As a massage therapist, it's important that we stay up to date on the latest techniques and trends in the industry to ensure quality therapy. One way that we accomplish this is through Continued Education Units (CEUs), which is a contributing factor in keeping massage licensing updated. This year, to fulfill the CEU requirement, I took a trip to Oasis School of Animal Massage in Birmingham, Alabama to learn equine massage. While these massages are still being studied for the full scope of benefits to the horses, we have already seen that equine massage is great for pain relief, relaxation, improved circulation, and improved locomotor function for the horses. It turns out that humans and horses aren't as different as you may think when it comes to massage therapy. 

As I have spent time in the massage therapy and essential oil industry, I have learned so much about different treatments and how they are beneficial to the body. Thanks to doTERRA's AromaTouch technique, I was inspired to develop my own version of this treatment. This method uses eight different essential oils layered on the back and feet to create a sense of mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Here's how it works! 

Aromatouch is formed from five different treatments that I've learned over the years. These include Aromatherapy, Hot Stone Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology, and Swedish Massage.

What You Need to Know 

Cupping massage therapy is different from traditional massage in that the therapist can do more work in a short amount of time. For example, if there is a really thick trigger point on the shoulder but we need to still work on the hip area, we can leave a cup on the shoulder to help break down that trigger point while we're doing other work on the body. After the cup is removed, you're getting to the deeper layers of the muscle versus trying to push into the body where people have pain - it facilitates the massage in a different way.

It's no secret that life can be overwhelming no matter what stage you're in. Being a parent, student, teacher, employee, spouse, or filling a variety of other roles can be exhausting, and sometimes you need to give yourself permission to stop, release, and relax. Guided meditation allows you to take 5 minutes or more to relieve emotional, physical, and mental stress and move forward with your day in a positive manner.