Instructor: Brian Utting, LMT; NCBTMB #451040-09
At the end of the weekend, you will know how to identify and treat the most common injuries to the shoulder, and to balance and create a supportive foundation for the shoulder girdle, as well as creating states of deep relaxation for your clients.
Saturday (Evaluation and Treatment of Shoulder Injuries)
A lot of our clients suffer from chronic rotator cuff injuries that seem to stubbornly persist using conventional massage techniques. Learn precise and specific techniques to identify and successfully treat some of the most common injuries to the subscapularis, long head of the biceps, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor. The class will include:
Sunday (Muscle-Specific Deep Tissue Techniques for the Shoulder Girdle)
The shoulders are meant to float freely on the ribcage, held in elegant suspension by 16 muscles, but very often they are restricted, stuck down and in pain. In the morning, you will learn to effectively liberate some of the major anterior structures of the shoulder girdle (such as the pectoralis minor, subclavius and subscapularis), and help to give your clients a feeling of ease and freedom in their shoulders that reaches all the way around to their back.
In the afternoon, we will work with the shoulder girdle from the side-lying position. Besides being deeply comforting and relaxing, skilled side-lying work gives you excellent access to the structures of the shoulder. You will learn specific, effective, and potent techniques for releasing the muscles of the shoulder girdle, including the trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, levator scapula, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, subscapularis, pectoralis minor, and the surrounding fascia. We sometimes think of side-lying work as primarily for pregnant women, but almost all of your clients can benefit from skilled side-lying work in this area, and it feels wonderful.
The day will focus on straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. Body mechanics will also be a focus of this class, as well as proper use of fingers and elbows to save wear and tear on joints.
What to Bring: Set of sheets; 2 pillows, pillow case and "claw" hair clip for a breast drape; wear loose clothing. For women: as we will be working the chest, the best draping choices are either a pillowcase with a "claw" hair clip or a string bikini top. The string bikini top may provide the best option without having to fiddle with draping, and the breast drape provides the easiest access to the sternum, upper pectorals, and the side of the ribcage. Please do not wear sports bras, bras of slippery-shiny polyester materials that slide across the sternum or bras/bathing suits that have stiff parts in them, or that are unduly obstructive. Choose the option that works best for you. For Men: You may provide consent to be bare chested or use the pillow case and “claw” hair clip for a breast drape. Please leave everything not needed for class in your vehicle or at home. Use a large tote bag (think Ikea or a beach tote) or suitcase to contain your "what to bring items".
Registration Options: We are offering Brian Utting's classes at a discounted group rate if you register for both classes at once, versus taking each individual class. If you would like to register for just one or both days, please click on the following links to register, otherwise continue on to register for this class. Please note that by taking both days of class, you save $30.
Class Date: March 15-16, 2025
Class Time: Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Location: Seattle Location 2 -- Staybridge Suites (please click on the location link for details)
Cost: $320
Cost/Hour: $20/hr
CE Hours: 16
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