The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession

It's been another great year of  The ABMP Podcast , and we are gearing up for 2024! Some big changes are coming, and Kristin and Darren are here to give thanks to our fabulous listeners and share insights on what those changes will look like in the new year.   Hosts:   Darren Buford is senior director of communications and editor-in-chief for ABMP. He is editor of  Massage & Bodywork  magazine and...

It only takes a few minutes to learn something new, or just try something different in your hands-on work. In this episode of Business or Pressure , host Allissa Haines walks through some ideas to avoid stagnation in the massage room. Resources :   The Rebel MT podcast: https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-370-splenii-muscles-under-influence-rebel-mt-allison-denney   Derryberry Massage: https://www.de...

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Kristin and Darren are joined by Melissa Strautman, winner of the gold medal for Swedish massage at the International Association of Massage's World Championship, where she competed against 56 therapists from 50 countries. Strautman, who also won silver for facial massage in the 2023 American Massage Championship and gold for Swedish massage in the 2022 Americ...

A client wants to know if massage will help with their uterine fibroids? How can we answer this question?   What does "help" mean?   What are their goals?   What does the research say?   Spoiler: the research, while thin, holds some surprises.   Sponsors:      Books of Discovery:  www.booksofdiscovery.com      Host Bio:                     Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and a...

We often define ourselves by how busy we are—always looking outward instead of inward. In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Darren speaks with Angie Parris-Raney—licensed massage therapist and Chopra Center Certified in meditation and Ayurvedic lifestyle— about the peripheral modalities that led her to meditation, styles and types of meditations that can be practiced, and some of the specific mec...

A young adult who's been struggling with epilepsy wakes up after a seizure and is completely paralyzed on their left side. What does this mean? What happens next? And how can we best serve our clients who live with epilepsy? Join host Ruth Werner for those questions and more on this episode of "I Have a Client Who . . ."   Sponsors:      Books of Discovery:  www.booksofdiscovery.com      Host Bio:...

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a lot like TMJ—known more for its dysfunction than its function. But if we take a moment to understand outlets, their design, and their purpose, we might be able to approach the famous one we own with a little more finesse. In this episode of The Rebel MT , Allison dismantles our thoracic outlet and the syndrome and symptoms that show up here.  This podcast sponsored by...

Websites are an incredible tool for recruiting new massage clients. A few simple updates can make your business website even better. Tune in to this episode of Business or Pressure with host Allissa Haines to learn about some easy ways to level up your website.   Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find he...

As your client pool ages, it's likely you will see more clients living with diabetes. Can the hands-on work you offer this aging group of clients make a difference in their quality of life? In this episode of  The ABMP Podcast , Darren and Kristin are joined by Dawn Castiglione to discuss the importance of massage in addressing blood circulation problems in the elderly with age-related diabetes, s...

Tucked away during rainy season in a tropical paradise, a mosquito-borne virus runs rampant. What does Dengue fever mean for massage—how does it spread, what does it do, how is it treated and what are the risks? Listen in to learn. Then get the bug spray.   Sponsors:      Books of Discovery:  www.booksofdiscovery.com      Host Bio:                     Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a w...

The healing capabilities of dolphins have long been speculated upon—particularly relating to the high ultrasonic frequencies they emit. In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Darren and Angie are joined by Kate Mackinnon to discuss Kate's recent trip to the Bahamas to take part in dolphin-assisted craniosacral therapy, what the experience is like for herself and her clients, and how this program in...

Enforcing business policies can be uncomfortable. Host Allissa Haines discusses how creating protocols and scripts in advance will lend professionalism and ease to running a massage business.   Resources:   Ep 384 – Structuring Your Massage Business https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-384-structuring-your-massage-business-business-or-pressure-allissa-haines   Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing mass...

Microstresses are small moments of stress that seem manageable on their own, but they aren't as harmless as they seem. In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Kristin is joined by Chris Smith to discuss the difference between stress and microstress, strategies to remove microstresses from our daily lives, and how being in the presence of others could help mitigate and overcome microstress. Chris Smi...

A client with a 3-week-old pacemaker wants a relaxation massage. Her Facebook group of other pacemaker users encourages her to do it, but her massage therapist is hesitant. When exactly is it safe for this person to get on a massage table? Spoiler alert: No one knows for sure, but we can make some pretty confident choices, and we go over those choices on this episode of "I Have a Client Who . . ."...

The shoulder is complex, meaning it gives us a lot of movement. But with more mobility, we get less stability. And there is a lot of mobility in this crazy joint complex of ours. In this episode of The Rebel MT , host Allison Denney dives in to dissect what's going on in the shoulder and to explain why it reminds her of a caramel apple.    Host:                   Contact Allison Denney:  rebelmt@a...

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Kristin and Darren are joined by Neal Anderson, Certified Advanced Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner, to discuss how the Rolf Institute addresses the concept of structural integration, the curriculum and training process, the holistic approach to healing and well-being, and success stories Neal has experienced since working at the Rolf Institute. Neal Ande...

In this episode of Business or Pressure , host Allissa Haines walks through the steps to make being your client, and staying your client, easy for the customer. Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist, business owner, and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community . Resources: Making Your...

Traveling the world as a sports massage therapist sounds like a dream for many. For Jim Anderson, who recently worked as a massage therapist for  Team USA  at the 2021 UCI Road World Cycling Championships in Belgium, it's so much more than just the hands-on work. In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Darren and Kristin speak with Jim about being the soigneur for professional cycling teams, what a...

Here is a situation where healthcare for illness and self-care for wellness intersected in an unexpected way for me. I started with one point of view, and came around to another one—or at least a new curiosity – by the time I was finished. Where will you land on the issue of IV infusions?   Sponsors:      Books of Discovery:  www.booksofdiscovery.com        Host Bio:                     Ruth Werne...

Modern research in the field of neuroscience shows what happens in our brains when we engage in yoga and mindfulness practices. In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Darren and Angie speak with author Brittany Fair about her motivation to write The Neuroscience of Yoga and Meditation , whether these practices in daily life help with neurogenesis, and how these contemplative practices affect the bra...

Business or Pressure host Allissa Haines walks through a few basic steps to help you run your massage business with more ease and less stress. 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.deepbrea...

We all experience the idea that relaxation must be earned. But what if we didn't need to have a reason to relax or be kind to ourselves? In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Kristin and Darren speak with Cal Cates about how rest and relaxation are necessities, not luxuries, and how forgoing rest to keep the "grind culture" train moving creates a disservice to our clients, ourselves, and the profe...

An elderly client has severe back and hip pain as she recovers from her second bout with COVID. Her doctor gave her a steroid shot, but her MT wonders if the pain is a post-viral form of myalgia. Join us in this episode of "I Have a Client Who . . ." as we look at some research about post-COVID musculoskeletal pain and the many mechanisms involved (and host Ruth Werner throws a short tantrum about...

In the restaurant world, the back of the house is a noisy, chaotic mess. The back of the knee isn't much different. With a lot of elements clamoring to keep things moving, it's no wonder things can get sticky and dysfunctional. In this episode of The Rebel MT , Allison breaks down how understanding the frantic mayhem is fundamental to your role as a "fixer."   Host:                   Contact Allis...

Every industry has its ebbs and flows, including the massage and bodywork industry. How do we navigate this and come out ahead? In this episode of The ABMP Podcast , Darren and Angie speak with Teddy Lester, CEO of The Spa Mart, to discuss some struggles MTs face and steps to overcome those obstacles, differences in the customer experience between a spa and private practice, and advice for graduat...