Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1191154
To date, there have been minor competitions around the world, but none as big as the World Championship in Massage event, according to Tengbjerg, although the open national championships are growing. For example, Carl Newbury organized the English National Championship in London in 2018 and 2019. The first year, there were approximately 75 participants. In the second year, there were approximately 100. Using these numbers and comparing them with the growth of the World Championship in Massage, Tengbjerg expects the national championships to continue to expand. "Together with my IMA ambassadors, I have created a place and a platform where people can meet. I hope the big countries and federations use this opportunity to help the smaller and poorer countries create better education." Tengbjerg wants to build bridges, for example, in "the spa industry—for all employers and schools, but also for all the distributors of equipment for the clinics and other key players in our industry to communicate better and create better opportunities for everyone." The American Massage Championship Although Mike Hinkle and Cindy Michaels (the husband-and-wife duo who created the very popular World Massage Festival and Massage Therapy Hall of Fame) have not attended the World Championship Massage Competitions in Denmark, they are looking forward to hosting the inaugural American Massage Championship—and they are excited to have Tengbjerg join them in Michigan City, Indiana, in July 2020. When asked where the idea for holding an American Massage Championship at the festival came from, Hinkle says, "It was at the urging of Leslie Young, Senior Director of Administration and Outreach for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals." With Young's prompting— and 15 years of festival success under his 90 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 2 0 Competition Categories • Asian massage (ayurveda, shiatsu, Thai massage, tui na, etc.) • Chair massage (both Eastern- and Western-inspired massage) • Eastern freestyle massage (different types of Asian massage methods, including acupressure, cupping, massage with tools, shiatsu, Thai massage, etc.) • Swedish massage (Western massage, including classical massage, myofascial release, muscle energy technique, neuromuscular techniques, sports massage, stretching, etc.) • Wellness massage (aromatherapy, holistic massage, hot stone, lymph drainage, spa massage, etc.) • Western freestyle massage (different types of Western massage methods, bodywork, cupping, massage with tools, mobilization, self- treatment, etc.)