In the past, we have written on the advantages and drawbacks of oil versus lotion for therapeutic massage. Today we’re looking at the new kid on the massage lubricants block: Massage Gel. What is it? Why consider using it? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more. 

What is Massage Gel?
Massage gel is the new massage medium on the block. Like all lubricants, its purpose is to support a therapist’s healing touch by allowing for fluid, purposeful movements. Gels moisturize skin while offering excellent slide (initial slipperiness upon application) and […]

As natural-born healers, massage therapists aim to make their practices accessible to all. A massage therapy career is rooted in caring for others. Yet unintentional discrimination may make potential clients feel uncomfortable. If you are straight and cis gender, you may be unaware of the stress and discrimination that LGBTQ individuals face daily massage practice lgbtq EWC. 

Research shows that LGBTQ persons are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, substance misuse, and anxiety than their straight peers. Moreover, most LGBTQ people report healthcare discrimination, such as denial of care, harsh language, […]

The Coronavirus lockdowns have dramatically changed social engagement, not least of all how often we receive and give touch. Stuck with our roommates or family members for more than a year, the world of human contact shrunk as exponentially as the virus spread. For safety, we are still encouraged to keep a six-foot distance between ourselves and everyone outside of our immediate households, unless vaccination is complete. Our primary sense—touch—and our largest sensory organ—our skin—may be starved. How does this impact us psychologically? Are we affected by the lack of social touch, as handshakes, pats on the back and hugs have […]

Did you know that Oregon’s massage licensing requirements are different during COVID-19 lockdowns? Like many states, the Oregon State Board of Massage Therapy instituted a temporary rules suspension during the coronavirus pandemic. This suspension applies to license renewal requirements, including massage therapy continuing education hours. Read on to learn how Oregon’s rules suspension works, as well as a brief review of other states with COVID changes, including Washington. To close, we’ll suggest continuing education credit options available during the Coronavirus era.

Oregon’s Massage Licensing Requirements during Coronavirus Lockdowns

On March 24th of 2020, the Oregon State Board of Massage Therapists announced a rules […]

Even before the Coronavirus hit, healthcare workers were more likely to experience mental disorders. For instance, physicians are at a significantly higher risk of alcoholism and suicide than the general population. Moreover, 35-41% of U.S. nurses experience depression symptoms, compared with 9.1% of the general population. A 2018 survey revealed that 63% of nurses fear burnout, despite loving their job. The intense stress of providing care to those with COVID-19 has further threatened healthcare workers’ mental well-being. Massage therapy can help nurses and doctors refresh and refocus, as a recent AMTA article discusses. Let’s review how massage […]

Did you know that menopause brings bothersome symptoms such as hot flashes to 80-85% of women? Moreover, as the AMTA has recently highlighted, 75% of women are interested in non-hormonal treatments for menopause symptoms. Read on to discover how massage can help ease menopause symptoms.

What is Menopause?

Menopause occurs for many women in their fifties, as their bodies transition out of the childbearing years. The three stages of menopause are:

1. Perimenopause, which occurs in the years prior to full menopause, and is defined by erratic periods and decreased hormone production.
2. Menopause, the second phase, when periods stop completely, and many women […]
   

The Black Lives Matter movement has brought cultural awareness to the forefront. What is cultural competence, and how can massage therapists apply cultural competency in their massage practices? How does cultural competence in clinical settings improve health outcomes? This blog provides a broad-strokes introduction to the idea of cultural competence in massage therapy, with an eye toward the fact that an Oregon massage therapist license renewal now requires an hour of cultural competence training.

What is Cultural Competence?
According to the CDC’s information for healthcare workers, culturally competence “emphasizes the idea of effectively operating in different cultural contexts, and altering practices to […]