By Sean Riehl, C.M.T.

Performing an assessment before a massage session while the client is standing is the optimal way to evaluate your client, reach an agreement and create a treatment plan.

If a standing assessment doesn’t happen, here are some quick and easy assessment techniques you can perform while the client is on the table in a prone position. You could even do these tests during a relaxing spa massage and gain valuable information while not disturbing the client.

Doing these tests will give you information about where to work to be the most effective, as well as give you and your client something to work toward in future sessions.

Spring test for vertebral mobility
With the client prone, use the thenar eminence of your palm to apply a springing pressure to each of the spinous processes of the vertebrae. Do this in about eight spots up the spine to get a quick overview of spinal mobility. Apply quick downward pressure and then release. Start at the lower lumbar and move up the spine all the way to the upper back. Direct pressure straight down toward the table at 90 degrees to the body. (In massage school we are always taught to stay off the spinous processes, but applying this gentle pressure is perfectly safe.)

This is a very general mobility test of each of the vertebrae, and by using this test you can get a quick evaluation of your client’s back health. On a healthy back, each of the vertebrae will move independently. On a back that lacks mobility, multiple vertebrae will move as a column. If the muscles have been tight for a long time, this begins to translate into the facet joints and disks, causing them to become less mobile, and move as a group.

By testing joint movement, you can tell if your muscular work is going to be really effective, or is going to take multiple treatments over a long period of time. For example, if someone has back pain with tight muscles and all the vertebrae move as a column, then you know it is going to take longer to relieve the dysfunction. If you see a client with back pain and tight muscles, but the vertebrae have normal mobility, you know that relieving the muscles will often fix the issue.After testing about five people, you will start to get a sense of what is normal.

- See more at: http://www.massagemag.com/easy-assessment-techniques-for-clients-prone-on-the-table-30675/#sthash.OufJmBdF.dpuf

Jenny Prince has received our Student of the Month award for August as well as our Scholarship Award Winner for having the most requests in a 4 month period. She recently completed her 250 hr Massage Practitioner Program and is aspiring to complete the 1000 hr Holistic Health Practitioner Program.

What made you want to come to massage school? My first long term career was Early Childhood Education, which lead me to teach Preschool for 17 years.  Then I helped built the spa I currently manage, Salt. I realized I wasn’t nurturing myself enough and that I needed to take care of my health. When I was younger I wanted to do massage, and it was coming back around as something I wanted to pursue. It felt like it was the natural time to do it, like a point in life where I was really ready to do it.

Give us some of your background. I grew up in small intentional community in Mendocino County, where my dad raised me since my mother left when I was little. Because my father raised me I feel like I didn’t get a whole lot of “mother nurturing” growing up, I realized this through many years of self-exploration; I feel this is why I took on this nurturing role when wanting to heal and go to massage school. I moved to Santa Barbara in 1991 for college, and I just couldn’t leave! I had kids, got married, got divorced and decided to stay here to raise my kids in this town and I have loved every second of it!

What is your favorite course? Craniosacal. I feel like the spine is the base or root of our whole system. The beginning class I took provided me with an awakened state and showed me how important it is. I want to take the Craniosacral II & III as well, I think it is a core modality to know and integrate. I am also really excited to learn Trigger Point in the fall.

What have you found difficult about massage school? I have found it challenging to work full time, go to school and be a mom. However the school always makes me feel appreciated and nurtures me. The feeling when you are there is so profound that I want to be there all the time, even though it’s a lot of work, I make it work because I know that it’s right.

What would you like to do with your career as a Massage Therapist? I am going to continue the director at Salt, but take on private clients. I would like to just work on my massage practice part time, make it flexible for me so I don’t over work myself. I manage Massage Therapists so I know how hard they work, so it’s important to me to keep everything in balance.

Any feelings on the school you want to express? I miss it and feel like SBBTI is like a family. I feel supported while I am there and I appreciate that it is diverse. Not only are the teachers diverse in their personalities, teaching style, but the modalities themselves. I love that they make you feel welcome no matter what level you are at. I feel it’s essential that SBBTI encompasses everyone’s strong points and gives them the ability to choose their education. I think that’s huge and there are endless possibilities when you have that. 

This month we celebrate Andrew Roy for his award as the Student of the Month for September. He has had 8 referrals this month coming to see him in the Student Clinic. His healing touch and love of learning about massage, has made him decide the to join the 1000 hr Holistic Health Practitioner Program. He has already taken the Swedish program, along with Acupressure I & II, Muscle Physiology, Medical Qigong Essesntials, Tui Na I & II, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and Emotional Process. 


What made you choose to come to massage school? It was always a possibility in the back of my mind. Although I never grew up with anything like this in my family, when I received my first massage, I noticed this to be a possibility to be really healing and helpful. I thought I would try it out, and jumped right in.

What is your favorite class? Medical Qigong Essential class. Energy work is very powerful, and Matthew is my favorite teacher! I love his style of teaching, and he is very knowledgeable, and he always has the answer for you.

What are you doing besides massage school? I am taking classes at SBCC studying Kinesiology and exploring different areas of education. Not quite sure where going to go from now.

Give us a little of your background. I grew up in Anchorage Alaska which has quite different with seasons. My grandparents lived here and when I visited here I feel in love with Santa Barbara! The ability to go swimming in the ocean and go hiking in the mountains; I really appreciate good weather! I played sports in school, my favorite was basketball and football, and team aspect of it was an amazing example of healing.

Did you find any challenges with you first started school at BTI? When I first started school, I was a little challenged with massaging and touching people with a loving touch.  With instruction from my teachers and help from family and friends, I learned and grew to touch confidently.

Is there a point in time or instance solidifying that Massage is what you wanted to be doing? Yes! There are two parts that really made it clear to me. First, when I started doing clinics, I noticed the state that some of the clients were in when they came into the clinic, and then how relaxed and happy they became afterwards. It is fulfilling to get to see that, and I love it. Second, all of the classes have really helped and healed me. Qigong though really opened me up to a whole new arena of being in the world. It really helped me along the path of getting in touch with my energy, using energy to enhance my well- being, and then helping to enhance my clients as well.

Anything else you would like to leave us with? I am really grateful for the school. It is a wonderful, supportive, and healing place. I have enjoyed all of my classes and each instructor has their strengths in what they do and what they teach. This has been an overall wonderful experience. Thank you!

This past month excellence prevailed yet again in our student clinic. We celebrate Chelsea Sandoval who was our most requested student. Last month she scheduled 2 massages per week and had several complements from SBBTI clients. We have awarded her the honor of being student of the month for her professionalism, excellent people skills and the great massages she shares. 

"The body work I have received from Chelsea has been top of the line. She has a magnetic energy and instantly makes you feel both comfortable and heard. Her knowledge of the body translates into her massage. She has a very intuitive touch and seems to be drawn to the areas that need extra attention. She uses the skills she has obtained at SBBTI along with her natural ability to read the body; these paired together deliver a truly amazing session. I  continue to rebook because my body continues to feel better and better with each session."
- Danica Vega, 250 hour graduate

Chelsea was happy to share with us details about her journey into massage and experiences in Massage school. 

Chelsea, Why are you in massage school?
I used to live with two Massage Therapists, constantly getting bodywork, and one of them would have me work on them periodically. He kept telling me that I had a natural ability to heal, and that I needed to going to school for this, and this is what I should be doing with my time instead of working at a desk.

Why you do like massage school?
After having that push to come here, I realized how interesting and enlightening the human body could be. I like the feeling that I get in giving and receiving a massage. I feel like not only do a lot of people benefit from my massages, but I benefit too, seeing and feeling all of the differences in bodies and body types. I enjoy the school because it is like being home. It’s like when you walk in, you instantly feel comfortable. You want to learn and just be here.

How was it working a regular job, and then started something new like this?
When I first started coming to massage school I was a little intimidated by all the kids in my class.  They were all vegans, vegetarians, into higher realms of consciousness, and I was the only one cussing and eating junk foods! And then I took Access Consciousness and Audrey showed me that I was capable of doing things that everyone else was. She taught me that my differences were actual perfections. About that time I then became pregnant with my son, and started the reflexology course. I became more present in the course, and more excited to be in school. I was able to connect with Sonia Ross to practice my massage techniques with. She instilled in me that I was a great therapist and then I started to find my place at the school. I stopped feeling intimidated by people. When I got student of the month I realized that this is what I should be doing all of the time! Thank you BTI!!!!!!!!!!!

What is your favorite modality?
I love the feet! Massage made me realize how beautiful human bodies are because of their feet! Reflexology is one of my favorites because the feet take a good beating from being on them all day and people don’t give them enough credit; so it feels good to give some attention to that part of the body. Plus I spent a lot of time NOT liking my feet or other people’s feet before! Not wanting to be touched by other peoples feet, not wanting my feet touched, or even looked at! So it feels good to now balance that out and LOVE the feet. Also, it is interesting to me that in the feet you can get so detailed into the body; it shows us that all the things we have built up in the body start to show up in your feet!

I like Access Consciousness because it takes people to a different level of healing. It puts them in an open space to allow anything to come up. I have gotten a lot of feedback from people when giving access that encourages me to do it more. To me it is also interesting to feel how other people’s energies can give my body a reaction; like a sneeze, a twitch, or a temperature change. Before I never believed things like energy work actually worked, but after taking that class I realized that it is real.

How has your life changed since doing massage?
I am now a co-owner of I AM Healing, GP with the two people who encouraged me to go to massage school. Our practice is donation based, so no one is ever turned away who seeks healing. Massage has taken me to Lucidity Festival twice (Santa Barbara), Burning Man (Nevada), Firefly (Arizona), Awaken (Mendocino), I AM Healing IV Event, and many other events, fundraisers, and charitable functions. All of this for donation based healing, which feels really good because it allows everyone to come and get some work done, which is the reason that I do massage is to help as many people as I can that are open to receiving.

"I came in for a massage with Chelsea and was happy to receive a massage that was a little different than the usual. She did a Swedish massage that was also deep tissue. I liked the deeper touch and it was a nice change of pace. I felt so good after and I was also very relaxed. I would recommend her to anyone who wants a good massage."
-Sebastian Aldana 

With a B.A. in Kinesiology from Chico State University, certified Personal Trainer, and soon to be a licensed Massage Practitioner, Ryan Baker, is at the top of the line when it comes to being one of SBBTI's most well rounded students. Ryan made the decision to attend SBBTI so he could complete his massage training after taking barefoot massage and enjoying the work.
"I knew the potential of how much massage could really help people so I checked out the school and was happy that BTI had a lot to offer."  

Ryan's professionalism and intention to help his clients stands out. Ryan was the most requested student in our clinics in May, In addition he executed professionalism, timeliness and exceptional customer service, earning himself our Student of the month award. 

Ryan is passionate about teaching people greater body awareness through physical activity, stretching and massage. He offers encouragement for people to take more responsibility for their health. "It is so important for people to be more responsible for their health. On the most basic levels learning to live and treat the body well. People don't need to go to extremes but just make a few changes at a time and with success the desire for more will naturally follow."


Ryan said he was fortunate that his uncle valued massage. Starting when he was 12 years old his uncle gifted him massage every year for his birthday. "I got to have the experience of receiving massage and felt how powerful healing touch could be. I was comfortable with massage early on in life, and especially appreciated it when I got into sports. I like to practice deep tissue, sports massage with athletes. I have learned a lot of skills at SBBTI and I am always open to learn more."

Ryan is looking forward to growing a healthy massage practice and is already going strong with his body training sessions, helping people get in shape, clean up their health and soon will integrate compressive deep tissue massage into the package.
" There are some obvious challenges when getting people to make lifestyle changes. Sometimes they have a strong resistance to change. I have found as a trainer that I cannot make people change. What I can do is offer support around getting them past their own barriers. I help set goals that are challenging but attainable. Then I provide the structure and support needed to get started, follow through, and keep people in alignment with their program. People need to see results. I help them get those results"

Ryan thoroughly enjoyed his education at SBBTI. He commented, "My favorite things about SBBTI are the people. I had such a great time in class and appreciated interacting with the staff and the students. The instructors have a deep passion about their area of expertise. You can tell they went the extra mile to become experts in their fields, and you can feel their joy and fulfillment when they are sharing their skills with the students. They really want to help people. You can tell when someone truly loves what they are doing."

Ryan is excited to be launching his business in and around the Santa Barbara area. With the addition of massage integrated into his personal training and health boosting sessions, Ryan has a lot to offer the community. We celebrate another student success and look forward to seeing more of Ryan in months to come.

If you are interested in working with Ryan Baker please call him at (559) 741-6142

"I really enjoyed Swedish massage and am so ready to learn more. I am eternally grateful to the Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute. I realize I am just scratching the surface with the skills I want to learn and bring to the massage table. I want to learn the best techniques that can help liberate people from suffering. With massage you are dealing with a very intimate level of trust. It takes motivation and a willingness for people to explore this level of healing in the body. The more I explore the healing in myself the more I have to offer.
One of my favorite things about Swedish class was bonding with the group. I am an extrovert in one on one situations but very quiet in a group setting. The daily check-ins were great for me, forcing me to expand beyond my comfort zone. Now I actually enjoy a group setting with the sharing and questions that arise. It's an amazing way to learn and you can learn something from everyone."

Meet Danica Vega, this trimester's winner for the Massage Envy Student Scholarship and also our Student of the month. Awarded for her professionalism, willingness to be fully present, and being the most requested student therapist in April's student clinics. Ready to make the profound impact that sharing a little love and kindness can have on the masses, reaching all that she encounters. I can attest that a feeling of peace and a smile are unavoidable in her presence.
"I remember hearing about the scholarship when I started the program and thinking that I would apply. It's great that Massage Envy and SBBTI have offered this to students and I was a little surprised that I got it. It really helps especially in Santa Barbara with the high cost of living."

Danica is authentically on the life path to spreading her inner light and love to all. With a strong desire to help people, specifically women during times when they need help in going through big changes, Danica found her way into the massage profession.
"Being of service to women in an intense rehabilitation program has inspired me to explore other methods for helping with the detoxification process. Through a friend, Kristen Davis, I heard about the school and also lymphatic drainage massage. I met with Katie the next day and enrolled. My interest is in exploring how women can help each other in community and relate to each other. I want to continue to make soul connections and be of service to help facilitate changes that are often difficult. With these core goals It seems only natural that opportunities keep manifesting in my life."

To teach is to learn. Danica teaches yoga at several locations throughout town including DiviniTree, Spectrum Athletic Clubs, Santa Barbara Fit Body Boot Camp, and Casa Serena.
"As an instructor of yoga I have learned the importance of being true to my divine self and also being authentic. I recommend for people to be real, be human, embrace what you are feeling, and be authentic."

Danica is in the flow. Well educated, with a background in Social Science studies, Social Services for children and Economics, equipped with a big open heart and empathy toward women and children, the last thing she wanted was to get locked into a desk job entailing little interaction with people. With an openness to listening and following her heart, the right doors opened up for her and now she is well on the path to her own bright future.
"I want to live to work not work to live. Society programs us to be on a designated path that can lock a person into a pattern of dependency and materialism. It was a difficult choice for me to leave that path, but well worth it. Everything seems to be opening and flowing for me. Positions for teaching yoga all fell into my lap one after the other; and then finding the school was right in alignment with that. I always know inside when to act as opportunities arise and I get a strong yes inside. A teacher once told me that everything you need to know you already know. It's a matter of really listening to your truths.

My long term goal is to one day run and host a work exchange rehabilitation program that in addition to helping individuals shift their lives, also focuses on family recovery. Many people suffer from a disconnection from each other which can leave an unfilled space inside. I want to help people return to a sense of community. And to ensure greater success the work exchange gives people an appreciation for life and enables them to re-establish their purpose."

Fifteen more hours of clinics and one module to go till Danica is finished up with the 250 program. Danica will be growing her customer base as a massage practitioner, while she continues on her learning journey into the 550 massage therapy program. She is currently available in the student clinics and after completing her certification requirements she will be open for professional sessions at SBBTI and beyond.

This month we present to you Chantal Peterson. She has earned the gold star student award for having the highest number of new client bookings, student referrals, and was the most requested student in our clinics. Chantal not only contributes her loving personality and peaceful presence to the healing of her clients but also offers a deeper embodiment of love that the planet is truly in need of.
Chantal started her massage work last August and has since built momentum with her practice. She has many friends who appreciate her work and want to keep coming back for more. She is already developing a group of regulars and is well on her road to success with her massage practice.


Chantal's path into the healing arts occurred naturally through the practice of Yoga and through friends who had attended massage school in town and shared their gifts with her. One of her roommates practiced Craniosacral therapy and referred her to SBBTI. Feeling especially drawn to Craniosacral therapy she signed up and began classes with Carolyn Thompson and Jordan Terry.
"It was awesome to be in Carolyn's presence. I felt really aligned with the philosophy behind what she does and also with Jordan's work. In my massage, I like to incorporate some Craniosacral holds along with some deep tissue techniques."

Chantal has a natural flow with massage that seems to be automatically built in. She always knew she would learn massage at some point in her life.
"Everything is organically unfolding for me. After receiving massage I realized how profound it could be and how much it teaches you about your own body. I had been traveling and last summer and after landing in Santa Barbara, I had an open space in my life so I decided to get certified in massage. It was the perfect time."

Massage has a therapeutic ripple effect in that it spreads loving energy and kindness from one to another. When a practitioner gives massage the recipient relaxes and in turn becomes more able to share their loving energy with another. And that energy flows to the next person and spreads itself out like the roots of a tree to many people down the line.
"There is oneness and union in massage. The therapist connects with their clients energy field and the two fields join together. They become united and harmonious, allowing for the best healing benefit and possible outcome of all."

In addition to healing the body, Chantal is committed to the healing of the earth. Shel grew up in Flagstaff Arizona and moved to California to study environmental science, conservation and resource studies at UCSB and UC Berkley. Chantal currently works for the UCSB sustainability program. She has been busy organizing a Fossil Fuel Divestment Convergence at SFSU, with students from over 75 universities attending.
"It's an enormous event with a massive budget. It is great to be a part of this project that can make a difference for the healing of the planet. We all hear about the problems that our way of life has created on the earth but there are many people currently working on changes that will make a difference. There is progress being made, especially in California, and It feels so good to be a part of it."

Chantal also enjoys teaching kids about the environment, about plastics and the ocean at "Art from Scrap" located not to far from SBBTI. She is looking forward to growing her part time practice in massage and will soon go public with it after wrapping up the final details.

After spending time around Ruta in class, and sitting down to connect, I couldn't help but to feel inspired by her openness and willingness to face herself and her fears with full allowance of the profound shifting and growth that continues on in each moment that she shares herself and her gifts with those around her. Here is an individual who has truly known all aspects of life and is not afraid to follow her heart and embody her dreams.
This is no ordinary masseur. I watched as she delivered one massage after another in class and in the student clinics where the clients came out glowing with rave reviews and marveling in appreciation for the love and kindness they had received. The beauty is in her willingness to be fully present, love and appreciate those around her, and offer her talent to the highest good. Full of life and ready to commit to her own personal healing which, through osmosis somehow seems to translate to all that surrounds her. We are honored to report this months award winning student Ruta Martell.

"I moved to Santa Barbara from Colorado two years ago leaving my beautiful cabin living at 10,200 feet. My environment was living off the grid which included solar, a composting toilet and melting snow for water in the winter. I had to snowmobile 6 miles one way in the winters. I spent seven years re building and giving life to what was once considered a shamble 4 walls. It was my labor of love and it was very difficult to leave this place.

Santa Barbara has become a safe and healing place that has nurtured my heart and soul. I arrived here with my dog Mischa in hopes to find myself in a state of peace. What once was my obsession to give life to old buildings now has transformed me to become a facilitator in healing the human body!"

Seeking a life change, Ruta arrived in Santa Barbara and wasn't sure what she would find. Opportunities were popping up for her including one difficult to pass up chance to manage a successful restaurant in Montecito. Possibly by divine intervention she met a woman who practiced Craniosacral Therapy and was directed to check out massage. Interested in exploring the healing arts she visited the school the next day and signed up. It all changed from then on.

"The moment I stepped into the school everything shifted. I continued to have profound experiences with all of the events that took place thereafter. The school is like magic. When I started it was difficult. It was a big commitment for me and I had to keep trusting that the work here which was helping me was going to lead to liberation. Throughout the Level One course, I have learned much more than massage. I have learned to really honor relationships and be more true to myself, setting boundaries and learning that it's OK to say no. I feel like I have gone on a journey of quantum consciousness, opening me up and enabling me to recognize my own patterns and the things that I need to change inside myself. After my mother passed away and and my marriage fell apart I went through a very difficult five years. I was lost and I filled my time with activities that weren't so good for me. In need of a shift, I moved and landed in a place that has opened me up to creative expression through healing hands. Now through finding this joy, I am finally feeling clear. I am so glad that I have invested in my personal healing. I recommend it for everyone."

Currently Ruta is enjoying practicing in the student clinics and is not sure yet where her calling will go. She is planning to continue on with Level 2, work toward 1,000 hours of massage training and possibly look for work in a spa for awhile to gain more experience. We continue to enjoy and appreciate Ruta's wisdom and nurturing energy.

"I feel my life is still transitioning and I have no solid plans. I am also thinking it would be nice to do a bit of traveling in the future. I feel open and I am listening."

Ruta advises us all that Life is short so we should strive to be present in each moment, taking the time to enjoy life and the processes and relationships that we are in. She hopes her story will inspire those who read it to follow their hearts.

Every month students have the opportunity to exhibit their professionalism, practicing in our student clinics, preparing for their careers in the healing arts. SBBTI is proud to have so many students who exude exceptional skills in massage, intuitive listening and communication.
This month we honor one such student, Celeste Chandler, who we can congratulate on her performance and feel proud to know that she will continue to honor our school with exceptional healing work out in the community.  

Before she came to SBBTI she was at a crossroads, after achieving a BA in Art History at UCSB, she began to seek employment in her field. Although she greatly values her education, the work wasn't as enjoyable as she had hoped. She felt that something was missing. With a strong desire to help people, and after taking an introductory massage course at UCSB, Celeste began her journey into massage at SBBTI.



Finding joy in her decision, Celeste is now starting the 550 program and is ecstatic about the healing arts. She enjoys practicing on clients and friends and especially likes helping people to feel better. " I really like the school a lot and am so happy with how sweet everyone is there."