Holistic Massage School Reveals Self-Care Tips for Massage Therapists

“There’s a big difference between performing two hours of massage twice a week and working a six- hour shift daily”, warns Paula Curtiss, Founding Director of Healing Hands School of Holistic Health.  “That’s why our introductory massage course, Circulatory Massage, stresses the importance of ‘body-mechanics’, or how one moves when performing a massage.  Proper body mechanics have been proven to minimize pain, strain, over-use injury and ‘body-burn-out’ so many massage therapists experience within the first five years of practice.  It’s also one of the reasons Healing Hands students have remained in high demand for the past two decades”, she added proudly.

Theracane
Theracane is a self-massage tool used by many therapists

“Massage Therapists dedicate themselves to a career of facilitating healing and wellness in their clients” says Harmony Curtiss, Manager of Healing Hands Laguna Hills location.  “To be most successful, they need to set a good example.  That’s why we offer over 80 massage therapy and related holistic health courses.  At Healing Hands students are educated about holistic wellness and encouraged to practice it daily.  Below are just a few of the self-care tips our students learn”, she added

Circulatory Massage Tai Chi Routine

  • Nutrition – A wellness plan wouldn’t be complete without providing the body the necessary nutrients to keep it energized, healthy and strong. Students can learn about Dietary Practices as well as Nutritional Super-foods to help them achieve optimal health.
  • Exercise – The benefits of regular exercise to bones, muscles and body systems are well-known and essential to massage therapy professionals who must maintain strength, flexibility and good health to perform their job.
  • Relaxation – Caring for others and delivering therapeutic massage can be just as emotionally taxing as it is physical. Massage Therapist, like all care-givers need time to relax and re-charge.
  • Self-massage with TheraCane – A self-massager used to apply deep pressure to specific points of the body, a TheraCane makes it easy to address common tension areas ie: the top of the shoulders, neck, legs and low back. It is a ‘must-have’ product for massage therapists or anyone who suffers from tight muscles or painful trigger points.
  • Tai-Chi – All students attending HHSHH are required to learn a series of Tai Chi movements to use in the delivery of a Swedish or Circulatory massage.
  • Yoga/Stretching – Various massage classes require students to practice Yoga, Chi Gong, facilitated stretching and self-massage.
    Circulatory Massage Tai Chi Routine
    Circulatory Massage Tai Chi Routine
  • Meditation – Taking time for daily meditation will prevent stress from getting into the system and releases accumulated stress already there. With meditation, the physiology undergoes a change in which every cell in the body is recharged.  Regular meditation increases joy, optimism, mental clarity, enthusiasm and boosts the immune system.
  • Ergonomics – It’s important to be able to adjust the massage table (or chair) to accommodate a client’ size or to gain the leverage needed to deliver a Deep Tissue.  
  • Self-acupressure – Applying pressure to trigger points or acupressure points can restore balance and facilitate healing.  At Healing Hands our instructors teach self-maintenance techniques through the use of a Lacrosse or Tennis ball.  These self-acupressure methods empower students to relieve their own tight muscles and improve over-all body comfort and balance.

To learn more about holistic health and wellness courses offered at Healing Hands School of Holistic Health, visit us online at www.HealingHandsSchool.com  or call us at 760-746-9364 in Escondido or at 949-305-2722 in Laguna Hills.

2 Responses

  • Hi Paula, are you still doing that chair event 2/11 and 2/12 in Rancho Santa Margarita?
    I’m looking forward to the event, so I need the address and times info.
    Thanks ~Erika Uselman

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