amta-georgia chapter fall 2013 newsletter

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Fall 2013

October Meeting Brings Chi Nei Tsang Abdominal Detox Class to Beautiful Savannah!

This October, join us for our Fall Education class, Introduction to Chi Nei Tsang: Basic Abdominal Detox Massage. This class will be held on Saturday, October 26th and Sun-

day, October 27th at Virginia College in Savannah. It is being taught by Mary El-len Derwis-Balaz who is an Universal Healing Tao Full Instructor and certifi ed Chi Nei Tsang Instructor with the Universal Healing Tao Organization in Thailand. You will earn an amazing 12 CEUs by taking this NCBTMB Approved Provider Hands-On class. Chi Nei Tsang is a form of abdominal detoxifi cation massage that can benefi t

your clients in many ways.By the end of this class, partici-pants will be able to perform basic abdominal detox massage and discuss its relationship to overall wellness with their clients. We will be concentrating on the anatomi-cal and physiologi-cal importance of proper breath and its place in healthy living. We will also delve into specifi c techniques to elicit client awareness as well as Medical Chi Kung practice for practitioner and cli-

ent. Basic navel detox techniques will also be explained and demon-strated in this two-day class. Abdominal massage can be an integral part of a holistic massage practice. When a practitioner does not address the abdominal region, many muscles tendons and liga-ments that aff ect the structure and function of the body can be ne-glected. Also this weekend we will be having our Chapter Meeting, fi lling you in on all the happenings in our Georgia Chapter as well as all the news from the National Conven-tion. There will also be informal gatherings and activities exploring beautiful Savannah. For more information on the entire weekend and registration information, go to our website, http://www.amtaga.org

Instructor, Mary Ellen Derwis-Balaz demonstrates for students.

In this Issue:New Members 4

National Convention 6

Massage Benefi ts Soldiers 8

Research Update 10

Position Statements 16

Marketing Coach 20

28 Years of Massage 22

LetterLetterLetter��President

Engage, Connect, Thrive In my previous president’s letter, I mentioned that the spring rains can give us a sense of being revi-talized. Well folks, I am here to tell you that I am in fact more than revitalized. In my neck of the woods, Rome, we have had lots of rain, mud, weeds, rocks in the yard, wet shoes, smelly dogs, get my drift? Let’s face it, we have had our share of rain, and I love it. It feels great to be alive!!! The rain came and then departed. I have mud in my garden, and weeds, however, because of the mud, I can pull the weeds with little eff ort for which I am thankful. The rain washed the dirt hiding the rocks which were at war with my lawn mower, now I can see them and move the little soldiers to their new home on the rock wall. The rain fi lled the creeks, I took my dogs for a swim (all seven), and after-wards, we had ice cream. After our romp, we stank to high heaven, and washed off with the garden hose. Believe me, I engaged with nature. Our theme for the National Convention in Ft. Worth, Texas this September 25-28th is Engage, Connect, and Thrive. No matter what the circumstances in our lives, we can engage with life while connecting in the moment and we will thrive! In the last few months, there has been much activity within our organization. As many of you know the AMTA van came to Georgia for the Peachtree Health Expo. The AMTA van is the primary branding for the Consumer Awareness Program, (CAP). The program was created to raise the public awareness of massage therapy and to spread the word about our website, fi ndamassagetherapist.org in which AMTA members are listed and promoted. On the 27th of June, Loyce Kemp met up with the van to visit four schools. At each school, AMTA provided food, (remember feed them and they will come), spoke to all the students about the benefi ts of AMTA, and presented each student a free student membership to AMTA! On the 28th of June the van and volunteers made a visit to the CDC for an employee health fair. On the 2nd and 3rd of July we hit the Peachtree Health Expo. I was honored to be a part of each of the stops the van made. With all of the promotion in which CAP provided for us as therapists, I increased my own business by 42 clients. They found me by going to fi ndamassagetherapist.org. I engaged by volunteering, connected by being a member of AMTA, and I thrive because of the CAP program. I am AMTA, and I am alive. Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today. I wish you all health, happiness, and well-being.

Terri Barton

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AMTA • GeorgiaChapterExecutive Committee

Secretary 2013-2014 Toni Roberts [email protected] 770.984.8040

Treasurer 2013-2015 Dusty Graham [email protected] 678.680.3422

Membership Secretary2013-2015 Loyce Kemp [email protected] 478.397.1839

ChapterCommitteesNewsletter Committee Cindy Farrar [email protected] 770.508.9016

Education Committee Cindy Farrar [email protected] 770.508.9016

Awards Committee CJ Lowe [email protected] 404.847.0301

Outreach Committee Ben Glosson [email protected] 404.992.8665

President 2012-2014 Terri Barton [email protected] 770.548.8093

First Vice President 2013-2015 Ben Glosson [email protected] 404.992.8665

Second Vice President 2012-2014 Cindy Farrar [email protected] 770.508.9016

Third Vice President 2013-2015 Vivian Davis [email protected]

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As we continue to refi ne the layout and design of our Hands on Georgia Newsletter, we also are being mind-ful of the “news” we bring to you. It is important that the information is timely, appropriate, useful and

interesting. To ensure that we are achieving our goal; please feel free to provide us with whatever construc-tive feedback you might have concerning your Chapter newsletter. In addition, your submissions are always welcome. If you have had an amazing experience in your practice or in a class or event, please let us know so we can share it with our membership. You can email your stories to [email protected]. Sincerely, Cindy

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Welcome to New MembersProfessional MembersMay 2013Bethany Warner .................. Atlanta

July 2013Lisa Hill ..................................... Grovetown Carrie Hilton .......................... Cumming Marina Irastorza .................. Marietta Polly Morris ............................ Lake Park Terri Robertson ................... Suwanee Sharon Thomas .................. Carrollton

Student MembersJune 2013Jacquelle Blythe ................. Atlanta School of MassageValincia Harris ....................... Miller-Motte CollegeBrian McAllorum ................ Atlanta School of Massage Danielle Moore ................... Atlanta School of MassageRose Nabors ......................... Georgia Career Institute

July 2013Elizabeth Allen .................... Atanta School of MassageUltare Banks .......................... Gwinnett CollegeTamarah Beckley ................ Atlanta School of MassageMatthew Borland .............. Atlanta School of MassageJerome Brockington ........ Gwinnett CollegeAdriene Brown .................... Int. School of Skin & NailcareJoshua Chandler ................ Georgia Massage InstituteQuawanza Cotton ............. Atlanta School of MassageEmily Dalton ......................... Atlanta School of MassageMadina Dixon ...................... Atlanta School of MassageDoztin Dyan ......................... Atlanta School of MassageEva E Ferrell ........................... Int. School of Skin & NailcareTita Frazier ............................. Atlanta School of MassageStacy Glinton ........................ Atlanta School of MassageMati Grant .............................. Atlanta School of MassageBethany Grean ..................... Atlanta School of MassageMaria Teresa Guandique Int. School of Skin & NailcareKimberly Hall ........................ Atlanta School of MassageShaneka Harris ..................... Atlanta School of MassageChenelle Hope .................... Atlanta School of MassageJanavia Johnson ................. Gwinnett CollegeAmber Kelley ........................ Atlanta School of MassageAlexiss Kuriatnyk ................. Atlanta School of MassageAlexis Lissimore ................... Atlanta School of Massage

Chasity Longo ..................... Gwinnett CollegeRazeta Matthews ............... Gwinnett CollegeLolita McCan ........................ Atlanta School of MassageReyna McCarter .................. Int. School of Skin & NailcareShawn McConathy ........... Atlanta School of MassageDusti Meeks .......................... Atlanta School of MassageSandra Mendoza ................ Atlanta School of MassageKuartni Miles ......................... Atlanta School of MassageMonika Miquez ................... Atlanta School of MassageAdriana Montero ................ Atlanta School of MassageGina Morris ............................ Int. School of Skin & NailcareChristal Paulick .................... Atlanta School of MassageLori Reed ................................ Atlanta School of MassageMaria “Pilar” Rosado ......... Int. School of Skin & NailcareShelley Ruiz ........................... Atlanta School of MassageShannon Salaam ................ Atlanta School of MassageNatalie Shemaria ................ Atlanta School of MassageMartha Smith ....................... Atlanta School of MassageRabiah Sullivan .................... Int. School of Skin & NailcareLisa Tesalona ........................ Atlanta School of MassageShelisa Thornton ................ Gwinnett CollegeChance Thornton .............. Atlanta School of MassageAshley Torrance .................. Atlanta School of MassageOsa Tyehimba ...................... Atlanta School of Massage

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Graduate MembersMay 2013Karen Brooks ..........................Florida School of MassageMichael Cadden ...................Miller-Motte Technical CollegePersia Carter ............................Sanford Brown Institute-AtlantaDanny Chaney .......................Gwinnett CollegeGinna Dean .............................Southeastern CollegeMaricruz Jimenez ................Atlanta School of MassageLamngeune Leininger ...... Int. School of Skin & NailcareAngelia Mann ........................Virginia CollegeOctavia Marshall-Moy .......Georgia Career InstituteRebecca Ryan ........................Miller-Motte College

June 2013Mary Anna Cunningham Core InstituteTiff ani Gaiters .........................Virginia CollegeSusan Hart ...............................Everest Institute - NorcrossMisty Fawn Perez .................Georgia NWestern Tech CollegeBeth Robinson .......................Core Institute

July 2013Steven Allen ............................Everest InstituteLouis A Ercolano ...................Virginia CollegeJackie Fletcher .......................Everest InstituteCollette Jackson ...................Academy of Somatic Healing ArtsMichael Martinez .................Atlanta School of MassageEric Schulte ..............................Atlanta School of Massage

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Welcome to New Members

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The AMTA National Convention The AMTA National Convention is being held on September 25th through 28th this year in Fort Worth, Texas. If you have never attended a National Convention, maybe this year is your year. If you want to jump-start your passion for your profession, this is the place that it can happen. Our National Convention, even more than our State Conventions, is a place to meet Massage Therapists from around the world. There are people attending who have been successful therapists for decades. You can rub shoulders with experienced therapists as well as those with the passion that comes with the fi rst years of practice. Also at your disposal are the members of the National Board of Directors and the National AMTA staff who are available for consultation to help you with all your questions regarding building your massage practice. You will be able to learn from the best instructors in our fi eld, as well as personally interacting with them. Your full registration includes the cost of education classes. The education classes off ered can catapult your practice to the next level (as well as earn you some needed education credits). Not only are there education classes being held the entire duration of the convention, there are also pre and post-convention workshops that you can attend. The most popular part of the convention is the Exhibit Hall. In the Exhibit Hall, you will be introduced to the most cutting-edge massage products available today. You can test, poke, prod, sit on, and try on the products before you order them. Plus there are amazing samples and deals to be found. Just a note: the best day for deals is the last day of the convention. If you think it is too late to register, think again. There is always room at our convention. We recommend that you call the National Offi ce, 847-864-0123 for late registration or register when you arrive at the convention hall. If you decide to go, you will defi nitely learn how to engage, connect and thrive in your business.

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One of my favorite parts of being an AMTA member is attending the AMTA National Convention. It allows me to connect with massage professionals from around the country while taking courses from some of the industry’s best instructors. Convention inspires me to be a better therapist and a better teacher. I always get challenged to look at my own work diff erently, and I love that. Plus, my clients and students benefi t from the new information and merchandise I bring home! One of the advantages of the National Convention is being able to rub elbows with so many therapists in one place. I love to see old friends and make new ones!

Please join me in Fort Worth, Texas, this September 25-28! Winona Bontrager, LMT AMTA President

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Think it! Feel It! Speak It! Believe it! Achieve it!

I repeated this affirmation daily for three years with amazing results. My name is Jennifer Simpson-Green and many of you may know me as the 2006 Hospitality Coordinator for the AMTA Convention in Atlanta. I was self-employed at the time and owned and operated CSRA Neuromuscular Massage Clinic in New Life Natural Foods in Augusta. Before moving to Georgia, I lived and worked in Colorado Springs after graduating from the Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy in 2003. My career led me to volunteer in the AMTA as the Public Relations Chair, 2nd VP, Education Chair as well as a delegate before going through a divorce in 2006. As a single mother, I maintained intermittent teaching at Georgia Academy of Massage Therapy, teaching classes for health fairs at New Life Natural Foods, and volunteering on the Richmond County Search, Rescue, Dive and Recovery Team on top of balancing my own private practice. In 2009, (two years after my divorce) I found out that I was

eligible for VA benefits because I was a service-connected veteran. I had been injured during my time in the military and my current symptoms matched those of many of my fellow veterans. After

my injury, I benefited greatly from Therapeutic Massage, Stretching, Kinesiology, Chiropractic and other alternative therapies. I realized that as a Massage Therapist, I could now help my fellow veterans as well as active duty soldiers who were experiencing similar health issues. In 2009, I began to write my congressman and the Office of the Surgeon General. I wanted to explain how Alternative Therapies could help military personnel. Unbeknownst to me, the Army was already doing the same thing I was requesting and in the meantime, I volunteered my service for the WTB and WTU and had referrals from the VA. My goal, however, was to someday work at Eisenhower Army Medical Center. I wrote about it, I talked about it, I visualized it and I pushed on year after year until finally, I got word that an Interdisciplinary Pain Management Clinic was opening at Fort Gordon at Dwight D. Eisenhower Medical Center. In October of 2012, I was

hired as the first Medical Massage Therapist Health Technician under the Office of the Surgeon General at this location. My perseverance has paid off and now I am one of the proud staff members at EMC. In this clinic, as well as other IPMCs, we work with soldiers that are in the Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion/Unit as well as those with injuries sustained from war or training injuries, daily stress or even an MVA. We strive to help as many as we can. I am sharing this information in the hope of empowering you to persevere in your career and realize that working with the military may also be an option for you. You can also pass this information on to any active service member you know. Believe in yourself! Know that you have the ability to change the outcome of your life if you choose to do so. I love being a member of the AMTA, and have been since 2004. I encourage anyone who is interested in the program and possibility of employment at any given military installation to look at USA JOBs or for more information about our program. I wish you all love, light, strength, courage and hope In your own amazing journey.

Jennifer Ann Simpson-Green is anInternationally certified Neuromuscular Massage Therapist, Fitness Therapist, and Trainer at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center inRancho Mirage, California.

Jennifer Ann Simpson-Green

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Research UpdateErika Larson, LMT

The AMTA recently acted as the host sponsor of the International Massage Therapy Research Conference (IMTRC). The conference was held in Boston, MA, from April 24-27, 2013. The Massachusetts chapter of the AMTA provided on-site chair massage during the morning sessions of the conference. The conference began with a viewing of the International Fascia Research Conference DVD. As the conference got underway Thursday morning, presentations focused on the underlying mechanisms and basic science foundations of massage. This focus shifted to massage for specifi c population groups as the day went on. Workshops were available for those desiring a more in-depth understanding of peer review, program evaluation, and best practice guidelines. The conference continued with information presented on massage therapy as a facet of public health, practice-based research methods, and hospital-based massage therapy. On Saturday, the fi nal day of the conference, we focused on the state of the massage therapy fi eld, the legislation that aff ects massage therapy, the educational requirements, and the role of research in advancing the profession. The conference concluded with attendees participating in a three-hour planning session which laid the foundation for the forthcoming massage therapy research

agenda that the Massage Therapy Foundation is assembling. The conference brought to light the need for generating more high-quality massage therapy research that thoroughly describes the intervention being applied, states the experience level and training of the individual providing the massage intervention, and that includes an adequate follow-up period following the intervention. Dr. Rapaport presented fi ndings on data collected at Cedars-Sinai. The work that he presented was a precursor to the work being currently conducted at Emory University for the population with generalized anxiety disorder. Erika Larson, LMT, team member on the generalized anxiety disorder study and research massage therapist from the Atlanta School of Massage, was on hand at IMTRC to answer questions related to the massage therapy protocol employed in Dr. Rapaport’s studies. Dr. Rapaport will soon be embarking on another study with massage therapists from the Atlanta School of Massage. This next study will examine the eff ects of massage therapy and light touch for individuals at least six months post chemotherapy or

radiation treatment for breast cancer who are experiencing fatigue as a side-eff ect. If you are looking for ways to become involved with research, there are several avenues available to you. The Massage Therapy Foundation has prepared a class to introduce you to the world of research entitled “Basics of research literacy class”. If you already have a study in mind, consider entering a case report in the Massage Therapy Foundation’s professional practitioner’s case report contest or apply for a grant. Those with completed studies may submit it to the repository, CaseRe3, or respond to the call for posters for the AMTA National Convention.

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National Conference of State Legislatures hits GeorgiaJoan Nichols, LMT

In an eff ort to work with legisla-tors to improve regulatory and practice status for massage thera-pists, AMTA sends representatives to exhibit at national legislative conferences across the country. The National Conference of State Leg-islatures (NCSL) was recently held in Atlanta, at the Georgia World Congress Center. The goal of these conferences is to meet state legislators and other legislative staff to show that mas-sage therapy is a viable profession, and AMTA can be a valuable re-source if the legislators are consid-ering massage therapy legislation. Local AMTA members in the areas of the conferences provide on-site massage to the legislators so they

can experience fi rsthand the benefi ts of massage, while gaining insight into the Mas-sage Therapy Association. Making connections with legislators at conferences is vital to therapists in states that have no massage therapy leg-islation in place. AMTA mem-bers in non regulated states are provided with the contact information of legislators who have attended these legisla-tive conferences, and are in favor of passing future massage therapy legislation. In attendance were , Chris Stude-baker, AMTA Director of Govern-ment Relations & Industry Relations, Donovon Griffi n, AMTA Govern-

ment Relations Manager, Dolly Wallace, AMTA National Board of Director’s Member at Large. Visiting the exhibit hall were Joan Nichols, Past President Georgia Chapter and Jane Johnson, Chair, Georgia Board of Massage Therapy.

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OutreachOpportunitiesOutreachOpportunities

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September 14-15, 2013Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride 2013Callaway Gardensbikemsgeorgia.org

Oct. 19, 2013Moving Day for Parkinson’s Augusta, Georgiaparkinson.org

Nov. 9, 2013Walk for Parkinson’sAtlanta, Georgiaparkinson.org

Oct. 26, 2013Moving Day for Parkinson’s State Mutual StadiumRome, Georgiaparkinson.org

For more details, visit event websites, amtaga.org or email Ben Glosson at [email protected]

The AMTA Massage Therapy Tour, at the Peachtree Health & Fitness Expo July 3-4 showed AJC Peachtree Road Race runners how massage therapy can help with injury recovery, muscle soreness, low-back pain and other conditions common to runners. AMTA Georgia Chapter members were on-site giving demonstrations on massage and reinforcing the importance

of finding an AMTA member to ensure a beneficial therapy experience. On June 28, the AMTA Massage Therapy Tour visited the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to educate

their staff on the health benefits of massage. The event was part of an ongoing wellness program for CDC employees. Members of our Georgia Chapter shared the health benefits of massage and

promoted AMTA

The AMTA Massage Therapy Tour Hits Georgia

members. Massage therapy is proven to help alleviate conditions common to office workers, including chronic low-back pain, stress and high blood pressure. Thanks to the AMTA Georgia members who demonstrated their professionalism and skill to the staff at the Centers for Disease Control. Outreach events such as these are a great way to promote yourself and your massage business. Check out the events below.

Georgia Chapter members volunteer atAtlanta’s Peachtree Health & Fitness Expo.

CDC Employees experience the benefits of massage firsthand.

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Georgia’s AMTA Members Join Bike MS Event

More than a dozen members of the Georgia Chapter of the Ameri-can Massage Therapy Association joined the National MS Society- Georgia Chapter May 5-6 at the 2012 Bike MS: Deloitte. Atlanta to Athens Ride.

Bike MS: Deloitte. Atlanta to Athens is a two-day fund-raising ride that raises money to fight multiple scle-rosis and to benefit the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Scle-rosis Society. Over 180 cyclists began Saturday morning at Turner Field in downtown Atlanta, spent the night in Athens, and then made their way back to At-lanta. After the 82-mile

ride, cyclists were able to take a deep breath of relaxation, thanks to AMTA. At the finish line in both Athens and Atlanta, event partici-pants enjoyed massage therapy provided by the AMTA Outreach Team.

“It’s a way to give back to those who are already giving so much of their time,” said Ben Glosson, outreach chairman of the Georgia Chapter of the AMTA. There are more than 56, 000 members of AMTA, making it the largest non-profit, professional association that serves massage therapists and students. “We were proud to partner with AMTA this year,” said MS Society’s Georgia Chapter President Roy Ran-gel. “Like AMTA, partners of Bike MS are recognized and appreciated at our events for their passion to achieve a world free of MS.” Money raised through this event benefits the National Multiple Scle-rosis Society-Georgia Chapter and its mission to create a world free of MS. For more information about the ride, visit www.bikeMSgeorgia.org. or AMTA’ s website.

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This past June, the Georgia Chapter hosted its first-ever Family Reunion Picnic at beautiful Sweetwater State Park in Lithia Springs. It was a great way to relax, get to know other members, have fun, and eat, while winning some great prizes. Those in attendance reported having

great conversations and enjoyed getting to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone felt it was definitely something the chapter should do every year. Our June education class was also a huge success. The Bodywork and Intuition class taught by Patti Ceccoli was well received and valuable to those in attendance. Therapists learned how to

access the intuitive body and incorporate this skill into their lives and practices. We would like to thank Patti for bringing us to a new awareness of our intuition, and its importance in our practices. In July, we were thrilled to sponsor the class, Fully Exposed Ethical Dilemmas by AMTA National VP, Nathan J. Nordstrom. The class cov-ered ethical questions most therapists encounter at least once in their practices. Hav-

ing strategies to cover ethical issues

before they become huge prob-lems was great information for all in attendance. Class participants ranged from 20 year massage veterans to newly graduated. And through the generosity of Nathan Nordstrom,

who taught the class on a compli-mentary basis for the Chapter, as well as Georgia Massage School (GMS), who allowed us to use their wonderful space free of charge, we raised $245 for the Chapter Mem-bers Assistance Program (MAP)! The feedback was all positive with many requests for Part 2 of this class to be brought to Atlanta. Nathan has offered to do so and again at no cost to the chapter, and GMS will allow us to use their space again. Therefore we are happy to announce that Saturday, Decem-ber 7, 2013 Fully exposed Ethical Dilemmas I & II will be held at GMS. Part I will be from 9-12 in the morning, and part II will be from 1-4 that same afternoon. The cost will be just $25 for each part or $50 for both classes.

Summer Brought Classes and a Fabulous Reunion Picnic

Patti Ceccoli instructs students on Intuition and Bodywork.

Members enjoy food, fun and fellowshipat the Annual Family Reunion Picnic.

National VP, Nathan Nordstrom Instructs Ethics Class.

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The American Massage Therapy Association’s Consumer Awareness Program (CAP) Van was in Georgia this summer and visited three mas-sage therapy schools to promote the AMTA and findamassagethera-pist.org to students. On the 27th of June, Georgia Chapter Board mem-bers, Terri Barton and Loyce Kemp met Janez Kutzke, AMTA National School Representative, on the CAP Van to make school visits. They visited the International School of Skin and Nailcare in Atlanta, Atlanta School of Massage in Atlanta, and Gwinnett College in Lilburn. At each location, they met with students and gave away free student memberships, as well as gift bags filled with goodies from Bon Vital worth over $20. Stu-dents learned of the benefits of AMTA membership and were able to speak with working massage therapists about their experiences. The CAP van travels the country educating massage therapists in training about AMTA and what it has to offer to students as well as

professional therapists. The AMTA sponsored website, findamassage-therapist.com, lists AMTA member therapists in a searchable database that prospective clients can easily search to find an AMTA member therapist in their area. It was a privilege to have the CAP Van in Georgia. We want to welcome all of our new student members to the Georgia Chapter.

AMTA Consumer Awareness Van visits Georgia

The AMTA CAP Van visits students at the International School of Skin and Nailcare in Atlanta.

The AMTA CAP Van visits Atlanta School of Massage to hand out free student memberships and gift bags.

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Position Statements Help All Of UsGreg Hurd, LMT

Does massage actually help low back pain? What about anxiety? Can it improve quality of life for cancer patients? If you feel strongly that massage does help, where is the proof? Do you sometimes get frustrated with the seeming lack of credible studies on the efficacy of massage? We know it can be quite time consuming to find answers and studies to back up your feelings and experience. Anecdotal re-search—individual stories of suc-cess—can be powerful and help to prove the benefits of massage to your clients, your family and friends, and even to yourself. But what if there were more? Each year, the National AMTA ar-ranges for massage therapists from every state and Washington DC to meet at their National Convention. (This year in Fort Worth, TX) As part of the Convention, a “House of Delegates” (HOD) is created. The number of Delegates elected by Chapter members from each state is determined by the number of AMTA members in that state. At

the HOD, the Delegates review Recommendations and Position Statements. If the HOD passes the Position Statements, those State-ments become Statements of the AMTA and can therefore be used by members for publicity and infor-mation. The public can also access these Position Statements if they are interested in information on the benefits of massage. You can see the 2013 Proposed Position State-ments at: http://www.amtamas-sage.org/positionintro.html AMTA members who want to write a Position Statement have to follow strict procedures in order to bring the Statement to the HOD. Once they are set up, they are emailed to the Delegates who re-view them and post them for their Chapter members. Let’s get back to a question. For an example we’ll use a proposed position statement in 2012. (Spoiler Alert: the statement passed)Can massage be effective in reduc-ing low back pain? In your experi-ence, you may have found this to be true. Wouldn’t it be great to have a resource that shows a num-ber of studies that have shown that massage does indeed help reduce low back pain? This statement does just that. It presents a series of references clearly showing that many people have benefited from massage for their low back pain. The references are clearly cited and described. It was posted on the National website, discussed by del-egates with their chapter members then debated in the HOD. When a position statement is passed and

used by the AMTA, you can feel free to use that information on your website. Doesn’t it feel great to know that you can post something like “Massage can be effective in reducing low back pain” then have a reference cited? A list of previ-ously accepted Statements can be found on the AMTA National web-site, http://amtamassage.org. Isn’t it great to know that you can carry the weight of this research to other health professionals and referral partners? You have a say in this process. We want to know what you think.There are three positions state-ments for the 2013 HOD. In three (or maybe more!) separate blog posts, we’ll tell you about each statement, discuss the research, and add our own thoughts, too. We welcome your comments, sto-ries, and opinions. Yes, your own stories are power-ful. The testimonials you get from your successes are excellent. Your own word of mouth will get you clients. The Position Statements with their references add additional validity to your stories and to your testimonials. The Statements give you more information for your cli-ents while giving you more confi-dence in massage therapy.We look forward to hearing from you now and in the future.

Greg Hurd is a Licensed Massage Therapist living in Massachusetts. He is an active member of the Mas-sachusetts Chapter of the AMTA. He is also the Director of Career Develop-ment & Outreach at Bancroft School of Massage Therapy.

PositionStatements

Rule!

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Your Chapter Delegates Represent Youin the House of Delegates!

Your Input is Invaluable. Please Respond by September 20, 2013On September 25 and 26 this year, the House of Delegates (HOD) will deliberate on

the following three position statement proposals.

It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that:

1. Massage therapy can improve health through its effects on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of an individual.

2. Massage therapy can assist in reducing the symptoms of anxiety.3. Massage therapy can improve healt-related quality of life for cancer patients.

Read the full text at http://www.amtamassage.org/positionintro.html.The questions are simple:

Do you agree with the position statement proposal?Does the research support the position adequately?

How to Respond:Since there will be no chapter meeting between now and Convention, we need to hear

from you on-line or by phone. To respond on line, either contact a delegate directly, or take the poll at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FSN7PP9 . We look forward to your response.

Also, your comments can be posted on the national website if you post there. Go to http://www.amtamassage.org/positionintro/Position-Statement-Comments.html

to post and view comments on the National website.

Why Should I Respond?The House of Delegates is YOUR HOUSE! You elect your delegates to represent you and

your practice. The more people respond, the better your delegates understand the will of their fellow members. Approved position statements become the position of the AMTA.

Have more questions? Contact any of your delegates: Cindy Farrar (Tucker), [email protected] C.J. Lowe (Dahlonega), [email protected]

Toni Roberts (Marietta) [email protected] Lisa Aspy (Alternate), [email protected]

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Awards: Acknowledging our Volunteers

The national AMTA awards pro-gram has a long history of showing appreciation by acknowledging its volunteers. Our AMTA Georgia Chapter has followed suit. We will be having a very important yearly awards ceremony at the Annual membership meeting on February 22, 2014. This is the perfect opportunity for you as AMTA members to use your voice and nominate someone for one of these very special awards. The awards given are the Chap-ter Meritorious Award ,the Pres-ident’s Award, Humanitarian, Retiring Offi cer/Board Member, Committee Chairs, Committee Awards, and Certifi cate(s) of Ap-preciation. The Awards Committee is respon-sible for searching chapter volun-teer lists to identify volunteers who have contributed to our Chapter and are deserving of honor and recognition. They will work with

our Chapter offi cers, Chairs, and Committee members to obtain candidates. The Chair will be in compliance with both the AMTA national and Georgia State criteria and ensure all nominees and can-didates meet the qualifi cations to accept an award.

Chapter Meritorious AwardThe Chapter Meritorious Award is awarded to an AMTA member for accomplishments in the area of leadership, dedication, and com-mitment to the association and to the chapter.Purpose: To openly honor an AMTA member. To acknowledge diligent volunteerism done in an altruistic manner History: Award established in 1969, and has been given annually since that time. Qualifi cations: Active member in AMTA for at least one (1) year

President’s Award The President’s Award is given to a person chosen by our chapter president and is someone who refl ects the core values of AMTA in life and work.Purpose: To openly honor recipient(s) who have contributed to the massage profession in an outstanding manner. To acknowl-edge diligent volunteerism done in an altruistic manner, and to enable the Chapter President to give an award to a recipient who seems worthy. This award is selected by the Chapter President History: The Chapter President’s Award for Chapters was founded in 1996. Recipients names to be kept in minutes of any given meeting.

Qualifi cations: The recipient does not have to be member of AMTA or an AMTA massage therapist. There may be no more than one (1) recipient selected in any given year. This award may be given posthu-mously. Recipient must contribute to the massage profession in an outstanding manner. Recipient shall not have received this award in the previous year. Recipient may receive only one chapter individual award in any given year.

Distinguished Service AwardPurpose: To openly honor a recipient who has contributed to the massage profession in an out-standing manner and to acknowl-edge diligent volunteerism done in an altruistic manner. To enable the President and the Chapter Board to give an award to a recipient who seems worthy. History: The Chapter Distinguished Award for Chapters was founded in 1996. Recipients name to be kept in minutes of any given meeting. Qualifi cations: Recipient must be a member of AMTA and a massage therapist. There can be more than one recipient selected in any given year. This award may be given post-humously. Recipient must contrib-ute to the massage profession in an outstanding manner. Recipient shall not have received this award in the previous year.

Humanitarian Award Purpose: To openly honor recipient(s) who is an AMTA mem-ber. To acknowledge the “heart” of massage in action. History: This award was established in 1996. The recipient is selected

C.J. Lowe, LMT

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and may be kept unannounced until time of presentation. There may be more than one (1) recipient in a given year. Granting of mul-tiple awards will be decided by the Chapter Board. Recipient(s) name(s) to be kept in minutes of any given meeting. The names of the recipi-ents will be printed in the Chapter newsletter. Qualifications: The recipient must be a member of the AMTA and a massage therapist in good stand-ing at the time of award consider-ation. Recipient must contribute to the massage profession in an outstanding manner. Qualifica-tions include volunteer work, which may or may not include massage, done in the larger community. This can include, but is not limited to: charity, church, supporting the arts, working with children, work-ing with the disabled, needy, sick, homeless, elderly, doing commu-nity outreach to populations for who massage is otherwise difficult to obtain, fund-raising for same, consciousness raising, relief effort. Recipient shall not have received this award in the previous year.

The Retiring Officer/Board Member Award is given to an Of-ficer or Board Member who is retir-ing off the Board of Directors and has done exemplary work while serving. The Committee Chair Award is given to a serving Committee Chair who has gone above and beyond the normal call of duty in their du-ties as head of their committee. Committee Awards are given to individual Committees that showed amazing initiative and forethought in their actions over the past year. Last, but not least, Certificates of Appreciation are given to individ-

uals in appreciation for their tire-less service to the chapter and its members over the past year. This includes special project participa-tion or volunteer hours given. If you know of anyone that you would like to acknowledge for their service to the AMTA Georgia Chap-ter and would like to nominate for these awards, please do so on our website, http://www.amtaga.org or email the Awards Chairman at [email protected]. Awards will be presented at the Annual meet-ing in February and published in our newsletter. The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2013.

Terri Barton awarding Cindy Farrar the Meritorious Award this past February.

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The Marketing Coach:Cyrano, LMTs & Losing the Fear of Rejection

By Coach Cary Bayer

The Marketing Coach, Cary Bayer

Once, I was in New York City and happened to catch the opening night of previews on Broadway of the revival of my favorite play, Cyra-no de Bergerac, written by Edmond Rostand, in 1897. For those of you who may be un-familiar with this marvelous story, it’s set in Paris in 1640, and centers around the gallant soldier/poet Cyrano, who is as much of a hero with his sword as he is a coward with expressing his feelings. He’s great at swordplay and he’s great at wordplay, but he’s tragically pathet-ic at love. This is because he has a grotesque nose, virtually the size of a Buick. This play can be very instructive for you, if you happen to be a li-censed massage therapist. With his sword, the brave Cyrano can slay a hundred men on a battlefield in France. With your hands, the great healer that you are, you can slay a hundred knots of tension on the battlefield of clients’ bodies. But, sadly, Cyrano freezes up in the pres-ence of his beloved Roxanne. And, sadly, too many of you freeze up in the presence of opportunities to

gain new clients or promote your work with existing clients. In the play, Cyrano de Bergerac dies, never having told his Roxanne that he loves her, even though it was his soul that she loved. Cyrano extemporaneously wrote some of the most beautiful love poetry you’ll ever hear; it was intended to be spoken by a handsome man whose face Roxanne loved. Cyrano was too afraid to compete against this handsome stud. Years later, when Roxanne finally discovered that it was Cyrano’s poetry—not the pretty boy’s-that won her heart, she would eventually confess her love for Cyrano. Unfortunately, he lay dying. Stubborn, proud, and fearful to the very end, however, he refused to admit his love to her. I have seen far too many thera-pists fail to book a massage at a party when a stranger says that he could really use one. The fear that he might reject the offer to book stops the CMT in her tracks. The would-be client is denied the relief, like Roxanne was denied Cyrano’s love. I have seen far too many mas-sage therapists fail to ask clients if they would like to purchase a pack-age of treatments even though it could save the client a good bit of money. The fear of rejection again raising its ugly….er, nose. Cyrano was a tragic hero of fic-tion. Don’t let yourself be a tragic statistic of the massage business. Don’t let fear be the only reason you do not have the business of your dreams. Roxanne always loved Cyrano, but he was too afraid to

find that out. People love what you do with your hands; be proud of what you do and who you are. Next time someone makes a remark about wanting a massage, ask them if they would like to book a session with an amazing massage therapist that you know...You!

Cary Bayer has been a keynote speaker at the AMTA national con-vention. Cary is a Life Coach; CE provider licensed by NCBTMB and Florida Dept. of Health’s Board of Massage Therapy; and faculty mem-ber of Massage Business University, who writes for Massage Today and AMTA publications in 14 states. His three-dozen publications include 1 full-length book specifically for massage therapists, seven mini-books, plus 2 DVDs, one of which has been translated into Japanese. He’s coached more than 275 LMTs. His 15 CE seminars and webinars—in particular, “Build a $100,000 a Year Massage Business”—are very popu-lar among therapists.

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Twenty-Eight Years of Massage in GeorgiaDana Whitfield, LMT

I would like to share brief high-lights of how I discovered massage therapy as it was happening in 1985. After a car accident, the act of performing my duties of clean-ing teeth as a dental hygienist was quite excruciating. Trying to bend my neck and head in needed posi-tions caused intense pain. I sought relief through massage therapy, which was totally new to me. This exposure to the world of massage led me to seek a new career. Atlanta School of Massage was the only massage school in Geor-gia at that time. I enrolled, won-dering how to juggle life with my husband, 2 daughters and job in a dental office. As a student, there was a constant need to study and practice all the various strokes taught daily in class. Remember? Being in a professional organization was quite important to me, which lead me to join the American Mas-sage Therapy Association. As an AMTA student member my learn-ing continued with discovering there was a Georgia group of mas-sage therapists that hosted month-ly educational speakers at ASM. I stepped in and got involved, taking on various responsibilities in the chapter to give significant meaning to my new career path.The next thing I discovered was the challenge of city, county and local ordinances which had restric-tive wording to prevent massage therapists from practicing. At that time, there was no State license or any form of protection for a person wanting to be a professional mas-sage therapist. The law was written for masseurs and persons involved

with adult entertainment, which seemed to be rampant all over Georgia. Everyone had to have a background check and be finger-printed by police. We have come a long way since then. I learned quickly that setting up a massage business was going to be more of an undertaking than I expected. Before setting up my office, I had to apply for a county business license. The hassle of maneuvering downtown Atlanta streets and traffic to find the police department was time-consuming. The police treated me like a crimi-nal, asking very personal questions during the finger-printing. In several counties in Georgia at that time, it was against the law to give massage to a person of the oppose gender. In another county, the local ordinance required the installation of a window in the massage room in order for police investigators to observe if proper procedure was being performed. Could ALL this be right? No one discussed this in school or if they did, I sure did not understand the massage scene to be anything like what I was experiencing. The AMTA-Georgia Chapter took action by forming a Law and Leg-islative Committee. Multiple meet-ings were held in preparing neces-sary materials to educate legislators and lobbyists about the value of massage therapy. Challenges of House and Senate bills made the endeavor more intense. Efforts to continue an ongoing presence in the form of personal meetings and speaking before Health and Ecol-ogy Committees took time away

from massage practices. Interested Georgia chapter members eagerly developed case studies, wrote speeches in an effort to help and to give understanding about the health benefits of massage therapy. Arranging for clients to give their testimonies was another major thrust of the legislative aware-ness group. House and Senate Bills were continually appearing, mak-ing hiring a lobbyist an important but very expensive venture for the Georgia Chapter. A scene I will always remember was all the heads and watchful eyes that followed massage thera-pists as they set up massage tables and chairs on the rotunda floor at the State Capitol in Atlanta. Long lines formed as AMTA members provided stress relief massage and explained the purpose of requiring state licensure. It was worth all the struggle and 20 years of hard work by the early massage pioneers because they

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forged the unknown territory to finally get approval in 2005 of a Georgia Massage Therapy Practice Act which required a license for anyone wanting to practice mas-sage in Georgia. More massage schools began to pop up around the state. The schools that were only seeking quick financial gain did not last long. Students were and still are attracted to solid teaching and schools with accreditation. Over the years, the massage industry has taken on various major changes as private sole practices, that were once the norm, now seem a thing of the past. It was quite the challenge to set up your own business right after graduating from school. It was a daunting task searching for of-fice space, with all the details that brings forth, such as sewer, wa-ter, electricity, heating/air, phone, where the rest rooms are located, the list goes on and on. These were some of the challenges most graduates faced after completing their training. They had to learn how to interact with people, how to encourage good self-care by taking care of their body, how to develop customer satisfaction skills in hopes that they would schedule return appointments and refer their family and friends. Some graduates continued with the school, teaching several classes each week. A huge step in help-ing students transition into private practice was the development of the ‘student’ clinic. This interaction gave students a better understand-ing of how to handle phone calls, interviewing and intake informa-tion, giving a great massage, and

hopefully setting up a follow-up appointment. They developed and learned massage skills as well as the importance of writing good soap notes and all the details of how you act as a professional mas-sage therapist. Specializing in certain forms of massage, such a sport or medical massage has continued to grow as the understanding of the health benefits of massage have been proven by research. It has become commonplace for massage services to be recommended by doctors. Today you may find massage therapists on the staff in hospitals, dental offices, pediatric and ob/gyn offices. The field of massage has had various developmental changes as spa treatments and massage

were introduced into the industry. Jumping on the massage wagon expanding the field to include esthetics and cosmetics. This made personal pampering with salt, mud and seaweed body wraps the latest “got to have” form of treatments. The concept of having multiple massage therapists available at the same time for more people is currently the craze in the massage business world. These companies provide everything–office space, clients, table, sheets, lotion. You are an employee with rules and guide-lines set up by the company. The massage industry has changed immensely since 1985. We went from having to prove our legitimacy to being a proven and valuable treatment and prevention option for many health issues.

A 28 Year-Old’s Perspective as a MTLeisel Kemp, LMT

It has been my pleasure work-ing as a Licensed Massage Thera-pist as well as utilizing my degree as a Sociologist for the last several years. Having worked as a Case Manager and Behavioral Skills Coach Lead has assisted me in learning from my clients. I have learned about various medical conditions and how clients are affected differently by the same disorder. Not only have clients shared their knowledge, but also their wisdom regarding running a business. Their knowledge and wisdom have been helpful and greatly appreciated. I have been able to grow as a therapist by learning new skills, different massage techniques, and general information regard-

ing massage in general. It’s interesting how therapists take the knowledge and skills gained from school and continuously expand upon that information. I believe we should always be learning and growing. Last June, I attended an AMTA Continuing Education class, “Bodywork and Intuition”. Al-though I was the youngest student in the class, the thera-pists welcomed me and offered helpful advice regarding starting my own professional massage business in Georgia after mov-ing from Colorado. I am looking forward to seeing many of these wonderful AMTA members at the class and meeting in Savannah this coming October!

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Hands On Georgia4 Coosawattee Avenue Suite C

Rome, Georgia 30165

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amta-georgia chapter fall 2013 newsletter

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