Orthopedic Massage isn’t a departure from my current work, Deep Tissue Structural Bodywork (DTSB) and Active Isolated Stretching (AIS), but integrates the modalities into a systematic approach to treat orthopedic conditions through structural balance. What are orthopedic conditions? Repetitive stress or injury to soft-tissue such as muscle, tendon, ligament, and even bone, which impairs the function of pain-free movement. Sound familiar? Possibly the most common and most underrated condition is pain from tight muscles.

James’ approach to Orthopedic Massage integrates various massage modalities such as Deep Tissue Structural Bodywork, and Active Isolated Stretching, but one that I will be going further into is Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy (MAT). 2012 will focus first on attaining Erik Dalton’s certification as an Advanced Myoskeletal Alignment Therapist through home-study (Levels 1 & 2) and Paul Kelly’s workshops. The components of Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques coincidentally are Deep Tissue Structural Bodywork and Active Isolated Stretching with one additional component, Muscle Energy Techniques (MET), a joint mobilizing therapy used by osteopaths and physical therapists, which I will further study under Tom Ockler. The next 3 months will be an Active Isolated Stretching refresher with Roger McNear. Lastly, after fulfilling the 80 hours of Orthopedic Massage class time with James Waslaski, and documenting 20 hours of real client case studies, I will be able to sit in for the certification exam.

Training Schedule for 2012

January: Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques: Level 1 – Home Study Course
March 31-April 1: Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques w/ Paul Kelly – Phoenix, AZ
April: Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques: Level 2 – Home Study Course
April 20: Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques w/ Erik Dalton – San Diego, CA
April 21-22: Orthopedic Massage: Upper Body w/ James Waslaski – San Diego, CA
May 19-20: Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques w/ Paul Kelly – Houston, TX
June 2-3: M1: Muscle Energy Techniques w/ Tom Ockler – Everett, WA
June 23-24: Active Isolated Stretching: Upper Body w/ Roger McNear – San Diego, CA
July 28-29: Active Isolated Stretching: Lower Body w/ Roger McNear – San Diego, CA
August 21-22: Orthopedic Massage: Lower Body w/ James Waslaski – Las Vegas, NV
August 25-26: Active Isolated Stretching: Core w/ Roger McNear – San Diego, CA
September 29-30: M2: Muscle Energy Techniques w/ Tom Ockler – Ann Arbor, MI

Aaron Mattes, whom I’ve trained with in Las Vegas ’09 had a seminar in his hometown and location of his clinic in Sarasota, FL. He is the creator of Active Isolated Stretching (AIS), a method of assisted stretching used by elite athletes, trainers, and therapists.

I’ve personally used this method for the last 4 years with great results as a cool down from my strength training. Some have attributed my mobility to my life in AcroYoga, but that’s only once or twice a week. AIS I do just about every day to get my work day started. However, it wasn’t until coming to Florida and hearing from the teachers themselves the remarkable balance of my muscle mass and its elasticity.

The following week just 13 miles away, James Waslaski was also in town holding his Orthopedic Massage seminar. Orthopedic Massage combines various modalities, in particular my training in Deep Tissue Structural Bodywork & Active Isolated Stretching, and scientifically matches the techniques required to address the specific movement problem caused by repetitive use, injury, or just bad habit. This training fills in a lot of gaps, but opened up 10x more holes. Just as James said “the more I know, the more I realize I don’t know”.

As of today, I’ve started Whitney Lowe’s 120 hour Orthopedic Massage online course with a goal to certify with both James Waslaski and Whitney Lowe in 2012. Here’s to lifelong learning.

So until the next batch of feedback, this design should be here to stay for a while. Thank you all.

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A luxurious glossy front with a subtle eye catching BW watermark. On the back is what clients (new and old) have asked for again and again…what are your work hours? Also a matte (non-glossy) back plus ample writing space for notes/specials.

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