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Alumni Interview Mary Tindall

2019-02-28T16:54:47-05:00January 25th, 2018|

Will you please introduce yourself?

I’m Mary. I’m an aerial silks instructor and massage therapist. I know the importance of regular bodywork to help with repetitive stress, as well as the everyday stressors of life.

What drew you to massage therapy?

The idea of working and connecting with people one on one really drew me in. Being able to help people live their lives with less pain.

Why did you select East West College?

I loved that it’s on the east side of the river. I walked in one day to check it out and get a tour, Erika was so friendly and I could tell […]

Alum Interview — Vanessa Shumate

2019-02-28T16:56:18-05:00January 9th, 2018|

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Vanessa Shumate, I was born and raised on a farm outside of Eugene Oregon. With constant manual labor in order to maintain the farm I found giving and receiving massage and body work to be vital in sustaining this lifestyle.

What drew you to massage therapy?

After years of interest in massage therapy, I started realizing how passionate I was about the intricate web that makes up the human body and the steps we can take to support our highest levels of functioning.

Why did you select East West College?

I was drawn to East West College due to the supportive […]

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

2017-12-12T11:39:34-05:00December 12th, 2017|

Holiday stress: It’s so ubiquitous, it’s practically cliché. Yet few people actually fit in an extra wintertime massage or day at the spa. How can Portland massage therapists come to the rescue? By effectively marketing their offerings during this darkest, and often busiest, part of the year.

We all know that the holidays are a time of stress. Consider a Healthline study which found that 56% of Gen X-ers, 61% of millennials, and 62% of Baby Boomers feel stress during the holidays.

Yet few people actually set aside time to destress. The 2016 American Time Use Study found that, […]

Staff Profile: Robyn Baehler, Alumni Services Coordinator and Sports Massage Therapist at the Track & Field Olympic Trials

2016-11-08T11:00:49-05:00November 8th, 2016|

A massage therapist career can take you in whatever direction you wish. For East West College grad Robyn Baehler, sports massage therapy specialization lead her to treat athletes at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene this past July. Now, Robyn is also working in our Oregon massage school as our Alumni Services Coordinator and has a chance to help tomorrow’s LMTs find work after graduation. Today we’re delighted to share the story of Robyn’s connection to the massage world and working with athletes, including how she ended up providing massage to world-class running stars. Robyn also provides […]

Massage Chairs: Massage Marketing Tools for Booking Table Sessions

2016-10-31T11:01:45-04:00October 31st, 2016|

What would you consider your most important massage marketing tool? Social media? Word of mouth? A massage chair?

massage chairs are an important tool for massage marketing Photo from touchpro.com/story-of-the-first-massage-chair/

Yes, a piece of furniture can serve a critical role in massage marketing. While completing their massage therapist schooling at East West College, our students have the opportunity to envision the next five years. They think about where they want to go next, after spending months gathering the right skills, tools, and knowledge to thrive as LMTs. A massage chair is incredibly helpful in building […]

Legal Pitfalls to Avoid as a Massage Therapist

2016-08-02T21:23:00-04:00August 2nd, 2016|

Upon graduating from our Portland massage therapist school, newly hatched LMTs are excited to get to work! Many decide to strike out on their own as independent business owners. However, there’s plenty to consider when launching a new business, including potential legal snafus. This article reviews a few legal considerations for massage therapists, including contracts, choosing your business entity, and protecting intellectual property. Read on to learn how to avoid some common legal pitfalls in the massage therapy profession.
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The Benefits of Volunteering Your Massage Therapy Services

2015-06-04T20:25:37-04:00June 4th, 2015|

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” LMTs have many opportunities to volunteer, from providing hospice massage to providing massage therapy for homeless youths. But why would you want to practice your craft for free, when you can get paid for it? Well, that’s a totally legitimate question. Read on to discover some of the many benefits massage therapists can enjoy from volunteer work.

Portland Massage Therapy School’s Top Benefits of Volunteering:

Volunteering Zaps Stagnation.

Every profession includes boredom from […]

How to Center Yourself Before Giving a Massage

2015-05-07T20:18:51-04:00May 7th, 2015|

Think back to when you were first dreaming of a career in massage. Perhaps you were contemplating getting a massage certificate, or eagerly flipping through pamphlets from massage schools in NYC or Oregon, dreaming of your future. One question that you may have asked yourself during this process—and a question massage therapists may ask throughout their career—is what constitutes the ideal massage?  Is it the perfect shiatsu technique, or being up-to-date on the latest trends? The ideal massage is not merely about a certain technique; it is rather grounded in how you show up in the space when giving a massage.

The […]

Tips on How to Retain Massage Therapy Clients

2015-01-21T17:14:13-05:00January 21st, 2015|

Retaining clients is crucial for a successful massage therapy career. For one thing, it’s far more cost effective to book additional appointments with current clients than it is to earning new clients. This is true across all industries. Client loyalty expert Fred Reichheld estimates that a 5% boost in customer retention will increase profits by 25%, and overall growth by 100% across all businesses.

Moreover, return clients can create a reliable base income. Think about a regular client in the long term. If he or she gets two massages a month, at $60 per massage, that’s $120 per year, or $1440 […]

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

2015-01-05T17:09:23-05:00January 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, […]

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