The newly published book Yoga for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers, by Karina Braun, L.M.T., R.Y.T., invites massage therapist professionals to consider their own health and well-being as they work on others.
As a bodyworker, you are an athlete. The abilities you, as a bodyworker, should possess are strength, flexibility and endurance. Yoga adds strength and flexibility to the body and enhances the body’s ability to practice massage. Practicing yoga helps you to gain this awareness. The principles of yoga can make your job easier and help prevent injury.
Have you ever injured yourself by giving a massage? How many days of work did you miss? As an independent contractor, who is there to support you when you experience an injury? Whether you are a massage therapist or bodyworker one thing everyone has in common is that most are not able to take a sick day or vacation day. You need to stay healthy and strong so you can support yourself, your family and your practice.
After struggling for many years with an injury from barefoot massage and recovering from ankle and back surgery, Braun knows firsthand the value of strength, flexibility and endurance for a massage therapist and bodyworker. Braun experienced countless hours of physical therapy during her recovery and as both a licensed massage therapist and yoga instructor, she has developed a detailed formula to help prevent injury.
Braun says, “As massage therapists and bodyworkers, we have to keep our bodies in top quality condition just like athletes. Even though we are not competing with another person, the work we do requires proper body mechanics and alignment that yoga provides. “
She adds, “I wish someone had created this type of training for me when I started massage therapy 15-plus years ago. It would have saved me lots of pain and recovery time.”
The easy to follow illustration and simple instructions in Yoga for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers make it easy for massage therapists and bodyworkers to:
- Integrate mind-body connection
- Help develop deep and relaxed breathing
- Increase core strength with slow, focused movement
- Offer slow and steady flexibility and ROM
- Decrease the possibility of repetitive strain injury
In Yoga for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers, (ISBN 978-0-9816199-4-1) Braun blends body stability, foundation and alignment, and experiential anatomy with yoga techniques. The author also instructs therapists how to build energy in the body, restore the body and balance the chakras through yoga.
As its subtitle suggests, this manual offers a holistic approach for a healthy career in bodywork.
You may obtain Yoga for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers directly from the publisher for $24.95 plus shipping (add sales tax if shipped to Nevada addresses). This book can also be ordered as a home-study course for 12 NCBTMB continuing education hours for $125.
About the author
Karina Braun has been in the massage therapy and yoga field for 15 years and is knowledgeable about repetitive strain syndrome. She has a passion for body mechanics, education and the prevention of injury for all bodyworkers. She teaches live seminars on injury prevention, t spheres® technique and yoga therapeutix.