A Touch of Costa Rica
A Touch of Costa Rica is a wellness travel podcast that shares inspirational stories, and introduces you to the people, places, and priceless journeys that happen at the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy. A Touch of Costa Rica highlights the transformational massage therapist training programs as well as Costa Rica travel tips from the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy and Yoga community. Hosted and produced by Qiana Martin in collaboration with the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy and Yoga, each week’s episode takes listeners on a life changing trip to the Samara Beach community in Costa Rica. To learn more about CRSMT, visit http://www.atouchofcostarica.com
Episodes
59 episodes
You Have Everything You Need
In our final episode of 2023, we revisit our powerful conversations with massage industry groundbreakers Andrew Biel, Rachel Beider, Allison Denney and Ruth Werner. Let their personal journeys, advice and reflections inspire you to take the nex...
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19:04
Pioneering Innovation in Massage
What will inspire your next big idea? Lyla Keeler joins us to talk about her journey creating the LMT 1 table. As the first female massage therapist to receive a U.S. Patent for a massage table design, she shares how her one-of-a-kind apparatus...
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35:40
My Global Journey for Specialized Training
Where will your quest for specialized training lead you? Erin Maranjian joins us to talk about her global journey to acquire specialized manual lymph drainage and lymphedema therapy education. Also, the veteran massage therapist and MLD educato...
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27:35
Bartering My Way to a Multimillion-Dollar Brand
How can I start my own thing with minimal resources? If you are asking yourself this question, this episode is for you. Rachel Beider shares how she mastered the art of bartering her time, massage skills and resources to create PRES...
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37:42
Forging My Own Path to Play
Who am I as a massage therapist? It is a common question that bodyworkers ask during their journey in the industry. Allison Denney has amassed more than 54 million YouTube views inspiring fellow professionals to operate in their au...
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29:10
Returning to a Familiar Place for a Powerful Release
Ready to travel back in time at Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy? Almost two decades ago, licensed massage therapist Julie Alvarez served as the Kinesiology instructor for the school. She joins us to share her journey to Samara, early exper...
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25:50
Curiosity & Service: Creating A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology
Will an ad beckon you to your destiny? When legendary massage educator Ruth Werner happened upon a small ad for a massage school in the back of a newspaper, it set off a chain of events that has resulted in a 35+ year career in the industry and...
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42:04
Reconnecting to My Caregiver DNA
After a series of life-altering experiences, Julius Arciaga took a career-changing leap that led him to massage school and later to the campus of Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy. The medical massage therapist, reiki practitioner and 2022 C...
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36:05
Dancing with the Structure and Energy of Zero Balancing
When ballet dancer Lisa Bardarson made the powerful decision to choose massage as her career dance partner, it transported her to a lifelong journey of helping others and deepening her understanding of her own body. The 2023 CRSMT Zero Balancin...
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18:56
Dreaming the Blueprint for Manual Therapists
Is your big idea for massage therapy right around the corner? In celebration of our 50th episode, legendary author Andrew Biel joins us for a rare interview to share the mind-blowing origin story of his textbook, Trail Guide to the Body....
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19:18
Advocating for Inclusive Massage Research
Do you know the importance of massage research? Dr. Ann Blair Kennedy joins us to share her journey in massage and her involvement with bringing bodywork practitioners and clients into research studies, as researchers, to better understand trea...
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34:14
Stepping Into a New Role
When the pandemic brought Cody Garcia’s touring play to a halt, they were presented with an opportunity to pursue their massage interest. They share their unique path to Samara and experience at CRSMT. Also, Cody will share their e...
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15:32
First Impressions Create Lasting Impressions
In our final episode of 2022, we hear from CRSMT community members Stacy Allen, Kathy Brady, Morgan Cox, Kelly Nichols-Scott and Heidi Roy. They share their first impressions, advice for listeners who desire to join the holistic health communit...
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14:26
From Learning the Business to Being in Business
American small business expert Melinda Emerson said, “You never lose in business, either you win or you learn.” In this week’s highlight episode, CRSMT Instructor Victoria Moutahir and CRSMT alum Bomani Clarke talk about their exper...
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14:02
The Reward of Achieving Your Goals
From her childhood desire to help others using physical touch to her teenage dream of enrolling at the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy, Sky Lauher shares how her journey to providing bodywork services for mothers has been filled with memor...
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19:19
Educating Others on the Massage Business
CRSMT instructor Victoria Moutahir shares how a post workout massage referral transported her to a 25-year career teaching students, mentoring young professionals and educating decisionmakers on the massage business.Also, she reveals her...
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21:42
Following the Body, Mind and Spirit
CRSMT alum Bomani Clarke shares how he was transported from a decades long federal career to arriving in Samara and the personal revelations that he received during his time there. He’ll also introduce listeners to the exclusive holist...
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34:31
Following Your Childhood Desire to Help Others
Did you have a childhood aspiration to be of service to others? CRSMT alum Jen Andrews shares how massage and other holistic health modalities supported her early life experiences with physical pain and complex PTSD. She’ll also introduce liste...
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26:10
Meet 3 Powerful Changemakers in Samara
Did you miss our captivating conversations with some of our local neighbors? If so, we have you covered.In this week’s highlight episode, CRSMT Community Changemakers Beatriz Jirón (Natour by Bea), Andrea Keith (Asociación CREAR) and B...
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16:26
Massage is a Springboard for Your Specialty
How can massage help you connect with modalities that resonate deeply with you? In this week’s highlight episode, CRSMT Educators Thomas Dubois and Shannon Gilmartin join CRSMT alums Kelly Nichols-Scott and Heidi Roy to talk about ...
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14:36
Learning a Second Language to Bridge Cultural Gaps
Ready to speak your way into powerful, cross-cultural experiences? Costa Rica TEFL Founding Director Barbara Miller shares how a visit to Colombia led her on a journey to creating immersive language training programs for teachers in Samara. It’...
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22:56
Fueling Your Passion for Lifelong Learning
What is one place where you have the opportunity to connect with a recent massage therapy graduate, an established professional and award-winning continuing education provider? You can meet them on the CRSMT campus participating in one of our a...
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13:58
Birthing a Massage Career as a Single Mom
Can a holistic health profession be the perfect complement for your vision as a parent? CRSMT Guest Instructor Kathy Brady shares how her mom goals inspired a career changing leap to massage. It’s a journey filled with practical tips, unique in...
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38:22