• Christina DeBusK

As a massage therapist, you spend your days helping others achieve higher levels of health and wellness through the art of massage therapy.As a result, your clients experience many benefits, including improved circulation, lower levels of stress and more relaxed muscles . But what about your health?
Although being as healthy as you can possibly be requires a multidimensional approach that involves a variety of different actions and behaviors, there’s no denying that the foods you eat can either make your health better or worse.
That’s why some massage therapists choose to stick to a vegan diet, which is a diet that contains no animal products whatsoever, effectively eliminating the consumption of meat, fish, dairy and eggs.
Why Go Vegan?Jeannette von Johnsbach is a massage therapist at the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, in private practice, and founder of The Andreas Method who first stopped eating meat and fish 23 years ago when she was in India.
Von Jonsbach adds that she has been eating a vegan, predominantly living foods diet for the past 18 years.
When asked what continues to draw her to a vegan diet, von Johnsbach shares that vegan food gives an abundance of energy and clarity and is very kind to creation and life.
Plus, she says the foods taste better. “I practiced chewing each bite 100 times and when you do this, animal products taste worse by the second, while foods from the plant kingdom are delicious,” says von Johnsbach.
Spending the first five years as a vegan eating only raw foods, von Johnsbach says was when she really started to understand what it means nourishing the body on all levels with food.
“The sheer amount of physical energy, emotional freedom and mental clarity, and heightened sense of intuition you can experience once you eat really close to nature without adulterating is phenomenal,” she says. “Life is so much better when we are vibrant and have lots of energy.”
Eating vegan also enables you to consume fewer harmful substances as “going straight to the source in the food chain cuts out toxins,” says von Johnsbach. “The immune system is so much stronger on living foods,” she adds.
But what does science have to say about eating vegan?
The Science Behind Eating VeganAccording to an article published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there are many health benefits to eating a vegan diet, a diet which tends to be high in fiber and a number of different nutrients (specifically folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium).
Another study in Nutrients showed that the benefits of this include having lower cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure, as well as being able to maintain a lower weight. All of these together can reduce your risk of heart disease. Being vegan also offers protection against type-2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) adds that eating a plant-based diet can also help you live longer. In fact, one study followed more than 73,000 people over six years and, based on the deaths that occurred during that time, the people who ate some type of plant-based diet—whether vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, or semi-vegetarian—“were 12 percent less likely to die from all causes combined compared to nonvegetarians.”
The NIH further noted that people who ate a plant-based diet had “a lower rate of death due to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and renal disorders such as kidney failure,” specifically. The numbers also showed that this link was stronger for men than for women.
Although eating a vegan diet provides a lot of benefits, transitioning to a food plan that no longer includes meat can be a challenge for some people. That’s why, in her private practice, von Johnsbach spends her time helping people better adjust to a plant-based diet.
“An individualized diet takes into consideration lifestyle, demands, seasons, and one’s own constitution,” says von Johnsbach. “I love how applying the laws of food energetics can transform the results of a well-rounded vegan diet.”
Tips for Eating a Healthy Vegan DietIf you’re ready to make this change, von Johnsbach shares that, when she first became a vegetarian, she noticed that she felt cold so she thought vegetarianism wasn’t for her.
“I just didn’t understand what eating dairy does to your body,” says von Johnsbach, “and that if you don’t eat meat, you need to make sure to include greens in your diet, in order to build blood.”
In fact, getting greens in one’s diet is “probably the most important dietary advice I give to friends and clients,” says von Johnsbach. “Chlorophyll-rich foods act as a form of stored sunshine, performing like vitamin D in the body.”
It’s also important to educate yourself on plant-based sources of protein such as quinoa, hempseeds, lentils and almonds, so you are not depriving yourself of this essential nutrient.
Von Johnsbach also warns that not all vegan diets are created equal. There are junk vegan diets that include lots of soy, flour, sugar and processed oils, or even GMO [genetically modified organisms] and pesticides. This is not a healthy vegan diet, she says.
After all, French fries, pasta and lollipops can all be vegan but are not wholesome options.
Instead, you want to focus on living, biogenic foods, says von Johnsbach, which means eating more fresh fruits and vegetables (including sea vegetables) and fermented foods. Von Johnsbach calls these nutritional powerhouses, which she believes are life-generating.
Sprouted nuts, seeds and legumes are also important, as she believes “sprouts are the most energy charged, alkaline producing, most life-generating foods available in your kitchen,” says von Johnsbach.
The good news is, “the body will crave nutrient dense, real whole foods when it is given the chance,” says von Johnsbach. “It has nothing to do with willpower.”
And the key to helping your body crave these natural foods is to “stop the refined sugar and refined flour, as these trigger a real addiction cycle in the body,” she says.
About the Author
Christina DeBusk is a freelance writer dedicated to providing readers relevant, research-backed content related to health and wellness, personal development, safety, and small business ownership.

Nov 28, 2017
 
by Elizabeth Yuko

Here's what to expect during a massage & what to do if something makes you uncomfortable
So far, a lot of the conversation around sexual assault and misconduct has centered on high-profile figures — primarily those in the entertainment industry and politics. But in reality, the problem runs far deeper than that and affects many people across almost every profession. The most recent example of this surfaced in an article from BuzzFeed over the weekend, which notes that nearly 200 women have reported sexual assaults as clients at Massage Envy — the first and largest chain of massage franchises in the United States.
This is wrong and disturbing on so many levels, including that when you go for a massage, you put yourself into a physically vulnerable position with a stranger — and you’re there to relax and let your guard down. These reports about Massage Envy raise a lot of questions regarding consent and what’s normal — and not normal — during a massage. If you aren’t used to massages — or even if you are but are working with someone new — it can sometimes be difficult to determine where the line should be drawn, especially when that line is a thin sheet covering your naked body.
Massages do come with health benefits, including helping with aches and pains and recovery after a tough workout — not to mention they can be incredibly relaxing. So instead of skipping your next appointment or avoiding this treatment on your next spa trip, here are a few guidelines to help you determine what’s normal during a massage (and what’s always inappropriate) and tips for communicating with your therapist.
What happens during a normal massage?The most important part of a massage is the conversation you have with your therapist before the treatment starts. At this point, the therapist should go over exactly what the massage entails and ask you if there are areas you would like them to avoid or focus on.
More: 5 Reasons Your Need a Massage If You Exercise Regularly
Communication is key regardless of whether you’re getting a massage as part of prescribed physical therapy or you’re simply there to relax, Kamillya Hunter, the owner and founder of Spa Analytics says. Before your first appointment with a new therapist, he or she should do a thorough intake, she adds, which involves asking about the client’s pain points and any injuries, medical treatments and medications they are taking. Next, a good therapist will walk the client through exactly what they plan to work on during the session and confirm they understood the client’s specific needs, Hunter adds.
“When a massage therapist asks if you'd like a full-body massage, in our minds we are going to massage all of the major muscle groups,” Stephanie Agakian, a licensed massage therapist and owner of Bodhi Body Studios, explains.
Another way to think about it is that a typical therapeutic massage will include all the parts of the body that a thong bikini does not cover, including legs, arms, back, butt, abdomen and face, says Kathleen Lisson, a board-certified massage therapist and author of Swollen, Bloated and Puffy.
Yes, gluteal muscles (butt) are frequently involved in a massage, as it may relieve common ailments like back pain or sciatica, Hunter explains. But again, if you’re not comfortable being touched there, you can speak up at any time and let your therapist know.
The communication should continue between you and the therapist throughout the massage. They should check in to make sure the pressure they’re using works for you, and to ensure you’re comfortable. In turn, you should feel free to speak up if something could improve your experience.
“You should feel comfortable enough to let your therapist know if something isn't right, whether that's the pressure they are using, you get too hot or too cold, you hate the music that's playing or you need more work done in an area,” Agakian says. “After all, massage therapists are body workers. We are not mind readers, and we take pride in our work. If something is off, we want to know about it.”
Whether you are entirely naked or partially clothed is up to you — and the establishment. Some massage therapists and franchises, including MassageJoy in the U.K., require clients to wear at least their underwear during a session according to the company’s owner Naz Ahm.
Even if you are completely undressed, the therapist should place a sheet over you, covering the areas of your body that are not currently being massaged with a sheet or blanket. This practice is called “draping,” and according to Hunter, franchises typically have a very strict draping policy. But she also points out that whether the sheet is wrapped tightly or loosely around your body is not an indicator of a good or bad massage.


Of course, it’s important to note that not all people are comfortable with every type of touch — and that’s completely fine. This is where communication with your massage therapist comes in. Even if massaging a body part — let’s say your feet — is an entirely acceptable part of a massage, you may not enjoy having your feet touched. In that case, just tell your therapist and he or she will skip that area. If for some reason they don’t, you can call off the massage at any point.
“A trained therapist will know how to give a good massage even when a client does not want all of his/her body massaged,” Lisson says. “A big red flag is when the therapist is unable to or seems too rushed to have a conversation with you about your needs before the massage begins.” 
What is never OK during a massage?If you are getting a massage for therapeutic or relaxing purposes, it is never acceptable for the therapist to touch the client’s genitals. That area is strictly off limits.
In most cases, a woman’s breast tissue is also avoided during a massage. There is one exception to this, though: Getting a breast massage after a mastectomy. But according to Agakian, before getting this type of treatment, the client needs a referral from a doctor and should ensure they are working with a therapist who has been trained in this specific type of massage. Hunter also notes that whether it’s legal to involve breasts in a massage can depend on the state, but even in places where it’s acceptable, it still may require written consent from the client.
It’s also important to note that the sexual misconduct happens both ways. According to Hunter, sexual assault happens even more frequently to the therapist than the clients.
Some establishments, like MassageJoy, have processes in place if a therapist faces an uncomfortable situation with a client, like if they refuse to leave their underwear on (complying with company policy) or make any other inappropriate requests, Ahm says. Remember that they are a person too and even though you are paying for a service, your therapist should not have their safety, well-being or boundaries violated either.
What to do if something inappropriate happensFirst and foremost, know that either the therapist or the client can end a session at any time, whether it’s because of clear sexual misconduct or because one party feels uncomfortable. If that happens to the client, they can get dressed and immediately remove themselves from the situation.
It is also important to note that sexual misconduct is not something massage therapists, managers or even owners are necessarily equipped or trained to handle, Hunter says.


“To say massage therapists, managers or owners should know how to handle situations such as these implies this is something common in the professional industry. It is not,” she adds.
So where should you report misconduct? It depends where it happens. If it occurs at a franchise or larger massage studio, Agakian recommends reporting it to the manager. Even if they aren’t the ones to handle the investigation, it’s important for them to know what is happening in their establishment.
If your therapist is self-employed, you can always report any sexual (or other) misconduct to the police or the state massage board.
Tips for a successful massageIt’s important to remember that not every massage therapist is the same. Like psychotherapists, sometimes it takes a few attempts to find the massage therapist that’s right for you. Not everyone likes the same type of style and pressure, so it makes sense to prefer working with some therapists over others.
Kristie Garduno, owner of Clients Kneaded Mobile Massage, suggests getting a recommendation from a friend or coworker if you’re looking for a new therapist as well as reading plenty of online reviews. But above all, she suggests finding a therapist that hears you.
“As long as the therapist pays attention, he/she can adjust every other variable,” she explains. “And of course, also find a therapist that you feel comfortable with. Massage is all about relaxing, so if you cannot get comfortable enough to relax, the time is wasted.”
Once you find a massage therapist you like, stick with them, Lisson says.
“My best advice for making massage a part of your wellness routine is to develop a relationship with a licensed/certified therapist that you can trust,” she adds. “Always seeing a different therapist increases your chances of getting a massage from a therapist with bad intentions.”
Like so many other parts of life, the moral of the massage story is that communication is crucial. If your massage therapist doesn’t initiate a conversation before the treatment starts, don’t be afraid to start it yourself. Be firm and clear about what you want and don’t want, and always remember that you can leave at any point, and above all — take care of yourself.

by Mark Iandolo | 

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Nov. 16 that agency staff-submitted comments to the Tennessee General Assembly supporting a state law exemption for animal massage therapy.
The exemption would allow non-veterinarians to practice animal massage therapy in the state. The FTC recommended the exemption because it would create more competition for professional services. According to the FTC, these services typically benefit consumers.
The exemption is currently in place but only temporarily. It is set to expire July 1, 2018, unless the Tennessee legislature takes action. If no action is taken by that date, the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners can require those who wish to practice animal massage therapy to have a veterinary license or work under veterinary supervision.
The Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Competition and Bureau of Economics at the FTC submitted the comments.
The agency voted 2-0 to issue the staff comment, which was sent to Tennessee state Sen. Kerry Roberts on Nov. 15.
Ellen Connelly of the office of policy planning and Connor Shively of the Northwest Regional Office are the FTC staff contacts for the case.

By Brad Bennett 
 
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. 
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As we close out the year, the question arises what we can expect for 2018? Interestingly, the potential regulations that will likely change or go into effect, are coming from Washington, but not necessarily new regulations, but in many instances they are modifications of old rules, and many of these are “hidden” within the potential Tax Reform Regulations.
Some of the important trends affecting Human Resources and Compensation and Benefits, are as follows:
1.    Changes in the HR function: The HR function in larger companies continues to expand and has grown in importance, as its role encompasses more responsibilities, while the HR function in medium and smaller organizations has actually stayed pretty much the same or in some cases, has actually truncated. In larger organizations, HR has gotten a “seat at the management table”, and the recognition that it actually has control over the labor force, the largest expenditure within many companies. In smaller companies, the HR function is typically strapped for people and resources necessary to get the jobs done, and takes on a less defined role.
2.    Workplace Wellness Programs: Contrary to general belief, the benefit of wellness programs far outweighs the costs of those programs. In addition to the health aspects, they provide a strong sense of team unity among employees, and provide increased job satisfaction. Under the general heading of “wellness” are health and welfare programs, as well as those that provide retirement planning and other money management areas to assist employees to better understand and make appropriate decisions on financial issues.
3.    Student Loan Assistance – One of the most significant financial issues, that affects primarily the younger employees are student loans, which are currently valued at $1.3 Trillion. From the companies’ perspective, the fear is that the ex-students are repaying their debt with funds that should be put aside into 401(k) and 403(b) retirement accounts, thereby adding a huge and unwelcome level of anxiety to them, as well as their future retirement planning. Companies that adopt some form of relief, possibly tied to the employees’ length of service and performance, or company financials, may have a distinct advantage over their competitors.
4.    The Impact of Regulations on Compensation and Benefit Matters – There is considerable uncertainty with respect to executive compensation matters, tied to the recently released House and Senate tax reform bills. The House Bill threatens to eliminate deductions for performance-related compensation in public companies, place an excise tax on executive compensation in not-for-profits, and basically eliminate deferred compensation. On the other hand, a number of states and cities have recently enacted or are discussing potential increases to minimum wages; all of these issues could require significant restructuring of companies’ compensation programs. For benefits, the possible elimination or drastic modifications to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare will continue to shake up the health insurance marketplace. Our advice is the need to be aware of what’s happening both nationally and locally, so you and your company are not caught by surprise.
5.    Inclusive Perquisites – The definition of perquisites used to be inexpensive, but well-received extra benefits that were generally reserved for upper management; however, the definition has changed as companies strive to recruit and retain lower level, quality talent. Expense is always a consideration; nevertheless, creative and low cost perks with high intrinsic value can be made available to all employees, since the cost can be fairly minimal compared with the value of a content workforce. Some of the most distinct perks include transportation allowances, parking passes, training and educational programs, massage therapy, team-building exercises, health clubs, discounted child care programs, as well as extra vacation or time off.
6.    Salary Increases – As most companies have noted, salary increases have been moving upward at a lethargic pace. Specifically, salaries increased by an average of 3.0% in 2016, while 2017 appears to be on target for a 3.1% average increase. WorldatWork projects this pace will continue to grow slightly to 3.2% for 2018. The question is why salary budgets are moving so sluggishly, even though unemployment is the lowest it’s been in the last decade and there has been modest inflation. One major reason is that automation has finally caught up with many manufacturing companies which have been installing robotics to replace workers in repetitive jobs. Another reason is the huge influence of sophisticated software that cuts time and increases accuracy of many formerly labor intensive functions, such as check-in procedures at airports, complex mathematical underwriting calculations, and a host of similar service and office functions.
After next year, in 2019, it will be interesting to look back and identify which of these predictions have actually occurred. We may see larger companies embracing many of these trends, while smaller organizations will continue to be squeezed by the market costs, resulting in keeping their benefits the same or passing more of the costs onto the employees.
The predictions are based on CRI’s view of its “Crystal Ball”, based on what is occurring among our clients. Some of the issues may not come to pass, while others could rise to the top of the list. We don’t believe we have all the answers; however, we stay on top of what is happening, and will let our readers know when other topics and trends appear.
About Compensation Resources, Inc. (CRI): CRI provides compensation and human resource consulting services to mid- and small-cap public companies, private, family-owned, and closely-held firms, as well as not-for-profit organizations. CRI specializes in executive compensation, sales compensation, pay-for-performance and incentive compensation, performance management programs, and expert witness services.
Paul R. Dorf, APD    
Chairman, Managing Director
Compensation Resources, Inc.
877-934-0505 • Fax: 201-934-0737
http://www.CompensationResources.com