The Massage & Bodywork editors have a lot of favorites from this year’s bevy of articles. Here are their top Massage & Bodywork picks for 2024.
1. “Fat 101: Must-Know Anatomy for Massage Therapists” by Nicole Trombley
“For me, this is the star of the show in 2024. Nicole’s conversation about fat is profound and should change how MTs think of this tissue that makes its home in every single body.”
—Karrie Osborn, senior editor
“This article is a leader in changing the thought process on breaking the stereotype of fat for massage therapists and their clients.”
—Scott Kaniewski, editor, online and digital strategy
2. “Getting Current with Low-Back Pain” by Whitney Lowe
“This is the most dominant pain request MTs will see in their careers. After suffering from some back pain myself this year, this article improved my knowledge on causes and paths for improvement.”
—Darren Buford, Massage & Bodywork editor in chief
Not only did Whitney write the cover article for the September/October 2024 issue, but he also presented on this topic at the 2024 ABMP Low-Back Pain CE Summit. Read the article, then check out his CE course that has been archived from that event: Low-Back Pain: Critical Concepts for Treatment.
3. The November/December 2024 Ayurveda issue
This was a standout issue all around, but the editors favored two pieces specifically.
-
“An Intro to Marma Massage” by Nishita Shah
“As someone who doesn’t practice as an MT but still enjoys lots of various types of bodywork (massage, breathwork, yoga, meditation, etc.), this Ayurveda issue was so cool. Every feature was a learning moment, but the pages on marma massage by Nishita were definitely my favorite. I loved learning how MTs can consider more deeply connecting to and employing practices of the body-mind-spirit connection.”
—Mary Murphy, associate editor
-
“The Science of Mouth vs. Nose Breathing” by John Douillard
“It’s strange to think we can retrain ourselves how to breathe. I love the research and exercises John Douillard provides. This article is packed with great info for both MTs and clients.”
—Jen Anderson, contributing editor
4. “Countering the Sitting Epidemic” by Erik Dalton
“So practical. This article from Erik Dalton shows ways to use movement to help clients counter their sedentary lifestyles.”
—Karrie Osborn, senior editor
“In a culture where so many of us spend a significant time sitting, massage therapy can help provide relief to those aches and pains of hours in front of digital screens.”
—Scott Kaniewski, editor, online and digital strategy
5. “Facial Muscles and Human Emotions” by Mary Ann Foster
“The human body is so cool, and this article is proof! I’m also a huge fan of the imagery and design of the article. Every time I look at it, I can’t help but smile.”
—Jen Anderson, contributing editor
“We’ve never covered the facial muscles or offered a protocol in so much detail as we did in this issue with Mary Ann Foster’s article and “PowerFace: A 6-Step Protocol for the Face” by Melissa Strautman. I found it fascinating.”
—Darren Buford, Massage & Bodywork editor-in-chief
Other 2024 Massage & Bodywork Favorites
-
“Educating Others About Massage’s Effectiveness” by Cal Cates
-
“Our Three Rotational Muscle Systems” by Thomas Myers
-
“The Physiological Sigh: Our Built-In Adaptogen” by Heath and Nicole Reed
-
“Overcoming the Unexpected” by Allissa Haines
-
“The First Millimeters of Every Massage” by Nicole Trombley and Rachelle Clauson
-
“What Makes a Massage Great” by David Lobenstine