Different Strokes
ABMP’s Member Newsletter
May/June 2016
With ABMP, your
webinar CE is
FREE
ABMP membership now
includes unlimited CE:
• 100+ Free Webinars
www.abmp.com/ce
Expand Your
Horizons with
Free Continuing
Education
ABMP makes it easy for
you to learn
What helps prevent MT burnout, informs
your practice with fresh and inspired ideas,
keeps professional and hands-on skills in
tip-top shape, and, in most states, is a
requirement of state licensure? Answer:
continuing education.
Continuing education staves off professional
boredom by encouraging inspiration and insight.
It keeps the brain engaged and the hands
thoughtful.
There is no easier way to stay professionally
challenged than embarking on a continuing
education journey. Learning something new
inspires us to do better and be better. And clients
love to hear we’re expanding our horizons. You’d
be surprised by clients’ appreciation of your
willingness to grow—and to try out your newly
learned skills on them!
A Sampling of Webinars in
the ABMP Education Center
“Active Engagement Techniques”
with Whitney Lowe
“Aston Kinetics for
Fascial Integration”
with Judith Aston
“We’ve Taken on the Cost”
Now, ABMP has made your continuing education
journey even easier by making it free.
Our newly redesigned ABMP Education
Center lets you sort the 100+ on-demand
webinars by CE provider, webinar topic, and
intended audience. ABMP members can watch
each webinar on demand, then pass a short
quiz to earn CE free of charge. All courses
are NCBTMB-approved, but eligibility for CE
depends on state board requirements.
“We’ve taken on the cost of CE hours to
make it easier for our members,” says ABMP
President Les Sweeney. “We strive to add
value to ABMP membership and want our
members to have more money to spend on
other CE providers, and on themselves.”
Visit the new ABMP Education Center at
www.abmp.com/ce today and see some of
the many topics that can make your practice
stronger.
“Understanding the Body-Mind
Effects of Stress” with Til Luchau
“Ethics for the Real
World” with Til Luchau
“Infant Massage: Is it More
than Just Super Cuddling?”
with Tina Allen
“The Mystery of Pain”
with Douglas Nelson
www.abmp.com/ce
DS 2
May
J u n e 2016
“Cancer Treatment and
Massage Therapy” with
Gayle MacDonald and
Tracy Walton
“Table Thai Yoga Massage
for Neck and Shoulders” with
Heath and Nicole Reed
BEST ADVICE
Test Your Practice IQ
We hope you saw the Practice IQ Test in the March/April issue of Massage
& Bodywork magazine (page 22). This fun exercise is meant to uncover
any cracks in your core successful-practice essentials, like self-care,
marketing and promotion, and client retention. Check
out this insightful, yet humorous article from
ABMP President Les Sweeney and Manager
of Professional Development Kristin Coverly
at www.massageandbodyworkdigital.
com/i/640605-march-april-2016/24.
Body Sense
spring 2016
}
massage, bodywork & healthy living
Movement Therapies
Strengthen Your Body and Accentuate
Your Healing
}
Have you sent the newest
issue of Body Sense magazine
to your clients? This digitalonly consumer publication is
filled with useful information
that promotes healthy living,
including the value of frequent
massage and bodywork.
ABMP BizFit Tip
A successful practice is
what everyone wants,
but not everyone gets.
What are the areas you
wish you could improve
on to make your practice
a healthier one? Is it a
discomfort with money
and not charging what
you’re worth? Do you
wish you had a better
grasp on social media and
how it could strengthen
your business? Or
maybe you just need
some marketing ideas to
reinvigorate your practice?
ABMP offers advice on
these issues and so much
more in our Successful
Practice Toolkits found
under “Business
Management” at www.
abmp.com. And watch for
ABMP BizFit Successful
Practice Workshops
happening across the
country this fall.
This free marketing tool is an
easy way to reinforce the positive
effects of therapeutic touch.
Massage
Your Gateway to
Body Awareness
Tipping
What Do Therapists Expect?
What Should You Do?
PLUS
Reiki’s effectiveness
for pain reduction
A public education magazine brought to you by
Send it today. Go to “Body
Body Sense
magazine” in the “Marketing
Center” to get started.
Different Strokes is published by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals
800-458-2267
Karrie Osborn, editor, [email protected]
[email protected]
Nguyen Pham, graphic designer, [email protected]
ABMP.com
Laura Embleton, government relations director, [email protected]
DS 3
Government Relations
by Laura Embleton
Step Up
and Lead!
Massage Therapy Boards
Need You
Massage therapy is regulated in 47 states
across the country and in Washington, D.C.,
Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Many
states have massage therapy boards, while some
of these states—like Colorado—have “Offices
of Massage Therapy Licensure” to oversee the
profession. The only states without either an
office or board are those where there is no
licensing or certification: Kansas, Minnesota,
Oklahoma, Vermont, and Wyoming. (Note:
there are bills moving through Minnesota and
Oklahoma addressing new legislation this
legislative session.)
Boards play an essential role in the regulation of
massage therapists across the United States. Typical
board duties include licensing massage therapists,
drafting rules to carry out the Massage Therapy
Practice Act in your state, monitoring and approving
continuing education, handling disciplinary actions,
and, in some instances, working with and possibly
certifying massage therapy schools.
Sitting on a board allows you to have input in
the profession in your state, including having a voice
on the rules and the state’s practice act. This is an
opportunity for you to take on a leadership role to
help mold the profession in your area.
Board member terms vary; however, they
are typically two or four years. All the massage
therapy board and office websites are located here:
www.abmp.com/members/state-requirements.
You can determine if you have a board or
government office by clicking on the website link
for your state. If you have a state board, its website
should list members and their terms.
When the boards actually meet varies by state.
Some meet monthly, every other month, or quarterly.
Some board members are reimbursed for their travels
or receive daily stipends when they do travel; others
are volunteers.
Applying for board membership usually involves
submitting a letter of interest or application and
resume online. In most states, the governor appoints
the board members. ABMP applauds those of you
already sitting on boards. Thank you for your service.
Having ABMP members sit on boards and share their
insights helps us keep up with all the regulations and
laws across the country.
If you are sitting on a board, let us know. There is
an easy link to email us at the website above, or you
can email us directly at [email protected]
with the subject “State Board Member Information.”
It is rewarding to get engaged in your government
and state board. Will you be the one to step up
and lead?
Laura Embleton is ABMP’s director of government relations.
Contact her at [email protected].
DS 4
May
J u n e 2016
Every Body
Build your business.
Share healthy touch.
Inform the community.
Make a difference.
Deserves a Massage Week
July 10–16, 2016
Print Your
Massage Week
Materials
Go to www.abmp.
com/massageweek-intro.
These are just some of the outcomes you get
from participating in ABMP’s annual EveryBody
Deserves a Massage Week. Since 1995, ABMP
members have given their time, money, and
effort to spread the message of healthy touch.
Whether reaching out to give massage to firstresponders at your local fire house, offering free
chair massage to teachers and other unsung
heroes, or collecting canned goods for the
local food bank, you can make a difference in
your community by participating in this awardwinning event.
However you decide to celebrate EveryBody
Deserves a Massage Week, we have the tools
to guide you every step of the way. Go to
www.abmp.com/massage-week-intro to get
started. You’ll find event ideas, client forms,
a sample press release, and customizable
marketing materials. Can’t print the materials?
Call us at 877-208-7546 to order a sample
packet of coupons, postcards, and posters you
can take to a local printer.
Order a Banner
Call 877-208-7546
to reserve a massage
week banner with
a $150 refundable
deposit.
Tell Us About It!
Share your event details
with us for possible
inclusion in a future issue of
Different Strokes. We love
to hear what you’re up to.
Email differentstrokes@
abmp.com.
World Massage Festival
August 7–10, in Atlantic City
Connect with
leaders in the
profession and
immerse yourself
in education
during the 2016
World Massage
Festival at
Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New
Jersey, August 7–10. ABMP is proud to
help sponsor this event and will have a
booth in the vendor area. To register, go
to www.worldmassagefestival.com.
Share the Good News
Earn a $20 Credit When You Refer a Friend
When you encourage a friend to join ABMP (or any of our sister associations—Associated Skin Care
Professionals, Associated Hair Professionals, or Associated Nail Professionals), we’ll thank you with
a $20 referral credit. How? For each new practitioner who is accepted for membership and lets us
know you recommended us, we’ll give you a $20 credit, which will be applied toward your next
ABMP membership renewal. Be sure to let your friends know your ABMP ID number so you get the
credit you deserve.
It pays to be ABMP Certified: www.abmp.com/go/certifiedcentral
DS 5
ABMP Member Profile
By Karrie Osborn
Helping the Achievers Achieve
From weekend warriors to Olympic medalists,
Geoffrey Bishop sees a variety of athletes in
his practice, Stay Tuned Therapeutics, based in
Flagstaff, Arizona. Endurance athletes—cyclists,
divers, long-distance runners, swimmers—make up the
majority of the elite athletes he sees, especially since
so many Olympic hopefuls come to the Flagstaff area
for high-altitude training. But the rest of his athletic
clients come from all across the spectrum.
“I love helping people achieve,” says Bishop, a father
of three who works alongside his wife in their therapeutic
sports clinic. “And that’s with athletes at all levels—the
weekend warriors, house moms, retired folks, and blue
collar workers who double as athletes.”
Bishop says in addition to helping clients succeed in
their athletic performance with his advanced myoskeletal
techniques, he also appreciates being able to work in a
multidisciplinary environment. “I get to work with coaches,
trainers, and athletes, and I like the conversations. I love
standing around talking shop with the science guys in
the athletic arena. At times, I help them turn the corner
on their understanding of the importance of massage
and bodywork. Many know that massage is good, but
when they come away knowing it is better than what they
thought before, that’s where it’s at. They may have known
it was important, but when they see the depth of what we
can do, that’s the money.” Bishop notes one caveat: “With
this crowd especially, we have to be able to talk about why
it works, just as much as actually doing the work.”
Bishop’s journey to this stage in his work was one not
without some “bumps and bruises.” It was a December
evening in 1996 when Bishop was walking home after
a heart-wrenching breakup with his then girlfriend. “I
remember saying to myself, ‘It can’t get any worse. I
guess I could either get mugged or hit by a car—that
might be worse.’ I waited patiently for the walk light at the
crosswalk. I got the light to walk, crossed the first two
lanes of traffic, and from nowhere a car came around the
corner and took me out from behind. I never saw it coming,
but I guess I asked for the answer—it could get worse.”
Geoffrey Bishop, (right,
foreground) with his
sports massage team,
works with both elite
athletes (far right) and
weekend warriors.
“Different bodies, but the
same issues,” he says.
DS 6
May
J u n e 2016
But it could also get better. As with so many in this
profession, Bishop was intrigued and inspired by the
therapists helping him during his postinjury rehabilitation.
After inundating his therapists with questions about the
work, one finally encouraged him to consider massage
school and find the answers himself. And so he did.
With 20 years now under his professional belt, Bishop
has this advice for new practitioners—diversify your
practice. “Don’t be overly attached to one setting for your
practice. I work with athletes, on-site corporate accounts,
clients in my private practice; I set up my table in hotel
rooms, on pool decks, in the woods at the races, at the
lake, and so on.”
However, just because your diversified practice takes
you to a variety of venues, he says it’s important not to
undervalue the work you do. “Early in my career, I did free
work at events—for about a year—to get the experience
of working with athletes and event organizers.” And while
outreach for worthy causes is certainly career-building and
heart-fulfilling, therapists need to watch their boundaries.
“Many race companies and event organizers are taking
advantage of therapists at a local level, while they continue
to up the rates to enter an event,” he says. “To do work for
the same price they offered in 1981 is way beyond what we
need to be doing. I say we get with the times.”
Bishop says there is something special about working
with the athletic client. “Working with athletes keeps us
sharp in many ways, as the athletic client’s mind-set may
be more in tune with their body and require us to stay up
with our anatomy and physiology lessons. Athletes tend to
do their research and expect us to do the same. We must
stay on top of the current trends, be aware of the snake oil,
and stick to the tried and true at times as well.”
Karrie Osborn is senior editor at ABMP.
Discounts For ABMP Members
To access the websites of discount providers, log in to www.abmp.com
and click on “Discounts.”
Featured Benefit
Find these
and more at
www.abmp.com
Bodyworkmall.com.
Save 10% on products from
a variety of manufacturers,
including Biotone, Earthlite,
Oakworks, and more. ABMP
Certified members receive a
20% discount.
Choice Hotels. Summer travel
is around the corner. Save 20%
at participating hotels.
Dental Benefits Max. Save
an average of 40% on dental
care; choose from more than
92,000 dentists and specialists.
New and existing Verizon customers are eligible
for monthly access discounts on service; other
discounts on devices and accessories may also
apply. (Note: You will need to set up a free ABMP
email account to qualify for the discount.)
Office Depot. Receive up to
15% off all products, and up to
80% off select goods with the
Windfall program.
It pays to be ABMP Certified: www.abmp.com/go/certifiedcentral
DS 7
CONGRATULATIONS
members
Hilary Christine Abbath
Dorraine Adams
Roberta Adams
Alicia Allen
Penny Alvarez
Hollie Aneshansley
John Arnett
Vernon Arnold
Tyrus Arthur
Nathaniel Bangs
Pamela Banning
Roxanne Baptiste
Shasta Deann Bates
Nicholas Bieze
Richard Bighon
Aiyana Booth-Athenian
Christine Bouchard
Margaret Bowden
Irta Braziene
Cara Britton
Michael Bryant
Kate Burns
Priscilla Burns
Mocha-Mystique Butkovich
Zinaida Butsyrin
Christine Byrne
Jessica Cain
Kevin Campbell
Amanda Carbaugh
Michelle Carroll
Joanie Cartal
Robin Castro
Leslie Champine
Francis Cleary
Barbara Conti
Jennalee Cook
Jeremiah Cook
Kimberly Cook
Alana Coppola
Deborah Costa
Nicole Davis
Jessica de Silva Koch
Dawna Deakins
Dawn Denzin
Cindy Derrickson-Wimbrow
Diane Desmarais
members
Constance Alward-Mayer
Frank Arce
Jennifer Arndt
Mary Bennitt
Jonna Boyd
Thomas Bradigan
Simone Carbonel
Shirley Chan
Julie Chandler
Yuriy Dmytrenko
Kendra Doerr
Albina Dolbilova
Tamara Drew
Lori Dudley
Nadine Duran
Candace Jo Eck
Terri Eggert
Lori Eppenstein
Richard Eshelman
Joanne Ethier
Jamie Lynn Fanara
Patsy Fine
Debra Foreman-Dodds
Persephanie Jayne Freeman
Melody Frizzell
Lorraine Frongillo
Acacia Garcia-Vazquez
Jessie Geiss
Leslie Hairfield
Kristen Lyn Hanson
Susan Hegvold
Connie Helton
Jessica Henry
Marcia Heusted
Suzette Horner
Ronald Hough
Heidi Korina Huffman
Kristina Huffman
Darlene Jackson
Janice Jakubowski
Kathy Jennings
Laura Johnson
Margaret Jones
Russell Jones
Kerry Jordan
Patricia Justice
Dolores Kastler
Lael Katharine Keen
Laura Kemper
Nichole Kjorlie
Lori Klatt
Geraldine Klein-Meagher
Jean Knapp
Kimberly Joy Korljan
Kimberly Rae Landsman
Pamela Jean Latterell
Julie Ann Laurent
Candace Leila
Luanne Leineke
Kathryn Leone
Lauren Elizabeth Lockhart
Sally Logan
Joy Long
Rebecca Mabe Benza
Daphne Mack
Christine Mann
Julie Marie
Martha Marin
Karen Marshall
Jan Marx
Maria Mathias
Margery Matthews
Jaclyn Mazanet Larson
Kathleen McConnell
Miki McMahon
Jennifer McNamee
Margaret Mendolera
Hollie Merchant
Carla Sue Miller
Kathleen Miller
Cynthia Morgan
Elaine Morgan
Amanda Morrow
Julie Mundis
Kelly Myszkowski
Suteja Navarro
Claude Niquet
Matthew Nolan
Edwin Nothnagel III
Beatriz Novelo
Teena Nuttbrock
Joyce Olson
Michelle O’Neil Puryear
Jaroslaw Pac
Shirley Padilla
Kelly Patterson-Brown
Susan Marina Perdos
Connie Phelps
Robert Pinter
Mohammad Porfekr
Anne Putnam
Annette Quick
Jeannine Rashidi
Candace Remy
Andrea Reynolds
Daniel Rich
Paulette Richard-O'Rourke
Isabel Riek
Kathleen Roberto
Anne Roberts
Charise Rogosky
Sakti Rose
Peter Rothe
Rebecca Rudenick
Amy Rumbel
Nicole Russo
Lee Anthony Santa Ana
Nancy Satow
Alice Schitter
Michael Robert Searle
Laurie Seghi
Meilan Sewell
Solange Shapira
Ai Shinozawa
Nicole Shroyer
Cindy Shuff
Corrine Skeels
Carol Slivka
Rosa Rene’ Sloan
Gina Smith
Steve Smith
Cheryl Solem
Courtney Spencer
Sandra Stearley
Julie Sterner
Kristie Strandberg
Jan Dee Summers
Elizabeth Talev
Gabrielle Thon
Caitlin Thormodsgard
Carol Thornton
Darren Tice
Linda Tousignant
Holly Towkaniuk
Yuko Ueda
Laura Lorena Utrecht
Joyce Uzzle
Catherine Van Camp
Nataliya Van Den Driessche
Kay Vogel Christiansen
Jill Walcker
Sarah Ward
Kristi Warren
Bradley Wathen
Kristi Joy Wilkins
Sarah Wilkinson
Alicia Willette-Cook
Tammy Williams
Susan Winterhoff
Shannon Woodley
Michelle Worth
Nanci Worthington
Barbara Wulff
Marijean Yager
Angela Young
Gina Cronin
Lynn Crotser
Bernadette Curtis
Diana Dean
Maura Elayna Digiesi
Genesis Edwards
Myra Edwards
Susan Errickson
Constance Jo Ervin
Colleen Naomi Geigle Lossing
Sandra Gerrard
Beverly Geyer
Karin Goyette
Lynn Hawxhurst
Candace Louise Horton
Susan Jeffreys
Margaret Just-Dahl
Maida Kober
Marsha Lipshitz
Phyllis Magers
Mary Beth Markus
Laurel Matthes
Theresa McFarland
Jane Marie Meech
Samantha Moreno Petty
Alexandra Nabor
Jennifer Noble
Sylvia Noonan
Rhonda Penland
Ronald Ripka
Sally Rogers
Denise Rucktaschel
Christina Russell
Carol Sabo-Horton
Irma Silkman
Theresa Snyder
Pamela Jean Sweet
Mary Ann Szydlowski
Cynthia Ann Tavelli
Robin Thomas
Thomas Walker
Jill Walz
Joan Weisberg
Valerie Whiting
Leo Zuzga Jr.
Different Strokes: the voice of ABMP
Different Strokes
ABMP’s Member Newsletter
March/April 2016
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
A Gold Mine of Information Lives in the
Massage & Bodywork Archives
ABMP
Massage & Bodywork Latest Issues
JANUARY FEBRUARY
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
2016
2015
2015
JULY AUGUST 2015
Save $$$ On Your Membership!
see page 3
What you need to know about government regulation. see page 4
A GOLD MINE OF INFORMATION AT
YOUR FINGERTIPS
Written just for you, our award-winning
Massage & Bodywork magazine not only has
the greatest readership in the profession, but
is also the industry thought leader. And, since
2008, we’ve been building an easily accessible
and mobile-friendly archive of each issue.
• Have a research project you’re working on
and need more information?
• Want to read about a technique you’re
interested in trying?
• Ready to buy a new table for your practice
but don’t know where to start?
• Hungry for ideas to rejuvenate your practice?
Find answers to these questions and so much
more in our digital archives.
www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com
Research Tips
For Our Mobile Readers
➤ If you need to find something you
saw in a previous issue of the magazine:
Go to the digital edition archives
(www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com),
click the plus sign, and search for a word
or phrase throughout all the issues dating
back to January 2008.
We know a good portion of
you read Massage & Bodywork
on your phones and tablets.
When you access the magazines
through these devices, you can
easily transition to a text-only
view of each page by clicking
on the “T” in the upper bar.
Otherwise, simply pinch and
expand to see the content in the
designed version.
➤ If you’re looking for something older than
2008: All of our articles are available online in
a text-only format. Go to your search engine,
then type in “Massage & Bodywork magazine”
and your key word to get your results.
Have You Gone Digital?
Do you access the magazine through
www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com?
It’s easy and convenient to always have your
association magazine at your fingertips.
Try it today and get immediate access to the
last eight years of the magazine. Note: if you
are a new digital reader, the system will ask for
your email to get you up and running.
DS 2
March
April 2016
BEST ADVICE
Serious Savings
Did you know you can
save money on your ABMP
membership just by telling
others about us? Here’s how:
1. Refer a friend and save $20
Each time you refer a friend to ABMP or
one of our sister organizations (Associated
Skin Care Professionals, Associated
Hair Professionals, and Associated Nail
Professionals), and they join as a new
member at any of the Practitioner/
Professional/Certified levels, you receive
a $20 credit toward your next year’s
membership. Just make sure they mention
your name when they sign up.
2. Earn a discount for you
and your coworkers
Do you work at a practice that has a
combination of five or more massage
therapists, bodyworkers, skin care
practitioners, hair stylists, or nail
professionals? When five or more
employees from one establishment join our
organizations, everyone in the group benefits
with a discount on membership. It’s easy to
get started. Contact us at 800-862-7724,
ext. 613, to see if you qualify.
EveryBody
ABMP BizFit Tip
What's In Your
Wallet?
No, we’re not
encouraging you to go
get a new credit card,
but we are encouraging
you to see how many
business cards you
have on hand. The last
thing you want to face
is a room filled with
potential clients and
only one tired-looking,
dog-eared card. Keep
your supply fresh and
neat and have enough
with you at all times to
be able to handle any
client request: “Let me
take a handful of your
cards for my friends”
is an opportunity you
don’t want to miss.
Deserves a Massage Week
July 10–16, 2016
Start planning today for this year’s EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week.
Host a fundraiser for a local charity. Plan a food drive where clients get
discounted services with a donation of canned goods. Give the gift
of massage to first-responders, teachers, or others who could use a
comforting touch. Go to www.abmp.com/massage-week-intro for
more information.
ABMP members receive
a discount on business
cards and more with
Vistaprint. Log in to
www.abmp.com and
look for this under
“Discounts.”
Different Strokes is published by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals
800-458-2267
Karrie Osborn, editor, [email protected]
[email protected]
Nguyen Pham, graphic designer, [email protected]
ABMP.com
Laura Embleton, government relations director, [email protected]
DS 3
Government Relations
by Nancy Potter
What You Need to Know
About Government Regulation
As a massage therapist, you’re
busy with practice and career
development; learning about
massage therapy regulation is
probably pretty low on your to-do
list. However, regulation directly
impacts our profession, and it’s
often misunderstood. Here are
some of the basics that all MTs
should know.
1
Individual States,
Not the Federal
Government, Regulate
Massage Therapy
The federal government does
not regulate massage therapy,
and there is no national license
to practice massage. Rather,
the profession is governed by
individual state laws that vary. In
many states, a massage therapy
board handles the administration
of massage therapy law. The board
is usually comprised of volunteer
board members—some of whom
are MTs themselves. The board
normally issues the regulations
that fill in the details of the state’s
massage therapy law, and also
processes license applications
and handles disciplinary matters.
Additionally, cities and towns often
have their own local ordinances
that further regulate massage
businesses.
2
There are Several
Categories of Regulation
There are several ways a state
can regulate (or not regulate)
massage therapists:
➤ No State Regulation
Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma,
Vermont, and Wyoming do not have
any state laws regulating MTs.
This means you can practice in
DS 4
March
April 2016
these states without a state license
because there is no state license.
However, cities and towns in these
states can still regulate MTs if they
choose, so check with your city or
town government to find out if a
local license or permit is required
to practice massage.
➤ Voluntary Certification
California has a unique system.
There is no such thing as a
state massage therapy license in
California. However, therapists
can obtain a voluntary massage
therapy certification from the
California Massage Therapy
Council (CAMTC), which allows
therapists to practice anywhere
in California without needing to
satisfy additional requirements
imposed by a city or town. And
many cities and towns actually
require CAMTC certification to
practice there. All California MTs
should be sure they understand
and are complying with any local
ordinances governing massage
therapy.
➤ Title Protection
Indiana and Virginia are “title
protection” states, which means
a person technically does not
have to hold a state massage
certification in order to practice
massage, but does have to hold the
state certification in order to call
him or herself a massage therapist
or use a title incorporating that
term. Since it’s hard to practice
massage therapy without calling
yourself a massage therapist, most
Indiana and Virginia practitioners
obtain state certification.
Additionally, cities and towns can
impose their own requirements,
and therapists should check to be
sure they’re complying with those
requirements.
➤ Mandatory License
A “license” is permission from
the government required to
legally engage in some activity
(think driver’s license). Most
states require that a person hold a
massage therapy license in order
to perform massage therapy legally
in that state. The qualifications
for mandatory licensure differ
from state to state, but commonly
include 500–650 hours of
approved massage education,
plus successful completion of the
MBLEx exam. Every state, other
than the eight mentioned above,
requires MTs to hold a state-issued
massage license.
3
And Then There's
Establishment Licenses
Many cities and towns, as well
as some states, require a second
type of license—“establishment
license”—for massage businesses.
Since establishment licenses
cover businesses, not individuals,
technically they do not constitute
double licensing. In many
cases, sole practitioner massage
businesses are exempt from the
establishment license requirement.
Check with your state board
and city or town government
to see if your business needs an
establishment license.
Nancy Potter is ABMP’s government
relations coordinator. Contact her at
[email protected]
Massage Licenses
To find out more about your state’s
regulation of massage therapy,
and the contact information for
your state board, log in to
www.abmp.com, and click on
your state on the Legislative Map
under “Career Development/
Regulation & Advocacy.”
Calling All Educators
For You
Come see what we have in store for
instructors, directors, and school owners.
ABMP School Forums
We’re back—and three times better!
We’ve created a new format for this
program that brings educators together
to share the successes and challenges of
massage and bodywork education. You
can help shape the future of massage
therapy! For more information, go to
abmp.com/abmp-school-forums.
Memphis
April 22–23
Scottsdale
Philadelphia
September 23–24 November 3–4
Instructors on the Front Lines
Attend a free workshop in your area. Our
current topic is “Creating Exceptional
Learning Experiences,” which teaches
methods to plan, develop, and sequence
exceptional learning experiences
designed for adult learners in a massage
or bodywork program. Visit www.abmp.
com/educators/abmp-instructors-frontlines-workshops to learn more.
For Your
Students
We’ve also built lots of great
resources with your students’
success in mind.
ABMP
Student
life
life is crazy. let us help
ABMP Student Life is a free program that helps your
students make it to graduation and beyond. Massage
technique videos, study aids, and informative newsletter
content keep them focused on being successful in their
massage and bodywork programs. Sign your students up
for free by contacting [email protected].
ABMP Exam Coach
is an interactive,
web-based test prep
program that will
exam
help your students
pass the MBLEx. It
coach
features quizzes, flash
cards, vocabulary and
pronunciations, and
four exams that mimic
the MBLEx structure
Try a demo for yourself:
www.abmp.com/examcoach and subject weighting.
Send Body Sense to Your Clients!
Have you sent the latest Body Sense magazine to your massage and
bodywork clients? It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s effective!
Our last issue featured these great articles, and much more:
• “A Breath of Fresh Air: Conscious Breathing During Your Bodywork
Session”
• “Keeping the Doctor Away With Echinacea”
• “A Win-Win: Massage Convert and Her MT Inspire Each Other”
Add this free consumer education tool to your website and send it to
your clients today! Log in to www.abmp.com and look for “Body Sense
magazine” in the “Marketing Center.”
It pays to be ABMP Certified: www.abmp.com/go/certifiedcentral
DS 5
ABMP Member Profile
By Karrie Osborn
From Russia
with Touch
Olya Pedersen was always an artistic child. Born in
Moscow, Russia, she loved to draw, make sculptures,
act, dance, and sing.
“Later on, I graduated from college, got an office job, and
set aside my creative nature. My mother grieved this fact as
she has always known how happy I am when I draw or sing.”
After moving to the United States in 2011, however, Pedersen
says her eyes were opened to all the possibilities. “I knew
I wanted to help people feel better. I learned about organic
foods, alternative medicine, and a holistic approach to life.
I learned about massage therapy, and nothing could stop
me from then on.” Pedersen says she examined her heart,
reflected a lot, and finally decided to be true to herself and
choose this new career path that was calling to her.
Pedersen graduated from the Universal College of Healing
Arts in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2014 and went to work in a
spa setting as she started her new career. She says she
will always be an artist and considers massage the new
expression of her creativity. “I might never come back to
DS 6
March
April 2016
“I might never come back to drawing
on canvas, but I feel I draw and sing
with my hands and create something
new with every massage session.”
—Olya Pedersen, LMT
drawing on canvas, but I feel I draw and sing with my hands
and create something new with every massage session.”
Now living in Omaha, with her husband, Andrew, and
their son, Jack, Pedersen says 2015 was a big year for her
as she became both a US citizen and a new mother. “I was
able to work through my 39th week of pregnancy,” she says.
“It actually felt fantastic to move when I was pregnant. I felt
worse on the days I didn’t work.” She says she asked her
employer at the time to incorporate more breaks into her
schedule and found that being able to elevate her legs for
a few minutes between clients helped recharge her for the
next session.
Now back on a regular schedule, Pedersen says
finding and pursuing the massage path, and all its artistic
components, has been a blessing. “I discovered my passion
in life,” she says. “I discovered my calling and mission!”
Karrie Osborn is senior editor at ABMP.
Discounts For ABMP Members
To access the websites of discount providers, log in to www.abmp.com
and click on “Discounts.”
Featured Benefit
It’s Tax Time!
Use your discounts from these ABMP partners to
help get you ready for April 15!
Find these
and more at
www.abmp.com
Promotive. Save up to
75% off retail on major
brands—outdoor gear,
shoes, electronics, clothing,
and more.
Save $20 on tax preparation
with H&R Block and receive
special pricing on H&R Block
software products.
Put the experience of H&R Block
to work for you. This full-service
tax preparation provider offers
in-office, online, and software
solutions. With more than 10,000
office locations and over 50 years
of tax preparation experience, let
the professionals at H&R Block take
care of your tax needs this season.
Save up to $15 on TurboTax federal products.
Doing your taxes yourself? Intuit’s TurboTax lets you
do just that, while still offering you double checks
as you go.
Books of Discovery.
Save 20% on all products,
excluding apps and
combination offers.
Spa & Bodywork
Market. Receive 10%
off your favorite brands
(Biotone, Soothing Touch,
etc.) and spa supplies—
essential oils, linens, hot
stones, massage tables,
and more. ABMP Certified
members receive a 25%
discount.
It pays to be ABMP Certified: www.abmp.com/go/certifiedcentral
DS 7
CONGRATULATIONS
members
Connie Abraham
Crystal Aprile
Jim Bailey
Amanda Barp
Cathy Behm
Laura Bennett
Sabrina Bishop
Deborah Boyar
Lisa Brand
Lily Brantley
Brenda Brennan
Kathy Brown
Jillian Buck
Gloria Buzzard
Laura Byrum
Thomas Campbell
Laquita Carman
Kristin Carpio
Patricia Lynn Catanzaro
Gudrun Cheff
Paul Chek
Caroline Chrudimsky
Carrie Clouse
Breanne Cullen
Brenda Dawson
Ana de Oliveira Sampaio
Sarah Demulling
Ishmael Dengate
Jacqueline Deschamps
Viktoriya Dron
Thomas DuBois
Talley Dunn
members
Patricia Adams
Cindy Amandus
Charlene Andrewlavage
Ashley Andrews
Paula Begay
Margot Biestman
Charlotte Jean Bishop
John Burrell
Mary Erlandson McGrath
Eileen Fischetti
Maryann Gillham
Jay Maya Green
Helene Halstuch
Linda June Ernest
Beverly Farris
Deborah Page Fischer
Rosemary Foster
Laura Fox
Brandon Garinger
Stefanie Geist
M. J. Gentile
Debbie Gordon
Carolyn Hackney-Miller
Bonnie Harmon
Robin Hart
Doris Hartwig
Randi Harwood
Laura Hays
Beverly Hegarty
Suzanne Hooten
Diane Hynes
Karen Iverson
Brenda James-Case
Lori Johns
Dana Johnson
Peter Johnson
Hassan Kabiri
Geraldine Karr
Jedadia Ketchabaw
Jonathan Knoblock
Yevgeniy Kryukov
Wendy Kuhns-Higashino
Judith Lane
Edward Leach
Linda Leatherman
Donna Leif
Sarah Lenardson
Margaret Levine
Daryl Lewis
Edwin Litter
Stephanie Loopstra
Alison Main
Esther Marc
David Marino
Brent Martin
Maria Martinez
Raul Martinez
Heather McCoy
Krystle McMurry
Karen Melton
Jacki Moon-Tyson
Frank Nelson
David Newman
Julie Lynn O’Brien
Carol Padilla
Rebecca Perhacs
Carmen Petracco
Deborah Pitkin
Sandy Pitzler
David Platshon
Theodore Polinsky
Ariana Rabish
Rebekah Rachel
Christina Racibozynski
Rose Marie Rae
Catie Rasmussen
Christy Rae Rice
Sheila Ring
Catherine Ruelas
Lisa Sadowski
Gerin Sakagawa
Jennifer Sanford
Heather Sarafian
Constance Schnerr
Allison Schwenk
Debra Shorrock
Victoria Smith
Kristine Solverson
Sonia Soto
Jennifer Stabrylla
Keesha Andrea Standley
Jane Stinson
Beverly Strong
Yanina Symkowski
Joan Thompson
Vicki Topp
Celina Katherine Trevino
Paul Valentine
Yuriy Visin
Christilyn Wacker
Laura Lee Wadsworth
Marlene Wank
Maria Warenski
Amber Weathers
Lena Westre
Dale Wheeler
Tonnie White
Wendy Willson
Erin Wilson
Robin Wintermeyer
Paul Wood
Heather Wruck
Lee Wylie
Debbie Zalman
George Zimonyi
Daria Hartman
Frank Haseloff
Roy Holt
Stephanie Hughes
Arthur Jacobson
Linda Jett
Dorothy Johnson
Cynthia Margaret Kas
Dorothy Kellum
Donald Kitch
Cynthia Koch
Virginia Kral
Robin George Lazor
Marcia Anne Lenning
Elaine Lennox
Mary Jo Lohn
Amy Matthaei
Patricia McDevitt
Patricia Meador
Sally Mellon
Karen May Moore
Pamela Myers
Vianna Myles
Renee Niederman
Rex Orcutt
Cari Pelava
Stephanie Pelca
Jamie Sams
Pamela Silvermoon
Kim Sly
Loretta Soulek
Susan Steffy
Stephen Stroud
Cara Taylor
Corinne Vahle
Sherry Verdugo-Boyd
Christina Walker
Dianne Wilder
Dee Gee Williams
K. J. Wolf
Kathy Diana Yates
Marc Zollicoffer
Different Strokes: the voice of ABMP