Articles and Stories

• SEATED MASSAGE: A Time to Sit up Straight and Relax by Mary Kathleen Rose. Massage & Bodywork Magazine: February/March 2006. Discusses disadvantages of forward inclining "massage chair"; advantages of massage for the client who is seated upright in a regular chair; tips for the therapist regarding anatomy, intention, body patterning and effective techniques for seated massage.

• INTEGRATING AROMA: Cautions & Considerations by Mary Kathleen Rose. Massage & Bodywork Magazine: April/May 2004. Discusses concerns with the popular use of aromatherapy and essential oils, including: allergies, sensitivities, irritation, masking of rancidity, invasiveness of scent, desensitization of olfactory sense. Offers safe alternatives for Natural Scent Therapy.

• COMFORT TOUCH: Nurturing Acupressure Massage for the Elderly and the Ill by Mary Kathleen Rose. Massage & Bodywork Magazine: December/January 2004. Introduces the principles and basic techniques of Comfort Touch, a nurturing form of acupressure, designed to be safe for the elderly, the ill or anyone in need of a caring touch. 

• The Art of the Chart - Documenting Massage Therapy with CARE NOTES by Mary Kathleen Rose. Massage & Bodywork Magazine: April/May 2003. The CARE Notes system provides an easy to use, appropriate method for documenting massage therapy. Useful in private practice, it is also compatible with narrative charting used in medical settings. 

• THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & DIABETES  by Mary Kathleen Rose. Massage Therapy Journal: Winter 2002. Provides information on the benefits of massage therapy for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Reports of a study which validates the importance of blood glucose monitoring before and after massage therapy sessions. Has information on how to treat hypoglycemia, a serious complication for insulin dependent diabetics.

• THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE: Complementary Health Care for Diabetes by Mary Kathleen Rose. Diabetes Self-Management: November/December 2000. Discusses benefits of massage therapy for people with diabetes as part of complementary and integrative health care; importance of blood glucose monitoring to enjoy massage safely.

• HYPOGLYCEMIA: What Massage Therapists and Diabetics Need to Know by Mary Kathleen Rose. Discusses important safety information on how to treat hypoglycemia, a serious complication for insulin dependent diabetics. Stresses the importance of blood glucose monitoring before and after receiving massage.

• Massage & Occupational Therapy by Cary Kauk. An occupational therapy assistant shares her view on the value of massage therapy in combination with occupational therapy.

• Ivy's Story -- Comfort Touch with a hospice patient; the importance of "being simple."

• Laurie's Story -- Comfort Touch for an elderly man with Alzheimer's Disease.

• EXPLORING INNER SPACE Human Cadaver Study for Bodyworkers by Mary Kathleen Rose. Massage & Bodywork Magazine: August/September 2004. The author reports on her experience of the Somanautics Human Dissection workshop, an innovative approach to the study of integral anatomy, pioneered by Gil Hedley. 

• Your Birthright: A Case for the Human Stance by Mary Ann Foster. Massage & Bodywork Magazine: April/May 2005. The author offers her expertise in somatic patterning for bodyworkers. She discusses the elements that contribute to postural alignment and efficient body  movement. Understanding of these principles enhances the effectiveness and enjoyment of massage for both the therapist and the client. 

• Somatic Anatomy: Listening Hands and Tissue Palpation by Mary Ann Foster. Massage & Bodywork Magazine: August/September 2006. Provides information and insights about the layers of body tissues. Foster encourages bodyworkers to think and expand palpatory skills beyond the musculature. Simple exercises enhance appreciation for the richness of texture and function that lies in every layer of the body's tissues. Very useful for practitioners of Comfort Touch.

• Touching Stories  --  Irene Smith, a pioneer in the field of massage for the elderly, the ill and the dying shares stories and images of her work. She is the founder of Everflowing, an educational outreach program, dedicated to teaching specific touch skills as an integral component of end of life care.