves as a massage therapist and educator has made her financially secure. The author believes that true success can measure by the lives one touched and the connection to clients and colleagues.

The article provides information on the techniques to relieve low-back pain. It has been mentioned that work- and sports-related overuse can also play vital role in the development of back pain. The common causes of back pain include lumbar strain or sprain, nerve irritation, degenerative bone or disc syndromes and traumatic injury. Massage therapy, hydrotherapy and thermal therapy can be successfully used in many cases.

The article discusses Phenomenal Touch Massage, a type of massage that creates a holistic healing experience for the giver and receiver. It can be performed on many levels, from the most subtle energetic version for the elderly, injured, or frightened to the supreme yogic dance of unparalleled fluidity for the healthy, limber spine. The Institute for Phenomenal Touch Massage in Boulder, Colorado offers a one-year training that leads to either a master practitioner status or a certification in the technique.

The article discusses how the Healing Arts Protocol can address a client's source of pain, injury, or dysfunction. It allows the massage therapist to identify problematic areas; address the associated soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments; and recommend home-and-wellness care. It utilizes different massage-and-bodywoirk techniques such as Swedish and sports massage, shiatsu, myofascial release, acupressure, trigger point therapy, and deep-tissue or muscular therapy.

The article discusses the benefits of massage therapy to patients with Down syndrome. Down syndrome results from a chromosome abnormality or having three copies of a particular chromosome instead of two. The different musculoskeletal complications associated with Down syndrome include instability of patella, hip dislocation due to laxity of the connective tissues and hypotonicity of muscles surrounding the hip joint. Massage therapists should develop the sensitivity to know the client's need for touch, the communication techniques needed to understand and meet those needs, and the willingness to provide these services.

The article discusses the growing popularity of sports massage therapy. Sports massage requires an understanding of the physiological basis of the techniques used, as well as knowledge about the major muscles and attachments. It improves athletic performance by invigorating athletes before events, and aids in recovery after events or injury. The different techniques for improving athletic performance include proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, stretching, releasing antagonist muscles, and releasing trigger points.

The article presents tips for those who want to start their massage practice. To begin with, you need to give yourself permission. Many times one may not feel deserving of getting what one wants, and one needs to tackle that issue right up front. Declare to yourself that you can have what you want the way you want it. The only obstacles one faces are due to one's own limited perceptions. Next, allow yourself some quiet time to daydream. Daydreaming is a very powerful tool. It allows your creative self to emerge, and the passion of your soul's desire to bubble to the surface. INSET: 7 Steps to Creating the Practice You Want.

The article presents information about physical therapy associations. Some of these associations include British Columbia Acupressure Therapists' Association, International Aromatherapy and Herb Association, International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork, Aquatic Bodywork Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association, American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia, Canadian Pracitioners' Association of Asian Medicine, and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

The article presents tips for massage therapists to make their Web site work for them. Send your clients a postcard announcing your new Web site. Offer a special incentive for going to your site, such as a free product sample for subscribing to your e-mail list or a $10 discount for scheduling their first appointment online. Create a place on your Web site for visitors to sign up for your newsletter or to sign your guest book to receive future special offers. To inspire visitors to give you their e-mail address, offer to send them a free health report or a coupon for a discount. Prospects will usually give you their e-mail address if you give them something of perceived value in return.

The article presents comments of leaders of massage therapy on massage therapy education. One of them says massage and bodywork has become more established and education more widely available. However, while the quantity of educational opportunities has grown, the quality of the programs has dropped. Another one says competition among massage schools is good for the potential student, the massage consumer and for the profession itself. Competition enhances educational quality and supports an informed freedom of choice.

The article offers information on the ideas shared by readers of the publication regarding business success and safety for on-site and outcall therapists in the U.S. According to Mariellen Boss, by joining clubs and doing activities one enjoys, will enable a person to meet like-minded people who keep them in mind for their own business or will refer other people. Tamie Maffeo believes that safety is a major issue when one is an on-site or outcall therapist.

Several letters to the editor is presented in response to article published in previous issues including "Preserve Thai Massage" in February 2008, "The Truth About Massage Franchises" in the February 2008 issue, and "Medical Model is Not Desirable" in March 2008.

An interview with therapist Judith Delaney is presented. When asked about the comparison between neuromuscular therapy and Swedish massage, she mentioned that the two are both collections of techniques for massage therapy. Each of them has its own characteristics and a wide range of combinations where in its unique sequence gets labeled as a particular modality. She added that one modality is distinguished from another through the strategies behind the application of the technique.

The article presents a map depicting state-by-state and provincial status, along with the number of licensed massage therapists, updated each issue with reports obtained from state and provincial regulatory agencies. The article also presents chart that outlines requirements for the states and provinces with regulations in effect. Even if your state or province is listed here, check with city or county officials for information about local requirements and ordinances.

The article presents some tips by the massage therapy instructor Charlotte Michael Versagi for the students who want to become massage therapists. According to her, the student must got to have a strong educational base and one good year of experience before he go out and find himself a specialty. She added that wisest choice, however, before one chooses the chocolate croissants, is to successfully complete a solid massage-therapy curriculum that teaches multiple modalities and the care of several special populations (pregnancy, geriatric, infant, etc.) and then--this is the hard part--spend one year right after school giving as many good general Swedish massages as he can.

The article looks into the employment strategies for massage therapists with a variety of choices that therapists are willing to explore. It reveals an enormous increase in the opportunities set for massage therapists in the areas they are expert and qualified to, parallel to their personality. It enumerates options to consider which include working in resorts and cruises, in a medical facility, with athletes or performers, and even with celebrities.

The article evaluates two massage tables from Earthlite Inc. including Spirit™ and Avalon™.

The article evaluates several massage products from Bon Vital Inc. including Muscle Therapy Oil, Organica™ and Naturalé.

The article evaluates several massage products from Biotone including Dual-Purpose Massage Crème, Advanced Therapy Massage Products, and Revitalizing Massage Oil.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of practicing oncology massage in Brazil.

The article focuses on the laws to regulate the massage and bodywork profession, passed by various states in the U.S. and Canadian provinces. The passed legislation is through licensure, certification or registration. Also included is a map which presents the status of the U.S. states and Canadian provinces, along with the number of licensed massage therapists as well as a chart which outlines requirements for the states and provinces with regulations in effect.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience in gaining more customers due to the satisfaction gained by customers on his seated massage service.

The article reports on the advise given by Laura Allen on making a spa's on-site massage business competitive in the U.S. Allen believes that it is a great idea to incorporate spa features into on-site massage because it will make the facility stand out from other spas. There are lots of ways to make the facility different, including setting up a small folding table, bringing a compact disc (CD) player or iPod, so one can play some relaxing music or adding a vase filled with fresh flowers.

The article reports on the research conducted on the significance of massage therapy to psychiatric patients in the U.S. Researchers found that significant reduction in anxiety, resting heart rate and cortisol levels follow immediately after the initial and final massage therapy sessions. They also found that the therapy had immediate beneficial effects on anxiety-related measures and may be a useful de-escalating tool for reducing stress and anxiety in acute psychiatric patients.

The author reflects on the importance of standards for distance education in the U.S. When the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) announced the imposition of distance learning for massage education, the author believes that it is important for the industry to implement standards to assure the quality of education given to students.

The article presents the author's suggestions for performing deep-tissue massage. According to the author, a massage therapist should be able to apply pressure on the body without muscular effort and can use the elbow for deep-tissue massage. Suggestions for deep-tissue massage include aligning joints, lowering the table, and positioning the body over the client.

The article presents the author's experience on how she managed to treat her pain. When the author was doing her intensive teacher-training degree, she suffered from chest pain and depression. After some medication, her pain and depression were not cured, then she turned towards body massage therapy. With massage, she experienced the value of the nurturing touch offered by another human being. Massage helped her a lot to cure the pain and depression.

The article presents the comments of several massage therapists about the method to retain their clients. One therapist says that she asks her clients about their needs from each massage. Another therapist says that she tries to make her clients feel special. Another therapist says that she sends thank-you notes to her clients to appreciate them.

The article presents information on several guidelines to set up a safe and effective massage therapy work site. Massage table or chair should be fully opened and stationed on a stable surface. The massage parlor should provide full privacy to its clients. There should be a good passage for fresh air, sunlight and warmth in the parlor.

The article presents answers of massage therapists to whether their clients' knowledge and expectations of massage changed over the years. Kimberly Burnham says, her clients are more knowledgeable about their bodies, their anatomy, and the locations of various internal structures. According to Sandra Bennett, massage has moved from a feel-good experience to one where the client expects some relief of some kind. Garth Stephens thinks they have definitely changed because some of them come to him with their x-rays and prescriptions to ask him to interpret it, as well as give them relief from a multitude of ailments.

The article enumerates the ten steps of the Healing Arts Protocol. The steps includes recording of the client's history through interview, warming of the tissue to be treated by using light to moderate pressure, and stretching such as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and active isolated stretching. The different options to treat shortened muscles include trigger point therapy, myofascial release, muscular therapy, acupressure, shiatsu, and other types of deep tissue massage.

The article discusses factors to consider in the selection of an ideal massage school in the United States. The massage therapist is required a big investment of time and money to attend massage school. A visit to the campus is also necessary to see if the school has experienced teachers, the classes are large enough and to study the curricula.

Focuses on laws passed to regulate massage and bodywork profession in Canada and the U.S. Local requirements and ordinances.

The article presents a information on some of today's best massage-related Web sites, chosen by the editors of the journal "Massage Magazine." The Web site, www.bodyworkbiz.com, developed by Eric Brown, a registered massage therapist from Toronto, Canada, and based on his own experience, BodyworkBiz offers resources for marketing and building a massage practice, including some free articles and newsletters. The Web site, www.massageresource.com, features databases of associations, schools and massage products. Information on laws, techniques and books is here, too, as well as a discussion forum.

The article evaluates two massage equipment and supplies from Yamuna Body Rolling including Save Your Hands and Writsts Kit and DVD and Save Your Shoulders Kit and DVD.

The article evaluates several massage equipment from BestMassage.com including Thai Herbal Body Compress Balls and Oval Deluxe BodyChoice Table.

The article evaluates several massage equipment from Pisces Productions including Sebastopol showroom, Dolphin Stretch and Stool.

The article evaluates several massage products and equipment from Spa & Bodywork Market including Best of Nature Massage Creams, Best of Nature Body Oils and Nirvana 2n1 Portable Massage Table.

The article evaluates several vacuum therapy equipment from Advanced Continuing Education (ACE) Massage Cupping™ including ACE Massage Cupping Kit and MC-600 MediCupping Machine.

The article evaluates several massage equipment from GotYourBack including EarthLite Spirit Gold Package, Lotus Massage Chair and Nirvana Mate.

The article evaluates several massage equipment from Oakworks Inc. including Side Lying Positioning System, Portal Pro and One Massage Table Package.

An interview with Suzanne Scurlock-Durana, developer of Healing From the Core is presented. She states that the Healing From the Core curriculum offers tools to build a strong, healing and full body presence and attracts the ideal clients. She mentions that the natural and healthy resonance of a therapist helps the clients feel safer and more relaxed. She asserts that self-care is an excellent way for massage therapists because people's bodies offer an incredible navigational system.

The article provides an answer to a question of how can learning to use the product or service of Massage Warehouse can increase a massage therapist's revenue.

An interview with Paul Ruth, president of Neuromuscular Performance, is presented. He asserts that massage therapist must have to let clients dictate treatment, take control. empower clients and establish oneself. He notes that massage therapist must have to develop their niche to be happier and make more money. He mentions that classes and lectures are the most effective way because though it is simple, but it is educational and promotes rapid growth.