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As a Pennsylvania massage therapist, I don’t have a legal requirement to carry massage insurance. However, I still maintain coverage because it’s a vital safeguard for my career.

In Louisiana, though, massage therapists are required by law to have insurance. Additionally, Louisiana therapists must complete 12 continuing education (CE) hours annually and ensure their CE providers are recognized by the Louisiana Massage Therapy Board.

In this article, we’ll cover both aspects—finding the inexpensive massage insurance without CE classes and massage insurance with CE classes that are approved by the Louisiana State Massage Board.

Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a marketing fee at no extra cost to you. The earnings help keep my blog going so that I can keep providing you the free and lowest-cost options to start and grow a massage business. Thanks!

Massage Insurance Without CEs: Most Affordable Options

Even though my state doesn’t mandate insurance, I wouldn’t practice without it because of protection from liability, business credibility, and coverage for multiple modalities. As you know, for Louisiana massage therapists, insurance isn’t optional—it’s required. Let’s explore two budget-friendly insurance options if you don’t need CEs included. Here are two lowest-cost options:

Feature	Insure Bodywork	InsureLMT
Price	$96/year	$94/year
General & Professional Liability	Yes	Yes
Product Coverage	Yes	Yes
Identity Theft Protection	Add On	Yes
Rental Damage Insurance	Yes	Yes
Online Coverage Purchase	Yes	Yes
Additional Insureds	Yes	Add On
Monthly Payment Option	Yes	No

Both provide essential coverage. If monthly rather than yearly payments are important to you or if you have to add additional insureds to your policy, Insure Bodywork makes the most sense. If you feel strongly about having and not paying more for Identity Theft Protection, then go with InsureLMT. Choose what fits your needs best!

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Massage Insurance with CEs: Do Their CEs Count?

If you prefer insurance that includes continuing education credits, it’s important to select an insurance provider whose CE courses are recognized by the Louisiana Massage Therapy Board. Not all insurance providers offer CEs that meet Louisiana’s standards. Here’s how I found that out.

A Louisiana massage therapist contacted me asking if my CEs were approved by Louisiana state board. I thought they were because I was a NCBTMB provider. But when I went to check with the Louisiana State Board, I found that NCBTMB provider status did not mean my CEs were approved by the Louisiana Massage Board. If I wanted them approved, I would have to submit them and go through their approval process.

So, before committing to a CE provider, double-check that their courses are recognized by the Louisiana Massage Therapy Board. The best way to do this is to visit the board’s official website and use their search tool for approved CE providers.

That said, I did the work for you with three massage insurance providers who bundle CEs with massage insurance: AMTA, ABMP, and Massage Magazine Insurance Plus.

First, AMTA’s CE courses are not found when using the Board’s approved CE search tool. However, Massage Magazine Insurance Plus and ABMP CEs are approved by the Louisiana Massage State Board. Here’s a price and insurance comparison:

Feature	ABMP	Massage Magazine Insurance Plus
Price	$199/year	$169/year
General & Professional Liability	Yes	Yes
CE Courses Included	Yes (Accepted by LA Board)	Yes (Accepted by LA Board)
Legal Defense Coverage	Yes	Yes
Online Business Resources	Yes	Yes
Website & Marketing Tools	Yes	Yes
Discounts on Massage Products	Yes	Yes
Additional Perks	Online education, networking	Industry discounts, wellness programs

If price is your main concern, Massage Magazine Insurance Plus offers a lower-cost alternative while still meeting Louisiana-approved CE requirements. ABMP provides additional business support, making it a better option for therapists looking for more professional support.

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How to Switch Insurance Without Disrupting Coverage

All the insurance providers mentioned in this article offer occurrence-based policies, which cover incidents that happen during the policy period, regardless of when a claim is filed. This means you can switch from one occurrence-based policy to another without worrying about coverage gaps, as each policy independently covers incidents during its term.

Regarding policy start dates, some providers allow you to select a future start date when purchasing a new policy. For example, Massage Magazine Insurance Plus permits you to buy a policy now and choose a start date within the next three months. This flexibility enables you to secure favorable rates and ensure continuous coverage without overlaps or gaps.

It’s advisable to confirm this option with each provider to align your new policy’s start date with the expiration of your current coverage.

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Final Thoughts: Choose What’s Best for You

Louisiana massage therapists must have insurance, and they also have specific CE requirements to meet every year. The best option for you depends on your needs:

• If you just need insurance, look at Insure Bodywork or InsureLMT.
• If you want insurance with CEs, ABMP advertises strong professional support, while Massage Magazine Insurance Plus is a lower-cost option.
• If CEs are your focus, always confirm that your courses are approved by the Louisiana Massage Therapy Board before enrolling.

I’m here if you have questions (mark@makethemostofmassage.com). Ultimately, it’s your hard-earned money—spend it where it makes the most sense for you and your massage career!

 

As a massage therapist, you might be wondering why I’m writing about NACAMS personal training insurance. The answer is simple—our massage business expanded into a wellness business (www.pressureperfectmassage.com), incorporating personal training and fitness classes. Naturally, this led us on a quest to find personal training insurance that could provide broad coverage for the different services we offered.

In this article, I’ll highlight some of the key offerings of NACAMS personal training insurance, including portable coverage, member benefits, and services covered. While this isn’t an endorsement of NACAMS or any specific insurance provider, I want to share some of the pluses I found.

Affiliate Disclosure: If you purchase through one of my links, I earn a small marketing fee. That said, the money I earn from affiliate sales allows me to research, experiment, and find ways for small business owners to start and grow a business for free or as inexpensively as possible.

Portable Coverage: Train Clients Anywhere

One of the standout features of NACAMS personal training insurance is its portable coverage. As a massage therapist, you may already understand the value of coverage that follows you wherever you work. Whether you’re providing in-home massage sessions, working at multiple spas, or offering services at corporate wellness events, you need liability protection that moves with you.

The same applies to personal trainers. Many trainers work in gyms, private studios, clients’ homes, and even outdoor locations like parks and beaches. NACAMS personal training insurance ensures that you’re covered no matter where you train your clients. This flexibility is essential for fitness professionals who don’t want to be tied to one location or facility-based insurance.

Member Benefits: More Than Just Insurance

NACAMS doesn’t just provide insurance—it offers additional perks that can save you money. Not every benefit will be important to you, but taking advantage of just one or two can make a significant financial impact. Here are some standout membership benefits:

• Discounted Fitness Equipment – Save on essential tools of the trade.
• Professional Resources – Access to industry news, continuing education discounts, and professional development.
• Retail Discounts – Get deals on apparel, supplements, and gear.

Services Covered: A Broad Range of Modalities

Massage therapists don’t typically stick to one modality. Many of us combine Swedish, deep tissue, sports massage, and even energy work to tailor treatments to our clients’ needs. NACAMS personal training insurance takes a similar approach by covering multiple fitness and wellness services under one policy.

Comparison of Coverage: Personal Training vs. Massage

Service/Modality	Covered Under NACAMS Personal Training Insurance	Covered Under Massage Insurance
Personal Training	Yes	No
Yoga Instruction	Yes	Sometimes
Pilates Instruction	Yes	Sometimes
Group Fitness	Yes	No
Sports Conditioning	Yes	No
Massage Therapy	No	Yes
Reflexology	No	Yes
Stretch Therapy	Yes	Sometimes

As you can see, there are similarities between NACAMS personal training insurance and massage insurance in terms of broad service coverage. If you’re offering multiple wellness services—including personal training, yoga, or Pilates—you need an insurance policy that won’t limit you to a single modality.

Is NACAMS Personal Training Insurance Right for You?

Ultimately, choosing insurance is a personal decision. If you’re a massage therapist who has expanded into personal training or wellness coaching, NACAMS personal training insurance offers broad coverage that might fit your needs. Here’s how to decide if it’s a good fit:

• Do you train clients in multiple locations? If yes, portable coverage is a plus.
• Do you want extra perks? If you’ll use the member benefits, NACAMS can offer additional value.
• Do you provide multiple services? If you’re doing more than just personal training, having coverage for yoga, Pilates, and other fitness services is beneficial.
• Price in your range? NACAMS is $179/year or $329/two years.

Final Thoughts: Spend Where It Makes Sense for You

This article isn’t meant to convince you to buy NACAMS personal training insurance—it’s about highlighting what they offer. If you’re a “perk person,” NACAMS has some great extras. But at the end of the day, it’s your hard-earned money, and you should spend it where it makes sense for you.

Take the time to compare policies, understand the coverage, and choose the one that fits your unique business needs. Whether it’s NACAMS or another provider, getting the right insurance will give you peace of mind so you can focus on what you do best—helping clients reach their wellness goals.

 

This year, my wife, Lisa, and I decided to handle our sh**. It’s our New Year’s mantra. And it’s both a rallying cry and a reality check. To handle my sh** meant that I needed to tackle my small business to do list. And when I did, I found out that my small business to do list was a hot mess.

The hard part of creating a small business to do list isn’t actually making one—it’s doing it. If you own a small business, you know this all too well. Your small business to do list might include everything from client calls to ordering supplies to figuring out why the office Wi-Fi is spotty. And while you start each day with good intentions, somehow those critical tasks always seem to multiply instead of going away.

So, how am I going to make my small business to do list not a hot mess? I drew a line. Literally.

The Line on My Small Business To-Do List

Here’s how my small business to do list would typically go: I’d start with a reasonable list of things to accomplish for the day. But then, life would get in the way, and I wouldn’t finish everything. Naturally, I’d carry the unfinished tasks over to the next day. By midweek, I’d have a list so long it looked like it belonged to someone running five businesses instead of just one. By the end of the month, I was buried.

And the worst part was that important tasks got lost on the small business to do list – and I never accomplished everything I wanted to in the year. (More about how part of me may have liked that later.)

So, I started out this year with diligence and verve, ready to handle my sh** by putting everything on my small business to do list. But as I started to do what I did most every year–bury myself with boxes to check–I finally came to terms with the fact that I was a small business to do list failure, and I either had to throw my small business to do list out or try another tactic or fix my small business to do list.

The truth is: I’m married to my small business to do list. So, I went for the fix. The fix, which I didn’t recognize as a fix until weeks later, was 100% accidental. One day, in desperation to stop yesterday’s to-do items from comingling with today’s projects, I drew a line. A simple, clear, definitive line. Little did I know that the line would both liberate and organize me in ways that I have never experienced before. Here’s what that line helped me do:

Stop Pushing Tasks Down the List

The line allowed me to focus solely on the tasks I wanted to accomplish that day without losing sight of the others I needed to tackle in the near future. That sense of presence but not pressing—because the line clearly demarcated what had to be done today versus later—let me fully concentrate on the tasks at hand. As the day unfolded, I began naturally moving tasks above or below the line based on shifting priorities. This flexibility created a rhythm and fluidity that gave me confidence. No task felt lost or buried because everything remained visible—either just above or below the line—and I knew it would all be addressed in due time.

Stop Losing Tasks on Purpose

About that fluidity…as I shifted tasks above and below the line, I realized that sometimes a task would sink lower below the line because it just wasn’t as important to get done. But then I also started to notice that sometimes the tasks were things I didn’t want to do, and it was easy to forget them the more I buried them.

This was a huge discovery for me, and I called myself on it. I didn’t trust myself to remedy the situation through willpower alone. Instead, I identified the tasks that I liked to do and put a plus mark next to them. I placed those tasks under the line. Above the line were things I may or may not like doing but needed to be done.

At the beginning of the day, I would move a “+” task above the line. If I accomplished my other tasks, I would let myself work on the task I wanted to. For me, and I think most people who work for themselves, controlling what you want to do is hard because we are the bosses. No one is telling us to make an appointment with the accountant except for us. By rewarding myself with tasks I liked for doing tasks that needed to get done, I was able to get more meaningful stuff done on my small business to do list.

Embrace the Power of Small Wins

As I got more important stuff done on my small business to do list, something shifted in my psyche. I felt good, and I wanted recognition for my list checkmarks, especially for tasks I had put off forever. The checkmarks and the reward of getting to do one thing I wanted to do off my small business to do list helped satisfy that need for recognition, but telling Lisa, my wife, what I accomplished was also key. And the great thing about this was that it wasn’t just me saying I got work things done—I was getting “us” things done because my small business to do list had personal items on it, too. Like my small business to do list, some of these personal items had been on the list for a long time.

Maybe experts would say to keep the two lists separate, but by combining them I was able to bring Lisa in on my reward system when I accomplished “our” goals. It also satisfied the need for more instantaneous rewards, like boxes checked, which research shows is important in creating a habit. BJ Fogg, the author of “Tiny Habits,” emphasizes how celebrating small wins and immediate reinforcement can make a habit stick, and I found that to be true here.

Draw Another Line

As great as all this is, there were times when my brain kept dumping more stuff to do on my small business to do list. At first, I started to panic. Then, without thinking, I drew another line. Below this line were items that needed to be addressed down the road but should stay nearby and eventually be shuffled into the daily list.

The Line is Gold

The great thing about a line on my small business to do list was that it made my list a living thing. It was no longer static and frozen in time. The line made me constantly interact with my small business to do list. What goes above the line? What goes below? Where does this item fit in my small business to do list? Am I prioritizing my “I Don’t Want to Do Items” over my “I Want to Do Items”?

I love my list now. I’m hoping that I will still love it because I was able to accomplish most of the things on my small business to do list by the end of the year. I will keep you posted!

Persuasion Isn’t Your Thing? That’s Okay!

I get it. You’re not a natural persuader. I’m not either. You didn’t grow up winning every argument at the dinner table or selling lemonade to people who didn’t want lemonade. But here’s the thing: being persuasive isn’t about winning someone over with verbal acumen.

It’s about building relationships—relationships that turn into partnerships, sales, and long-term opportunities. And the best part? There are hacks you can implement today to make this happen, even if you can never picture yourself as a persuasive person.

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Hack #1: Start by Giving, Not Getting

I have found that I’m most persuasive when I’m doing something for someone (providing value), not yammering about what I’m going to do. Here are things you can “do” immediately to be persuasive:

• Partnering with Other Businesses: Share a resource or offer free advice tailored to their needs.
• Securing Investors: Offer a simple, compelling business plan that solves a problem they care about.
• Winning Customers: Give them a small win first, like a free sample or a practical tip they can use immediately.

People don’t remember a great pitch as much as they remember a great experience. So, focus on giving before asking.

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Hack #2: Credibility Is Your Golden Ticket

Without credibility persuasion is dead, and establishing credibility isn’t a one-and-done deal—it’s a marathon. Here are some quick hacks that I’ve learned:

• Leverage Testimonials: If someone else loves what you do, let them talk about it. Zendesk showcases in-depth profiles about businesses they’ve helped, providing potential clients with credible, detailed testimonials that build trust.
• Be Consistent: Show up on time, follow through on promises, and deliver quality work consistently.
• Share Your Wins: Without bragging, let people know what you’ve achieved and how it could benefit them.

My wife, Lisa, and I own a non-profit. Every month we have a vegan dine-around. My business friend suggested that when Lisa and I introduce ourselves, we should say that we are the founders of the non-profit AND the owners of PressurePerfect Massage. Doesn’t seem boastful, right? And at the same time I’m sharing our wins and building credibility.

Long-Term Credibility Building:

• Develop expertise in your field and share it through blogs, workshops, or community events.
• Build an online presence that reflects your values and skills. A website that shows professionalism goes a long way.

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Hack #3: Ask Questions and Listen (Yes, Really Listen)

Do you struggle with listening? I do. I constantly am telling myself to shut up and listen. Besides being a good habit, listening can be persuasive. How? People feel valued when they’re heard, and they’re more likely to trust and partner with you.

• When pitching an idea, ask about the other party’s needs and concerns first.
• Mirror the other party’s language to show you’re in tune with them.
• Summarize (in a non-scripted way) what they’ve said to confirm you understand their priorities.

This can feel Dale Carnegie (insincere) at first until it becomes part of who you are. Just get your reps in and eventually you won’t feel like an imposter.

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Hack #4: The Power of Follow-Up

Early in my career, I made this mistake: I’d nail the initial meeting, then drop the ball on follow-ups, and my initial work was wasted. Staying top-of-mind requires consistent communication.

• After a meeting, send a thank-you note or email.
• Suggest a simple next step, like a follow-up call or a quick demo.
• Use tools like calendars or CRM systems to remind you when to reach out.

Don’t underestimate the power of showing you care enough to stay in touch.

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Hack #5: Make It a Relationship, Not a Transaction

Persuasion isn’t about the one-time win. It’s about building a relationship that keeps paying off. In other words, you don’t one to “sell one watch one day”, you want to “sell thousands of watches over years”. To make that happen:

• Be reliable and trustworthy over time.
• Keep finding ways to add value, even when you’re not pitching anything.
• Celebrate their wins. If your partner business or client achieves something, acknowledge it.

I’m going to reiterate because I think it is important: persuasion is a constant process of building trust, offering value, and staying relevant. If you nourish the relationship (yes, I think that’s persuasion), you’ll find that people keep coming back. If you don’t, they’ll forget about you.

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Nourishing Business Relationships: A Personal Lesson

When I ran a hotel massage business, I approached managers and got meetings. Sometimes, I even set up massage days for employees. But I’d often lose touch afterward, and guess what? I lost relevance in the managers’ minds. Looking back, I should have suggested regular employee appreciation days. I believe small, consistent gestures would have kept the business relationships alive and thriving.

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The Persuasive Person’s Checklist

1. Give Value First: What can you do for them?
2. Be Credible: How do you show you’re reliable and skilled?
3. Listen: Are you meeting their needs, or just yours?
4. Follow Up: Are you staying relevant?
5. Think Long-Term: Are you building a lasting relationship?

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You Can Still Be You

Here’s a fine point, but an important one. If you want to be more persuasive, don’t get bogged down in thinking you fundamentally have to change who you are. That immense goal (and arguably impossible to some) can stop you dead in your tracks.

Instead, work the edges and think in terms of habits. If you change a bad habit or start a good habit, like working to become a better listener, that good habit will change how you act which in turn may eventually influence who you are.

Persuasion is About Connection

Last, persuasion starts with connection. Whether it’s giving first, listening more, or following up, the small, thoughtful actions you take today can lead to big, lasting relationships tomorrow. Remember, the best relationships are mutual—not one-way streets. Let me (mark@makethemostofmassage.com) know how it goes!

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