Episode 159: Road Trip... Destination The South Bay/San Jose, CA - Healing Hands & Heart: Medical Massage with Amy Long

Welcome back PATHPod listeners! In this soul-nourishing episode, we reconnect with the joy of guest interviews and spotlight a lifelong friend of Toni’s and powerhouse healer: Amy Long, CMT. Amy brings decades of wisdom, compassion, and curiosity to her work as a certified medical massage therapist. Amy is a graduate of McKinnon Massage School and UCSF’s prestigious hospital-based medical massage fellowship. Her work spans the full human spectrum—from infants to seniors, including hospice care. She specializes in medically complex conditions, using gentle, nervous-system-focused techniques to support pain management, anxiety, and healing.

After a brief hiatus to host our second PathPod retreat in Boise, we’re thrilled to dive back into conversations that illuminate, educate, and inspire. And this one? It’s a masterclass in healing through touch.

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between traditional massage and medical massage—and why it matters
• How therapeutic touch can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce reliance on medication
• The power of craniosacral therapy and acupressure in hospital settings
• Why “less is more” when it comes to healing touch
• How Amy’s background in education and her lifelong love of learning shaped her unique approach

Amy’s Takeaways:

• Massage is healthcare. Period.
• Gentle touch can be profoundly therapeutic—even in the most medically fragile situations.
• Respect, autonomy, and presence are key when working with pediatric and adult patients alike.
• Integrative health modalities like massage, acupuncture, and music therapy are gaining traction in hospital settings—and changing lives.

Hear how Amy’s work brought peace and sleep to a friend in crisis at NYU Langone, and how her techniques offer comfort beyond the physical—especially for patients navigating grief, uncertainty, and isolation.

Tune in for a heartfelt, eye-opening journey into the world of medical massage. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, caregiver, or simply curious about holistic healing, this episode will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to explore new paths to wellness.

Listen now and get ready to feel the love—one therapeutic touch at a time.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

1.      Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM)

S4OM is a leading organization dedicated to advancing oncology massage through education, standards, and practitioner support. Official Website.

2.       Healwell

Healwell is a nonprofit organization that integrates massage therapy into clinical settings and offers education for healthcare professionals. Official Website.    

Playlist:

Inspired by Amy’s love of funk, soul, and R&B, this episode’s playlist features Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready”—a call to action and a soulful anthem that sets the tone for this transformative conversation.