You’ve Got Mail!
Look what finally came in the mail!
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Original Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist! |
AMTA – Alabama
I Didn’t Do It For the Plaque!
So most of my regular clients know that when convention time rolls around we’re going to have to adjust appointments and work around the times I will be gone. I love going to convention. State convention, national convention, even our smaller local conferences, I really enjoy them.
Why? Mostly because I get to meet new people who do what I do, also because there’s massage education there, but there’s a part of it that’s just me enjoying the fruits of the volunteer work that I do.
It makes me happy to walk into our AMTA-AL Chapter State Conventions and Conferences and know that I played a small part in bringing local massage therapists and excellent massage educators together. I’m proud that my position on the AMTA-AL Chapter Board of Directors allows me to be involved in bringing educational opportunities to our state for our membership that they otherwise would not be able to afford.
Apparently some of the other members of our board and chapter feel that the work I do is noteworthy and decided to honor me this year with the AMTA-Alabama Chapter Meritorious Award. So while I was gone last month to the 2015 AMTA National Convention in Pittsburgh, PA, I walked across the stage to receive my award from the president of the National AMTA organization. Woop! Woop!
The plaque bearing my name is in the mail. I’ll post a picture of it when it arrives. And then in the spring there will be more pictures when AMTA-AL Chapter does their official ceremony (at the beach!). Until then I’ll quietly be doing little things behind the scenes to make this year’s fall conference and next year’s spring convention better than ever.
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Are you a massage therapist looking for CEUs? Check out AMTA-Alabama Chapter’s events page to see what’s upcoming. It might just be in your back yard!
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Barefoot Massage Specialist! |
I Didn’t Do It For the Plaque! Read More »
2015 AMTA-AL Spring Convention Time!
It’s that time of year again and I’ll be headed to Birmingham on Thursday for the 2015 AMTA-AL Spring Convention!
This year’s convention is hosting Doug Nelson of Precision Neuromuscular Therapy and I am very excited about adding some new techniques to my toolbox. I’ll also be running for 1st Vice President and Delegate again so keep a good thought for me Saturday around lunchtime. I’ll be giving my speech(es) and hopefully keeping my positions.
So…
Harvest Moon Massage Therapy will be closed beginning Thursday, April 23rd and will re-open Monday, April 27th. If you’d like to schedule an appointment while I’m away, please visit my StyleSeat online booking system or call and leave a message. I’ll get back to you on Monday.
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Only Master Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist! |
2015 AMTA-AL Spring Convention Time! Read More »
2014 AMTA National Convention or the Time I Met Dr. Oz!
The 2014 AMTA National Convention in Denver was a whirlwind of friends, classes, parties, meetings, debates, dinners, and overall awesomeness (sorry, Roxanne)!
There was so much to it, I think it would just be best if I let you take your time with a picture gallery. Don’t miss the captions, they tell parts of the story too.
And in addition to all of that I managed to get myself on camera and they used part of my interview in both AMTA National Convention videos from this year!
Hope you enjoyed my little scrapbook of 2014 AMTA National Convention in Denver!
For more on the Denver convention and how all my Ashi instructors participated you can head on over to the Bodywork Buddy Blog.
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Ashiatsu Deepfeet Bar Therapist! |
2014 AMTA National Convention or the Time I Met Dr. Oz! Read More »
2014 AMTA National Convention – It’s Almost Time!
Many of you may remember that I took off for Ft. Worth last September to serve as an Alabama chapter delegate for American Massage Therapy Association. Well, those delegate positions are two year terms so I’m getting ready to run off to Denver next week.
I know you’re wondering why I do this. After all, I have to leave my lovely clients and the income that they so generously give to me. I do it because of the position statements that AMTA House of Delegates will be voting on this year.
Position statements can affect the entire profession of massage, massage education and consumers of massage. And I think this year’s crop of position statements run the gamut. We’ll be debating and voting on position statements that deal with portability of massage credentials across state lines, how massage affects health and wellness, and whether massage is helpful for the rehabilitation of burn scars.
One would assume that all these are good things and I would agree in principal, but when you’re representing not only a state chapter, but a national organization all the i’s must be dotted and t’s crossed. So these position statements may or may not be adopted. But never fear, there are lots of position statements that have already been adopted. If you’re interested, they’re over here. Leave a message if you have an opinion or observation about the position statements. I’d love to talk with you about them.
Anyway, last minute preparations are under way and I wanted to let you know that Harvest Moon Massage Therapy will close Friday, September 12th @ 3:30pm and will resume normal hours Friday, September 26th. Email and voicemail returns will be very slow during this time period. If you would like to schedule, please use online scheduling through StyleSeat.
Why so long? Because I’ve never been to Colorado before and I’m taking a few days after the convention ends to see the sights and have a walkabout in the mountains. I also hope to experience several sets of Ashi feet on my back while I’m there. Colorado being the home of Ruthie Hardee, the developer of the Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy method I practice, there should be lots of Ashi feet available.
It’s going to be an interesting trip and I’m taking the BIG suitcase this time. TSA may be very surprised when they see how I’m going to stuff a hula hoop and a yoga mat in there. I hope they don’t try to take anything out!
♥
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Only Ashi-Thai Therapist! |
2014 AMTA National Convention – It’s Almost Time! Read More »
CVOP – A Funny Word
So recently I was chosen by the AMTA Alabama Chapter to represent Alabama at the 2014 AMTA Chapter Volunteer Orientation Program. The part about Orientation is really funny to me since I’ve been volunteering with the Alabama Chapter for over two years now and am currently holding down a board position as well as chairing their membership committee and website/social media committee. One would assume that I don’t need no stinking orientating, but not true… I learned so much at this conference. About the American Massage Therapy Association and a lot of leadership stuff which sounds dry and boring, but I assure you it was not. I made a boatload of new friends who I hope to see in September at AMTA National Convention. We had field trips during this conference which was nice. Of course, I think if you put a bunch of massage therapists in a room for three days and told them to sit still there would be a riot. We had several planned outings and got to see much of the city of Chicago and Evanston. It’s hard to put into words all the stuff that happened on this trip so basically I’m not even going to try. I’m just going to leave you with some pictures of the highlights of my time there. Enjoy!
Peace y’all!
♥
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Ashi-Thai Therapist! |
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2014 AMTA-Alabama Spring Convention
Being an education junkie, I have always been interested in quality, local Continuing Education for massage. And while I’ve never really been a joiner, I found a home with AMTA and our local Alabama chapter.
I have been so taken with the group of folks who are leading the chapter now that I decided to join them last year and ran for a position on the Board of Directors. It’s been almost a year now and due to some resignations on the board I was recently appointed to the 1st Vice President position. It makes me nervous, but at the same time I am happy and a little proud to be helping steer this great, local organization.
The spring convention is less than two weeks away and I’m so excited about it. This year we are hosting Susan Salvo. You can read more about her over here. She recently received a wonderful award from the Massage Therapy community celebrating her lifetime contributions to the profession.
She will be teaching 16 CE hours over the weekend of May 2 through 4. The rates are very affordable. AMTA-AL chapter will also have a free luncheon available on May 3rd during which we will have our annual member meeting and elections. There are several board positions up for election as well as alternate delegate positions open. We will also have a Massage Mingle which is open (and free) to all massage therapists and guests on Saturday evening.
The full schedule and registration information can be found on the AMTA-AL Chapter website.
I hope you can make it!
♥
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Only Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist! |
2014 AMTA-Alabama Spring Convention Read More »
Upcoming Events at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy
So I was just looking at my calendar and trying to figure out how to get all of this information out to my public. I figured the easiest way (for me) would be to list it all out for you. You know how I like a good list, so here goes. Hope to see you at some of these events!
February 22nd – Jake for King!
As many of you know I am heavily involved in the Carnegie Carnival as a member of the Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat. This year we have nominated the fine and wonderful Jake Reed for next year’s Carnival King. We are sponsoring a fund raiser and silent auction to help Jake win. Come on out and party with the pirates!
February 22nd & 23rd – MLD Certification Finals
Unfortunately I won’t be at the Pirate Party and Fundraiser because I’ll be in Birmingham completing my Manual Lymph Drainage certification course. I am regretting missing the party, but am so excited about finally earning my certification for MLD!
March 1st – Mardi Gras Parade!
Arrrrr… long live Crewe O’ Ye Crooked Goat! If you are anywhere in north Alabama, you really should come see the spectacle! We are defending our first place parade trophy this year and we hear the competition is outdoing themselves. Of course, they haven’t seen our float yet. ARrrrrr!!!
March 14th -16th – AMTA Alabama Board Retreat
Including the word “retreat” is probably the biggest misnomer in history here. It’s really just a two and a half -day long meeting for the Board of Directors to strategize and plan the upcoming year’s activities. Can you say, sore rear end?
March 22nd – Grand Opening Celebration!
The Grand Opening Celebration for our beautiful, new space! We’ll have hors d’ oeuvres and some kind of beverage for you as you see the new place, meet and visit with all our providers. Tiny gifts and maybe even a door prize or two may be involved.
April 5th – Partner Massage Class
The very first Partner Massage Class will be held at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology. RSVP today as space is limited and I expect this class to fill quickly!
So that concludes the list of upcoming activities. In the meantime I’m taking appointments and working to get all the finishing details into the new space. We are still looking for someone to rent our third room. So if you know someone, now would be a great time to let them know we have a lovely space for them to rent. The sooner we get a third, the better.
Upcoming Events at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy Read More »
My First AMTA National Convention!
So 2013 AMTA National Convention was so jam packed with meetings and classes I think the best way to tell it is with pictures. Just click on one of the pictures below and the captions will tell you the story of my very first AMTA National Convention adventure. Enjoy!
The floor of the House of Delegates, 140 members strong!
This fella was our greeter at the dinner dance. He was very fragrant and earthy!
James Waslaski and Erik Dalton tag teaming some glutes
Thai on the Table with the awesome Jill Burynski
That’s yours truly waiting to be seated in the House of Delegates
Ashi sister surprise! The awesome Jeni Spring (my Ashi-Thai) instructor was there!
And I made a new friend from Illinois!
And another new friend from Texas!
And several new friends from Connecticut!
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Barefoot Bar Massage! |
My First AMTA National Convention! Read More »
NMTAW 2013 – Wrapping it Up!
Sharon with the portable bars!
No I’m not squishing her (too hard)
New Ashi convert loving the hamstring moves
Even pregnant ladies can have massage! Just not Ashi 🙁
The swag and info table
That feels so gooooooooddddd…
I just wanted to get this out there before I forgot!
The Pool Doctors in Decatur, AL were kind enough to let me come to their business October 25th and set up to provide free massage for their employees and customers. I think there were 6 takers in the short time I was there. We had a lot of fun and plan on doing it again next year. Be ready!
Oh, and I still have to tell you what happened at AMTA National Convention in September, I haven’t forgotten it’s just been crazy busy!
This weekend I’ll be in Madison all weekend for the Foundations for Manual Lymph Drainage training that is being hosted by AMTA-AL. Interested in some affordable massage CEUs? Click here for more info on how AMTA-AL is bringing them to you!
♥
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Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashi-Thai Massage! |
NMTAW 2013 – Wrapping it Up! Read More »