So You Want to be a Massage Therapist!

So you think you want to be able to massage a person and make them feel good.  There are so many different types of massage on the market and they all say the same thing, “Ours is the Best!”  I believe that it is the individual doing the massage that makes it the best.  There is more than just technique involved when it comes to a fantastic massage.  There is the passion, the commitment, the enjoyment of doing the massage, physically, mentally and spiritually.

Here are a couple of tips to consider if you are going to take some training to become a massage therapist.

(There are many different types of schools and training programs available to someone who wants to become a massage therapist. To find a program that suits your needs, check your local yellow pages under “Schools” or “Massage Therapy”. You could also do a search online using the phrase “massage therapy schools” or “massage therapy training”, or contact some local massage therapists to find out what schools/programs they attended.

Once you have found some training programs and/or schools, make sure to check out several. Each school or training program will more than likely have a different curriculum and philosophy, and you will want to choose one that will match your needs and personality. Especially important is that the school or training programs meet the educational requirements for practicing in your area.)

The Massage Professor

JOB STRESS INFO

Have you wondered what the health reports have to say about stress?  Well, here are some Fast Facts about Job Stress.

According to the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, they list stress related disorders as fast becoming “THE” most prevalent reason for worker disability.

Over 40% of worker turn over is due to job stress.  (Xerox estimates that it takes approximately 1 to 1.5 million dollars to replace a top executive.  For an average employee, about 2 to 3 thousand dollars per person.)

The 1992 United Nations report called Job Stress, “THE 20th Century Epidemic”.

The World Health Organization called job stress a “World Wide Epidemic!”

Job Stress is estimated to cost American industries approximately 200 to 300 billion dollars annually as assessed by absenteeism, diminished productivity, employee turnover, accidents direct medical, legal and insurance fees, workman’s compensation awards, etc. etc.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report – “Neurotic reaction to stress” is the 4th disabling workplace injury.  (In 1993 over 25 days were lost on average by each person suffering “job stress.”)

According to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health survey – over 25% of those surveyed said their job was the single greatest cause of stress in their life.

According to the February 22nd, 1997 British Medical Journal study – Job Stress may increase chances of coronary heart disease.

In Japan, the word “KAROSHI” means death from overwork.  It is recognized there as a fatal combination of high blood pressure, over work and “STRESS!”

Job Stress can be both cause and effect of workplace violence and harassment!

The Massage Professor

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HEALTHY? What’s That?

Greetings All,
I’m back in the saddle again typing away.  Sorry for not posting in such a long time.  Have been out of state and other complications.  Anyway, what does it mean when a doctor, physician or health care specialist declares you “HEALTHY”?

The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) published and article entitled “Stroke in a Healthy 46 year old man.  Was he really “healthy” the day before his stroke occurred?  I don’t believe so and if that is the case, why was he and countless others considered “healthy” according to the medical community.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not implying incompetence on the part of the medical community, but I am trying to understand the word “Healthy” according to their definition.  When a traditional MD declares you “Healthy”, what they are really saying is that you have no abnormalities or show any symptoms that their “Training” can detect.  Most of the time, medical diagnosis has serious limitations because the MD’s, physicians, health care professionals really don’t have the time or take the time to actually listen to their patients.  Sir William Osler, MD spoke of his profession in the following terms; “Half of us are blind, few of us feel and we are ALL deaf!”

We have all gone to the doctor’s office with fear in our hearts of what they will find or tell us.  What will they find?  Cancer? A blocked artery? Degenerating disks? Organ disease? Does it have to be this way?  NO!!!!

So, back to the question, “What does it mean to be HEALTHY?”  Well, according to Webster’s definition of Healthy, it means; “Health is the overall sound condition or function of a living organism at a particular time.”

With the mind, body, spirit approach, health psychology focuses on the overall health of each individual.  As “Health Professionals” we must look at the entire picture of health and how it relates to the whole body and STOP LOOKING FOR MAGICAL CURES AND WISHFUL THINKING!

QUOTE:  “Good health care is not an end in itself; it’s the means to a healthy life.”

The Massage Professor

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