bodywork – Page 3 – Swellness Vibes

Continuing Ed Topics: Longevity for LMTs

I have to have a bunch of continuing education hours for massage therapy finished by the end of February, so I figured I’d pick a topic or two to dissect in the Swellness blog.

This week’s topic is licensed massage therapists themselves — “principles of longevity”. In other words, how to make your career last longer than the typical 5 years or less for therapists. (Now, having said that, I do know plenty of people who have practiced much longer, including myself!)

Let’s talk alarming statistics, and please note — these stats are at least 10 years old! 77% of massage therapists experience musculoskeletal issues due to the nature of their work. About 40% get diagnosed with an official issue, and 20% have to take time off because of said injury. I think this explains why therapists tend to turn to other types of work after the 5-year mark.

I have certainly injured myself due to the nature of the work. I’ve tweaked my back, my shoulders, my hips, my arm, and my thumb. And that’s just off of the top of my head! I’ve never turned down a massage because of the injuries, but I’ve also sighed some relief while injured when realizing some of my appointments are Reiki and not massage! 🤪

Tips for Massage Therapists to Lengthen Their Careers

Use less oil. Think about it: if you use too much oil, there’s easier glide on the body you’re working on. Less oil means more resistance, which means it’s easier to use your bodyweight as a tool in your practice. Otherwise you’re flopping around, finding zero stability.
Create a friction point while doing cross-fiber techniques. Drape an arm across another arm to create the fulcrum! Think smarter, not harder!
Saw the jaw with the palms of your hands rather than jabbing it with your thumbs. Aye! This is definitely something I plan on doing. I do jaw work on a client I see monthly. I bet the sawing method feels good, too. Anyone want to try it on me???
Rock your client’s hips into the fist of a hand you are using. Great idea!
Use a forearm to press a foot bottom into the fist of your other hand. I just tried this last night on my kid. He’s obsessed with foot massages.
“Save your wrist, use a fist!” Yes, yes, I think LMTs already know this one.
Use your patellar tendon as a massage tool, or knees in general to glide along quads, hamstrings, lower backs and hips. Apparently this isn’t as hard as it sounds, but I have yet to try it.
TOOLS. Get them. Use them. I definitely need a thumb saver tool, I honestly don’t know why I haven’t tried one yet.

Happy massaging!

A Novel for Bodyworkers/Yogis/Magic Lovers

A little bit of self-promotion here.

I wrote a book about a bodyworker. Scenes take place in yoga studios, dojos and meditation rooms. There are crystals, runes, reiki, and elixirs.

While the story itself was therapeutic to write, the fun came in describing the world we holistic health people know and love. I call BS when BS needs to be called, I call confusion when Destiny vs Free Will is on the mind of our characters, and sneak in some recipes at the back of the book.

Traveling Professionals Can Do These 4 Things to Stay Healthy on the Road

Image: Pexels

By Guest Blogger Zack Spring

Pursuing a career that demands a lot of traveling can be both fulfilling and stressful. When your work gives you the opportunity to visit amazing places and meet a wide variety of people, you gain valuable life experience that most others might only dream about. However, it can also feel like your travels are taking a lot from you. It is easy to lose track of the hours while on the road, and before you know it, an entire day goes by without tending to many of your physical and mental needs. When planning your travel schedule, keep a few healthy ideas in mind so that your body and mind can stay in good shape wherever you go.

1. Practice Good Safety Habits

It goes without saying that safety is paramount when driving long distances or using other forms of transportation. However, many travelers tend to overlook critical safety practices when staying at a hotel. You should always make sure to keep your luggage locked when you leave the room, use your door’s deadbolt for added security, and avoid staying on the ground level if possible.

Organizing and guarding your travel documents is another form of exercising good personal safety. You might even consider saving your important documents as PDF files on your phone for quick and convenient access. Sharing PDF files is a simple matter, and you don’t even need Wi-Fi access to pull up documents that are saved directly to your device.

2. Maintain an Exercise and Meditation Routine

Daily exercise is vital for maintaining a healthy body, and meditation can help calm the mind during stressful business trips. Feel free to take advantage of a hotel’s gym or communal spaces for your wellness routine while traveling. There are even great workout routines that you can complete from the comfort of your own hotel room.

As an alternative to yoga for meditation, you might seek out reiki treatment as a form of stress relief. Nani Lotus Bodywork can walk you through the many benefits of various holistic therapies.

3. Find Time for Hobbies

Traveling for work can make it feel like you are “on the clock” every minute of the day. There is much to do and a lot of ground to cover, so you might think that you have to spend your free time being productive.

Hobbies boost your mood and contribute to your overall mental health. There are even some great hobbies that you can take with you on the road. Keep a collection of ebooks on your tablet for easy reading, start a journal, or start practicing photography.

4. Travel With an Animal Companion

Hitting the road with a dog can be a great boost to your mental health, and can encourage you to stay active while traveling as well. Solopreneurs and freelancers can especially benefit from the companionship on what might otherwise be a lonely journey. Keep in mind that smaller dogs may be easier to travel with.

Be sure to pack plenty of toys and comforting items for your dog, and consider investing in a GPS collar as well. The best collars come with real-time mapping features that allow you to track your dog from your smartphone in case of an escape.

Neglecting one’s own health is a common pitfall among traveling professionals. If you make sure to prioritize personal wellness and staying safe while traveling, though, you can enjoy great experiences to the fullest while plying your trade.

Zack Spring works as a tech consultant which requires him to travel frequently. He also enjoys running and cycling – staying active as possible. He created TravelFit.info to encourage his readers to stay active while traveling.