AMTA

Cheap CEs Will Kill Your Career

Cartoon person holding a "Will Massage for Food" sign

Maybe you read the post I wrote a while ago about how you get what you pay for when you search for massage therapy services. If so, you probably already know what my opinion is going to be concerning cheap continuing education. *This post may be more directed at massage therapists, but massage therapy consumers can benefit by knowing a bit more about how to find a better massage therapist.

Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter on social media about how expensive massage therapy CEs are and how massage therapists really want to stop, “Paying an arm and a leg,” for continuing ed. I’ve seen comments concerning giving up their first born, pints of blood, and other ridiculous exaggerations on the costs of classes.

Continuing education classes cost money, some more than others. Online classes are a lowest common denominator situation with canned curricula that leaves a lot to be desired when learning hands-on techniques. They are however good for ethics, business classes, and refreshers for book work. Live, in-person classes cost more than online classes with good reason. Having an instructor prepare, teach, demonstrate, observe, troubleshoot, and correct deserve money and respect. Specialty classes, those that involve certifications in specific methods that not all other massage therapists offer, cost even more.

If you want to learn a new technique or improve your current skills, your computer is best used to find an instructor and their teaching schedule. Evidence is mounting that learning is best done when we are engaging with the world and without screens.

There’s Nothing Wrong With a Bargain

Don’t get me wrong, I like bargains and there’s nothing wrong with them. Unfortunately, as professionals, the continual seeking of bargains when it comes to continuing education leads to stagnation and sometimes degradation of our skills. Imagine graduating from massage school and never taking another hands-on class again. How do we expect to progress and mature in our profession if all our continuing ed is done online for the cheapest cost possible? And without being professional and discriminating in how we spend our CE dollars, how can we expect to be taken seriously by the community, medical or otherwise, and also be valued and paid for our experience?

And what about our clients?

Now imagine what our clients think. Maybe they don’t care? Maybe they care a lot that the person they pay to be an ally in their healthcare cares enough to spend the money to be the very best.

I simply can’t afford it…

Check out your local AMTA chapter. Members get a discounted rate on CEs and even non-members get a pretty good rate. Most chapters host nationally certified instructors once or twice a year. Check out your local massage schools. They also bring in nationally certified instructors occasionally and while the cost is usually more, you can save by not having travel expenses.

You Can’t Afford Not To

I know it’s not what we want to hear, but it’s important and it’s what sets the good massage therapists ahead of the bargain hunters. You simply cannot afford not to budget for and spend your CE dollars on quality, continuing education.

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2018 AMTA National Convention Wrap-Up

So many folks have been asking about my trip to Washington D.C. I know it’s taken a while for me to get myself organized, but here it finally is, my wrap up from the 2018 AMTA National Convention in Washington, D.C.!

There were lots of meetings, lots of food (including dessert), lots of sightseeing, lots of classes, and a lot of time spent with dear friends I only get to see at convention. I hope each and every one of you get the opportunity to experience the kind of crazed joy that is a massage convention. Perhaps your life’s focus is not massage therapy, but surely we aren’t the only ones who connect like this each year!

And with that, enjoy the photo show!

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Specialist!

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I’m A Yankee Doodle Dandy!

Here I go again! It’s that time of year when AMTA hosts its National Convention. This year it’s in Washington D.C. and I’m headed out to see friends, represent AMTA-Alabama Chapter, and see as much of our capitol as possible. There will be classes, of course, but because it’s been a while since I signed up for them it’s going to be a surprise for us all.

With me gone, the office will be closed, but no worries, I’ll be back in the office on the 13th!

BACK ON THE 13TH!

Until then, check my online schedule to see what’s available next week. If you can’t schedule it yourself, shoot me a text message and I’ll do it for you!

Have a great week everyone!

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Specialist!

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How Not to Break the Bank This Summer!

5 Tips for Saving Money While Traveling

It’s that time of year again when everyone, it seems, is traveling. I’ve already had two trips this spring, I’m leaving this week for a leadership training, and it now looks like I’ll be traveling a few days each month through the end of the year. Thus I started thinking about how I can save some money (since I’m also losing income while traveling) and decided to put together my list of how to save a few dollars on the essentials.

So here are my tips for cheap(er) vacationing!

  • Sign up for (or update) AirBnB*! Then spend some time finding the perfect place to stay. AirBnB offers all different price points, amenities, and locations that can save you a lot in accommodations.
  • Pack a cooler! A cooler works really well on road trips. Packing your own sandwiches, snacks, and cold drinks can save quite a bit and keep your tummy happier. Even if you only eat out of the cooler once a day, it adds up. If you’re not road tripping (or even if you are), consider hitting the prepared foods section of the local grocery for a salad or hot meal.
  • Fly on Tuesday or Wednesday. The experts that study the airline industry say these two days are best for cost savings!
  • Visit our state and national parks. There are usually low-cost entrance fees and many times have lots of activities available for no-cost beyond the entrance fee. These areas are also usually less crowded than other public use areas.
  • Seek out free walking tours, free days at museums and parks, or discounted matinee shows. Also, check out the local theater and orchestra schedule for free and discounted dress rehearsals.

So that’s my short list of how I save a few dollars when I have to be away from home whether it be a fun, summer vacation or a business trip.

Happy Traveling!

***

*I’m an AirBnB host as well as an avid user of AirBnB.

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage Specialist!

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It’s That Time of Year Again!

 

I’m headed off to Orange Beach, AL, this week for the 2018 AMTA-AL Chapter Spring Convention. The office will be closed for a few days while I take a class and spend some much needed time relaxing on the beach! No worries though, I’ll be back in the office on the 23rd.

BACK ON THE 23RD!

Until then, check my online schedule to see what’s available next week. If you can’t schedule it yourself, shoot me a text message and I’ll do it for you!

Have a great week everyone!

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Ashiatsu Barefoot Specialist!

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It’s National Convention Time Again!

Well, it’s that time of year again! Time for me to fly away to Pasadena, CA for the 2017 AMTA National Convention.

I will have access to my phone and email so feel free to text or call. I’ll be taking several classes this year so it may take me a while to get back to you though. Follow my trip on my Facebook page!

Hope you all have a great week and know that I’ll be back tired, but rejuvenated on Monday the 18th.

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage!

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Milwaukee or Bust!

milwaukee-or-bust

I’ll be headed out to the 2016 AMTA National Convention this afternoon. So my offices will be closed this week. I’ll be back at it October 31st. Between now and then if you want to schedule an appointment, please visit my MassageBook book (existing clients only) or call or text me. I’ll be slow to respond because I’ll either be in meetings or classes, but I’ll get back to you ASAP!

Hope everyone has a great week and hope to see you on my table soon!

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Barefoot Massage Specialist!

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Recapping the Convention

Boardwalk to Orange BeachSo I promised news of the 2016 AMTA-AL Spring Convention and I finally found a few minutes to sit down and write it up.

First, I am very happy to say that I completed the Chi Nei Tsang Module 1 for Lung and Large Intestine. There was so much information shared and I was able to double my Chi Nei Tsang toolbox.

Mary Ellen Derwis is an amazing instructor and if all goes as planned she will be in Atlanta in July to teach Chi Nei Tsang Modules 4 & 5. I will be taking a couple of days to go finish those two modules and evaluate whether I want to continue on for a full certification in the methodology.

Orange Beach was amazing. The weather cooperated and I actually got to spend time on the beach this trip. Pictures can be found over on my Facebook page. Then I had the amazing experience of a Chi Kung class on the beach Sunday morning. If you’ve never tried Chi Kung (or Qigong), I highly recommend it, especially if you’re on the shore with your bare feet in the sand.

In other news…the membership of the AMTA-Alabama Chapter has honored me with their faith and votes and I will be serving as the AMTA-AL Chapter President for the next two years. This means I will be traveling a bit more. I’ve already been tapped to go to Tampa in June for training. I’m excited and a little bit nervous about this new chapter of my massage therapy and volunteer career.

In the meantime, I’ll be at the office. Call me!

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Master Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist!

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It’s Time for Convention!

Footsteps in sandHarvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology will be closed for a few days while I run off to the 2016 AMTA-AL Spring Convention in Orange Beach. I’ll be taking the next module in the Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage series and hopefully when I get home I’ll have some very big news. Keep your fingers and toes crossed!

So officially I will be closed beginning Thursday, April 21st and re-open Monday, April 25th at the normal time.

I will be slow to return phone calls during those days so please leave a message or book an appointment online.

 

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur’s Master Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist!

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I Didn’t Do It For the Plaque!

AMTA Meritorious Award
Sharon Bryant with Jeff Smoot (AMTA President) for AMTA-AL Chapter Meritorious Award Presentation

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.

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!

Sharon Bryant Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Barefoot Massage Specialist!

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