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Acupressure
offers an energetic approach to activating the body's healing
resources through stimulation of the fourteen meridian channels and acupressure
points. Congestion arises in the meridian system due to energy
depletion, illness, trauma, lifestyle factors and emotional patterns.
Over time, blockages create changes in the underlying tissue.
Congestion in the tissue is generally painful to the touch and inhibits
the flow of energy to the vital organs, glands, musculoskeletal and nervous
systems. Acupressure along the meridian channels of the legs, arms,
torso and head activates the flow of healing resources to the related
organs and glands. Acupressure techniques include compression, rotation,
cutting, point pressure, stretches, and direction of energy. The course
also provides an overview of Five Element Theory and how to assess pain
profile patterns through the lens of the Five Elements. Students
learn specific protocols for treating five element imbalances via acupressure,
diet, rest and exercise.
Deep
Tissue: Muscle Stripping and PNF integrates the fundamentals
of myofascial therapy, muscle stripping, compression and proprioceptive
neuromuscular facilitation and stretching. Myofascial therapy involves
direct pressure to hypersensitive areas in the muscle, skin, fascia, tendons,
periosteum and joint capsules. Muscle stripping involves slow,
deep, gliding pressure to the fascia along the muscle fibers. Proprioceptive
Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) involves assisted passive, active and
resistive stretches of muscles to utilize reciprocal inhibition.
Muscle stripping is effective for improving postural alignment, increasing
range of motion, breaking up adhesions caused by micro-scarring, injury
or surgery, activating connective tissue regeneration, and addressing
myofascial pain. The work is applicable to a variety of myofascial pain
syndromes including headaches, sciatic pain, thoracic outlet syndrome,
carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tendonosis, muscle strains, piriformis
syndrome, TMJ syndrome, lower back pain, and frozen shoulder. The module
includes both classroom & clinic hours.
Deep
Tissue: Sports offers injury care, restorative massage and pre-event
massage protocols. Students learn protocols for the majority of
sports injuries, and injury prevention. Students learn distinctions for
diagnosing and treating tendonosis and tendonitis: hamstring pulls, jumper's
knee, Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow and iliotibial band syndrome.
Deep
Tissue: Trigger Point covers how to treat trigger points and
injuries. Trigger points are areas of hyperirritability within
soft tissue that develops when a muscle is injured or overworked.
Trigger points caused by trauma create changes in the chemical balance
in the tissue, irritating the sensory systems. Trigger points are
characterized by local tenderness and referred phenomena, which can include
pain, tingling, numbness, burning or itching. Therapists learn
direct pressure techniques with fingers, thumbs and tools to assess and
alleviate trigger points, as well as cross fiber friction techniques for
breaking up scar tissue, releasing adhesions and speeding tissue repair.
The work is applicable to a variety of syndromes including: dizziness,
earaches, nausea, numbness in hands and feet, headaches, neck and jaw
pain, low back pain, hamstring pulls, tendonosis, tennis elbow, carpal
tunnel syndrome and assorted myofascial pain syndromes. The module
includes both classroom and clinic hours.
Ethics
covers issues that may arise within a massage practice.
Students will have the opportunity to role play and engage in lively discussion
pertaining to defining and asserting boundaries and negotiating the client/therapist
relationship. Key topics explored include responding to sexual
arousal, negotiating power, and understanding and managing transference.
Students will define their own code of ethics.
Lymphatic
Drainage: Manual (MLD) presents two primary western approaches
to stimulating lymphatic drainage through massage: Manual Lymphatic Drainage
(MLD) and Integrative Lymphatic Drainage. MLD involves light, pulsing
contact techniques, while integrative lymphatic drainage massage involves
slow, deep effleurage techniques specifically following the lymphatic
pathways. Both approaches begin with clearing congestion within the abdomen.
The work proceeds to progressively drain the lymph through the more superficial
pathways in the upper torso and extremities, back towards the deep nodes
in the abdomen for final elimination through the large intestine.
Students will learn to apply the techniques on both clients and themselves
for daily lymphatic self care.
Lymphatic
Drainage: Visceral covers more advanced techniques in lymphatic
drainage, Chi Nei Tsang, acupressure, medical chi gong and self-care.
The advanced lymphatic work focuses on safely detoxifying the vital
organs and releasing congestion in the fascia and lymphatic nodes surrounding
the vital organs. The course addresses common pathologies impacting
the lymphatic system such as the common cold, the flu, Epstein-Barr, Chronic
Fatigue, fibromyalgia, cancer and Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
The course utilizes Mantak Chia's Chi Nei Tsang text and the Taoist
five element model of energy circulation and transformation. The
work is applicable to people of all ages and is highly indicated for anyone
who has exposure to environmental toxins. Clinics are included
with class format.
Pregnancy
Massage offers Deep Tissue, Swedish and Polarity techniques for
releasing musculoskeletal strain, balancing hormones, opening the pelvic
floor, and integrating emotional states during pregnancy, as well as speeding
tissue repair postpartum. Techniques include: Deep Tissue
Muscle-Sculpting, Swedish, Acupressure, F ive-Pointed Star, and Perineal
Balance. Students learn modified supine and side posture positioning,
massage techniques specific for each trimester and gentle abdominal postpartum
techniques for post birth recovery. The course addresses the anatomical
and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy, and includes both
classroom & clinic hours.
Reflexology
covers the reiterative, zonal and referral maps. Students learn
to clear blockages in the body by reflexing the feet, hand and ears.
Congestion arises in the bipolar electromagnetic currents or ten zones
due to illness, trauma, lifestyle factors and mental/emotional patterns.
Over time, blockages create changes in the underlying tissue of
the feet, hands and ears, which become congested with metabolic waste
and mineral deposits. Congestion can also lead to blockages in
the corresponding vital organs and glands. Direct pressure on the
feet, hands and ears activates the flow of healing resources to the related
organ, gland or body system, thereby initiating tissue repair, pain relief
and restored function. The module includes both classroom and clinic
hours.
Thai
Massage enhances chi flow in the meridian system through direct
pressure and stretching techniques applied to the muscles and joints of
the body. Thai massage offers a sophisticated protocol for systematically
releasing muscle tension, flushing blood into the tissues, increasing
mobility in the joints and opening the energetic flows of the meridian
system. Thai massage includes many positions and stretches similar
to hatha yoga with the difference being the recipient is more passive
than the yoga practitioner. This more passive relationship can give rise
to deeper release through the added leverage and attention of the practitioner,
and surrender of the recipient. The work is applicable to yogis who want
to deepen their practice as well as less active folks who want thorough,
deep stretching. The work also addresses a variety of syndromes including
visceral issues ranging from bladder infections to menstrual complaints,
as well as structural issues ranging from lower back pain to postural
slouching. In addition to presenting distinctly different protocols for
supine, prone, side-lying, seated and table postures, the course presents
how to individuate a session through choices in depth, length, duration,
pace and location when applying techniques. The module includes both classroom
and clinic hours.
Anatomy
and Physiology
Immune
Physiology and Toxicology addresses the body's immune system
response and the interplay of the various systems. The course addresses
a range of imbalances, an overview of toxicology and environmental factors
that may suppress the immune system, as well as chemical toxicity, heavy
metal exposure and chi depletion from a variety of stressors. Offers
Medical Chi Gong practices for mental clarity and immune system enhancement.
Muscle
Physiology covers the function and biochemistry of muscles. The
course deepens the therapist's understanding of how the muscles work in
relationship with the nervous, circulatory and integumentary systems and
how connective tissue, body chemistry and neurotransmitters profoundly
affect muscle function and the process of muscle contraction, release
and tissue repair.
Palpatory
Anatomy/Anatomy in Clay covers the major muscles involved in
common myofascial pain syndromes. Students learn key landmarks and attachment
sites of the muscles in order to refine their palpation skills.
Students will also mold key muscles out of clay on skeletal manikins.
Visceral
Physiology and Meridian Mapping presents the location and function
of the 14 major meridian flows, key acupressure points and their related
vital organs. The course deepens the therapist's understanding
of how chi flows in the body through the meridian system and how they
support the function of the vital organs and glands. Medical Chi Gong
exercises are woven into the presentation of each meridian and related
organ to enhance the student's mental clarity and heightened perception
of the meridians and organs within their own body.
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