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East West College of the Healing Arts

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So far East West College of the Healing Arts has created 184 blog entries.

Massage Therapy Modalities: Introducing Thai Massage

2015-01-12T17:11:48-08:00January 12th, 2015|

Thai massage, known as Nuad Bo Rarn or “ancient massage” in Thai, is a unique massage modality that has only been available in the United States for about fifteen years. However, its rich history in Thailand stretches back over 2,000 years. In a traditional Thai massage, the client lies on a mat on the floor, while the therapist uses his or her knees, feet, elbows, and hands to create compression and stretching. Some say receiving a Thai massage is like going to a massage therapist, chiropractor, and yoga class all in one.

The father of Thai massage was Dr. Shivago Kormarpaj, an […]

Insurance Billing for Massage Therapists: Accepting Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Payments

2015-01-05T17:09:23-08:00January 5th, 2015|

All LMTs who attended an Oregon massage school should be aware of PIP (Personal Injury Protection) payments. Last month we covered the basics of insurance billing for massage therapists. In this post we discuss one particular form of insurance billing, mandated by Oregon law for those who have been in a car accident.

Introduction to PIP Billing for Massage Therapists
Oregon legislation requires automobile insurance companies to cover treatment following an accident. Personal Injury Protection covers wage loss and medical treatments for all occupants of involved automobiles. It also covers cyclists and pedestrians. (If the cyclist or pedestrian does not have auto insurance, […]

Professional Boundaries: Practical Applications for Preventing Compassion Fatigue

2014-12-30T17:06:02-08:00December 30th, 2014|

Boundaries may not be the first thing you think about when visiting a Portland, Oregon massage clinic. Nor are boundaries at top of mind when aspiring LMTs apply to massage therapy schools. Yet in order to earn a massage license with the state of Oregon, therapists must pass a jurisprudence exam on the legal boundaries set by the state. Massage therapists must follow professional boundaries to earn and maintain their licensure.

Beyond the legal aspect of ethics, therapists rely on boundaries to avoid compassion fatigue. Without strong boundaries, massage therapists may find themselves taking on their clients’ problems. Let’s take a look […]

Preparing for Tax Season: Organization Strategies for LMTs

2014-12-21T17:04:00-08:00December 21st, 2014|

The new year is right around the corner—meaning that massage therapy documents should be lined up, ready for entry into tax forms. Few LMTs would claim that taxes are fun—but they don’t have to be terrifying, if you have your materials organized well. Preparation is the name of the game here. Don’t put off gathering your documents until the last minute. Procrastination will only make tax preparation harder. To kick start tax season, we’ve gathered a few tax tips specifically for LMTs.

Tax Preparation Strategies for Licensed Massage Therapists

  1. Figure Gross Receipts. Uber-prepared therapists keep a running record of their income for […]

Massage During the Holidays: Why It’s Important, and How to Make it Happen

2014-12-12T17:03:02-08:00December 12th, 2014|

The holiday season is full of good cheer, good company, and, unfortunately, stress. Just as the darkest time of the year arrives, so does the holiday frenzy of shopping for presents and wrapping up year-end details. As our bodies yearn for extra rest, our culture directs us toward more activity. Massage is the perfect tool for staying healthy throughout the holiday season. But it’s not always easy to make time for massage. In this post, we’re reflecting on why massage is especially important during the holidays. We also provide tips to help LMTs and consumers alike work massage into their holiday […]

Insurance Reimbursement: Risks & Benefits for Massage Therapists

2014-12-05T17:01:48-08:00December 5th, 2014|

As the new year dawns, many massage therapists are thinking about how to boost business in 2015. Some may be brainstorming new marketing tactics. Others may aim to increase bookings among current clients. However, many LMTs overlook an entire segment of massage clients. We’re talking about insurance reimbursement, in which therapists’ massage services are offset by clients’ insurance benefits.

As one of the leading massage schools in Oregon, we’ve heard all the reasons why LMTs avoid taking on insurance reimbursement. Many say it’s too much of a hassle. Others worry that they’ll lose their independence by cowing to insurance providers’ demands.

Yet the […]

Massage College Preview Promo Post

2014-11-30T17:00:37-08:00November 30th, 2014|

Psychology research has shown that people who engage in a variety of experiences are happier overall. Following your personal interests to new experiences is a great way to increase happiness. If you’ve always been curious about massage therapy, our massage certification program has a new, mood-boosting event for you: Our Monthly Massage College Preview.

This month, our Massage College Preview event will be held on Wednesday, December 10th from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Join us on campus for a Q&A session about massage therapy. An East West College admissions representative will be on hand to answer questions about our school. If […]

Medical Massage: Growing in Popularity in American Hospitals

2014-11-23T16:59:13-08:00November 23rd, 2014|

CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is on the rise in hospitals across the US, and massage is a big part of that growth. The 2010 Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Survey of Hospitals took a look at 714 hospitals across the US. It found that 42% offered CAM services, an increase of 5% since 2007. Urban hospitals are the most likely to offer CAM healing, and massage therapy was found to be the most popular CAM therapy for outpatient healing, at 64%. Let’s take a look at how therapeutic massage schools prepare students for work in hospitals.

Medical Massage Work in Hospitals


Medical […]

Sports Massage: Symptoms of 3 Common Injuries in Athletics

2014-11-21T16:55:27-08:00November 21st, 2014|

During a career in massage, any given therapist will almost certainly encounter clients with sprained muscles. In today’s post, we’re taking a look at how sprains feel, where they often occur for athletes, and how these ubiquitous injuries may be healed through massage.

At some point or another, most active individuals have experienced a sprained muscle. Sports massage therapists are especially likely to work on sprains. As students learn in our massage training school, a sprain typically feels like a “popping” sensation, followed by a severe, sudden pain. After the sprain occurs, the area feels tender, with bruising.

Strains occur when muscle is […]

Curious about Massage as a Career? Join us for our massage college preview event

2014-10-22T16:52:10-07:00October 22nd, 2014|

If you’re looking for information on Portland massage schools, we invite you to join us on November 15th for our Massage College Preview Event. On that Saturday, from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, massage professionals, admission representatives, and teachers will gather to answer your questions about kicking off a massage therapist career.

From 10:00am to Noon, our admission representative will partner with a local professional massage therapist to answer your questions. How can I pay for massage school? What does it take to get a massage therapist certification or license? Can I complete a massage program while working a full-time job? Bring these and […]

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