CE INSTITUTE LLC BLOG

 by Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC

Massage therapists can make their own scrubs easily and economically. You will need three simple ingredients for a homemade scrub that can be used professionally or personally.

Simple white granulated sugar is dissolvable with water and has great physical exfoliation properties. Because sugar can be dissolved with water, a sugar scrub can be used in a dry or wet treatment room.

LMTs can also use fine table salt instead of sugar, or a mix of sugar and salt for a less sticky scrub.  Using sugar alone may feel a little sticky to the client when the scrub is not immediately rinsed from the body.  Using salt may also have a drying or dehydrating feel to skin, so using a combination of sugar and salt will give both water dissolvable qualities and allow for a client to not feel so sticky or dehydrated with the materials.

Your second ingredient would be your host oil. In this video instructor demonstration, I use a simple coconut cooking oil which is heated above 76-degrees fahrenheit so that it is in liquid form, and can be easily mixed and poured into the scrub.

My third ingredient for self-made scrub, is I will use some essential oils, to provide aroma and therapeutic effects for individual client needs.

Here is a video instructor demonstration of how to make a scrub with these three easy ingredients, which can be used for body, back, hands, feet or whatever you wish:

 For please visit and register for your training needs at:  https://ceinstitute.com

#bodyscrub #footscrub #handscrub #coconut #coconutoil #coconutlotion #coconutcream #ayurveda #ayurvediccare #bodywork #bodyworker #facial #esthetics #esthetician #cosmetology #health #ancientritual #ancienttreatment #spiritualstress #mindbody #mindbodymedicine #skin #skincare #medical #oil #oilmassage #shirodhara #happy #aging #antiaging #health #healthcare  #massagetherapist #massage #massagetherapy

by Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC

The Swedish massage stroke known as the "triple heart", can be practiced on any large surface area of the body, as well as in various positions such as side-lying, pronated or supinated table positions.

Triple heart strokes can be performed on the back, arms, legs and even the abdomen. Massage therapists can use their fingers to emulate a triple heart with their fingers in facial massage as well.

Here is an instructor video demonstration of the triple heart massage stroke in side-lying position:

At CE Institute LLC, we have almost all of your professional massage therapy training needs  For professional prenatal massage training, please visit and register at:  https://ceinstitute.com/collections/prenatal

#LMT #tripleheart #massagestroke #effleurage #swedishmassage #traditionalmassage #prenatalmassage #pregnancy #prenatal #massage #massagetherapy #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #semirecumbent #prenatalpositioning

by Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC

Most massage therapists stand behind a side-lying client to administer massage.  Unfortunately this can hyperextend the wrists and leave them at awkward angles with poor body mechanics.

Effleurage and spreading any form of massage medium can be opened up and practiced from the front of the client in side-lying position.  

In this video instructor demonstration, we are massaging on pregnant client; however, this side-lying massage technique can be applied for anyone who is lying on their side, regardless of pregnancy:

Please visit us for of your professional massage therapy training needs at CE Institute LLC. For professional prenatal massage training, please visit and register at:  https://ceinstitute.com/collections/prenatal

#prenatalmassage #pregnancy #prenatal #massage #massagetherapy #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #sidelyingposition #sidelying #sidelyingmassage 

 by Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC

There are many clients that cannot lie flat and supinated on a massage table.  Pregnant women a few weeks past their first trimester should not lie flat and supine. 

Side-lying and semi recumbent table positions are acceptable for prenatal massage, as well as pronated positions with appropriate professional pregnancy cushions and bolsters.

Sometimes oncology patients cannot lie flat and supine, especially those suffering with lung cancer, and anyone struggling to breathe.  Providing semi-recumbent massage positioning will make their session more tolerable, if not enjoyable.

Abdominal post-surgical clients with a horizontal surgical scar anywhere between the sternum to the pubis, and were on a ventilator during healing may not be able to lie flat in supinated position.  That is because their surgical scar may be shortened, and cannot be stretched to accommodate lying flat.  Many ventilator patients will be placed in a semi-recumbent position to avoid ventilator associated pneumonia, so they will need to continue lying in a semi-recumbent position until the scar stretches to allow them to lie fully flat and supine.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure, asthmatics and many more may all not be able to lie in supine position - the list is endless.

To accommodate all of these clients who cannot lie flat and supinated, here's a short instructor video demonstration of how to create a semi-recumbent inclined supine table position for massage therapists:

We have almost all of your professional massage therapy training needs available at CE Institute LLC. For professional prenatal massage training, please visit and register at:  https://ceinstitute.com/collections/prenatal

#prenatalmassage #pregnancy #prenatal #massage #massagetherapy #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #semirecumbent #prenatalpositioning

by Sandy Fritz

The Massage Therapy Career

There are unique aspects related to getting started, having career stability and evolving into your experience and then winding down. All of us go through beginnings, middles and ends.

While I have no intention of retiring and remain focused on education including textbooks and involved with the future of massage therapy, at this point of my career I now want to focus on and create space for those beginning their career, and those beginning their middle and moving toward leadership.

The Segments of a Massage Career

If you have a plan of a 15-year career for example, each segment can be framed in five-year periods. Regardless if self-employed or employee, the pattern is similar.

The beginning is about moving from novice to competent, building client base foundation, exploring and pursuing areas of specialization, solidifying financial stability and so forth. It really does take about five years and many move on too soon. Those who make it successfully through the beginning and are in the middle phase face different issues.

The middle is the time of stability both with clients and income. With stability comes the realization that massage therapy is a viable career. There can be time for involvement with professional organizations and or local community service. The schedule should stabilize. By this time the realization also hits that there are no real unique methods, clients have similar issues over and over and you can get bored. The awareness of limits on income based on number of clients seen, fees they will pay, overhead expenses etc. if self-employed or what employers are able to pay becomes a reality check. Burnout occurs. Employees often become disgruntled and feel taken advantage of by employers.

It is common to shake up the career at this point by changing practice location, moving specifically into an area of specialization, teaching, consider expanding business if self-employed by hiring staff or renting space to others. Employers will experience turnover in staff as massage therapist leave to try something different. Some who are self-employed with become employees. Some will go back to school to earn other credentials. Others will explore teaching. Others will leave massage therapy. Some will find again their passion for massage therapy and reengage with renewed energy. My career has been so long that I have spent a long time in the middle, moving back and forth, and round and round.

The last couple of years I believe I have entered the final phase of my career. I have been slowing down a bit mostly limited by vision issues that have limited my driving and traveling. I enjoy the virtual interaction world. I teach and teach others to teach. I write textbooks which is a never-ending process and it keeps me up-to-date. I am not retiring and find that even though I live modestly and a good financial steward, financially I will need to continue to work well into my 70s. I find myself reflecting at this point as well.

Just recently I realized that I have worked with 16 individuals now inducted into the NFL hall of fame. I have also worked with many other NFL, NBA players and one PGA golfer that have gone on to make huge impacts on their community. Seems like an unusually accomplishment since to me these people were kids when I began working with them through the beginning, middle and end of their careers. Mostly though I have worked with people who work hard and do not have lots of money or notoriety and are doing the best they can every day.

There are few if any role models for me at this stage of my career. But there are those who are my peers and sorting this out as well. Those I am in contact with are concerned with leadership transition. There are bright spots with some who are immerging into leadership in their career middle. My plan is to slowly move into the background over the next 10 or so years hoping to support those moving into the foreground.

To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/

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by Sandy Fritz

Massage Career Longevity:

The Massage Therapy Foundation-MTF is conducting data collection about the work of massage therapy professionals to create a structured job task analysis. With this information, our goal is to provide safety parameters for massage therapy work which may include identifying risk factors, examining practice environments, and analyzing the essence of how typical massage therapy work tasks are performed.

This study aims to provide the profession with information which improves workplace safety and efficiency for therapists and inspires researchers to take the initial results and explore them more fully.
https://massagetherapyfoundation.org/mtf-ergo-project/

Massage Licensing Portability:

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) announced March 17 that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has selected the massage therapy profession to receive technical assistance from The Council of State Governments to develop an interstate compact for occupational licensing portability. https://www.massagemag.com/a-move-to-transcend-state.../

Unified Language and Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

The advancement of the broad field of manual therapy and the quality of patient care it provides will be hastened through accurate understanding and communication about practice, educational principles and research designs and outcomes between the various manual therapy professions/disciplines. https://www.icmtconference.org

To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/

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by Sandy Fritz

A scar is the body's natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged tissue. A scar results from the biologic process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues.

Most wounds, except for very minor ones, result in some degree of scarring. We can see and touch scars on the body surface but scar tissue can form inside the body as well.

A scar is usually composed of fibrous tissue that can have altered tissue texture including stiffness, denseness, roughness, etc. Scars may be formed for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue.

The mechanical forces applied during massage can load the scar tissue resulting in short term shifts in the texture including increases in sliding and pliability. The sensory stimulation may reduce the feeling of the pulling or itching of the scar for a short time.

Regular attention to scar tissue may over time provide a longer-term result. To work with scar tissue, it is important to understand the healing phase of the scar and to appreciate the compensation of the body to the scar.

Early mobilization of the tissue containing the wound can help the scar tissue heal more mobile. Those who have had various types of surgery are encouraged to move the area very soon after the procedure to prevent or reduce internal scar tissue formation.

More importantly, every scar has a story. Sometimes the client will share the story. Sometimes not. It is their choice.

It is not our role to have the client explore, understand or resolve issues related to the story. If they share, our role is to LISTEN compassionately. It is their story not ours.

To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/

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Sandy Fritz a well renowned massage therapist with more than 35 years of experience. She dedicates her time to writing massage texts for Mosby Publishing (Elsevier), educating, consulting, teaching, and providing massage to a mixed clientele. You can view or purchase Sandy's textbooks at: https://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/catalogsearch/result/?filter_multi_product_type=&q=sandy+fritz

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the views or opinions of CE Institute LLC.

#massage #LMT #bodywork #bodyworker #massagetherapy #thought  #learning #education #scar #scartissue #respect

by Sandy Fritz

Pressure needs to be heavy/hard for results—NOT TRUE.

General pressure of the massage should be satisfying, ranging from light to firm depending on outcome desired and body area addressed.

Firm pressure is NOT DEEP TISSUE.

Moderate to firm pressure is generally indicated for most people during a therapeutic massage. The delivery of these pressure levels related to ergonomics and body mechanics …not increased effort by the massage therapist.

Painful (deep) pressure is needed for results. NOT TRUE.

Pressure provided should not be painful or cause the body to tighten. Pressure can be focused if indicated to target a specific symptom but should not cause soreness the day after the session. If that occurs the tissue that was worked on was damaged by the application.

Deep tissue means therapeutic focus heavy pressure spot work. NOT TRUE.

This terminology is a major source of confusion. Deep tissue as a type of massage approach is inaccurate and burning out and injuring massage therapists. What clients want is focused intensity. Better to use an adjunct method in combination with massage. Best are cupping/suction/decompression/vacuum methods that lift and pull the tissue and percussion tools combined with warm or cold application.

Swedish means relaxation focus light pressure. NOT TRUE.

This form of therapeutic massage, more accurately called classical massage, can be modified and adapted to achieve any outcome goal.

Trigger point is a massage approach….NOT TRUE.

A trigger point is a soft tissue condition that can be treated many ways, not just heavy pressure.

Stretching is necessary….NOT TRUE.

Stability and flexibility are needed for functional mobility. Many people are hypermobile and the stiffness is compensation for the lack of stability. Stretching should be only used when specifically indicated. Stretching moves a body area beyond a current motion barrier which could actually cause injury or aggravate a symptom.

Joint movement is stretching. NOT TRUE.

Joint movement within the client’s comfort range but within safe physiological parameters is a valuable aspect of massage therapy application. Generally, flexion movement should be 90 degrees from anatomical position. Extension moves to anatomical position. Hyperextension no more than 15 degrees from anatomical position. Adduction, abduction, internal and external rotation 45 degrees from anatomical position.

Cupping methods should leave marks to be effective…NOT TRUE.

Marks are caused by too much suction and leaving the cup in place (parked). Suction needs to be sufficient to lift skin/superficial fascia and stay on the skin. The cup should be slowly moved during application.

Scraping methods (Gua Sha/instrument assisted) needs to leave marks (petechiae) to be effective. NOT TRUE.

Scraping can be done safely if applied lightly with a lubricant. Scraping can provide a satisfying sensation and creates counterirritation and hyperstimulation analgesia . Scraping DOES NOT break up scar tissue. NOTE: Dry brushing can accomplish a similar sensation more safely.

To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/

by Sandy Fritz

I read over and over about people asking about certification related to a particular method or approach. Last one I saw today was related to cupping.

Educators do not provide certification.

Educators provide certificates.

There is a major importance in using this terminology correctly.

Massage Therapists only need state licensing to practice and do not need specific certificates.

Continuing education is good, but completion of an educational program and then saying you are "certified" is misleading and unethical.

Please read the following carefully. The Academy of Clinical Massage explains the difference between Certificates and Certification: https://www.academyofclinicalmassage.com/certificate-vs-certification-credentialing-terminology-matters/

To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/