California Massage Therapy Council Certification

I have now officially received the designation of Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP) from the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), established in 2009. More information regarding the establishment of this council and its purpose can be found here: (http://camtc.org/faq.aspx; http://camtc.org/Consumers.aspx). As of this writing, I am proud to be one of only twenty massage professionals in Pleasant Hill certified by the CAMTC.

In short, this council was chartered with both standardizing and raising the requirements for massage therapists to obtain professional designations in the state of California. Previously, these standards had been set by each city or community—if at all—and varied greatly. For example; in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek one could previously have designated oneself as a "Certified Massage Therapist" (CMT) with as little as 100 hours of schooling, whereas in Concord the requirement was 300 hours. This resulted in an unsatisfactory state of affairs for consumers when trying to evaluate the quality and training of therapists. Further, a therapist had to ensure they met the requirements of a jurisdiction other than their own if they wished to practice there. With the new designation, a therapist can now practice anywhere in California.

My goal is to attain the designation of Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) according to the requirements of the CAMTC. I was unable to initially receive this designation because my approximately 300 hours of formal schooling did not meet the required standard of 500 hours for CMT certification.  Interestingly, these new requirements made no provision for previous work experience.  In my case, as of this writing that comprises approximately 2,500 hours of actual massage time over a period of 5+ years. Based on my certification in Pregnant Women and Infant Massage (McKinnon Institute), approximately 300 hours of this experience was in the women’s health department of a well-respected local medical facility—some of which involved work with high-risk pregnancies. I am proud of this body of work, and the related experience, which forms the basis for what I offer current and prospective clients today.

Additionally, I have already begun the process of supplementing my educational hours to attain the CMT requirement of 500 hours; recently completing a course and receiving my certification in Craniosacral massage. I envision accomplishing this goal over approximately the next year, depending upon available classes and other factors. At the same time, as of this writing, I am proud to be one of only twenty massage professionals in Pleasant Hill certified by the CAMTC. 

Corporate Chair Massage In a Challenging Economy

In recent years, there has been a growing trend for progressive companies to either directly sponsor, or at least support, chair massage programs for their employees.

However, in challenging economic times, the chair massage program can easily become one of the first targets for elimination, in the very necessary name of cost-cutting.

Ironically, it may be at exactly such times that chair massage is of the greatest value.

In 1996, the International Journal of Neuroscience published the results of a study researching the correlation between massage and job performance in the workplace, as well as in countering stress(1). The study found that massaged adults:

1. Exhibited enhanced alertness
2. Completed math problems in significantly less time with significantly fewer errors after the massage
3. Experienced decreased anxiety, cortisol (stress hormone) and job stress levels at the end of the 5 week period

In challenging economic times, and with a streamlined workforce being asked to handle an increased task load, the tangible benefits reported on by this study may well cause companies to reevaluate the relatively minor cost of maintaining a chair massage program for employees. The benefits, it seems, accrue not only to the employees themselves, but to the company sponsoring or supporting such a program.

If your company happens to be in Contra Costa County--particularly the cities of Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Lafayette or Alamo--please give Aimee a call here at Relevology. We would be more than happy to outline our programs, further discuss the benefits, as well as address any questions or concerns you may have.  

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(1) Field, T., Ironson, G., Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T., Goncalves, A., Burman, I., Pickens, J., Fox, N., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (1996). Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. International Journal of Neuroscience, 86, 197-205. (Source: http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/index.htm)