August 2015 - Institute of Somatic Therapy

Share This Helpful Infographic With Your Clients to Encourage More Massage Visits - by admin@mcb on August 30 2015

Share This Helpful Infographic With Your Clients to Encourage More Massage Visits

One of the challenges of working as a massage therapist is to continually find innovative ways to communicate the benefits of massage to clients. You want to make sure they understand how regular massage therapy can impact their lives without sounding like a broken record. Fix.com has recently created a fantastic infographic that does just that. This infographic should be shared with clients to reiterate how massage improves your health.

The statistics, figures, and data included in this publication are sourced from some of the most trusted massage organizations in the country including the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). It covers a wide range of massage topics such as specific massage benefits, different types of massage, and tips to get the most out of the massage. You can easily share this infographic electonically by emailing it to your clients as part of your regular marketing and educational communication.

Many of your clients are likely focused on specifically how massage improves your health. In order to better meet their needs we encourage you to be constantly seeking areas of growth and learning. Our online courses at the Institute of Somatic Therapy can help. Visit us online today to learn more about the courses we offer and how they can help transform your massage therapy practice.

How to Use Infant Massage to Benefit Premature Babies - by admin@mcb on August 28 2015

How to Use Infant Massage to Benefit Premature Babies

Premature babies face a wide variety of health risks due to their early birth and reduced time in the womb. Doctors and nurses that specialize in caring for premature babies utilize diverse practices to help these babies overcome the challenges of their first days. Many of these medical professionals have come to understand the benefits of massage for infants.

A study at the University of Louisville School of Nursing focused on the specific use of massage in infants to reduce erratic heart rates. Massage professionals visited pre-term babies in the NICU to deliver regular massage therapy consisting of six soft-tissue compression strokes. The thirty day study showed noted differences in heart rates between infants in the control group and those that received the massage therapy. The infants in the massage group demonstrated improvement in their nervous system functions and reduced levels of variation in heart rates. Understanding these findings can help you deliver beneficial massage services to pre-term infants and contribute to their overall health and well-being.

At the Institute of Somatic Therapy we offer courses focused on the techniques specifically used in massage for infants. These courses will help you expand your massage therapy practice and better meet the needs of your littlest clients.

Emory Researches the Effect of Massage on Survivors of Cancer - by admin@mcb on August 24 2015

Emory Researches the Effect of Massage on Survivors of Cancer

We’ve long understood the overall benefits of massage therapy and how massage improves your health. Relaxation, targeted relief from muscle pain and soreness, and a reduction in inflammation are just a few of the many benefits of massage therapy. However, a team of researchers at Emory University is working on determining whether massage therapy offers even more specific benefits for cancer survivors.

This Emory University study has been designed to analyze the effects of regular massage therapy on cancer survivors. The six week trial divided participants, all cancer survivors, into three study groups. One group received deep tissue Swedish massage, another received light touch massage, and the third received no massage therapy. Participants provided feedback about how they were feeling, their fatigue levels, and whether or not they felt any difference from the massage therapy. The researchers haven’t formally reached any conclusions yet but the initial results are promising. Participants regularly report that the massage therapy sessions have been incredibly beneficial to their overall health and well being.

The courses we offer at the Institute of Somatic Therapy are designed to help you grow and transform your massage therapy practice. They can help you connect better with clients and share how massage improves your health. Visit us online today to learn more.

Aid in the Fight Against Addiction With Massage - by admin@mcb on August 21 2015

Aid in the Fight Against Addiction With Massage

Massage therapy can be a great aid to recovering addicts. ©iStockphoto.com/Oleksandr Gudenko

The road to recovery for an addict is a long one. Even after the physical barriers of addiction are conquered the individual will face years of emotional hurdles that must be overcome. Recovering addicts often benefit from a wide variety of therapies that focus on connecting the mind with the body, including regular massage therapy.

Massage has been found to increase both serotonin and dopamine in the brain while decreasing the stress hormone cortisol. The change in these hormones is beneficial to an addict because levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain tend to drop while stress levels rise during recovery. Massage can work to combat these fluctuations in hormone levels. Additionally, massage therapy can be used to target the agitation, anxiety, pain, and sleep problems many addicts face during recovery. By stimulating the pressure receptors massage can also aid in lowering blood pressure and decreasing heart rate which is vital to helping addicts better control their urges and maintain their recovery. Understanding how massage improves your health can help addicts recover and face a more stable future.

Helping to fight addiction is just one way how massage improves your health. At the Institute of Somatic Therapy we are committed to helping massage therapy professionals offer a variety of services to meet all of their clients’ needs. Visit us online today to learn more about the courses we offer.

Massage the Pain Away for Pregnant Women - by admin@mcb on August 17 2015

Massage the Pain Away for Pregnant Women

One effective way of combating the aches, pains, and stress of pregnancy is massage therapy. ©iStockphoto.com/alwekelo

A woman’s body undergoes an amazing transformation during pregnancy. Not only is a new life growing and developing inside of her but her own body is rapidly changing to meet the demands of pregnancy. These changes often bring specific types of pain that can cause discomfort and induce stress in a pregnant mother. One effective way of combating the aches, pains, and stress is massage therapy.

Massage for pregnant women is a targeted practice that addresses the specific types of pain that accompany pregnancy. Regular prenatal massage can help to relax tense muscles, improve circulation, boost mobility, and relieve pain. Specific massage techniques and the proper positioning of a client can help address the pain associated with the changes in a pregnant woman’s center of gravity. Women typically experience increased stress in their lower back, shoulders, and neck. Targeted massage of these areas can help relieve the pain. It’s essential to ask clients exactly where they are experiencing pain so you can customize the massage sessions to meet their individual needs.

At the Institute of Somatic Therapy we offer courses in massage for pregnant women. Visit us online today to learn more about all of the courses we offer and the exciting topics designed to help you grow and transform your massage therapy practice.

How to Win Over Massage Clients… and Keep Them - by admin@mcb on August 14 2015

How to Win Over Massage Clients… and Keep Them

Attracting and maintaining loyal clients is an essential part of running a successful massage therapy practice. ©iStockphoto.com/4774344sean

Attracting and maintaining loyal clients is an essential part of running a successful massage therapy practice. You want to stand out from others and attract clients that will return to you for all of their massage therapy needs.

An important part of standing out in a crowded massage therapy field is to choose an area of focus. You should still have a wide variety of massage options available to clients but it helps to become known for a specific type of massage. For example, specializing in pregnancy massage may generate referrals for clients who are expecting a baby. Not only will they likely share your information with other pregnant moms but they may be more inclined to also bring the baby to you for infant massage.

Another proven way to improve your massage therapy business is to focus on the complete massage experience. You shouldn’t overlook the lighting, music, and overall atmosphere. A massage should be a break for the client, a time to escape completely. Consider investing in high quality lotions, upgraded linens, and specific scents that you can personalize to meet the needs of the client.

If you’re seeking ways to improve your massage therapy business, contact us today at the Institute of Somatic Therapy. We offer a wide variety of online classes that can help transform your business.

How to Get Ready for Our Online Courses - by admin@mcb on August 10 2015

How to Get Ready for Our Online Courses

Here are some tips for success in our online courses. ©iStockphoto.com/g-stockstudio

It’s important for massage therapy professionals to participate in continuing education opportunities to learn more, grow their practices, and remain current in licensing requirements. There are many different ways to participate in continuing education, including online courses. These courses are convenient, flexible, and put you in charge of your own studies.

Once you sign up for online courses for massage therapy it is time to get to work. Our tips for success include:

Being consistent- Creating a study schedule is essential to dedicating enough time to master your coursework. This schedule should be unique to your specific needs and provide plenty of time to study. It is also helpful to carve out additional study times in the schedule in case something unforeseen happens and you are unable to study during your regular times.
Picking one location to study- Selecting a single location for studying, perhaps your office or a desk in your bedroom, helps you avoid distractions and focus on your work. Keep this study location stocked with the essentials you’ll need to be successful.
Taking care of yourself- When you combine your already busy days with studying for your online massage therapy courses you may quickly feel overwhelmed. It is important to find the time to eat and sleep properly. Pay attention to your physical and emotional health and take the breaks necessary to remain focused and stress-free.

The online courses for massage therapy that we offer at the Institute of Somatic Therapy are specially designed to help you grow and transform your practice. Visit us online today to learn more.

Help Clients Bend and Straighten Easier With Massage - by admin@mcb on August 07 2015

Help Clients Bend and Straighten Easier With Massage

If you have trouble bending or standing, massage can help! ©iStockphoto.com/KatarzynaBialasiewicz

Bending down to the ground and then straightening up is one of the most common movements of the human body. It is used for a variety of purposes including picking up children, tying shoes, completing household tasks, and participating in a variety of physical exercises. If clients are experiencing lower back pain they acutely understand how important this motion is, how painful it can be, and how massage improves your health and can relieve specific areas of pain.

Lower back pain can be effectively treated with a variety of massage techniques. These techniques can also help clients bend and straighten easier. Isolating and rejuvenating these muscles often has the biggest impact on lower back pain and can easily be integrated into any massage session. Deep therapeutic pressure can help relieve this pain but it is essential to carefully avoid the spine. A simple but effective technique is to use your thumbs in upward circular motions to knead away knots and then move down to the lower back area and switch to the heel of your hand to massage a larger area. Depending on the client’s pain and specific areas of concern you will likely need more involved and specialized techniques to provide complete relief to the lower back.

At the Institute of Somatic Therapy we are committed to learning more about how massage improves your health. Visit us online told learn more about the innovative courses we offer.

How Massage Helps Reduce Circulatory Inflammation - by admin@mcb on August 03 2015

How Massage Helps Reduce Circulatory Inflammation

Massage therapy is also incredibly beneficial to reducing circulatory inflammation. ©iStockphoto.com/rpaz

One of the most common uses of massage therapy is to help address muscle pain and soreness after physical activity. Both professional and recreational athletes understand that massage therapy can help them feel better quicker and get back in the game. But many athletes don’t know that massage therapy is also incredibly beneficial to reducing circulatory inflammation levels and repairing microscopic muscle injuries.

Recent research from the University of Illinois at Chicago details how massage helps reduce circulatory level inflammation. Participants that received a Swedish massage after a strenuous workout benefited from decreased inflammation in the circulatory system and improved overall circulation. These results were also found to be systemic. For example, participants that were sore in their lower bodies experienced increased circulation and reduced inflammation across the body regardless of where the Swedish massage techniques were focused. Understanding these results can help you offer tailored massage therapy services to both professional and recreational athletes.

How massage helps reduce circulatory level inflammation is just one of the many relevant topics covered by the Institute of Somatic Therapy in our convenient online courses. Visit us online to learn more about the different courses we offer and how we can help grow and expand your massage therapy practice.