Friday, September 13th

Massage Therapy for Back Pain with Visceral Manipulation (Hands-on with table)

Visceral manipulation is a practice focused on addressing structural and functional imbalances within the body by assessing and helping the dynamics of motion and suspension, concerning organs, membranes, fascia, and ligaments. In the session, we will explore the relationship between organs and the spinal column, and how to improve posture, reduce pain, and enhance range of motion, while emphasizing anatomy, theory, and palpation. Participants will gain new hands-on techniques that they can immediately apply in their practice.

Materials Required: Wear loose, comfortable clothing suitable for easy access to the abdominal area. Please plan to bring or share a massage table if you select this class. Table storage will be provided.

View Vickie Branch's Speaker Bio

Thai Massage for the Table (Hands-on with table)

Curious about Thai massage? Take this introductory session for an in-depth overview of Thai Massage theory and its history. Discover the Thai approach to body mechanics that can save your hands and transform the way you perform all of your massages. Leave this session with several signature Thai massage techniques that you can easily incorporate into your table sessions.

Materials Required: Come dressed in loose or stretchy comfortable clothing. Please plan to bring or share a massage table if you select this class. Table storage will be provided.

View Jill Burynski's Speaker Bio

Subtle Bodywork Techniques for Massage Therapists (Hands-on with table)

Subtle bodywork techniques can be safe and effective for individuals in hospice care, undergoing cancer treatment, experiencing pain, recovering from surgery, or those unable to receive more intense or active forms of massage therapy for various reasons. In this session, we will refine and learn new skills to work lighter from a physiological perspective. Gain new techniques that can be seamlessly integrated into a wide range of massage therapy settings, including healthcare facilities, spas, and private practices.

Materials Required: Please plan to bring or share a massage table if you select this class. Table storage will be provided.

View Xerlan Deery's Speaker Bio

Teachers Day: Educators Knowledge Forum

Start the day off with a discussion on the AMTA 2024 Massage Profession Research Report and how you can use it to address the needs of your students and respond to changes within the massage profession. Take advantage of this opportunity to engage in discussions with fellow teachers on how to use this report as soon as you return home! Attendees should download a copy of the 2024 Massage Profession Research Report here to bring to this session.

View Winona Bontrager's Speaker Bio

View Demara Stamler's Speaker Bio

Focusing on Professionalism in your Massage Therapy Practice

Take a more in-depth look into the world of professionalism, and how it relates to the practice of massage therapy. In this class, we will take it a step further than general ethics by looking at situational aspects, and ideals of how professionalism can enhance your massage therapy business.

View Jarrod Fritz's Speaker Bio 

Pain Management Policy, Research and Advocacy: How You Can Get Involved

As AMTA continues its advocacy efforts to promote massage therapy as an important part of an integrative approach to care, explore how you can get involved. Learn more about the state and federal policies that are changing the pain management landscape and helping to reduce the dependency on pharmacologic therapies for patients with acute and chronic pain. In this session, we will discuss AMTA’s government relations activities, our coalition partners, and opportunities for massage therapists to help elevate the profession. Participants will leave with a solid understanding of massage therapy legislative and regulatory initiatives at both the state and federal levels, as well as the basics of grassroots advocacy.

View Christine Hoober's Speaker Bio 

View Deborah Outlaw's Speaker Bio

View Martha Rinker's Speaker Bio

View James Specker's Speaker Bio

Caring for Your Grieving Client In a Massage Session

Massage therapists are trained to alleviate physical pain but don't always feel equipped to handle the intense emotional pain associated with loss. In this session, we will discuss the various types of loss your clients may experience and how to identify coping behaviors. We will also explore appropriate conversation and ethics, massage session protocols, and how aromatherapy may help. Plus, gain self-care and marketing tips for yourself and your massage practice.

View Jennica Klemann's Speaker Bio

Full Body Stretching for Your Clients (Hands-on without table)

SESSION FULL

This session aims to introduce massage therapists to the wide world of mobility training through hands-on stretching techniques. Discover how to take your clients off the massage table while learning practical and effective assisted-stretching techniques that you can apply in any setting. These techniques are designed to give your clients more mobility in less time.

Materials Required: This class does not require a table, but a towel or yoga mat will be helpful to participants for floor work.

View Noel Poff's Speaker Bio 

Foot Reflexology Through a New Lens (Hands-on without table)

While every massage therapist is trained on how to perform reflexology, few understand the full benefits for their clients beyond relaxation. In this session, we will discuss research findings from numerous studies to help distinguish the differences between foot reflexology and foot massage. We will also practice foot reflexology techniques with a newfound understanding and appreciation for this ancient healing art. Come deepen your knowledge of reflexology's therapeutic effects so you can better educate and help your clients.

Materials Required: This class does not require a table, but a towel or yoga mat will be helpful to participants for floor work.

View Susan Salvo's Speaker Bio

What Massage Therapists Really Need Instead of a Doctor's Note

In this lively two-hour session, we will discuss why the strategy of "getting a doctor's note" or permission to work with massage clients who have complicated health challenges is not useful. Then we will delve into sample templates to initiate conversations that help massage therapists get the relevant information they really need for safe and effective massage sessions.

View Ruth Werner's Speaker Bio

The Benefits of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) will present a session on mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT). This approach combines manual techniques, mindfulness, and psychoeducation to develop interoceptive awareness – the ability to interpret and process sensory information in the body. MABT can benefit individuals with chronic physical and mental health conditions, trauma, substance abuse, or those who often experience distressing bodily disconnection. Together, we will delve into the core MABT principles for enhancing body awareness and coping skills. As part of this session, the MTF Gold Case Report Winner will present, and we will discuss related research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Vanderbilt University, among others.

View Adrienne Asta's Speaker Bio

View Kathryn Hansen's Speaker Bio

View Spencer Pon's Speaker Bio

View Cynthia Price's Speaker Bio

View Brian Wingate's Speaker Bio

Myofascial Stretching: A Manual Therapy Approach to Improving Length and Mobility (Hands-on without table)

SESSION FULL

Hands-on stretching has become more popular in spas and sports facilities across the country. Yet, many massage therapists do not receive in-depth training on how to optimally use stretching to improve length in the myofascial system. In this session, we will learn a full 30-minute myofascial stretching routine (from head to toe). Together, we will explore how to engage the tissue barrier, differentiate between joint and muscle restriction, identify stiffness, shortness, tone problems, and more.

Materials Required: This class does not require a table, but a towel or yoga mat will be helpful to participants for floor work.

View Jared Cooper's Speaker Bio

The Value of Ethics for Massage Therapists

Come join us and explore the philosophy, science, and practical application of ethics as it relates to massage therapy. As part of this session, we will review the standards of ethical practice set by the massage therapy profession. Learn how to resolve both common and unexpected ethical dilemmas that can arise in your massage practice. Through discussion and problem solving, participants will develop ethical decision-making skills to support them throughout their massage therapy careers.

View Nancy Dail's Speaker Bio

Lymphatic Drainage for Headaches (Hands-on without table)

Headaches affect millions of people each year and lymphatic drainage is a technique that can help alleviate them. In this session, we will explore the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system and techniques that focus on relieving headaches.

Materials Required:This class does not require a table, but a towel or yoga mat will be helpful to participants for floor work.

View Rob Kelly's Speaker Bio

A Deeper Understanding of Pain

This session is a fascinating journey into the very heart of how you understand, and therefore help clients who struggle with pain. The more deeply you understand the multitude of processes involved in the experience of pain, the more power you have to influence it. Come explore how emerging advances in the science of pain are not only fascinating, but open doors to broader options for managing pain.

View Douglas Nelson's Speaker Bio

Non-Fatiguing Passive Movement Techniques (Hands-on without table)

Discover how to seamlessly integrate new techniques into your massage practice that reduce the risk of over-use syndrome. Explore the use of gentle passive movement and mobilization to address clients' common complaints while easing the impact on the massage therapist’s body. Gain skills to effectively target "problem" areas using non-fatiguing techniques, and provide clients with a more comfortable and effective massage therapy experience.

Materials Required: This class does not require a table, but a towel or yoga mat will be helpful to participants for floor work.

View Chantelle Williamson's Speaker Bio 

Beyond the Textbook: Active Learning for Long-Term Retention

In this session, delve into how to use creative lesson planning to help students retain information long term. We will explore engaging activities that aid different learning styles and strategies to preserve classroom knowledge for a lifetime. Attendees should bring a water bottle to this class.

View Donna Schriver's Speaker Bio

How Massage Instructors Can Leverage AI in the Classroom

In this comprehensive session, massage instructors will delve into the exciting world of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it can empower and enhance their practice and teaching. As AI continues to revolutionize various industries, including healthcare, it is important for massage therapists to understand how to leverage AI tools to stay ahead in their field.

View Ceena Lund's Speaker Bio

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