Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68009
reader forum WHAT YOU ARE SAYING In one of our exams we were asked to name our favorite place to work (and hang out). I chose the levator scapula because most of the time it has trigger points and is a place of soreness for lots of massage clients. I always spend 10 minutes working this area. Your article on this spot ["Levator Scapula," by Christy Cael, page 97] was very informative from origin to insertion. All of these subjects were covered in your recent issue. You are very current and relevant. Again thanks for a great, timely issue. BERNARD ZEMBLE LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Classroom Connections The May/June 2009 issue is outstanding and I shall save the entire issue as opposed to just one or two articles. I try to limit my collecting habits, but make exceptions for outstanding issues. What really touched me was how several different articles resonated with my current and past experiences with bodywork. It was great to read an article about Fritz Smith ["Refl ections," with David Lauterstein and Fritz Smith, page 70] again. Besides being a masterful teacher, he is a warm, friendly professional to everyone. He creates an aura of trust that encompasses everyone in the class. I'm glad you featured an article on deep tissue for the low back ["Ah, What a Relief!," by Carole Osborne, page 60]. I am in a deep tissue class now and we use a lot of arm and forearm work to the back. The article was very well written and I enjoyed it very much, especially how the pictures dovetailed with the text. It was awesome. I decided to jump start a new career into the world of massage. I'm currently in the mid-term of my education. I will emerge into the massage world on August 18. I picked up your magazine and read many articles about tennis elbow, lymph drainage, and two kinesiology-related articles. I found them as a great addition to my lessons outside the classroom. Thank you for these articles. DAVID MAZOR MUSTER, INDIANA Safety Considerations I was pleased with your sensitive and largely sensible article on obese patients ["Working With Obese Clients," by Liz Prato, March/April 2009, page 40]. I have treated some very large people and have worked as both a fat and skinny practitioner myself. When I met a new patient recently who is overweight, I noticed that she visibly relaxed when I opened the door. She later told me that she had been dreading the judgment that so often comes from health practitioners, and upon coming face-to face with oversized me, said to herself, "Oh thank God!" While I appreciate the respect intended by the suggestion to leave the room while your obese patient turns or gets on or off the table, I must note that there is a safety issue here. Obese patients can tip over a standard massage table and fall, and when obese people fall, they break 16 massage & bodywork july/august 2009