Attention: Reflexologists, Massage Therapists, Bodyworks and anyone working on the feet thinking that you're feeling "crystals".
Some past instructors used to teach that there were crystals in the feet, and that it was the reflexologist's job to bread down there crystals with physical manual manipulation. Nothing could be further from the truth - this theory defies science and human anatomy.
A portion of the human population have feet that are filled with accessory and extra sesamoid bones, scar tissues and more. These might feel like crystals, but they're not crystals. These harder nodules within the feet are simple organic human tissues.
In this quick 5 1/2 free training video, we'll review this old philosophy and more. For proper and professional training, please visit and register at: https://ceinstitute.com/
Clearing the terminus is a common way to start and finish an MLD appointment, whether the practitioner provides a full body, hybrid or localized session.
In this video below, watch where the lymphatic terminus is located and how to clear or pump the lymphatic terminus with your hands. For professional MLD training, please visit and register at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/lymphatics
Screening for COVID-19 is an important business practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this quick video, we'll show you a free client intake form that you can download from the internet and provide to clients to screen for COVID-19. We'll also share tips on how to execute the screening.
Because of patient privacy requirements, HIPPA and more, doctor's will not discuss a patient's medical condition or treatment with anyone without a written authorized medical release from the patient.
Learn how to obtain a written release for medical records and more in this quick 4 1/2-minute video.
Informed consent is required when providing medical services to a client. . Clients must be provided the best information about their treatment prior to agreeing to pay for, or receive it, with informed consent. Medical services usually would include all forms of massage therapy plus bodywork such as Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology, CranioSacral Therapy and more
In this video, we'll review information required to achieve informed consent, with specific massage and bodywork examples. For more massage and bodywork business information and training, please visit our blog at: https://ceinstitute.com/blogs/news/tagged/business
To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/
Cleaning and sanitizing equipment and stones for hot stone massage can be achieved in a few easy steps. Because it does take time to sanitize in-between clients, we recommend scheduling extra time in-between hot stone massage appointments for these sanitation processes.
The warm, moist, dark treatment room setting of a hot stone massage service creates a perfect breeding ground for germs — a category that viruses, along with fungi, protozoa and bacteria, belongs to — so the massage therapist who offers stone massage must know how to sanitize massage stones. As such, stone massage therapists should already be well-versed in sanitation measures.
Massage stones that are composed of black volcanic basalt lava are porous in nature. That makes thoroughly cleaning or disinfecting them quite difficult; in fact, it is impossible to eliminate all viruses and bacteria while cleaning and disinfecting a porous stone.
These basalt stones born out of volcanic eruption and then tumbled in oceans or riverbeds for thousands of years are believed by some to have energetic qualities. It is our job to find a way to safely use these natural marvels without decreasing their healing value.
This includes sanitizing in a manner that does not deplete the stone’s iron-rich metallic properties. The metallic agents within a massage stone are what allow the stones to retain their temperature for longer periods of time more so than the average rock.
Here are 6 steps that recognize the special needs required to clean, disinfect and provide overall care for massage stones:
1. Unplug the stone warmer and remove all contents, including stones, thermometer, slotted spoons and oil bottles from the hot stone bath, to be individually cleaned.
2. The entire stone bath liner should be removed from the stone warmer. Any towels inside the stone liner should be discarded for laundering. After emptying the liner, the liner should be cleaned with soap and water (grease-cutting dish detergent works best and antibacterial hand soap is also an option.)
3. Each stone and implement should be individually washed with soap and water until each item feels clean and is visibly clean. I like to use a scrub brush or toothbrush to ensure a deeper cleaning on my stone massage service items. Cleaning will physically remove debris from a surface and most germs.
4. Newly cleaned stone massage items can either be dried with a towel or allowed to air dry. To restore some of a stone’s energetic properties after sanitizing, you can always lay the stones outside during a full moon or on some green healthy grass during a light rain. This energetical restoration process is usually practiced about once a month, depending on how often you use the stones.
5. For better sanitation effort, add stones and equipment (except for the stone warmer itself) to a disinfectant soak, or spray the stones and equipment with a disinfectant after cleaning. A list of disinfectants and their instructions to combat bacteria/viruses is listed on the EPA’s website.
Disinfectant use will help eliminate a greater number of germs than cleaning alone. Because disinfectants are not designed to remove physical debris from a surface, cleaning must be provided first or else the entire disinfection effort will be less effective, if not useless. Be sure to allow the disinfectant to sit for its prescribed dwell time (also known as contact time) for proper disinfection.
6. When starting a new hot stone massage service, the hot bath liner should be reinserted into the hot stone warmer and a fresh, clean towel should be placed inside the liner before adding clean water. I recommend adding five or more drops of tea tree essential oil to each stone massage bath for its antimicrobial properties; however, there is little scientific research to support this sanitary use.
In this video below, we will these review steps, and some additional efforts you could make during a pandemic as well..
Many MFR techniques are to treat large areas of the body, such as stetching an entire back in one movement. Alphabet Stroking is a Myofascial Release Technique (MFR) that can be used as an alternative to J-stroking for smaller body treatment areas. In this quick, free, 6 1/2 minute training video, we'll demonstrate how to practice:
To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/
COVID-19 is AEROSOLIZED. This means the virus can suspend in the air long after your client leaves the treatment room - for several hours! So, practitioners should wear high quality facial masks such as KN95s, and practitioners should not remove their facial masks in between clients when changing over their treatment rooms because the aerosolized virus could infect you! An infected individual does not have to be within 6-feet of you to infect you! You can become infected from their aerosolized virus, especially for massage therapists and spa practitioners who work in small and poorly ventilated massage or spa treatment rooms.
With the increase of plastic surgery, skin cancer and nasopharyngeal cancers, painful post-medical treatment facial swelling is increasing amongst the American population. MLD (manual lymphatic drainage) facial services can relieve painful and sightly swelling and as such, is a service in growing demand.
The lymphatic system is partly responsible for removing excess fluid from human tissue to relieve swelling. It collects the excess fluid that the body’s cardiovascular veins cannot collect and leaves behind. As such, swelling is a normal result when the lymphatic system is damaged or when human tissue is traumatized.
HOW LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE WORKS Lymphatic drainage primarily uses human touch over the epidermis to help relieve swelling. Drainage is achieved through specialized strokes and techniques that are applied in a specific order with professional training. In a lymphatic facial session, the practitioner uses their finger pads to apply these very fine movements around the collarbone, jawbone, through the neck, around the ears, and over the entire face during the service. Most lymphatic facial appointments can be completed within about 30 to 60 minutes.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE WITH ONCOLOGY About twenty years ago, lymphatic facials were mostly provided for cancer patient survivors. Oncology treatments often include the surgical removal and/ or radiation of lymph nodes, which could subsequently cause swelling. And because we now have more cancer survivors living longer, we still see plenty of this work.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE FOR ESTHETIC AND COSMETIC PURPOSES Today, many lymphatic facials treatments are practiced for cosmetic procedures, with most of those being in conjunction with plastic surgeries. Unfortunately, facelifts, blepharoplasty, nose jobs, and other aggressive esthetic enhancements can result in immediate swelling. While most clients will heal beautifully, it can be a slow and painful process. Lymphatic drainage treatments can help clients recover more quickly with less pain when excessive swelling is reduced.
Lymphatic facials can also be practiced daily after a facial operation when working directly with the surgeon. Surgeons who have recognized that increased circulation aids in the healing process have started prescribing lymphatic facials before a facial procedure so that the client can have a more effective healing process and result.
Brides, grooms, models, and anyone who wishes for a noninvasive improvement of facial features can also benefit from a lymphatic facial. A lymphatic drainage practitioner can temporarily ameliorate facial puffiness and the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. It is a wonderful option for a client who might have partied a bit too hard the night before a big event and woke up the next day wondering what happened to their face.
There are other cosmetic bonuses to a lymphatic facial. It can temporarily reduce dark under eye circles and relieve sinus pressure. While these are not lymphatic facial goals, given their unreliable and limited results, they are common side effects that many clients will experience with this work.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES And although it is less common, other medical procedures such as dental implants, wisdom tooth removal, and jaw correction can all benefit from multiple lymphatic facial appointments. These procedures can cause extreme swelling in some clients who will do almost anything to relieve it.
The best part of a lymphatic facial is that it is a nonpharmacologic option to reduce swelling and pain, which is terrific for clients who are either allergic or unable to take opioids or NSAIDS. There are many medical facial procedures, including facial cancer skin grafting procedures where an adverse opioid client would find little relief – except for perhaps an ice pack or a lymphatic facial.
IN SUMMARY I know this technique and information must sound wonderful for those who did not realize that they could achieve any of this by simply learning how to work with the lymphatic system. But I must reemphasize that lymphatic drainage results are only temporary. That is because we are working on living human tissue, which is continually fed by blood supply. So, while the client continues to live and breathe, their tissues will continue to receive blood supply, which can cause more potential swelling. The medical reason why someone would seek this quick result is because any immediate swelling reduction could accelerate the healing process. There are additional reasons why lymphatic drainage is beneficial despite the temporary results, which are thoroughly reviewed in a formal lymphatic drainage training class.
In this brief 8-minute video below, we'll review these details including some of the medical conditions that are seeking lymphatic facial services, aka MLD.
