Foundation Level: Phase 4 (think 1-4):
Workshop location: Scroll down for workshop locations and details.
Essential Elements: Connection & Sensing
Learn about the science of proprioception, then experience it. Science comes alive as you explore the incredible effectiveness of working WITH the body’s self-correcting reflexes and WITH the client. This workshop trains students in the essential touch of deep self-correction, such as how much pressure to use, how to sense and engage the client's self-correction; how to elicit feedback from clients when needed (ie. clients with debilitating pain), and how to give feedback important to your body’s healing process and helpful to fellow learners. (Recommended to be repeated for the Practitioner Program.)
No Pre-Requisites
Spine & Pelvis, Ribs & Ribcage, Upper Extremities, Lower Extremities
Pre-requisites: Introduction & Essential Elements.
NOTE that In 2009, the morning of the first day included Introduction and Essential Elements.
This class is known as Phase 4 but think of it as Phases 1-4. Movements and positions of comfort facilitate the release of overall stress and tension in muscles, fascia, ligaments and tendons by stimulating the body's self-corrective, proprioceptive (neuromuscular and neuro-ligamentous) reflexes, often in as little as 10 seconds. Once the tension / imbalance is released, the body returns to its natural alignment, restoring function, circulation and overall well-being from the inside-out. These techniques help relieve all kinds of joint pain, muscular pain, fascial pain, referred pain, tingling and problems related to nerve impingement; increase range of motion and flexibility; speed recovery from injury; as well as promote deep, restorative relaxation, which is so important for health and overall well-being.
Multi-dimensional, in-depth learning includes: 1) principles and theory, 2) anatomy review, 3) explanation and
demonstration of technique, 4) step-by-step review of technique, 5) ample time for hands-on practice by par-
ticipants, 6) experiential learning by giving and receiving the work, 7) further discussion and question-answer.
Each workshop includes instruction in:
• Assessment for where to work
• Releases for the tension creating the imbalance,
• How releases can actually take place in 10-90 seconds
• Integration to achieve long-lasting results
• Body mechanics to help the therapist maintain ease in their own body while helping clients
• How to adapt these techniques to ease chronic tension, trauma, or for persons with severely restricted
movement will be discussed, as time allows
• Receive approximately 3 hours of bodywork each day
• Put new skills to work for you the next day.
For in-depth learning, Phase 4 is taught in segments to cover release techniques for virtually every joint in the
body, and is repeated at least once in the Practitioner Training Program:
Spine & Pelvis (includes Neck), some specifics:
• Four ways to release the psoas without causing pain, a significant factor in low back pain and posture
• Self-care for the psoas, the fight-flight-or freeze stress reaction, essential for chronic tension
• Soft tissue tension release and mobilization of each vertebra of the spine, including every vertebra in the
neck, thoracic and lumbar spine
• Balance the pelvis, including mobilization for each ilium, the sacrum and coccyx
• Releases important to alleviate sciatic pain, scoliosis, and to relieve and prevent headaches
• The relationship of spine and pelvis to endocrine function.
Ribs & Ribcage, usually combined with Upper Extremities or Spine & Pelvis, some specifics:
• Determine when muscular tension and hard to detect pain patterns in the back are caused by rib misalign-
ment and how to alleviate it
• Free restrictions in the upper and lower ribcage, including sternum and diaphragm
• Individual ribs, including raised rib, depressed rib, most common imbalances of 1st and 3rd ribs and their
importance to carpal tunnel, freeing the breath, and overall well-being
• Release imbalances that contribute to thoracic outlet problems, restricted breathing, carpal tunnel & others
• The importance of the neck, ribcage and thoracic outlet in alleviating problems felt in the upper extremities
will also be addressed.
Extremities:
Upper Extremities, some specifics:
• Eight tension points important to the structural integrity of shoulder and restoration of function after injury
• Mobilize and align the joints of shoulder and arm, including scapulae, clavicle, elbow, (including tendonitis/
osis, tennis elbow and golf elbow), wrist and entire hand (important to carpal tunnel), including carpals, metacarpals, phalanges and each digit of each finger.
• Release the forearm muscles without causing pain (“aaahhh,” massage therapists)
• Release imbalances in the clavicle and scapula that contribute to thoracic outlet problems, carpal tunnel & others
• The importance of the neck, ribcage and thoracic outlet in alleviating problems felt in the upper extremities
will also be discussed, as time allows.
Lower Extremities, some specifics:
• Internal / external femur rotation
• Four ways to release the psoas without causing pain
• Release and rebalance patella
• Structural alignment for femur /tibia, including override / underride, lateral shear, internal/external rotation,
meniscus, periosteal knee points including the master knee point
• Rebalance the fibula
• Restore tibia/talus alignment, calcaneous/talus alignment (important to a wide range of foot problems)
• Release tension in the the lateral and horizontal arches of the foot, and every bone in the foot
• Discuss relationship of low back pain, sciatic pain and unstable pelvis to imbalances in the leg and foot.