The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession

In part one of this conversation, Amanda Huggins defines anxiety and describes her own challenge to integrate the mental, physical, and spiritual in her personal life. She helps us get to the emotions underneath the umbrella term anxiety—fear, guilt, imposter syndrome—and lets us know the difference between the stories we tell ourselves (unpacking how beliefs began) and our truths. We conclude with some affirmation practices, the power of grounding, and valuing our worth. Amanda Huggins...

This story is a delicate one. The client has an eating disorder that the massage therapist thinks is pretty advanced, and maybe getting worse. This episode dives into some of the serious consequences of eating disorders and the important role massage therapy may play. It may be upsetting for people who struggle with eating disorders, so please consider this a trigger warning. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: https://www.anatomytrains.com Books of Discovery:...

ABMP Director of Government Relations Laura Embleton joins the podcast to tell us about the advocacy work her team does to support individual practitioners across all 50 states. Laura’s goal is to ensure fair legislation is enacted without overburdening practitioners. We discuss her battle with illicit businesses operating under the guise of massage therapy, human trafficking, media and states usage of the term massage parlors, and, most importantly, how individual practitioners can get...

A client didn’t share an important piece of information—and the therapist didn’t ask. The result: a serious situation that massage could have made much worse. In this episode, we talk about a surprising relationship between bariatric surgery and liver failure—and about the need to ask open-ended, inviting questions that will help us get a clear and full understanding of our clients’ health challenges. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: https://www.anatomytrains.com Books of Discovery:...

The desire to be free is one that we not only feel in our hearts, but also in our muscles. Nowhere in the body is this truer than in the claves. In this episode, Allison explores the innate restriction of the calf muscles and finds meaning in the lessons offered up by Greek mythology. Host: Contact Allison Denney: rebelmt@abmp.com Allison’s website: www.rebelmassage.com Allison Denney is a certified massage therapist and certified YouTuber. You can find her massage tutorials at...

Angie Parris-Raney, Chopra Center Certified in meditation and ayurvedic lifestyle, joins the podcast to break down her recent article, “Detox on the Equinox,” in Body Sense magazine. Angie lays the foundation for bringing fresh energy and movement to our seasonal transition into spring. She gives five tips on improving diet, exercise, meditation, tongue scraping, and self-massage. And, she informs us about avoiding FLUNC foods. Angie Parris-Raney is a licensed massage therapist and is the...

Another episode about DVT and pulmonary embolism—but this one looks really different from last week! What to do??? In the face of contradictory advice, we walk through this decision-making process, discussing the difference between information and permission along the way. This podcast sponsored by: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Books of Discovery: www.booksofdiscovery.com Coaching the Body: www.coachingthebody.com Host: Ruth Werner: www.ruthwerner.com ABMP...

Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are musculoskeletal pathologies hallmarked by elbow pain. However, even though these conditions cause elbow pain, they are not conditions of the actual elbow joint; rather they are overuse syndromes of the musculature of the hand and/or fingers. And these conditions aren’t just relegated to those participating in these two sports. These overuse injuries can be caused by actions as simple as gripping your steering wheel, a pen, or your cell phone too tightly....

A client with a complicated health history (including cancer and newly adjusted chemotherapy) has a medical emergency: deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. Now she wants massage. There’s a lot to balance in this decision, which is not as clear-cut as it seems. In this episode, we consider some of the variables about massage for a person with this medical history and find a way to get to a good conclusion. This podcast sponsored by: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Books...

Every wonder why some people seem to be able brush off massive blows and some seem to feel all the feels? There are pros and cons in both scenarios, just like in the tissues of our body. In this episode, Allison explains why the tension produced by growing up and the tension found in the plantar fascia of the feet are similar and necessary. Host: Contact Allison Denney: rebelmt@abmp.com Allison’s website: www.rebelmassage.com Resources: “The Muscle, the Beast, and a Cup of...

Are you using your voicemail in a professional manner? Is your voicemail always full, allowing no one else to get through? Do you even have a voicemail message, or is there just a lonely “beep”? Having made thousands of calls to practitioners over the years and often hearing no professional connection to their practices, co-hosts Kristin Coverly and Darren Buford discuss why having a professional voicemail message is the gateway to your business. Has there ever been such low-hanging fruit to...

In episode 77, from February 19, 2021, a client with “critical limb ischemia” wants massage while he awaits corrective surgery for an occluded artery. So, we talked about peripheral artery disease and talked about the risks and reasons to be cautious in this situation. In this follow-up episode, we find the client was in better shape than I thought, and the massage therapist shares her treatment choices and rationales for a really hopeful outcome. This is yet another example of how important...

We rejoin Carole, Michele, and David and dive deeper into serving the pregnant client. Our guests discuss the critical thinking skills needed to address this population, preparing for this work with confidence, dispelling bodywork myths, and working with clients with high-risk conditions. We close by honoring Carole’s life’s work and what she’s brought to the massage profession. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Coaching the Body: www.coachingthebody.com Handspring...

Part 1 of this two-part podcast celebrates the launch of the third edition of Carole Osborne’s book Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy. We’re joined by Carole and her co-authors, Michele Kolakowski and David Lobenstine, as we discuss how therapists can work with clients across the trimesters of pregnancy, through labor and birth and during the postpartum period, establishing a continuum of care. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Coaching the Body:...

A client with corticobasal syndrome wants to improve her range of motion in her right arm. Nothing seems to work so far—sessions with her personal trainer and two massage sessions haven’t made any significant changes. What is corticobasal syndrome? Well, it’s complicated. And what treatment options have the most promise? (You might be surprised.) And most importantly, what is a realistic expectation for this client? This podcast sponsored by: Books of Discovery:...

Have you ever been told to listen to your gut but have no idea what your gut is telling you? What if muscles suffer from the same affliction? In this episode, Allison Denney, The Rebel MT, takes a closer look at the rectus abdominus and explores how to approach a muscle that doesn’t always know what it wants. Host: Contact Allison Denney: rebelmt@abmp.com Allison’s website: www.rebelmassage.com Resources: “The Muscle, the Beast, and a Cup of Tea: Conquering Sternocleidomastoid...

Joyce Gauthier is on a mission to empower massage therapists to identify and deter inappropriate client behavior through RespectMassage.com. Join us as she describes how to properly screen clients, including code words and red flags to look out for, so you’ll be more able to avoid illicit behavior before it occurs. She also shares step-by-step advice for how to get out of a bad situation if you find yourself in one. Joyce provides verbal cues, marketing collateral for your practice and...

A new client calls for a manual lymph drainage session, and they have a diagnosis the massage therapist has never heard of—toxic mold syndrome. Information online about this condition is confusing and inconsistent. What is toxic mold syndrome? Does it even exist? Why is it so controversial? And most of all, what can we do to help this client? This podcast sponsored by: Books of Discovery: www.booksofdiscovery.com Color Up: www.colorupco.com Anatomy Trains:...

Video can be key to promoting and growing your practice. Yes, it may be intimidating, but learning a few skills can introduce potential clients to yourself and existing clients to the full gamut of your techniques and modalities. Bring your website and social content to life and beyond the written word. Ryan Hoyme, the Massage Nerd, tells you which platforms to use and lets you in on equipment choices. Ryan Hoyme has been a massage therapist for over two decades and worked in the health...

A client with a serious circulatory problem—a failed femoral-popliteal bypass, or “fem-pop” surgery—wants a massage while he’s waiting for his next procedure. There’s no data on massage and failed fem-pops at all. What can this massage therapist do? In this episode, we look at fem-pop surgeries and the reasons why a person might need it. Then, we take apart some of the variables that go into making decisions about massage therapy for this client. It’s a critical-thinking exercise with...