IMPROVING BODY MECHANICS AND MASSAGE TECHNIQUE LEADS TO LONGEVITY AND INCREASES EFFECTIVENESS

personalized support and guidance to help you succeed

I offer LMT Continuing Education courses privately at my office, to small groups at your location (prices vary depending on number of students and location of office), and also do larger group courses. Due to the size of my office, I'm currently teaching two-person courses. If you and a friend would like to take a course together, you can choose from any of the topics below. Doing a course this way can allow you to learn the material while also receiving personal attention and individualized support with the techniques, with body mechanics for the techniques, and with integration of the techniques into your overall style of massage. General body mechanics coaching is included with the course if you wish. Doing a course this way also allows you to know who you'll be exchanging massage with during the course and can be a fun way to take CE with a friend. Both participants have the option of receiving a demo of the techniques and discussion of their application in relation to your unique body needs during the course. Printed notes on the lecture information will be provided to you at the beginning of the course and a Certificate of Completion will be provided at the conclusion of the course.

I am proud to be an NCBTMB approved continuing education provider and am in the process of registering all of my courses. You can see each course below and see the ones that are currently NCBTMB certified.

Courses available by request and scheduled at our mutual convenience and availability. To schedule, you can reserve a time via the ‘Schedule A Class’ button or you can reach out to me via text or email. Please include the name, email address, and phone number for the second person who’ll take the course with you in the notes field when you register.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS

silicone cupping - NCBTMB approved

4 CE contact hour course $120 per person, 2 person minimum

​​Silicone Cupping is a powerful tool to add to your massage practice. Using cups, you can relax muscles, release fascial tension, and bring circulation to tense areas. It can be integrated into most massages and brings great results to most clients. The cups can often help tissues release faster than traditional massage with less strain to the massage therapist. Silicone cups can also help the therapist to assess various levels of tissue for tension and adhesion.

Please purchase flexible suction cups prior to the course; there are many types available. Sets are generally available in 4, 6, or 8. There are several styles that can work depending on your preference, the link below is one example.

gua sha - NCBTMB approval pending

4 CE contact hour course $120 per person, 2 person minimum

​​Gua Sha is a powerful technique that has been practiced with Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. It can release fascial and muscle tension, bring circulation, and improve the flow of energy in the body. The massage therapist uses a round-edged tool to scrape the skin or apply pressure to an area. This can help areas of congestion, tension, or tight muscle to release effectively.

Please purchase a Gua Sha tool prior to the course - there are many types available. Tools are made of stainless steel, copper, stones such as rose quartz or jade, plastic, ceramic, or bone. I have several which I use for different purposes, so starting with an inexpensive tool so that you can learn and find out more about your style and preferences is a great idea.

therapeutic facial cupping - NCBTMB approval pending

4 CE contact hour course $120 per person, 2 person minimum

Facial Cups can address tension and adhesion in face and neck muscles and decrease or relieve muscle pain. The techniques and tools can be integrated into massages and bring great results for clients. Special glass cups with silicone bulbs are used. These allow a gentle, controlled amount of suction that can lift muscles while also being gentle. these tools allow the massage therapist to work directly in delicate and sensitive areas with precision and without having to press or pinch the area. It is very often effective for clients. Please have knowledge and experience with Silicone Cupping in a dynamic, moving way so that you are familiar with the techniques and with using tools in this way prior to the course. This is not an introductory course for cupping and begins by talking about the experience of offering cupping to clients, a brief review of cautions and contraindications, then jumps right into techniques and practice. Please bring your silicone cups as well as a set of facial cups - and please bring your experiences and insights to share during the beginning of the course.

Please purchase a set of facial cups prior to the course; there are many types available. Below is one example of a set of glass cups with a suction bulb. There are other styles available that would work too.

https://lureessentials.com/products/glass-vacuum-cupping-therapy-gift-set?variant=26092839568&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItNrE8Zre5wIVex-tBh0PSwBXEAkYAyABEgLW5PD_BwE

advanced silicone cupping

4 CE contact hour course $120 per person, 2 person minimum

Prerequisite – Silicone Cupping for Massage Therapists and several months of experience with Silicone Cupping

Once you've added Silicone Cupping to your massage practice and used it for a couple of months with your clients, it's time to grow your skills and explore more about how it can be used therapeutically. Your Silicone cups can help you to assess various levels of tissue for tension and adhesion. You can also use them for freeing muscles from entrapment, anchor/stretch techniques, compartment separation, and more. Apply deep tissue principles through your cups resulting in amazing results for your clients with less work for your hands.

body mechanics for massage therapists

4 CE contact hour course $120 per person, 2 person minimum

Do you find yourself feeling sore or with tense muscles after giving massage?  Learning and practicing better body mechanics can improve both your career longevity and your effectiveness.  You’ll feel stronger and more at ease and your clients will notice a more direct, effective connection from your contact.

One of the fundamentals of body mechanics is being aware of your own body and how it’s feeling during your sessions.  We’ll practice brief meditations to practice some ways to tune in to the body during your work.  We’ll look at some common body mechanics issues massage therapists face and discuss strategies to get into a better position.  You’ll have an opportunity to share any pain or tension you’re experiencing so that we can notice what may be contributing to it.  The final portion of the course will be giving and receiving massage to practice body mechanics principles and also have the opportunity to feel as the client how small adjustments change the client’s massage experience.

I’m so excited to work with you – please bring your curiosity, excitement, and sense of adventure!

palpation for massage therapists

4 CE contact hour course $120 per person, 2 person minimum

How do we connect with our clients?  How do we know where to work?  How do we know when we’re done with an area?  How do we know if one technique is working better than another?  How do we know if we’re on a trigger point?  Palpation is an essential skill for massage therapists.  Yet many of us have had very little guidance as to what it actually is or what to do to improve our own sense of what we are feeling during a massage.  Get support with developing these skills and understand palpation better with this course.

One of the fundamentals of palpation is being aware of our own feelings of connecting with others.  We’ll look at the nervous system and how clients perceive touch.  We’ll look at some techniques that will help us to improve our palpation abilities.  We will touch on body mechanics as we evaluate the connection we are making with the client.  The final portion of the course will include plenty of time for  giving and receiving massage to practice palpation with guidance and support.  You’ll have the opportunity to feel as the client how small adjustments from the massage therapist change the client’s massage experience.  Overall, you’ll feel more confident and comfortable with palpation and your clients will notice a more direct, genuine connection from your contact.

LARGE GROUP CONTINUING EDUCATION
FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS

all courses listed above

4 hour CE contact course
price varies based on group size and location

I work with spas, retreat centers, chiropractic offices, and wellness centers on-site to offer Continuing Education for LMT’s. I travel for these courses and bring printed notes overviewing the course and CE certificates for every student. Please contact me if you’d like to discuss me coming to your location to offer a course for a group of up to 12 people.

I currently offer larger group Continuing Education courses at East West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, Oregon. The courses I'm offering vary depending on the month. You can review my offerings and register for these courses by visiting the school’s CE page.

  • "Tina makes the whole learning experience fun and easy!" - E.V.

  • "Tina is very sweet and knowledgeable. I will definitely use Gua Sha in my practice." - P.C.S.

  • "Tina is a wonderful and knowledgeable educator. I look forward to more CEs with her."

  • "Love, love Tina Smith's classes!" - C.A.

  • "Tina is knowledgeable, intuitive, and enthusiastic. Having guidance during practice times was helpful."

BODY MECHANICS AND
MASSAGE TECHNIQUE COACHING

personal body mechanics and/or massage technique coaching

120 minutes - $120
(at least 60 minutes of active coaching with discussion before and follow up suggestions after)

I have been lucky to be able to teach massage both to students and licensed massage therapists for the past four years and can't express how much joy it brings me to help people connect with their own body, with the techniques, and with the client. From this joy and excitement, I now offer Body Mechanics Coaching and/or Massage Technique Coaching for licensed massage therapists and for students. You can either do both body mechanics and technique, or the session can focus only on body mechanics or only on technique. Our process will begin by first discussing any physical issues or pain coming up while you are offering a massage, then carefully observing the techniques and flow of the massage you give during the 60 minute massage.

Often small shifts in how we hold or use the body can yield a great amount of increased strength, ease, comfort, and the relief of pain. It also makes a huge difference in our work and how our clients feel and perceive our pressure and work. Adjusting body mechanics makes our work feel more intentional, directed, connected, and more comfortable. Finally, after the massage session is over, I'll follow up with you with additional suggestions for strengthening, stretching, or strategies for how to observe your body in the days and weeks to come to help reinforce the new techniques or ideas you've learned.

Please bring a fellow LMT, partner, or friend to receive your massage for your coaching session. The session includes a pre and post interview with the massage coaching in the middle. You'll do about a 60 minute massage with discussion before and after.