Massage Professionals Article Archive

by Linda Fehrs, LMT

Buying a massage table will probably be one of the biggest purchases you will make as a massage therapist. The price of a massage table ranges anywhere from $250 up to $4,000. Often you are required to get one while in massage school, and yet there is usually little or no advice given on how to choose the correct one.

There are many different types of practices, different personal needs and different types of clients. While there are a variety of massage tables, choosing the best style for you does not have to be daunting – consider the following before purchasing a massage table:

1. Portable or Fixed – Will you be doing out-calls or will you be working strictly out of an office? A portable table can be folded and carried about, while a fixed table is heavy, stable and, for all practical purposes, unmovable. Many massage therapists choose to have a portable table, even though they have an office, because occasionally they do out-calls or they use multiple offices. This means constant setting up and breaking down, which is impossible with a fixed table.

2. Price – The cost of a massage table will probably weigh heavy in making your choice. Are you a student just starting out? School is expensive enough without the added burden of a high cost massage table. Perhaps this is a second table, purchased after you have been in practice for a while. One option you have is to purchase a less expensive table while in school, and then resell it to an incoming student after graduation. By then you will know more about what features work for you and may be more able to make a better selection. You may be tempted by the lure of a low-cost mass-market table, but low cost can also mean poor quality and the lack of a manufacturer’s warrantee.

3. Table Height and Width – The size of your table may not seem to matter all that much, but the wrong size can wreak havoc with body mechanics. A table too narrow or too wide, too tall or too short can have you in pain in no time at all. Tables come in widths anywhere from 28 to 35 inches, and range in heights of 20 to 36 inches. The width is not adjustable, but tables generally have an adjustment of about ten inches, which helps accommodate not only you as a massage therapist, but also allows for differences you may encounter in client size. If you are 5’4” tall or less, you wouldn’t want to get a table wider than 29 inches, and if you are 5’10” or taller, anywhere from 27 to 33 inches is a good width. As a general rule, your average table height should fall somewhere around your hip joint, with some allowance for the size of your average client.

4. Thickness of Padding – This comes under the heading of client comfort. It may also determine the long-term quality of your table. You want your clients to feel like they are lying on a comfortable mattress, not a plank of plywood. And, thick foam padding holds up longer and shows less wear and tear than something lightweight and thin. Many companies also offer various firmnesses of padding, from extra-firm to plush. Some companies also offer firmness zones, allowing for less firm foam in the breast area of the table. The firmness you choose also depends on the type of massage you will be doing. Sports massage may require something more firm, while prenatal massage might be less so.

5. Weight – If you choose a fixed table, weight is not as important as when choosing a portable table. In a fixed table you want stability, not portability. A portable table can weigh anywhere from 22 to 30 pounds or more depending on the size and material it is made with. A good solid fixed table could weigh 150 to 300 pounds. In both cases those made with wood are generally heavier, those made from aluminum will be a few pounds lighter. If you are getting a portable table, take into consideration how you will be using it. Will it be mostly for out-calls where you will need to be carrying the table up and down flights of stairs, or on public transportation? You may want to invest in a table cart, which can mean less wear and tear on your back, but can also be more of a hassle getting it in and out of a car or other form of transportation.

6. Durability – If you are spending a lot of money on your table, you want to make sure it will last a long time. A frame made of hard wood like Maple or Birch will last longer than a softer wood such as Pine. Some companies are now using eco-friendly Bamboo for the table frames. Some fabrics are more durable than others. You want something that is easy to clean and will stand up to a lot of use. In the early days of massage therapy, table fabric was either cloth or leather, but now there are many synthetics that are soft, easy to clean and made using environmentally safe techniques.

Choosing the right table for you is an important decision, and these six considerations will help you make that choice. If you are still in school, pay close attention to the tables that are used for students. Schools want durable, sturdy tables that stand up to a lot of use and are cost effective. They also generally have a wide range of heights and widths to accommodate the many sizes and shapes of students. They are also concerned about safety and choose tables that won’t collapse because of weak hinges or poor construction.

Take your time and choose wisely. The right massage table is second only to your talent and skill as a massage therapist.

References:

www.massage-tools.com, Massage Table Options to Consider Before Purchasing Your Table, Massage-Tools.com, Inc., 2008.

www.bodyworkmall.com, Buying A Massage Table: 10 Points to Consider, BodyWorkMall.com, Inc., 2008.

www.healingenergies-at-londonwest.com, Massage Table – Purchase Guidance, Healing Energies at Londonwest, 2008.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Likely due to the escalating effects of global warming, the rising cost of fuel and the growing number of those suffering from environmental sensitivities, more and more people are interested in living their lives in an environmentally friendly way. Also known as eco-friendly or green strategies, environmentally friendly goods and services are considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment. While there is no universal standard for eco-friendliness, bodyworkers adhering to green concepts will do their part in helping the environment and will attract clients wishing to do the same.

Making the effort to transform your massage practice into an eco-friendly one may seem like hardly enough to influence your surroundings. However, all significant change begins with the intentions of individuals. Deepak Chopra wrote an essay on peacemaking called, On Consciousness, War and Peace. Chopra writes, “Mahatma Gandhi spoke the truth when he said ‘You must be the change you want to see in the world.’ We are units of consciousness, and the world is our projection.” Accordingly, it is the global collection of eco-friendly efforts that will secure a healthful future for our planet.

Chronicling the history of environmental awareness documents its evolution. In previous decades, going green was simply associated with composting and using organic solutions for insect, disease and fertility problems in the garden. Today, evidence of environmental awareness is everywhere – in food, household and cleaning products, automotive design, bicycle lane construction, Energy Star appliance ratings, recycling programs and more. Incorporating green practices into everyday living has made the transformation from being used solely by left-wing, environmental activists to mainstream society.

Massage therapists can employ various approaches to help preserve the environment. In addition to conserving natural resources, some eco-friendly practices directly benefit clients who are sensitive to toxins or chemicals. With the goals of recycling, using renewable resources, improving energy efficiency and avoiding toxic materials, bodyworkers can take part in the green revolution.

Although not exclusive, the following suggestions can be considered to escalate your practice into an environmentally-conscious one:

· Organics – When possible, use organic supplies. Organically grown cotton linens are produced without the use of pesticides; they use sustainable agriculture practices such as crop rotation, and support beneficial insect life. Since the body absorbs chemicals through the skin, using organic massage oils and creams are a must for an eco-friendly massage.

· Chemical-Free – In addition to being eco-friendly, reducing toxins in your practice benefits clients who are sensitive to chemicals. This includes covering the walls with zero-VOC paint, cleansing linens with biodegradable detergents made without petroleum-based chemicals* and laying down eco-friendly flooring. Such flooring is made from renewable resources (such as bamboo or cork) and minimizes chemical off-gassing.

* Although washing in cold water is another green way to do laundry, this is not suggested for massage linens. Hot water and a hot dryer are necessary to kill any potentially infectious organisms.

· Save Energy – Reducing your business’ consumption of fuel and energy minimizes environmental impact – and depletion of your wallet. Ways to support environmental longevity by preserving energy include substituting standard light bulbs with energy efficient ones, saving on transportation fuel by enrolling in distance learning programs for CE Hours, and taking advantage of state and federal rebates for installing solar panels to generate electricity.

· Recycle – When the paper, cardboard or plastic you recycle is broken down into raw materials, new items are created. Considered to be the ultimate green act, participating in a recycling program makes a big impact on preserving the environment.

While some eco-friendly changes are simpler and less expensive to implement than others, every step towards living green makes a difference. Whether installing solar panels, using organic cotton sheets, recycling paper or completing continuing education units online, every individual effort strengthens the collective reduction of environmental toxins and overall protection of the earth.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org, Environmentally Friendly, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2008.

http://extension.unh.edu, What is Eco-Friendly?, Margaret Hagen, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, 2008.

www.altmed.com, Going Green: Massage Therapy Specialists Use Eco-Friendly Products, altMed LLC, 2008.

www.massagemag.com, Spas Go Green, Naomi Serviss, Massage Magazine, Inc., 2008.

www.selfgrowth.com, Top 10 Eco-Friendly Wellness Tips, Sarah Garney, SelfGrowth.com, 2008.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

The bulk of most massage therapists’ work is with clients in chronic pain. To offer the most beneficial treatment, bodyworkers continually study mechanisms of pain, observe dysfunctional patterns in their clients, interview clients to uncover the source of their pain and learn new methods to relieve pain. However, helping clients triumph over their pain could be simpler than most practitioners realize. In fact, when working with each individual, the massage therapist’s mindset could possibly be the most powerful aspect of the healing process.

Defining Pain
When we are hurt, there is no question what pain is. From a physiological perspective, pain is defined as a bodily discomfort. From a psychological perspective, pain is regarded as an unpleasant sensory experience or emotional suffering. As recognized by Livingston in his book, Pain Mechanism: A Physiologic Interpretation of Causalgia and Its Related States, “The chief difficulty encountered in a search for a satisfactory definition for pain, is the fact that it can be considered from either a physiologic or psychological perspective. Any consideration of pain, by one approach alone, without due regard for the other, is incomplete.”

Clearly, the experience of pain encompasses phenomena larger than what can be explained in simple anatomical terms. By jumping outside of the confines of biology, physicists may have a firmer grasp of what pain actually is. Since Albert Einstein taught us early in this century that matter and energy are interchangeable, quantum physics has amply confirmed his theory. Despite this universally understood concept, conventional medicine continues to address the body primarily as matter. Fortunately, massage therapists and other complementary medical providers are able to bridge this disparaging gap in understanding pain with insight into the dynamics of energy.

Healing with Energy
Comprehending the presence of energy throughout every human being is a cornerstone for many types of bodywork. In general, physical, chronic pain is viewed as a disruption of a person’s energy flow. Especially prominent in the modalities of acupressure derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Therapeutic Touch, encouraging unobstructed energetic movement is the basis for many effective pain relief sessions.

· Acupressure techniques are mostly designed to stimulate energy circulation. In Chinese culture and medical thought, energy is the source of life and its ability to flow without restriction is the primary gauge of a person’s health. A Chinese proverb says that “where there is blockage, there is pain and where there is no blockage, there is no pain.” This refers to the definition of pain as an energetic blockage, and removing the blockage eliminates pain.

· Practitioners of Therapeutic Touch use their own energy to detect their client’s energy field and correct any imbalances. It has been theorized that healing touch affects patients through the connection of energy fields within and outside of the physical body. The treatment of symptoms is thought to occur when the movement of energy (originating within the practitioner then influencing the client’s energy) stimulates internal, self-balancing mechanisms.

Mindset
Massage therapists who can appreciate the effortless conversion between energy and matter, who recognize the association between hampered energy flow and pain, and who use their own energy to positively influence their client’s healing process are just a short step away from recognizing the importance of their mindset for healing. Assuming Einstein’s E=mc2 is correct, practitioners purposefully channeling their energy toward free flowing, pain-free energy flow can transfer that same intention to their client’s physical body.

While advising therapists to think positively about their client’s health condition is easy to instruct, the biggest challenge lies in the intense quest to provide pain relief. After a thorough interview and evaluation of a client’s complaints, it is natural for practitioners to mentally become completely absorbed in their client’s painful condition. The most common thought process entails focusing on a client’s pain and imbalance, and then shifting to how to relieve the pain and correct the imbalance. Unfortunately, both of these perceptions still hold the painful problem as the primary focus.

Instead of staying in the frame of mind associated with pain, practitioners can be much more valuable to their clients by completely reversing their perspective. With an intentional focus and visualization on your client feeling great and experiencing free and easy energy flow throughout their body, you can influence their cells to entrain with your thoughts. Practitioners able to envision their clients being pain-free while working with them can exert a subtle yet more powerful influence on their health than any medical intervention possibly could.

Using positive mental imagery for accomplishing a goal is nothing new. Professional athletes do it to prepare for a sports event and entrepreneurs write a business plan to ensure their goals come to fruition. Confirmed by quantum physics, acupressure theory and the therapeutic touch model, massage therapists can improve their clients’ outcomes by maintaining a positive mindset. By holding a mental vision of health for their clients, bodyworkers can assist in their transformation from congested energy and subsequent pain into a state with freely flowing energy that is completely pain-free.

Recommended Study:
Healing Energy and Touch
Shiatsu Anma
Accepting Your Power to Heal
The Spiritual Dimension of Therapeutic Touch

References:

Chen, Lih-Mih, RN, PhD, et al., Concepts Within the Chinese Culture That Influence the Cancer Pain Experience, Cancer Nursing, March/April 2008.

Livingston WK, Pain Mechanism: A Physiologic Interpretation of Causalgia and Its Related States, New York, NY, MacMillan, 1943.

www.ih1.com, Therapeutic Touch, Aetna Intelihealth Inc., 2008.

www.liversupport.com/wordpress, Law of Attraction Combo for Liver Health, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Natural Wellness, 2008.

www.wholistichealingresearch.com, Spiritual Healing: A Unifying Influence in Complementary/ Alternative Therapies, Wholistic Healing Publications, 2008.