HISTORY MATTERS

The Often Overlooked Importance of the Intake Process By David Lauterstein It has become commonplace that massage employers, for the most part, do not allow sufficient time for their therapists to “take a history”. I think this is horrible. It effectively prevents the therapist from being a healthcare professional. You cannot understand a client’s problem without having time to understan...
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November 13th: A Day of Massage for Cindy Anderson

The Wellness Community Unites In Support of a Beloved Local Massage Teacher Cindy Anderson, LMT, MTI, a beloved long-time instructor at the Lauterstein-Conway Massage School was recently diagnosed with Stage Four Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) cancer. This is a rare form of cancer for which there is chemotherapy but no dependable cure. Day of Massage for Cindy Anderson Fundraiser ...
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LEARNINGS BEFORE BIRTH – FROM TOUCH AND SMELL

Our sense of touch develops around 8 weeks in the embryo.  The next sense to develop is the sense of smell – at 28 weeks – though the cells for smell begin developing as early as the 9th week - thus, aromatherapy throughout our life can have great power.  The sense of sound begins around 24 weeks.  Sights are the last sensings we get, since babies keep their eyes closed to protect and grow the ret...
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Three Reasons Yogis Make Successful Massage Therapists

Whether You Want to Impact Your Personal Practice on the Mat or Your Career, Yogis Make Natural Massage Therapists Yoga enthusiasts make successful massage therapists for several reasons - most of which relate to the yogi’s experience with body awareness. Body awareness is the understanding of where one’s body is in space, and it is largely influenced by sensory information that results from t...
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MASSAGE – IS IT A REALLY WEIRD PROFESSION?

In Austin, we have a saying, “Keep Austin Weird.” I have always prided myself and our school for helping to keep Austin weird – since massage is still regarded as a little weird by some people. It still gets made fun of in movies, TV, cartoons, etc. Then I asked myself, “Well, what does being “weird” really mean?” I started by looking up the root meaning for the word. Here’s a summary of what t...
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I COME OUT OF THE ILIOPSOAS CLOSET!

By David Lauterstein I’ve just taught a one-day class on the iliopsoas. It was wonderful and we explored not only the anatomy and techniques for that fascinating muscle, but equally its important neighbors. The “psoas,” because hidden and elevated to pedestal status by Rolfers and others, has enjoyed a somewhat inflated reputation. On the other hand, gluteus maximus and rectus abdominis...
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THE TEMPORO-MANDIBULAR JOINT – MOST USED IN THE BODY!

One of the most fascinating and important things that therapists must understand is the anatomy of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), its function, and its dysfunction. The TMJ joint is the most used joint in the body. And it has – like the knee – an articular disc within it! So, If this disc gets displaced or injured, just like a meniscus in the knee, then you’ve got dysfunction in the mos...
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Beat Knee Pain Without Surgery

by Mitchell Yass, DPT This strategy is just as effective…and much safer… Do you wince when you walk, kneel, squat or climb stairs? If so, you are definitely not alone. Nearly 20% of all cases of chronic pain are associated with the knee, and it’s severe enough to limit the sufferer’s mobility and affect quality of life. Knee surgery, including knee replacement, is a widely used option, but it...
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The Iliopsoas: The Irresistible Center of Existence!

by David Lauterstein There are structural theories and therapies relating to our anatomy. And there are energy theories and therapies. So far the two have been evolving in parallel, without much conscious interconnection. Yet since people are both structure and energy, it is common sense to say you are addressing health incompletely if you only work with structure or energy! It is imperative fo...
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Meet Your Mindbody Acupressure Instructor – Gayl Hubatch

by Gayl Hubatch, OMD, LAc, LMT My Bodywork practice began in 1982 with Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure® and massage therapy. This opened me to the world of Mind Body connections and eastern philosophy. Embracing the study, I finished my doctorate and licensure in Chinese Medicine in 1988. At that time, Acupressure and Acupuncture were not really known so I started teaching at the local univer...
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