If you're
planning on taking a professional level, hands on class, here are my requests
and recomendations:
Women - Please
wear a sports bra or a tank top with a "shelf bra". If you're
comfortable with a bikini top, or a regular bra with good coverage, that will
also work. Bike, running, or yoga shorts are recommended for
"bottoms". Just make sure they're comfortable enough to move in,
without "flashing" anyone. PLEASE don't wear jeans, even
"stretch" jeans, they are just too bulky and inflexible. You're
welcome to wear additional clothing as a "cover up" when you're not
being worked on.
Men - No jeans!
Shorts with good coverage that are snug enough not to "flash". The
ones with built in undies work well, so do bike shorts. You're welcome to wear
additional clothing as a "cover up" when you're not being worked on.
Tables and
Sheets, Lotions and Oils - Tables are provided at all classes held at Healing
Arts Institute. Please bring sheets, and whatever oil or lotion you work best
with. Due to the unpredictable nature of allergies, unscented lubricants are
preferred.
If you're
taking an advanced class, it is assumed that you are an ethical professional
and will conduct yourself as such.
Healing Plantar
Fasciitis Without Surgery - 8 hours
This class is
pending certification for continuing credit hours by the NCBTMB. I hope to have
this process completed by October of 2009.
Plantar
Fasciitis affects an estimated 2 million Americans per year. Common treatments
involve taping, corrective footwear, cortisone shots, and shockwave therapy.
Most patients who try these therapies seek additional treatment options within
a year. Over 20 years of clinical experience has taught me that while all these
treatments have some benefit, they are often incomplete. The diagnostic process
and resulting treatments often miss the importance of one critical factor -
previous ankle injuries. 96% of my plantar fasciitis patients have had 1 or
more grade 2 or 3 sprains to the ankle of the affected foot. Clinical
experience indicates that the long-term effects of an incomplete healing
process alters the basic foot mechanics, increasing the strain on the plantar
gascial tendon. This significantly increases the chance of developing plantar
fasciitis, and directly affects it's severity.
This class is
over 50% detailed, hands-on time. It covers the mechanical concepts involved
and step-by-step detailed instruction in the three modalities of bodywork
necessary to effect immediate an dlong lasting result with minimal effot. This
is a simple protocol you can use as soon as you are back in the office, and
should be in everyone's tool box.
Advanced
Palpation Skills - The Finesse Of Touch
This class
focuses on the fine techniques used to isolate and treat the deeper muscles in
a smooth, minimally invasive way. It covers pacing, feedback, what trigger
points and adhesions feel like, and the physics of effective movement. {1 day
class, mostly hands on. Prefer a max of 20 students. Open to massage students,
and professionals.}
EFT (Emotional
Freedom Techniques) for Personal Growth
Eliminate
fears, phobias, and self-sabotage! It doesn't matter how long you've had them,
or how severe they are, you can remove fear, and unlock your potential with
this amazingly simple technique. {open to everyone, 1 day class. Minimum 10, no
max.}
Muscle Specific
Treatment Strategies for the Upper Body
The class
covers precise, muscle specific assessment and treatment methods for the upper
body. Basic Orthodpedic testing and detailed knowledge of antagonistic muscle
systems are used to analyze movement and focus treatment, getting better
results in less time with manual therapy techniques and MET. Also discusses
Postural vs. Phasic muscles, and contraindications. {3 days, 24 hours, CMTs
only. It is STRONGLY suggested that you be very familiar with detailed upper
body anatomy before taking this class. This class will be very hands on,
minimum 10, max 20 students.}
Muscle Specific
Treatment Strategies for the Lower Body
The class
covers precise, muscle specific assessment and treatment methods for the lower
body. Basic Orthodpedic testing and detailed knowledge of antagonistic muscle
systems are used to analyze movement and focus treatment, getting better
results in less time with manual therapy techniques and MET. Also discusses
Postural vs. Phasic muscles, and contraindications. {3 days, CMTs only. It is
STRONGLY suggested that you be very familiar with detailed lower body anatomy
before taking this class. This class will be very hands on, minimum 10, max 20
students.}
Manual Therapy
101
This hands on
class discusses Trigger points, and their related myofascial restrictions, how
they happen, how they work, and how to get rid of them. Extensive hands on
using detailed and precise palpation and release techniques. Discusses Postural
vs. Phasic muscles, and touches on the basics of Neuromuscular Re-Education. {2
days. Detailed anatomy knowledge is very helpful for this class, but not
required. Minimum 10, max 20}
Kay's
Recommended Book List:
Here's what's
in my Professional Library.
Basic text,
should be in everyone's library.
Intermediate
text, should own and be familiar with if you're interested in deep tissue or
therapeutic work.
Advanced text,
should own and understand for Orthopedic or Medical Massage.
This is just my
opinion, and I cannot possibly read every book that comes out. For example, I
don't list Aromatherapy texts because I don't practice it, and I'm not
qualified to make a recommendation. Just because I haven't read it doesn't mean
it's not any good.
If you can't
find it in your local bookstore or massage school, or if it's out of print,
check Abe Books (http://dogbert.abebooks.com/). They are a clearinghouse for
literally hundreds of independent booksellers across the country, and on older
books, the prices can be very low. They are my first resource when I need to
buy an older book. Newer books I often wind up buying from the organziation
that hosts the class, or IAHE http://www.iahe.com/controller/ProductIndex.
Advanced Texts
Whitney Lowe -
Functional Assesment in Massage Therapy
Janet Travell
& David Simons - The Trigger Point Mnaual, Upper and Lower Extremities.
Art Riggs -
Deep Tissue Techniques
Rattray &
Ludwig - Clinical Massage Therapy
David Sergel -
Macrobiotic Way of Zen Shiatsu (currently out of print, if you find a copy,
hold onto it for dear life. Even though I don't practice Shiatsu, this is the
best analyzation and discussion of meridians I've ever seen. They go through
each meridian and its properties from three views, those of Shisuto Masunaga,
Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western Medicine.)
Malalignment
Syndrome - Wolf Schaumberger Excellent work on sacro-iliac malalignment and
it's effects on the body.
Intermediate
Texts
Andrew Biel -
Trail Guide To The Body, 3rd Ed. (best palpation based anatomy book EVER!) If
you're into sports, massage, or just an anatomy geek, buy it!
Laura Norman -
Feet First (best reflexology book I've seen)
John Upledger -
Your Inner Physician and You
Devin Starlanyl
& Mary Ellen Copeland - Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain - A
Survivor's Manual (Best thing in print, every research item is listed at the
end of each chapter!)
Basic Texts
Kapit &
Elson - The anatomy Coloring Book (get it and USE IT!)
