Because of the rising costs of running my business, I need to raise my prices for the first time since 2008. If you would like to receive the older prices, I'd recommend buying a gift certificate for yourself! Prices go up on February 1, 2012.

Gift certificate sale coming up next week on Friday and Saturday! For those 2 days, you can buy a one hour massage for only $55!

They'll only be availabe on those two days, so you can purchase a gift for Aunt Suzie or Uncle Ed on the cheap, and they'll love you forever!

I posted my continuing education class schedule for 2012 today. You need to have attended a massage school and be licensed to do massage therapy in the state where you work.

 Your success as a massage therapist depends largely upon you, of course. But the massage therapy school you attend has a huge impact as well. When looking for massage therapy schools, make you you check into their history.

For instance, what is their graduation rate? Success rate after graduating from massage school on their massage therapy board exam? Do they teach you business and ethics as well as anatomy/physiology/massage theory and practice?

How many hours is the program? Are you able to work full time while attending the program? How many hours are you expected to put into studying in the massage therapy course?

Just because a massage therapy training school has opened up around the corner doesn't mean that it's necessarily the course for you!

Here are a few photos from our Advanced Ashiatsu barefoot massage training class this past weekend in Cincinnati.

         

    

My teaching massage schedule is slowing down, so I thought I'd get back on track with doing a blog here and there about my Cincinnati massage studio.

In my opinion, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, otherwise known as "AOBT" or "ashi", is one of the best ways to deliver an amazing deep tissue massage. I've been doing ashi in Cincinnati since 2002, longer than most other therapists in the area. AOBT comprises about 80% of my practice, with warm Bamboo-fusion massage coming in 2nd.

I no longer do deep tissue massage with my hands because of the strain on my wrists and elbows. In fact, I have tendonitis (tennis elbow) as a direct result of doing hands on massage. If you are a massage therapist, you can certainly understand that!

From a client standpoint, ashiatsu is superior than traditional deep tissue massage by hand for a variety of reasons:

•  With barefoot massage, the therapist can easily work deeply because gravity is on his/her side. It's much easier to sink down with weight to give pressure than it is to "muscle" it.
• The ball and heel of the foot is more comfortable than pointy elbows, thumbs and fingers, making deep tissue massage much more bearable.
• Ashiatsu strokes are done at a slow pace, enabling the client to really relax into the strokes.
• Anterior (on the front of the body) work on the quads is much more comfortable than when the therapist uses her hands/forearm because the arch of the foot comfortable nestles the muscles.

These are the top benefits just off the top of my head. I've been on a mad teaching streak for 5 weeks now, ending tomorrow with the completion of Advanced Ashiatsu, so forgive me if I ramble!

You can schedule a massage through Bookfresh on my website www.affinitymassages.com. There's a tab at the top of the site as well as a button to the right of each page.

I have one spot remaining in the Dallas Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy Barefoot Basics class in November. Actually, someone filled out the last registration spot but hasn't yet paid her deposit. So if you know of any massage therapist who needs to learn barefoot massage or needs CEUs, send them my way!

Can't travel to come to our 2 day Bamboo-fusion class? Still want the tools and learn the massage? Some massage therapists buy our solid bamboo tools and teach themselves. I am an authorized instructor for Bamboo-fusion as well as resaler of the tools. We even offer free shipping for both the bamboo table kit as well as the Visage facial kit. Order online here at www.affinitymassages.com!

Just 2 spots remain in my Barefoot Basics Ashiatsu massage training class in Dallas. Class is in November, and it looks like it's going to fill up soon. If you know of any LMTs who need some CEUs, would like to save their career or simply reinvent their practice, let them know about class!

Barefoot Basics is 3 days, 25 CE's and runs from 9-6 each day. The massage therapists get to practice on each other for 2 days and on guest clients on the 3rd day of class. Anterior and Sidelying is 1 day, 8 CE's from 9-6 also. LMTs work on each other and receive about 3 hour of amazing barefoot work.

Come join us is class--it's well organized but laid back. You can register online!

Bamboo-fusion massage is a specialty massage treatment where the massage therapist uses solid bamboo tools, warmed to perfection, to massage the client.

The tools are heated in a commercial grade heating pad, and are easily cleaned using anti-bacterial wipes. The massage feels great to receive and helps to ensure a longer career for the massage therapist.

There's something almost magical about the way clients melt into the table the moment the therapist gently places the bamboo tools on the skin and starts to effleurage. The heat is nuturing, relaxing and physically softens the client's muscles.  This helps the therapist sink more deeply with less effort into the clients tight spots.

I charge the same amount for a Bamboo-fusion massage as I do for any other massage in my Cincinnati studio, $65 for an hour and $90 for a 90 minute session. If you're in the mood for a new style of massage, you can schedule an appointment online at www.affinitymassages.com at the "schedule an appointment" tab.

Of course, I also teach a 16 credit hour continuing education class for massage therapists as well. It's 2 days, and costs $399 (tools included). And at 80% hands on for class, it makes the therapist very happy to be in class!