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Current Prevailing Trends

November 2013

Well here it is again, only six months since our late spring snow melt last May, the fall season winding down, temperatures starting to dip with brisk North winds, and a palpable change and movement toward another frigid MN winter is here again. I'm looking forward to heavy snowfall, cross country skiing, and breaking fresh trails with my snowshoes to keep me fit.

 

My bodyworking career has been trending for the last year to a three days a week part-time work schedule at the Vault Fitness Center (Monday-Wednesday-Friday), which allows me enough free time to do more than just work. One of the most consistent trends of my bodyworking career remains the same-most of my new clients are still referrals from my regular clientele, their friends and relatives, and my website and blog generating the balance. I'm just as busy as I want to be. 


In This Issue
Book Review
Massage Therapy Consumer Trends
Is The Boom Over?
Two Growing Branches of Touch Therapies
Book Review 
Quantum Healing, Deepak Chopra, MD

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Dr. Chopra, a respected New England endocrinologist, began his search for answers when he saw patients in his own practice who completely recovered after being given only a few months to live. In the mid-1980s he returned to his native India to explore Ayurveda, humanity's most ancient healing tradition. Now he has brought together the current research of Western medicine, neuroscience, and physics with the insights of Ayurvedic theory to show that the human body is controlled by a 'network of intelligence' grounded in quantum reality. Not a superficial psychological state, this intelligence lies deep enough to change the basic patterns that design our physiology-with the potential to defeat cancer, heart disease, and even aging itself. In this inspiring and pioneering work, Dr. Chopra offers us both a fascinating intellectual journey and a deeply moving chronicle of hope and healing.

 

It is well documented that in a climate of negativity, the ability to heal is greatly reduced-depressed people not only lower their immune response, for example, but even weaken their DNA's ability to repair it,

Chopra said.

Massage Therapy Consumer Trends
In its 11th annual survey of American consumers, the American Massage therapy Association (AMTA), found that more people get massage therapy for medical purposes than for relaxation, with baby boomers leading the way. The goal of a better quality of life and overall wellness drove 24% of adult Americans to receive a massage in the past 12 months, with more than 34% receiving a massage in the past five years. 

 

 
It's no surprise that people are turning to massage therapy to improve their wellness,
said AMTA President Dr. Leena S. Guptha.

It's a proven way to manage pain, recover from injury and improve one's quality of life, often reducing the need for medications and invasive treatments.

 

Maintaining their general health and wellness was a major reason many turned to massage therapy. Of those surveyed, 87% agreed with the statement that massage can be effective in reducing pain; 85% agreed that massage could be beneficial to health and wellness, and 59% would like to see their insurance plans cover massage therapy.

Health care providers and consumers are finding out what professional massage therapists have always understood-that massage is not only relaxing, but also an important tool for pain management and overall wellness,

Guptha said. 

 

 
 Stretching muscles and plantar fascia of the foot
     
 

 

 

 

Is The Boom Over?

Some of the trends coming to pass in the massage & bodywork profession, as reported by Karrie Osborn and originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, Jan/Feb 2008, are a push toward the spa specialty, and a focus on a healthy geriatric client. It's been a good ride for the massage and bodywork profession of late, with consumer acceptance at an all-time high and validation within the medical community continuing to gain strength, and the party is hardly over, but there is going to be a shift according to some veterans in the field. 

 

The biggest trend I see at the moment is contraction,
says Thomas Myers, author, educator, and creator of Anatomy Trains.
Sorry to sound the warning gong, but that's what I see. The boom is over, the tree will be shaken, and those with strong connections will survive.
Meyers says the signs are everywhere, from school owners talking of declining enrollments to increased competition within the profession, change is in the air. Myers believes the economic impact from the US war efforts will create a downturn resulting in less disposable income, by which spas and massage providers will be affected.

There will be a pruning, and the resulting tree will be stronger, but will take a while to recover and find its direction again.

 

 

 

David Quad Stretch
Mobilizing fascia in the hip joint capsule


Two Growing Branches of Touch Therapies

In contrast, another veteran, John Chitty, Polarity practitioner and educator, expects expansion, and says,

I think the touch therapies will have continuing, substantial growth for the foreseeable future. Life is increasingly stressful, so the demand for stress remedies will expand and diversification will continue, and the tree will only get stronger. My perception is that two branches are growing vigorously, and the main trunk supporting them is also flourishing. The main Trunk is Generic massage & bodywork,  for feeling good and for relieving stress. The two branches could be called medical/scientific and esoteric.

 

Most massage therapists were doing the generic type massage & bodywork when I got started seventeen years ago. The trend has definitely been to more clients seeking therapists trained in specific evidence based treatments for resolving soft tissue pain.

The medical/scientific group is more and more evident as insurance companies appreciate good results and clients love the result oriented experience.

After I earned my certification in Deep Tissue Sports Massage, and had two dramatic healing experiences with clients, I knew I was going to specialize in the medical/scientific or clinical soft tissue rehab type of massage/bodywork instead of doing relaxation type massage or working on athletes. There weren't that many therapists specializing in soft tissue rehab type bodywork during that time.

 

The esoteric/energetic healing group has fundamental problems-the presence of indigestible ideas and the absence of scientific research. Regardless, Chitty says,

the esoteric touch therapies are becoming increasingly popular because of their effectiveness. Many clients don't really care about modality titles or the blessing of science, they just want relief.

 

I use adjunctive energy modalities and techniques on stubborn cases that only partially resolve with structural bodywork. Several of my clients have had dramatic results with Zero Balancing, the SET Quick Release Technique, and Energetic Breath Therapy. The absence of scientific research doesn't make the treatments less effective. 

 

In addition to using Zero Balancing (ZB) as an adjunctive therapy, I have several clients who see me specifically for ZB--a primary health maintenance system that balances the relationship of energy and structure within the bones and tissues of our body by applying comfortable pressure to acupressure points and gentle traction to joints which promotes a quieting and centering of body/mind. Aligning energy with structure enhances the body's natural healing processes and supports optimum health.

 

Whatever direction we are inclined to move, based on trends that affect our everyday lives, prevailing tendencies that we may or may not have control over regarding personal choices, our vocation or the industry we work in, the bottom line is that life is constantly veering and trending in a new direction, nothing stays the same and our comfort level is directly proportional to our ability to be present and accept things as they are. And I know, it's much easier said than done.

 
Cervical Fascial Stretch

Special Offer Through November

 

On-site clinical massage therapy at your home or business office.

Schedule 1.5 hour session for price of one hour on-site rate-only.........$140



   

 

 

   

 

  

I believe that the deprivation of body touch, contact, and movement are the basic causes of a number of emotional disturbances which include depressive and autistic behaviors, hyperactivity, sexual aberrations, drug abuse, violence, and aggression.

 

Dr. James Prescott, a developmental neurophysiologist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

 
 
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12990 Valley View Road
Eden Prairie, MN  55344
In Vault Fitness Center

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