
The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession
Our goal is to speak with luminaries and experts in and around massage and bodywork to help expound upon and better understand our profession and our practices.
Latest episodes

May 7, 2024 • 14min
Ep 435 - The Greater Omentum: The Greatest Superhero Ever: “The Rebel MT” with Allison Denney
Certified massage therapist Allison Denney explores the superhero qualities of the greater omentum in human anatomy, comparing it to a ziplock bag protecting organs from diseases like cancer. She proposes a fun new name 'octoalchemist' for this vital organ with unique functions in inflammation control and immune response.

May 3, 2024 • 11min
Ep 434 – Saving for Time Away from Work: “Business or Pressure” with Allissa Haines
Emergency funds are for emergencies, but how do we save for planned time away from our businesses? Business or Pressure host Allissa Haines walks through the process of saving money for a leave of absence. Resources: Ep 425 - Budgets and Savings in Your Massage Business https://www.abmp.com/podcasts/ep-425-budgets-and-savings-your-massage-business-business-or-pressure-allissa-haines Foster Creative Design https://www.fostercreativedesign.com/ Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepbreathcommunity/ Sponsors: Jojoba: www.jojobacompany.com HobaCare Jojoba is a premium quality, 100% pure jojoba oil that is highly beneficial for massage therapists. As a single-ingredient product, it aligns perfectly with holistic practices, providing an all-natural, chemical-free massage medium option. Jojoba oil closely resembles human sebum, which allows it to absorb easily and deeply into the skin, delivering a non-greasy, moisturizing experience that doesn't clog pores or cause allergic reactions. This unique property makes it an excellent medium for massage, enhancing tactile contact without leaving an oily residue. HobaCare Jojoba is also shelf stable and will not stain natural fiber sheets. By choosing HobaCare Jojoba, massage therapists can enhance their practice, offering clients a superior, skin-friendly experience that promotes both skin health and overall well-being. Website: www.hobacare.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jojobacompany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojobacompany

Apr 30, 2024 • 23min
Ep 433 – Simons and Feldenkrais: A Retrospective Look with Doug Nelson
Two names that are well known within the bodywork community—Dr. David Simons, author of Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, and Moshe Feldenkrais, engineer, physicist, and founder of the Feldenkrais Method. Who were these pioneers in the bodywork profession and what can we learn from their origins? Resources: Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: https://www.amazon.com/Myofascial-Pain-Dysfunction-Trigger-Manual/dp/0683083635 Feldenkrais Method: https://feldenkrais.com/ Host: Douglas Nelson is Board Certified in Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Bodywork, beginning his career in massage therapy in 1977. Seeing over 1,200 client visits annually for decades, he is also the owner of BodyWork Associates, a massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL. with 21 therapists that was established in 1982. He is the founder of NMT MidWest, Inc., providing training in Precision Neuromuscular Therapy™ across the USA. He has personally taught more than 13,000 hours of continuing education and is the author of three books. Doug is a past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. Sponsors: Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com Elements Massage: www.elementsmassage.com/abmp Earthlite: www.earthlite.com

Apr 23, 2024 • 31min
Ep 432 – Walking That Fine Line of Friendship and Therapist
Cal Cates, educator and founder of Healwell, discusses maintaining professionalism while being friendly, exploring co-regulation in therapeutic relationships, setting boundaries to foster trust, and techniques for balancing friendliness and professionalism in client interactions.

Apr 19, 2024 • 9min
Ep 431 – Avoiding the Sunk Cost Trap: “Business or Pressure” with Allissa Haines
Sometimes, we overvalue the time, energy, or money we put into a project, which clouds our decision-making. Business or Pressure host Allissa Haines talks about the sunk cost trap—and how to avoid it—in your massage business. Host: Allissa Haines is a practicing massage therapist and business owner and columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine. You can find her building a community of massage therapists at deepbreathdigital.com/community. Author links: Website: www.deepbreathdigital.com/community Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepbreathcommunity/ Resources: The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work: https://www.simonestolzoff.com/ Sponsors: Jojoba: www.jojobacompany.com HobaCare Jojoba is a premium quality, 100% pure jojoba oil that is highly beneficial for massage therapists. As a single-ingredient product, it aligns perfectly with holistic practices, providing an all-natural, chemical-free massage medium option. Jojoba oil closely resembles human sebum, which allows it to absorb easily and deeply into the skin, delivering a non-greasy, moisturizing experience that doesn't clog pores or cause allergic reactions. This unique property makes it an excellent medium for massage, enhancing tactile contact without leaving an oily residue. HobaCare Jojoba is also shelf stable and will not stain natural fiber sheets. By choosing HobaCare Jojoba, massage therapists can enhance their practice, offering clients a superior, skin-friendly experience that promotes both skin health and overall well-being. Website: www.hobacare.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jojobacompany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojobacompany

Apr 16, 2024 • 15min
Ep 430 - Fentanyl Patches – Another Look: “I Have a Client Who . . .” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner
Ruth Werner, an expert in pathology and chronic pain management, discusses the risks for massage therapists working with clients using fentanyl patches. They explore the safety precautions and risks associated with fentanyl abuse. The podcast emphasizes the importance of careful considerations when massaging clients with fentanyl patches to ensure their safety.

Apr 9, 2024 • 14min
Ep 429 -The Thumb: The Rogue Digit: “The Rebel MT” with Allison Denney
Certified massage therapist and YouTuber Allison Denney discusses the unique anatomy and importance of the thumb in massage therapy. She delves into the intricate mechanics of thumb movements and explains how understanding its role can enhance therapeutic techniques.

Apr 5, 2024 • 22min
Ep 428 – Lower Expenses and Increase Income in Your Massage Business: “Business or Pressure” with Allissa Haines
Join Allissa Haines, a practicing massage therapist, as she shares practical tips on reducing expenses and increasing income in a massage business. Discover strategies for smart spending, optimizing resources, maximizing profits, and managing expenses effectively. Learn how to navigate financial challenges and enhance your practice for a more lucrative business.

Apr 2, 2024 • 14min
Ep 427 – Connect, Encourage and Acknowledge with Cindy Williams
Join Cindy Williams, a massage therapist with a background in Sociology, as she discusses the importance of positive communication with clients for healing. Learn about releasing body restrictions through cranio-sacral therapy and the significance of self-care for holistic health.

Mar 26, 2024 • 27min
Ep 426 – 5 Words to Inspire Any Practitioner with Kristin Coverly
Kristin Coverly asks leaders in massage and bodywork for their 5-word advice. Topics include mastering growth, embracing curiosity, proactive evaluation, and diverse insights from books. They discuss continuous learning, staying open-minded, embracing change, intentional skill-building, facing fears, and personal growth through literature.