Florida School of Massage

Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils
2019-03-02 09:00 - 2019-03-03 18:00 UTC | FL
Instructor: Christina Polnyj
Time: Saturday – Sunday, 9AM-6PM
Workshop Price: $300
Location: NW Gainesville. Please contact Christina for address and directions. www.essentialeducationinternational.com
CE Hours: 18 Florida
To register or for more information: visit the Essential Education website

Description: LEARN a multilayered approach to health. Gain a deeper understanding of Aromatherapy and how to utilize essential oils at home and/or professionally. Become proficient in the uses of 21 essential oils.
MAKE aromatic cream blends, room sprays, sinus inhalers, diffuser blends, massage oils and bath salts.
DISCOVER how essential oils are used to maintain health, treat acute and chronic pain, and reduce stress.
Learning safety guidelines and basic blending skills is all you need to begin to enjoy the therapeutic use of essential oils. In this class we will study 21 essential oils and gain an understanding of their individual uses, including immune support, reducing inflammation, pain management and stress reduction. Participants will experience the benefits of aromatherapy firsthand while making massage oil, cream, room sprays, diffuser blends, bath salts, sinus inhalers and steams. Add an exciting dimension to your practice while supporting your own personal health and wellness. NO MASSAGE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
To register or for more information please contact Christina at 352-222-1747 or e-mail christinapolnyj@mac.com

Integrating Orthopedic Assessment & Treatment
2019-03-17 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Florida School of Massage, 6421 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
Neck, Shoulder, Low Back & Knee Injuries
Time: 8:30am- 4:30pm
Workshop Price: $149 (Regular registration is $199)
Location: Florida School of Massage
CE Credits: ★ Florida: 7
To Register: Visit workshop PayPal page or call 617-576-0777.
Join Dr. Ben Benjamin for his new, hands-on workshop which includes injury assessment and friction therapy treatment. At each full-day training, you will learn two dozen assessment tests, as well as cross-ber friction, and myofascial and deep tissue techniques to address pain and injury in some of the most commonly injured structures in the neck, shoulder, low back, and knee.
You will also learn the anatomy of these structures as never before through physically locating and palpating each targeted muscle, tendon, and ligament with these techniques. This new workshop
gives you a comprehensive view of working with these injuries from initial assessment to treatment.
Learn ASSESSMENT TESTING and HANDS-ON TREATMENT for the most commonly injured structures in the following:

THE NECK – Injuries to these structures can create headache-like pain as well as referred pain into the arms, hands, upper back and chest.
THE SHOULDER – Injuries to these structures can refer pain into the axilla, upper arm, and forearm.
THE LOW BACK – Injuries to these structures can show themselves as low back pain as well as referred pain into the abdomen, hip, thigh, lower leg and foot.
THE KNEE – The most commonly injured ligaments in this area cause debilitating knee pain and swelling – and many practitioners have never heard of them.

About the Instructor
BEN BENJAMIN, PhD (Sports Medicine) has been practicing massage since 1963 and has been nationally recognized for his contributions to massage therapy, receiving the AMTA President’s Award in 2000 and an induction into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame in 2010. *NCBTMB Approved Provider #03029-00 • NYS Approved • Reports to Florida CE Broker

Ayurvedic Massage and The Ayurvedic Model of Health Care
2019-03-23 09:00 - 2019-03-24 16:00 (America/New_York) | Fairfield Inn & Suites, 3877 SW 37 Blvd, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
March 23 & 24, 2019, 9:00am-4:00pm each day.
12 CEU’s hands on training for LMT, NCBTMB and approved by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association for Ayurvedic Professionals (NAMA-PACE).
To Register: Visit chayaveda.com
Instructor, Chaya~Sharon Heller, BA, CAP, C-IAYT, LMT, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Therapist and Licensed Massage Therapist will teach the signature Ayurvedic Massage; Garshana and Abhyanga. Participants will learn one and two practitioner formats and supporting Ayurvedic theory. Garshana Massage is a silk glove massage that exfoliates the skin and stimulates lymphatic flow and drainage and is an optimal preparation for Abhyanga Massage. Abhyanga Massage is a rhythmic body massage with warm Ayurvedic oils that help arterial and lymphatic circulation and drainage and is the signature Ayurvedic massage modality.
Learn how to set up the treatment room, Ayurvedic anatomy and physiology including 5 elements, doshic theory and function, physiology and psychology, understanding your unique body type, and the nature of imbalance, adaptations for daily and seasonal rhythms, assessment tools, techniques and intake methods, how to provide a safe and therapeutic Ayurvedic massage, selecting appropriate treatment protocols; choosing oil, adapting speed, pressure, & language, the role of Panchakarma and Ayurvedic massage in traditional Ayurvedic health care, the Ayurvedic definition of health, root causes of disease, and disease progression, learning the sequence.
Bring: Massage Table, 2 sets of sheets, 2 bath towels, and 4 hand towels
Massage oil provided • Please notify us of any allergies
Tuition: Includes 1 pair of Garshana Gloves to use and keep, handouts, CEU’s and certificate of completion – $265 Early Bird Through February 25th – $245
Program location: Fairfield Inn & Suites; 3877 SW 37 Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608
A fabulous travel destination, with an awsome new hotel in Gainesville, conveniently located and surrounded by acres of nature, offering group discounts on rooms for our students. It’s amenities include natural and soothing room decor, a salt water swimming pool, healthy breakfast options, outdoor and indoor lounge and patio areas, large fitness center and more!!! Make this training a vacation or stay cation and explore and experience the wonders of Gainesville, Florida. Choose from their Standard King, 2 Queen or Suites that can sleep up to 5.

Scar Tissue Management: Principles, Practice and Protocol
2019-04-06 09:00 - 2019-04-07 18:00 (America/New_York) | Florida School of Massage, 6421 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
Instructor: Nancy Keeney Smith
CE Hours: 18 Florida

NCBTMB Provider #: 450391-07
Florida Provider #: 50-11196
Registration: Register here
Contact Nancy Smith at info@ntouchtherapy.com
This highly practical course is aimed at enabling health care professionals to work safely and effectively with patients with scars of varying etiology and through the various stages of accidental or surgical trauma recovery.
The material covers the science of wound healing and scar formation, pathophysiological scar etiology and considerations for bodywork during the various stages of healing and mature scar formation. Trauma-sensitive considerations and communication strategies and are also covered. The course includes instructor demos and participant exchange (assessment and treatment) – including methods/tools for evaluating and tracking treatment outcomes.
The learning outcome is to assist the therapist with improving their critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and scar treatment skills to achieve consistently safe and effective clinical outcomes. You will be encouraged to share your scar tissue experiences and interact with other therapists in group discussions. Nancy combines years of research with traumatic scar clients and her certification in MLD to develop a protocol that combines gentle hands-on techniques to facilitate the best healing environment.
About the Instructor:
Nancy Keeney Smith is an author of Traumatic Scar Tissue Management, Board Certified Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Lymph Drainage Therapist, and a Florida and NCTMB Provider of Scar Management Workshops. Nancy’s Scar Management Workshops have been taught internationally to students, LMT’s, PT’s and OT’s. Nancy is former 1st VP of the AMTA Florida Chapter, member of the American Burn Association, and the National Lymphedema Network.

2005 Pioneered therapeutic massage sessions with pediatric burn survivors at Camp Amigo
2006 Project Leader of Massage Therapy Foundation Grant funded pilot program for pediatric burn scars & massage therapy
2005 to present Program Leader for TALK Project-massage therapy for pediatric burn survivors
2008 Research paper Published-Range of Motion Improves After Massage in Children with Burns: A Pilot Study
2010 MTIF funds research on how massage and active isolated stretching effects ROM on scar tissue
2011 Opens After Care Clinic for Scar Management in Gainesville, Florida
2013 Presenter- International Massage Therapy Research Conference
2016 Author: Traumatic Scar Management Techniques: Principles, Practice and Protocol-Handspring Publishing
2016 Author: Scar Chapter contributor to Integrative Pain Management-Handspring Publishing
2016 Presenter: Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of British Columbia
2017 Presenter: Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba Conference
2017 Presenter: Massage Therapy Association of Saskatchewan
2018 Presenter: 5th International Fascia Research Congress Berlin, Germany

Improving Therapy Outcomes Using Current Research Findings
2019-04-13 09:00 - 2019-04-14 18:00 UTC | Florida School of Massage, 6421 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
Date: Saturday – Sunday, April 13-14, 2019
Time: 9 AM – 6 PM
Workshop Price: $325 ($275 before March 29)
Location: Florida School of Massage
6421 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608
CE Hours: 18
FL Provider 50-1587
To Register: Contact Lee Whitridge at 772-979-5828 or email bluemoonies@juno.com

Questions? Just ask Pete Whitridge justaskpete@mac.com or by calling 772-332-6116
[Download workshop flyer]
Description

Improve your therapy outcomes using current research findings
Deepen your knowledge of anatomical and fascial structures
Teach your clients to work with you during therapy
Eliminate chronic pain by working below the client’s pain threshold
Slow down, focus your attention, be more effective with less effort

This workshop will update you on current research evidence to inform and refine your therapeutic skills. The class will focus on research topics such as affective outcomes, inflammatory response, pain science, and trauma and resiliency. Proper use of thermal therapies, the reeducation of post-traumatic injury response in wound repair, and functional movement patterning will also be covered. Help your clients become self reliant by teaching them to fully engage their own self awareness and interoception. Strengthen your practice and deepen your massage skills with all client populations.
Every time I study with Pete, I learn so much! He always brings new, updated info to class. Love Pete!
– Anon., Sarasota School of Massage Therapy
Outstanding [knowledge of the subject]; explains and conveys information at a good pace, concisely and with humor. [Organization of the class] flows naturally and spontaneously. I like the multitude of visuals, auditory, and hands-on. Great presence; sincere. Fantastic; great instructor!
– Anon., Sarasota School of Massage Therapy
About the instructor
Pete’s been a licensed massage therapist since 1988. He is a founder and Past President of the Alliance For Massage Therapy Education and has dedicated his career to helping establish high standards in massage therapy education. He teaches throughout the US and is a frequent speaker at FSMTA, FCA, and AMTA meetings and conventions.
Pete has served as Chair of the FL Board of Massage Therapy. He received the FSMTA Charles Canfield Award for service to the massage profession in 2004. He was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame in 2016 at the World Massage Festival.
He lives in Fort Pierce, FL with his wife Lee. They travel frequently and would love to visit your town.

Resistance/Release Work with Deane Juhan
2019-04-26 09:00 - 2019-04-28 18:00 (America/New_York) | Florida School of Massage, 6421 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
Instructor: Deane Juhan
Dates: Friday-Sunday, April 25-27, 2025
Location: Florida School of Massage, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $550 ($500 early registration discount price if registered by March 25, 2025).
CEUs: 24 Florida and National CEU credits
Time: Class will meet from 9-6 each day
To register for the class or to get more information contact Frank Merillat directly at fmerillat@mac.com or call 352 371-0743 or 352 213-4603.
Come join the group and experience time with a talented bodyworker, teacher of the Trager Approach and author of Job’s Body: A Bodyworkers Handbook. This is a great opportunity to explore contact with the body-mind and a deeper understanding of the workings of the movement body. There will be lots of demonstration, hands-on practice and the opportunity to share and discuss insights.
Course Description:
Relaxation and stress relief are certainly two main goals of bodywork. But there is an important addition to your clients’ somatic well-being that more directly addresses the patterns of muscular habituation, posture, compensations due to injury and the restoring of freedom of movement and freedom from pain: the re-education of the overall sensory motor patterns that have accumulated over time.
The work that will be presented in this workshop is an innovative approach developed by Deane Juhan, based in large measure upon the rehabilitative techniques of Dr. Milton Trager.
Functionally, we are really one muscle that is divided up by the connective tissue structures into different compartments in order to provide specific vectors of motion and coordinated groups of motor units. We are not robots with hinges, cables and pulleys, but shape-changers, and any gesture involves the participation of widespread muscular supports and motivators.
Resistance/Release work is designed to re-coordinate our musculature as a whole and to train more efficient and effective recruitments of muscular contraction and lengthening involved in any position or movement, from feet to head and from sleeve to core. The result is dramatically improved muscular coordination, adding both ease and strength to all of our activities. This approach fits well with most modalities practiced by massage therapists.
Deane would like to focus on the role of presence as a key aspect necessary for effective results and client contact. He will also be discussing the neurological underpinnings of habit formation, and the effects of R&R work on breaking up these old patterns and the cultivation of new more functional habits to facilitate letting go of holding and moving in new, ever more exploratory ways of self-development. Slides, lecture and discussion will be utilized to present a clear understanding of the ways in which habitual pathways—together with sensory and contractile systems—forms the basis of all muscular patterning. This understanding dramatically enhances the intentions and effectiveness of virtually any practice that has to do with muscular habits and movement patterns. It is directly applicable to all bodywork modalities that deal with trauma, pain management, rehabilitation, improved range of motion, enhanced performance, and the development of more effective habits of both muscles and mind. Practitioners of yoga, massage, Trager, Cranio-Sacral, Feldenkrais, Rolfing, Alexander Technique, Pilates, Gyrotonics and Physical Therapy will find this useful and applicable to their practice.
About the instructor: Deane Juhan is the author of Job’s Body: A Handbook for Bodywork and Touched by the Goddess: The Physical, Psychological and Spiritual Power of Bodywork. He has been a professional bodyworker, teacher and lecturer for over 40 years, including 18 years on the Esalen Massage Staff and 30 years as a practitioner and instructor of The Trager Approach. He spent years in direct contact with Dr. Milton Trager and this is reflected in his approach to bodywork. He has taught his seminars in anatomy and physiology for bodyworkers in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Oncology Massage Therapy
2019-05-02 - 2019-05-05 | Florida School of Massage, 6421 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
Instructor(s) Names and Credentials:
Nanci Newton and Erika Slocum
Date(s)/Day(s): Thursday, May 2 – Sunday, May 5, 2019
Time(s):
Day 1: 9:00 am – 6:30 pm
(but please arrive by 8:15 or 8:30 on day 1 to check in and get settled)
Day 2: 9:00 am – 6:30 pm
Day 3: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
Day 4: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Workshop Regular Price: $797.00 USD
Early Registration Price and Deadline: $697.00 USD by Friday, March 21
Location: Florida School of Massage 6421 SW 13th Street Gainesville, FL 32608
CEU Hours Offered and Approving Institution:
32.0 CE hours (Including 2.0 CE hrs Prevention of Medical Errors in FL)
Tracy Walton & Associates, LLC is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider, provider number 283404-00 and is also sponsored by the NCBTMB to teach New York LMTs continuing education that is accepted by the state of New York for license renewal.
Tracy Walton & Associates, LLC is approved by the state of Florida and state of Georgia Boards of Massage Therapy as a continuing education provider, provider number 50-13512.
Registration Contact Info:
Tracy Walton & Associates, LLC – 617-661-5800; info@tracywalton.com;
Course description at www.tracywalton.com;
Training schedule and details at https://www.tracywalton.com/event-directory/
Workshop Description:
As the role of massage therapy in cancer care expands, it is an exciting time to provide oncology massage. In this intensive course, we combine the art and practice of touch to create safe, effective massage sessions for clients with cancer and cancer histories. In a lively, supportive learning environment, participants learn simple, concrete ways to adapt massage to cancer and cancer treatment.
We look closely at the dynamics of cancer spread, shining new light on the old myth that massage was contraindicated, and we introduce several approaches for educating the public about this common concern. We then modify traditional western massage techniques for common client presentations, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, bone metastasis, vital organ involvement, and lymphedema risk. Unique positioning and bolstering techniques are introduced for pain relief, sleep support, and overall comfort.
We introduce guidelines for a range of client presentations, from robust to medically frail. These guidelines may be used effectively in a variety of massage settings, including the hospital, private practice, spa or retreat center, franchise, and hospice.
A balanced approach to learning blends lecture, spirited discussion, and hands-on work. In-depth homework is assigned prior to the course (instructional videos, 2-3 hrs. total view time) and during the course (about 1 hr. of evening homework on days 1, 2, and 3).
Massage therapists leave with essential oncology massage therapy tools: sample protocols, a client intake form, follow-up intake questions, a visual decision tree, clearly described pressure guidelines, supervised hands-on practice experiences, and an extensive training manual.
What Participants Need to Bring to Class:
Upon registration, a Student Packet will be emailed to students. The packet will include a list of supplies to bring along with links to required preparation activities to complete in advance of the course.
Biography of the Instructors: Nanci Newton and Erika Slocum
Nanci Newton is a 1998 graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute and taught as an adjunct faculty member at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Massachusetts. She has taught with Tracy Walton & Associates since 2005.
Nanci has maintained a full-time practice since 1998 with her team of therapists at her award-winning company, The Healing ZONE Therapeutic Massage in Hadley, Massachusetts. They provide oncology massage therapy for caregivers and patients through the Cancer Connection in Northampton, Massachusetts.
In 2014, Nanci was named one of “The 100” honored by Massachusetts General Hospital who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in the fight against cancer. Her oncology massage therapy work was featured in Thrive magazine. She was an invited speaker at the 2016 and 2018 Oncology Massage Healing Summits in Minneapolis.
Annually, Nanci organizes oncology massage therapy volunteers for the annual Pan Mass Challenge fundraiser for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She is a musician, juggler and dedicated just-for-fun runner in many annual fundraising events, from 5K races to half marathons.
Erika Slocum is a graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute in Cambridge, MA (2005). She completed the Boston Medical Center oncology massage therapy internship in 2011, when she also began teaching with Tracy Walton & Associates.
Erika works part-time as a massage therapist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She also maintains a private practice in Somerville, Massachusetts, where she and her business partner employ four other massage therapists. Their specialties are oncology massage, prenatal massage, and orthopedic techniques. A dedicated massage therapist and former event planner, she organized, recruited, and supported students and staff in our oncology massage workshops and clinics for nearly five years. She has been an invited speaker at the 2016 and 2018 Oncology Massage Healing Summits in Minneapolis. Read more about Erika’s work in our blog interview.
Erika brings a bachelor’s degree in communications, a long history as a dancer, and a passion for massage and massage education to her teaching and her hands-on work. When she is not working, she loves traveling and caring for her growing family.

Maahaah-Rooh Medical Qi Gong & Mindfulness (Meditation) for Restorative Health & Energy
2019-05-04 09:00 - 2019-05-05 13:00 (America/New_York) | Florida School of Massage, 6421 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL, 32608, United States
Instructor: Professor K. A. Shakoor, D.A.O.M.
Dates: Saturday – Sunday May 4-5, 2019
Time: 9AM-1PM both days
Price: $75 per day/$120 for both days – Walk-ins welcome – cash or check only
To Register: E-mail Dr. K. A. Shakoor at padma.shakoor96@gmail.com. Payment by cash or check at the door, the day of the event.
Open to all medical professionals working in the medical field (LMT’s, AACP’s, Pt’s, etc.)
Workshop Flyer
Workshop Syllabus
Workshop Description
Maahaah Rooh Medical Qi Gong is a highly effective and easily retainable system of Qi Gong designed for massage therapists, acupuncturists, physical therapists and nurses that allows them to restore their energy (Qi) so they can maintain maximum efficacy on a continual basis. Dr. Shakoor has successfully worked with health practitioners in educational and clinical environments over the course of thirty years.
It consists of a set of breathing exercises designed to cultivate life force energy (Qi). The objective of Maahaah Rooh Medical Qi Gong is to teach a step-by-step method of exercise to keep the body and mind in optimal fitness. This is a very low-impact form of exercise that includes standing movements (Zhan Zhuang) and slow movements similar in style to Tai Chi Chuan.
Individuals will enhance their fluidity of movement, coordination, and balance, resulting in greater flexibility and stress reduction through the application of deep relaxation, breathing techniques and methods of stillness. The purpose is to detoxify the body’s organs of impurities and toxins, then regenerate and invigorate the body so that one feels refreshed, both physically and mentally.
Dr. Shakoor has instructed the practices of Maahaah Rooh Medical Qi Gong in a variety of settings. In addition to the clinical settings mentioned above, he has also presented them at numerous workshops across the country, institutes of higher learning in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Ohio, and has presented three times at the annual conference of the National Qi Gong Association.
Maahaah Rooh Medical Qi Gong is an excellent introduction to the energetic experience and encompasses both physical and mental aspects. This article will briefly explore Form One of the Heavenly Hands Medical Qi Gong– Seven Palms—which is part of its physical process, and will then explore mindfulness and meditation, and Traditional Chinese Medicine theory.
What Participants Need to Bring to Class: Wear loose comfortable clothing, water and snacks.
See current article in qi-journal.com
Instructor Bio: Shakoor has 50 years’ experience in the fields of energetic and mind/body disciplines and more than 30 as an instructor. He has taught classes and given demonstrations at educational institutions, mental health facilities, and hospitals to government and law enforcement agencies, private groups, clubs, and sports teams. He has designed, planned and promoted health fairs training workshops and health seminars in various communities in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. He is the author of Ghetto Sutras, 2016, and Maahaah Yoga, 2007, both published by Jannah Press, and the upcoming book The Treatment of the Shen in Relation to T.C.M. and Tibetan Medicine.
