Saturday, August 3, 2013

Only Choose Accredited Physical Therapy Assistant Schools


Choosing a career can always be both a challenging and stressful position for anyone to be in. If there are no clear cut winners that stand out as the most desirable career for an individual they will then have to look at the pro's and con's of any given career. In the case of a physical therapy assistant the pro's will be that this is a strongly in demand career, that has an average salary of over $49 000 per year across the United States. To top this off the education required to become a physical therapist assistant is only 2 years full time.

2 years of education, make this a career that is easily accessible for many individuals. The career also happens to be experiencing a tremendous period of growth, with an ever increasing number of jobs available. Overall it is an excellent topic to study if you are looking for a solid paying in demand job. The con's for this job may be the difficulty it has on an individuals body, as there can be lots of lifting, bending, and stooping. Also working with sick people can be mentally difficult for some, and this career is not for everyone. Please note however that physical therapy as a profession ranks as 1 of the top 10 careers for job satisfaction in the United States.

In this article we will examine why you should only choose accredited physical therapy assistant schools. Any health care career that is not a long 6-7 year university venture will obviously be a competitive business. Schools pop up and disappear at quick rates on occasion. As a to become a physical therapist assistant is only 2 year program, there are numerous schools offering this program. The simple way to determine what schools will offer the most future opportunities and flexibility is to choose programs that meet the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) requirements, and have received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This ensures that your program meets national standards, and will be acceptable for working in any desired state.

A physical therapist assistant is a registered health practitioner, and therefor requires a state license to work. Eligibility for a state license will often come down to education. And while some private schools may be able to offer a program that can receive state exam eligibility in 1 state, a CAPTE accreditation will leave you eligible in all states across the nation. This gives one tremendous flexibility with where their career can go, and also can have a dramatic effect on their overall earning potential.

CAPTE programs offer a standard of education that ensures all students learn required curriculum that is approved by the American Physical Therapy Association, as well all students of CAPTE programs will complete at least 16 weeks of hands on clinical placement. There are currently over 270 physical therapy assistant schools that are CAPTE accredited in the United States. for a break down of Physical therapy assistant schools by State please visit either physicaltherapy-assistant.com, or capteonline.org for a complete list.

Whether it is for career flexibility, or the overall potential to earn a better salary, when it comes to physical therapist assistant education, your best option is to only choose accredited physical therapy assistant schools.

Orthopedic Massage Therapy - What Are the Benefits


Orthopedic massage therapy can be referred to as a type of massage therapy that mixes various types of massages techniques; both sports and medical forms. Orthopedic massage therapy is usually given to a patient with pain in soft tissue or injuries. This therapy ensures relief of pain during injury. It also works towards promoting fast healing.

The Orthopedic massage therapy consists of three primary elements, irrespective of the medical treatment or injury involved. The elements include the following:
a) Assessing of injury
b) Matching the injury treatment
c) Adapting the treatment as required

All the three above mentioned points are very important as the therapy is different from other types of massage therapies in the way that it focuses basically on understanding the injury and the treatment it requires to heal up the injury.

Here are some of the primary benefits you can enjoy via going in for a Orthopedic massage therapy:

a) Benefit one - Enhanced blood circulation:
The therapy helps in increasing blood circulation and this is a great way to heal an injury.
b) Benefit two - Minimizes pain:
The massage can work wonders when it comes to reducing pain from the injury.
c) Benefit three - Provide relax:
The therapy is powerful enough to provide you immense relaxation to the muscles adjacent to the injured area.
d) Benefit four - Strength:
The therapy is very helpful in providing good amount of strength to the body muscles that have been weakened due to the injury.
e) Benefit five - Realignment of tissues:
The therapy is known to be really powerful when it comes to realigning damaged and dislocated tissues. This helps in preventing further damage or injury.
f) Benefit six - Releases adhesions:
This is known to be a scar tissue that can form due to an injury and tend to stick itself to adjacent muscles or other tissues.
g) Benefit seven - Minimizes tension:
The therapy is extremely beneficial when it comes to minimizing tension in case of sprains and other injuries.
h) Benefit eight - Performance enhancement:
The therapy is the top choice for athletes to enhance overall sports performance.
i) Benefit nine - Stress reduction:
We experience a lot of stress in our daily lives. The massage therapy is a boon to all those who want to get rid of daily life stress in body.
j) Benefit ten - Rejuvenates body:
Our body needs to get rejuvenated once in a while after all the stress, tension, hard work and other problems we face in our daily life. Hence, this therapy is recommended even if there is no injury in the body.

These days, several spas offer these services for a reasonable price. You can easily find an orthopedic massage therapy center near your area online or offline. All you require to do is to make some research and take time to analyze the services provided at a specific center.

The Benefits of Massage


Massage has many benefits that you may not think about when you consider going for one. Most people believe that this is simply a way to relax after a stressful time. While this is one of the reasons why people go for massages it is not the only benefit that comes from this.

The benefits that you get from massage

There are many benefits that come from massage that you may not know about. Having some idea about the benefits may help you decide if a massage is what you need.

• Reducing pain is the most commonly known benefit of massages. During the day you may not notice the tensions and strain you put your body through. Back pain is something that many people suffer from and massage is one of the best ways to relieve the tension in the muscles that cause this problem.

• Improving digestion is a benefit that most people do not know about. This happens through the movement of blood in the body while you are having the massage. The added blood flow will increase the functioning your organs which will result in digestion working better.

• Increase in mobility. Mobility can be impaired through a number of things and one is the formation of lactic acid in the muscles. This often happens after exercise particularly if the body is not used to it. Massage helps to break down the lactic acid crystals in the muscles which help with mobility. Additionally the increase in blood flow helps joints to work as they should.

• Calming of aggressive behaviour. This is something that many people don't think about. The use of massage will help you with emotional problems which come from suffering from tension and stress. As the massages releases the tension you will find that aggressive behaviour will decrease as your frustration decreases along with your tension.

• Studies have been done to show that white blood cell production can be increased through massage therapy. This is particularly helpful in children as the study showed that children massage by their parents have increased white blood cell counts.

Doing massage courses to help people

If you want to be able to help people then you might want to consider doing some massage courses. As there are so many benefits to massage it is a good way to help people. Of course when you are looking into a massage course you need to make sure it is worth your while. There are certain things that the course should cover including anatomy and various techniques you can use. It is also best that some form of theory is done so you understand what exactly is happening to the body. At the end of the course it would be ideal for some form of certificate to be provided. Just make sure that the certificate is accredited.

Massage can offer a wide range of benefits and this is why many doctors recommend it for people recovering from surgery. The benefits you can get from this are not only physical but also emotional and psychological.

Conservative Treatments For Retrolisthesis


Retrolisthesis is one type of vertebral misplacement, or subluxation, that can occur in the spine. It is the backward slipping of a vertebra in relation to one above or below it. Retrolisthesis is less common than forward slipping, called spondylolisthesis. It occurs most often in the cervical or lumbar segments of the spine, as these are the most mobile.

A number of mechanical or external forces can cause vertebral misalignment. Conditions like arthritis and degenerative disc disease can cause a vertebra to shift. An injury, such as a hard fall, can sometimes jolt the spine enough to cause misalignment. Years of improper body mechanics can create enough stress on the spine to throw it out of alignment, as can being overweight. Blunt trauma can also cause the shift.

A number of changes occur in the back surrounding retrolisthesis. The joints that connect vertebrae are stressed when they become misaligned. The discs surrounding the shifted bone will be pushed toward the innermost part of the body and caused to bulge, providing inadequate shock absorption to the spine and potentially allowing friction between the bones. The slipping vertebra may begin to compress nerve roots exiting the spine. Soft tissue surrounding the shifting area of the spine - namely, ligaments and muscles - become stretched and injured.

Symptoms of retrolisthesis vary greatly depending on the degree to which the vertebra has shifted and whether or not it is impinging spinal nerves. Decreased range of motion and localized back pain may be felt. Tenderness due to muscle and ligament injury is possible. If nerves are being compressed, then sharp pain, tingling, numbness and weakness may be felt along the nerve pathway.

Treating Restrolisthesis

Many surgeons jump prescribe spinal fusion surgery as a treatment for subluxation. There are a number of safe, conservative treatments that should be tried before surgery is even considered, however. The goal of treating retrolisthesis is to realign the spine, and to do so, a number of things must be accomplished: 1) The joint must be mobilized to move the bone back into alignment; 2) the disc, if degenerating, must be re-hydrated; 3) surrounding soft tissues need to recover their tone in order to provide structural support to the realignment.

Chiropractic care is the best conservative option for restoring alignment to the spine. Chiropractors specialize in joint range of motion and alignment of vertebrae. If disc degeneration has caused your misalignment, or if the misalignment has caused disc degeneration, look for a chiropractor equipped with a decompression machine. Decompression treatments gently pull your vertebrae apart to increase intervertebral space and allow discs to reabsorb lost fluids. These machines have biofeedback technology that assesses how surrounding tissues respond to the pulling force exerted to separate vertebrae. If the pull is too great, your muscles will react by contracting against it, thereby limiting the effectiveness of the treatment for your discs and causing injury to the muscles. Biofeedback technology makes decompression treatments preferable to the simpler inversion table treatment for people with injuries like retrolisthesis.

Repairing your soft tissues will likely take more time than restoring alignment. Once alignment is attained, the stress on tissues will be decreased, but restoring tone to the tissues will be a process. Physical therapy may be needed to target overstretched ligaments and muscles. Simple core exercises, such as the bird dog, may be prescribed to ensure balanced core strength to support the spine.

Your best chance of recovering fully from retrolisthesis comes with education. Make sure you are not being sent out of the doctor's office with nothing but pain medications to mask the symptoms or rushed into the operating room when conservative options are available. Ask for a referral to a well-reputed chiropractor and begin the path to safe, thorough recovery.

Massage Therapy - Continuing Education Will Take You to the Next Level


Are you currently in an entry level massage therapy job and want to take your career to the next level? Or are you an experienced licensed massage therapist wanting to break into the burgeoning health care industry and practice in a medical setting such as a hospital, nursing home or sports medicine facility? Or do you have a love of animals and want to practice in the growing field of canine massage? Or do you need to fulfill an education requirement? If so, then Continuing Education is what you need.

There are several Continuing Education options from which to choose and these courses are specifically designed for massage therapists to keep you current with trends, satisfy your curiosity, and engage you in new areas of exploration such as prenatal, canine, sports, Eastern massage or medical massage therapy. In fact, 80 different types of massage types, or modalities, exist according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Taking Continuing Education classes will not only benefit you as a person, but also it will benefit your practice. By learning new modalities you can specialize in specific populations and increase your clientele. This provides the opportunity to increase your hourly rate depending on the type of massage you are performing. Also, the more knowledge, comprehension and application of massage techniques you have, the more you will be able to define your clients' needs and support them with massage therapy. This allows you to make a more specific pre-massage assessment which directly benefits the client and increases the possibility of him/her becoming a repeat client.

There are three main reasons for taking Continuing Education courses: 1) to obtain an advanced massage therapy degree such as an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree; 2) to obtain an Advanced Certification in massage therapy; and 3) to obtain Continuing Education (CE) credits in order to renew your state license or professional membership.

Let's look in more detail at each one of these reasons for taking Continuing Education classes:

1) To obtain an advanced massage therapy degree, such as an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree

An advanced degree, such as an AOS degree, is geared toward students who want to explore advanced concepts in human anatomy and physiology, including neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, medical massage, and other topics not covered in a basic training Massage Therapy Certificate Program. An advanced degree is the way to go if you want to practice massage therapy in a medical setting such as a hospital or rehabilitative massage clinic. Here are some examples of courses required in order to obtain an AOS degree:

Medical Massage - In this course, the study of advanced pathophysiology and critical thinking skills is combined with specific practical hands-on techniques. Students learn treatment methods specifically geared toward clients with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and post-surgical conditions.

Trauma and the Body - This course introduces the major concepts of post traumatic stress, and outlines the benefits of massage therapy to survivors of trauma. Students learn techniques that can help restore a sense of balance in the nervous system as well as foster reconnection for survivors who often experience intense physical reactions, memories, and a sense of disconnectedness from their body.

Craniosacral Therapy - Students will learn the fundamental skills that serve as the foundation of craniosacral therapy, including an introduction to the core anatomical and physiological relationships of the Craniosacral system: the fluctuation of cerebrospinal fluid, body articulations, reciprocal tension membranes, dural tube and spinal cord dynamics, and the motillity of the central nervous system.

2) To obtain an Advanced Certification in massage therapy

Advanced Certificate Programs are designed for students who have completed basic training as a massage therapist. Students take advanced coursework in deep tissue massage, energy work such as Reiki and Chi Kung, Eastern styles such as shiatsu and Thai massage, and spa body treatments. This postgraduate training allows students to choose a focused track of specialization, mastering techniques which are immediately applicable and beneficial to their clients such as spa elements, prenatal, labor and postpartum, canine massage, orthopedic and sports massage, and energy healing. Continuing education hours are earned for each module taken.

3) CE credits required to renew your state license or professional membership such as the American Massage Therapy Association (amtamassage.org)

The majority of states require that you have a license to practice massage therapy and renewal of the license requires that you obtain massage continuing education. Even if you practice massage therapy in a state that does not require Continuing Education, it is important to continually be challenging yourself, learning more about your profession and, ultimately, becoming more successful in healing others through the power of touch.

How to Find Continuing Education Courses in Your Area

· Determine the Continuing Education requirements in your state by contacting the state licensing authority. If you don't know the website URL to go to, a search for the name of your state and "massage therapy continuing education" should point you to the right place. The state licensing board may list approved providers on their website. If not, you can search online for approved providers.

· Determine the Continuing Education requirements by your professional association. The association should list approved providers on their website. If not, you can search online for approved providers.

· After completing the course, be sure to keep your completion certificate on file, even if your state licensing board or professional association doesn't require that you submit proof of taking the course. If the state licensing board or association is audited, you may be asked to provide proof of completion.

Whether you choose to take Continuing Education classes to move to the next stage in your career or just for the credits, the purpose of Continuing Education remains the same. Continuing Education ensures that massage therapists keep current on new developments in the field and continue improving their skills in order to help others.

Promote Your Massage Therapy Clinic With a Massage Therapy Picture


The line about how a picture can paint a thousand words couldn't be more true with a massage therapy picture. What exactly can you do with it?

What You Can Use It For

A massage therapy picture can tell a lot about what you do as a massage therapist and what you can offer in your clinic. Most people would naturally think that a picture can be used only for marketing and advertising. A good picture however is first and foremost an image and reputation building tool. You simply have to post a photo strategically to make the best use of it. The most common places to put it would be on a website, brochure, business card or promotional ad.

Where to Get Pictures

The truth is that some people use royalty free images from the internet to get good pictures for them to use for their massage therapy business. You can easily do that too but it is always a better idea to take your own pictures. You are, after all, talking about your business and you would like people to see the real set up of your services.

You don't really need a professional photographer to do the picture taking for you. All you need is a good light and a high quality camera. It would also make a lot of sense to shoot numerous angles of just one area or pose so you can easily choose the best massage therapy picture to use.

People Pictures

Massage, by its very nature, is person-oriented. Thus, it's only a must that you include people in your photos. The best kind of promotional pictures for your web site would be actual shots of people undergoing a treatment or service. It would be tempting to use beautiful models for a massage therapy picture promotional shot. It would however be better if you asked permission from real patients and took shots of them. This would give potential clients a glimpse of men, women and children from all walks of life enjoying your services.

Other Pictures

There are also many other subjects you can use. Promotional ads and website backgrounds can feature relaxing pictures that can send out the message that your services promote a soothing and healing experience. You could also take a picture of your staff and equipment to make people know that they are in good hands and in a good facility.

Your Picture

A tiny photo of you may do more than assure people that the clinic is run by a real person. It would also tells the public that you are open and transparent as a person and that you are offering these massage services to people in good faith. It may not be such a good idea to have your picture splashed everywhere especially if you are not yet as well known as you would want to be. It might be good though to at least have your picture on your business card. Your massage therapy picture on your card is a personal touch that many people would appreciate.

Friday, August 2, 2013

5 Steps to Become a Physical Therapist in Neurology


Becoming a physical therapist in neurology is very challenging career path. Are you ready to face all the difficulties? If you are positive, then find out how to become a neurological physical therapist right now! Here is step-by-step guide on how to become a physical therapist in neurology.

1. Before choosing to become a therapist in neurology you should perfectly understand the tasks and problems of this field. What are the patients of neurological therapists? What will be your duties? Physical therapists in neurology deal with very serious disorders. Most of the illnesses require long and quite difficult treatment. Becoming a neurological therapist you will help patients with the following illnesses:


  • brain and spinal cord injuries

  • multiple sclerosis

  • Parkinson's disease

  • polyneuropathy

  • vestibular disorders

Well, rather challenging tasks for the therapists, don't you think so? After becoming a neurological therapist you will have to treat and rehabilitate patients after strokes, with brain and spinal cord injuries, and degenerative diseases. Do you think you would be able to cope with all these tasks? If yes, read on!

2. Before actually starting your physical therapy education you have to acquire a Bachelor's degree. It would be better if you get a Bachelor of Science. A foundation of science will help you in your further education.

3. During your undergraduate studying look for the possibilities to gain some experience. Most of physical therapy school require some hours of practice in the field. Volunteer work in rehabilitation center that focuses on neurological physical therapy would be a perfect choice for you! It will definitely give you the edge over your rivals when applying for physical therapy school!

4. When you get into physical therapy graduate school try to find a mentor. A mentor is usually aware of all the novelties and findings in the field, which may be really helpful for you. Having a mentor you will be well prepared for the independent work.

5. Your next step to becoming a neurological therapist is state licensing. Actually, you will have to pass two or even more exams to be eligible for practicing as neurological therapist. However, in the end you will get an interesting and challenging job. So isn't it worth your efforts?

Becoming neurological therapist is a path for really hard-working, persistent and strong-personality individuals. Are you the one? Are you ready to face all the challenges of this job? Then start your way to the future career right now!

You Can Afford to Go to Massage Therapy School!


Have you always wanted to go to massage therapy school but didn't think you could afford it? Is your dream of becoming a massage therapist clouded by the thoughts, "How will I pay for school? Will I qualify for financial aid? Is my credit good enough?" These are great questions, but don't worry! Almost everyone is eligible for financial aid regardless of one's credit history, income, marital status, or the filing of a tax return.

Here are the facts about funding your massage therapy education and the three most important steps for how to get started with your financial aid research.

Step #1 - Verify that the massage school you are looking at is accredited. View and search the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions.

Step #2 - Use the Federal Student Aid forecaster online tool (called the FAFSA4caster) to learn about the financial aid process and get an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid and answer these questions, "What is federal student aid? Who qualifies? How do you apply?"

With the FAFSA4caster you can:

· Calculate your eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants
· Reduce the time it will take to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the qualifying form for all federal student financial aid

Step #3 - Find out if you qualify for financial aid. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To start the FAFSA process, visit fafsa.ed.gov and apply as early as possible beginning January 1st of each year. Schools and states also have their own deadlines, so be sure to contact the school you are interested in for exact deadline dates. NOTE: The first "F" in FAFSA stands for "FREE" and the web address is a ".gov" web address. If you go to http://www.FAFSA.com you can access the information, but will be charged a fee.

Most financial aid packages offered by massage therapy schools include a variety of types of aid, including:

· Scholarships or Grants (money that does not need to be paid back)
· Loans (money that is paid back, usually at lower interest rates than other types of loans)
· Work-study (a job on campus)

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, provides financial assistance for individuals wanting to pursue education beyond high school. Federal Student Aid administers the federal student financial assistance programs, authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965. In 2006 alone, Federal Student Aid provided approximately $80 billion in new aid to nearly 10 million postsecondary students and their families.

Accredited massage therapy schools may offer the following financial aid:

· Need-based grants for students who have not earned a degree (associate's, bachelor's, etc)
· Federal Student Aid
· Academic Competitiveness Grant
· Pell Grants
· Stafford Subsidized Loans
· Stafford Unsubsidized Loans
· PLUS Loans (Loans for parents of dependent students)
· In-house Financing
· Access to Scholarships

In addition, students may also qualify for:

· Veterans Administration benefits: US Department of Veterans Affairs
· Vocational Rehabilitation funds: Vocational Rehabilitation State Offices
· Workforce Investment Act (formerly Job Training Partnership Act) programs: US Department of Labor - Employment & Training Administration

Other sources of financial aid include state loans and grants depending on the student's state of residence. Your employer may also be a source of financial aid. Individual employers frequently offer education funds for employees or for retraining of employees. Taking the time to research your financial aid options could open the doors to massage school. Believe in yourself and make your dream of going to massage therapy school happen!

Should You Take A Physical Therapy Assistant Online Degree?


Online degrees are getting increasingly popular these days, as more and more people seek training to enter the workplace or get a better job. Many schools and colleges offer alternative online formats to their traditional campus based programs. Distance learning is particularly popular in the vocational training sector, for example, healthcare services. So can you train online to be a physical therapy assistant? And will an online course provide you with the kind of preparation you need to enter the profession?

Choices for Physical Therapy Assistant Training

Good career training is a sound investment in your professional future, and you owe it to yourself to make sure that you're choosing the best program for your needs as a student as well as for your eventual career. That's why it's so important to do your homework before enrolling in a program, investigating areas such as the school itself, the program, its curriculum and faculty, admission requirements, recent pass rate percentages of graduating students and other relevant information.

One extremely important aspect of your research is to check for each program's accreditation status. The only agency recognized at the moment by the US Department of Education to accredit physical therapy assisting programs is the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), which currently lists over 270 accredited programs in its website directory. These are organized by state, and it's a very good starting place to research programs.

There are several reasons why choosing an accredited program is important, and you can find out more about the process of peer review that is involved when you visit the CAPTE website. In order to practice as a physical therapy assistant in most states in the US, it is necessary to be credentialed -- i.e. licensed or certified -- by the jurisdiction in that state. Licensure normally depends on passing the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs, and only candidates who have graduated from an accredited degree program are eligible to apply.

Are There Any Accredited Online PTA Programs?

There are a few colleges that have an online component to their PTA training, for example, the lecture parts of the course. But every accredited PTA program is going to include lab classes and clinical experiences, which students must attend in person at a designated site. So it is possible to study parts of some courses online through a hybrid program format that integrates distance learning lectures with lab classes at weekends, for example. In this way, students who need to work part-time may be able to combine their study with their job. But even with these hybrid programs, the series of clinical practicum experiences must be carried out at the prescribed physical therapy location on a full-time schedule.

Before choosing a program with an online component, you need to decide whether you're the sort of student who would be able to benefit from learning away from the classroom. This kind of self organized study format can work very well for self-motivated students with independent study skills. But some students need the support comes from regular face-to-face contact with a teacher and classmates, and this type of person might benefit from a more traditional program model.

Massage Treatment Intake Forms - Reasons For Their Importance To Therapists


Massage treatment intake forms play a critical role where both the client and the therapist are concerned. Massage treatment intake forms convey a wealth of useful information that provides the starting point for treatment.

Why Massage Treatment Intake Forms Are Required By Therapists

Massage treatment intake forms are what go into the client's file first; they are intended to supply the therapist with the necessary information that will enable him to treat you for you problem in a sound and careful manner.

All patients do not receive the same massage treatment. There are a number of things that can influence the extent/regularity of treatment that you get, including the degree and duration of each session. Now what seems appropriate for you may in fact lead to injury in another person with a particular problem. The queries mentioned in the massage treatment intake form are intended to enlighten the therapist regarding your:

a. Medical history
b. Present medical problems
c. Extent of motion
d. Purpose of treatment
e. Personal viewpoint concerning massage therapy (for instance, do you consider massage to be a practicable physical therapy or just a soothing, relaxing, indulgence?)

Moreover, massage treatment intake forms also list the elementary requirements like contact data as well as confidentiality disclosure.

The replies given by you against each of the queries listed in the form will reveal to the massage therapist which specific areas require greater focus, the type of massage that will work best for you and tend to make you feel more comfortable, and if any products, techniques, or stimulations are contraindicated where you are concerned because of your problem or allergy and such others.

The objective of massage treatment intake form is certainly to make available a unique massage treatment experience with the best possible results.

What Queries Are Included?

Now, your massage treatment intake form should by no means be excessively intrusive, but some basics are required. The standard massage intake form generally will comprise of queries that inquire about:

1. Your address and contact data

2. Levels of stress

3. Strain

4. Headaches

5. Medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, circulatory and cardiac conditions

6. Latest procedures or problems such as surgery, broken bones, pregnancy, back problems, tissue damage

7. Problems with pain like back pain, sensitive areas, numbness, pressures, or piercing pains

Furthermore, you will have the chance to inform the therapist by means of the massage treatment intake form what your particular area(s) of distress is (are) and in what way you think massage therapy will benefit you.

Your massage therapist just requires you to complete a massage treatment intake form before your initial appointment, and at regular intervals following ongoing treatment. With the help of the information supplied by you, the therapist develops a massage procedure especially for you in order that you attain whatever you set to accomplish from your personal massage treatment experience.

Active Isolated-Stretching - A Flexibility System


Active Isolated-Stretching (AIS) is a flexibility system that involves working one muscle at a time. By actively contracting muscles opposite of the targeted muscle, Active Isolated-Stretching (AIS) automatically relaxes specific muscle in preparation of its stretch. Active Isolated-Stretching (AIS) is performed by gentle and quick stretches, and releases the muscle before it has a chance to protectively contract.

Developed by Aaron L. Mattes, Active Isolated-Stretching (AIS) is broadly used by doctors, massage therapists, personal trainers/fitness trainers and even athletes to increase overall performance and endurance; in addition to facilitating self-healing mechanisms.

As a form of natural healing therapy, Active Isolated-Stretching (AIS) allows the body to function more naturally and efficiently, and improves range of motion. In utilizing Active Isolated-Stretching (AIS), patients/clients become more balanced, are less susceptible to injury and have an increased sense of overall wellbeing.

For those interested in learning this ground-breaking technique, Active Isolated Stretching is commonly offered through fitness training workshops, seminars and sometimes, through healthcare facilities. Whether taught as a supplementary course in a massage therapy school, or as part of a physical therapy or sports medicine program, Active Isolated-Stretching is an essential healing tool that can enhance any practitioner's scope of healthcare services.

As a continuing education course, Active Isolated-Stretching is useful to medical and other healthcare workers like occupational therapists, orthopedic doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, personal coaches, massage practitioners, and athletic trainers, among others.

Active Isolated-Stretching courses teach practitioners how to treat common sports injuries and other physical injuries like Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders (back aches, etc.), scoliosis, pulled hamstrings, and other chronic muscular problems through specially designed stretching exercises that lengthen and strengthen the muscles.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding Active Isolated-Stretching courses, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Active Isolated-Stretching: A Flexibility System
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Thursday, August 1, 2013

Prostate Issues and Massage


Men that suffer from prostate problems or difficulty in sex might benefit from a prostate massage. The treatment can provide many benefits from prostate relief to heightened sexual pleasure. A revitalized sex life and healthy functioning prostate can be achieved with proper Kundalini energy flow and movement. I use special Tantric tools for this purpose.

The prostate massage has been known to help men overcome impotence. The prostate helps create seminal fluid and massaging the prostate helps stimulate activity. With increased seminal fluid incidences of impotence will begin to drop. Massaging the prostate has been said to heighten overall sexual pleasure so regular massages can aid tremendously in helping a man overcome impotence. My prostate massages can help relieve the symptoms of prostatitus, and other pelvic problems.

Regular prostate massages can help induce orgasms and stimulate ejaculation. Many times the orgasms reached when prostate massage is involved are highly intense. When the prostate is stimulated, the blood and seminal fluid increase in their flow. This increases flow of fluids also can help to improve sexual function overall. The fresh blood supplies and nutrients help keep the reproductive system healthy and functioning well.

Prostate massages can often times help improve erectile problems. Sometimes men suffer from restricted blood flow in the pelvic area which can directly effect the male reproductive system. Health conditions, age and injury can all be contributing factors in erectile dysfunction. The massage will help improve the flow of blood as well as nutrients and reduce incidences of erectile dysfunction. It isn't uncommon for a full and active sex life to be restored with the help of prostate massages.

Pelvic Awakening

"Elevated Spinal Phase of the Wave: Arching - Anterior Pelvic Position"

Here is the spinal snake arching before you, displaying flexibility and strength. Convexly, the body exercise's lift and expansion of the chest and ribs, and forward tilting of the pelvis. The stomach is firm. Rib-cage is open, and the arms and eyes are relaxed. The cobra breath will excite and pleasure your spirit, as it wave's the body.

"Rounded Spinal Phase of the Wave: Flexing - Posterior Pelvic Position"

The total orgasmic wave cycle includes an up and down motion, especially when we are talking about Tantra. Yet many people as they get older, more often move from a spinal flex position, limiting their range of motion which causes less pleasure, and soft tissue and joint stiffness. A fuller range of motion is called upon for better health.

Kriyas are automatic movements, vocalizations or actions that are part of the process of Kundalini clearing. Spontaneous yoga postures, twitching and shaking are good ways of releasing energy blockages that are stuck in the body.

Kriyas most often occur when the body's instinctive guidance or innate intelligence is responding to the work. The process is about learning to move and channel the Kundalini energy, so that you can contain and experience a full body orgasmic pulsation/wave.

Gestalt Ecstasy: Spinal - Core Release

Here you see complete freedom to express your self. A full range of release is shown through the somatic presence of ecstasy. Boundaries shifting, metaphysically between expansion and contraction, permitting flow and pleasure to emerge. Ecstasy is a wonderful thing to share with your body. The mind simply relaxes and let's go. The secret ingredient is conscious breathing. I teach you how to synchronize and release the breath.
Spinal Waving: Organismic Flow

There are three areas in the bodymind where the reins on our spirit are pulled most tightly by the entrenchment of ego's defenses: the scalenes (head-neck), the diaphragm (chest-belly), and the iliopsoas (kidneys-pelvis) segments. If we can release these, we can free ourselves from the crippling effects of trauma, denial and the accumulation inner and outer negativity.

It is these three somatic blocks that lead to the unconsciousness and inertia resulting from mind-body dissociation.

Since these blockages are set up in order to curb emotion, we cannot be emotionally authentic without opening up these three neuromuscular areas... and in doing so the Heart is then given preeminence in our psyche.

This is why true yoga is more than simply doing postures, it is moving and releasing the breath. [E-motion]

Spinal Waving is like Michael Jackson doing the "Moon Walk Dance" or Elvis moving his body in a rock and roll manner. Flexion and extension with all wheel drive in motion.

Pelvic Movement & Centering

Pelvic Centering is the act of being in between tension and relaxation within the pelvic cavity. This is accomplished by learning how to move energy up and down the spine. This is a core practice with the use of breath channeling. Most people in America breathe from the abdomen, leaving intercostal and pelvic breathing dormant, unused. The lower gates need to be exercised and used for good health, longevity, and performance to take place.

Many people over 40 are numb, comatose within the Chakra system. They hold their breath and tighten their whole body, especially upper back, buttocks, and legs which leaves little energy for genital pleasure. Body awareness and feeling sensation is key for multi-orgasmic flow and pleasure.

Pelvic Thrusting seems natural enough, yet most older adults have difficulty moving their hips. Lower back problems and lower extremity stiffness will do it! My work can help. Relaxation and letting energy release, circulate is good therapy. The opening of the three gates and seven Chakras will balance out the body, giving it greater freedom and mobility.

Tantric Release: Orifice Breathing

Awakening the sacred gates, allows you to experience 'The Holy Spirit.' This is done by energizing the P and G-spots together at the base of the pelvis and moving the spine in a wave like motion (snake-like), and allowing the breath to ignite the water element from the kidneys to the perineum. In an aroused state, the Kundalini Shakti feels so good and vital that you will want to 'sing the body electric.' Orifice breathing is about relaxing the guardian muscles around the mouth (upper body) and the anus (lower body). The polarity between the upper chakras (heaven) and lower chakras (earth) is what forms circular breathing. The combination and synchronization of thoracic-intercostal, abdominal, and pelvic breathing is what creates core movement and visceral health.

By using dialog and touch, I teach you how to enter the sacred spaces within your own body. Remember, whenever we guard our bodies with tension in a chronic way as in oral and anal retention, it does more harm than good.

The mouth and lips is the first seal or gate for controlling and releasing feelings. Emotions like anger, hate, love, and joy start in the mental mind and move into the physical body with oral consumption, expression, and instinctual response. Speech, singing, eating, coughing, sucking, biting, and licking are all healthy signs of expressing oneself.

Tongue yoga is basic to the ancient teachings of Kundalini. The dance of the snake, the hiss begins with the sound coming from the oral cavity. It is a warning sign of power and confidence, no shame or guilt. The cobra stands its ground erect!

Sacred Tantra teaches one how to move their fire and water elements. Fire is stored and made in the heart and belly. Water is stored and made in the mouth (saliva) and in the kidneys and bladder (urine), and genitalia (sexual fluids). Most civilized adults rarely open their mouths very much and move their tongues. For example, try being orgasmic with your mouth shut, and notice how it feels. The tongue and lips make a powerful orifice in relationship to pleasure.

Working the Container: Asanas

Kundalini energy flows when you create a safe container. Yoga creates this container on two basic levels: the subtle channels and the gross vessels. Chakras are subtle locations where Western organs or structures exist in there gross state. I work with both anatomies at the same time. Eastern is more psychic, while Western is more corporal. Remember, it is the mind that controls the body. The soft-ware in your brain has to be adjusted along with the hard drive or hard-ware in your body.

The Kundalini can follow the spine when activated, if the orgasmic wave is allowed to move. Good sexual release and higher consciousness (divine bliss) is based on learning to let go of the Chakras, etheric wheels.

General health and sexual fitness is determined by your ability to tilt the pelvis and curve the spine. Most civilized adults have lost the feeling and/or too stiff to tilt their pelvis back and forth, and bend their spine. Sitting most of the day in one position on a chair will do it.

A healthy pelvis and spine needs to move! Core movements stimulate and balance your Jing energy flow (mojo). Curling up, rounding the lower back (kyphosis) creates a backward/posterior tilt and arching the lower back (lordosis) creates a forward/anterior tilt. The oscillation back and forth of the spine and hips is called 'mojo fucking.' The key to performing this motion is letting-go of the upper torso and lowering one's center of gravity.

A flexible/agile core body can hold and accumulate more warm energy (mojo) when it can move forward and backwards as in the picture above and below. The function here is allowing the kidney area of the back (the Jing energy) to relax while activating the core muscles of the lower body and pelvis. If this is not possible, please come in for a needed Tantric treatment where you can nourish your vital principle.

Expression

Many people actually hold their breath upon the beginning of their orgasmic flow. This constricts the energy body and can be a way to unconsciously attempt to not lose control into the bigger energy feeling. Holding the breath, tightening the stomach, buttock and leg muscles, and tensing the upper body upon orgasm is restricting the orgasm from being felt fully in the body. Mouth breathing can sometimes help release the defense mechanism of control, letting go orally by moving the tongue and lips.

Tantra practice shows you with breath awareness how you can oxygenate the body and build more natural Qi/Prana flow. This energizes the body instead of depleting it. Adding sound toning naturally opens the throat and as the throat opens and relaxes, the body follows. A slower and more conscious movement pattern adds to a more loving release and greater health benefits to your Tantric experience.

Relaxing into a natural state of being is only possible when you are willing to let go of control. The key is allowing the body to move without having the brakes on all the time. This is where you need a teacher to guide and show you the way.

Almost 80 percent of the men who visit me have lost their ability to have a multi-orgasmic response with a pre-cum release. The primary reason being vascular restriction, insufficient blood flow to the Bulbourethral gland, also called a Cowper's gland. This phenomenon can be caused by an over developed sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight, freeze response) and too much sedentary sitting. The lack of circulation and exercise by the urogenital and pelvic diaphragms causes' a decrease in the pleasure response. The perineum is the physical epicenter where the dormant Kundalini serpent sleeps in hibernation, just waiting to be awakened. My work is designed to awaken the lower Chakras, increasing the blood flow through out the pelvis and lower back. Most men respond to treatment within three visits or less based on their medical history.

I can do energy, functional, and structural work founded on your request. All sessions are of a Pink Tantric nature incorporating sensual flow, body movement, and pleasurable relaxation. Tantric tools and vibrational healing can be introduced here if you like. Prostate stimulation with a vibrating Tantric wand can be very helpful for awakening and healing the pelvic region of the body.

With every male tune-up you receive a complete operational firmware and utility software update on your body: including optimizing, configuration and implementing servo & ballistic interfacing, defragmentation, repartitioning, transparent decompression analyzes, deleting with your permission old and obsolete programs, improving network connectivity, and data transferring effectiveness.

Most clients are more familiar with IT language than esoteric, shamanist, or yoga terms, so explaining things using Information Technology can be most helpful. IT men are a growing clientele for me, being the sedentary nature of their work and the managerial stress. Being robotic at work is one thing, being human the rest of the time is another. What most men need is to visit the service station at Larry's for a good Male Tune-Up Massage and receive your 5000 mile warranty on all parts and labor.

9 Things Your Massage Therapist Should Know to Give a Good Massage - And Why Only 2 Are Important


There are many things that an MT must learn to pass the various state licensing exams, but only 2 are absolutely necessary to do a good massage. In fact they are so important that if your Massage Therapis does not poses them, no matter how many years they have practiced, no matter how many classes they have taken, no matter what school they graduated from nor if they had the highest grades in their class, if they do not posses the knowledge that I will tell you shortly, then you should run, not walk as fast as you can, from them. Do not give them a chance for you will surely be disappointed in what you have just spent your hard earned money for. Before I tell you what those 2 things are, let me tell you why the others are not as important.  

Is Knowledge of Anatomy Important?  

You might have thought that anatomy would be important. After all, they are working on your body. They should know where the muscles are, what they do and how their technique can help you. However, the study of anatomy has only been required for MTs for only the past 40 of our 3,000 year old history. It may help us do our job better but it isn't absolutely necessary to give a good massage.

How About Physiology?  

You probably think that Physiology is important also. This is the study of the body's systems and how they work. Although it helps us to be a better health care professional, it is totally unnecessary for the practice of massage.

Is My Therapist Ethical?

Ethics are pretty important, and although this will help you to ensure that your therapist acts in the highest regards to your well being, it has nothing to do with giving a good massage. A definition of ethics can also be variable. For one person a Therapist who advertises a certain way is unethical, to another it's just good business practice.

How my Muscles Work

How about Kinesiology? The study of the function of muscles seems mighty important. How would a Massage Therapist know how to work on a muscle group if they didn't now how they work? The fact is, kinesiology is an even more recent study that Massage Therapists take. If it was all that necessary then we would have been studying it for the past 3,000 years also. But we haven't.      

Is That Contraindicated?

Contraindications are pretty important, right? After all, you wouldn't want your Therapist doing something that might harm you. If you had a blood clot in your leg, you may not want a Massage Therapist to work it loose and send it to your heart, do you? Or how about causing a miscarriage if you are pregnant during your fist trimester? Fact is, neither of these conditions can be caused by massage. In fact, the American Pregnancy Association and the Birthing Doula Association both recommend massage during all trimesters as it helps to ease the discomfort caused by tight muscles. 

Not only that but, there has never been any evidence that massage can cause serious harm. You can get temporary bruising if the therapist is not careful enough, but the proper application of massage can not cause you to seek medical treatment. If you must seek treatment from the effects of massage...well then, it wasn't a massage, it was an assault. Over all, massage is considered so safe that the premiums for liability insurance for Massage Therapists have actually gone down, instead of up like other Health Professions. Our rate of injury is so low that it's expressed in millionths, that's right, 0.000025 %

All Those Germs

That's the study of Pathology. Germs or bacteria and viruses can be dangerous. And there certainly are many of them to consider. But to engage in the study of them is totally unnecessary and is overkill. As long as your Therapist is practicing good hygiene, there is no likelihood that you will contract anything worth worrying about.

Ahh, Technique - That has to be The One!  

This must be the one, right? After all, what's a massage if the Therapist doesn't know the proper strokes and right kind of pressure applied to the correct location? Yes, this is important, but the present system of massage instruction does a very poor job of teaching us. In fact, we usually learn more after we graduate than we did in school, from other Massage Therapists and our clients.  

The 2 Most Important Things Your Massage Therapist Needs to know

The 2 things that are absolutely necessary a Massage Therapist needs to know to give a good massage are good hands and a good heart. The good hands come from intent, not necessarily from technique. Some training helps to do that, but it's that unspoken desire to help coupled with love, love of the person, self and of the work that makes a Massage Therapist great.

So no matter how much training one has, how many certificates on the wall they have, or how many years they have in the business, if they don't have a loving intent in their hands and heart, then run as fast as you can away from them. To find someone like that, you need to get a personal referral from someone who has received a massage from them. Barring that, it's best to contact them through a company that has done its due diligence and has conducted a thorough interview including an interview massage so they can determine if they in fact do possess those abilities.

6 TipsTo Give A Great Massage This Valentine's Day


Massage could just very well be the most luxurious gift to give to your loved one this Valentines Day, especially if it's coming from your own two hands. The benefits of massage seem endless : relaxing, sensual, allows you to connect with your mate at a much deeper level, paves way for more pleasurable experiences, and more.

In my honest opinion, as a massage therapist and professional massage teacher, there's a huge difference between a good massage and an AMAZING massage.

To help get you started with massage, here are a few tips to giving an amazing massage.

1) Speed - For a Valentines massage, the speed of your massage should be slow and lingering. One unique way is to try pace your partners breathing rate and massage at the same rhythm as their breathing. This is very powerful. You don't have to do it all the time, just every once in a while, it's good to try.

2) Depth of Touch - Pressure is one of the main differences between good and amazing. Certainly start off light and gradually increase the pressure. Always pay attention to the subtle clues that a person will give you as to the pressure. Squinting, tightening muscles, clenching the jaw are all an indication of too much pressure. Keep your touch light and that will help make way for further trust and deeper intimacy.

3) Being Consistent - Consistency with your speed, massage strokes and your pressure will help to create a better sense of trust. Your partner should be lulled into a tranquil space by being consistent. Trust is really the back bone of massage. Think of massage as gently allowing the body to relax.

4) Being Here Now - Paying attention to what you're doing and being FULLY PRESENT is critical when giving a great massage. People can tell when you're not The best way to be present is to notice your own body, hear what's around you, and look at your immediate surroundings. That will always bring you back should you drift off course.

5) Setting up the environment - Soft music, pleasant aromatherapy, candles, soft lighting, warm tempertures, maybe a fire, all help to set the mood. Flannel sheets (be careful the oil will stain), pillows and more are definitely helpful.

6) A few good massage techniques - Massage is an natural thing. It's one of the oldest healing art forms. But we've been able to figure some things out over the centuries. Learning a few key massage techniques will kick up your massage skills. One new technique could make the difference between good and amazing.

So besides flowers, chocolate or diamonds, ultimately it's YOU they want for Valentine's Day. Perhaps the real value of learning how to give an amazing massage is that's it's a gift that only gets better over the years to come.

The Benefits of Aroma Massage Therapy


Aroma therapy massage or aromatherapy, is very similar to Swedish massage in that they use the same techniques. The difference lies in the cream or oil that is used. Typically, Swedish massage is performed with unscented oils to avoid any allergic reactions, where aromatherapy uses specific essential oils based on the needs of the client.

There are hundreds of different essential oils and each one of them has different properties. This is why it is important for the aromatherapist to do a full health intake of the client. While most essential oils are beneficial, some can be harmful depending on your condition. The aromatherapist should be trained to know what oils will work best for you. Based on the questions asked during the intake period, the aromatherapist will choose a few oils blended together to use within the treatment.

Aromatherapy has huge benefits depending on your condition. There are oils that can help relieve constipation, help you sleep, relieve cold and flu symptoms, as well as reduce aches and pains. The most common essential oils used are: lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, ylang-ylang, and chamomile.

Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils used to decrease stress and anxiety and help those suffering from insomnia.

Lemon is of the citrus family and has great uplifting qualities. It can also help with digestive and circulation issues as well as alleviate headaches and fever.

Eucalyptus can be used to help with respiratory issues and clearing congestion from the lungs. Because if its cooling properties it is great for muscle aches and pains.

Ylang-Ylang is used to soothe headaches, nausea, and intestinal discomfort. If this oil is used in excess is can lead to headaches.

Chamomile is another calming essential oil and can be used to decrease muscle inflammation as well as inflammation the digestive or urinary tract. It is also a mood lifter.

Although aromatherapy can have great benefits, it can also be harmful to those that are inexperienced and if oils are used inappropriately. Certain essential oils are contraindicated for many conditions, pregnancy being one, and the use of these oils can cause complications. When booking your appointment, always make sure the therapist you are seeing is fully licensed in their field. Also, it is not recommended to use these oils without full knowledge of their properties, benefits and contraindications.

Aromatherapy is a wonderful modality if it is used correctly can have many benefits. For more information contact your local registered aromatherapist.

Tips for Starting a Physical Therapy Private Practice


It may have crossed your mind at one point or another that it's time to branch off and begin your own PT clinic. When first beginning this process, people will tell you that this will cost you thousands and thousands of dollars, but that doesn't have to be the case. Here are a few money-saving tactics you can implement into your physical therapy practice management and clinical operations from the start.

1. Necessary Equipment

When purchasing equipment, work toward being creatively efficient. Scour the web for PT blogs addressing the matter and price comparisons between companies. Most patients don't need to see the most high-tech, fancy or most expensive equipment - they just want what works. In fact, is likely that they won't have access to those machines at home, so training them on equipment they can actually use may be very beneficial. By simply doing your own form of physical therapy practice management research, you'll be able save a significant amount of money.

2. Clinic Office Size

Right now, you may think it's important to invest in a large space - mostly because you want your equipment to fit. However, you could cut costs by investing in a smaller office - thus saving even more on smaller machines that will fit nicely. Instead of paying for extra space you aren't using, fill the space accordingly. Then, if you need to expand once your business takes off, you can do so!

3. Beginner's Marketing

When you're just starting out, keep in mind that you just need the necessities: a business card and a letterhead. There's no magic spell you can use to conjure up new patients. What you can do is utilize your time wisely. Go out in the community and get to know people and tell them what you're all about. If you are even more technology driven, consider beginning your own website consisting of PT blogs that interested patients, personal trainers or physicians can visit for more information about who you are and what you plan to offer.

4. Physical Therapy Practice Management

There are methods you can utilize to get your business running in a more affordable way. One way, is choosing your billing option. You can outsource your billing to a medical billing company who will take somewhere between 5 and 12 percent. However, in the long run this may actually save you money, as you won't have to purchase expensive software or hire and train a new employee. If you'd rather invest in more tech-savvy software, try using Square. This piece of technology is quickly making its way into businesses everywhere. It costs about 2.75 percent.

When it comes to starting your own clinic, try these tips for saving as much as possible, and as you continue to grow and expand, you'll be able to make additions to your office, practice management and staff.

Acupressure & Massage For Dogs, Horses, and Other Companion Animals


Acupressure and other holistic modalities for animals have seen a jump in popularity as animal owners look for ways to help their furry family members live longer, happier and healthier lives. Animal owners are leading the charge as they demand more options for their beloved pets. They are challenging their veterinarians to think outside the western medicine they learned in veterinary school and many veterinarians are responding.

For thousands of years Acupressure has long been used in China to maintain the health and well-being of livestock. Today, there are multitudes of books, classes and entire program offerings for those interested in learning this art form. Acupressure is based upon the same theories as Acupuncture only your hands do the manipulating instead of needles. Traditional Eastern belief is that every living being is born with a fixed amount of Chi or Energy. Through illness, injury, trauma and age our Chi slowly becomes depleted. Acupressure is a means of stimulating certain points on the body to restore depleted Chi.

Stimulation of Acupressure Points can release endorphins, reduce pain, cause a relaxation effect, and bring fresh, oxygenated blood into an ailing area flushing toxins and bringing nutrition rich blood where it's needed. Ideally, Acupressure is used as a preventative to maintain health and well being. "Maintenance sessions" with a professional practitioner will depend on the animal but will vary to between once every one to four weeks for a healthy animal. Acupressure is also used to relieve specific conditions both acute and chronic and the number of sessions will vary depending on the health, age, lifestyle and genetics of the animal as well as the specific problem being addressed.

Typical Acupressure treatment

1. Observation

2. Introduction

3. Opening

4. Treating

5.Closing

During the Observation the practitioner observes the animal's movement, posture, gut sounds, etcetera, and makes notes of marks and patterns on the body to use these cues in the work. The practitioner then asks the animal for permission to do an acupressure treatment. This is done by speaking and touching softly so that the animal accepts the practitioner and gives its permission. The Opening is when the practitioner runs a hand from the eye to the hind foot along an energy meridian called the Bladder Meridian. This opens the energy flow in the entire body and prepares the animal for the Acupressure Point Work or Treatment. The treatment will be unique to each animal and its condition. The intention of the Point Work is to bring balance and healing. The Closing is performed to finish the treatment and is the same as the opening, a long stroke from eye to hind foot. This leaves the animal relaxed and refreshed. A treatment can last anywhere from twenty to sixty minutes depending on the animal and its condition.

If you start working with any cooperative therapies such as Acupressure, Reiki, Massage, or Aromatherapy you will begin to make personal discoveries that often depend on your and the practitioners developed intuition rather then on any "rational" process or scientific theory. When someone insists that these therapies meet "rational" standards of proof, they rule out methods of treatment that have been shown for years to be effective and harmless. Janet Travell was effectively sidelined by her medical colleagues for years because anatomical knowledge could find no explanation for the patterns of pain distribution associated with myofascial trigger points. She was in her late eighties before the breakthrough was made and she received the belated recognition that her success in diagnosis and treatment should have earned her forty years prior.

Acupressure and other forms of animal bodywork are exciting and rewarding fields of study for those looking to enhance the health and well being of their own furry friend or begin a new career helping the animals of others.

For more information on animal Acupressure, Massage, Reiki and other programs, or to order books, DVDs, or charts, contact the Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage, P.O. Box 1491, Carbondale, CO 81623, 303-669-4227. Locations in Golden, Englewood, Littleton, Brighton, and Carbondale.

A Guide To Tantric Massage


TANTRIC MASSAGE

I guess the majority of us have heard about Tantric sex and massage. Had anyone asked me what it was exactly I would have giggled shyly and muttered something about gentle touching, feathers, massage and no orgasm. How wrong I was.

Tantric massage is basically just a massage. However it was created from the belief that if you are sexually happy and relaxed then your health will benefit. The Hindus describe Tantra as achieving personal growth through pleasurable existence. The massage itself does tend to cause orgasms, but these are described as a bonus rather than the aim.

Although Tantric massage does not involve actual penetrative sex, it does involve full on touching of the organs. For this reason you will not find it offered down your local health centre. You are far more likely to find it on offer in the many massage parlours in London and other major cities.

If you want to have a go with her or him indoors here is a pretty basic guide to Tantric massage.

Firstly, from this point on, your manhood is referred to as Lingam (wand of light - don't be thinking light sabre it's not that big!) and the lady's bits are called Yoni (sacred space or sacred temple). Let's face it those words sound much nicer than the alternatives.

If you are visiting somewhere for your massage you need to decide in advance whether you will be getting naked or not. Proper Tantric masseuse prefer you to be naked, they believe this helps the healing process all over your body. If you are shy you can choose to keep some clothes on, I am guessing you will want to cover your Lingam or your Yoni. If you are at home with the missus or the husband, get your kit off and turn the heating up.

Choose some gentle music (whale music is optional). Now banish all thoughts of kneading your lover all over until she or he begs for mercy. It's not that kind of massage. Make your lover lie on his or her back, legs apart and a cushion under the hips to raise up the Yoni/Lingam area and a cushion under the head so they can look at their genitals. Explain that although there will not be any penetrative sex this evening you will take them to previously unknown heights of sexual satisfaction. It may help to convince them if you do not print off this article and place it next to them on the bed. Choose your lubricant wisely; chocolate body sauce has no place here.

The massage itself involves every part of the body, although I guess the Yoni/Lingam area will receive more than its fair share of attention. The massaging of the body is to help prepare the receiver for the attention you will be paying their genitals.

Yoni Massage

Pour a small amount of oil on to the mound of the Yoni, just enough so it drips down the outer lips. Massage each outer lip slowly between thumb and forefinger, sliding up and down the entire length of the lip. Only ask your lover if the pressure is too much or not enough. Try to look into their eyes during the massage and ensure she can see what you are doing. Do the same for the inner lips of the Yoni. Take your time and watch your lover relax.

The jewel in the crown is the clitoris. Four times more sensitive that your Lingam so take it easy here. Begin by gently stroking it in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction and squeeze it gently between your thumb and index finger. The missus will be well and truly fired up by now but try not to allow an orgasm just yet, let the sensations build. If it becomes too much, just back off a bit and encourage her to breathe deeply. Now insert the middle finger of your right hand (I can't remember why it has to be the right one but I shouldn't think it would cause too much trouble if you need to use your left instead.) and gently feel around inside continuing to massage gently.

With your palm facing upwards and your middle finger buried in the Yoni, bend your finger back towards the palm and you should feel a spongy area just under the pubic bone. This is known as the G-spot ("that's where it is!" I hear you yell). Gently massage here, in circles, back and forth, side to side. Your lover may feel the need to pee but hopefully she should feel pleasure building slowly. At this point you may wish to insert the finger between your middle finger and your little finger. Whilst a few of your digits are employed inside, you may as well use your thumb to continue circling the clitoris. Another option is to leave your middle finger inside, continue stimulating the clitoris with your thumb and insert your little finger up her anus. I would suggest you perhaps test the waters first as anal penetration when you are not expecting it would definitely ruin the mood. Whilst all this is going on, your left hand may feel a little underused. Use it instead to continue stroking and massaging other parts of her body (her body parts not yours!). Your lover will more than likely experience a very intense orgasm and afterward will feel completely relaxed. She will generally drift off to sleep and leave you in a state of arousal with no prospect of a Lingam massage for you tonight!

Lingam Massage

Traditionally the giver, some men may find it difficult to lay back and think of England whilst his lover goes to work on his wand of light. However, I do suggest you give it a go bearing in mind the fantastic massage you gave her Yoni last night.

Get your man to lay back on the bed with a pillow under his head to enable him to see what you are doing. Put a pillow under his hips and spread his legs with his knees bent. His Lingam must be completely exposed. Begin as before by gently massaging all over his body, avoiding this area for a while. This allows him to become completely relaxed and prepared for the touching of the Lingam. Pour a small amount of oil over his shaft and testicles and begin gently massaging his testicles. Next massage the area on the pubic bone above the Lingam. Massage the area between his testicles and his anus (perineum). Moving on to the Lingam, gently grasp the base with your right hand and move up the shaft and then remove your hand, repeat with the left hand. Do this for some time, then change to grasping the Lingam at the top, slide down the shaft and remove your hand, replace with the left and repeat this process. The head of the Lingam is very sensitive and deserves special attention. Massage it in a circular motion. Don't worry if the Lingam goes soft, it will shortly perk up again. Likewise if your partner seems to be on the brink of orgasm, back off and encourage deep breathing.

Keep bringing him close to orgasm and then back off. This is not a method of torture, it helps them to control their ejaculation and therefore achieve longer and more pleasurable orgasms. Whilst continuing to massage his Lingam, you can search for his sacred spot. This is located between his testicles and his anus. It is a small indentation about the size of a pea. If you massage here and gently increase the pressure he may well feel uncomfortable at first. Applying pressure here will help him gain control of his orgasms in future. If he is nearing ejaculation you can apply pressure here and this will increase the intensity of his orgasm.

The end of the massage is signalled by either ejaculation or snoring. If he is snoring you still have some practising to do. If he has ejaculated, you have some clearing up to do.

I am still very much a beginner however I was pleased to discover that Tantric massage is not a mysterious sexual cult and is certainly not difficult to do. Anyone with an hour to spare and a bottle of strawberry flavoured body oil can do it.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Rehabilitation After Tibial Plateau Fractures


The tibial plateau is the flat area of the top of the shin bone, the lower half of the knee joint, which expands up from the shaft of the shin bone. The tibial plateau is a very important weight bearing area and any disruption of this area affects the stability, movement and alignment of the knee. This means that the diagnosis and correct management of this fracture is extremely important if the patient's chances of future knee disability are to be minimised. Older people, typically over fifty years of age, are more frequent sufferers from this fracture, especially in women after the menopause who may have a degree of osteoporosis which makes the plateau more fragile.

In older people the forces involved in the fracture are usually low, such as a fall of some kind, and the fracture is often depressed which means squashed downwards. Younger people suffer more high energy fractures from motor vehicle accidents or being hit by a car as a pedestrian, with split type of fractures. Depressed fractures may require operation to bring the flat plateau surface up the right position with a bone graft and internal fixation to hold them in place. Cast braces are often employed, a brace around the thigh and calf with a knee hinge, with the brace limiting any sideways forces on the knee which might worsen the fracture.

In the cast brace the physiotherapist will assess the patient's ability to contract their quadriceps muscle and work on flexion of the knee which is the main potential limitation after this kind of fracture. The physio will instruct the patient in the correct gait, which is often non weight bearing initially, progressed to partial weight bearing as the surgeon is happy with the healing of the fracture. Many patients are elderly and find non weight bearing only possible for very short distances or transfers whilst using a wheelchair and a frame.

Once the brace is removed the physiotherapist will work on mobility of the patella, strength of the quadriceps and flexion of the knee. Mobilisation techniques can be used to increase the accessory movements of the knee and the physio will encourage hamstring work against resistance such as an exercise band or gently resistance from the other leg. Gradual progress through active ranges of movement towards resisted movements is encouraged, with the physio instructing the patient from partial to full weight bearing and functional work as appropriate.

Trade, Career, Or Vocational School - What's the Difference?


In a nutshell, there is no difference. Whether you choose to go to a trade school, career school, technical school or vocational school, the purpose of each type of school is to teach its students specific job skills in their chosen field of study. It's really just a matter of what the school chooses to call itself.

There are vocational schools for Health care professions such as Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Tech, Nursing, Ultrasound Technician and others. These programs focus on providing students not only with essential book education, but hands-on training that allows graduates to enter the job market feeling confident in their ability to perform job duties on day one.

Career schools for those who want to work in artistic fields are also available. Creative types that prefer not to attend 4-year degree programs requiring a lot of general education classes that don't apply to their artistic ambitions can complete diploma, certificate and associate degree programs in Graphic Arts, Interior Design, Animation, Web Design and Game Development a number of career schools. Some of these programs can even be completed through online study.

The programs you find at trade schools are typically for careers in what are called "skilled trades" such as HVAC, Auto Mechanics, Plumbing, Welding and Avionics. These programs usually include an apprenticeship component that is required before you become licensed. Other skilled trades include Cosmetology and Electrician.

There are schools that offer all of these programs, and others that focus on one specific trade. A good vocational/career/trade school is accredited and provides student services such as job placement upon program completion.

Schools offering vocational training are ideal for those seeking specific career training that does not require a 4-year degree. If you are looking for a training program, Vocational School Searcher can help.

Herniated Discs May Respond to McKenzie Physical Therapy


Conservative treatment should always be the first port of call when someone has a herniated disc causing either back and leg pain or sciatica. This should also be the case if a patient is suffering from neck and arm pain. There are many forms of physical therapy (or physiotherapy) but one that is established, well-researched and proven is called the McKenzie Method or McKenzie Care.

The McKenzie Method was developed by New Zealand Physiotherapist Robin McKenzie in the 1950's. Robin was treating a patient called Mr Smith. Mr Smith laid face down on a treatment table that had been left elevated from the previous patient. This meant Mr Smith had his back in an arched position which in the 1950's was thought to be a dangerous position for people suffering back pain or herniated discs.

So what happened next? Mr Smith improved rapidly in this arched position with all his leg pain rapidly reducing with only pain experienced in the center of his back. He was actually the best he'd been in over 3 weeks. Robin then experimented with different movements and positions and slowly developed the method which bears his name.

The phenomenon of pain moving to the center of the back while lying in a certain position (as was experienced by Mr Smith) is now called centralization and is associated with a good outcome and means the patients will recover quickly. Research has shown centralization is associated with pain from disc herniation or disruption.

McKenzie therapists have undertaken extra post-graduate training provided by the McKenzie Institute International. The Institute's website has a world-wide list of trained McKenzie therapist. However, many patients recover from their back pain just by reading Robin's book "Treat Your Own Back."

Massage Therapy Supplies - Launching It New For The New Massage Therapist?


A good massage therapy depends on the usage of the right kind of massage therapy materials. New massage therapists will have to nest in the basic massage therapy materials to start their practice.

These therapists may start business on their own or be employed by other massage therapy business. He may also be employed in some organization which provides services like in a gymnasium, sports team or a fitness centre. In such businesses the massage therapy materials are supplied by the establishment which is not available in the case of self-employed masseuse. In order to be self reliant many therapists opt to buy their own supplies rather than be dependent on the parent organizations.

Broadly speaking, massage therapists try to locate a base for the supply of massage therapy equipments, though they are provided with enough material to start on a new massage therapy business to cater to several essential supplies a starter would require.

Massage therapy table:
The basic and vital piece of equipment in a massage therapy is the massage table. A massage therapist is provided with various choices for the massage table though a wise one would be to select a portable one, which is foldable and can be easily shifted from place to place. The biggest advantage of a Table that can be easily carried is that it is easy to take up house visits and it can be transported from one office to another as most therapists would start their business in a place and later move to another.

Oils:
Massage oils find a variety of uses in massage therapy. A few of these oils are used to provide relaxation and it also helps in rejuvenating the patients. Certain other kinds of oils are used to relieve tensions in muscles while still others help in reducing friction.

Massage therapy oils include almond oil, grape seed oil, avocado, apricot oil, wheat gram, jojoba, holy oil and hazelnut. Therapists also use creams and lotions according to the service to be offered and the massage type.

Carrying/Display case:
A therapist should find out a way to carry these oils if he is engaged in providing services at various places. He should devise a case that helps in the safe transport of these oils. If massage therapy services are provided in an office only, the therapist has to place the oils in such a place that they are easily accessible and if sale of these oils is also done then display case should be properly arranged.

Towels and Sheets:
Towels and sheets should be maintained in a clean and tidy manner to ensure client privacy and hygienic atmosphere. The therapist should invest his money in a stock of massage therapy materials.

Hands are the vital tool for the conduct of massage therapy so only a few therapists should go in for a business rolling. The materials for massage therapy which are mentioned above provide a sufficient base for fresh massage therapists and more can be bought as the business develops.

Sports Massage 101 - Best Benefits of Sports Massage


Massage therapy is popularly known to reduce anxiety, tension, and pain. And yes, it just feels good, right? Massage's potential is so much greater than being just relaxing. Athletes often require this kind of therapy in order to complete their training regime as well as improve their performance. "Sports massage" is a specific branch of the overall world of sports medicine. Specific techniques utilize deep muscle manipulation that aid in the elimination of toxins in the muscle tissue. These techniques fall somewhere between Shiatsu and Swedish styles of massage. Sports massage falls into two categories: pre-event or post-even massage.

For those receiving pre-event treatment, it's best to keep to within two days of the sports event. The idea is to stimulate nutrient and blood flow to the muscle tissue. Physiological relaxation is a side effect of massage, encouraging mental confidence as well. Pre-event massage often has the effect of improving warm-ups, stretching and manipulating muscles. This improves circulation, which can reduce chances of injury.

Post-performance massage is a bit different, in that it is fast and direct. It lasts 10 - 15 minutes on average, and focuses right on particular areas affected by the sport in question. Compression techniques are the primary techniques of use, with compressive and petrissage techniques as well. The intention is that muscle tension is ease, and muscle recovery speeds up with fewer muscle spasms. The goal is to achieve full range of motion as soon as possible. It's common that serious sports teams retain an on-site chair masseuse to make sure sports massage can happen as needed during competition.

Like all massage, sports massage incorporates the physical, psychological, and physiological to achieve system balance. With massage for pain management, it's pretty easy to see where the physical effects come from; however, there are other benefits as well. Lactic acid and other waste is ferreted more quickly out of the system, and massage promotes improved circulation. Scare tissues break down faster, and athletes see an improvement in muscle elasticity. Then, people see increased blood flow to various muscles.

Sports massage has great benefits for serious athletes looking for that "something extra." Pre and post massage techniques each encourage different benefits. Massage therapists help athletes reduce their chances of injury, increase muscle elasticity, and reduce the time to recovery. Massage therapy will benefit any sports training routine. Check with your trainers and your massage therapist to bring massage into your regular exercise routine.

4 Important Points to Remember on Universal Precaution Training for Massage Therapists


In order to keep healthcare workers and other people and staff working with human bodies, blood and fluids safe, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) framed the Universal Precautions. The Universal Precautions, or the Standard Precautions, as it is known now, is a set of basic rules framed for people working in the healthcare industry to preserve their health and keep them disease free. It is governed by the basic assumption that "all bodies are infected from bloodborne pathogens".

Bloodborne pathogens are deadly particles in human blood and other body fluids like vaginal secretions, seminal fluids, saliva and others that can cause Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. These particles are capable of infecting the healthiest of bodies if they enter the blood stream. The only way to avoid getting infected by these viruses is to exercise precaution. The Universal Precautions primarily deal with keeping hands clean, surroundings clean, wearing protective gear while in contact with a patient and cleaning and scrubbing after meeting with a patient. For those working in the healthcare sector, a training program in Universal Precautions is mandatory in order to work. Massage therapists are required to be in contact with human bodies as a part of their jobs. This makes it essential for them to undergo this training. Find out how it is essential for massage therapists to undergo Universal Precautions training.

• Sanitizing the Workplace

The Universal precautions enlists sanitation as one of the most basic and important factor. The massage therapists are required to maintain the highest levels of hygiene, bathe regularly and keep themselves clean round the clock. The massage tables, chairs and all equipment related to the process has to be cleaned and disinfected using a mild detergent. The bathrooms, steam rooms and saunas have to be disinfected regularly for use.

• Maintaining Hygiene

The massage therapists are required to wash their hands after using the bathroom, eating and before starting to work with a patient. Clean, manicured hands and short nails are encouraged. Minimal or no jewelry is recommended for it not only causes discomfort to the patient but may carry germs.

• First Aid training and Certification

It is strongly recommended that the massage therapists are trained in First aid and CPR. There may be emergency situations when the patients may require medical assistance or first aid.

• Bloodborne Pathogen Training and Certification

As per the Universal precautions, as massage therapists' deal with a human body, it is mandatory to exercise all the caution the bloodborne pathogen training recommends. As the Universal Precautions assumes that all bodies are capable of spreading the deadly Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV, it is essential that the provider exercises caution.

Like all other people working in the healthcare sector, massage therapists are also at a great risk of contracting bloodborne diseases. The training program not only keeps them healthy and disease free, it also maintains the hygiene levels, making the place safe for all the visitors, keeping them all disease free as well.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Benefits of Couples Massage Therapy


There are so many health benefits to massage, and additional benefits of couples massage therapy for you and your partner. The crazy pace the world has taken on has taken its toll on our health, and our relationships. Taking time to give each other massage is an amazing way to slow down, get more in tune with your partner, and reconnect in a very profound way.

Stress affects our health adversely, few people argue that fact today. Some of the first symptoms people realize from increased levels of stress include increases in: blood pressure, tension in the body, GI distress, headaches and mood swings. Relationships certainly suffer from increased levels of stress as well, by decreasing our level of patience, and negatively affecting our communication patterns. By engaging our partners in some relaxing activities which are not only mindful, but helpful in directly affecting the nervous system in a positive way, we gain more control over our overall stress in our lives. Using Couples Massage Therapy to connect with our partner can be a very effective way to decrease stress hormone release, and increase some of the positive hormones in our bodies.

In our Couples Massage Therapy Classes, I like to share something funny about stress in our cushy lives in the US. Most of us are not often threatened by issues of survival...like being chased by a bear, for instance. HOWEVER, our bodies react with the same hormones when we have an impending deadline that we are anxious about, or our boss is reprimanding us. Our bodies don't know the difference! We still go into a fight or flight mode, which means adrenaline and increased blood flow to our extremities to flee (run or climb as fast as we can) or fight the impending predator. Often, in a state of chronic elevated stress, our bodies will over-secrete stress hormones, and begin to have issues of chronic muscular pain or headaches.

This is where you can experience many benefits of Couples Massage Therapy! It may not be possible for you to take the time or the money to get a professional massage a few times a week...but it MAY be completely reasonable for you and your partner to turn off the TV, or take some time out from other common activities in your home and give each other a massage once a week!

The feedback we have received from our Couples Massage Class participants since 2000 often include the fact that even the GIVER of the massage was more relaxed afterward. That's amazing! You don't even have to be the one getting the massage, to gain benefits of reducing stress! The reason for this can be attributed to several aspects of the interaction during a massage with your partner. Usually when giving a massage, your mind is more present than usual. Studies have shown beneficial changes in blood composition, respiration and stress hormones in the body from a period of mindfulness or meditation. Giving a massage can be a very mindful practice. You are paying attention to the way you are moving your body, how your partner's body feels, and watching for feedback from your partner. There's a whole lot of non-verbal interaction going on during a massage! Typically, the giver of a massage, if they are focusing on the task at hand, will also deepen their breathing and generally slow their respiration. This has a direct biofeedback link with slowing heart rate and decreasing overall tension in the body. Who knew giving a massage could be so beneficial?

We haven't even begun to share the benefits of the person RECEIVING the massage! The health benefits of receiving massage range from assisting circulation, reducing tension, and positively affecting the hormones in the body, both reducing secretion of the bad, and increasing the good. The practice of being present with your partner, and learning a new way to communicate is helpful for strengthening a relationship. We've witnessed every time we finish a class, couples leaving a class are touching more and gazing into each other's eyes more. When we give and receive with our partner without expectation, it allows us a safe emotional space, and deepens our levels of comfort, and connection.

SO! If you are looking to find a way to increase your connection with your partner, reduce stress in your life, and enhance your health, the benefits of Couples Massage Therapy will likely produce more than you initially thought possible.

Currently in School to Become a Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist?


While you're still in grad school to become a physical or occupational therapist, you're likely consumed with classes, papers, internships and a wealth of other tasks. It can be very daunting to look ahead at such a busy time, but it will definitely be worth it if you do! In the past, gaining permanent placement at a hospital, clinic or school has been the norm and most likely what you've heard the most about, however, there are programs out there that allow those who've just graduated to work as a travel physical therapist or occupational therapist and explore their dreams while seeing the world!

Many students never really look into the travel therapy options available to them while they are in school, but now is the time to start! It's easy to fall into a more traditional job role right after graduation since it's what you're most familiar with, however, if you take the time to research other options before graduating, you'll be in a prime position and have all the information necessary to make the best decision for you.

Travel therapy jobs offer great pay, benefits, and travel opportunities, which can often be overlooked by many new grads. Whether you want to work in your hometown or explore another state, there are many options available to you. Travel PT and OT jobs allow students to not only choose the location they'd like to work in, but you'll have the choice of working in a range of facilities, all with different staffs and patients that are sure to help you refine your newly acquired skills.

Additionally, some travel therapy companies offer new grad reward programs and travel around to college campuses to share the details of their service offering - make sure and attend those lectures, you might find out a lot that you didn't know was even possible with these types of jobs. Using a travel therapy company to find a travel position after graduation is a great idea since they are experts in the industry, meaning that not only do they have a ton of experience placing individuals in positions well suited to their needs, but they have a complete catalog of the most up-to-date travel assignments all over the country. Additionally, these companies have consultants to offer advice and career guidance every step of the way - as a college student just recently released into the working world, that definitely goes a long way!

Whether you're deciding between permanent placement or travel opportunities, or even if you're not sure where to start, travel therapy jobs are a great option to consider. Many travel therapy companies have websites online where you can research the company and their job postings and begin the research that will make finding a job after graduation a breeze!