Massage Therapy Foundation is a valuable resource

Massage Therapy Foundation has some great links and resources for practitioners. I came upon them through our good friend, Michael Hamm, LMP, CCST. He does many great things with the organization and the field of massage research! I feel we can all benefit by learning from others and by keeping up with new research. Even better - support foundations like these along with new research and together we can advance our profession and efficacy. I hope you find this helpful! Check out their website www.massagetherapyfoundation.org Here are some useful topics and links for practitioners:

Why is Research Important?

Practitioner Case Report Contest

Grant Programs

Continuing Education

Massage Therapy Research Database

Massage Therapy Foundation Research Agenda

Conferences of Interest

Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Research

Library

Volunteering

(Re) Education

Michael here!

In addition to owning/operating my massage practice, I also work part-time at Cortiva Institute as Teaching Assistant.  Cortiva is the only COMTA-certified Massage Therapy school in the state of Washington, and, if I may say so myself, offers the best education available.

It’s so exciting being in the classroom with student practitioners as they learn and develop their craft.  This quarter I’m working with first-term students as they learn the fundamentals of Swedish Massage and how to best use their own bodies in a health y and productive way while massaging. I’ve learned a lot of massage modalities since I first learned Swedish, but educating this crew serves as a reminder of what valuable tools Swedish strokes can be.

Neuromuscular, Myofascial, Structural work, and other modalities are often considered more ‘advanced’, but without Swedish Massage, they would lack continuity, comfort and a sense of ease in a session.

Yay, Swedish Massage!

Stay Local !

Local Massage equals a Healthy Community! Massage Local is a Seattle-wide collective. I encourage you to stay within short distance for your massage. Committing to a healthier lifestyle  by way of connecting with your local community has many benefits.  One is Community Well-Being - build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbors, and by contributing more to local causes. Not only are you gaining time, energy and in some cases money, but you are contributing to the well-being of your local neighborhood. We are here to assist you in that process. I know you've heard it before, but it bears repeating: Stay Local! Our members cover most of Seattle with Massage offices in Madison Valley, Seward Park, Fremont, First Hill, Madison Park, Eastlake, Queen Anne, and Columbia City.

Rebecca Nowka, LMP

Massage Awareness Day

I spent yesterday providing chair massage at the State Capitol building in Olympia, as a volunteer for AMTA’s Massage Awareness Day.  The official intent of the day was to show our lawmakers what we do and increase awareness of professional massage to those who determine how it is regulated in Washington State.  I enjoyed being able to offer a relaxing break to the Capitol employees and associates, who are just at the beginning of an extremely challenging legislative session.  It was also an opportunity for me to connect with massage practitioners from the area in all stages of their careers.  There was wonderful camaraderie, shop talk, and exchange of hands-on techniques and business ideas.  Thank you, AMTA, for the outreach opportunity and a fun day!  The next Massage Awareness events in Olympia will be on February 24^th and March 17^th; stop by for your chair massage if you work at the Capitol!

Cathy Federici, LMP

And so it Begins....

Welcome to The Massage Local Collective! 
Michael and Cathy are excited to be developing new ways to reach out to the community, and to be a resource for our neighbors when it comes to the world of Massage Therapy.  Cathy is a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, while Michael belongs to the American Massage Therapy Association.  Both hold massage licenses in good standing with the state of Washington as Health Care Providers.  Check back soon- we'll have some great information to share!