Massage:

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Summer Olympics in Beijing. If you’ve been paying attention at all, you know there has been a lot of press, mostly negative, about China’s record on human rights, especially in connection with Darfur, and the annexation of Tibet.

Many groups are calling for a boycott of the Games this year. Some are suggesting that Heads of State decline to attend the Opening Ceremonies as a way to send a message to China.

I have the pleasure of working with a number of athletes who have been training for years for their shot at the Olympics and I believe we would do every Olympian a disservice if we boycott the Games. Ideally the Olympics is about sport and competition and fair-play and should be outside the realm of politics. In reality, politics has played a role in every Olympics. I think that all of the attention being focused on China will have a positive effect on the behavior of the Chinese government.

As the costs of health insurance continue to spiral upward, more and more consumers are enrolling in high-deductible insurance plans attached to health savings accounts, or flexible health spending plans through their employers (sometimes called cafeteria plans). These plans allow consumers to spend pre-tax dollars on covered healthcare. In many cases, massage therapy is an allowable expense if recommended or prescribed by a doctor. Most clients are unaware of this benefit and will appreciate it when you discuss it with them. Individual plans may vary, so clients need to check with their plan administrator for details.