Fresh air and sunshine are the best therapy for staying sane after weeks and months cooped up inside. If you are feeling a bit drained lately, you're in luck because there are few better places than Seattle when you are eager to get out and about while still maintaining social distancing. With plenty of forests and coastal areas to explore within a short drive of the city, these summer destinations are where you can get away from it all and recharge your batteries without having to go far. From hiking and biking to yoga and bird watching, the possibilities are limited only by your desires. 
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Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest

This is one of the most popular national forests in America. The park is located just west of the Cascades and right in between Mt. Rainer National Park and the wide-open expanses of the Canadian border. It is the perfect place to stretch your legs on some of the best hiking trails in Washington. When your hike is done, you can pitch a tent in the recently reopened campgrounds and enjoy a peaceful and relaxing evening beneath the stars.

Mount Rainer National Park

While you can't camp in the park just yet, and the backcountry has limited access, many of the hiking trails are open. These are perfect for a long hike or a challenging bike ride through the forest. If your creative juices have started to run low, bring your camera or pack a paintbrush. The scenery is at its best this time of year, and you might capture some views that will take your breath away.

Magnuson Park

You don't have to go far to stretch your legs. Magnuson Park is the perfect place to find your center with a little Yoga and Tai Chi. With more than 350 acres to explore, you and up to five people can find a place where you can get close to nature and your friends while still staying distant enough to stay safe. When you go, keep in mind that playgrounds, picnic shelters, pools, and community centers are still closed, as are many of the parking spots. 

Olympic National Park

If you enjoy fishing, now is a great time to drop a line into the waters of Olympic National Park. The park boasts more than 75 miles of Pacific coastline to explore. There are an additional 600 lakes and 4,000 miles of rivers and streams filled with wild salmon and trout. You will also find more char than anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest. This means you will have plenty of chances to find the perfect fishing spot to test out all the lures you've crafted over the past few months.      

Green Lake Park

If you are looking for a quick getaway, then Green Lake Park is the perfect place for you. The park is an ideal spot for running, jogging, skating, and biking. If you feel like taking it slow and doing a little bird watching, bring your binoculars and a sketchpad because the birds have returned, and they are filling the trees with their songs. 

Discovery Park

With 534 acres to spread out in, you are guaranteed to be able to maintain your distance in the wide-open expanses of Discovery Park. This is the largest park in Seattle, and it offers some of the best views of Puget Sound and the Cascades. It's a great place to read on the beach, walk along the shore, or traipse across the sand dunes.

Aqua Verde Paddle Club

While most rental places within the city, state, and national parks are closed, Aqua Verde Paddle Club is open for business. This is a great place to rent a kayak and head out on the water if you want to get out on the water and enjoy the view offshore. Kayaking is a fabulous, inexpensive way to get some exercise and re-center your mindset after months of being cooped up on land. A few hours on the water is all it takes to shed the negative energy and recharge with healthy, positive thoughts.  

Begin Training for a New Career

Local Seattle massage therapy schools are offering distance learning options for training to become a massage therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts and Seattle Clinical Massage School are both currently enrolling for Summer and Fall quarters and offering a distance leaning option. To learn more about beginning your new career as a massage therapist contact the massage therapy schools in Seattle Washington.

COVID-19 or the Corona Virus has invaded our lives like no other disease, or medical condition has been able to accomplish. It has changed not only the way you live your life, but everyone's lifestyle across the globe has been affected.

This virus affects people differently. Those who have become infected display a range of symptoms and can be mild, severe, and in some cases, fatal. Whether you are a doctor or not, you need the knowledge to recognize the warning signs of this virus, which include:

• Persistent pressure or pain in your chest
• Fatigue
• Bluish face or lips
• Trouble with your breathing
• Confusion

If these symptoms are displayed, you should seek medical attention immediately. This virus is serious, and if affecting lifestyles, including how people are able to perform their jobs. One of the professions affected is massage therapists. The American Massage Therapy Association has been monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on the massage therapist's ability to work.
Massage Therapists are at Risk for Spread of COVID-19

Massage therapists should be concerned about coming in to contact with the virus. It is transmitted through contact and spreads rapidly. Therapists are at risk of infection as performing a massage is entirely through a personal touch. Licensed therapists are also dealing with a variety of clients who can be stubborn in their safe hygiene practices. The risk of a massage therapist contracting and then spreading this virus is incredibly high.

When and How Will Massage Therapists Return to Work
As many states and cities put in place the 'shelter-at-home' restrictions and are allowing only 'selective business' to remain open, many massage therapists have been instructed to stop business until further notice. In the State of Washington, Governor Inslee's proclamation 20-25 allowed for health care providers to continue performing only essential health care.

Massage therapists are said to provide non-essential care under the Governor's proclamation, nor are they considered urgent. It was stated services could only be done if there was a documented and clear evidence the medical need for a massage was urgent.

While the 'shelter-at-home' restrictions allowed specific massages to continue as a means of providing essential health services, therapists were not required to do so. The therapist has the right to consider their patient's risk and their personal risk when deciding to provide in-person care.
The AMTA is working with state and federal agencies and trying to get re-opening strategies in place. These strategies will vary between different state regulations. There is a lot of energy from a multitude of experts being put towards controlling this virus so that life can resume, and we can all continue to pursue our future.

Becoming a Massage Therapist
Seattle based massage therapy schools, Northwest Academy for Healing Arts offers some of the smallest class sizes in the Pacific Northwest. They offer this class structure, so all students get the attention they deserve. COVID-19 may be changing even these unique class structures until the virus has been completely controlled.

Academic institutions can be a risky places for you to be right now. If the infection would hit just one student, it could put the entire state at risk. Learners are generally ambitious persons and repeatedly interact among themselves and those outside their school.

Students of massage can learn massage school curriculum from home. It is possible to view lectures from your residence. Check with you local Seattle massage therapy schools regarding how they plan to continue their excellent training programs as we fight through these difficult changes.

While your school may be offering their massage programs and continuing education sections remotely, there is a certain amount of massage therapy that requires hands-on instruction. These classes may be delayed or altered until the virus is controlled.

Massage is an industrious profession, as well as challenging and entertaining. The virus has changed so many aspects of our life, don't let it change your dreams if you have been planning to pursue the career of a massage therapist.

We all know that massage therapist are invaluable professionals, especially in a world where people can't stop complaining about cracking skin and cramped muscles. According to recent statistics, most massage therapists today are members of professional organizations and earn an average of $72.23 for an hour of massage. Interesting, right?

Do you know what the fun part is? You can be a part-time or full-time massage therapist. Yes, that's right! Think about massage skills as a bonus to your career path or a full-time career option.
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Are you considering a massage therapist training school? Is the field of massage therapy and wellness a field that excites you? If your answer is YES, find some of the benefits of obtaining massage therapy training below.

1. Helping your customers is a rewarding experience
One of the most important benefits of being a massage therapist is the sense of satisfaction you will get from helping all sorts of clients. The job outlook is something to take home. Unlike other wellness appointments, most people do enjoy going to the spa. With competent massage therapy training, you can make sure your clients feel immediate improvement after the appointment. Should we even mention the health benefits of massage? They're indeed bountiful. With knowledge of anatomy, musculature, and other massage therapy techniques, you can be sure that your clients will be a healthy, smiley lot.

2. Flexible working hours
Are you a nurse or a yoga instructor who wants a little getaway from the usually long working hours? Well, massage therapy training gives you exactly that. This career is very flexible. What's more, there may be part-time opportunities for holidays, evening hours, or during the weekend. To gain the utmost flexibility, some masseuses chose to go solo. You can work from home or even set your working hours.
If running your own business is all you ever wanted; being a licensed massage therapist is a good way to get started. Even if you have a 'real job' somewhere, massage therapy affords you an entrepreneurial drive that no other career can.

3. You can stay in good shape
Most massage therapists are in excellent shape, because their profession requires them to be on their feet, active, and using their body muscles during massage appointments. If you picture yourself in an active job, then this field might be right for you. But don't forget that the proper training is essential so that you learn to practice safe rubbing techniques and avoid injuries.

4. Training is career-focused
In most instances, massage training schools tailor their courses to take under one year. Contrary to colleges that require years of theoretical education courses, most massage schools provide accelerated courses that cover only the skills vital in your new field. If you're looking for a quick way to jumpstart a side career, this kind of training might be a good option for you.

5. You can work in a variety of settings
With massage therapy training, you will be able to look for jobs outside your comfort zone. People in this profession are in both recreational settings and medical facilities. If you currently work in a healthcare setting, you might find alternative job opportunities in cruise ships, hotels, spas. The point is, your options will be limitless.

If these benefits sound enticing to you, you may want to pursue a career in the field of massage therapy. Northwest Academy for Healing Arts provides a unique massage school experience to help actualize your dream. Their research-based curriculum, experienced faculty, and flexible class schedule will fast-track your ambition and take your passion for therapy to new heights. Learn more today!

​According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the massage therapy industry generates about $16 billion in the United States per year, almost three times its value in 2005.
Today, at least 1% of Americans take part in the massage industry, with 350,000 individuals being massage therapists and students. Let’s delve into what massage therapy involves.


​Who is a Massage Therapist?

Massage therapists are specialists who use touch to manipulate muscles and other soft tissues as a form of treatment. With skills like kneading and compression, they help to relieve soreness, increase relaxation, rehabilitate injuries, and support the general wellbeing of their clients.
Many reasons motivate Americans to seek massage treatment. In a 2018 study by AMTA, 67% of respondents said they attended massage sessions due to medical or stress-related reasons. Some conditions which are treatable with clinical massage include low-back pain, fibromyalgia pain, sleeping problems, osteoarthritis pain, cardiovascular health, and more.

Becoming a Massage Therapist

Before the launch of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), the massage industry remained unregulated in many states. Today, at least 46 states regulate massage, with some offering voluntary state-level certification. The State of Washington requires massage therapists to practice after passing the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), a licensure test regulated by the FSMTB.
You may also be eligible if you hold a massage license from another state whose licensing requirements are comparable to those of Washington. The final option is graduating from a foreign massage training program approved by the regulatory agency in charge at your time of graduation.

Massage Therapy and Health Care

Traditionally, mainstream medical consultants were skeptical about massage therapy. Things changed after scientific studies showed professional massage therapy to be more effective in alleviating certain types of pain and stress than many other existing remedies.
As more states regulate and license massage, the treatment will become universally popular as a procedure in mainstream healthcare. AMTA has noted an upsurge in the patients considering massage after discussing its benefits with their doctors.

Typical Massage Patients

Massage clients come from different fields. Examples include athletes with sports injuries, patients with injuries from car accidents, and people enduring chronic pain for years. A significant number will come looking to relieve stress. The needs of every client will depend on the situation.

What Next?

With rapid developments in the industry, massage therapists will have endless opportunities in the coming years. For this reason, this is the opportune time to enroll for clinical massage training.
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If you’re in the Seattle area, the admissions department at Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts will be happy to help. Contact us today for more on our courses.