CE INSTITUTE LLC BLOG

Step Up Your Massage Business with Socially Distant Appointments

COVID-19 is an illness that is primarily spread through respiratory droplets.  The greatest risk of contracting this virus is through close contact with an infected individual, which is why social distancing has been recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic.  As such, efforts should be made whenever possible during a massage or bodywork appointment to create as much distance as possible between a client's airway and a practitioner.

Some massage and bodywork services offer a greater amount of distance from a client’s airway than others.  Here are two appointment examples that can incorporate a COVID-19 social distancing theme at work: 

Foot Reflexology

This ancient healing art is a service that can provide full body relaxation while producing the greatest amount of distance from a client’s airway.  Foot reflexology can be provided in a supine or prone position, although prone position is preferred during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

This appointment can also start with a tranquil foot soak to cleanse the feet and set a relaxing mood of utopia during these stressful times.  Best practices are to provide the foot soak outside, on a rooftop or balcony for best air quality.  A soak also allows for an easy and enjoyable socially distant appointment as most do not require a practitioner to be present.

The Foot Makeover

aka Happy Feet or Renew You or Pleasure Paws or Service of the Month

This appointment can be renamed and produced as an add-on or independent appointment.  It is generally provided as a 30-minute session with 10 simple steps:

1. Sit the client in a relaxing sudsy aromatic foot soak. Leave magazines for the client to entertain themselves during this relaxation time.  The foot soak will help cleanse the client’s feet of physical debris and odor. 
2. It is usually recommended within the industry to provide water with lemon, an assortment of teas and spa snacks such as individually wrapped nuts or fruit during a relaxing foot soak. However, due to the pandemic, everyone at the establishment should wear a face covering.  As such, it is not recommended to serve refreshments so that the client will retain their face covering for their entire appointment.
3. After an appropriate amount of foot soak time, lay towels or a clean bath matt between the foot soak and massage table, or provide spa slippers for the client to wear to the massage table. Dry off the client’s feet with a clean towel and lead them to the table where they will lie face down in the prone position.
4. Place an ankle bolster underneath the client’s ankles to bolster their feet in the air and a large clean dry towel in between. 
5. Apply a foot scrub to the client’s feet. Salt or sugar scrubs are the best choice in a dry massage treatment room. Focus the scrub on the bottoms of the feet and around the heels.  Use less vigor on the tops of the feet and around the toes. 
6. After a thorough foot scrub, rinse hands with water and do not dry. After rinsing the hands, use wet hands to rescrub the client’s feet. This wet moisture on a practitioner’s hands will start to dissolve a salt or sugar scrub for easier removal.  Repeat rinsing hands and using wet hands to rescrub the feet until the scrub abrasives are dissolved.
7. Apply wet hot towels to the client’s feet with gentle compressions. Begin to pull and rub away any remaining debris or stickiness of the foot scrub. Repeat the process with new fresh hot towels as needed until the feet are clean of all scrub material.
8. Place a new clean large dry towel underneath the client’s feet. Wrap one foot with the corner end of the dry towel and start foot massage on the other foot then switch.  Use massage cream or skincare moisturizer for the foot massage.  Oils or gels are not recommended.  The goal is to moisturize and soften the foot. 
9. Pat and rub the bottom of the client’s feet dry with corners of the clean dry towel that is underneath their feet. The goal is to remove any excess moisture from the bottom of the client’s feet so that they do not slip in their shoes or on any other surface. 
10. Help the client off the table.  The client’s blood pressure has likely decreased during this heavenly service, so allow them to sit-up for a moment before standing to reorient themselves.  This service is now complete.

Socially Distant Massage Service Summary

Both foot reflexology and foot makeover appointments can be provided in the prone position and allow a client to remain dressed for the appointment duration.  Reducing the time a client spends in an establishment plus providing service in the prone position could help reduce a practitioner’s exposure to infectious agents such as COVID-19.

The best way to prevent the acquisition or transmission of COVID-19 is to self-isolate, so if you do work with clients, it is critical to seek education on how to improve air quality, sanitation, and other work-related preventative measures.  This includes getting creative to create and promote services that generate the greatest amount of social distancing between a practitioner and client during our new normal of COVID-19.

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

#socialdistant #painrelief #medical #healthcare #generalmassage #massagetherapy #lmt #mt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker

As cited from our Massage Magazine article on Heated Thermotherapies:

Heated thermotherapies increase blood flow and cellular metabolism, which can help reduce muscle spasms, increase tissue elasticity and decrease pain. 

Heat induces viscoelastic property changes in collagenous tissues. A large systematic review found that heat increases range of motion (ROM) with these collagenous tissue changes. Additionally, the study concluded that a combination of heat and stretching is more effective than stretching alone.

Increased healing potential: In one study, a heating pad increased blood flow to the trapezius muscle up to 144% in healthy individuals. Increased blood flow applied to an injury site is thought to increase the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the injury, thus a promotion or potential acceleration of healing processes.

For complete hot stone massage training, please register for class at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/hot-stone

#hotstone #hotstonemassage #bodywork #massage #massagetherapist #lmt #massagetherapy #stonemassage #bodywork #bodyworker #thermaltherapy #thermotherapy #thermotherapies #HEAT #MASSAGEtherapy #MASSAGEtherapist #PATIENT-centeredcare #health

Trigger point therapy is usually not an appointment by itself.  You rarely see a massage menu that says: Trigger Point Therapy (60 Minutes)

Trigger Point Therapy is commonly used in conjunction with other forms of bodywork including:

• Deep Tissue Work
• Sports Massage
• Prenatal Massage
• Neuromuscular Therapy
• Myofascial Release
• Hot Stone (could burn client)
• Physical & Occupational Therapy

The Mayo Clinic Defines a Trigger Point as:

“Sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse. These sensitive areas are called trigger points. A trigger point in a muscle can cause strain and pain throughout the muscle.”[i]

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/trigger-point-therapy

Here's an instructor lesson about what a trigger point is, as defined at our school:

 #tp #triggerpoint #triggerpointtherapy #masseter #intraoral #bodywork #bodyworker #massage #massagetherapist #mt #LMT

 [i] Myofascial pain syndrome, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myofascial-pain-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20375444, Found online May 6, 2022

Hot stone massage is known as thermal therapy (or thermotherapy) that increases circulation.  It is an “Ancient Ritual” that provides “deep relaxation”.

Basalt molten lava is commonly used in hot stone massage. This is the traditional black volcanic rock that is known to absorb/retain heat well.  The lava flow reaches between 700 to 1,200 °C which generates a lot of “energy” within the stone.

For complete hot stone massage training, please register for class at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/hot-stone

Here is a short visual instructor demonstration video of hot stone massage therapy application on the foot, with passive range of motion:

#footmassage #hotstone #hotstonemassage #bodywork #massage #massagetherapist #lmt #massagetherapy #stonemassage #bodywork #bodyworker #thermaltherapy #thermotherapy #thermotherapies #HEAT  #healthcare #footpain

Reflexology is defined as the balance of art, application and science to help heal and promote well-being through the stimulation of reflex points.

Reflexology is currently practiced for a variety of reasons. Individuals with medical illness might seek reflexology sessions where conventional medicine has failed. Others could seek reflexology out of curiosity or for relaxation, enjoyment, general wellness, pharmacological-free treatment and more. 

Reflexology application on the feet (out of all reflexology practices) has the greatest number published research studies for treatment of pain, headaches, PMS, multiple sclerosis, pregnancy, high blood pressure, oncology-related side effects, fibromyalgia, constipation and more. In many cases, foot reflexology was shown to be effective with a many different medical, physical and physiological conditions.

The biggest reflexology myth today is that it is a pseudoscience or junk science. This myth ignores the fact that foot reflexology has been repeatedly shown to be effective for many medical conditions, among multiple reflexologists from around the world, in many different countries with similar beneficial results; however, we still have much more to learn and understand to improve reflexology efficacy and reliability.

For complete reflexology training, please visit and register for class at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/reflexology

 #reflexology #footreflexology #reflexologychart #footchart #footreflexologycharts #massage #massagetherapist #bodyworker #massagetherapy #foot #feet #footmassage 

Cleaning and Washing Your Stones for Hot Stone Massage

BE THOROUGH & SANITARY.  Most hot stone professional warmers will have a removable liner.  Remove all materials from the warmer and then remove the liner.  Wash the liner first prior to relining with a new towel and clean stones. 

Stones must be individually washed in between each session, as shown here in this visual instructor demonstration video.

Use “grease cutting” dish detergent and a sponge and wash stones individually.  Use a toothbrush with cleanser if it seems like there is any stickiness to the stone or any of the other hot stone materials.  

Leave stone warmer unplugged between sessions. Keep all hot stone materials together always, so that you do not forget something important such as a thermometer or slotted spoon during your massage session.

Recharging Your Stones

Sometimes stones will might feel a little “sluggish” in energy, especially after extra use and/or cleaning. Some therapists feel the stones absorb client energies. To recharge your stones:

• Lay stones outside during a Full Moon to recharge energetic properties
• Lay stones in the grass or in rain if Full Moon is not available

For complete hot stone massage training, please register for class at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/hot-stone

 #hotstone #hotstonemassage #bodywork #massage #massagetherapist #lmt #massagetherapy #stonemassage #bodywork #bodyworker #thermaltherapy #thermotherapy #thermotherapies #HEAT #MASSAGEtherapy #infectionprotection #cleaning #wash #hotstonebath #stoneheater #stonemassgeheater #hotstoneheater #health

To learn aromatherapy, massage and scrub techniques such as what is shown in this video, please register for our aromatherapy training or our 12 CE Master Therapist Tools & Microtreatments Training!

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

Sporting Event Massage is usually a very QUICK service.  When working on a GROUP of athletes in sporting event situations:

• Pre-Event Work Includes: Stretch & Improve Circulation
• Post Event Work Includes: Soothe, Cryotherapy, Decrease Inflammation

To learn sports massage practice, please visit: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/sports

In this quick instructor demonstration training video, we will show you how to setup your massage table at a sporting event, how to sanitize in between clients and how to redress your table if your table covering is ripped, torn or deteriorates during work hours:

#sportsmassage #lmt #massage #massagetherapist #massagetherapy #ischemiccompression #increasedcirculation #tissuemetabolism #health #athlete #sports #competition #painrelief #medical #healthcare #generalmassage #mt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #marathon #bicycleride #triathlon #sportingevents

Sometimes, when working a corporate onsite chair massage event, a massage therapist will come upon the occasional client with a headache. 

Chair massage is highly portable, and can be easily practiced in almost any office or work setting.

The following is our instructor demonstration of how we would normally treat a headache during chair massage. This particular chair massage routine for headaches includes massage compressions, trigger point therapy application, myofascial release and other bodywork practices and skills.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/chair-massage-event-work

Please keep in mind that we would have completed a thorough client and health history intake process prior to any hands-on work:

#tp #triggerpoint #triggerpointtherapy #bodywork #bodyworker #massage #massagetherapist #mt #LMT #chairmassage #onsitemassage #corporatemassage #painrelief #myofascialrelease #myofascia #myofasciabodywork #generalmassage #neckmassage #scalpmassage #backmassage #massagetherapy #headache #headacherelief