Historiography and the limits of naturalism: Thoughts on privacy, propaganda and free speech

I do feel secure in presuming that I'm not the only American who didn't vote in 2016. I also feel no guilt watching President Trump on TV, reading his Tweets, listening to his "alternative facts," or learning more about how his decisions and actions ruffle and offend my fellow human beings at home and abroad.…

Product Reviews: Murad Active Radiance Serum

I've been working for Massage Envy just shy of two years. Massage Envy uses Murad skin and body care products exclusively and so far, the only Murad product line I've tried is Environmental Shield. Why only one? Because it's that good. I rely on public transportation. This means that I am exposed to harsher elements…

Steiner North American interviews in Las Vegas 2016

It’s June 24th, 2016 and I was a guest of The Nevada School of Massage Therapy and The Steiner Education Group. It’s been a lovely experience and visit to Las Vegas. I made time recently to look up basic info on the founder, Rudolph Steiner before the meeting. Today I learned Mr. Steiner began his…

Licensure and Portability: NCB and ITEC UK team up to create international massage credential

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork announced on March 14th, 2015 that they have partnered with ITEC, a British education company specializing in international credentialing. The goal is to facilitate 'portability' and 'standardization' for the massage profession. This partnership is similar to ISPA's Spa Certifications that have been available to members and non…

Announcing Fruits, Nuts and Flakes: Massage and Bodywork Edition

Announcing Fruits, Nuts and Flakes: Massage and Bodywork Edition I have launched a kickstarter project to promote what I hope will be a welcome edition to massage publishing and education. I plan on it appealing to friends and foes of complimentary and alternative medicine and education, science and modernism. Please share your thoughts! I hope…

The Vampire Facial: An assault on science or simple race baiting?

Back in 2013, Kim Kardashian tried the newest trend in esthetics, or so it may have seemed. The Vampire Facial. The Spa world responded discreetly and quickly renamed the procedure "microneedling." Count on MTV to showcase this attempt at cultural stereotyping and shoddy science. 19 year old teen bathes in pigs blood to retain her 'youth'…

Absolute Values? Professionalism and manifestations of the individual

This is the first post of a four part series on professional development. The series will utilize the terms Massage Therapist, Masseur and Masseuse as a touchstone. Massage Therapy is a growing field of professional endeavor. As the last fifteen years have demonstrated, the creation of civic, secular infrastructure to consolidate and incorporate the profession,…

Boredom: What is it and how should we respond?

What is Boredom? Why would anyone other than someone who is bored be interested about the topic? Why write about it unless your creating solutions to a problem? Could boredom ever be healthy? Boredom is a feeling first and foremost. It lies at the root of many illnesses, so many in fact, that the modern…

Clearing the air: scent and spa

The human sense of smell is profound. Not that long ago, the olfactory system was subject to a very different cornacoupia than we have available to us today. We are bombarded with scent, be it thru perfumes in our toiletries, in our home cleaning products, while we window shop in stores or boutiques and even…

20 ‘secrets’ a massage therapist ‘knows’ about your body?

Have a look at this article and if you have a question, post it below and I will answer. 20 'secrets' a massage therapist 'knows' about your body