EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week July 13-19, 2014
Massage therapists have long forecasted a peaceful planet, if only everyone on it could get a massage. While we might chuckle at this unattainable (albeit noble) idea, there is no reason it can’t happen on a smaller scale—like working in our communities to bring therapeutic touch to those who need it most during EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, July 13–19.
That’s what massage therapist (and ABMP Membership Coordinator) Mary Heinz did during last year’s event when she took her table and offered free massage to members of the Highland Rescue Team, an emergency services facility that serves the foothills west of Denver, Colorado.
As an emergency medical technician herself, Heinz was eager to give the gift of touch to fellow first-responders during last year’s EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week. She organized her day of service, got permission from the facility’s captain to hold the event, printed her marketing materials and client forms ahead of time, gathered the supplies she needed for a day of on-site work, hung her banner, prepped her work space, and invited her first client to come and enjoy some downtime on the table.
Heinz explained to clients what they could expect during the session, asked if they had any problem areas or wanted anything specifically addressed, and guided them onto the massage table. By the time her day of service was complete, Heinz had given clothed table massage to all the first-responders on duty; even a canine companion got in on the action. She says it’s easy to plan something for EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, whether it’s something big or something small: “No matter what you do, it will make a difference.”
Plan It
The first step is to plan what you want your massage week event to be. What are you passionate about? Do you want to raise funds to help support a charity? Maybe you just want to lay hands on as many newbies as you can to help them see the value of therapeutic touch? Or perhaps you feel strongly about helping a certain population of clients, like cancer patients, teachers, or families rebuilding their lives in a women’s shelter.
Prepare It
Now it’s time to put all the pieces together. Do you need to get permission to hold your event? Do you have enough disposable
face cradle covers on hand? Do you need to coordinate additional volunteers to help?
Make time to customize coupons, flyers, and other materials to take with you. (Log in to www.abmp.com and go to EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week in the Marketing Center. There, you’ll find tools to help you coordinate your event, including a sample press release, marketing materials, and client forms. Can’t print the marketing materials? Call us at 877-208-7546 to order a sample packet of coupons, postcards, and posters you can take to a local printer.)
Do It
There’s nothing left to do now but get busy. Promote your event, encourage others to participate, talk about it on Facebook and other social media sites, and be sure to mention it in your blog posts or on your website (you’ve built your free site using ABMP’s Website Builder, right?).
No matter the size, type, or length of your event, you have a chance to make a difference in your community, whether it’s by participating in EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week or volunteering throughout the year. Each time you lay healing hands on another, you’re making a difference. No, it’s not world peace, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.