MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE POSTERIOR, LATERAL AND ANTERIOR NECK

The neck is a strong, vulnerable and complex structure. It is the most movable part of the spine, and yet is strong enough to balance and support the head (~5 kg), even with chronically poor posture. Skillful deep tissue work in this area is not about brute force; it’s about precision and strategy, informed by knowledge of the anatomical structures. It’s rare to find massage therapists who really know how to massage the neck in a precise, specific way--especially around the small muscular attachments to the transverse processes--even though this is often where the muscles are most frayed and/or inflamed.

In the morning you will learn specific techniques for releasing the cervical posterior paraspinal muscles (longissimus, semispinalis capitis, multifidus), suboccipital triangle, levator scapula (especially the cervical attachments), facet joints, splenius capitus and cervicis, posterior, middle, and anterior scalenes, sternocleidomastoid, and masseter.

In the afternoon we will focus on deep muscle-specific techniques for the anterior neck. Many people learned in massage school to avoid this area, but it responds safely and well to skilled and precise touch. We will focus on the scalene, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and longus capitus and colli groups. This is really helpful work for clients who have been in car accidents, have emotional issues with their necks or throats, or use their voices professionally (eg, singers).

These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. The work is well-suited to either treating cervical injuries or improving your spa massage, and will increase your precision, palpatory sensitivity, and effectiveness. Body mechanics will also be a focus of the class as well as proper use of fingers to save wear and tear on joints.

“I honestly learned more in your neck class than any other CE I’ve taken, and I’ve been at it almost 13 years.” -Tracey Brandt

“I love neck work, and this class took things to the next level.” -Heather Finch

“This class has vastly improved my knowledge, approach, and technique. I am looking forward to immediately applying all this in my practice.” -Jessica Roberts

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10am-7pm

Tuition: 180€ / day for 1 day class (Saturday or Sunday). 300€ for both classes (Saturday and Sunday). If you have taken either class before, you may attend both days for 280€.

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Oost West Centrum in Antwerpen, BE. Click Here for registration information and other details. If you are entitled to the discount, chose the option 'I will pay later'. The online payment system can not apply the discount.

MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE POSTERIOR, LATERAL AND ANTERIOR NECK

The neck is a strong, vulnerable and complex structure. It is the most movable part of the spine, and yet is strong enough to balance and support the head (~5 kg), even with chronically poor posture. Skillful deep tissue work in this area is not about brute force; it’s about precision and strategy, informed by knowledge of the anatomical structures. It’s rare to find massage therapists who really know how to massage the neck in a precise, specific way--especially around the small muscular attachments to the transverse processes--even though this is often where the muscles are most frayed and/or inflamed.

In the morning you will learn specific techniques for releasing the cervical posterior paraspinal muscles (longissimus, semispinalis capitis, multifidus), suboccipital triangle, levator scapula (especially the cervical attachments), facet joints, splenius capitus and cervicis, posterior, middle, and anterior scalenes, sternocleidomastoid, and masseter.

In the afternoon we will focus on deep muscle-specific techniques for the anterior neck. Many people learned in massage school to avoid this area, but it responds safely and well to skilled and precise touch. We will focus on the scalene, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and longus capitus and colli groups. This is really helpful work for clients who have been in car accidents, have emotional issues with their necks or throats, or use their voices professionally (eg, singers).

These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. The work is well-suited to either treating cervical injuries or improving your spa massage, and will increase your precision, palpatory sensitivity, and effectiveness. Body mechanics will also be a focus of the class as well as proper use of fingers to save wear and tear on joints.

“I honestly learned more in your neck class than any other CE I’ve taken, and I’ve been at it almost 13 years.” -Tracey Brandt

“I love neck work, and this class took things to the next level.” -Heather Finch

“This class has vastly improved my knowledge, approach, and technique. I am looking forward to immediately applying all this in my practice.” -Jessica Roberts

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Sunday, April 21, 2024, 9:30am-6:30pm

Tuition: 180€ per day for 1 day class (Saturday or Sunday). 320€ for both classes (Saturday and Sunday).

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Ecole Européenne de Massage in Brussels, Belgium. Click here for registration information and other details.

MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE TORSO (ILIOPSOAS, DIAPHRAGM, QL AND PARASPINALS)

These muscular structures support the core–they are integral to maintaining balance, structural alignment, ease of breathing, mobility, and the ability to function without lower back pain. In the morning, you will learn specific, potent, and effective Deep Tissue techniques to release the iliopsoas, diaphragm, QL, lower multifidus, and the lumbodorsal fascia. These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice, often with profound results. There will be a concise and insightful anatomy review of these structures with an eye toward the functional relationships between them. We will also focus on correct placement and proper use of fingers, knuckles, and elbows for optimal results.

In the afternoon we will focus on some muscle-specific Deep Tissue techniques for the Paraspinals (erector spinae and transversospinalis) that are different from but complementary to what you learned in massage school or elsewhere. The emphasis will be on releasing and unbinding the erector spinae group, the transversospinalis group, the lumbodorsal fascia, and the quadratus lumborum. These muscle-specific techniques will improve the precision and effectiveness of your back massage, and can be easily integrated to your style of bodywork. Body mechanics will continue to be a focus of the class, as well as proper use of elbows, fingers and knuckles to save wear and tear on joints. Students who have taken this class have reported that they were able to apply the techniques in their practices right away and that their clients loved the results, feeling a newfound sense of freedom and ease in their backs.

“This is one of the most practical classes I’ve ever taken. Brian presented useful information and then taught practical application of this info. He walked us through how to find each muscle–something I have always wished other instructors would do. I left the training with expanded skills and knowledge, which I have been able to use right away with my clients.” - Evelyn Bass

“I absolutely love this work. I can hardly wait to bring it into my practice.” -Hannah LePiane

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Saturday, April20, 2024, 9:30am-6:30pm

Tuition: 180€ per day for 1 day class (Saturday or Sunday). 320€ for both classes (Saturday and Sunday).

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Ecole Européenne de Massage in Brussels, Belgium. Click here for registration information and other details.

Introduction to Visceral and Abdominal Massage

The viscera are at the very core of our body, and are, along with our nervous system, a primary source of life. They are at the center of our structure, our emotions, our biochemistry, and our life energy. There are over 500 million neurons in the belly (almost 5 times more than in the spinal cord), and our enteric nervous system is a primary source of our intuition and "gut" feelings.

When we are anxious or distressed, our natural instinct is to protect our soft underbelly and "stuff" emotions there, causing multilayered problems throughout the body. The smooth muscles of the gut contract, pulling on the surrounding mesentery and fascia, causing not only gut pain, but back pain. In addition, surgery can create adhesions and multi-directional disruptions in the abdominal fascia and musculature. It is ironic that this vital healing area is often overlooked in massage.

The sensitivity and vulnerability of the belly is precisely why it is so receptive to safe, calming, and nourishing touch. We can soothe the enteric nervous system and the soft underbelly, sending waves of deep relaxation throughout the entire body. We can relax the smooth muscles of the intestines, which reduces pain, improves digestive function, and eases the fascial pull in the back and other areas of the body. We can sometimes separate post-surgical adhesions, creating balance and increased ease of movement at the very core of the body.

In this class you will learn simple and effective abdominal massage techniques that are easy to integrate into your massage practice. You will learn the basic layout of some of the area's major anatomical structures and how to identify, palpate, and treat them. This class will make your abdominal work more comforting, intelligent, and effective. You will be able to help your clients achieve deeper states of relaxation, relieve pain, improve digestive function, and help free up deep structural imbalances.

"I was expecting a belly massage class and walked away with a deep understanding of the abdomen. This class was incredible." - KC Johnston, LMP and Doula

 “It was profound to receive these techniques and feel their power”. - Elias Darling

"I felt comfortable and happy. It was fun!” -Laura Muir

“I’ve been massaging forever, and I feel like I’ve learned so much today that I will definitely use in my practice. Honestly, I will feel like I’m cheating my clients if I leave it out!” -Fryth Rasar

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 CE hours (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)
Date and Time: Sunday April 7th, 10am-7pm

Tuition: $180. Take both Saturday and Sunday’s classes for only $305.

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center.

Click here to register for Sunday’s Visceral class.

To register for both Saturday’s Neuroendocrine class, and Sunday’s Visceral class, click here.

Regarding masking: We have moved to a hybrid version of the masking policy—there are different masking requirements for the lecture and non-lecture portions of class.

Lecture: During the opening portion of class, and during any lecture, masking is optional; each person can choose to wear a mask or not.

Masking is required during the non-lecture portion of class when you are doing technique or watching a demo. Please bring a surgical or N95 mask-- choose what works best for you, and consider bringing two masks.

The Neuroendocrine System, Stress, and Massage

In order to improve the quality of their bodywork, most massage therapists focus on learning new techniques to add to their tool belts. But paradoxically, the most important element in successful massage outcomes might not be WHAT techniques you do, but HOW you do them, and WHO you are when you're doing them. In other words, the kind of relatedness you establish with your clients, and your own internal state as you engage with them, may be the most important influencers on the quality and outcome of your work, as well as your clients' overall massage experience. As one psychotherapist said, “Good therapy is 80% who you are and 20% what you do”.

Humans (and all mammals) engage in something called 'limbic resonance', where the internal state of one can deeply influence the internal state of the other, and vice versa. This can happen very rapidly, and often subliminally. To say it another way, others feel and respond to our inner states, and we in turn respond to theirs. We can actually regulate the internal state of another, and they can help regulate us. This is a fundamental and necessary part of human experience, and a huge benefit of massage, whether our clients (and we) know it or not.

In addition, as massage therapists, we are often looked upon as stress-management specialists--our clients are looking for relief from their stresses, and we are not only trying to help them, but are trying to manage our own stresses as well. But what is this thing we call stress? How do we create deep states of calm in ourselves and others? And since stress is not going away, how do we effectively work with it? 

In this class we will explore the nature of stress, some of its paradoxes, and how to skillfully work with them. We will examine the anatomy and physiology of the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of the endocrine system; how those systems upregulate in times of stress, and why. We will investigate the etiology of stress-related diseases and disorders caused by autonomic-neuroendocrine imbalance; they are rampant in our culture. We will then look at how massage can remedy distress and stress disorders, and positively influence health and balance. We will also review some common (and successful) stress management approaches, including yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction, breathing, counseling, diet, biofeedback, exercise, hydrotherapy, attitude, and loving, supportive relationships. You will learn how to better manage your own stresses, and how to help your clients manage theirs.  

"One of the best non-technique classes I've attended in years. I would recommend it to any therapist looking for information related to our field." - BJ Erkan

"The subject and the way the material was explained was challenging but not overwhelming. Bottom line, a sweet spot class." -Barbara Falorni

“Brian tells stories that are funny, engaging, moving, and illuminating. They gave depth and meaning to everything he taught us today.” -Connie Lunan

“Delightfully simplified, robust, informative, and satisfying!” - William John Poll

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)
Date and Time: Saturday, April 6th, 10am-7pm
Location: Seattle, WA

Tuition: $160. Take both Saturday and Sunday’s classes for only $305.

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center. 

Click here to register for Saturday’s Neuroendocrine class only.

To register for both Saturday’s Neuroendocrine class, and Sunday’s Visceral class, click here.

Masking: Masking is recommended but optional in this class—each person can choose to wear a mask or not.

Advancing equity in massage therapy and healthcare can be complex and nuanced, but it is worthwhile and achievable. This LIVE 4.5-hour CE class on Health Equity provides massage therapists and other healthcare practitioners with experienced, grounded guidance to support equitable and inclusive practices. This course meets and exceeds the requirements of WA’s new Health Equity requirement. 

Students will explore the impacts of bias in healthcare and learn strategies to address inequities. Topics include bias, racism, poverty and other factors that influence health disparities. Attendees will learn proactive and flexible approaches that sustain relationships and improve care. This class will teach attendees how to cultivate a practice that disrupts racism and bias and advances health equity.

Health equity is a core value for many healthcare practitioners, and this course is intended to support the unique goals of each practitioner. The climate of this class is supportive and conversational to foster curiosity and reflection. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and share their experiences. Diversity is a fact about every group, and the class environment is intended to support students wherever they are in achieving or approaching their equity and inclusion goals. 

Instructor: Nirvana Kelly Scott, M.Ed.

Nirvana Kelly Scott holds a Masters’ degree in Educational Psychology. She has worked for several years in Atlanta, GA, as an antiracist educator in K-12 school settings and with non-profit organizations, including the Pace Academy, where she was Director of Equity and Inclusion. She is currently completing a Master in Teaching Residency at the University of Washington.

This class is in development as a full-fare CE class, and the tuition and class size are deliberately low in exchange for your impressions and detailed written and verbal feedback at the end of class. You will receive a certificate of completion for 4.5 hours of Health Equity training that meets and exceeds the new WA requirement for LMTs.

Date and Time: Saturday March 30, 10:00am- 2:30pm
Tuition: $70 for the full workshop ($40 deposit, $30 due at class, payable to the instructor).

ETHICS, SUPERVISION, BOUNDARIES, AND STATE LAW

The class will begin with a thorough review of state massage law, and some interesting, important, and occasionally upsetting changes to the law. We will also cover some Washington State massage laws that went into effect in 2022 and 2023, and discuss some of the rules that are currently under consideration.

After a review of professional ethics, roles, and boundaries, we will take a more personal approach to professional ethics. Ethics is a living subject and is best learned in a live, interactive format. As massage practitioners, we work closely and intimately with our clients, but we often experience isolation and burnout in our own practices. When ethical conflicts, confusions, and challenges inevitably arise, we often feel that we have no place to take them. 

In this peer supervision class, we will explore your current professional issues and dilemmas, whether they be interpersonal, ethical, financial, Covid-related, or other. This is not a hypothetical or 'you should eat your vegetables' approach to ethics, but rather an opportunity to draw support and gain insight from your peers and mentors as you deal with whatever your real ethical issues or conflicts are. The class size will be quite small and intimate, with two instructors and a maximum of eleven students. You will return to your practice refreshed and with a deeper sense of clarity.

“Finally, an ethics class that is substantive, useful and not onerous!! I may never be able to tolerate the alternatives again.” -Darlene Sluder

"My time and money were definitely well spent. I feel like I am a better person as well as a better LMT after taking this class. This ethics class probably was the most important one of my career as we come off of the heights of Covid, but are still not through it.​" - Lindsay Butler

"Masterfully organized, and complete in subject coverage, handouts, and time management." -Barbara Johnson

"When I registered for this class, I was hoping for a competent ethics class that would offer more than merely an opportunity to satisfy a licensing renewal requirement. What I received was a thoroughly superb presentation which was easily the most beneficial ethics class I have ever taken. I can hardly believe I am looking forward to my next one in two years with Brian and De’Anna." - David Benoff

"This class was far better time spent than an internet facsimile of an ethics class." -Christian Green

“I didn’t anticipate that I would come to feel in community with 10 strangers so quickly. It’s helpful and humanizing to hear other people’s stories and what they are wrestling with in their practices, and also have the opportunity to sort through some of my own questions with a supportive community.” -Alice Hunting

Instructor: Brian Utting & Zinnia Su
Ethics CE hours: 7 ethics CE hours, meets (and exceeds) WA state ethics requirement
Tuition: $105

ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF THE LUMBAR AND SACRAL LIGAMENTS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than a million American workers suffer back injuries in a year, and that they account for about 20% of total work-related injuries. Back pain can be debilitating for many people, and even when it's just a nuisance, it can significantly impact their fundamental quality of life. Massage can often be a helpful tool in the recovery and rehabilitation process, but, unfortunately, it is also quite common for clients to receive massage that has a minimal impact on the source of their pain and discomfort.

One of the elements commonly missing when working with back injuries is a better understanding of, and ability to specifically palpate, the terrain of the low back and sacrum, particularly connective tissue structures like the various supporting ligaments. These ligaments are every bit as important as the muscles, bones, and fascia, but are often overlooked by massage therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists.

In this class, you will learn to palpate and treat some of the most commonly injured ligaments in the low back and pelvis, including the iliolumbar, intertransverse, sacroiliac, sacrotuberous, supraspinous, and interspinous ligaments, as well as a few key postural muscles. "Clients notice the difference right away when they feel you touch the "right spots", and their chronic pain and tension begins to dissolve from the inside out.

"I found this class extremely informative; it's something my own body needed, and I hadn't been able to pinpoint it." -Sabrina Barrera

"This class was taught by experienced instructors who had really thought through the progression of the class--the content made sense and flowed well, lending itself to really retaining the knowledge." -Meredith Condon

"Brian's teachings are intelligent, precise and effective. After receiving the work yesterday, my back feels more fluid and happy, and during the treatment, I went to that deep place of relaxation where drool happens." -Jen Elden

Instructor: Brian Utting
Date and Time: Saturday, March 23, 10am-7pm

CE hours: 8 CE hours (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)

Tuition: $200.

Masking: Masking is recommended but optional, each person can choose to wear a mask or not.

Releasing the Anterior Neck and jaw with Breathing, Bodywork, and Movement, with Tiana Duncan, LMT

Learn how powerful combining diaphragmatic breathing and movement (rocking and tapping) can be when treating the anterior neck. During my 17 years of bodywork practice, I have found that going back to the basic elements of de-stressing (especially some of the tactics we used when we were children) can help unlock a client’s discomfort.

Belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) is an effective way to encourage the body to relax by decreasing muscle tension and stress hormones. And rocking and tapping movement can soothe everyday stress, foster focus, and sometimes even help with food cravings and PTSD.

Rocking is an excellent way of stimulating our vestibular and somatosensory systems. Since most of us have outgrown the crib and rarely play at the playground, opportunities to stimulate our vestibular systems can be harder to find as adults, although the need for stimulation doesn’t change.

Our contact with the anterior neck and jaw will be sensitive and specific. Muscle groups covered will include the suprahyoids, infrahyoids, SCM, masseter, buccinator, and zygomaticus. The combination of precise work, diaphragmatic breathing, and movement will send your clients’ nervous systems on a blissful journey of relief.

Instructor: Tiana Duncan, LMT (WA License # 24399)

Tiana Duncan received her certification for massage therapy from the Brian Utting School of Massage in 2006, and is licensed to practice in WA. She opened the doors of Indigo Movement in 2017, and today leads a team of certified and highly trained specialists who offer massage sessions, circuit training, kickboxing, and yoga classes. She’s an active member of the Seattle community, championing diversity, social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental preservation. To learn more about Tiana, go to www.indigomovement.com.

This class is in development as a full-fare CE class, and the tuition is deliberately low in exchange for your impressions and detailed verbal feedback at the end of class. You will receive a certificate of completion for 4.5 hours of live, hands-on training that is valid in WA.

Instructor: Tiana Duncan
CE hours: 4.5 hours of live, hands-on credit

Date and Time: Monday, March 18th, 12:00pm-4:30pm
Tuition: $70 for the full workshop ($40 non-refundable deposit, $30 due at class).

MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE SHOULDER GIRDLE

The shoulders are meant to float freely on the ribcage, held in elegant suspension by 16 muscles, but very often they are restricted, stuck down, and in pain. In the morning, you will learn to effectively liberate some of the major anterior structures of the shoulder girdle (such as the pectoralis minor, subclavius, and subscapularis), and help to give your clients a feeling of ease and freedom in their shoulders that reaches all the way around to their back.

In the afternoon, we will work with the shoulder girdle from the side-lying position. Besides being deeply comforting and relaxing, skilled side-lying work gives you excellent access to the structures of the shoulder. You will learn specific, effective, and potent techniques for releasing the muscles of the shoulder girdle, including the trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, levator scapula, subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, pectoralis minor, and the surrounding fascia.

You will also learn some focused, muscle-specific work to release bound up erector spinae and transversospinalis muscles. These muscles are often glued down and are a major source of pain and limitation for our clients. The side-lying position gives you excellent access to some of the smaller muscles of the back (and their fascial wrappings)--muscles that are fundamentally important to our posture, movement, and well-being, but that are often completely missed in a standard massage.

We sometimes think of side-lying work as primarily for pregnant women, but almost all of your clients can benefit from skilled side-lying work in this area, and it feels wonderful.

The day will focus on straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. Body mechanics will also be a focus of this class, as well as proper use of fingers and elbows to save wear and tear on joints.

"This was the best CE class I've ever taken." -Tyler Rapke

"I haven't felt this kind of freedom in my shoulders since before massage school! I have definitely been enjoying my wings." -Amy Ross

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)

Date and Time: Sunday, March 17th, 2024, 10am-7pm

Tuition: $180 for Sunday’s DT Shoulder class. Take both Saturday’s Tx Shoulder class and Sunday’s DT Shoulder class together for only $320.

Registration: This class is sponsored by Therapeutic Training Center. Click here to register for Sunday only. To register for both days, click here.

Regarding masking: We have moved to a hybrid version of the masking policy—there are different masking requirements for the lecture and non-lecture portions of class.

Lecture: During the opening portion of class, and during any lecture, masking is optional, each person can choose to wear a mask or not.

Masking is required during the non-lecture portion of class when you are doing technique, watching a demo, or doing orthopedic testing. Please bring a surgical mask, N95 respirator or KN95 respirator -- choose what works best for you, and consider bringing two masks.

Evaluation and Treatment of Shoulder Injuries

A lot of our clients suffer from chronic rotator cuff injuries that seem to stubbornly persist using conventional massage techniques. Learn precise and specific orthopedic assessments and thumbs-free techniques to identify and successfully treat some of the most common injuries to the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, long head of the biceps, and acromioclavicular joint. The class will include a review of rotator cuff anatomy, palpation of the rotator cuff muscles and related structures, and instruction in appropriate treatment massage techniques to treat the soft tissue lesions. You will also receive a detailed 30-page handbook for future reference.

"This shoulder class was the best class and instruction I've ever had." - Deborah Luger

“Great presentation, very informative, and very in-depth”. - Daniel Gauvin

"This is the best Continuing Education workshop I've taken, out of 120+ CE hours." - Julio Otazo

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)

Date and Time: Saturday, March 16th, 2024, 10am-7pm

Tuition: $180 for Saturday’s Tx Shoulder class. Take both Saturday’s Tx Shoulder class and Sunday’s DT Shoulder class together for only $320.

Registration: This class is sponsored by Therapeutic Training Center. Click here to register for Saturday only. To register for both days, click here.

Regarding masking: We have moved to a hybrid version of the masking policy—there are different masking requirements for the lecture and non-lecture portions of class.

Lecture: During the opening portion of class, and during any lecture, masking is optional, each person can choose to wear a mask or not.

Masking is required during the non-lecture portion of class when you are doing technique, watching a demo, or doing orthopedic testing. Please bring a surgical mask, N95 respirator or KN95 respirator -- choose what works best for you, and consider bringing two masks.

TAXES AND TAX STRATEGIES FOR LMTS

Recent federal tax legislation and the last few years of pandemic-related economic disruptions have affected us all— and will also affect our 2023 tax returns. As a self-employed massage therapist, about 10-20% of your net income will go to taxes, including federal income tax, social security, medicare, and state and local taxes. This is often a small business person's largest single expense, and it behooves us to know how to skillfully manage this expense.

This class will be live and in-person, not a webinar. In class we will focus on how to "think Schedule C" and legally maximize our allowable business deductions. We will also cover form 1040, tax planning, tax estimating, avoiding audits, the pros and cons of various tax software programs, and the legalities of hiring contractors or employees.  

Besides being packed with useful information, this class is fun, entertaining, and full of tips on how to legally save money on your taxes--you will easily recover your tuition in tax savings. You will also receive more individual attention than in a typical tax seminar due to the smaller size of the class. A professional tax preparer will join us at the end of class to answer any questions, including the implications of the recent tax laws and pandemic-related relief measures for small businesses. 

"This was a fantastic class with tons of valuable information." -Dawn Geula

"The whole class was really jam-packed with significant legal information, interesting general knowledge, and great insights and ideas for legal tax deductions." -Maureen D'Armand

"My brain wants to shut down when presented with this type of stuff, but this was extremely helpful and educational." -Jet Mullen

"I dreaded coming today because of the 'dry' content, but it was fun and informative. All my questions were answered and I learned a bunch of new things that I had no clue about." - Verena Giebels

“After taking your tax class last year and following your recommendations, I received a sizable tax return. Tracking mileage, saving and tracking all my receipts (and knowing which receipts to save), and paying my quarterlies were among the key lessons. After seeing all my LMP friends end up with huge tax bills, I was shooting for the safest route possible, and it absolutely paid off! Thank you for offering such a comprehensive class." - Angela Mae Wapner

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Tuition: $160

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center. Click here to register.

Please note that due TTC infection control protocols, students will be required to wear masks during class; either a surgical mask or one of the 94’s or 95’s.

The LMT Joy Rx: Bringing Back your Aliveness and Joy

Being a massage therapist is often hard work, simultaneously taxing the physical, mental, emotional, and energetic levels of the practitioner. As a result, burnout and injury are rampant, causing the majority of massage school graduates to drop out of the profession after about 5 years. Those who have made it past the first few years know how hard it can be to continually show up with the passion they once had for this work, something that they once felt deeply called to do. Without conscious intervention, massage therapy can become just as much of a slog as any other career.

Here’s the good news: joyful aliveness in your practice is entirely within your ability to consciously create and nurture. The LMT Joy Rx is a class unlike any Continuing Education class you’ve taken, because instead of focusing on techniques to practice on your clients, this class shows you techniques to benefit YOU as you benefit your clients.

This 4.5-hour hands-on class will teach you the exact tools that the instructor uses every day to keep his bodywork practice of 38 years alive and vital for himself and his clients.

Using movement, stretching, breathing, and music, The LMT Joy Rx class focuses on three main target areas to support and enliven your massage practice:

Priming— Bringing body, mind and spirit online via dynamic and enlivening exercises designed to get your body warm, flexible and ready for the demands of your practice.

Table Flow—Unlocking the principles of Feel, Flow and Fun through the use of evocative music to vitalize your massage practice.

Cool Down and Ground— Employing specific breath, movement and Qigong techniques to powerfully cleanse and refresh yourself after a full workday.

“It’s amazing how some simple changes can really have an impact on how my energy and body feel during a work day!” - Jack Seifert

“I’m having so much fun doing massage again!” - Cinny Burrell

Instructor: Jeff Blank LMT (License #MA 4259)

Jeff graduated from the New England Institute of Massage in 1985, and from the Brian Utting School of Massage in 1989, where he was a core instructor from 1989-92, and 1996-98. With over 38 years of experience between session-work and teaching, Jeff brings vast experience and expertise to his classes.

This class is in development as a full-fare CE class, and the tuition is deliberately low in exchange for your impressions and detailed verbal feedback at the end of class. You will receive a certificate of completion for 4.5 hours of hands-on training that is valid in WA.

Instructor: Jeff Blank
CE hours: 4.5 hours of hands-on credit

Date and Time: Saturday March 2, 10:00am- 2:30pm
Tuition: $65 for the full workshop ($40 deposit, $25 due at class).

Please note: this class is sold out. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please email info@pnwschool.com

ETHICS, SUPERVISION, BOUNDARIES, AND STATE LAW

The class will begin with a thorough review of state massage law, and some interesting, important, and occasionally upsetting changes to the law. We will also cover some Washington State massage laws that went into effect in 2022 and 2023, and discuss some of the rules that are currently under consideration.

After a review of professional ethics, roles, and boundaries, we will take a more personal approach to professional ethics. Ethics is a living subject and is best learned in a live, interactive format. As massage practitioners, we work closely and intimately with our clients, but we often experience isolation and burnout in our own practices. When ethical conflicts, confusions, and challenges inevitably arise, we often feel that we have no place to take them. 

In this peer supervision class, we will explore your current professional issues and dilemmas, whether they be interpersonal, ethical, financial, Covid-related, or other. This is not a hypothetical or 'you should eat your vegetables' approach to ethics, but rather an opportunity to draw support and gain insight from your peers and mentors as you deal with whatever your real ethical issues or conflicts are. The class size will be quite small and intimate, with two instructors and a maximum of eleven students. You will return to your practice refreshed and with a deeper sense of clarity.

“Finally, an ethics class that is substantive, useful and not onerous!! I may never be able to tolerate the alternatives again.” -Darlene Sluder

"My time and money were definitely well spent. I feel like I am a better person as well as a better LMT after taking this class. This ethics class probably was the most important one of my career as we come off of the heights of Covid, but are still not through it.​" - Lindsay Butler

"Masterfully organized, and complete in subject coverage, handouts, and time management." -Barbara Johnson

"When I registered for this class, I was hoping for a competent ethics class that would offer more than merely an opportunity to satisfy a licensing renewal requirement. What I received was a thoroughly superb presentation which was easily the most beneficial ethics class I have ever taken. I can hardly believe I am looking forward to my next one in two years with Brian and De’Anna." - David Benoff

"This class was far better time spent than an internet facsimile of an ethics class." -Christian Green

“I didn’t anticipate that I would come to feel in community with 10 strangers so quickly. It’s helpful and humanizing to hear other people’s stories and what they are wrestling with in their practices, and also have the opportunity to sort through some of my own questions with a supportive community.” -Alice Hunting

Instructor: Brian Utting & Zinnia Su
Ethics CE hours: 7 ethics CE hours, meets (and exceeds) WA state ethics requirement
Tuition: $105

MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE POSTERIOR, LATERAL AND ANTERIOR NECK

The neck is a strong, vulnerable and complex structure. It is the most movable part of the spine, and yet is strong enough to balance and support the head (~5 kg), even with chronically poor posture. Skillful deep tissue work in this area is not about brute force; it’s about precision and strategy, informed by knowledge of the anatomical structures. It’s rare to find massage therapists who really know how to massage the neck in a precise, specific way--especially around the small muscular attachments to the transverse processes--even though this is often where the muscles are most frayed and/or inflamed.

In the morning you will learn specific techniques for releasing the cervical posterior paraspinal muscles (longissimus, semispinalis capitis, multifidus), suboccipital triangle, levator scapula (especially the cervical attachments), facet joints, splenius capitus and cervicis, posterior, middle, and anterior scalenes, sternocleidomastoid, and masseter.

In the afternoon we will focus on deep muscle-specific techniques for the anterior neck. Many people learned in massage school to avoid this area, but it responds safely and well to skilled and precise touch. We will focus on the scalene, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and longus capitus and colli groups. This is really helpful work for clients who have been in car accidents, have emotional issues with their necks or throats, or use their voices professionally (eg, singers).

These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. The work is well-suited to either treating cervical injuries or improving your spa massage, and will increase your precision, palpatory sensitivity, and effectiveness. Body mechanics will also be a focus of the class as well as proper use of fingers to save wear and tear on joints.

Click Here to see a flyer for the course.

“I honestly learned more in your neck class than any other CE I’ve taken, and I’ve been at it almost 13 years.” -Tracey Brandt

“I love neck work, and this class took things to the next level.” -Heather Finch

“This class has vastly improved my knowledge, approach, and technique. I am looking forward to immediately applying all this in my practice.” -Jessica Roberts

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Sunday, February 18, 2024, 9am-6pm

Tuition: $550NZ for both days (DT Torso and DT Neck), if registered by 31 January 2024 ($600NZ thereafter), with a $300NZ ($180US) non-refundable deposit.

$300NZ for one day, if registered by 31 January 2024 ($325NZ thereafter), with a $150NZ ($90US) non-refundable deposit.

MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE TORSO (ILIOPSOAS, DIAPHRAGM, QL AND PARASPINALS)

These muscular structures support the core–they are integral to maintaining balance, structural alignment, ease of breathing, mobility, and the ability to function without lower back pain. In the morning, you will learn specific, potent, and effective Deep Tissue techniques to release the iliopsoas, diaphragm, QL, lower multifidus, and the lumbodorsal fascia. These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice, often with profound results. There will be a concise and insightful anatomy review of these structures with an eye toward the functional relationships between them. We will also focus on correct placement and proper use of fingers, knuckles, and elbows for optimal results.

In the afternoon we will focus on some muscle-specific Deep Tissue techniques for the Paraspinals (erector spinae and transversospinalis) that are different from but complementary to what you learned in massage school or elsewhere. The emphasis will be on releasing and unbinding the erector spinae group, the transversospinalis group, the lumbodorsal fascia, and the quadratus lumborum. These muscle-specific techniques will improve the precision and effectiveness of your back massage, and can be easily integrated to your style of bodywork. Body mechanics will continue to be a focus of the class, as well as proper use of elbows, fingers and knuckles to save wear and tear on joints. Students who have taken this class have reported that they were able to apply the techniques in their practices right away and that their clients loved the results, feeling a newfound sense of freedom and ease in their backs.

Click Here to see a flyer for the course.

“This is one of the most practical classes I’ve ever taken. Brian presented useful information and then taught practical application of this info. He walked us through how to find each muscle–something I have always wished other instructors would do. I left the training with expanded skills and knowledge, which I have been able to use right away with my clients.” - Evelyn Bass

“I absolutely love this work. I can hardly wait to bring it into my practice.” -Hannah LePiane

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Saturday, February 17, 2024, 9am-6pm

Tuition: $550NZ for both days (DT Torso and DT Neck), if registered by 31 January 2024 ($600NZ thereafter), with a $300NZ ($180US) non-refundable deposit.

$300NZ for one day, if registered by 31 January 2024 ($325NZ thereafter), with a $150NZ ($90US) non-refundable deposit.

Catching up with the Latest in Massage Research

Key Findings and Why They Matter ~ A live, 7-hour in-person class with Michael Hamm

The evidence is clear: Massage Therapy is helpful for many widespread health conditions. But which ones, and how does it work? Practitioners who are grounded in the latest science are equipped to be more effective in the treatment room and more honest in their advertising. This 7-hour live course is designed to give you a fun, relevant, and actionable tour of the latest research findings on Massage Therapy.

What we do in practice is often helpful — we know it, we’ve seen it. But if our curiosity stops there, are we really living up to our potential?

How and why is massage therapy helpful, and for whom? How do we maximize benefit, minimize harm, and communicate effectively about our work?

Most of us got a few nuggets of massage research in massage school, and we learned a lot about the effects of massage (e.g. “massage breaks up adhesions”). But based on the best evidence, many things that we were taught are just not true, or the mechanisms are different than we thought.

What really happens when we do massage? What are massage therapy’s effect on pain, inflammation, and perception? Does massage therapy “flush toxins”? What do we really mean by words like these? Does massage therapy relieve muscle soreness? How? Surprising findings on massage therapy’s effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, visceral adhesions, and immune function. Cutting-edge science on fascia: its behavior, disease precesses, and diagnostics. We will also include a discussion of the post-COVID implications for Massage Therapy clinical reasoning.

What does this mean for my massage practice? Making better treatment decisions. Finding the best information quickly. Communicating more clearly with clients and colleagues. Improving how you take a medical history and monitor progress across sessions. Using research to boost your practice and referral base. Building a common language with physicians and other allied providers.

This class is live, and not a webinar. Offering this class live allows for more engagement, interaction, creativity, and entertainment!

“ This class is always engaging, even thrilling, in parts. Every LMT would greatly benefit from this class and its implications. “ -Brian Utting

Michael Hamm, LMT CCST, (license #MA 21821) maintains a bodywork practice focused on orthopedic injury and trauma recovery. He teaches anatomy, research literacy, and neurofascial bodywork in Seattle and around the US. Mike is a Trustee for the Massage Therapy Foundation and co-chair of the Foundation's Best Practices Committee. He was awarded the AMTA Service to the Profession Award in 2013. Mike believes that we're witnessing a powerful moment in the history of integrative medicine, and is trying to help bodyworkers take part in the conversation. When not practicing or teaching, Mike plays music in a Seattle band. To learn more about Mike's work, click here.

Instructor: Michael Hamm, LMT, CCST (license #MA 21821)
CE hours: 7 CE hours (NCBTMB-approved)
Tuition: $120 if registered with a $70 deposit.

MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE SHOULDER GIRDLE

The shoulders are meant to float freely on the ribcage, held in elegant suspension by 16 muscles, but very often they are restricted, stuck down, and in pain. In the morning, you will learn to effectively liberate some of the major anterior structures of the shoulder girdle (such as the pectoralis minor, subclavius, and subscapularis), and help to give your clients a feeling of ease and freedom in their shoulders that reaches all the way around to their back.

In the afternoon, we will work with the shoulder girdle from the side-lying position. Besides being deeply comforting and relaxing, skilled side-lying work gives you excellent access to the structures of the shoulder. You will learn specific, effective, and potent techniques for releasing the muscles of the shoulder girdle, including the trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, levator scapula, subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, pectoralis minor, and the surrounding fascia.

You will also learn some focused, muscle-specific work to release bound up erector spinae and transversospinalis muscles. These muscles are often glued down and are a major source of pain and limitation for our clients. The side-lying position gives you excellent access to some of the smaller muscles of the back (and their fascial wrappings)--muscles that are fundamentally important to our posture, movement, and well-being, but that are often completely missed in a standard massage.

We sometimes think of side-lying work as primarily for pregnant women, but almost all of your clients can benefit from skilled side-lying work in this area, and it feels wonderful.

The day will focus on straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. Body mechanics will also be a focus of this class, as well as proper use of fingers and elbows to save wear and tear on joints.

Click here to see a flyer for the event.

"This was the best CE class I've ever taken." -Tyler Rapke

"I haven't felt this kind of freedom in my shoulders since before massage school! I have definitely been enjoying my wings." -Amy Ross

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)

Date and Time: Sunday, February 11, 9:30am-6:30pm

Tuition: $550NZ for both days (Tx Shoulder and DT Shoulder), if registered by 20 January 2024 ($600NZ thereafter), with a $300NZ ($180US) non-refundable deposit.

$300NZ for one day, if registered by 20 January 2024 ($325NZ thereafter), with a $150NZ ($90US) non-refundable deposit.

Evaluation and Treatment of Shoulder Injuries

A lot of our clients suffer from chronic rotator cuff injuries that seem to stubbornly persist using conventional massage techniques. Learn precise and specific orthopedic assessments and thumbs-free techniques to identify and successfully treat some of the most common injuries to the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, long head of the biceps, and acromioclavicular joint. The class will include a review of rotator cuff anatomy, palpation of the rotator cuff muscles and related structures, and instruction in appropriate treatment massage techniques to treat the soft tissue lesions. You will also receive a detailed 30-page handbook for future reference.

Click here to see a flyer for the course.

"This shoulder class was the best class and instruction I've ever had." - Deborah Luger

“Great presentation, very informative, and very in-depth”. - Daniel Gauvin

"This is the best Continuing Education workshop I've taken, out of 120+ CE hours." - Julio Otazo

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)

Date and Time: Saturday, February 10, 9:30am-6:30pm

Tuition: $550NZ for both days (Tx Shoulder and DT Shoulder), if registered by 20 January 2024 ($600NZ thereafter), with a $300NZ ($180US) non-refundable deposit.

$300NZ for one day, if registered by 20 January 2024 ($325NZ thereafter), with a $150NZ ($90US) non-refundable deposit.

CTM / Bindegewebsmassage

Bindegewebsmassage, or Connective Tissue Massage (CTM), is a precise and elegant way to work with the body's dermatomes and autonomic reflexes to induce corresponding autonomic changes in specific organs. The technique was developed in Germany by Elizabeth Dicke, and is widely practiced there, although it is less known in the United States. Bindegewebsmassage is quite powerful, although it can appear subtle at first.

Starting with the sacrum, specific cutaneous zones are stroked with a dragging pressure in a precise and orchestrated way that can "trick" the body into responding as if specific organs or organ systems are being massaged. In response, the target organ vasodilates and its smooth muscles tissue relaxes. Bindegewebsmassage is quite effective for treating menstrual cramps, eliminating or reducing symptoms over 90% of the time. It can also be helpful with reducing the symptoms of migraines, asthma, and intestinal cramping. In addition, CTM can subtly affect the fascial layers (especially adhesions in the subcutaneous layer), increasing range of motion and flexibility, and reducing pain or tingling from tightened tissue. Bindegewebsmassage typically has a calming effect, and can be used for general parasympathetic relaxation as well.

A handful of clinical trials have shown CTM-style manipulation has beneficial effects in pain reduction, reduced depression, improved quality-of-life, and moderate short-term increases of beta-endorphins (pain-relieving neuro-transmitters). These trials add to anecdotal observations from clinicians that CTM often causes "virtually immediate relief in visceral or myofascial pain as well as general relaxation" (Prendergast & Rommer, 2013).

In this class, you will learn the "basic build-up", which primarily focuses on the sacral and pelvic areas and their corresponding target organs, and the "first followup", which focuses on the lower back and rib cage.

Click here for an article Brian wrote about Bindegewebsmassage for MNZ in New Zealand.

"That the viscero-cutaneous reflex interconnection is reversible, that is to say, that it not only leads from the internal organs to the skin, but vice versa, is a long-established fact. One of the most elegant and fundamental systems, which conforms almost flawlessly to the workings of the segmental reflexes, is connective tissue massage as prescribed by Dicke." - Hans Schliack, MD (German neurologist).

"It's fantastic to have new tools to treat migraines and menstrual pain, and give ease to an often 'stuck' area". - Rachael Brown

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)
Tuition: $180.

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center.

Click here to register.

Please note that it is the policy of the Therapeutic Training Center, Inc. to have all class participants wear facemasks (surgical masks, KN95 or N95) while in the classroom. 

The scapula is meant to float freely along the ribcage, suspended on all sides by the 17 muscles that attach directly to it.  Often, our scapulas effectively get immobilized and 'glued' down to the ribcage, inhibiting the freedom of the entire shoulder girdle.  The intent of this class is to give you a digestible set of tools for treating five key structures for scapular mobility:  Serratus Anterior (especially the upper aspect which rarely, if ever, gets treatment); Subscapularis (and its relationship to the Serratus Anterior in scapular binding); Pectoralis Minor; Rhomboids (and the fascial continuum with the Serratus Anterior); and Levator Scapula.

There will be a concise and insightful anatomy review of these structures with an eye toward fascial continuities and the functional relationships between them.  When this work is applied effectively, your clients will invariably hop off the table and exclaim, "I feel like I have wings!" 

"Benjamin's teaching style is the perfect blend of entertainment and expertise." -Briana McGinnity

Instructor: Benjamin Lee
CE Hours: 4.5 hours of live, hands-on bodywork (NCBTMB-approval pending)
Tuition: $95 if registered with a $50 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit.

Please note that this class is currently sold out. If you’d like to be placed on the waiting list, please contact us at info@pnwschool.com.

TAXES AND TAX STRATEGIES FOR LMTS

Recent federal tax legislation and the last few years of pandemic-related economic disruptions have affected us all— and will also affect our 2023 tax returns. As a self-employed massage therapist, about 10-20% of your net income will go to taxes, including federal income tax, social security, medicare, and state and local taxes. This is often a small business person's largest single expense, and it behooves us to know how to skillfully manage this expense.

This class will be live and in-person, not a webinar. In class we will focus on how to "think Schedule C" and legally maximize our allowable business deductions. We will also cover form 1040, tax planning, tax estimating, avoiding audits, the pros and cons of various tax software programs, and the legalities of hiring contractors or employees.  

Besides being packed with useful information, this class is fun, entertaining, and full of tips on how to legally save money on your taxes--you will easily recover your tuition in tax savings. You will also receive more individual attention than in a typical tax seminar due to the smaller size of the class. A professional tax preparer will join us at the end of class to answer any questions, including the implications of the recent tax laws and pandemic-related relief measures for small businesses. 

"This was a fantastic class with tons of valuable information." -Dawn Geula

"The whole class was really jam-packed with significant legal information, interesting general knowledge, and great insights and ideas for legal tax deductions." -Maureen D'Armand

"My brain wants to shut down when presented with this type of stuff, but this was extremely helpful and educational." -Jet Mullen

"I dreaded coming today because of the 'dry' content, but it was fun and informative. All my questions were answered and I learned a bunch of new things that I had no clue about." - Verena Giebels

“After taking your tax class last year and following your recommendations, I received a sizable tax return. Tracking mileage, saving and tracking all my receipts (and knowing which receipts to save), and paying my quarterlies were among the key lessons. After seeing all my LMP friends end up with huge tax bills, I was shooting for the safest route possible, and it absolutely paid off! Thank you for offering such a comprehensive class." - Angela Mae Wapner

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Tuition: $160

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center. Click here to register.

Please note that due TTC infection control protocols, students will be required to wear masks during class; either a surgical mask or one of the 94’s or 95’s.

Introduction to Neurofascial Manipulation

This introductory lecture class will introduce you to the research and concepts behind neurofascial manipulation– working directly with the nerves and superficial fascia to restore mobility and decrease pain. Nerves control tissue tone, while tethered and overstretched nerves create pain and inflammation. Direct engagement of the neurofascia and skilled use of neural mobilization techniques can dramatically increase your level of results and set you apart. 

In this introductory (lecture) class, we will discuss concepts of neurogenic inflammation, ectopic firing, central sensitization, and fibromyalgia. The work is based in part on concepts from JP Barral, Alain Crobier, and Don Hazen, DC. You will learn how tethered cutaneous nerves contribute to shoulder, neck, and arm pain. We will also learn to slow down, refine our touch of the superficial layers and self-palpate several nerves in the arm and wrist. This class will provide you with a basic theoretical understanding of neurofascial work, and prepare you for Steve's neurofascial technique classes.

*Note: This class is a prerequisite for taking Steve Evanko’s Neurofascial technique classes, which are offered on a Saturday about 4 times per year. The January 27th Upper Extremity class is sold out.

Instructor: Steve Evanko, PhD, Advanced Rolfer
CE Hours: 3 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Friday, January 26th, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Tuition: $60. Please note that this class is sold out. Another section will be offered later in 2024.

Hydrotherapy has been practiced as a healing art in many cultures since the beginning of recorded history. Like massage, hydrotherapy supports relaxation, cleansing, detoxification, and improved healing outcomes. Used together, massage and hydrotherapy are synergistic and more powerful than either modality used alone.

The 6-hour lecture portion of this 8-hour course will be held in the Ballard area, and will focus on how massage practitioners can strategically and effectively apply hydrotherapy in their massage practices and in their lives as a health-building form of self-care. We will then spend 2 hours immersing ourselves and ‘taking the waters’ at Banya 5 in South Lake Union.

Click here to read an article in the Fall 2021 AMTA Journal that quotes Brian on the use of hydrotherapy with massage.

In the lecture portion of the class, we will start with a review of the physiology of thermal homeostasis, and the effects hot and cold hydrotherapy have on the nervous, muscular, circulatory, integumentary, and digestive systems. You will learn about the properties of water, the physics of hot and cold, and rules and principles for safe and effective hydrotherapy. The course will also include a survey of different hydrotherapy applications, and slideshows on the history of hydrotherapy, and the best spas and hot springs in the Pacific Northwest. (Please note that the lecture portion will not include experimenting with local hydrotherapy equipment such as hydrocollators, paraffin baths, ice wraps, etc).

After the lecture portion, you will then experience several forms of hydrotherapy at Banya 5—a Russian-style urban spa located in South Lake Union ( www.banya5.com ) including a 230-degree radiant-heat sauna, steam bath, hot bath, neutral saline bath, 48-degree cold plunge, and optional salt and honey scrub. You will leave class feeling refreshed, cleansed, and detoxified. You will also be given a 2-for-1 pass for a future visit at Banya.

"Amazing class! I feel so much more grounded in my hydrotherapy knowledge. I feel more comfortable speaking to my clients about proper hydrotherapy for their individual needs, which is exactly what I was looking for." -Ashlyn Swan

"I was awakened real time to the extraordinary impact that the healing powers of water and the geothermal world can have on the psyche and soma. I left feeling both cleansed, renewed, deeply peaceful and immensely grateful for this class and immersive experience. Exceptional class—Brian surpassed expectations in all aspects of both content and delivery. I especially value how Brian made the class accessible and inclusive of us all with our various backgrounds and levels of experience using hydrotherapy.” -Kathryn McCormick

“Thanks so much for an amazing class, I’d take it again in a heartbeat.” -Amber Myers

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 CE hours (includes 2 hours hands-on); NCBTMB-approved for CE credit.
Tuition: $180. Reviewers may attend for $140. Admission to Banya is included in the tuition. You will also receive a 2-for-1 pass for a future visit at Banya.

Please note that depending on Covid statistics, students may be required to wear masks during the lecture segment of the class. Masking is optional at Banya 5 during the hydrotherapy portion of the class.

Please note that this class is currently sold out. If you’d like to be placed on the waiting list, please contact us at info@pnwschool.com

ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF THE LUMBAR AND SACRAL LIGAMENTS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than a million American workers suffer back injuries in a year, and that they account for about 20% of total work-related injuries. Back pain can be debilitating for many people, and even when it's just a nuisance, it can significantly impact their fundamental quality of life. Massage can often be a helpful tool in the recovery and rehabilitation process, but, unfortunately, it is also quite common for clients to receive massage that has a minimal impact on the source of their pain and discomfort.

One of the elements commonly missing when working with back injuries is a better understanding of, and ability to specifically palpate, the terrain of the low back and sacrum, particularly connective tissue structures like the various supporting ligaments. These ligaments are every bit as important as the muscles, bones, and fascia, but are often overlooked by massage therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists.

In this class, you will learn to palpate and treat some of the most commonly injured ligaments in the low back and pelvis, including the iliolumbar, intertransverse, sacroiliac, sacrotuberous, supraspinous, and interspinous ligaments, as well as a few key postural muscles. "Clients notice the difference right away when they feel you touch the "right spots", and their chronic pain and tension begins to dissolve from the inside out.

"I found this class extremely informative; it's something my own body needed, and I hadn't been able to pinpoint it." -Sabrina Barrera

"This class was taught by experienced instructors who had really thought through the progression of the class--the content made sense and flowed well, lending itself to really retaining the knowledge." -Meredith Condon

"Brian's teachings are intelligent, precise and effective. After receiving the work yesterday, my back feels more fluid and happy, and during the treatment, I went to that deep place of relaxation where drool happens." -Jen Elden

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Sunday, January 14th, 10am-7pm

Tuition: $180. Take both Assessment and Treatment of the Lumbar and Sacral Ligaments and Muscle-Specific Deep Tissue Techniques for the Torso for only $320.

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center.

Click here to register for Sunday only.

To register for both Sat, January 13th and Sun, January 14th, click here.

Please note that students will be required to wear masks during class; either a surgical mask or one of the 94’s or 95’s. We recommend surgical masks, since they are easier to wear face-down.

MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE TORSO (ILIOPSOAS, DIAPHRAGM, QL, AND PARASPINALS)

These muscular structures support the core–they are integral to maintaining balance, structural alignment, ease of breathing, mobility, and the ability to function without lower back pain. In the morning, you will learn specific, potent, and effective Deep Tissue techniques to release the iliopsoas, diaphragm, QL, lower multifidus, and the lumbodorsal fascia. These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice, often with profound results. There will be a concise and insightful anatomy review of these structures with an eye toward the functional relationships between them. We will also focus on correct placement and proper use of fingers, knuckles, and elbows for optimal results.

In the afternoon we will focus on some muscle-specific Deep Tissue techniques for the Paraspinals (erector spinae and transversospinalis) that are different from but complementary to what you learned in massage school or elsewhere. The emphasis will be on releasing and unbinding the erector spinae group, the transversospinalis group, the lumbodorsal fascia, and the quadratus lumborum. These muscle-specific techniques will improve the precision and effectiveness of your back massage, and can be easily integrated to your style of bodywork. Body mechanics will continue to be a focus of the class, as well as proper use of elbows, fingers and knuckles to save wear and tear on joints. Students who have taken this class have reported that they were able to apply the techniques in their practices right away and that their clients loved the results, feeling a newfound sense of freedom and ease in their backs.

“This is one of the most practical classes I’ve ever taken. Brian presented useful information and then taught practical application of this info. He walked us through how to find each muscle–something I have always wished other instructors would do. I left the training with expanded skills and knowledge, which I have been able to use right away with my clients.” - Evelyn Bass

“I absolutely love this work. I can hardly wait to bring it into my practice.” -Hannah LePiane

Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved)
Date and Time: Saturday, January 13th, 10am-7pm

Tuition: $180. Take both Assessment and Treatment of the Lumbar and Sacral Ligaments and Muscle-Specific Deep Tissue Techniques for the Torso for only $320.

Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center.

Click here to register for Saturday only.

To register for both Saturday, January 13th and Sunday, January 14th, click here.

Please note that students will be required to wear masks during class; either a surgical mask or one of the 94’s or 95’s.

ETHICS, SUPERVISION, BOUNDARIES, AND STATE LAW

The class will begin with a thorough review of state massage law, and some interesting, important, and occasionally upsetting changes to the law. We will also cover some Washington State massage laws that went into effect in 2022 and 2023, and discuss some of the rules that are currently under consideration.

After a review of professional ethics, roles, and boundaries, we will take a more personal approach to professional ethics. Ethics is a living subject and is best learned in a live, interactive format. As massage practitioners, we work closely and intimately with our clients, but we often experience isolation and burnout in our own practices. When ethical conflicts, confusions, and challenges inevitably arise, we often feel that we have no place to take them. 

In this peer supervision class, we will explore your current professional issues and dilemmas, whether they be interpersonal, ethical, financial, Covid-related, or other. This is not a hypothetical or 'you should eat your vegetables' approach to ethics, but rather an opportunity to draw support and gain insight from your peers and mentors as you deal with whatever your real ethical issues or conflicts are. The class size will be quite small and intimate, with two instructors and a maximum of ten students. You will return to your practice refreshed and with a deeper sense of clarity.

“Finally, an ethics class that is substantive, useful and not onerous!! I may never be able to tolerate the alternatives again.” -Darlene Sluder

"My time and money were definitely well spent. I feel like I am a better person as well as a better LMT after taking this class. This ethics class probably was the most important one of my career as we come off of the heights of Covid, but are still not through it.​" - Lindsay Butler

"Masterfully organized, and complete in subject coverage, handouts, and time management." -Barbara Johnson

"When I registered for this class, I was hoping for a competent ethics class that would offer more than merely an opportunity to satisfy a licensing renewal requirement. What I received was a thoroughly superb presentation which was easily the most beneficial ethics class I have ever taken. I can hardly believe I am looking forward to my next one in two years with Brian and De’Anna." - David Benoff

"This class was far better time spent than an internet facsimile of an ethics class." -Christian Green

“I didn’t anticipate that I would come to feel in community with 10 strangers so quickly. It’s helpful and humanizing to hear other people’s stories and what they are wrestling with in their practices, and also have the opportunity to sort through some of my own questions with a supportive community.” -Alice Hunting

Instructor: Brian Utting & De’Anna Dean
Ethics CE hours: 7 ethics CE hours, meets (and exceeds) WA state ethics requirement
Tuition: $105

Understanding Pain and How to Work with It: STrategies FOR LMTs

Pain is generally recognized to be the main reason people seek medical care. Finding non-pharmacological, and particularly non-opioid interventions, is one of the great challenges for our current medical system. As massage therapists we often attract and treat clients who are in pain, and they want our help to alleviate it. We have seen how powerful a tool massage can be for people who are suffering, and we have the intuitive sense that massage is good for pain relief. But why?

What is the nature of this thing called pain? What is it, how does it work, and can we be more skillful dealing with it? How can we help our clients get relief from pain, and possibly assist them in changing their relationship with pain? In this course, we are going to review the relevant neurology and dive into what modern pain science and research tell us about the nature of pain. We will take a bench-to-bedside approach to translate the research into practical ways to inform your work and help improve client outcomes. 

The class will include:

• A survey of different types of nociceptors (pain receptors)

• How other sensory receptors can become pain receptors if overloaded 

• Sources of pain-causing stimulation, such as excessive dilation, muscle spasms, and ischemia

• A review of the inflammatory cascade, and some of the pain-causing chemicals and compounds

• Neural gating and updated research

• Pain modulators, such as endorphins, enkephalins, cannabinoids, and substance P

• Projection and referred pain

• Our current understanding of trigger points

• Ways we can assist our clients with pain relief 

The research studying the effects of massage on pain relief is so powerful and convincing that it is beginning to ripple into mainstream medicine, such as the current program providing therapeutic massage at the VA hospitals in Seattle and Tacoma. Considering the current opioid crisis, this shift couldn’t come at a better time. 

Being well-versed in basic pain science will help inform your treatment plans and make you a more effective practitioner, and help your clients better understand what’s happening within their own bodies. With down-to-earth, practice-related examples and plenty of time for questions, this course is designed to be engaging, accessible, and applicable. 

Instructor: Matthew Sorlie
CE hours: 7 CE hours (currently not NCBTMB-approved)
Tuition: $100

Matthew Sorlie was an instructor at the Brian Utting School of Massage for 10 years, and was the Director of Education at Cortiva-Seattle for several years. This class is still in development, and the tuition is deliberately low in exchange for your impressions and detailed verbal feedback at the end of class.