FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards today named MASSAGE Magazine the winner of an Eddie Award, which honors editorial excellence. The magazine’s August 2021 issue #303, themed Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, was awarded first place in the category of Full Issue, B2B, Health & Wellness.
More than 1,300 entries were received across nearly 170 categories for the 2022 Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards. Finalists represent the highest scoring entries per category, adjudicated by qualified editorial and design professionals, according to a Folio statement.
“We are thrilled to be awarded a 2022 Eddie Award,” said MASSAGE Magazine Editor-in-Chief Karen Menehan. “The contributions of many experts in the massage field made this award possible, and the issue that won highlights the importance of working toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion in our field.”
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Issue was conceived by MASSAGE Magazine Publisher and Area President at Arthur J. Gallagher Nick Doyle, with the objective of educating readers about the need for greater diversity, equity and inclusion in massage therapy education and practice. The publication’s sister magazine, Chiropractic Economics, was named a FOLIO finalist.
“I could not be more excited for our teams,” said Doyle. “The teams have worked so hard to bring the best issues possible to the markets, and this recognition is proof they have done just that!”

The articles that reflect the issue’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion theme were:
“Diversity in Massage Therapy: What Will Help Us Create a More Inclusive and Just Field?”
Author Andrea Winzer, MSc, LMT, CST-T, holds a master’s degree in ecology and is a board-certified massage and bodywork therapist. She wrote this article on behalf of the Massage Therapy Foundation.
“This is How Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practices Make Business Better”
Author Karen Menehan is MASSAGE Magazine’s editor in chief, print and digital. She has reported or edited freelance for many other publications, has served as a Review Committee Member for the Successful Hands Grant Program and as a Nonviolent Communication workshop leader. She is a member of ACES: The Society for Editing and the Society of Professional Journalists.
“5 Top Strategies for Male Massage Success”
Author Jimmy Gialelis, LMT, BCTMB, is owner of Advanced Massage Arts & Education in Tempe, Arizona. He is a National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork-approved continuing education provider. He is a regular contributor to MASSAGE Magazine.
This feature consisted of a selection of essays; read them all by clicking the link above.
“We Must Create a Community of Belonging”
Author Toshiana Baker is an esthetician, spa educator and spa consultancy owner. She founded the Network of Multicultural Spa and Wellness Professionals, which supports multiethnic and multicultural health care professionals with education and other resources.
Click here to read her essay.
“Steps You Can Take Now to Build Diversity in Your Massage Clientele”
Author Maria G. Hernandez, PhD, is the president and COO of Impact4Health LLC, a consulting firm to health care organizations dedicated to health equity. Impact4Health is a subsidiary of InclusionINC, founded in 2001 as a woman-owned business.
Click here to read her essay.
“Promoting Self-Care in My Hispanic Community”
Author Lisa Martinez, LMT, is a Houston, Texas-based massage therapist. Read her article, “The Evolving Acceptance of Massage in Mexican-American Culture.”
Click here to read her essay.
“5 Ways Massage Therapists and Integrative Practitioners Can Support Diverse Communities”
AuthorMichele Renee, DC, MAc, is director of integrative care at Northwestern Health Sciences University, on whose behalf she wrote this essay; and president of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education.
Click here to read her essay.
“Help Make the World Healthier for LGBTQ People”
AuthorAmber Briggle (she/hers) is a massage therapist and the owner of Soma Massage Therapy in Denton, Texas. She is also the mother of two, including a transgender child. Briggle volunteers with the Human Rights Campaign and with the League of Women Voters of Texas.
Click here to read her essay.
“We Want to Feel Welcome and Like We Have a Place in the Spa World”
AuthorJeanette Falu-Bishop owns Massage Business Education & Branding LLC, through which she teaches how to start or improve an already-established massage business through pre-recorded online courses, live trainings and business conferences.
Click here to read her essay.
“We Can’t Afford to Overlook Any Demographic”
AuthorSherrie Tennessee is principal educator for The SPASOS, program director of the Hospital and Tourism Management Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, former director of spa and wellness at Mandarin Oriental Group, and former education manager at Sandals Resorts.
Click here to read her essay.
Additional articles in this issue were:
“These Exercises will Help You Integrate Your Business Mind and Healing Heart”
Author Kelly Bowers is the owner of the Healing Arts Business Academy and has been teaching massage therapists how to be better business owners since 2003. She is the author of three books: “The Accidental Business Owner,” “Can I Deduct That?” and “Between Doormat and Diva.” She is an NCBTMB-approved provider of continuing education and a regular presenter at national massage gatherings. She is also (still!) a practicing massage therapist (NC lic. 16669). You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Tumblr. She lives and works in Durham, North Carolina.
“Lateral Thigh Pain: Effective Alternatives to Foam Rolling”
Author Jason Erickson, BCTMB, CPT, BBA, co-owns and practices at Eagan Massage Center. A former chronic pain patient, Jason is an internationally recognized continuing education provider teaching classes on pain science, dermoneuromodulation, sports massage, research literacy and more. His articles and podcast appearances are widely featured. For current information on his CE classes, visit healthartes.com.
“Harness the Power of the Hour: Create Financial Reliability with 60-Minute Appointments”
Author Amy Bradley Radford, LMT, BCTMB, has been a massage therapist and educator for more than 25 years. She is the owner of Massage Business Methods and the developer of PPS (Pain Patterns and Solutions) Seminars CE courses and a National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork-approved CE provider.
About MASSAGE Magazine: Established in 1985, MASSAGE Magazine has been in publication longer than any other massage magazine and is the preferred trade publication for massage therapists. MASSAGE Magazine publishes articles on technique, business, news, self-care, research and more. MASSAGE Magazine is the parent company of Massage Magazine Insurance Plus, which offers liability insurance and member benefits.