Ep 538 – Big Picture Guidance: "Business or Pressure" with Allissa Haines

Ricky Williams joins The ABMP Podcast to share his journey from elite athlete to lifelong student of healing. After experiencing the power of massage therapy early in his football career, Ricky began exploring craniosacral therapy and other modalities as a path toward true wholeness—physically, emotionally, and mentally. In this conversation, he discusses the connection between performance and healing, the role of listening and curiosity in bodywork, and how subtle, hands-on work can unlock profound change. Ricky also reflects on his ongoing mission to bridge the gap between professional sports and holistic healing. About Ricky Williams: Ricky Williams has devoted his life and career to inspiring greatness in himself and others. A Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back, he played most notably with the Miami Dolphins, finishing his career with over 10,000 rushing yards and 74 touchdowns before retiring in 2011. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015. After football, Williams turned his focus to healing and wellness, studying Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine and co-founding Real Wellness in 2018. In 2021, he launched Highsman, a cannabis brand rooted in his belief in the plant's ability to support both physical and emotional well-being. Resources: Highsman Website: https://www.highsman.com/ Upledger Institute: https://www.upledger.com/ Lila Astrology App: https://www.lilaverse.app/ Instagram: @williams Host: Angie Parris is a licensed massage therapist and is the advertising director for ABMP. She is Chopra Center Certified in meditation and ayurvedic lifestyle. Her training explores physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Angie is also the founder of the nonprofit, Project Inti, an organization that provides aid to low-income Peruvian families and communities. For more information, visit www.projectinti.org.   Sponsors: Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes.    For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding.    CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond.    Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes.    Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month.    Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession.     Website: upledger.com/courses   Email: [email protected]   Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ     Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.                      Website: anatomytrains.com                        Email: [email protected]             Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains                       Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA    Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.   Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness.  At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry.   www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs  www.heightswellnessretreats.com  https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/  https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/ 

A client asks for a specific technique on their face. They have a bad reaction. Then they say they didn't want work in that area anyway, and by the way, they had a skull fracture four years ago. Now they're leaving because they feel a migraine coming on. The therapist is left wondering what just happened. In this episode of I Have a Client Who . . ., Ruth unpacks this interaction, what may have been going on for the client and their bones, and takes a closer look at where things started to break down. Has this ever happened to you? You're not alone.   Resources:   Cheatham, S.W. et al. (2025) "International Expert Consensus on Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization Precautions and Contraindications: A Modified Delphi Study," Healthcare, 13(6), p. 642. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13060642.   Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (no date) Physiopedia. Available at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Instrument_Assisted_Soft_Tissue_Mobilization (Accessed: March 13, 2026).   Skull Fractures: Types, Treatment and Prevention (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/skull-fracture (Accessed: March 13, 2026).   Handling Head Trauma | ABMP (no date). Available at: https://www.abmp.com/massage-and-bodywork-magazine/issues/winter-2025/handling-head-trauma (Accessed: March 13, 2026). Host Bio:                  Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com.    Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.     Website: anatomytrains.com      Email: [email protected]           Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains             Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA    Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.   Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness.    At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry.  www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs  www.heightswellnessretreats.com  https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/  https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/   

You can be doing everything right—your marketing is working, your systems are in place, and clients are coming in—yet your calendar still ends up with unexpected gaps. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia breaks down why rebooking is the key to consistency and how to stop constantly chasing new clients.  Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/   Author links:   Website: https://healthleaderco.com/   Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here!   Fast Five is a mini course from The Health Leader Co with simple, fast strategies to bring in clients right now. Watch it, do it, and see bookings flow. Normally $347, but ABMP listeners get 50% off with code ABMPPOD. You'll also earn 4 CE credits in the US. Check it out here: https://go.healthleaderco.com/fastfive   "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025.   ABMP CE Center

No, I am not sharing a deep conversation I had with a colleague on the back and all its complexities for this episode. I am, however, highlighting that the back, any back, at any moment, is having thousands of conversations. All the time. Our back routines are not just the warmup. They are so much more. If we are listening.  Also - neuroplasticity is SO COOL.   Host Bio:         Contact Allison Denney: [email protected]      Allison's website: www.rebelmassage.com           Allison Denney is a certified massage therapist and certified YouTuber. You can find her massage tutorials at YouTube.com/RebelMassage. She is also passionate about creating products that are kind, simple, and productive for therapists to use in their practices. Her products, along with access to her blog and CE opportunities, can be found at rebelmassage.com.         About our Sponsors: Rebel Massage Therapist: My name is Allison. And I am not your typical massage therapist. After 20 years of experience and thousands of clients, I have learned that massage therapy is SO MUCH more than a relaxing experience at a spa. I see soft tissue as more than merely a physical element but a deeply complex, neurologically driven part of who you are. I use this knowledge to work WITH you—not ON you—to create change that works. This is the basis of my approach. As a massage therapist, I have worked in almost every capacity, including massage clinics, physical therapy clinics, chiropractor offices, spas, private practice, and teaching. I have learned incredible techniques and strategies from each of my experiences. In my 20 years as a massage therapist, I have never stopped growing. I currently have a private practice based out of Long Beach, California, where I also teach continuing education classes and occasionally work on my kids. If they're good. website: www.rebelmassage.com FB: facebook.com/RebelMassage IG: instagram.com/rebelmassagetherapist YouTube: youtube.com/c/RebelMassage email: [email protected] Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.                      Website: anatomytrains.com     Email: [email protected]           Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains  Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA  Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook. Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness.  At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry.  www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs  www.heightswellnessretreats.com  https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/  https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/  

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Doug Nelson explores the parallels between manual palpation and digital imaging such as MRI. Both methods can reveal important information about what is happening in the body, but they also share an important limitation: they can show what is present, but they cannot always explain how it got there. Host: Douglas Nelson is Board Certified in Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Bodywork, beginning his career in massage therapy in 1977.  Seeing over 1,200 client visits annually for decades, he is also the owner of BodyWork Associates, a massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL. with 21 therapists that was established in 1982. He is the founder of NMT MidWest, Inc., providing training in Precision Neuromuscular Therapy™ across the USA. He has personally taught more than 13,000 hours of continuing education and is the author of three books. Doug is a past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.     Website: anatomytrains.com         Email: [email protected]           Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains  Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA     Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!    Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.     Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness.  At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry.    www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs  www.heightswellnessretreats.com  https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/  https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/   

Running a successful massage practice is not just about the work you do with clients. It is also about the systems behind the scenes that keep everything running smoothly. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia explores mechanics: the systems and back-end processes that help your business operate efficiently, consistently, and without unnecessary chaos. When your workflows are clear and repeatable, you spend less time scrambling to remember what comes next and more time focusing on the work that actually grows your practice. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/  Website: https://healthleaderco.com/   Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here!   Fast Five. It's a brand-new mini course from The Health Leader Co that gives you the fastest, most effective strategies to bring in new clients right now. It's designed so you can watch and implement immediately and get bookings flowing. It's on sale now. Usually, USD $347. Right now, it's $167. You'll also receive 4 CE credits with NCBTMB in the US. You can find it at: https://go.healthleaderco.com/fastfive   "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025.   ABMP CE Center  

Join Kristin Coverly as she explores the aging process and chats with guests (and instructors at the upcoming ABMP CE Summit: Aging Clients) Dawn Castiglione and Sheila Alexander about their passion for working with older clients and the joy that it brings them. Resources: ABMP Education Center: https://www.abmp.com/learn/  ABMP CE Summit: Aging Clients Event: https://www.abmp.com/summit Host: Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at [email protected]. Guests: Dawn Castiglione is a massage practitioner and continuing education provider specializing in geriatric massage. Early in her massage career, she discovered a modality based solely upon the unique needs of our more senior population and began serving seniors in retirement facilities. By 2015, she began teaching for DayBreak Geriatric Massage Institute and, upon Dr. Puszko's well-earned retirement, Dawn became DayBreak's new owner, director, and principal educator. Learn more at DayBreak Geriatric Massage Institute. [ https://www.daybreak-massage.com/#/  ]   Sheila Alexander is a massage practitioner and continuing education provider specializing in geriatric massage, ethics, and chair massage. In 2002, she cared for her father with Alzheimer's and her mother with terminal cancer. In 2004, Sheila created a massage and spa program in a continuing care retirement community in Davidson, NC for their residents in all levels of care. In 2011, Sheila was approved as a continuing education provider to teach this profound work and her method, Senior Spa, to the massage and health care communities. Learn more at https://seniorspa.net/   Sponsors:   Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.                      Website: anatomytrains.com        Email: [email protected]           Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains    Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA    Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique.  Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.   Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness.    Join Kristin Coverly as she explores the aging process and chats with guests (and instructors at the upcoming ABMP CE Summit: Aging Clients) Dawn Castiglione and Sheila Alexander about their passion for working with older clients and the joy that brings them. Resources: ABMP Education Center: https://www.abmp.com/learn/   ABMP CE Summit: Aging Clients Event: https://www.abmp.com/summit   Host: Kristin Coverly, LMT is a massage therapist, educator, and the director of professional education at ABMP. She loves creating continuing education courses, events, and resources to support massage therapists and bodyworkers as they enhance their lives and practices. Contact her at [email protected]. Guests: Dawn Castiglione Dawn Castiglione is a massage practitioner and continuing education provider specializing in geriatric massage. Early in her massage career, she discovered a modality based solely upon the unique needs of our more senior population and began serving seniors in retirement facilities. By 2015, she began teaching for DayBreak Geriatric Massage Institute and, upon Dr. Puszko's well-earned retirement, Dawn became DayBreak's new owner, director, and principal educator. Learn more at DayBreak Geriatric Massage Institute. [ https://www.daybreak-massage.com/#/  ]   Sheila Alexander Sheila Alexander is a massage practitioner and continuing education provider specializing in geriatric massage, ethics, and chair massage. In 2002, she cared for her father with Alzheimer's and her mother with terminal cancer. In 2004, Sheila created a massage and spa program in a continuing care retirement community in Davidson, NC for their residents in all levels of care. In 2011, Sheila was approved as a continuing education provider to teach this profound work and her method, Senior Spa, to the massage and health care communities. Learn more at https://seniorspa.net/  Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.     Website: anatomytrains.com     Email: [email protected]            Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains         Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA    Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.   Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes.    For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding.    CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond.    Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes.    Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month.    Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession.  Website: upledger.com/courses   Email: [email protected]   Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ     Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness.  At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry.  www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs  www.heightswellnessretreats.com  https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/  https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/    Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes.    For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding.    CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond.    Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes.    Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month.    Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession.  Website: upledger.com/courses   Email: [email protected]   Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ    

A school administrator and massage therapist wants guidance on how to respond to a student who is reluctant to work with clinic clients who report a history of herpes. Is this a significant risk for massage therapists? The reality is that anyone with a history of herpes simplex can shed the virus intermittently, even without visible symptoms. However, the risk to massage therapists who follow proper hygiene and self-care protocols is extremely low. In that sense, herpes falls into the same category as other infections that may be transmitted through direct contact but are effectively managed with consistent hygienic practices. The key issue is not the client's infection status; it is the therapist's adherence to appropriate hygiene protocols. Resources: Ang, J.Y. et al. (2012) "A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Massage Therapy on the Immune System of Preterm Infants," Pediatrics, 130(6), pp. e1549–e1558. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-0196.  Contributors, W.E. (no date) Genital Herpes Treatment Options, WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/genital-herpes-treatment-options (Accessed: March 7, 2025). Globally, an estimated two-thirds of the population under 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (no date). Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-10-2015-globally-an-estimated-two-thirds-of-the-population-under-50-are-infected-with-herpes-simplex-virus-type-1 (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Herpes simplex Information | Mount Sinai - New York (no date) Mount Sinai Health System. Available at: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/report/herpes-simplex (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Herpes simplex virus (no date). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus (Accessed: March 6, 2025). How many people have herpes? Myths, facts, and statistics (2020). Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-many-people-have-herpes (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Kaneko, H. et al. (2008) "Evaluation of mixed infection cases with both herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2," Journal of Medical Virology, 80(5), pp. 883–887. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.21154. Line is blurring between human herpes simplex viruses (no date) UW Medicine | Newsroom. Available at: https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/line-blurs-between-human-herpes-simplex-viruses (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Products - Data Briefs - Number 304 - February 2018 (2019). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db304.htm (Accessed: March 6, 2025). Ramchandani, M. et al. (2016) "Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Shedding in Tears, and Nasal and Oral Mucosa of Healthy Adults," Sexually transmitted diseases, 43(12), pp. 756–760. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000522. Rapaport, M.H., Schettler, P. and Bresee, C. (2012) "A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Repeated Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Healthy Individuals: A Study of Mechanisms of Action and Dosage," Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(8), pp. 789–797. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0071. Usatine, R.P. and Tinitigan, R. (2010) "Nongenital Herpes Simplex Virus," American Family Physician, 82(9), pp. 1075–1082. (2025) "Herpes Simplex Treatment & Management: Approach Considerations, Medical Care, Consultations." Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/218580-treatment (Accessed: March 7, 2025). Host Bio:                Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com.    Sponsors: Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.                      Website: anatomytrains.com                    Email: [email protected]           Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains                    Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA    Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.   Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes.    For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding.    CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond.    Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes.    Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month.    Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession.  Website: upledger.com/courses   Email: [email protected]   Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ     Somatic Mindfulness helps massage therapists prevent physical and emotional burnout by integrating somatic principles into bodywork. Created by Fernando Rojas, LMT, PhD, Massage Hall of Famer, Master Somatic Therapist, Educator, and author of Embodied Presence & Attuned Touch, it teaches self-care as a professional skill so that the therapist's own wellbeing becomes the method for creating the conditions for healing and clarity of purpose. Through continuing education workshops, somatic touch training, and mindful self-study, Fernando helps therapists work sustainably, communicate clearly, and rediscover meaning in their practice. https://somaticmindfulness.co/ https://www.facebook.com/somatic.mindfulness https://www.instagram.com/somatic.mindfulness/  

Marketing is one of the biggest sticking points for massage and bodywork professionals. Most therapists were never taught how to market themselves, and the idea can feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. In this episode of Fully Booked, Elicia explains how clearly sharing your story, your values, and the difference you make in clients' lives helps the right clients find you and choose you with confidence. Host: Elicia Crook is a business coach and mentor for massage therapists, sharing the tactics she used to create her business success over 16 years. She is a diploma-qualified remedial massage therapist, using modalities such as Bowen and craniosacral therapy, and has a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, which she used while teaching massage for several years. Through her career and business experience, Crook discovered who she needed to be and what is required to run a deeply satisfying massage business. Now she takes the Fully Booked Without Burnout blueprint to other therapists around the world to create more success and passion. For more information, visit https://healthleaderco.com/   Author links:   Website: https://healthleaderco.com/   Want more engagement in your social media in 2026? Download your marketing calendar here!   "Building a Thriving Hands-On Practice", by Elicia Crook, Massage & Bodywork magazine, Spring 2025.   ABMP CE Center  

When a client presents with shin splints, there might be a whole lot of things going on for them. Getting into the nitty gritty of shin splints - or more accurately Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome - involves being able to parse through a lot of information and checking the facts. Kinda like doom scrolling but for leg anatomy. Join Allison as she defines shin splints, uncovers what is happening under the skin, and explains methods that work.  Host Bio:         Contact Allison Denney: [email protected]      Allison's website: www.rebelmassage.com           Allison Denney is a certified massage therapist and certified YouTuber. You can find her massage tutorials at YouTube.com/RebelMassage. She is also passionate about creating products that are kind, simple, and productive for therapists to use in their practices. Her products, along with access to her blog and CE opportunities, can be found at rebelmassage.com.         About our Sponsors: Rebel Massage Therapist: My name is Allison. And I am not your typical massage therapist. After 20 years of experience and thousands of clients, I have learned that massage therapy is SO MUCH more than a relaxing experience at a spa. I see soft tissue as more than merely a physical element but a deeply complex, neurologically driven part of who you are. I use this knowledge to work WITH you—not ON you—to create change that works. This is the basis of my approach. As a massage therapist, I have worked in almost every capacity, including massage clinics, physical therapy clinics, chiropractor offices, spas, private practice, and teaching. I have learned incredible techniques and strategies from each of my experiences. In my 20 years as a massage therapist, I have never stopped growing. I currently have a private practice based out of Long Beach, California, where I also teach continuing education classes and occasionally work on my kids. If they're good. website: www.rebelmassage.com FB: facebook.com/RebelMassage IG: instagram.com/rebelmassagetherapist YouTube: youtube.com/c/RebelMassage email: [email protected]   Are you a manual therapist ready to expand your clinical reach, deepen your effectiveness, and work with greater confidence?    Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes.    For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding.    CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond.    Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes.    Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month.    Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession. Website: upledger.com/courses   Email: [email protected]   Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ     Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.     Website: anatomytrains.com            Email: [email protected]          Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains    Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA    Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.   Heights Wellness Retreat is redefining whole-body wellness through an innovative, integrated approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Built on more than two decades of Massage Heights expertise in massage and skin therapy, this next-generation wellness destination represents the evolution of our mission to transform lives through wellness.    At Heights Wellness Retreat, we believe every person is an unstoppable force, whether navigating daily demands, pursuing goals, or striving to be their best. This drives everything we do. We go beyond traditional spa services by creating a purpose-driven environment where wellness professionals are empowered, valued, and positioned to grow. With steady clientele, support, and a wellness-forward culture, Heights Wellness Retreat is where therapists build meaningful, sustainable careers while shaping the future of the wellness industry.  www.massageheightscareers.careerplug.com/jobs  www.heightswellnessretreats.com  https://www.instagram.com/heightswellnessretreat/  https://www.facebook.com/heightswellnessretreat/    Somatic Mindfulness helps massage therapists prevent physical and emotional burnout by integrating somatic principles into bodywork. Created by Fernando Rojas, LMT, PhD, Massage Hall of Famer, Master Somatic Therapist, Educator, and author of Embodied Presence & Attuned Touch, it teaches self-care as a professional skill so that the therapist's own wellbeing becomes the method for creating the conditions for healing and clarity of purpose. Through continuing education workshops, somatic touch training, and mindful self-study, Fernando helps therapists work sustainably, communicate clearly, and rediscover meaning in their practice. https://somaticmindfulness.co/ https://www.facebook.com/somatic.mindfulness https://www.instagram.com/somatic.mindfulness/