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Massage & Self-Care: Marketing the Necessity of De-Stressing during the Holiday Season

2026-10-22T12:15:19-07:00October 19th, 2026|

Holiday stress: It’s so common, it’s practically cliché. Between packed schedules, family commitments, shopping, and year-end demands, making time for self-care can easily fall to the bottom of the list. For massage therapists, this presents an opportunity to remind clients that massage isn’t just a special occasion treat—it can be a welcome way to pause, recharge, and care for themselves during a busy season.

Effective holiday marketing starts with understanding what your clients may be experiencing and communicating how your services can help. Pair those messages with simple, timely ways to book a massage or give one as a gift, and you […]

Quick Hand, Wrist and Forearm Warm-Ups to Prevent Massage Therapy Injuries

2026-04-06T20:28:31-07:00April 6th, 2026|

For many people, a career in massage is a dream come true! Healing others, calm work environments, and flexible hours—what’s not to love? Well, without proper self-care, injury can strike, debilitating therapists. As a leading Pacific Northwest massage school, we are dedicated to supporting all aspects of the massage therapy profession, including injury prevention.

As it turns out, therapists are especially prone to injuries in the hand, wrist, and forearm areas. That’s not too surprising, since these are some of the most commonly used tools at a therapist’s disposal. However, the prevalence of forearm, wrist, and hand pain may surprise you. A […]

Professional Boundaries: Practical Applications for Preventing Compassion Fatigue

2026-01-30T10:15:29-08:00January 27th, 2026|

Ethics are so fundamental to massage therapy that new LMTs must pass a jurisprudence exam on the legal boundaries of the profession. Moreover, to maintain their licensure, massage therapists must take ongoing massage therapy CE classes on ethics. Therapists rely on boundaries to create safety for all involved.

Without strong boundaries, massage therapists may find themselves exhausted due to taking on their clients’ problems. Clients may not feel safe enough to relax under the therapist’s healing touch. Ultimately, healthy boundaries create trust, the cornerstone of effective massage.

Let’s review the types of boundaries for massage therapists, as well as ideas on how LMTs […]

How to Apply for Massage Therapy Licensure in Oregon

2026-03-06T10:19:07-08:00September 2nd, 2022|

UpUEditEdited 3/6/2026 to include updated information.

While we have posted on the educational and assessment requirements for becoming a massage therapist in the state of Oregon, we’ve never discussed the actual process of applying for a license, which is complex. As this step is crucial in any Oregon massage therapy career, we encourage those working toward LMT status to bookmark this page for easy reference.

What is the process for applying for a massage therapy license in Oregon?

As in most government procedures, there are multiple steps to follow. A helpful frame […]

The Great Resignation is Driving People to Launch Massage Therapy Careers

2022-02-25T10:13:31-08:00February 25th, 2022|

Certain portals in history change how we think, live, and act. A world war, for instance, changes everyone who lived through it. COVID may be our era’s catalytic event. Looking back over the last two years, it is clear that many of us will never be the same. The pandemic has altered nearly every aspect of life, and the workforce is no exception. Let’s examine how the Great Resignation of 2021 has pushed many people to leave their positions, and why massage careers are attracting many to shift gears. 

What is the Great Resignation?
In 2021, millions of people […]

Forward Movement in Tricky Times: Tips for LMTs in the Age of the Coronavirus

2020-04-29T12:23:53-07:00April 29th, 2020|

Early in the coronavirus crisis, many were hopeful that Oregon’s massage businesses would be able to reopen by April 15th, the original end date in Kate Brown’s first executive order. Then, on April 14th, the governor outlined three indicators for when the economy can be reopened: 1) a “flattened curve,” meaning fewer recorded cases of COVID-19; 2) adequate protective gear for essential frontline workers, and 3) increased testing capabilities, to track any resurgence of the virus. When can we estimate these three items will be in place? Experts predict that flattening the curve will extend through at least mid-May, and […]

How the CARES Act Affects Massage Therapists: Individual Payments, Unemployment Benefits and SBA Loans to Battle the Coronavirus Crisis

2020-04-02T18:55:54-07:00April 2nd, 2020|

Congress worked fervently last week to complete the CARES Act. This $2-trillion, bipartisan deal, short for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act, includes cash payments to individuals, expanded unemployment benefits, and Small Business Administration Disaster Loans. If your massage therapy career is facing a major hurdle in the form of COVID-19, financial relief may be on the horizon. Let’s analyze how massage therapists can access the CARES Act’s resources.

Individual Cash Transfers
The CARES Act includes direct payments to individuals, to be distributed in the next couple of weeks. Eligible families will generally receive $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. […]

Proactive Massage: PNF, Range of Motion and Client Engagement During Massage

2026-02-22T17:58:23-08:00March 18th, 2020|

Ask the average person why they get massage, and they might answer “for stress relief” or “to feel good!” It is unlikely that the first words out of their mouth would be “To improve communication between my nervous system and my muscles.” Yet mind/body proprioceptive learning is at the heart of proactive massage techniques. In proactive massage, the client participates through stretching, awareness of sensation, and mindful breathing. By improving the connection between brain and body, these unique massage approaches can successfully decrease pain, increase range of motion, and empower clients to become aware of their own muscular holding patterns. Let’s […]

Massage Therapist Self-Care Questions to Assess Injury Risk

2020-03-18T15:50:02-07:00February 1st, 2020|

Did you know that three out of four therapists have experienced work-related pain or discomfort in the past two years? It’s true, according to a survey on injury among 601 American massage therapists. The same survey found that 64% of LMTs have sought medical treatment for their injuries. To enjoy a long, successful massage therapy career, therapists must cultivate good self-care habits, including injury prevention. Today we’re examining workplace injuries for massage therapists. We also include a list of questions therapists can ask themselves to understand their risk.

Let’s begin with a review of injury in the massage profession. Massage […]

Self-Care: Tips to Unwind and Reset between Massage Therapy Sessions

2020-01-14T17:09:35-08:00December 14th, 2019|

For most therapists, earning a massage certificate or license means they are finally ready to provide excellent care to others. However, the truth is that therapists must take good care of themselves if they wish to heal others effectively. You can maximize the sustainability of your massage career though self-awareness and self-care.

Too often, “self-care” is equated with yet more work. It’s not unusual to feel frustrated when self-care is just another item on your to-do list. But even a moment or two of sincere self-awareness and compassion can turn a day around. As you become more practiced in self-care, you will […]

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