Technique

In massage school, we are taught to use all the parts of our hands. The thumbs, the fingers, the palms, the knuckles—use them all, and save yourself from breakdown. It has been a mantra I have employed throughout the years to keep my own body healthy and safe.

Trigger points, hypertonicity, strains, sprains, and a host of other complaints are all common causes of low-back pain. In this column, we’ll look at cluneal nerve entrapment.

There are many massage modalities that help improve posture—graded exposure stretching is one of them. But a technique Erik Dalton calls “Spindle-Stim” can also be a valuable tool.

Empaths are able to create nurturing environments for clients due to their innate sensitivity to energy. Without words, they’re able to soothe the unspoken anxieties of those around them. While empathy is a gift, it is not without its shadow side.

As a massage therapist, you probably learned at some point that if you are really present when you work, your work will be worlds better.