Send us a text Read this article here The Work We Do But Won’t Name Scholars who study labor have a term for work that involves “particularized knowledge and sustained personal attention.” They call it intimate labor. According to scholar Viviana Zelizer’s framework, this work includes things like shared secrets, bodily information, awareness of personal vulnerability, interpersonal rituals, and private languages. Read that list again. Now think about what happens in a massage therapy session...
All content for The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy is the property of Healwell and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text Read this article here The Work We Do But Won’t Name Scholars who study labor have a term for work that involves “particularized knowledge and sustained personal attention.” They call it intimate labor. According to scholar Viviana Zelizer’s framework, this work includes things like shared secrets, bodily information, awareness of personal vulnerability, interpersonal rituals, and private languages. Read that list again. Now think about what happens in a massage therapy session...
Send us a text Read this article here Welcome to Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs); a simple idea with big potential! The Massage Therapy Foundation is building MassageNet, the largest (and only) international PBRN dedicated specifically to therapeutic massage. And they’re building it for you. Support the show Subscribe to our Substack: "More Than Hands" Send us an email: podcast@healwell.org Leave us a voice message: 703-468-1799 Check out our interview-style podcast: Interdiscipli...
Send us a text Read this article here The Work We Do But Won’t Name Scholars who study labor have a term for work that involves “particularized knowledge and sustained personal attention.” They call it intimate labor. According to scholar Viviana Zelizer’s framework, this work includes things like shared secrets, bodily information, awareness of personal vulnerability, interpersonal rituals, and private languages. Read that list again. Now think about what happens in a massage therapy session...
Send us a text What's the plan for The Rub and Healwell in 2026? Support the show Subscribe to our Substack: "More Than Hands" Send us an email: podcast@healwell.org Leave us a voice message: 703-468-1799 Check out our interview-style podcast: Interdisciplinary You can support Healwell and the cool things we make by donating here! Ways join in: Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts Check out Healwell’s live and online classes Continue the conversation with a free 3-day trial of the Hea...
Send us a text Read this article here “Everyone who is engaging with humans—as a teacher, a psychotherapist, as a bodyworker—should be aware of the state of the other,” Porges explained. It’s not dismissive to say this. It’s foundational. Take a moment to consider how often you truly do this in your work. I’m not talking about structural or postural assessment, at least not in the way that many manual therapists typically do. I’m talking about sensing and feeling the level of autonomic ...
Send us a text Read The Price of Free here We’ve all felt the frustration. How can we make therapeutic massage accessible? On top of that, how can we do that while maintaining professional value and sustainability? Many well-intentioned practitioners turn to volunteerism as a solution, offering free services at community events, for hospital staff, at health fairs, and just about anywhere else we’re invited. While this impulse comes from a genuine desire to help, massage therapy volunteerism ...
Send us a text Read this article here The massage therapy profession has problems. We have so many problems, those problems have bred and now have enough problematic offspring to hold a problematic family reunion. You’re probably reading our Substack because you see these problems and you want to know how to fix them. You’ve probably thought of some plans yourself. How many times have we all had conversations that start with “Well, why don’t we just [insert solution]? That would solve it!” Th...
Send us a text Read this article here Emotional labor is work that involves managing your and other people’s emotions. Emotion management (also known as emotion work) is how you actively shape and direct your feelings. Emotion management happens internally and is a private activity. It becomes emotional labor when that private activity becomes public work. This distinction matters. Support the show Subscribe to our Substack: "More Than Hands" Send us an email: podcast@healwell.org Leav...
Send us a text The massage therapy landscape is shifting with regulatory changes and developments across states, including the Interstate Massage Compact passing in five states and ongoing advancements in state licensing requirements. Recent months have seen significant changes including Vermont's increased registration fees, Idaho's elimination of continuing education requirements, and new regulations addressing human trafficking in multiple states. • Interstate Massage Compact has passed i...
Send us a text Regulation might sound like the least exciting topic in massage therapy, but it's actually the battleground where our professional identity and future are being decided. Massage therapy regulation is far more than bureaucratic red tape; it's a dynamic system that establishes professional standards, protects the public, and helps define who controls the massage profession's territory. We break down the complex regulatory landscape, explaining how licensing affects practice right...
Send us a text California stands as one of only five states without proper massage therapy licensing, operating instead under a questionable "voluntary certification" system run by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). This system charges therapists $300 every two years for a certification that requires minimal education, no continuing education, and no examination, while creating barriers for therapist mobility and failing to protect the public. • CAMTC is a private, non-profit co...
Send us a text Healwell's Glossary of the Massage Therapy Profession New Healwell Class: Cultural Competency for Bodyworkers and Healthcare Providers Healwell News 1:24 State and National News 2:13 Association News 8:13 Events 10:58 Davonna Willis Interview Beneficial Ownership Checklist COMTA Likes Us! ABMP Events AMTA Call for Speakers MTF Grants IMTRC Registration ABMP News AMTA News Support the show Send us an email: podcast@healwell.org Leave us a voice message: 703-468-1799 Check o...
Send us a text Suicide hotline: call or text 988 International Suicide Hotlines Register for the Community Processing Event on February 25th Corey Rivera and Cal Cates address the alarming suicide rates among massage therapists by exploring underlying risk factors, including perfectionism, isolation, and occupational stress. By recognizing these nuances, the conversation encourages community engagement and accountability to promote better mental health outcomes. • Discussing general risk fac...
Send us a text The episode discusses the hidden mental health crisis within the massage therapy profession, spotlighting alarming suicide rates and the pressing need for open dialogue and community support. By exploring the complexity of suicidal ideation and the current model we use to understand suicide, we aim to equip listeners with tools to recognize and address these critical issues. Suicide hotline: call or text 988 International Suicide Hotlines Register for the Community Processing...
Send us a textCorey Rivera and Cal Cates explore the existence of rubbing robots and how (unsurprisingly?) they prompt a critical examination of what defines massage therapy. This episode dives into what the robots can and cannot do, why they're happening now, and how you need a human to do massage therapy.Unreal Rubbing Robot ImagesMichael and Aubrey's PodcastAescapeAlex: Massage RoboticsPhill the Nightstand 2023 ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study2024 ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study Massage Cost Opti...
Send us a textTopics:Healwell News 0:44State and National News 2:44Massage Envy Settlement 2:49Association News 7:20AMTA, MPPR, and Veteran's Affairs 9:58Upcoming Live and Online events 14:30Healwell's Glossary of the Massage Therapy ProfessionOpening to the Mystery with Cal Cates (21 CEUs for most healthcare)Department of JusticeAMTA's Letter to Veteran's AffairsMTF GrantsIMTRC RegistrationABMP NewsAMTA NewsSupport the showSend us an email: podcast@healwell.orgLeave us a voice message:...
Send us a textThis episode contains a discussion about suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or crisis call or text 988 on your phone to reach the suicide hotline or click the lifeline link.Healwell believes it is important to talk about the hard things. In this short episode, with an introduction by Cal Cates, Corey Rivera talks about their recent experience with suicidal ideation; what it is, what it isn't, and how to support yourself or someo...
Send us a textTopics:Healwell NewsState and National NewsAssociation NewsUpcoming Live and Online eventsHealwell's Glossary of the Massage Therapy ProfessionNPR: Non-Compete Ban Thrown OutThe Massage Therapy Foundation Ergonomics Project Interest SurveyMTF Public-Based Research NetworkMTF Executive Director Departure (After 26 Years!)MTF Practitioner and Student Case Report ContestSupport the showSend us an email: podcast@healwell.orgLeave us a voice message: 703-468-1799 Check out our interv...
Send us a textAI is everywhere. And it does everything...or does it?In this episode we break down the different types of AI, including generative AI like ChatGPT. We'll explain how each AI type operates uniquely, with a focus on their current roles and limitations. And boy, do they have limitations.Corey provides a clear breakdown of AI, explaining the distinction between weak AI, which performs specific tasks, and the elusive strong AI seen in science fiction. She explores how AI is currentl...
Send us a textTopics:Healwell NewsState and National NewsMPower Shut DownBaylor Research Article (They like us!)Association NewsUpcoming Live and Online eventsHealwell's Glossary of the Massage Therapy ProfessionABMP News PageAMTA News PageUSOLMT News PageDept of Ed Asynchronous Ban Public CommentABMP Nebraska Call to ActionAMTA List of Resources for MPower StudentsBaylor Article Press ReleaseBaylor Open Access ArticleMTF FundraiserUSOLMT BoardLorimer Moseley TED talk: Why Things HurtBlack Ma...
Send us a textWhen is a tool a robot?Join your host, Corey Rivera on the meandering development of tools used for massage (but not necessarily massage therapy). We'll talk about:Tools that helpTools that don'tTools that are robotsTools that are fishCathy Ryan, The Fascia Nerd also stops by to explain cellulite! Stay tuned after the outro to hear bonus Cathy.Take a class with Cathy Ryan!You can't break fascia (Threlkeld 1992)National Library of Medicine TENS ArticleTool-Making and Tool-Using i...
Send us a text Read this article here The Work We Do But Won’t Name Scholars who study labor have a term for work that involves “particularized knowledge and sustained personal attention.” They call it intimate labor. According to scholar Viviana Zelizer’s framework, this work includes things like shared secrets, bodily information, awareness of personal vulnerability, interpersonal rituals, and private languages. Read that list again. Now think about what happens in a massage therapy session...
