What do you learn after more than 50 years of putting your hands on bodies?

In this very special episode, Elicia sits down with Susan Davis, remedial massage therapist, registered nurse, educator and lifelong learner, who is still treating clients at 70 years of age. She was also awarded the Life Member Award from Massage and Myotherapy Association at the 2026 National Conference in Geelong.

Susan shares the extraordinary story of growing up alongside the emerging massage profession in Australia, including how her mother Cynthia helped fight for massage to be recognised as a legitimate health profession after actually being arrested for practising massage in the 1970s.

Together, Susan and Elicia explore how massage has changed over the past five decades, what we've gained and perhaps lost along the way, and why great treatment is about so much more than finding a tight muscle and trying to fix it.

They talk about presence, intuition, chronic pain, the nervous system, lifestyle medicine, ageing, the power of touch and the importance of truly seeing the person on your table.

Susan's message after 50 years?

Stay curious. Keep learning. And never forget the privilege we have of working with another human being.

This is a beautiful conversation about our history, our profession and where massage therapy could go next.

Davis Health Centre
https://www.davishealthcentre.org/

Cynthia Davis History Archives - https://mobile.amt.org.au/downloads/journal-archive/March2014.pdf

Ep 142 | The Nervous System & Chronic Pain with Kylie Hicks

What if the missing piece in chronic pain wasn't another technique, but understanding the nervous system?

In this episode, we sit down with remedial massage therapist and chronic pain Specialist Kylie Hicks, whose work is changing the way therapists think about pain. Kylie has spent more than 20 years helping people who have often been told there's nothing more that can be done.

Together we talk about why so many people with chronic pain feel unseen, unheard, and misunderstood, and how understanding the nervous system can completely change the treatment experience.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why chronic pain is about so much more than tissue
• How to recognise the nervous system patterns behind pain
• The language Kylie listens for in every first consultation
• Why helping clients feel truly seen is often the beginning of healing
• How changing pain can change long-held beliefs about a diagnosis
• The importance of therapist presence, rapport, and creating safety
• Why rebooking is part of the treatment plan, not just good business

Kylie also shares the case study that earned her the Massage & Myotherapy Australia Case Study Award where she shared how one client went from years of pain and the prospect of another surgery to living pain-free and traveleing the world.

Whether you're a massage therapist, bodyworker, or simply fascinated by the connection between the nervous system and chronic pain, this episode will challenge the way you think about recovery and remind you of the incredible impact we can have as practitioners.

Enjoy the conversation.

To find out more about Kylie Hicks:

https://www.kyliehickscoaching.com/course/the-chronic-pain-mapping-method

To listen to Di's Story:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ef2aoGgkJ/

From Workshop to Clinic: Practical Strategies to Implement What You Learn

On the Health Leader Podcast, hosts Elicia, James, and Christine reflect after the Massage & Myotherapy Conference and discuss how to turn workshop learning into real clinical results.

Christine shares her high-volume training experience (about 33 workshops in three years plus advanced TMJ study in the UK) and her implementation system: pre-booking relevant clients to practise on immediately after training, reviewing manuals each night, creating mind maps with key takeaways and questions, using shorthand notes with memorable nicknames (e.g., "pizza slice muscle" for glute minimus), and posting prompts on the wall for practice until skills become muscle memory. They also explain how their workshops use grounding and nervous system regulation, reflection activities, multi-style teaching (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, analytical), scripted repetition, and real public models with before/after photos in Gentle Scar Therapy to build confidence and evidence of change.

00:00 Welcome to Health Leader

00:26 Conference Reflections

01:41 Christine's Workshop System

02:51 Mind Maps and Memory Hacks

06:05 Post Workshop Implementation

06:46 Charging While Practicing

10:09 Grounding and Presence

14:41 Teaching for Learning Styles

16:56 Hot Stones Demo Flow

18:52 Full Treatment Practice

20:09 Learning Styles and Script

21:35 Workshop Day Structure

23:10 Real Models and Results

26:39 Confidence Through Repetition

30:27 Trust the Technique

32:34 Embracing Beginner Mindset

33:22 Gentle Stones and Intent

34:10 Wrap Up and Next Steps