The Most Important Muscle? – Deep Massage and the Rectus Abdominis

Forward flexion of the torso – sitting or moving in hunched over position – is the most common postural distortion.  Forward flexion may give rise to serious structural and energetic problems Leaning forward makes our back and neck work harder to keep us upright. It gives us less room for breathing – compromising nourishment to…

Read More

When First We Meet – Massage and the Nervous System, Part I

Meissner’s corpuscles were discovered by the anatomist Georg Meissner in the 19th century.  They are located in the skin, just underneath the epidermis. These are the main receptors uniquely designed and located to detect specifically light touch*.  So these are what our clients first sense with when we lay our hands on a body.  When…

Read More

Don’t learn more about massage!

Don’t learn more about massage or bodywork! Can you imagine anyone believing that? What do we get from advanced learning? Better results with our clients. The skill level needed for self-employment More client retention More alleviation of pain More effective release of physical tension More healing from past psychological stress and trauma More delight in…

Read More

Massage – A Blessing for Everyone

In Deuteronomy it says, “Blessed be the work of thy hands.” When I was a child, I was entranced by the beautiful book, The Family of Man.  This had incredible photographs from all over the world.  People in families, giving birth, dying, at war, at work, playing, kissing, making music, leaping up in the air. …

Read More

What Exactly is Clinical Massage?

By David Lauterstein We hear the terms “medical massage,” “clinical massage” and “orthopedic massage therapy” used in our field these days. But what is Clinical Massage really? Clinical massage therapy uniquely focuses on the treatment of soft tissue to maintain, develop, augment or rehabilitate the patient’s physical function. Clinical massage therapy can improve the functioning…

Read More

Nothing To Be Ashamed of – Massage Helping with Ancestral Chi

Yesterday I got a wonderful session of Zero Balancing from its founder, Dr. Fritz Smith.  One of the biggest learnings was connected with shame. You know, most of us when we look closely have some sense of shame.  We feel we’re not good enough, especially when things get challenging. We may tell ourselves inside, “You…

Read More

Advanced Clinical Massage and Bodywork Training at TLC

On November 7, TLC’s Advanced Clinical Training (ACT) starts!  We are now beginning enrollment for this unique class! Nowhere else  in the US can you learn to systematically integrate in Clinical Practice – Structural Bodywork, Deep Massage, Shiatsu, Zero Balancing and Psychologically-Oriented Bodywork. To be a well-rounded therapist, we need these competencies with advanced techniques,…

Read More

How To Give the Best Massage in the World: Intake

I just got back from the Esalen Institute.  This was my first time and I totally recommend it.  As you may recall, Esalen, in Big Sur, California is considered the birthplace of modern American massage.  When you’re there, you can almost feel the presence of ida Rolf who did her earliest trainings here and Fritz…

Read More

Engaging the Skyhook

An Anatomy Review with David Find out more information on “Engaging the Skyhook” at our Advanced Clinical Training Open House, click here to register.

Read More

“Wisdom of the Body” – Stanley Kunitz on poetry (and massage)

These words are excerpted from the essay “The Wisdom of the Body” from Stanley Kunitz’ book Next-to-Last Things.  I’ve found them inspiring my massage therapy again and again over the years. For ages before (human writing), “immense quantities of human experience,” in Alfred North Whitehead’s phrase,”had been accumulating in men’s bodies.”  The body, in its…

Read More