American Massage Therapy Association^®

American Massage Therapy Association Partners
with American Heart Association Start! Heart Walk

Evanston, IL — The American Massage Therapy Association^® (AMTA^®) will take part in the American Heart Association, Start! Heart Walk at Grant Park in Chicago September 26, 2008. AMTA massage therapists from Illinois will be onsite, providing 10 minute massages to Walk participants.

More than 18,000 walkers will participate in the event that helps fund lifesaving heart and stroke research and community education programs.  Walkers will also have the opportunity visit areas that honor survivors, inspire heart-healthy changes and celebrate significant lifestyle changes during the event.

AMTA is excited to be a part of this event because it allows members to give back to the community while demonstrating the importance of massage as part of a person’s health and wellness routine.  There are many heart-healthy benefits of massage including aiding in lowering blood pressure and anxiety relief.

The American Massage Therapy Association is the largest non-profit, professional association for massage therapists with more than 58,000 massage therapist members. AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage.

AMTA’s Find A Massage Therapist^® free national locator service helps consumers find AMTA massage therapists throughout the U.S.  The service is available via AMTA’s Web site at www.findamassagetherapist.org and toll-free at 888-843-2682 (888-THE-AMTA).  October 19-25, AMTA will celebrate National Massage Therapy Awareness Week to attract attention to the benefits of massage, including those that benefit heart health.

For more information on the American Massage Therapy Association, please visit AMTA’s website at www.amtamassage.org