The new year provides us with a time for reflection and change, and the opportunity to look at things afresh. At ABMP, we spent 2021 asking our members about their practices and preferences in order to know what content you want and how you want it delivered. Results from those surveys helped us understand what is important to practitioners and their practices. The result of your input is represented in this issue and in future 2022 offerings.

Massage therapists and bodyworkers love information about new techniques and treatments, with 69 percent of respondents citing that as their most desired type of content. We heard you and moved our Technique section from the back of the magazine to the front, giving it a slightly new look to boot. Authors and educators Allison Denney, Whitney Lowe, Erik Dalton, and Til Luchau will continue to deliver their best advice and guidance in each issue for progressing your hands-on work.                  

We also know you’re busy and your time is precious. That’s why in the Technique section, our feature articles, and in our new Essential Skills section you’ll notice new areas called Key Points and Takeaways. These short summaries of each article provide readers with digestible information to determine whether the material is pertinent to your interests, as well as a reference point to return to again and again.

We also heard you when you said you want to receive more content via video. That’s great, because we’ve had a commitment for many years to bring you video demonstrations that accompany much of our author content. You’ve seen this throughout the magazine as QR codes you can scan with your phones or as video popups inside our digital editions. We’ll continue to increase video representation in these pages and on our ABMP YouTube channel throughout the new year and beyond.

ABMP members reported the top five most valuable benefits in their membership were professional liability insurance, unlimited free CE courses, ABMP’s advocacy on behalf of the profession, ABMP’s guidance for COVID-19, and Massage & Bodywork magazine. To honor that, we will finish each of our 2022 issues with renewed emphasis on our more than 700 hours of continuing education, more than 50 discounts from providers for personal and professional goods and services, and continuing excellence from our Government Relations team on legislative guidance. You’ll find this information in the back section of every issue.

Finally, we’d be remiss to not mention our newest columnist in 2022. We’d like to introduce readers to Marisa Savino, LMT and fitness expert. Fitness and exercise are key for career longevity and prevention of  burnout in this profession, and Marisa will guide readers through specific stretches and strength training for MTs and bodyworkers to ensure posterity.

We hope you enjoy the restructuring of Massage & Bodywork and your membership with ABMP. This magazine is just one of our many content offerings to assist practitioners on their professional journey.