You’ve already dedicated your hands and hearts to the profession, but this issue invites you to pour your personality into your practice as well. Letting clients know a bit about you is one more way to set you and your practice apart.

So let us do the same. I think personalities and shared values are what have attracted more than 80,000 members to Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP). You know us as the friendly, helpful folks who answer your phone calls, emails, and chats throughout the week; produce six issues of Massage & Bodywork, six issues of Different Strokes, four issues of Body Sense, the Successful Business Handbook, and a flurry of newsletters and webinars; and fuel ABMP.com, Massagetherapy.com, and Massageprofessionals.com, plus our social media conversations.

Our hard work on your behalf flows from our culture at ABMP. Many of us are shareholders, so empowering practitioners is our mission. A fair number of us have part-time practices serving massage therapy and esthetic clients. (Lucky for us we have a spa area in our building for after-hours sessions, and ABMP makes it easy for all employees to enjoy the benefits of bodywork.) From our annual, afternoon ABMP bowling tournament to the break-time March Madness board-game showdown, we take time to grow closer as a staff. Of course, we’re also dedicated to our families and animal companions, and we love Colorado living. It’s easy to find us cycling, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, teaching yoga, or volunteering for our favorite charities.

On June 6, you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about the personalities of some Massage & Bodywork contributors, too, when ABMP sponsors the online World Massage Conference Education Day. Experts such as Laura Allen, Ben Benjamin, Eric Brown, Whitney Lowe, Til Luchau, Thomas Myers, and Ruth Werner will share their stories about how lifelong learning has inspired them. Join ABMP’s Director of Education Anne Williams and me for an amazing experience from the comfort of your computer. To register, visit the Members section on ABMP.com.                 

Accept this issue’s invitation to communicate and connect with your clients. Help them understand some of the personal and professional qualities that make you special. They deserve to appreciate you as much as we do.

Leslie A. Young, Editor in Chief                                                      

leslie@abmp.com