Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/969285
EDUCATION INSPIRATION Q&A What first inspired you to become a massage therapist? Alternative healing runs in my family; my uncle is a massage therapist and my grandfather was a chiropractor. Twenty-five years ago, before licensing, I took a weekend massage course and started working for a local chiropractor. It was then that I fell in love with massage therapy and promptly went to massage school. Shortly after graduating in 1995, I began teaching. How did you transition from being an educator to a school owner? I developed a love for teaching during my time at massage school. I wanted a program that was more student-oriented with a broader education base and a focus on career longevity. I also wanted to see more graduates out in the workforce better prepared for a career in massage therapy who were able to work smarter, without repetitive use injuries. Above all, I wanted them to love what they did! It was then that I decided to open the Academy of Massage Therapy & Bodyworks in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, with my business partner and fellow massage therapist, Angela Pio Wagner. Was there a specific moment in your career that led you to develop the Forearm Fusion modality? It wasn't so much a specific moment, but a collection of instances that led me to develop Forearm Fusion. At the Academy of Massage Therapy & Bodyworks, we teach a variety of continuing education courses, and I saw so many therapists who were taking these courses complain of wrist and shoulder injuries and repetitive use pain. These therapists were thinking of leaving the bodywork field. The Forearm Fusion modality resulted from our curriculum at the academy, which emphasized and focused on body-saving techniques, proper body mechanics, and the use of forearms instead of only using hands as tools. We developed Forearm Fusion to bring that focus to both newly licensed and seasoned therapists who attended Forearm Fusion as a continuing education modality. What, if anything, has changed in the massage therapy profession since you began your career? Massage therapy has definitely become more mainstream and accessible. So many people want to incorporate healthy alternative modalities into their lives. Stress seems to be at an all-time high and, along with it, the need for massage has increased. Additionally, the medical community has begun to embrace massage as an adjunct therapy to traditional therapies, which is encouraging for our field! What advice do you have for practitioners who are just starting their career? I would encourage new massage therapists to take care of themselves FIRST if they intend to have a long and thriving career. Learn proper body mechanics, weight distribution, and eliminate excessive use of hands and thumbs, and you will be able to provide the healing power of touch effortlessly. Forearm Fusion will help change how you work on a daily basis and your clients will love your work no matter what they are looking for from your massage! Jim Funk, LMT Founder, Forearm Fusion and Co-Owner of the Academy of Massage Therapy & Bodyworks sponsored by "I would encourage new massage therapists to take care of themselves FIRST if they intend to have a long and thriving career." SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION