At the end of March, as we were wrapping up the magazine you currently have in your hands, our wonderful writers asked if they could change their columns out for material more reflective of the COVID-19 virus and its effect on our profession. Our magazine was nearly put to bed, but then the new columns arrived. And, of course, they were terrific. Touching, compassionate, thoughtful. Everything you’ve come to expect from these writers over the years. There was only one thing to do: make two issues. And so we did.
On April 6, 2020, we released our COVID-19 Special Issue in digital-only format. That magazine is available at www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com. It features phenomenal work by several luminaries in our profession, including Laura Allen, Ruth Werner, and Sasha Chaitow, to name a few. If you want all things virus related,
go there.
That said, the special issue takes nothing away from the print issue before you. In fact, what you have is what we internally refer to as a “library” issue, meaning we feel confident you’ll want to keep Ruth Werner’s “Take the Danger Out of Endangerments” article (page 44) within arm’s length for years to come. It is simply a wonderful deep dive into an underrepresented topic. Her accompanying column in this issue, ABMP webinar, and her video chat with Whitney Lowe on page 57 all add to the texture of this topic.
Finally, we felt by dividing the material into two magazines that this print issue would give you a slice of normalcy. A chance to get away from the onslaught of heartbreaking information for just a little while. To remind you that what you do is beautiful, heartfelt, complex, scientific, intuitive, full of empathy, and needed.
Though it was challenging to make two magazines at once—and one in one week—our ABMP motto of expectmore was our reminder to keep our heads down, not complain, and deliver the best work we can. Because you can’t currently work, we worked harder than ever before. To deliver two things: one, a timely dive into what’s affecting us now; another, a reminder of what the world was like before this and what it will be like again when massage and bodywork and your services are sought after more than ever. Here’s to your health, well-being, and safety.

Darren Buford
Editor-in-Chief
darren@abmp.com