This One or That? An Overview of the Massage Industry Magazines
Over the years, I have relied on four industry magazines to keep up-to-date on trade news, what techniques and conditions are gaining attention, and insights into what massage therapists need to support their practices. You are probably interested in the same things. If you are new to the profession, you may not be familiar with any of these journals. Even if you already receive one, you may wonder what the others offer. So I gathered a year's worth of issues from the "big four" and put together a summary of what each offer.
I have not attempted to compare the quality of the writing or information in each publication. For one thing, many of the industry's experts write for more than one of the them. Plus, the standard of writing is generally high across the board.
Here they are, listed alphabetically.
Overview: Published six times a year by the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. Free to members of ABMP; $26 a year for non-members. Massage & Bodywork contains more pages than the other publications, and offers more articles as well as additional ads. Most of the writers are practitioners and educators, many well known in the field. A few are written by editorial staff and journalists.
Massage & Bodywork is the only publication to provide one copy of a client-focused magazine, called Body Sense, along with each issue. There is also a sister magazine, Skin Deep, published by the Associated Skin Care Professionals for estheticians and others in that industry.
Online: www.massageandbodywork.com. The magazine as well as archived articles are available online. The digital edition of Massage & Bodywork is unique in that it includes video clips in ads and articles.
Content: As the name implies, Massage & Bodywork highlights technique articles on a wide range of bodywork modalities. One practical feature that appears in every issue is a printable page with tips for clients, which is also downloadable from the website. Articles on body mechanics for bodyworkers, business advice, and anatomy plus pathology are frequent topics.
Overview: Published monthly except for August and December by the Doyle Group, which also publishes the magazine, Chiropractic Economics. $16.95 a year. About half the articles are written by experts in the field, a few of whom also blog on the website. The editorial staff and other journalists generate the rest. Four issues of Massage Magazine each year are "Product Showcase" issues. These issues are advertiser-based, and most of the articles are also written by advertisers.
Online: www.massagemag.com. The magazine, as well as archived articles and back issues are available online. Out of all the journal websites, massagemag.com, with its associated website futurelmt.com, offers the most extensive selection of articles, including business-building advice, product information and massage blogs on a range of topics.
Content: Frequent topics in Massage Magazine include technique, business (both online and off), self-care information and news in both the massage and spa professions. Product information, about both massage and skin care products and how to use products such as massage creams is a regular feature. Several pages are always devoted to massage research. Unique to Massage Magazine is "Future LMT," a section for students and new practitioners, available both in print and online.
Overview: Published 4 times a year by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Free for AMTA members, $25.00 a year for non-members. Every year, one issue of MTJ is provided to participants in the AMTA National Convention, and one is distributed free to current students of massage schools.
Online: www.amtamassage.org/journal/home.html. The website offers a selection of current and archived articles from the print journal in addition to bonus online articles.
Content: One or more articles on body mechanics and other self-care issues are featured in every issue. Other regular topics include technique and massage for specific conditions, which are penned primarily by bodyworkers, educators or other professionals. Advice for both off and online business and marketing, and massage news and research are frequently featured. MTJ recently removed the book, CD and new product review section from the magazine. MTJ is the only publication to provide in every issue a Continuing Education (CE) course that is also available on the website. After you read it, you can take an online exam and pay the course fee to receive your CEUs.
Overview: Published monthly in newspaper format by MPA Media. Subscription is free. MPA Media publishes trade magazines for many related professions including acupuncture, naturopathic and the spa professions. More massage practitioners subscribe than to other publications, presumably due to the free subscription. Educators and industry experts write the majority of articles and columns.
Online: www.massagetoday.com. A complete archive of articles is available online. Massage Today offers bonus articles on the website, in particular massage industry news. The Women in Bodywork Business blog is also featured online.
Content: Although the newsletter format is only 23 pages long, the editors manage to squeeze in almost the same number of articles as the other journals, even with advertising. Many articles address conditions massage can treat, or should be aware of. Business issues, client relations, marketing advice and political concerns affecting the industry are regularly featured.
To find out more about these publications, check out the online editions, and try to get your hands on a hard copy of each. See which grabs your interest. Reading one or more of them regularly can help fill the gaps in your education, guide you in taking the next steps to establish and build your practice, and familiarize you with many of the instructors involved in continuing education, among other things. |
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