Elective Classes at a Number One Massage Training Program in Metro Detroit
In addition to the classes in your core curriculum, Irene’s massage program offers 40 different elective subjects to choose from. Similar to massage workshops, some of these are specialties and modalities used to enhance a therapeutic massage. Others are of general interest designed to inspire personal growth and expand awareness. Based on your own interests, you will select from these classes. On average, you will be in class approximately one weekend per month. New students are invited to complete up to 60 elective hours prior to beginning their program.
Addressing TMJ Pain
4 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the mandible or jaw connects to the temporal bone on the side of the face. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) can be caused by stress, clenching the teeth, osteoarthritis and other structural problems.
Symptoms include a clicking or grating sound when opening the mouth, dull pain in front of the ear, headaches or tenderness for the muscles around the TMJ. The class will teach ways to address TMJD. Approaches include palpating and massaging the muscles of the jaw and neck.
Avoiding Massage Career Burnout
4 Hours
Instructor: Jeanette Roach, CHEP, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
A study reported in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies showed that 78% of massage professionals experienced a work-related injury at some point during their career. This is often the beginning of massage career burnout and a major factor in the dropout rate amongst massage professionals. Principals of effective biomechanics and important safeguards are taught to protect the therapist to ensure a pain free career. The course includes a variety of soft tissue techniques and self-help therapies used in treating dysfunction of the hands, wrists, arms and torso.
Canine Massage
4 Hours
Instructor: Nicole Roy, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring a friendly dog and blanket.
Whether your pet is suffering from arthritis, recovering from surgery, or experiencing anxiety, this class will teach you techniques to help quiet your pet’s problems.
You will thoroughly learn dog anatomy and how it relates and differs from the human body. A basic complete massage sequence will be taught with special emphasis on the hips. Behavioral control, acupressure points, and common trigger points will be covered.
Your assessment skills will be greatly enhanced and your pet will be thoroughly grateful. Students must bring a dog to class with them, plus a towel or mat to work on. If you don’t have a dog, ask Student Records for the instructor’s contact information to make other arrangements. A small stool is helpful if working with a large dog on the floor.
Chair Massage
8 Hours
Instructor: Denise Mussio, NCTM, C.T.M., LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training, (pregnant women should avoid chair massage.)
Requirements: Bring a massage chair or two pillows.
Chair massage has proved a valuable business tool for massage therapists for decades. Pioneered under the title “On-site Massage,” chair massage is a great way to increase clientele and income. The routines are performed on fully clothed clients on a special massage chair or using pillows to modify a standard chair. Once you’ve mastered chair massage, you can literally market your skills anywhere!
This class consists of a brief history and demonstration of the technique, followed by extensive hands-on exchange for students to practice several easy-to-learn chair routines. Students will find that chair massage is perfect for use in corporate settings, at salons and spas, and at all sorts of events, on its own or to draw new clients to their tables.
We will also focus on proper body mechanics for chair massage, assuring client comfort by adjusting the chair for their anatomy, marketing tips, and other practicalities. This class will equip you to really begin using your therapeutic skills in the marketplace.
Conscious Touch
4 Hours
Instructor: Valerie Weir, RYTA, IKYTA, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets, pillowcase, yoga mat and small blanket.
The technique of connecting mind and body through massage allows us to integrate various modalities with ease and continuity. We will approach the body’s own innate capacity to heal through Esalen Inspired massage. Using listening techniques of breath and posture, we will begin to release the mind and encounter our own awareness. This provides both practitioner and client the conscious space to magnify intuition. Our bodywork techniques will emphasize slow, long connecting strokes. With different rhythms and movements, we will learn to work with the anatomy of the body as a whole, and not in segments.
Dynamic Stretching
8 Hours
Instructor: Jeanette Roach, CHEP, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
As a stand-alone treatment, or in conjunction with other types of therapy, you will learn to improve range of motion and maximize flexibility.
Using muscle movement and reciprocal inhibition techniques without activating the stretch reflex, you will be able to elongate tight muscles, reeducate injured tissue, and strengthen weakened areas. This stretching method will increase massage skills and round out your practice.
Effective Sciatica Treatment
4 Hours
Instructor: Jeanette Roach, CHEP, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Sciatic nerve dysfunction affects nearly 40 percent of adults at some point during their lifetime. The condition can cause extreme pain and numbness. Traditional medical treatment combined with complementary therapies, such as specialized massage, can attain amazing results.
This course encompasses a variety of techniques used in treating debilitating pain of the lower extremities. These methods will be demonstrated in order for participants to see how they can be substituted as non-surgical alternatives. You will not only be able to immediately experience the results for yourself but will also be able to utilize these techniques with clients.
Effleurage for Assessment and Connection
4 Hours
Instructor: Jeanette Roach, CHEP, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets.
Effleurage is a core component of Swedish massage. The therapist utilizes gliding strokes with the hand, fingers, or forearms to promote relaxation and body awareness to the client with soothing and/or deep pressure. The technique is our first contact with the client and should be used to “listen” for what the client’s body needs. It is often overlooked by new or seasoned therapists as “too basic” or “just rubbing”.
In this class we will learn the value of superficial and deep effleurage strokes as well as how to listen to our hands as they connect with the client. We will also employ effleurage to back, legs, arms, and neck. Be prepared to give and receive a 50 minute effleurage full body massage.
Enhanced Chest & Shoulder Massage
8 Hours
Instructor: Jeanette Roach, CHEP, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets, one blanket or beach towel, one small bath towel for chest cover or wear sports bra, one pillow with pillowcase.
A full massage should include more than focusing primarily on the back. Working with the anterior of the torso helps balance the entire body.
The therapeutic value and significance of working with the chest and shoulder area are important in addressing posture, breathing, heart function, clear thinking, headaches, self-awareness, confidence and more. The techniques included in this class also improve the upper and middle back condition.
In this class, we work in the supine and side lying position. Students will gain confidence in their ability to help with clients’ specific complaints, as well as providing relaxing massage. Proper draping techniques are used throughout the session.
Enhanced Gluteal Massage With Finishing Strokes
8 Hours
Instructor: Dana Calhoun, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets, two pillowcases and towel.
This class is intended to enhance your massage skills by reinforcing your comfort with working on the gluteal and abdominal areas. The benefits and importance of working on these two frequently ignored muscle groups is explained and emphasized. Gluteal massage can address sciatica, reproductive problems, stiffness, and low abdominal problems just to name a few. Abdominal work is advantageous for digestion, back pain, headaches, breathing, circulation, posture and more. Working with the abdomen and gluteal areas is beneficial for the entire back and internal organs. Massage on the lower torso will be done with intentionally modest draping techniques. You will learn how to request client consent prior to providing this service. Client and practitioner boundaries are always respected and emphasized.
Enhanced Intuition
8 Hours
Instructor: Lisa Johnson, LMT, ERYT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and bath towel.
Beyond objective analysis, we each have an inner perception that can guide and even protect us. While we all have natural instincts, many of us do not utilize this tool to steer daily decisions let alone our massage practice. Instead of separating your analytical mind from your intuition when working on clients, learn how to connect the two resources as one.
This class provides a deep dive into mindfulness to help develop your intuition. Allow yourself to tune-in to clients by feeling and moving through their anatomy while listening internally. We will utilize meditation and music as tools to deepen your sense of connection with clients by heightening your awareness. A discussion on energy and how to feel it, will emphasize the importance of remaining rooted and grounded inside. You will learn how to tap into your intuition, enabling you to give your clients the gift of addressing their specific needs.
Fascia Therapy – An Introduction
8 Hours
Instructor: Beth Ashcraft, BS, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets, wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement that can expose shoulders, arms, and legs.
This introductory course explores the Fascial Network and how it relates to system function throughout the human body. Hands-on experience in class will offer the opportunity to practice necessary basic skills used in the application of various fascial therapy techniques. Palpation, depth of pressure, body mechanics and self-awareness are some of the most important concepts any massage therapist can master. Fascia is a resilient connective tissue which spreads throughout the body in a three-dimensional web from head to toe. Scarring, posture, inflammatory processes and trauma can create circumstances in which fascial tissue can place up to 2,000 pounds of pressure on pain sensitive structures. Fascial Therapies have been used to treat a wide range of conditions including scar tissue, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, infertility, myofascial pain syndrome and so many more.
Fascia Therapy
16 Hours
Instructor: Beth Ashcraft, BS, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes, Fascia Therapy – An Introduction, or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets, wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement that can expose shoulders, arms, and legs.
In this course, basic concepts explored in Intro to Fascia Therapy will be reviewed. Using basic skills, we will evaluate body structure and function, and begin to identify and treat fascial restrictions. There are a multitude of Fascial therapies which all work very well but are administered with very different approaches.
We will explore the many different styles and techniques to address fascial restriction and help our clients to feel better. Discussions will include how to find your own personal style and approach when treating clients. Fascia is a resilient connective tissue which spreads throughout the body in a three-dimensional web from head to toe. Scarring, posture, inflammatory processes and trauma can create circumstances in which fascial tissue can place up to 2,000 pounds of pressure on pain sensitive structures. Fascial Therapies have been used to treat a wide range of conditions including scar tissue, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, infertility, myofascial pain syndrome and so many more.
Foot Reflexology
16 Hours
Instructor: Paul Mattson, BS, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring a sheet, towel, clean feet, and markers or colored pencils (and lotion, a pillow, and a blanket if desired).
One of the most requested skills in massage therapy today, Reflexology correlates points in the hands and feet to organs, areas, and systems of the body.
Many people are surprised to discover that a one-hour foot reflexology session can actually be as beneficial as a full body massage. This modality of the healing arts is an extremely effective way to provide touch in an easily accessible and non-threatening way.
In this class, the students learn how reflexology of the feet can ease aches and pains, help prevent illnesses and maintain health in the whole body. Massage, acupressure points, self-help exercises, and applications, as well as alternative reflexology techniques, are included.
Hands on Hands
16 Hours
Instructor: Bil Bitz, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring sheets, blanket, hand towel, and a pillow.
Our hands are constantly at work and taken for granted. They are our reliable tools, acting as daily workhorses and powerful instruments of healing. This class explores some of the proper treatment for the care of our hands for both your clients and yourselves. We will include some basic anatomy, pathology and physiology related to the hand and arm. In addition, some therapeutic massage techniques and assessments will be presented with recommendations to try at home.
Students will also learn techniques for the upper arm and shoulders that can benefit the hands. There will be self-help applications, stretches, exercises, and tips to prevent strain and injury. It’s essential for therapists to learn to preserve hand function and health. This class provides those skills as well as how to benefit others.
Hot Rocks
16 Hours
Instructor: Garry Adkins, BCTMB, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two flat sheets, a large bath towel, and hand towel.
For the spa industry, hot rock therapy is one of the most popular types of massage offered in the last decade. This course teaches the use of both hot and cold stones combined with various bodywork techniques. Designed to benefit the client as well as the practitioner, therapists find that the stones and their temperatures do much of the work for them.
This course teaches about the different types of stones used, proper care for your stones, and contraindications for stone therapy. You will learn a one hour stone therapy treatment, the physiological benefits, and how to incorporate the stones with your own massage techniques.
Infant Massage
4 Hours
Instructor: Kristen Woudstra, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring a sheet, doll or stuffed animal large enough to practice techniques. Only unscented oil is allowed with babies. If desired, a mat can be used to work on the floor. Call the office to have a parent bring their baby to school for the last 90 minutes of class.
Students are taught how infant massage can enhance early development and well-being of babies. Techniques will be included for infants up to one year old. Students will learn how to use various forms of sensory stimulation to improve cognition abilities of newborns and infants. Practical applications for dealing with issues such as colic and congestion will also be discussed.
The first three hours of class will include lecture, demonstration, and practical application using dolls. For the last hour, students are asked to have a friend or family member bring a baby to class. If a student wants to work with their own baby, another care-giver will need to bring the infant to class. Students will then teach the parent how to perform infant massage by demonstrating on their doll as the parent follows along.
Intro to Craniosacral Techniques
16 Hours
Instructor: Jennifer Pillow-White, NCTM, M.S., LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring a blanket and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Using pressure no greater than the weight of a nickel, a CranioSacral Therapist can treat a wide range of medical problems, from migraine headaches to spastic cerebral palsy.
Widely acclaimed for its ability to bolster the body’s resistance to disease and its effectiveness on pain and dysfunction, CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle but powerful type of work that focuses on the movement of the fluids around the brain and spinal cord.
Based on the work and teachings of Dr. John Upledger, D.O., these techniques are designed to release bony and fascial restrictions in the body that are caused by physical, emotional, or mental trauma. This class is designed to prepare students to take the CranioSacral Therapy 1 course offered by The Upledger Institute.
It will introduce students to concepts behind CranioSacral Therapy, and the anatomy and physiology of the Cranial System. Students will have the opportunity to assess the CranioSacral rhythm and learn select techniques for the adult client.
Low Back Pain and Massage
4 Hours
Instructor: Jeanette Roach, CHEP, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and one pillowcase.
We will compare and contrast the various reasons causing low back pain. Surprisingly, much of our low back pain does not begin at the back. We will offer ways to evaluate client’s condition and various treatment options available to therapists of any skill level.
Lymphatic Drainage
16 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Lymphatic drainage is a gentle, rhythmic bodywork technique used to encourage the flow of fluid out of the tissue and into the lymphatic system. Stagnant or limited lymphatic flow can be a factor in many disease processes. Some of the benefits of lymphatic drainage are pain relief, decreased edema, increased ability to heal and deep relaxation.
The class will include anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, indications, and contraindications to lymphatic drainage, lymphatic drainage techniques, and a general protocol for the lymphatic drainage for the whole body.
Massage for Headaches
4 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Millions of people experience some sort of headache daily. This class will teach students the physiology of different types of headaches. Various methods of assessment will be presented to assist a therapist in determining the source of headache pain. Techniques to address headaches will include trigger point pressure, stretching, and friction.
Orthopedic Massage & Assessment
16 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Students will learn to use assessment skills to identify common postural distortions such as head forward posture, upper/lower crossed syndrome, and pelvic tilt to name a few. Students will increase their understanding of postural and phasic muscles and their effect on posture.
They will learn to match the physiology of tissue injury with the physiological effects of treatment. Students will learn to adapt treatment to the individual client and develop an understanding of rehabilitation protocol to apply effective techniques. Learn how to incorporate massage techniques, stretching techniques and strengthening techniques into your massage treatments.
Polarity
16 Hours
Instructor: Karen Kerns, BCPP, RCST, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Polarity therapy is an energy balancing system which employs the currents of life force (energy). It was developed by Dr. Randolf Stone D.O., D.C., N.P. and drawn from Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. The life force is the circulating energy field that surrounds and penetrates the body and all living things.
This work combines gentle, penetrating body touch with other healthful practices to balance the energies of the body, mind, and spirit. It is based on a premise that disease is created when there is a physical, mental or spiritual block to the free flow of energy in the body.
This block causes stress and the energy moves around instead of through the block. Polarity Therapy allows energy to re-enter that blocked area so that the body naturally realigns to its rhythmic flow of health. The life force is directed along natural pathways so that blocks are opened and healing and relaxation begin.
Polarity recharges the life force of a person. When this balance is present, the nerves relax. Nerves control organs and muscles. It works on the whole body. Once the body relaxes, the emotions start releasing. Energy does not distinguish between physical and emotional pain, both of which are expressions of blocked energy.
Polarity is the study, application, and utilization of techniques to balance the primary and secondary energies of humans. You will learn to feel, understand and direct energy patterns in the body. Specific dietary, exercise and meditation practices will be discussed to help hold the healing balance in place. Also discussed, will be the practitioner’s presence as a vital aspect of this work.
Positional Release
8 Hours
Instructor: Stephen Brown, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Positional Release is a therapeutic technique used when a tender point is found. This tenderness may be decreased or even eliminated by either lengthening or shortening the involved muscle. It is believed that changing the muscle’s length influences (re-sets) the involved proprioceptors and that when the proprioceptors are sending the correct information to the central nervous system, the point is no longer tender.
This is a hands-on class. Due to the positional changes involved, it is suggested that students wear loose comfortable clothing. Time will be spent explaining physiology, demonstrating the therapeutic technique and practicing. It will be helpful for the students to have a working knowledge of trigger points and muscular anatomy – particularly the muscles action and antagonists.
Prenatal 1: Pregnancy and Postpartum Basics
16 Hours
Instructor: Kristen Woudstra, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets, hand towel, three bed pillows in cases (preferably 1 standard and 2 king size), and a beach towel.
This class teaches the basics of massage during pregnancy and postpartum. This is appropriate for anyone who may have a pregnant client present themselves during your massage career. The lecture portion of class includes the anatomy of pregnancy, development of the fetus, common symptoms and discomforts during the 3 trimesters of pregnancy, and safety considerations during pregnancy and postpartum. The hands-on practice incorporates step-by-step positioning, bolstering, draping and massage techniques for pregnant and postpartum women.
Prenatal 2: Advanced Pregnancy, Labor and Postpartum Massage
16 Hours
Instructor: Kristen Woudstra, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: Prenatal 1
Requirements: Bring two sheets, hand towel, three bed pillows in cases (preferably 1 standard and 2 king size), and a beach towel.
This class dives deeper into information related to pregnancy, labor and postpartum. It is intended for massage therapists who are interested in including prenatal massage as one of their specialties or specializing in pregnancy, labor and/or postpartum massage. The lecture portion of class includes helping clients with high-risk pregnancies, the signs and stages of labor, optimal fetal positioning, essential oil safety during pregnancy, holistic postpartum care, and information about becoming a labor and/or postpartum doula. The hands-on portion of class includes advanced techniques for pregnancy discomfort, postpartum belly binding, as well as massage and other comfort measures during labor.
Reiki I
12 Hours
Instructor: Callie Smith, RMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Envision a universe made of pure energy: energy that can be directed and redirected around and through the body to heal and restore. The philosophies behind Reiki hold that we live in exactly such a state. Reiki is the art of channeling this universal energy. One of the most popular and versatile forms of energy work, Reiki is easy to learn but difficult to master.
First Degree Reiki is the basic introduction. It includes “tunings,” energy activating sessions which enable the student to channel Reiki energy to others. The class also covers simple lessons in physiology, a demonstration of a complete whole-body treatment, and a detailed description of hand positions to use on oneself and others. There is considerable hands-on practice in giving and receiving Reiki at this level.
Reiki II
12 Hours
Instructor: Callie Smith, RMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: Reiki I
2nd Degree training includes two more attunements. Reiki II goes beyond the level I to increase your attunement to the flow of Reiki. This class provides additional lessons on how energy affects the body’s physiological systems.
Level II teaches three symbols to increase Ki flow to self & clients, work on thought patterns/habits, and time-line or absentee work. At this level, the student can give treatment in about half the time it takes on the first level.
Reiki III
8 Hours
Instructor: Callie Smith, RMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: Reiki I & II
Reiki III furthers the work of levels I & II, with a strong emphasis on increasing the connection to powerful flows from the upper levels of the HEF (human energy field). Modern physics show us that matter and energy are interchangeable; this course addresses how to bring energy into matter. Attunements and techniques cause energy to run from the divine field of the HEF to the physical field.
We will learn these symbols and techniques: Kundalini/chakras symbol, Inner Fire symbol & self-energizer breathwork, Sui Ching purification, Microcosmic Orbit, Hu Yin & Kidney Breathwork, the Daikomyo symbol and its application in a total body session for self or client.
Side-Lying Massage
16 Hours
Instructor: Sandra McDonald, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring one fitted sheet (preferably flannel), two flat sheets, two pillows and a bath towel.
Side-lying position accommodates all ages, shapes, and sizes. Besides the obvious advantages for pregnant women, side-lying massage is often necessary or preferred due to age considerations, disabilities, or for anyone uncomfortable in the prone and supine positions. Some applications are most effective when done on a side-lying client, and several actually require this approach. This class will give you the confidence to use this safe and nurturing position. It provides a complete protocol for side position that covers the full body and offers techniques that are especially useful for babies, children, pregnant women, the elderly, claustrophobics, and overweight people. People with neck and shoulder problems, heart conditions, pacemakers, sensitive breasts or abdomen, or recent surgery also need to lie on their sides. Side-lying massage allows the therapist access to the entire shoulder area front and back, as well as the hip and lower back.
Spa Treatments
16 Hours
Instructor: Angie Dubis, MA, NCBTMB
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: For Saturday you will need 4 large bath towels, 10 hand towels, 1 set of sheets (including pillowcase). For Sunday you will need 4 large bath towels, 16 hand towels, 2 sets of sheets (including pillowcases).
Turn any massage room into a full-service treatment space with dry room treatment protocols. You will learn unforgettable custom spa experiences that you can offer your clients. By the end of this course, you will be able to effectively perform a full-body exfoliation, mud wrap, and finishing treatment.
You will be taught to increase your revenue by designing your own special add-on services with spa Pedi or scalp treatments. You can even customize treatments to fit your style and clientele by substituting varying products.
Sports Massage
16 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Students will learn how to best work at an athletic event doing pre-event warm-up massage, and post-event cool-down techniques. Learning to work with the strengths and weaknesses of athletes, many types of competitive sports and activities will be discussed.
The class will cover the basics of massage techniques for athletes, applying cryotherapy, physical assessments and corrections and muscle dysfunctions. Learn to detect signs of overuse, cycles of injury and the anatomy of muscular contractions.
Thai Massage I
20 Hours
Instructor: Nicole Roy, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 4 hands-on classes or previous training. This class is conducted entirely on the floor. Students with knee injuries or unable to spend extended periods of time kneeling or sitting on the floor should consider avoiding this class
Requirements: Bring a mat or thick quilt (minimum total thickness of 2″), a blanket, pillow, notebook and pen. Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Thai Massage is a healing system built on a 2,500 year tradition that includes the ancient art of Yoga, bodywork, Buddhist spiritual practices, and Ayurvedic Medicine. This extraordinary bodywork style uses assisted yoga stretches, gentle rocking, deep compression, acupressure, and energy work. Done on the floor using a mat or pad and over loose-fitting clothes, students learn to press and move in a coopertive moving meditation. While decreasing pain and stress, Thai Massage promotes healing, relaxation, and improved range of motion. Students can expect to gain insight into their daily practice using these techniques and the ancient wisdom behind them.
Topics covered in Thai Massage I are:
- Puja, Prayer & Spiritual practices
- Basic 5 Element Theory
- Basic Meridian Theory
- Dosha types based on Ayurveda
- Sen Lines
- Posture & Body Mechanics
Thai Massage II
16 Hours
Instructor: Nicole Roy, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: Thai Massage I. This class is conducted entirely on the floor. Students with knee injuries or unable to spend extended periods of time kneeling or sitting on the floor should consider avoiding this class
Requirements: Bring a mat or thick quilt (minimum total thickness of 2″), a blanket, pillow, notebook and pen. Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
As a progression of applications from Thai Massage I, new topics will include:
- Compression methods
- Stretching postures
- Expansion on lines theory
- Spiritual practices and holding a sacred place
- Advanced Yoga postures
Therapeutic Static Stretching
4 Hours
Instructor: Jeremy Powell, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Required: Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement
This class introduces Static Stretching to students as an effective technique to help with client mobility and flexibility. When performing Static Stretching a muscle group is moved as far as it can without feeling pain and then holding that position for 20-40 seconds. This technique is even more effective when combined with massage therapy. You will learn about joints, range of motion, and end feel, as well as how to practice safe stretching techniques.
Touch For Health
16 Hours
Instructor: Payge Hodapp, EEM-CLP, TFH, I/C, BFRP
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Required Text: Touch for Health – The Complete Edition $30 student discount price.
Bring sheet and pillowcase, wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement. Bring a pen, notebook and highlighter.
Touch for Health (TFH) utilizes a system of applied kinesiology (muscle testing) to identify imbalances in the body’s energy system. It is an approach to restoring balanced energy by combining ancient Chinese therapies with Western methods of muscle testing. The protocols can be rather easily learned without prior knowledge and can be utilitized without extensive practice, making it a practical tool for a massage therapist to incorporate into their work.
TFH protocols encompass muscle testing, acupressure touch points, meridians and energy balancing to facilitate improved health. TFH teaches a holistic approach to the body’s energies to activate an intrinsic healing process. TFH was the first modality Irene learned to teach in the mid 1970’s. This experience launched her career as the successful massage therapy instructor she became.
Trigger Point Therapy
16 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Myofascial trigger points are small, hyperirritable nodules found in a taut band of muscle where there is decreased circulation and a buildup of metabolic waste products.
Trigger points can produce pain both locally and to specific referral areas. They can be caused by structural imbalances, overuse, injury or stress leading to many pain syndromes such as headaches, chronic neck pain or thoracic outlet syndrome.
This course will cover the anatomy and physiology of trigger points, also the role they play in acute and chronic pain syndromes. Students will learn methods and protocols to evaluate and deactivate trigger points throughout the body.
Wrist & Arm Pain
8 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring two sheets and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement.
Many people who use their hands and arms extensively for professional or personal reasons suffer from repetitive pain syndromes. These include carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome and tennis elbow.
These pain syndromes cost employers a large amount of time lost and workmen’s compensation pay. In this class, students will learn orthopedic assessments for these syndromes. They will also learn various treatments to address and relieve the pain caused by these conditions.
Personal Development Elective Classes
Aligning & Clearing the Chakras
4 Hours
Instructor: Lisa Johnson, LMT, ERYT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
The chakras are the seven centers of energy in the astral body. The word chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit. It can be helpful to visualize a vortex where energy accumulates as it flows throughout the human form. The seven chakras correspond to specific endocrine glands, body functions, conscious and unconscious thoughts, colors, elements, and much more.
This course is an excellent introduction to energy work for those having trouble “feeling” energy and for those just looking to expand their knowledge. Aligning and Clearing the Chakras teaches the basics of the human energy field. Students will learn hands-on and meditation techniques to align the chakras and affect the layers of the aura. These methods can be used for personal growth or to empower others.
Sanitary Surroundings For Massage Therapy
4 Hours
Instructor: Kristen Mason, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring a notebook and pen
This class will help you feel confident that you are doing everything you can to protect yourself and your clients in regard to communicable diseases including covid. Obtain an understanding of safety and infection control procedures to follow in your practice to protect both yourself and your clients.
We’ll also discuss how to communicate with your clients before and during appointments to get them on board with participating in a sanitary service and help build their confidence in coming to you. We will go over types of infectious diseases, various forms of decontamination and protection, OSHA guidelines, and Universal precautions, as well as a basic understanding of the laws and rules needed to abide by to work in a salon or spa that falls under Cosmetology Establishment licensing.
Yoga for Therapists
16 Hours
Instructor: Lisa Johnson, LMT, ERYT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring a yoga mat, and wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement. In consideration of moderate physical exertion, non-revealing fitness attire is acceptable.
The word yoga is Sanskrit for union-the union of the body and the mind. It teaches us to bring all aspects of ourselves and our lives into balance and harmony. Modern culture is more apt to reverse the mind at the expense of the body, although they are designed to be equal partners. The result of this imbalance are stress-related symptoms that afflict us. Yoga helps us become more healthy and whole as the body responds to the mind’s suggestions, and the mind is alert to the feeling and needs of the body. This class will focus on the specific needs of massage therapists: the physical stresses on our body, the emotional impact of being givers, and the need to feel rejuvenated while we work. Learn postures and techniques that can relieve stress and give you energy in your daily life or between clients.
Feng Shui
4 Hours
Instructor: Christine Evans
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
This class is not about good luck charms or hanging wind chimes in every doorway. It’s not about forcing your rooms into pre-fabricated patterns that will somehow help you win the lottery. Feng Shui expresses the intention to honor nature in everyday life, by working with, rather than against our surroundings to cultivate peace and prosperity.
An ancient Chinese system, Feng Shui is a tool for finding the optimal conditions for balance and harmony in the home, office, and landscape. Fire, earth, metal, water, and wood: these five elements are considered in relation to yin/yang attributes, the Bagua, and chi flow.
The class will cover the basic principles of Feng Shui and provide students with feedback on enhancing their own environment.
Spiritual Development
4 Hours
Instructor: Hartmut Sagolla
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
This course has been a life-changing and transformational experience for many. The terms “spirituality,” “religion,” “metaphysics,” and “mysticism,” are defined, clarified and discussed for the purpose of helping you make knowledgeable decisions in your life while understanding others.
Of great significance is this course’s ability to supply you with valuable spiritual and mental tools for releasing negative blocks through mindfulness and meditation. Opening yourself to compassion, empathy, and love for all of your massage clients, no matter what cultural, ethnic, or religious background they possess.
The Golden Rule, the basic tenet at the core of every major religion, teaches us that we reap what we sow. It has been expressed as practicing compassion, karma, paying it forward, do unto others, etc. This class celebrates this Universal Truth that lies at the heart of every individual’s success.
By correcting misperceptions in order to heal the mind of guilt, fear, pain, and loss we can experience healing. Releasing a belief system that no longer serves us can have a profound impact on our life and work.
Based on the timeless insights of the Buddha and other great spiritual teachings, this class teaches keys to inner peace and happiness. This course of study will instill a greater sense of mastery and empowerment over challenging life situations as you learn to release attachment.
As you grow spiritually, you will be more effective as a massage practitioner because your sense of compassion will expand. While many of your massage clients will be seeking a greater understanding of themselves and their spiritual nature, you will often find yourself on the same path.
Complimentary Healing Elective Classes
Aromatherapy
16 Hours
Instructor: Lisa Johnson, LMT, ERYT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring a notebook, washcloth and hand towel.
Each day we use scents to communicate, elevate, and recreate moods and sensations. Scents are unique in their ability to access the central nervous system without being filtered by the blood-brain barrier. Scents alone can directly stimulate the limbic center of the brain, the seat of emotion and memory. Aromatherapy uses essential oils derived from plants, roots, flowers, trees, and fruits to bring about physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual balance within people and environments.
This class will explore the different aromas and therapeutic properties of essential oils. We will additionally discuss how oils are processed and how to ensure the oil quality. You will learn a variety of methods to use essential oils in your practice including mixing essential oils with massage lubricant, diffusers, steam showers, bath salts and space clearing. Students will create an aromatherapy blend to use in class and take home.
Avoiding Disease Naturally
4 Hours
Instructor: Hallie Armstrong, ND
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Learn how to prevent diseases naturally through environmental health, nutrition, and detoxification. Disease prevention will be presented with a holistic approach addressing the mind, body, and spirit. This information can be used in your own life and shared with clients.
Environmental health will include safe cosmetics, safe household materials such as plastics and cleaners, and green renovation options. Nutrition health will include information on specific diets, organic foods and using food as medicine. Detoxification information will include safe ways to detox your body effectively so it can function optimally.
Brain Gut Connection
4 Hours
Instructor: Hallie Armstrong, ND
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
This class does a deep dive into the digestive system and its connection to our overall health. This includes the correlation between our brain and digestive health and emotional well-being.
Crystal Healing
4 Hours
Instructor: Lisa Johnson, LMT, ERYT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Civilizations across the world, from ancient Egyptian to Native American cultures, have used stones and crystals in spiritual rituals and for their healing powers. Although no one knows the exact science behind the phenomenon, the earth’s minerals show an inexplicable capacity to alter and enhance response in the human body.
This workshop will explore the potential of using stones to heal. We will experiment with flow patterns in the human energy field using crystal layouts, and discuss basic patterns for using stones to complement the energy centers of the body. This class is perfect for anyone fascinated with the beauty and energy locked within stones and crystals can add new dimensions to traditional massage.
Guided Imagery
4 Hours
Instructor: Lisa Johnson, LMT, ERYT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Guided Imagery is a useful technique in the healing process. Numerous medically-based studies have proven its effectiveness. A myomassologist who can offer guided imagery along with massage possesses a skill that enhances their ability to help their clients. This class will provide students with a variety of dialogues they can use during a massage to assist a client’s relaxation and healing process.
Imagery is a tool that utilizes the power of one’s mind to achieve desired physical and emotional results. It can stimulate all of our senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and feeling. When we remember or anticipate an event, we do so with our whole body. These thoughts can cause our face to flush, our pulse to quicken, and our hormones to energize. What the mind/body believes to be true creates physiological responses which help to encourage healing.
Herbology
16 Hours
Instructor: Kellie Speciale-Meyers, C.N., N.D., LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
The Earth’s herbal remedies for better health have been time-tested over thousands of years. Use of herbal tonics to treat various injuries, illnesses, and diseases is found throughout the history of mankind.
Herbology, the study of using herbs as traditional medicinal remedies, is a class for those who want to reclaim their health without relying on synthetic and engineered pharmaceuticals.
Students will learn plant-derived remedies for many specific complaints, from managing infection to regulating hormones. We also discuss how to use herbs for general health and maintenance, from improving vision to increasing energy.
Medication and Massage
4 Hours
Instructor: Rob Kelly, LMT, BCTMB, CLT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Bring a notebook and pen.
Massage therapists encounter multiple clients taking prescription drugs. The therapist needs to have an understanding of how medications may change a massage session, and even dictate modifications to the treatment. This Pharmacology for Massage Therapists class will describe basic classifications of medications and their effects on the body. Students will learn how to tailor or modify massage sessions to accommodate pharmaceutical restrictions. A number of medications will be covered, but psychiatric, pain, cardiovascular, diabetes and anti-inflammatory medications will be focused on.
Mind/Body Medicine
4 Hours
Instructor: Harsha Jayatilake, M.D., FAAFP, DABHM
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
In recent years, western medicine has begun to wake up to a concept that Myomassologists have always known: We must treat the complete body and mind along with the symptoms of an illness. Complementary and alternative medicine is gaining popularity as science, medicine, and spirituality begin to come together to share tools for healing.
This class will detail the mind/body connection so vital to the process of caring for the entire person, and how that connection can be used to heal the body. Students will learn the ways that body, mind, and spirit work together toward self-healing, and how the thoughts, feelings, and words we choose every day can affect our bodies and immune systems.
Emotions can and do affect our health, and illness can be an opportunity to learn. We will emphasize the roles that the outer world and our overall attitude play in self-healing and inner peace.
Mind/Body Medicine examines western medicine in relation to its eastern counterpart, and how alternative techniques, ideas, and treatments are useful in conjunction with traditional care to put individuals back in control of their own healing.
We will also focus on the role that a Myomassologist can play in mind/body cooperative healing, and how often allowing an individual to really talk is the most potent medicine we can offer them. This look at the power of treating a complete individual will encourage you to challenge and expand your thoughts and attitudes on health, healthcare, and the relationship between the mind and body.
Kinesiology Taping
8 Hours
Instructor: Brian Piccolo, BA, MA, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: 12 hands-on classes or previous training
Requirements: Wear non-restrictive clothing allowing full range of movement that exposes shoulders, legs, and arms.
Kinesiology Taping relieves pain through both physical and neurological mechanisms. The lifting action of the tape relieves pressure on pain receptors directly under the skin, allowing for quick relief from acute injuries.
Chronic pain is affected through sensory stimulation of other types of nerve fibers. Students will learn the best ways to apply Kinesiology Tape to the major joints and muscles. This practice will serve to help prevent injuries to athletes and help current sprains and injuries to heal faster.
Science of Detox
8 Hours
Instructor: Hallie Armstrong, ND
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
This class teaches why detoxing is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle and how to do so safely. The science behind why some detox practices must be avoided and what makes others safe is explained. An explanation of best practices and examples for detoxing is included.
Sound & Vibration Healing
4 Hours
Instructor: Amy Feger, LMT, Reiki Master, Shaman
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Requirements: Bring a rattle, yoga mat, and a stone or crystal of your choice.
Sound and vibration have been used for centuries for healing the body, mind, and spirit. This elective provides a basic understanding of the principles of working with sound as a healing modality and demonstrates ways in which it can be used to restore balance.
You will be taught how to visualize and apply intention through sound vibrational tools. These will include quartz crystal bowls, rainstick, rattles, bells, chimes, and drums.
The focus will be on the seven main chakras and understanding how sound and mindfulness take part in helping to enhance and cleanse one’s energy. Students will be working with the White Light and trained in various techniques derived from the instructor’s years of sound healing experience.
All students will leave class conscious of mindfulness to sound vibration. They will also be able to apply the techniques learned to both individuals and group settings.
Transforming Grief
8 Hours
Instructor: Shelia Cope, LMT
Course Description
Prerequisite: none
Grief does not only stem from death, but loss of any kind. This class provides an understanding of how loss and resulting grief manifest in the body. When we experience loss, we experience a heightened emotional state. If we do not work through our grief in a healthy way, emotions may be suppressed, ignored and stored in our body.
Many studies have proven that when we suppress our emotions, they can manifest in our body physically as disease. When we are open to releasing emotional baggage, we are open to releasing the physical manifestations of those suppressed emotions. By providing awareness and some basic tools to help release these emotions, you will leave class feeling lighter and better prepared to offer support to others. You will experience techniques you can utilize to remain present for clients or friends. This is not a hands-on massage class, but students will learn exercises for a self care plan to share with others.