By Carol McCullough
Editor’s Note: In Lake Chapala we have a great community full of excellent health care, including allopathic, homeopathic and naturopathic health providers and almost any treatment you would care to try. We are truly blessed with a wealth of opportunities from which to choose. My own choice of care for relaxation has always been massages since my first one almost 25 years ago. I recently discovered massage therapy and may never be happy with a totally relaxation massage again. It has taught me so much about my body…the thigh bone really is connected to the hip bone! One of my favorite providers is Canadian-trained massage therapist, Carol McCullough, who agreed to write an article for our newsletter about the different types of massage. Enjoy!
Sports massage, relaxation massage, medical or clinical massage, licensed massage therapist, registered massage therapist, massage practitioner—what does it all mean and why do I need to know the difference???
The massage industry is growing by leaps and bounds and all manner of people are now getting massages. But what does that really mean—a massage?
North of the border we hear about spas that charge from $75 up to several hundred dollars for a massage but here in Lakeside, you can get a massage for as little as 100 pesos. Why such a huge difference in price and is there really a difference?
Absolutely. Wherever you go for a massage, you should know the person’s qualifications and training/experience.
Whether you are having a ‘relaxation massage’ or a medical massage, any therapist/practitioner should know some basic medical conditions and whether there are any contraindications to whether you should actually receive a massage or not.
Certain types of medications have certain side effects and sometimes you should NOT have a massage. Or, perhaps the massage should be modified if you are taking medication – blood thinners (Coumadin) for example.
Do you have high blood pressure, a circulatory problem, were you recently treated for cancer, have you had chemotherapy or radiation, a kidney condition/disease, severe atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, osteoporosis, haemophilia, severe varicose veins – the list goes on and on.
The therapist working on you should understand the possible complications of these conditions and massage accordingly or even advise their client that they should NOT have massage. Knowing when to give a massage and when NOT to give one is very important.
Training in Canada
I received my training in Canada and will address the training/educational standards that are familiar to me. Canada has the highest educational requirements in the world regarding massage therapy. There are three provinces that regulate this profession – Ontario, BC, and Newfoundland.
What is a regulated profession? A "regulated" occupation is one that is controlled by provincial and/or territorial (and sometimes federal) law and governed by a professional organization or regulatory body. The regulatory body governing the profession/trade has the authority to set entry requirements and standards of practice, to assess applicants' qualifications and credentials, to certify, register, or license qualified applicants, and to discipline members of the profession/trade. Requirements for entry, which may vary from one province to another, usually consist of such components as examinations, a specified period of supervised work experience, language competency, etc. If you want to work in a regulated occupation and use a regulated title, you must have a licence or certificate or be registered with the regulatory body for your occupation.
About 20 per cent of Canadians work in regulated occupations such as veterinarian, electrician, plumber, physiotherapist, medical doctor, engineer, registered massage therapist, etc. The system of regulation is intended to protect the health and safety of Canadians by ensuring that professionals meet the required standards of practice and competence.
In British Columbia, for example, the regulatory body for the profession of massage therapy is governed by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia. Only its members can call themselves a "registered massage therapist," "massage therapist," "registered massage practitioner," "massage practitioner," "or any other name or description that implies that the person is registered with the College." Membership requires the current minimum 3,000 hours or approximately three years of training.
Those people practicing outside of the scope of the College in BC are not regulated as such, but they are trained and certified in a particular type of massage. Other practitioners utilize designations such as Shiatsu practitioner, Certified Aromatherapist, Aromatherapy Massage Practitioner, Reflexologist, Relaxation Massage, Acupressurist, etc.
You do not necessarily have to go to a massage college in order to give a good massage but, as stated earlier, there are many contraindications to massage as well as conditions that require specific types of treatment and it is in your best interests if you patronize a therapist who has the knowledge to treat you properly.
What actually happens when you go for a massage?
In addition to the actual massage on the table, a therapist should take a thorough health history and assessment as well as giving you any home care suggestions i.e. postural awareness, exercises or stretches to do.
They should also be able to perform proper draping while the client is on the table and make them feel comfortable with proper pillowing or positioning.
You should be able to give your therapist feedback regarding all of the above as well as the pressure being given to you during the massage. The therapist needs to hear and follow those instructions.
You may find that the difference in the cost is reflected in the treatment that you receive.
A personal note from Karen McConnaughey, Focus on Mexico team member:
I have had frequent consultations and treatments with Carol (a Focus alumnus), and I have to say from the medical history she took from me, which included surgeries, medication and chronic health issues, I felt as if she knew my body better than most of the doctors I’ve been to, either here or in the U.S. I have always been a fan of the relaxation massage before I met Carol. You know…let me lay down, turn on the music and don’t talk to me until you’re through! Being with Carol has taught me to feel my body and know what’s going on. Your first sessions with her are the most talkative and once you’ve established treatments and comfort levels, the rest are very soothing and relaxing with an occasional word here or there. She is incredible, and I recommend her to anyone who is having chronic or even occasional pain. She has taught me so much through our sessions.
Carol is extremely professional, incredibly knowledgeable (she knew things about me that I didn’t even know!), provides customized massage therapies (and even took to the time show me several stretches that I now incorporate into my exercise routine). Besides being a dedicated professional, she is a warm and caring person; she always takes the time to answer all my questions about the science behind my injuries and what I can do on my own to heal faster. Her work is truly therapeutic. If you need relief as well as understanding of your condition, I sincerely believe you couldn’t get a better therapist.
Carol McCullough is a Registered Massage Therapist who received her training in Ontario and worked in BC for 18 years prior to moving to Lakeside. If you have any questions, please contact Carol at cjmomt@gmail.com. She will be happy to confer with you on an individual basis.
Editor’s Note: With regard to the training in the United States, from what we understand, each state has different laws regarding the licensing of massage therapy requirements. To become a massage therapist you need to check with your state board to find out what you will need to do as far as training and testing to get a professional massage license. There are still a few states that don't have any licensing.