Antwerp, Belgium
Join Brian for two tax-deductible CE classes in Antwerp, Belgium, on April 15th and 16th. Antwerp is the second-largest port in Europe, and a stylish, diverse, and prosperous city, with a rich history. A warm and friendly group of local students attend Brian’s classes every year, making the learning experience deeper and more cohesive.
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.
Click here to read an article in Dutch about Brian’s Visceral class.
"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
"I felt comfortable and happy. It was fun!” -Laura Muir
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 in Europe, 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 a brief article written by Brian about Bindegewebsmassage for Massage 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: 8-16 (NCBTMB-approved)
Dates and Times:
Intro to Visceral and Abdominal Massage: Friday, April 15th, 9:30am-6:30pm
CTM/Bindegewebsmassage: Saturday, April 16th; 9:30am-6:30pm
Tuition: €160 for one day. Register for both days for €144 each; or €288 total. If you take both days, and already took the Visceral Massage class in Antwerpen in 2017, an additional reviewer’s discount of €38 is available—contact OWC for details.
Registration: This class is sponsored by Oost West Centrum in Antwerp, Belgium. To register, please visit their website, linked below for each class.
Friday: Intro to Visceral and Abdominal Massage (8h)
Saturday: CTM/Bindewebsmassage (8h)
Questions: Please contact Luc at luc@owc.be with any questions about registration.
Please note that you are responsible for your travel and lodging arrangements in Antwerp. If you have questions, you can contact Luc in Antwerp at luc@owc.be, or contact Brian in Seattle at info@pnwschool.com.