Leon Chaitow
December 7, 1937–September 20, 2018

With great sadness we report that Dr. Leon Chaitow passed away after a gallant battle with illness. Chaitow contributed to the world of bodywork in countless ways, as an author, speaker, educator, and practitioner. He was the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies (JBMT) and author/editor of more than 70 books. He dictated his last JBMT editor’s note from his home three days before his death.
In the few months before he passed, he was able to complete his last book, Fascial Dysfunction, 2nd edition, soon to be published by Handspring. ABMP had the honor and the pleasure of working with Chaitow many times over the years, including several articles published in Massage & Bodywork magazine. His wisdom, wit, and graceful presence will be missed.
Dr. Sasha Chaitow posted the notice and a tribute on her father’s Facebook page, including: “His legacy lives on in his many books and articles, in the students he taught, in the patients he treated, and in the family to whom he was a most beloved husband and father whose loss will never fade. The greatest way to honor him is to continue to carry that torch.”
Chaitow also leaves behind his wife Alkmini. A British citizen, Chaitow lived and worked between London and Corfu, Greece.

Tai Chi Beats Aerobic Exercise for Fibromyalgia

According to an article published in Medscape, “Tai chi is as good as, or better than, aerobic exercise, for improving the overall severity of fibromyalgia symptoms, new research shows.”
The results of a 52-week single-blind trial suggest that tai chi not only eases symptoms of fibromyalgia, but is also associated with improvements in depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and quality of life.
“Compared with aerobic exercise, the most commonly prescribed non-drug treatment, tai chi appears as effective as or better for managing fibromyalgia,” the investigators, led by Chenchen Wang, MD, Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, write. “This mind-body approach may be considered a therapeutic option in the multidisciplinary management of fibromyalgia.”
Read the full study in the BMJ at www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k851.

ABMP Named Association of the Decade at World Massage Festival

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) was honored at the 2018 World Massage Festival with the Association of the Decade Award in recognition of ABMP’s continued contributions to the massage therapy profession.
ABMP President Les Sweeney accepted the award on behalf of ABMP at the festival, which took place August 6–9, 2018, in Las Vegas.
In his acceptance remarks, Sweeney said ABMP is honored to be recognized and it pledges to continue its mission to help support the massage therapy profession and work for its members.
Allissa Haines and Michael Reynolds of Massage Business Blueprint were also at the festival, and recorded a podcast episode from the ABMP booth on the exhibit floor. They also gave free business consultations to festival attendees. Listen to the episode or subscribe to the podcast at www.massagebusinessblueprint.com/podcast/e175-topics-world-massage-festival-2018, or on any podcast app you use.