Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/142672
your environmental impact By Sharon Roemmel Massage is widely considered a form of natural healing. Images of leaves and waterfalls are often used to convey our services and merchandise. It's also fairly normal for practitioners to utilize products that boast pure and natural ingredients and packaging. As caring creatures of the planet, nature appeals to us at an instinctual level. But, unbeknownst to many MTs, our decisions about oils, candles, and equipment may be negatively affecting the environment. While practitioners are certainly not in the same class as industrial megapolluters around the world, decisions we make about our practices do have an impact on the health of the planet. And harm to the earth through toxic products or overflowing landfills is ultimately harmful to our clients, our businesses, future generations, and ourselves. So how do we evaluate the environmental impact of our massage? Moreover, what can we do as therapists to reduce the harm? Consider the following options toward making our work sustainable and earth-friendly. Your Green Room Start with an evaluation of your work space. Recent research indicates we are exposed to more environmental toxins while we are inside our homes and offices than when we are outside—even when in a large city. Off-gassing of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) significantly influences indoor air quality. These compounds evaporate into the air from products such as synthetic fragrances, cleaning products, paint, detergent, carpets, and new furniture. Paraffin candles emit toxic, carcinogenic fumes, as well as wall-coating soot. To improve your indoor air quality, consider the following suggestions. sisal over plastics and synthetics for furnishings and decor. Switch from paraffin candles with lead wicks to beeswax, soy, and palm oil candles with cotton wicks. Reduce electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure. While the EPA has backed away from stating that EMFs cause cancer, research strongly suggests potential health risks from exposure. Possible sources of EMFs include power lines, electrical wiring, cell phones, and electrical appliances such as heating pads, stereos, microwaves, and computers. To reduce risk to you and your clients, use a gauss meter to measure the intensity of the magnetic fields in your space. Then, check out some of the devices that claim protection While practitioners are certainly not in the same class as industrial mega-polluters around the world, decisions we make about our practices do have an impact on the health of the planet. Make your office green with house plants. Spider plants, Boston ferns, and aloe vera, among others, will help clear the air of toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene. Also, try green landscaping. Native plants need less water. To maintain the plants, choose nonchemical means of pest control and weed control. Select natural materials like wool, cotton, wood, glass, metal, and from EMFs. Follow in the footsteps of Pam Stauber from The Body Well, in Salem, Oregon, by decreasing the number of electrical devices in your office. Her clients stay toasty with a water bottle rather than an electric heating pad. Apply low-VOC paint when decorating. Cut back on energy consumption. This has become more popular due to rising utility bills. Choosing to turn off appliances,