Welcome! I know your time is valuable & hope you find something worthwhile here. I journal about life, things that inspire me, things that tick me off, things I'm proud of & things that make me laugh. I'm attending school to become a Massage Therapist so that may be a frequent topic. I hope you'll comment on my posts & that you'll become a subscriber. Make it a great day & may you be blessed in all you do!
Massage Conference
Posted by Sue in Massage
This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the AMTA MD annual conference in Ocean City. I found it to be extremely informative and enjoyed meeting and networking with other massage therapists.
On Thursday evening I took the 4 hour Yamuna Body Rolling class with Nina Wendt. Using a specially designed ball, approximately 8” in diameter, we learned a number of routines to allow us to release and elongate our own muscles from origin to insertion. Target areas of the body were gluts, hamstrings, quads, back, neck, shoulders, and arms. The program was designed as a therapeutic self-care routine to assist bodyworkers in extending their careers and to work with less pain. It also allows us as bodyworkers to experience and understand in our own bodies how tissues release. A little time was spent demonstrating how to use the ball on someone else, as an additional massage tool.
On Friday I participated in 2 classes – Practical Anatomy of the Shoulder with Bob McAtee and Therapeutic Essential Oils and their Practical Massage Application with Anita Benedictis.
In Bob McAtee’s class we had a review of the 14 muscles which attach to the scapula and then dove right in to learning and practicing 5 protocols for working on and releasing shoulder restrictions and/or pain. The protocols incorporated slow active joint movement on the client’s part, and primarily fairly deep compression on the therapist’s part. It was very interesting and I’m looking forward to practicing the techniques on my husband, who suffers from work-related shoulder pain.
I really loved and was amazed by the Essential Oils class. Anita reviewed and gave us sample vials of her “Top 6” essential oils for massage therapists – lavender, thieves, purification, peppermint, valor, and peace and calming. She taught the various methods to use therapeutic oils (ingestion, neat, inhalation or mixed in with massage oil or lotion) and gave testimonials of healings accomplished by incorporating the appropriate essential oil(s) into a massage, or used on their own. I’ve almost used up all my peppermint sample already – I gave some to a painter who worked with me on Saturday to help clear up his congestion, and then used it on Ryan to help with his seasonal allergies – I gave him a 20 minute foot massage using the Vita Flex Technique, which Anita taught us. Vita Flex means “vitality through the reflexes” and originated in Tibet thousands of years ago. It uses essential oils massaged into reflexology points on the foot.
Even though I can’t use the CE credits I am very glad that I went and wish I could have stayed to take more classes on Saturday. I’m seriously considering working down the ocean next summer at one of the upscale hotels that offer massage, so will definitely attend the conference as a licensed practitioner! Ryan may come down with me and work the summer as a busboy or whatever and make lots of money – doesn’t that sound like fun???