America’s massage therapists are well known for their dedication to volunteerism. This article illustrates the dynamic international outreach work provided by MTs who have successfully combined their love of their profession with their desire to travel around the globe.

Even with an ergonomically designed workstation, comfortable chair, and good posture, working at a computer is likely to result in strain, because it requires the body to alternate between repetitive motion and stillness, and that creates stiffness and strain.

Fortunately, the body is forgiving. You can counteract the effects of eight hours a day at a desk with just 15 minutes of movement. Of course, you’ll also need aerobic exercise and strength training to stay healthy in other ways. Here’s one exercise to help keep your shoulders loose.

Atopy translates to “out of the way, unusual.” In medical circles, this term is applied to the observation that a group of common hypersensitivity reactions occurs within the same family, or—unluckily—sometimes all in the same person. The trio is comprised of eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), hay fever (also called allergic sinusitis), and asthma.

I volunteer at Kernan Hospital where I teach a multiple sclerosis day group for one hour twice a month. In the first part of the class, I teach seated t’ai chi chih, and for the second part of the class I open it up to anyone who would like to receive reiki/chakra energy healing. It is a joy for me to see how relaxed the members are after class (some actually fall asleep!). I also know I’m helping when I pull pain and/or open a shoulder chakra (which only takes minutes), and I hear, “I can’t believe it. The pain is gone!” The look of gratitude on their faces is priceless.