This past weekend in Fayetteville, we had three classes that we’ve never taught together before:
– Body Dynamics – Keep the Therapist Healthy, Happy, and Ready for More Bodywork
– Direct-Indirect Technique™ for Special Needs and Special Populations
– Massage Ethics – Ethical Scenarios
We had a great group for the classes. One day, we were practicing ways to protect our thumbs or backs; another day, we were figuring out how to work on someone in a wheelchair or with cancer; and on the last day, we were sitting around a conference table trading opinions on how to handle a variety of situations in the massage room.
I’ll post the class evaluations when I get time. Some of the ones I remember off-hand are these:
– Everyone liked the body-saving techniques, the forearm stripping, and ‘Dancing Massage’ – our technique to keep the joints fluid and the body flexible while doing massage after massage.
– Students appreciated being able to practice with clients in the wheelchairs and to learn techniques to treat fibromyalgia, cancer, MS, etc. We had an intimate discussion about working on people with serious disabilities and end-of-life care.
– Several participants enjoyed the discussion style of the Ethics class. It was especially helpful to have students of different generations/ages. Those that had been in the profession for several years were able to transfer some of their knowledge and experience to some of the younger students. And the younger therapists were able to explain some of the new trends and issues that come up to the rest of us.
We’ll be offering these classes again in the new year, though they may be bundled together or just offered separately.
Stay tuned and Stay well,
John