Blog Archives

Do It Yourself Hand Sanitizer: In the era of Covid-19, hand cleaning and sanitation is a vital part of self-care. Clean hands are especially vital for massage therapists and while many of us were already accustomed to washing and sanitizing our hands regularly for work, with coronavirus in play, we’re likely doing it all the…

For massage therapists, meditation is a wonderful tool for self care. As a practice, it can be defined as an intentional act of focus or reflection with the goal being to alter one’s state of awareness. There are many forms of meditation. They can be as simple as practicing a breathing technique or reciting a…

As part of our 50th anniversary, we’re delving into the stories of our indispensable staff to learn more about them and how they came to be a part of the school. This entry is from Assistant Director, Sarah Partos, CMT. Anyone who has attended SFSM in the last few years knows that Sarah is an…

At the end of a long day where you have been on your feet massaging clients, a little self-care can help hit the reset button after closing time. You deserve it! One technique we have become fond of over the years is an herbal foot bath. This simple hydrotherapy treatment definitely comforts fatigued feet and…

Welcome to our first blog of 2019! Here we are at the beginning of a new year. This is always a time when people look forward with hopes for what opportunities the new year will hold. It is a time for reflection, forecasting, and putting plans into action. For us here at the San Francisco…

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction, relaxation, and healing that has roots in ancient Eastern philosophy. It is built upon the idea that an unseen, innate life force energy flows through and animates each of us. If this life force energy becomes depleted, we are more susceptible to stress and illness. However, when…

It has recently come to our attention that as of January 1, 2019 the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) will no longer be required to attain state certification through the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). However, this is only a temporary change. The removal of the MBLEx as a requirement for certification will only…

It’s an undeniable fact that every body is different. Even though we are all composed of more or less the same stuff, we are all put together a bit differently and each of us ask our bodies to do different things for us. Some of us run, others swim, and some do little physical activity…

Prenatal massage, also known as pregnancy massage, is a modality of massage specifically geared to address the myriad changes that take place in the bodies of mothers-to-be. It provides the general benefits of massage therapy while also introducing some benefits specific to pregnant women. Once regarded somewhat dubiously as a risky modality, modern research has…

Thai massage, also called Nuad Boran, is an ancient, energy-based healing system that integrates aspects of acupressure with assisted yoga postures. Traditionally, Thai massage uses no oils or lotions and is performed on a mat on the floor with both the client and practitioner wearing loose-fitting clothes. Thai massage sessions are comprised of a series…