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September 2018 Newsletter
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Good Sleep Is Good For Your Health!
September is a bustling month! Our September classes have begun, and the summer has officially ended. This leads me to the theme of this month’s newsletter: SLEEP HYGIENE .

Did you know there’s a term for your bedtime rituals and nightly habits? Collectively, these behaviors are known as sleep hygiene. We’ve all heard the saying, “All work and no play.” However, even with a healthy balance between work and play, getting good sleep is essential to maintaining health.

Here are a few signs of poor sleep hygiene:
  • Frequent sleep disturbances
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Taking too long to fall asleep

And, here are a few tips for better sleep :
  • Consistency: Go to bed and awake at the same time even on weekends
  • Comfort: Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable, cool temperature. Remove distracting electronics from bedroom
  • Avoid: Large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime, and avoid naps if possible during the daytime
  • Exercise: Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep
  • Get Sunshine: It may seem counter-intuitive, given the importance of sleeping in a dark room, but a daily dose of sunshine can actually help you sleep better.

And, of course, there is one additional thing that may improve sleep: getting a massage !

Research has shown that massage therapy may variously improve the quality of sleep. For more information, see the AMTA’s approved position statement that massage therapy can help improve sleep . Or you can visit this 2017 article by the AMTA on massage for improved mood and sleep , which also has a printable handout download that can be shared with your massage therapy clients!

Learn more about the damaging effects of insufficient sleep by watching the video with sleep expert Dr. Matthew Walker below! Here’s for a well-rested fall!
Announcements & Updates
New at the ITM Blog!
Massage Therapist Ranks Among Best Jobs of 2018

U.S. News & World Report has ranked massage therapist among the top careers for 2018, coming in #4 for best health care support jobs and #43 in the top best 100 jobs .

New Job Postings!
We are continuing to add new job postings to our website. If you are looking for a massage therapy position, you may want to consider bookmarking our "Employment Opportunities" webpage , which is being regularly updated. Please visit the following links to review recent job openings.