New York City (April 2, 2018)—The first-annual Global Massage Makes Me Happy Day on March 20, 2018 sparked a worldwide celebration that highlighted the important benefits massage brings to individuals and how as a collective movement, it can change the world. The International Day of Happiness was also celebrated on March 20, which coincided with the UN’s release of their annual happiness report.
As a Global Wellness Institute’s initiative, Massage Makes Me Happy partnered with massage therapy and spa associations, massage therapy schools, consumer and industry publications, spas, travel and leisure organizations, and industry suppliers to spread the word and celebrate the day. There were celebrations around the globe through partnerships with the American Massage Therapy Association, the International Spa Association, Florida State Massage Therapy Association, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, Live Love Spa, Spa Industry Association, One Concept, WTF International and others.
Spreading the word: The Massage Makes Me Happy Day and initiative was promoted in consumer and industry channels ranging from Women’s Health to Buzzfeed, Bustle to the TODAY Show, Massage Magazine to DaySpa magazine. Media days were hosted at the Dominick Hotel and the Oasis Day Spa. Editors left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the positive impacts of massage therapy, and why it makes you happy.
Celebrating the day: Several pre-holiday events raised the level of excitement and awareness, such as Live Love Spa events and the American Spa Women in Wellness conference held in New York City.
On March 20, hundreds of events celebrated therapists, supporters and educators. At the initiative’s main event, Dr. Tiffany Field, founder of the Touch Research Institute, spoke to students and top industry executives at Cortiva Institute’s Orlando campus on the science that supports how and why massage makes people happy. In addition, celebrations were held at all of Cortiva’s 30 campuses.
Performance health celebrated with a workplace wellness day that included education, free massages and gifting employees with Biofreeze and Bon Vital´ products. This served as a great way to introduce employees to the overall health benefits of massage therapy.
Massage therapy has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, with more and more consumers seeking out massage t o support and enhance personal well-being. Therapeutic touch therapies help manage pain and stress, resulting in happier lives. Some of the many benefits of massage and its role as a tool to help achieve happiness include pain management, emotional balance, de-stress and productivity.
Lynda Solien-Wolfe, Vice President of Massage & Spa, Performance Health and CG Funk, Global Director, Funk Consulting, are the co-founders of the Massage Makes Me Happy initiative. Lynda and CG have over 25 years of experience in the massage and spa industries and both deeply believe in the healing powers of massage therapy and the importance of the work that massage therapists contribute to the world. Also serving as initiative members are Dawnette Cabaluna, Cortiva Institute; Scott Dartnall, One Concept; Tim Dunphy, Performance Health; Tiffany Field, Ph.D., Touch Research Institute; Brian Paris, Living Earth Crafts/Earthlite Massage Tables; Karen Short, Universal Companies; and Heather Zdan, Massage Warehouse/Scrip Companies.
“We loved being able to feel the warmth and joy of people celebrating Global Massage Makes Me Happy Day, and now our mission is to continue this celebration all year round,” says Solien-Wolfe. “None of this would have been possible without the support of our cornerstone partners. Thank you all!”
Cornerstone Partners: Performance Health, Cortiva Institute, Living Earth Crafts/Earthlite Massage Tables, Massage Magazine, Massage Warehouse/Scrip Companies and Universal Companies.
If you’d like to get involved with the Massage Makes Me Happy Initiative, check out the official tool kit here.
To learn more about the Massage Makes Me Happy mission, visit globalwellnessinstitute.org/massage-makes-me-happy-initiative.