Join us at the Washington State AMTA Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Renton! Brian will be teaching three classes there (see below), and there will be many other speakers and presenters there as well. You can mix and match classes as you wish. Registration is through the Washington Chapter of the AMTA. Click here for more information.
MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE LEGS AND HIPS
Thursday, June 9th, 8:30am-6pm (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)
The legs are often treated for the least amount of time in a session, yet they support the upper body and are under tremendous compressive force, whether moving or stationary. When the legs and feet are functioning properly, they are one of the fundamental anchors of our stability and support. When they're not, they are a major contributor to foot, knee, hip, and low back issues.
In this class, you will learn specific, potent, and effective Deep Tissue techniques to release the muscles and fascia of the hips, legs and feet. Some of the specific muscle groups you will work with include the deep calf flexors (tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis, flexor digitorum), the anterior compartment (tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum), the quadriceps group, the tensor fascia latae and IT tract, the gluteals, the deep lateral rotators, hamstrings, and adductors.
These are simple, straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. Body mechanics will also be a focus of the class, as well as proper use of hands, elbows, and forearms to save wear and tear on joints.
To watch a short Google Drive video demo of one of the techniques covered in class (originally presented in Austin, TX), click here.
"So many new, practical techniques to try! All really great stuff." -Chrisann Rauschenbach
"This was the best adductor work I've ever had." -Crystal Johnson
"This was exactly what I was hoping for – super great, specific work." -Leah Grossman
MUSCLE-SPECIFIC DEEP TISSUE TECHNIQUES FOR THE TORSO (ILIOPSOAS, DIAPHRAGM, QL, AND PARASPINALS)
Friday, June 10th, 8:30am-6pm (NCBTMB-approved)
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 fascial continuities and 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. These small muscles of the back (which are strong and are often quite tight) respond extremely well to Muscle-Specific Deep Tissue work; there are many muscles living alongside each other that rarely (if ever) get stretched and separated from each other. In addition, there are 50 bones (including the rib heads) and over 120 joints that benefit from having motion introduced into them once the fascial and muscular structures (both superficial and deep) of the back are unglued. We all need to have these structures balanced and 'cleaned up' from time to time, just as we periodically go to the dentist to get our teeth cleaned.
These muscle-specific techniques will improve the precision and effectiveness of your back massage, and can be easily integrated into 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
INTRODUCTION TO VISCERAL AND ABDOMINAL MASSAGE
Saturday, June 11th, 8:30am-6pm (NCBTMB-approved)
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
"I felt comfortable and happy. It was fun!” -Laura Muir
Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8-24 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)
Registration and Tuition: This class is sponsored by the Washington State Chapter of the AMTA. Click here for convention and registration info.