On October 25, 2009, 35,000 runners will enter the grueling Marine Corp Marathon. As we know, the best reward for this accomplishment is a relaxing [...]]]> What: Massage therapists supporting Marine Corp Marathon participants
When: October 25, 2009
Time: 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Rosslyn Metro Station, Fort Myer Drive Exit, Arlington VA, inside finish festival
Contact: Charles Fisher, marathon@massageenvydc.com

On October 25, 2009, 35,000 runners will enter the grueling Marine Corp Marathon. As we know, the best reward for this accomplishment is a relaxing massage. This year, you can provide relief to these runners and earn a Guinness World Record for “The Most People Being Massaged” in the process.

Many wounded troops and their families will participate in the marathon, and massage therapists will be there to provide our support. To demonstrate pride and support to the troops, we will bring the Guinness World record back to the United States. Currently the record is held in the United Kingdom.

Rarely in a person’s lifetime is there an opportunity to become a Guinness World Record holder. The Marine Corp Marathon is a perfect opportunity to give back to the community and bring the record home!

Massage Envy is coordinating the event and we are looking for massage therapists and students who wish to participate. Interested volunteers will be requested to assist by providing a basic effleurage, petrissage, and tapotement stroke to the lower extremities in 8-12 minutes intervals. The day will be long but very rewarding. Distribution of business cards is encouraged. Massage Envy will provide necessary supplies such as lotion, gel, crème, and tables.

The current record for most people simultaneously massaged is 154, set at Potters Fields Park in London, UK, on October 21, 2007. All participants were massaged by qualified practitioners to celebrate the launch of a new range of treats offered by Nectar (UK). We will bring the record home with 220 people being massaged.

Volunteers will receive gifts such as T-shirts and sponsor paraphernalia. Food and beer will be provided for volunteers also. Feedback from therapists who have participated in similar events suggests that on average a therapist will walk away with 10-30 new clients by participating.

If you are interested in participating, please RSVP via http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1768498. We need to have an approximate count for gifts, food, and Guinness World Record Holder Certificates.

Therapist volunteers receive:

• A certificate for breaking the Guinness World Record
• Advertising and exposure to 35,000 runners
• Networking with local therapists
• Free promotional gifts, including T-Shirts, food and beer
• The opportunity to increase the visibility of massage in the community
• Post-event press coverage

Interested parties:
Please RSVP at http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1768498.
For more information, contact Charles Fisher at marathon@massageenvydc.com.

For more information about the Marine Corp Marathon, visit http://www.marinemarathon.com/.

PDF of the event flyer available for posting.

Sourced from: Associated Massage & Bodywork Professionals

Hines is a former senior federal government project manager and PMI-certified project management professional. He brings with him a wealth of experience in managing large-scale projects that [...]]]> The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Stewards recently announced the appointment of Chip Hines, MS, LMT, as the Project Manager for the definition phase of the MTBOK project.

Hines is a former senior federal government project manager and PMI-certified project management professional. He brings with him a wealth of experience in managing large-scale projects that require consensus building within a diverse community. Chip is also a Licensed Massage Therapist (Maryland) who is NCBTMB certified and has taught advanced bodywork at the Baltimore School of Massage.

As project manager, Chip will direct and manage efforts of the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge Task Force, to ensure its members successfully produce the desired outcomes within the time and resource constraints; serve as a public liaison for the Task Force; and act as a conduit to MTBOK Stewards. The taskforce, made up of subject matter experts in the field—practitioners, educators and researchers—will be seated in July 2009 to define, develop, and articulate the MTBOK. Foundational elements of the MTBOK project consist of:

• Definition of massage therapy (scope of practice, terminology, describing the field);
• Definition of the competencies of an entry-level massage therapist, in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs).

Chip will serve a twelve-month contract and report directly to the MTBOK Stewards. The MTBOK Stewards consist of representatives from the American Massage Therapy Association, AMTA Council of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, Massage Therapy Foundation, and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.

For more information and ongoing updates on the Body of Knowledge Project, please visit www.mtbok.org.

Sourced from: Associated Massage & Bodywork Professionals

Each of the MTBOK Task Force members were [...]]]> The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Stewards are pleased to announce the volunteer MTBOK Task Force member selections have been made. Every attempt has been made to select a dynamic group of individuals who together represent what may be considered the broadly defined field of massage therapy.

Each of the MTBOK Task Force members were chosen for their experience, credentials and expertise as well as having a working understanding of at least one of the major areas impacting the current and future growth of the Massage Therapy profession. The members of the MTBOK Task Force are:

• Megan Lavery
• Kevin Pierce
• Susan Salvo
• Michael Shea
• Steve Schenkman
• Dawn Schmidt
• Nancy Schmitt
• JoEllen Sefton

The Task Force is responsible for initiating a profession-wide and unifying effort to articulate a common body of knowledge for the profession. Under the guidance of Chip Hines, a PMI certified Project Manager Professional, the Task Force members will begin work on the foundational elements of the MTBOK project in July, 2009. These foundational elements include:

• Definition of massage therapy
  • Describing the Field (primarily to enhance understanding and appreciation of the profession by those outside the profession)
  • Scope of Practice
  • Terminology
• Competencies of an entry-level massage therapist (knowledge, skills, abilities)

The MTBOK project is expected to complete the foundational elements phase of the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge initiative in approximately one year.

Six organizations have agreed to jointly steward the MTBOK initiative. They are American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), AMTA Council of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), Massage Therapy Foundation, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).

All stakeholders in Massage Therapy are encouraged to follow the progress of the project, and to provide comments, suggestions and make contributions. Specific instructions will be forthcoming as the project gets started this summer. Task Force bios and other MTBOK updates are available at www.mtbok.org.

Sourced from: Associated Massage & Bodywork Professionals

Massage for the Cure, hosted on Tuesday, Sept., 15th, benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and helps fund breast cancer screening and treatment initiatives across the country. [...]]]> Scottsdale, Ariz. (Sep. 25, 2009) Massage Envy’s annual signature fundraising event, Massage for the Cure, provided an unprecedented 46,680 massages and raised over $466,000 during the nationwide event.

Massage for the Cure, hosted on Tuesday, Sept., 15th, benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and helps fund breast cancer screening and treatment initiatives across the country. One-hour therapeutic massages were offered at a discounted price of $35, with $10 from each massage directly benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affiliates. Additional donations were accepted, and all proceeds collected stay in the local community. Total additional donations are currently being calculated.

“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s event,” said Massage Envy’s CEO David Humphrey. “The enthusiasm and dedication of Massage Envy owners, employees and clients has made Massage for the Cure our largest fundraising effort and we are incredibly grateful for their support.”

Since the first Massage for the Cure event in 2005, Massage Envy has raised over $1.3 million for Komen. This year, with 589 Massage Envy clinics across 41 states participating for the first time, Massage Envy provided 46,680 massages.

The money donated during Massage for the Cure will help fund educational and community outreach projects. The funds will also sponsor screening and treatment initiatives in local communities.

“We are thankful to have such a wonderful partnership with Massage Envy, and couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of the Massage for the Cure event. Our local Affiliates across the country will benefit greatly from these donations,” said Katrina McGhee, vice president of global partnerships for Komen for the Cure.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2009, more than 40,000 women and men will die from breast cancer. A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and the disease claims a woman’s life every 13 minutes.

About Massage for the Cure
Massage for the Cure is an annual, one-day event hosted by Massage Envy and benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a global leader in the movement to end breast cancer. Since the event’s inception in 2005, Massage Envy has raised over $1.3 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with 100 percent of the proceeds being used for education, screening, and treatment programs in local communities. Now in its fifth year, Massage for the Cure was held on Sept. 15, 2009, at 589 Massage Envy clinics across the United States.

Sourced from: Associated Massage & Bodywork Professionals