Substack: It's Not Magic, It's Emotional Labor Artwork

The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Join Healwell in examining and bringing context to the world of massage therapy beyond the table. We have ideas. We have opinions. We want change, and that will only come with an understanding of who and what massage therapy truly is. A variety of topics are up for grabs: history, philosophy, development, and all the other shiny things that fascinate us.

Healwell is a non-profit based out of the Washington DC area. Check us out at www.healwell.org

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The Rub: a podcast about massage therapy

Substack: It's Not Magic, It's Emotional Labor

January 01, 2026 • Healwell

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Emotional labor is work that involves managing your and other people’s emotions. Emotion management (also known as emotion work) is how you actively shape and direct your feelings. Emotion management happens internally and is a private activity. It becomes emotional labor when that private activity becomes public work.

This distinction matters.

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Thank you to ABMP and AMTA for sponsoring us!

Healwell is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based out of the Washington DC area. Check us out at www.healwell.org