N.) Sensational Joints & The Science of Presence, Touch and Movement: Both Classes

Thursday: Sensational Joints

Sensational Joints introduces the what, why and how of adding a focus on lower extremity joints in somatic work, beyond what you learned in massage school. Through lecture, movement explorations, tablework demos and practice you'll learn about:

• articular proprioceptors and how to activate them — so LMTs can enhance a client's joint awareness, improve neuromuscular coordination, and encourage more efficient, easeful movement patterns rather than effortful or guarded motion.
• open- and closed-pack position of joints — so touch and movement can be applied at the safest and most receptive joint angles, reducing strain on ligaments and capsules while increasing comfort, mobility, and therapeutic effectiveness.
• the difference between osteokinematic and arthrokinematic movement — so LMTs can distinguish between visible limb movement and subtle joint-surface mechanics, allowing for more precise assessment and interventions that address the true source of restriction rather than compensations.
• characteristics of arthrokinematic movement — so LMTs can recognize normal versus restricted joint play, leading to improved joint health, smoother range of motion, and decreased likelihood of chronic irritation or degeneration.
• specific compressions and glides for lower extremity synovial joints — so LMTs can gently restore joint space, support synovial fluid exchange, and promote balanced weight-bearing and gait efficiency without forceful manipulation.
• the effects of focusing on joints in in movement-based techniques — so clients experience increased internal body awareness, reduced protective tension, and a greater sense of lightness, freedom, and whole-body integration consistent with Trager principles of effortless movement.

This class offers massage therapists a deeper and more refined understanding of joint movement and the powerful effects of subtle, joint-focused touch on client comfort, mobility, and overall ease of movement. Drawing from Trager-inspired somatic principles, participants learn to work with greater precision and significantly less physical effort while achieving longer-lasting results through improved neuromuscular awareness rather than force. Therapists leave with practical skills that help protect their own bodies, enhance professional confidence, and provide clients with a unique and highly effective bodywork experience.

Note regarding "hands-on": This class does satisfy WA's 8-hour hands-on, in person requirement described in WAC 246-860-475 subsection 2b.

Additionally: This class can be used to satisfy the prerequisite for the Trager® Level 1 Training leading towards certification as a Trager® Practitioner.

Friday to Sunday: The Science of Presence, Touch and Movement: A Deep Dive For Bodyworkers

Join us for a transformative three-day class designed to elevate your practice by integrating cutting-edge scientific principles with hands-on techniques.

Day 1: The Science of Presence

• Explore the critical importance of presence in bodywork.
• Learn how to cultivate and deepen this essential skill and why you should want to.
• Practice presence with your attention in different places to enhance client outcomes.
• Dive into the science of the nervous system, biotensegrity, and the forces of gravity and ground reaction, to understanding how weight distribution and the distribution of force and tension in your own body impacts your client’s experience.

Day 2: The Science of Touch

• Delve into the art and science of touch, examining why we touch and who is really touching whom.
• Prepare your hands to deliver therapeutic touch.
• Become familiar with sensory receptors, mechanotransduction, and the pathways that shape our touch experience, from the somatosensory cortex to the insular cortex.
• Differentiate between gnostic and pathic touch and explore the unique qualities of soft matter in bodywork.

Day 3: The Science of Movement

• Navigate the existing and emerging paradigms of movement science.
• Understand joint mechanics, proprioceptors, and the role of mechanotransduction in movement.
• Discover the importance of novelty in movement.
• Learn about motor unit recruitment, central pattern generators, and the importance of full joint excursion for balanced and effective bodywork.

Elevate your practice by integrating these scientific insights with hands-on experience, and watch as your effectiveness as a bodyworker reaches new heights.

Note regarding "hands-on": This class does satisfy WA's 8-hour hands-on, in person requirement described in WAC 246-860-475 subsection 2b.

Additionally: This class can be used to satisfy the prerequisite for the Trager® Level 1 Training leading towards certification as a Trager® Practitioner.