Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72195
BE EXCELLENT 1. Practitioners: be excellent. Our profession needs constant support and tending to keep standards high. This support can begin in the classroom, but must also be led by active practitioners, who in turn create expectations for what should be accomplished in the classroom. Remember: every time we put our hands on a client, we need to create an expectation for excellence. 2. Schools and educators: don't dilute skills. The massage education industry has expanded exponentially in the past 25 years. Schools have grown in size and scope, and there is a temptation with that potential to try to teach all things to all people. Size can be wonderful, but this must be accompanied by a dedication to the highest quality possible. 3. Know who you are and what you want in this profession. Get involved with other therapists in your area. If you have a school nearby, see if you can fi nd a way to have some interaction with its students. Join a peer supervision group or Internet bulletin board to share your successes and challenges. All of these ways of reaching out can help us enrich our sense of what this profession can be, which feeds our self-defi nition. MOTIVATION —Not a disease, but a condition that changes the way we function. Defi nition: What is it? Motivation is an internally created and sustained drive to grow and/or contribute to the growth of a cause beyond the boundaries of the barest minimum. Etiology: What happens? A person is exposed to an idea that triggers a reaction that is bigger than absolutely necessary. Examples include: • A sense of commitment to making that vision a reality, even at the expense of convenience or ease. • A vision of a way to be, or a potential future that is, irresistibly attractive. • Curiosity that leads to a change in behavior. • Exposure to people who may serve as role models. Signs and Symptoms: What does it look like? Motivated people make choices that do not always follow the path of least resistance. They have a tendency to try things that might be too hard. They are often willing to make mistakes. They use these opportunities to grow in strength, wisdom, and fullness in their humanity. Treatment: What should be done? The motivated person must fi nd ways to turn obstacles into opportunities. On an individual level, this can come through personal growth, education, and development of desired skills. On a professional level, this can be explored through work with clients that is fulfi lling to both client and practitioner. On a community level, this can be expressed through peer sup- port, exploration, research, and sharing experiences. And on a more global level, this drive can be channeled into working with whatever larger groups, committees, or projects truly speak to the heart of the motivated person. Is massage indicated or contraindicated? What do you think? MOTIVATION Readers who are familiar with my pathology books may know a format that works to organize information in a succinct, easy-to-use way. It follows this pattern: defi nition, etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment, massage. I have applied this formula to a new condition—motivation—seen in the chart to the left. teaches several courses at the Myotherapy College of Utah and is approved by the NCTMB as a provider of continuing education. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009), now in its fourth edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is available at www.ruthwerner.com or wernerworkshops@ruthwerner.com. Ruth Werner is a writer and educator who massagetherapy.com—for you and your clients 47