Governor's threat to suspend the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists

Fri, 29 May 2009 13:48:30 -0700

Welcome to the political system of the state of Oregon. For those of you new to the show, it is quite the drama. We have some heroes, many villains, and always ongoing challenges. The most recent issue is regarding a quote from Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski at the City Club of Portland 2009 on Friday, May 15, 2009. To read the entire 8 pages you can go to:

http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/docs/Portland_City_Club_051509.pdf.

The issue regarding licensed massage therapy in Oregon.

…..Oregon state government can no longer be all things to all people. That’s why I am asking the Legislature to suspend a wide variety of agencies, boards and commissions. These include: The Board of Occupational Therapy, the Board of Massage Therapists, the Consumer Advisory Council, the Commission for the Blind, the Board of Licensed Dietitians, and the Advocacy Commissions – among others. I am also preparing for possible consolidation – among others – the Aviation Department, and all of the health-related agencies, boards and commissions……

Here are just a few issues I feel are relevant regarding this proposal.

1. The Board of Massage Therapists is semi-independent and self funded and independent of the state’s budget. How suspending our board would save money, as it would put 4+ staff out of work and eligible for unemployment benefits, seams to be faulty math.

2. If the board is suspended, the maintenance of our professional appearance will be hindered. If you go to a phone book in Oregon you will find license numbers connected to massage therapy. If you go to online services such as “Craig’s list” locally you will find there is much less illegal activity relating to massage therapy than in other states. If the massage board is suspended, the unlicensed practice of massage will become unmonitored.

3 Early on in this speech he speaks about the 12.1% unemployment rate. Suspending these agencies, boards, and commissions will only increase the unemployment rate. The responsibilities of the rules and statutes will still continue to be there but the maintenance of these jobs will be neglected.

4. Governor Kulongoski may have the authority to affect the licensing of the professions that he is planning to suspend, however he is still responsible to the citizens of this state. That includes you. So I would like to inspire each and every one of us to action.

How you can help!
Who to contact:

1: Find out who your state senator and representative are. You do this by going to http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/. By putting in your home address you will then get a list of both your US and Oregon legislators. You can click on the e-mail of each of your representatives to contact them. You can also call there office using there phone number.

2: You can contact Claudia Black who is the health and human services policy advisor of Gov. Ted Kulongoski at "mailto:Claudia.black@state.or.us" \o "blocked::mailto:Claudia.black@state.or.us" Claudia.black@state.or.us.

You can also contact her by mail at:

State capital Room 160
Governor’s Office
900 Court Street NE,
Salem, OR 97301

3: Copy (CC) the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists regarding this issue at Patty.Glenn@state.or.us

Subject line:
Please start your subject line with “Possible OBMT suspension…..” Using a uniform subject line can simplify the search and unify our voice on this issue. It is like having all of us stand in an e-mail room together.

In the text:
Please remain professional and kind in your contact. State any concerns you may have that would affect the public (client, licensee or general citizen) in Oregon regarding a potential loss of our regulatory state board.

Please do not put this off to anyone else. Other people will only participate if you do.

I made my voice heard last Tuesday. Please remind them of my words with yours.

Nathan Nordstrom LMT LMP NCTMB
nathan@educatedtouch.com
(503)706-2480
P.O. Box 3101
Gresham, Oregon 97030

So you want to be a massage therapist??

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:50:41 -0800

You’ve made a decision to embark upon a new career and now the time has come to determine what school will be the right choice. What do you need to be aware of when considering a school for massage training?

As the former owner of a massage school, program director and curriculum writer for several schools across the U.S., I can surely advise you on what you want to consider.

First, ask yourself this question and answer honestly. Why do I want to be a massage therapist?

If your answer is because you want to be of service, make people feel good, you have a calling in the healing profession or you feel drawn to this field, than listen to my following advice.

Find a school that truly offers a well rounded education. One that is serious and informed about the massage industry. I am cautious with some of the technical school trainings as I have seen this is not their area of expertise. I have even been employed at a couple and found that students were being placed just because there was funding available. The student was not academically or emotionally prepared. They could not keep up with the work load and disappointed their fellow classmates when it was time to exchange bodywork. This is not a good situation for anyone.

If you are entering this field because you understand it is a health profession and a healing modality you want to make sure your school of choice understands this as well.

Will they be providing adequate anatomy and physiology training? I would suggest at least 150 hrs. of training. What modalities of bodywork do they offer in their program? Swedish is the basics. Do they offer oriental bodywork, myofascial release, sports massage or how to work with the elderly client?

How long is their program? Personally, I would avoid the 6 month crank them out programs. I have personally seen the difference in the quality of those taking shorter trainings. I have also seen the frustration levels of students, because they didn’t realize there was so much work involved and so much studying. Occasionally, I have found someone who can do these accelerated programs and have a natural gift and be able to make it in the industry. Most others never get started, give up or just can’t cut it with the experienced colleague.

There is a lot to learn and understand when taking this profession seriously. These shorter programs just don’t give you the time you need to fully grasp the concepts, gain the confidence you need and they cannot possibly help you explore your healing process.

I would suggest a program of no less than 600-700 hrs. and or one year of training. I prefer programs that offer more than the required number of hours and have the availability for a clinic setting and a teacher/student ratio that allows for an intimate learning environment.

You must take into consideration and understand that the amount of hands on training you will receive truly requires the attention to make sure you are performing your techniques appropriately. Teachers or assistants should be available to watch and feel your technique.

Prior to registering for a class, ask to sit in on a class that is in process. This will give you a good sense of the classroom environment, the teacher’s ability, the student’s satisfaction.

Don’t let anyone in admissions pressure you to sign up now. This is a major decision and you want to make sure it feels right to you. Look into several schools and compare the curriculum, the instructor’s background, the mission philosophy, the length of the training, the books they use in their courses, the business training and the support you will need along the way.

If they are pushing incentives to save you money, think about the hard sell? Don’t just consider the price of the program, look at the whole package.

The hype in the commercials or ads that have projected you will make a lot of money are misleading. This profession requires commitment, continuing education, passion and dedication.

If you think you will make $60/hr. “consistently” or more to start you need to have a reality check, immediately.

If you decide to open your own practice and charge $60/hr. you will not net that amount after all your expenses. You will also need to put in a lot of hours to market yourself. People like to schedule appointments with someone they know or have met perhaps at a health fair or community event. You better make sure you understand the challenges of running your own business and the time it requires to build a practice.

Perhaps you will start out working for someone else. Fees vary depending on location and type of environment. I know spas that start their therapists at $8.00/hr. and practices that might give a therapist up to 55-60% commission. Consider all that they provide, including linens, advertising and clients. Ask if they will be able to keep you steadily employed. Find out if you are able to work with another massage provider in the same area or are you restricted in any way.

In over 20 years, I have worked in a variety of situations. I rented space from a chiropractor, I worked for commission, I worked hourly and I had my own practice. From spa settings, to beach massage, chair massages, home-based, medically oriented practices, nursing homes, pregnancy massage and more. I have experienced most of the typical types of massage practice settings. I have worked alone and I have employed up to 6 massage therapists.

My preference, because I am business oriented is to have my own practice, make my own schedule and be responsible for all aspects of running the show. This works for a small percentage of those of us who enter this field. It requires a lot of commitment, time and patience.

If you are the type who is not so organized, detailed oriented or familiar with bookkeeping and advertising you would do better to take a position where someone can employ you.

Perhaps you like the idea of the spa setting, creating a relaxing feeling for clients or tourists and pampering people. There is a great need for qualified therapist in these areas. You will want to know how to perform spa techniques. If you also have a background in esthetics, you will find that can be a bonus in the spa industry as it will make you more employable. A huge consideration when entertaining the idea of working in a spa is to consider your personality and temperament.

Maybe you are considering a position that is more rehabilitative. You want to work with injuries and specific ailments. If that is the case, you will need to continue your education in the modalities to support a more orthopedic or medically oriented massage practice. Consider taking some continuing education classes in neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, cranio-sacral therapy, myoskeletal alignment etc. Realize that you may be communicating with other health care professionals and they may require progress notes or medical reports.

Please don’t count on the basic fundamentals taught in massage school. This will be a disservice to your client and an insult to the massage industry. It will be misleading when a client depends on finding relief and gets little. They may never consider massage again, which would hurt the profession’s reputation immensely. Respect your colleagues and refer to those that truly know the type of techniques that can assist your client until you have the proper time to train. They will appreciate you and respect you for that.

Are you an athlete? This is another option for those interested in sports massage. Check out the awesome workshops in this area. Attend sporting events in your community. Volunteer your services while in massage school and get acquainted with the event atmosphere and the types of techniques appropriate for pre and post events.

So you can see this industry avails many opportunities depending on your personality and interests.

Be realistic! What will your skills be upon graduation? Where would be the most appropriate environment for you to gain some experience? Will you be working full time or part time? What are your finances? Why do I ask this? You will need to be able to support yourself while you build a practice or gain experience in your new place of employment. This takes time. Too many therapists have said to me y that they are angry and frustrated with their employers not paying them enough or not keeping them busy enough. No one explained this to them in massage school.

So you want to be a massage therapist? Congratulations on making this decision. It is a fascinating and fulfilling career with a variety of opportunities to enjoy an abundant profession. Be your best! Serve those with compassion and honor the profession.

If you have a question about entering massage school, please feel free to contact me at massageproce@gmail.com. I would be more than happy to help you make the right choices so that you can succeed.

About The Author

Gloria Coppola-Gaber, LMBT #6902 N.C. has been in the healing arts for more than 20 years. She is the former owner of a massage school and currently teaches NCBTMB approved continuing education workshops nationally. Visit her website at www.MassageProCe.com for more information and details.

Massage Miracles

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:07:57 -0800

Some of my favorite memories are those “miracles” that have occurred during a massage. I don’t mean to sound in any way as if I’m some kind of healer; the healing wasn’t mine, and if anything, I’ve just been a conduit for positive change.

Miss Mary was a 90-year old lady in a nursing home who had been bedridden for two years since a stroke left her seriously paralyzed. When her daughter called me, she stated that the aftermath of the stroke had drawn Mary’s legs into an unnatural position, and another therapist had helped with that, but had since moved away. Mary had also lost her speech, and one day the daughter had the idea that massaging her mother’s throat might bring her speech back. After hearing all the details, I told her that the speech center of the brain had probably been affected and that I didn’t think the massage would restore that, but I did say that since she was bedridden, it would certainly do her good to receive massage.

The first day I went to the nursing home, Miss Mary, a still-regal looking lady with beautiful black skin and silver hair, was in the bed with her head thrown back so that all she could see was the ceiling, unless you stood right over her face. Her eyes were almost closed. I introduced myself, told her I was going to be massaging her, and not knowing whether she had any understanding or not, I decided to act as if she did, and just kept chatting to her as I focused on her neck. Her head was almost locked. It took me about ten sessions to get her to the point where she had good motion restored. She had never said a word, and I wasn’t expecting that anyway.

One day when I entered Mary’s room, her daughter was sitting there. I walked up to the bed and said, “Miss Mary, I brought you some flowers from my mother’s garden.” Mary replied “Thank you very much.” Her daughter jumped out of the chair and started praising God, crying, and kissing her mother.

For the next couple of years, Mary tried to talk. Her speech was garbled and painstaking, but her daughter was thrilled to hear anything coming from her. I don’t know to this day if the massage had anything to do with her talking again or not. In retrospect, her head was thrown back so far and her neck so stiff that maybe it was a strain on her vocal cords. In any case, it was a great thing to see it happen, and just one of those “massage miracles” I’ve been fortunate to witness.

About the Author

Laura Allen is the author of the Plain & Simple Guide to Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Examinations (2nd ed, LWW, 2009) and One Year to a Successful Massage Therapy Practice (LWW, 2008). She is the owner of THERA-SSAGE, an alternative wellness clinic in North Carolina.

Visit her website at www.thera-ssage.com

Massage Envy : A Good Place to Work?

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:20:54 -0800

When I first received my massage license, I was thrilled to begin working in my new career. Holding that little piece of paper in my hand was like holding limitless possibilities. All I wanted to do was get clients and start sharing my newfound healing abilities with as many people as possible. But there was one problem ...

... I had no clients or a place to practice!

This is the biggest problem facing new massage therapists. In order to work, you need people to work on. Simply telling people that you are a massage therapist normally won’t bring clients running through the door. When it comes to choosing a person who is going to be touching your body - most potential clients need more then just an ad in the local newspaper. What really brings clients to your practice is word of mouth. If they hear from a friend they trust that your massage is wonderful and you do good quality and professional work, they’re more likely to come in a see you themselves.

But how can you generate word of mouth to get clients if you don’t have any clients to start with?! And what about a place to practice? Leasing and outfitting a space has a large start up cost. Not to mention stocking it and inventory and taxes and ...

Well you get the idea. Starting out as a massage therapist is rough. Sure, ten years from now you’ll be booked all the time and charging a fee to match your advanced abilities - but you’re just not there yet. So what is a new massage therapist to do?

There are a few options. Today we’re going to look at working for a “discount” massage establishment. When I first began, I took a job working at a Massage Envy. While I was in school I swore that I would NEVER work at such a place. Massage Envy and other like establishments have a stereotype of being “massage mills”. While there is some truth to that comical nickname (I’ll explain later), the beginning massage therapist should take a nice long look at working for a discount massage spa.

PROS
Lets look at some of the reasons why you should seek out employment at Massage Envy or other type of chain / discount massage clinic.

Probably the most important ... you get clients. You don’t have to go actively seeking for people to come to your practice. If you begin working at an established location (very important because if you start working at one that just opened, you’ll be waiting around for clients while your place of employment builds up a member base), then they’ll have a large databank of regular customers they’ll send your way. No advertising or waiting or hassle for you. Just show up and do your massage.

You don’t have to “create” a space or location. They provide you with your room, lotions, music, uniform, and everything else you need in order to massage. They also handle all of your scheduling, billing, reminder calls ... all you have to do is massage.

Another great aspect about beginning your career at a place like Massage Envy might not be as obvious. In the profession of massage therapy, your reputation is your ticket to success. When you start out you’re likely to make some mistakes. An unintentional exposure, awkward transitions in your routine, running over and under time, and so on. Just learning how to comfortably talk to a new client can take some time. Massage Envy offers you the opportunity to make these adjustments on someone else’s reputation. If you give a bad massage, as far as the customer is concerned, you didn’t give a bad massage ... Massage Envy gave a bad massage. Thats the way word of mouth works. People will say, “I had a bad experience at Massage Envy,” not, “So-and-so at Massage Envy gave me a bad massage”. Having this separation while you hone your craft can be invaluable when you decide to set off on your own.

Massage Envy also offers an instant community. The world of massage can be a lonely place. When you work for yourself, the majority of your time is spent alone in a room with a client who (hopefully) is so relaxed they’re not much for interaction. Working at a place like Massage Envy gives you the ability to have an instant community of other massage therapists you can socialize with. You can share stories, techniques, ask questions, provide insight, and so on. For someone just starting out in the field, this access to other therapists can expand your knowledge and understanding exponentially! I easily learned three times as much in my time there as I would have had I just gone out and started working on my own.

I was also lucky with the location I worked at. Massage Envy (and most discount massage places out there) are franchise owned. This means each location has a different owner. The owner of my clinic was amazing. He made sure everyone got along and things ran as smoothly as possible. If there was a problem, he took care of it. He created a working environment that was enjoyable and welcoming. I made a lot of friends while I was there, and I attribute that to the owner having a vision for his clinic and only hiring those who fit that image. Now - I can’t speak for all of the locations out there, but if you find a good one it can be an amazing experience.

CONS

Alright, lets talk about why these places get a bad rap.

The most obvious is pay. As a massage therapist, you probably were expecting to get paid the standard rate for your massages - around $60 an hour. Well, thats not going to happen at a discount massage place. Most pay on commission for massages done. And most the time its between $11 - $15 per hour of massage you do. Now, clients are encouraged to tip (most tip $4 - $10), but thats always up in the air and you can’t really count on it being consistent. Also, just like if you worked on your own, if its a slow day and your schedule doesn’t fill up, neither will your bank account.

This leads us to our second major problem ... amount of massages. This is where these businesses get the reputation of being “massage mills”. In order to make a decent amount of money to pay your rent, car payment, student loans, etc ... you have to do a ton of massages. Up to six per day. Now, this might seem doable when you first start ... but trust me - give it 6 months and you’re body will be protesting. Not to mention it takes a lot of energy and focus to perform a high quality massage. After about 6 months working at Massage Envy, I could tell the quality of my massage had declined dramatically. Not to mention I had tendonitis in both arms, even though I was doing everything possible (body mechanics, icing at night, stretching) to keep myself going. I even found myself falling asleep near the end of the day because of the amount of energy I was expending during my sessions. While I was working at Massage Envy, I witnessed five therapists leave the field for good, all had been working for less then 2 years. There is a reason why therapists that have been practicing for 5+ years only do 3 to 4 clients a day - its what they can handle without sacrificing their own health or the quality of their massage. And that is why a massage costs $60+ an hour ...

Personally, I want each of my sessions to be a relaxing experience. For both my client as well as myself. I found this hard at times at Massage Envy because of how they crammed in their clients. You literally have five minutes to get your current client off the table and lead them out, and then you have 5 minutes to reset your table and get your next client on it (clients really only receive a 50 minute massage in their “hour” appointment). This means that if a client was late to arrive or slow to get off the table after the session, I was running around trying to get ready for the next. Its very hard to give a calming treatment and convey a peaceful energy if you’re stressed and rushing. In my own private practice I now plan 90 minutes for each 60 minutes of massage. This means that if a client is late it doesn’t effect me. The client can also get up at their own pace and I’ll still have time to chat with them a bit about the session afterward ... all without rushing or stressing out .. with plenty of time left to reset for my next client.

The final con is in your contract. Most places will have a “non-compete” clause in your contract, which means that if you do decided to leave ... you can’t take your clients with you for at least 6 months. Now, in a lot of states this “non-compete” clause isn’t enforceable, but a lot of people don’t understand that and end up feeling “trapped” working for their chosen establishment. But again ... hopefully your regular clients have talked you up and you can make a gradual transition to private practice without breaking anything in your contract. However, it is still an obstacle you’ll have to overcome.

OVERVIEW

All in all, I would highly recommend working at Massage Envy when you’re just starting out. It gives you a place to practice your art, hone your skills, make your mistakes, and interact with other therapists. If you find one with a good owner, then you’ll enjoy going to work and the people you work with. For me, I look fondly upon my time at Massage Envy. You just have to know when its time to move on. Your earning potential is so much greater when you’re working for yourself. Yes ... you have to rent a space, handle inventory, and deal with billing your clients and keeping track of your income ... but when you’re only doing 3 massages a day, trust me you’ll have enough time to order lotion once a month and write down on a spreadsheet how much you make. Its really not that hard. And both you and your clients will appreciate the more relaxed, personal, and high quality experience.
Everyone has to get their feet wet. Bottom line - Massage Envy is a great place to start!

By Adam Parrott LMT
adamsmind@mac.com

Heroes of Massage (1)

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:47:28 -0800

HEROES:
Agents for the good of all.

“Somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character.” (Encarta)

All professions have heroes. However, this definition is in some professions a code of conduct. We, as massage therapists, do not have this same heroic expectation ... or do we?

I have wanted to write about the heroes in our profession. These are the people who truly stand out as champions; who figuratively “leap small buildings in a single bound” and make changes in our profession, either locally or nationally. These leaps may seam like a life time while going through them, however the next generation will look at the progress as if it happened over night. The most celebrated heroes are the ones time has buffed into legends. This does not necessarily mean they have passed away. Living legends are great motivation for the next generation to become heroes.

I believe heroes can be categorized by their super power. Some of my favorites are Dreamer, Builder, Collaborator, Contributor, and Visionary. These are a few that stand out to me as I did research into our profession. Know that this is not a complete list. Onto the Heroes ...

Patty “The Developer” Glenn

I am so glad there is someone who can envision a future with a strong governing body that supports the states. As executive director for the Oregon Board of Massage Therapy Patty “The Developer” Glenn has demonstrated a great balance of assisting in public safety and the industries need for safety among the public. She has also assisted many other state governing boards by aiding in the creation of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (a group to support licensing boards and there pursuit of professional standards for public safety and uniformity). She has been a licensed massage practitioner in Washington for several years (No hints at her age). As a friend to the profession, she has come to many massage schools to aid in student understanding of standards and continues to volunteer her time to teach classes in ethics. She is on my list of “Massage Therapy Heroes.”

Neal “the Mediator” Delaporta

Have you ever thought, “This is so stuck it will never get it out?” My next hero is one that is gifted at making things work. I worked with Neal “the Mediator” Delaporta as he lead me in a committee for the National Certification Board. His quick wit and structured manor when it comes to getting work done makes so many things possible. Like many of us this is a second career for Neal. This means he has seen the outside world and has realized how wonderful this career is. In my experience Neal has looked at all angles of a problem, and like a mechanic found the loose bolt and tightened things up. He is a listener that has been willing to listen first and be heard second. He too deserves a place on my list of “Massage Therapy Heroes.”

Mary Beth Braun

Mary Beth Braun has no super title. Her name is so flowing I do not feel I should add to it. Anything like, “the Braun-inator” would just be crude. She has been a steady hand even when she is down. Her super power is providing optimism leadership to me in a modest way. She has made some blunt statements to explain her point however it is always made with a smile and out of the better good for the entire group dynamic. Mary Beth may not realize how much of a mentor she has been to me however she inspired me in many ways including my professional standards of excellence. Her interpersonal super strength has pushed me to add her to my list of “Massage therapy Heroes”

I would love to regularly bring recognition to our professions heroes in a column titled “Real Massage Therapy Heroes.” To do this I need your help. If there is someone that you feel has shown their super powers and should be added to this list please e-mail me your heroes name, super power (be creative), and up to 500 word explanation of how they showed their heroic nature. If you have any comments feel free to contact me at nathan@educatedtouch.com.

Let us all be super heroes to someone,
“Captain True Recognition”
AKA Nathan Nordstrom

To read more on Patty Glenn and the FSMTB go to www.fsmtb.org
To read more about Neal Delaporta and the NCBTMB go to www.ncbtmb.org
To read more about Mary Beth Braun and her book "Introduction to Massage
Therapy" go to http://www.lww.com/product/?978-0-7817-7374-4 or search AMTA website at www.amtamassage.org and search "Braun, Mary Beth"