ABMP Podcasts for Massage Therapists & Bodyworkers

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Kristin and Darren are joined by Cal Cates to discuss what it means to stay resilient with masking practices, understanding “mask fatigue” and “COVID fatigue,” why the mask you are wearing is the right mask to wear, and how high-risk individuals are more common than you would think.

A mature woman has new hip and groin pain when she picks up and carries her toddler granddaughter. Her doctor diagnoses femoroacetabular impingement, and approves the idea of massage. Femoroacetabular impingement? What is that? And is massage therapy appropriate?

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Kristin and Darren are joined by Dr. Ellen Vora to discuss something we all do as human beings—sleep. But are we doing it correctly? Dr. Vora discusses the dos and don’ts to successful sleep, how temperature and darkness affect our sleep habits, why blue spectrum light is especially bad for our sleep health, and why some of us wake up in the middle of the night (and why it’s not a bad thing).

A client had three major cardiac surgeries within a month. Now, several weeks later, she still has numbness in her legs. What in the world is going on? And can massage help? Join me for a search for how cardiac surgery and nerve damage intersect, and hear what happens for this lucky client!

Any muscle that is named after a geometric shape is bound to have issues. For the rhomboids, this shows up in the same way that a people pleaser tends to spread themselves too thin. They always want to give and don’t have the easiest time receiving. 

In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Darren and Kristin sit down with Qiana Thompson to discuss how she cracked the code to a six-figure practice by being herself, becoming a business consultant to help a new generation of massage therapists gain clarity, and how she helps others reimagine their business to reflect their vision and values.

I’ve seen several requests for guidance about working with clients who have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) lately. This genetic connective tissue disease creates symptoms that look like ordinary musculoskeletal injuries, but they’re not—this is why some doctors call people with EDS their “zebra patients”—as in, these hoofbeats are zebras, not horses.

Tell a stranger that you talk to yourself, and you’re likely to get written off as eccentric. But the truth is, we all have a voice in our head. When we talk to ourselves, we often hope to tap into our inner coach but find our inner critic instead. In this episode, Dr. Ethan Kross, author of the book Chatter, discusses the role chatter plays in an emotional and physical sense, how we can gain psychological distance, and how belief plays a role in guiding us through negative self-dialogue.

A client has a history of two heart attacks and a kidney transplant. There’s no way they can safely receive massage, right? Maybe not. Join us for a short exploration of the miracles of kidney transplant surgery, the pathophysiology of heart attacks, and the surprising number of options this massage therapist has to offer safe, effective bodywork to this client.

Paul Kelly is the owner of Temple Human Performance (www.templehp.com) and the creator of the brand Physiokinetics. To an outsider, he makes it all look so easy. But talking with him reveals how grit and the determination to get up and do something every day is what has enabled him to build a successful business. 

How do personal training and massage therapy complement each other? Marisa Savino joins the podcast to discuss how to maintain optimal massage health by improving strength and agility, preventing long-term burnout, how to set a routine (and stick to it), and how nutrition plays a role in your daily massage practice.

A client has a panoply of health challenges, but the main one for right now is mast cell activation syndrome. Her whole body is primed to have an allergic reaction—to lotion, to smells, maybe even to touch. Is it possible to create a safe way for her to receive massage?