See class descriptions for approved CE hours.
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(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
Cupping is a simple, effective technique that offers numerous benefits by using suction to provide negative pressure, allowing you to work much deeper with less client discomfort and minimal strain to your body. Begun in China thousands of years ago, cupping has been brought forward into the modern era.
Using negative pressure and suction to lift connective tissue creates a “separation” in the tissue layers. This enables renewed blood flow to undernourished tissue, helps to release soft tissue scars and restricted fascia, helps drain excess fluid and stimulates local circulation to tissues. This versatile technique mimics bodywork treatments ranging from deep tissue and myofascial release to the light movements of lymphatic drainage.
This one-day introduction to cupping provides a basic understanding of how to apply negative pressure cupping to alleviate pain, decrease swelling, increase the range of motion, and promote the healing process. This class will outline the theory and actions of cupping, indications and contraindication, how to use and care for the cups and how to incorporate them into your treatment plans. You will leave the class with a new understanding of these effective techniques to add to your practice. Cupping is a terrific approach to assist our clients to achieve healing and wellness.
What you will learn:
Practice Cups will be provided during class. Cups can be ordered after class if desired.
Classes Scheduled
(16 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
Practice Cups will be provided during class. Cups can be ordered after class if desired.
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
During this workshop, participants will learn the basics of how essential oils work and methods for applying the oils. Included with be studies supporting the application of oils for specific effects. Six specific oils (Pine, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Marjoram, Bergamot, and Clove) will be reviewed, with opportunities to create blends and experience the effects. A starter kit of oils (Provided by Earth Angel Oils) is provided with the class. The starter kit is an extra cost.
What you will learn:
Essential oils will be provided for use in class. Additional essential oils can be ordered after class if desired.
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
PTSD is the abbreviation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening event. About 10 percent of women and 5 percent of men will experience PTSD in their lifetime with about 1 in 30 adults in the United States suffering from the disorder at any given time and about 8 percent of Americans will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
This one day class provides a basic understanding of PTSD, trauma and its effects.
While exploring signs and symptoms of PTSD and trauma, the characteristics of the 3 classes of PTSD, and the different ways PTSD and trauma can manifest during a session, we will learn how massage therapy can positively impact clients suffering from these conditions.
What you will learn:
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
Suction cup therapy is a traditional, time-honored treatment that remains favored by millions of people worldwide because it is safe, comfortable and remarkably effective for many health disorders. By creating suction and negative pressure while manipulating the soft tissue, massage cupping can release rigid soft tissue, loosen adhesions and lift connective tissue, bringing blood flow to skin and muscles.
This seminar will examine how applying negative pressure massage cupping to facial structures can help alleviate pain, decrease swelling, increase the range of motion, enhance detoxification, and speed up the healing process. This class will outline the theory and actions of massage cupping to facial structures, the tools used to perform the technique and the basics of using the tools safely and effectively. Participants will leave the seminar armed with an additional useful technique that is non-invasive, painless and effective.
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
The human body is designed to be an active body, not to sit for hours a day. Forcing our bodies to lock into a set position for long periods of time can result in some muscles becoming very tight and some becoming very weak. Having our head protrude forward is just such a situation. This position is known as Upper Crossed Syndrome and it can significantly impact a person’s ability to function easily, without pain, and can contribute to a number of debilitating conditions, including headache, TMJ, and shoulder injuries. Understanding which muscles are shortened and overworked and which are weakened, and using tools to balance them, provides an opportunity to regain healthy posture
This one-day, hands-on course explores the structural and soft tissue anatomy involved in Upper Crossed Syndrome and how imbalances can lead to pain, headaches, and shoulder injuries. Healthcare workers are often at risk for Upper Crossed Syndrome and this class will provide tools for self-care as well as client care. At the end of this course, you will walk away with tools to help you and your clients achieve a more healthy and supportive posture.
What You Will Learn:
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
Breathing is a natural function and often taken for granted–until it becomes difficult. Many conditions can contribute to difficulty breathing, from infections and inflammation to genetic and developmental malfunction. There are many times when breathing is hampered by something as simple, but profound, as muscular imbalances, fascial restrictions or habituated improper breathing patterns.
This course explores breath from a functional perspective. The class includes a review of the structural and soft tissue anatomy of respiration and how imbalances can lead to respiratory restriction. It will focus on techniques to release restrictions in 4 major respiratory muscles plus the diaphragm, including self-care techniques to relax or strengthen the muscles. The class will include practice, assessment and practice time.
This class offers helpful tools for bodyworkers, athletes, singers, wind instrument musicians, swimmers, those with chronic respiratory deficiency, or anyone with a shoulder-forward posture throughout the day.
What You Will Learn
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas CE's)
As therapists, we routinely see clients with foot pain. Can you recognize the symptoms of plantar fasciitis before it evolves into severe foot pain - restricting movement and freedom? In this class we will explore that causes of common foot problems including plantar fasciitis as well as methods to restore pain-free function for the foot.
What You Will Learn:
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas CE's)
Oral surgery, including third molar removal, root canals, and implants, or even abscessed tooth removal, can often cause postoperative pain, swelling, and occasionally numbness, jaw pain and movement difficulties or infection. Too often, oral surgery is considered no big deal—until the anesthetic wears off.
The anatomy of the mouth and teeth is often foreign territory for health care providers, so helping our clients through the post-op period can be daunting and confusing.
This class will help the practitioner understand the anatomy of the oral cavity and how to help relieve the discomfort and swelling to assist with healing.
What You Will Learn:
Classes Scheduled
(10 hours Texas CE's)
Cupping is a simple, effective technique that offers numerous benefits by using suction to provide negative pressure, allowing you to work much deeper with less client discomfort and minimal strain to your body. Begun in China thousands of years ago, cupping has been brought forward into the modern era.
Massage cupping employs negative pressure for superior results in a wide array of bodywork techniques. By creating suction and negative pressure while manipulating the soft tissue, massage cupping can release rigid soft tissue, loosen adhesions and lift connective tissue, bringing blood flow to skin and muscles.
This one and a half-day seminar (10 hours) will examine how applying suction (cupping massage) can help alleviate pain, decrease swelling, improve wound healing, improve scar pliability, and speed up the healing process. Using negative pressure and suction to lift connective tissue creates a “separation” in the tissue layers. This enables renewed blood flow to undernourished tissue, helps to release soft tissue scars and restricted fascia, helps drain excess fluid and stimulates local circulation to tissues.
This class will outline the stages of wound healing and how cupping and lymphatic drainage can enhance and support the healing process. Participants will leave the seminar armed with an additional useful technique that is non-invasive, painless and effective.
What you will learn:
What you need to bring:
Cups can be ordered after class if desired.
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas CE's)
Shoulder pain is a common complaint for many people and becomes more common as we age. A report from 2009 found shoulder injury and pain (especially rotator cuff injury) are becoming more common in the fifth and sixth decades of life and almost 30% of visits to orthopedic clinics are for rotator cuff injuries. The report also states that more than 50% of individuals over 50 have at least a partial thickness rotator cuff tear and are among the most common of orthopedic procedures. Yet many of these surgeries are unnecessary; non-invasive approaches can be exceptionally effective.
Doctors often diagnose shoulder pain as bursitis or arthritis when the real problem is in the rotator cuff. Anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed, which treat the symptoms but not the cause. Many times, shoulder pain or movement difficulties cannot be related to any specific injury or incident, but have just gradually gotten worse over time. Too frequently, research and experience indicate close to 90 percent of shoulder pain/rotator cuff dysfunction results from incorrect shoulder mechanics.
The focus of this workshop is to give you the knowledge and tools to correct problems that are causing pain and dysfunction as well as prevent problems in the future.
What You Will Learn
This class also provides valuable tools for trainers, massage therapists, athletes and anyone curious about ways to protect or heal their shoulders.
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
This one-day seminar offers you the tools to give your clients complete freedom from shoulder pain. Learn about rotator cuff injuries, how to release the affected muscles and prevention of future injuries. Experience the power of this technique for yourself, practice the skills in class and be confident you can immediately implement this technique in your practice. This course is a must for any therapist interested in helping their clients attain an injury-free state. Manual therapists are at high risk for rotator cuff/shoulder injuries. You will use this information for the rest of your career!
The shoulder complex is the most freely movable part of our body. Because of this wonderful range of movement, it is highly susceptible to injury and dysfunction. Virtually all of our clients have experienced shoulder pain and injury. Rotator cuff injuries are becoming more and more common, especially in this age of "computer shoulders." People with rotator cuff/shoulder dysfunctions and injuries suffer constant pain, interrupted sleep, and loss of range of motion. A detailed understanding of the shoulder complex and the skills to precisely release the affected muscles are of the utmost importance to bring our clients to a pain-free state.
What You Will Learn
Classes Scheduled
(6 hours Texas and NCBTMB CE's)
Prerequisite - Day 1 Class
Course Hours:
This class adds to the foundation from Day 1. The focus of this class is the 7 supporting shoulder muscles, including the Pectoralis Major and Minor, and the Latissimus and Teres Major.
What You Should Bring
Participants should bring a massage table, sheets, lubricant, a bolster, and pillow. Women, please wear a sports bra or bathing suit to allow access to the rotator cuff muscles.
Classes Scheduled
None currently scheduled
(30 hours –NCBTMB CE approved)
Teaching can be fun and rewarding and can make powerful differences in someone’s life. But, teaching can also be confusing, frustrating and at times overwhelming. Today’s classes are made up of diverse populations, from baby boomers to Gen Y’ers and all those in between; from all ethnicities, economic and cultural backgrounds and myriad experiences. This creates a diverse tapestry of resources, opportunities, and challenges for the adult student and the teacher. Teaching adults effectively and easily is a skill that can be learned or enhanced with an understanding of some basic theories and methods. With the right knowledge and tools, those challenges can be turned into strengths to make the classroom experience fun and successful.
While exploring success criteria for students and instructors, this class will help the participant create a toolbox of skills that will bring ease and confidence in creating and teaching classes for the adult student. These tools will include:
This experiential course includes an opportunity to receive peer support as well as one-on-one coaching throughout the process.
This course is applicable to anyone planning to or currently teaching adults and does meet the DSHS requirements to become a Massage Therapy Instructor.
Classes Scheduled
None currently scheduled
This course is also available in a home-study version. Visit the Products page for a description of the Home Study Course and to purchase a copy.
