Physical Therapy Schools|Benefits Of Massage Therapy Schools

Physical therapy marketing is a vital part of a successful practice. If you made the decision to become a physical therapist, you are no doubt excited by the power to heal. When starting out, you may not know how to begin your plan. How do you get customers to your clinic? Once you have established a practice, how do you tell others about your services? This is where the right marketing strategy comes to your rescue.

I am talking not only securing clients, but also keeping them hooked. You also need to use methods to attract new clients. If marketing is not your cup of tea, hire a  company to help you out. If you choose to do it yourself, here are some tips to help you pursue it effectively:

When you meet doctors, take the time to convince them of your abilities. Doctors are often asked to recommend a physical therapist, so take advantage of opportunities and work towards referrals. Ask physicians if you can demonstrate your techniques to them to gain credibility and promote a working relationship. Consider your physical therapy marking opportunities at every turn.

Try to be discreet about your marketing efforts. There is nothing like word of mouth publicity to generate referrals from your current patients. Adopt a bedside manner that makes your patients return to you and keeps your physical therapy marketing efforts worthwhile. Prepare yourself for additional workload, as the friends and family of former and current customers start calling your practice.

Find opportunities to market, such as public speaking. If you are having trouble establishing your practice, it may be time to consult with a professional. Qualified public relations teams have the skills necessary to take over your physical therapy marketing efforts and normally possess a great rapport with local media representatives.

Never hesitate to revamp your strategies. As time progresses, your current plan may become stale. To keep things fresh, consult with an expert regularly. Determine what's working and what's not, and make the necessary changes. Bring your practice to the next stage with a plan that is current and effective.

Massage therapy can do well to every part of the body. It has been used for so many years to relax and sooth pain and muscle tension. Anyone who wants to learn these massage techniques might be intimidated at first. It is a bit hard to picture one doing and performing professional massage therapy without formal training. But fortunately, there are simple massage techniques that one can easily master. One can truly wow his or her friends and family with these skills.

SIMPLE MASSAGE TECHNIQUES FOR THE HEAD:
- Open up the fingers of both hands until it looks like the tentacles of an octopus. Gently lay all the fingers on the top part of the head. Firmly and carefully execute circular motions on the scalp. Focus on a certain part of the head and stay there for a minute. After which, move along until all the angles of the head are covered and massaged. This is great for severe headaches, migraines and brain freeze.

- Completely and tightly close all fingers. Carry out mild and soft long strokes on the head. Start with the forehead and implement the stroke down to the back of the head.

SIMPLE MASSAGE TECHNIQUES FOR THE SHOULDERS:
- Open up the fingers of both hands until it looks like the tentacles of an octopus. Place both hands on one shoulder. Gently squeeze the shoulder. Work it from the neck to the tip of the shoulder's ball. Do this to both shoulders.

- Slightly close the fingers but not in a way that the fingers stick together. Stroke from the top part of the back of the head and separate both hands when heading to both shoulders. Designate the left hand to the left shoulder and the right hand to the right shoulder. Do this to 10 - 15 times.

SIMPLE MASSAGE TECHNIQUES FOR THE ARMS AND HANDS:
- Open up the fingers of both hands until it looks like the tentacles of an octopus. Place both hands on one arm. Gently squeeze the arm all the way to the hand. Make sure to this both on the top and bottom part of the arm and hand. Do this to both arms and hands.

- Perform long and placid strokes from the shoulder blade down to the hands. Do this to both arms and hands.

- When one gets to the hand, use both thumbs to do circular motions on the back of the hand. Use the other fingers to firmly poke the palm of the hand. Do this to both hands.

SIMPLE MASSAGE TECHNIQUES FOR THE BACK:
- Densely close both hands and position the hands on a lateral position. Do karate moves first on the top part of the back near to the back of the neck.

However, it is crucial to remember not include the back of the neck in this massage. This can kill the person.

- Execute long strokes from the back of the neck all the way down to the waist. Do this in a way that each angle of the back id affected by the touch.

Massage therapy can do wonders for the body. Learn these basic massage techniques and wow the family and friends tomorrow!

Massage has become increasingly popular over recent years as a way to unwind, relax and treat yourself. Many people even opt for massage every week and find that they benefit from it immensely. Having a massage can have many benefits to your body and overall well being. It has been no for centuries the great effects of massage and its healing capabilities. However it is only recently through scientific studies that we now know for certain the positive effects massage can have on our health.

First and foremost, probably the most important thing these days, is that massage can relieve stress and help you feel relaxed. Many people these days struggle to relax, unwind and have tense free muscles as a result of financial, work and family pressure. We are a nation of overworked people who have little time to unwind and enjoy the day. Massage can be a short term solution to this by helping you unwind and letting your problems melt away but won't completely fix the issue and you may find yourself needing another a week later.

Massage can also help alleviate pain and tension in your body. Many people suffer from constantly tense muscles as a result of poor posture, which isn't surprising when most of us sit in front of a computer all day long. Massage can help relieve these tense muscles for a short period of time, but to completely eradicate the problem a massage that helps align posture is more effective i.e. something like rolfing.

Massage also decreases inflammation, promotes speedy recovery from sports injuries or or injuries and also improves your circulation. As a result of relieving tension it will also free up energy making you feel less tired. It has also been shown to in case and strengthen the immune system, reduce anxiety and be great for helping women through "pregnancy pains"

Massage therapy has been shown to be great for a number of different conditions including arthritis, anxiety, back pain, chronic pain, acute pain, digestive disorders, depression, circulatory issues, headaches, sleep disorders, stress and many more. As a result massage is a great complementary therapy for anyone experiencing agonizing conditions.

However some people find massage therapy can be costly. There are ways around this, however. For example, many physiotherapists and chiropractors may offer you advice about the best electric massager available to help your particular needs. These can be an effective way to help yourself for a smaller cost and without having to rely on someone else to do it.

Whatever you opt for with massage will be beneficial to you overall well being, so is well worth the cost.

Massage therapy complements the therapeutic effects of spinal adjustments performed by a Chiropractor by relieving habitual patterns of tension in the soft tissue surrounding and supporting the skeleton. These patterns of tension are sometimes referred to as "muscle memory." To achieve more lasting results from a chiropractic adjustment, it is helpful to address symptoms of stress and injury found throughout the body that may be contributing to the problem. Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) are trained to identify problem areas and relieve symptoms with a variety of massage techniques.

Soft tissue is composed of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and a thin sheath of connective tissue called fascia. Techniques employed by an LMT to address soft tissue tension or injury may range from gentle relaxation massage to more deep tissue work designed to break up scarring and adhesions. The benefits massage can achieve include the following:

• alleviate pain caused by tension


• soften and relax injured, tired, and overused muscles


• reduce muscle spasms


• increase joint flexibility


• improve range of motion


• improve circulation and the body's natural cleansing mechanisms


• enhance immune response by stimulating the lymph system


• provide pain relief from the physical stress of pregnancy, labor and birth


• loosen tissue adhesions caused by surgery or trauma to the body


• help the body recover from strenuous exercise


• relieve migraine headaches


• release endorphins and create a sense of well being.

The following describes some of the most common therapeutic massage techniques:

Swedish Massage - This is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to help relax and energize you.

Deep-Tissue Massage - This massage technique uses slower, more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It is commonly used to help with muscle damage from injuries and chronic patterns of tension.

Sports Massage - This is similar to Swedish massage but is geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.

Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy - The word myofascial means muscle tissue (myo) and the connective tissue in and around it (fascia). When stressed or injured, muscles form trigger points, like contracted knots, that cause pain and tightness. This massage focuses on releasing tension held in these sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers that often cause radiating or referred pain.

Rolfing 簧 Structural Integration - Dr. Ida P. Rolf, a biochemist and Rockefeller University fellow, developed a system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education designed to organize the whole body to function optimally. A series of 10 sessions is typically recommended to achieve lasting changes in posture and structure by manipulating the body's myofascial system.

Active Release Techniques 簧 - ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART.

Thai Massage - This type of massage involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage.

Receiving massage therapy before or after a chiropractic manipulation helps the body release soft tissue tension that can either be caused by skeletal misalignment or may, by contracting and pulling on the skeletal system, be the cause of it. While caution must be taken to avoid overstimulating areas of inflammation, another benefit of massage is to encourage lymphatic drainage, which assists the body's own efforts to heal itself.

I remember the first time I gave a hot, erotic massage to a woman. I was quite young a the time and really nervous, almost overwhelmed when she took off her top and lay on the sofa. She was a little shy, so she lay on her front and I can still remember how her body jumped when I put my hands on her. I was really out of my comfort zone too and my hands started shaking as my fingers made contact with her bare back. Thanks to my older friends, I kept assuming that soon she would be overcome by lust and jump on me. Almost half an hour later, she put her top on and I took her to the station.

The whole walk I was wondering where I'd gone wrong, after all I'd done everything right, hadn't I? It was then that I decided to ask for advice from one of my more knowledgeable friends. I'd barely got through half of my description before he looked at me in disbelief and said,

"What? You didn't you lick her neck or back or anything?!?"

The point my friend had made was an awesome one: there is a world of difference separating an enjoyable back-rub from a hot, erotic massage!

Erotic Massage Techniques

So what actually is the difference? In fact the techniques used in both the back rub and the hot, erotic massage are similar. The key difference is your attitude. While a non-erotic massage requires technique, a hot, erotic massage with no technique whatsoever can still be a success if it makes the receiver feel more sexual afterward.

The reason I went so badly wrong all those years ago was because I forgot that the main purpose of a hot, erotic massage was the same as any other kind of foreplay: to give her a taster of what sex with me was going to be like. If you successfully show her that you can tease her and know all the right spots then she will know that you will probably be a great lover.

This is the other key to these kinds of massages, because it is a form of foreplay you will want to use the same techniques that you would use if you were giving any other kind of foreplay:

* Tease using touches that barely touch her, just brush her with the lightest touch. You want to make her want you to touch her more.

* Bring your hand close to an erogenous zone, but then move your hand over it without touching. This break with what she is expecting will get her tingling with anticipation.

* Look for area that have a lot of sensation. Any area that has a large amount of nerve endings will feel great when you touch it. The whole length of the spine, the armpits, sides of the breasts and neck all will feel great.

* Her breasts and clitoris can be touched either when she least expects it or by slowly building up to it. The tease is as important as the touch in this instance.

* Making slow circles that get smaller and smaller, moving in towards her nipple or clitoris is a great way to keep the touch up and tease her.

* Show her your oral technique by sucking, licking and gently biting her spine or the sensitive part of her neck. This should be a hint of what is to come and should use most of the same techniques.

The Not-Erotic Massage Techniques Section

While technique is not so important, it is worthwhile knowing some of the basic massage techniques. Any of these, if done with enough skill, can easily become hot and erotic too. Women love a guy who is dexterous!

1. Your hands are rough and her skin is really soft. Simple equation: rough on soft equals pain! Therefore you can make things infinitely better for her by simply using a lot of oil or lotion on your hands. Select a good, nice-smelling one for bonus points.

2. Look for what she responds best to and then use those areas to punctuate the massage (Usually the neck and shoulders)

3. You can probably touch her harder than you would expect, but make sure that you only touch muscle as a firm touch on bone is agony!

And that is basically it. Once a woman knows that even your massages get her excited, you will soon find that you can turn the massage into great foreplay that will make her want to jump on you.

An aromatherapy school will teach a modality of complementary therapy that uses herbs and plant oils (essential oils) to relax and heal your body. The oils are applied to the body through massage, but also the sense of smell plays its part in creating a positive change in your mood and illness. Aromatherapy and essential oils can help clients who are suffering from many different illnesses. A perfume makers discovery:

When first starting in aromatherapy school, students will probably hear the story about how this massage therapy was discovered. In the 1920's, a French chemist who was working on new perfumes in his laboratory, accidentally set fire to his arm. He put his arm into some lavender oil to put the fire out.

The French chemist discovered that the lavender oil helped his arm to heal really fast and did not leave a scar. So the chemist spent the rest of his life dedicated to aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy schools teach students about the different types of essential oils and what illness they help to relieve. For instance If the patient is suffering from burns, an aromatherapy student will be taught how they should use lavender oil, and also the quantity and frequency to apply it.

Many aromatherapy schools believe that aromatherapy is a science and should only be practised in a professional manner by aromatherapy school graduates. Although other schools teach the student to open up to there intuition as well. Which is seen by some as being the more balanced way.

Some doctors disapprove of aromatherapy:

There are some doctors who do not approve of aromatherapy and the aromatherapy schools that teach it. They also say that all that an aromatherapy school teaches is the ability to reduce stress. They also state that there reasons are based on the lack of any real facts or figures.

Does aromatherapy only give stress relief:

Some doctors actually agree some patients may have been helped by an aromatherapy treatment, however, they are quick to state, only because aromatherapy helped to ease their stress. For sure, stress can help to create a number of illness's and when stress is relieved, the illness is often relieved as well.

However, they also comment that aromatherapy is not as successful as traditional medicine when it comes to serious illness. This is the block aromatherapy experiences in its attempt to reach the public at large.

Whilst a lot of medical people do not agree with aromatherapy treatments, there are many people who teach this therapy who do, and there are figures that show lots of people are applying to be accepted by an aromatherapy school. In fact due to the increased popularity of aromatherapy, there are more schools opening in cities all over the world. If you have doubts about this therapy, going to an aromatherapy massage school will probably dispel them and open you up to its potential to help stressed and sick people.

In the case of brochures for massage therapy, the goal is to make the therapist more popular in the targeted market and to maintain and develop a client base. They have to be effective in promoting the unique features and style of the therapist and focus on the health benefits of massage therapy.

Focus on Relevant Information

Brochures for massage therapy should include all the necessary information about the therapist, their experience in the field, the nature of the practice, its program, and a number of recommended sessions for certain health issues, costs and contact details. Moreover, in order to make the reader want to keep the brochures, you should also include health benefits, additional tips for a healthy lifestyle and similar. This will increase the effectiveness of the promotion campaign.

Remember that you are promoting the benefits of massage therapy and your goal is to increase the popularity of the therapist and attract new clients.

Vital Information

Brochures for massage therapy should include the following essential information in order for the promotion campaign to reach its purpose. You should include the name of the therapist, their training and experience, and all the necessary contact details including website address, email, phone number and physical address. If the therapist works in a number of different locations, you should add them with the address and schedule.

Include the therapist's credentials to establish his professional background. This increases his credibility and new clients will be able to trust in the effectiveness and professionalism of his services.

What to Consider in the Design Phase

The most important thing you should consider when you plan the design of the brochures for massage therapy is to reflect the nature of the service. If the therapist does sports massage therapy, the design should include photos of athletes, it should express high energy and physical exercises. You should use catchy and bold colors to make it stand out. However, if the therapist focuses on relaxation, the design should be softer, nature-oriented and it should inspire serenity and calmness.

Costs and Discount Deals

Everybody is focused on reducing the costs of their daily activities. This is why people usually want to know the costs and fees involved before they decide to benefit from additional healthy massages.

Brochures for massage therapy should contain all the range of services that the therapist provides to customers and the costs involved. Also include discount deals, special offers or a package of several services at lower costs. In order to attract more clients, you could also include a free discount for first-time clients. Moreover, such bonuses as free massage sessions if you bring one new client could also increase the popularity of the therapist.

If the relaxation room has gift certificates for sale, the brochures for massage therapy should also mention their availability to inspire people in making healthy gifts for their friends and family.

When massage therapists finish school and begin working, they might not immediately think of developing their skills for a niche market - after all, massage school is just the beginning, and you learn some of your most invaluable skills on the job! While most massage therapists focus on perfecting their Swedish and deep-tissue skills before moving on to advanced modalities, it is always a good idea to continue to think about how you want to develop your massage career. This way, you can take the classes and training necessary to develop your specialty early on.

Making the Most out of Continuing Education

Throughout the nation, massage therapists must abide by a professional licensing code that requires continuing education in areas such as communicable diseases, CPR training, ethics, and general education. While many massage therapists take the minimum number of courses, or pick available courses close to home that are convenient or inexpensive, it is important to take advantage of this educational opportunity, and pick classes ahead of time that align with your specific interests.

For example, students who have considered furthering their massage career within Reiki, neuromuscular massage therapy (NMT), or medical massage should consider that these modalities require several lengthy and in-depth courses, and can take several months, or years to fully complete. And while the process toward this type of certification is indeed more time consuming than, for example, a weekend class in hot stone technique, it is a step toward a worthwhile skill that not only boosts a resume, but also brings in new clients, helps massage therapists market themselves more effectively, and lays the groundwork for a lengthy and profitable massage career.

Start by browsing different continuing education options offered at schools in your immediate area, as well as regionally. Educate yourself about the time requirements, cost, and specific details about each modality, and truly consider what it takes to become a seasoned professional in that field. This way, you can maximize your time and money on required continuing education courses.

Sports Massage, Reiki, Pregnancy Massage, and More

When you envision yourself working as a massage therapist several years down the line - where do you see yourself working? In a chiropractor's office? For a ballet troupe, football team, or running club? Maybe in a holistic center, spa, or independent practice? Every massage therapist enters the profession for various reasons, and it is important to understand what excites and motivates you about a massage career. Some massage therapists are particularly athletic or interested in sports, and it is this type of therapist who is most often attracted to sports massage. Therapists who enter this practice often work with athletes before, during, and after sports events to prevent injuries, and to treat existing injuries.

Medical massage encompasses several techniques, and can include sports massage, craniosacral therapy, and NMT. Medical massage and its associated practices are often performed by therapists with an interest in injury treatment and prevention as a full time massage career. Other massage therapists gravitate toward energy healing, such as Reiki, which is purported to create a healing effect physically, mentally, and spiritually. Therapists who hold an interest in Reiki may also be interested in acupressure, or aromatherapy. Therapists who wish to expand their practice to accommodate pregnant clients may be interested in becoming certified in pregnancy massage, which enables massage therapists to understand and perform a medically appropriate massage for a mother-to-be.

Whatever your interest for a long-term massage career, there are continuing education training courses available to further your chosen specialty. Again, think about why you want to pursue a specific specialty, and what you think it will give back to you and your clients. Do you see yourself utilizing the specialty skills for years with your clients? If so, carefully consider with whom you will spend your time and money. Find the right program and begin another educational journey. You and your clients will benefit from your endeavors as you pursue your preferred niche in the vast world of advanced massage education.

Certification and Training

Finally, sometimes continuing education classes and experience aren't the only thing massage therapists need to practice a specialty in the field. Check with your state licensing board to ensure you have met the minimum credit hours for a special modality. To date, there is no licensing body for Reiki, but it is required to have achieved a "Level III" status in order to promote yourself as a Reiki master in your massage career.

Likewise, pregnancy massage is not governed by an accredited body, but most continuing education providers will not issue a certification until the student has completed a minimum number of credit hours, typically supported by graded exams, practical sessions, and homework. For certification in neuromuscular therapy massage as a career, massage therapists must take continuing education courses, schedule and sit for an exam, and receive a score evidencing competency in the field. The school or instructor of an advanced massage therapy specialty should be able to explain any applicable certification requirements.

Finding a specialty is an excellent step for massage therapists in their long term career, as it not only enables them to become well educated and better able to treat clients, but exposes the therapist to a whole new field of massage, and its benefits. So if you're considering developing a specialty, do your research, ask questions, and have fun learning about how you can further your massage career while helping your clients.

Do you like sports? Are you into one? Are you a big fan? If YES then you might find Sports Physical Therapy as a hot choice for a career.

Sports Physical Therapy is among the fastest growing specialty areas in physical therapy. Widely know as Sports Medicine, sports physical therapy has been an age-long practicum for human athletes. Competitors' sports therapists ranging from football to gymnastics have utilized a variety of approaches to help maintain physical fitness and to assist in the recovery process of their athlete-patients when injury occurs to a joint, muscle, ligament, or tendon. But did you know that the earliest sports physical therapy practitioners are professional athletes themselves?

Being a great athlete requires knowing how to take care of your body. That's how sports med developed. Athletes attended to their physical health as well as to those of their team mates. Today, sports physical therapy has evolved into a distinctive specialty as it now focus on the effects of any form of exercise or physical activity aside from basic prevention or enhancement of physical performance to help injured athletes recover.

The field has grown expansively as more and more people in general, not just athletes, starts to become aware of their health as reflected in their fit bodies. The role of the sports therapists has become more and more important as they are called upon to help people achieve optimal health and peak physical performance by designing fitness activities, exercise programs for schools and health clubs, and special conditioning programs, while also teaching people in general some special knowledge and skills on injury prevention and strength, endurance, or agility training.

The Sports Medicine term for Sports Physical Therapy is in fact not secluded to the treatment of only athletes. Sports Physical Therapy is a treatment of anyone involved in physical exercise. Sports physical therapy is more accurately defined as healthcare for anyone who plays sports as well as those who perform exercise. This means that sports physical therapy, aside from its primary focus on acute/chronic injury prevention, also includes management of medical problems caused by exercise, treatment of chronic disease with exercise, and even specific exercise needs for children or women.

Aside from hospitals and clinics, sports physical therapists also work for community health centers, consulting groups, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, private sports medicine clinics, fitness centers, sports facilities, organizations for the handicapped, government health agencies, home health agencies, and schools, including high schools and colleges. Many sports physical therapy practitioners are also technically self-employed in a private practice even though they work in much the same way and setting. But forget that you can work privately for a 'Beckham' - you're making more people fit!

Going to an esthetics school means that you are looking for a career in cosmetology or you want to put up your own skin care business. Whatever the case may be, if you want to become a good esthetician, you will need to first get the education required to become one. This means you will need to find the best esthetics school to enroll in and to get your diploma from. To help you determine whether or not the esthetics schools you are looking to get into are the best ones for you, here are some things you might want to know about these schools:

1. The best esthetics schools you can find will offer you both lectures and hands-on training to complete the course. This includes online schools that require you to attend hands-on lessons at institutions that they are affiliated with.

2. Esthetics schools basically teach you the specialized techniques and skills needed in the field of facial care. This includes deep pore cleansing, facial skin analysis, facial mask applications and even facial massage.

3. Depending on what esthetics school you choose, you can get an Associate's degree or a course certificate for your completed course. These courses often run for a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 2 years for Associate's degrees.

4. Also included in the training modules of some of the best esthetics schools in the country are lessons on customer relations and communication skills, handling of different skin types and even business management for those who want to open their own skin care business in the future.

5. Esthetician training programs vary from one to the other with some having more course modules than others. Some of the lessons you may or may not get from these training courses include exfoliation techniques, chemical peels and techniques, makeup artistry, body wraps, use of facial equipment, waxing and hair removal and salon business management.

6. Depending on which school you choose to go to, you may be required to present a high school diploma before you are allowed to enroll.

7. Some esthetician schools require their students to practice not only their esthetician skills but also their communication skills since this is an important part of the job that the person will be getting into upon finishing the course.

8. You should be careful about online schools and check on their accreditation before you enroll. This is due to the fact that some cosmetology boards of certain states do not acknowledge the training a person gets from online institutions unless these are accredited by them beforehand.

9. If you are thinking of practicing your craft in a certain state, it would be best to get your lessons from a school found in that state. Each state has individual licensing practices in place therefore it would be best to get your education from a school that is found in the state you will be working in as an esthetician.

10. To help you see exactly what an esthetician school has to offer, do not simply rely on its website. Instead, pay the school a visit and see what facilities they have for their students and interact with some of the students there to get a feel of the school itself.