This class will make your massage technique more specific, focused, and effective. Clients love the work and can feel the difference immediately. This class is open to practicing massage therapists, kinesiotherapists and massage therapy students with a minimum of 200 hours of training.
Brian Utting founded the Brian Utting School of Massage (BUSM), in Seattle, WA in 1982 and was BUSM’s Director, Director of Education, and a lead instructor there for 26 years. His 1000-hour COMTA-accredited school was considered one of the best massage schools in the United States. Brian Utting has been teaching continuing education classes worldwide since 1988. He shifted his focus exclusively to continuing education in 2008, and founded the Pacific Northwest School of Massage. He teaches with a rare blend of passion, precision, humour, common sense, and depth. In 2009, Brian Utting was awarded the American Massage Therapy Association’s Robert N. Calvert Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Susi Kunze grew up in East Germany. She is a former graduate of BUSM and has since been working as a Massage Practitioner in Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Crete and Austria. Her skill base and warmth and care will support your progress at Lendrick, were she previously provided incomparable massage sessions.
An in-depth training to refine your skills and increase results for your client base. “This class will make your massage technique more specific, focused, and effective. Clients love the work and can feel the difference immediately.”
Muscle-Specific Deep Tissue for the Trunk, Shoulders, and Neck
Deep Tissue work is not about simply massaging with more pressure—skillful Deep Tissue technique requires an intimate working knowledge of myofascial structure and function, palpatory sensitivity, and a grounded presence. In this workshop you will learn Deep Tissue techniques that are precise, potent, muscle-specific and highly effective for releasing fascial restriction and core muscular holding patterns. This work improves posture, relieves pain, and creates a sense of freedom, ease, and “lift” in the body.
This hands-on workshop will include specific Deep Tissue techniques for the Paraspinal muscles (erector spinae and transversospinalis); the cervical and lumbar facet joints; the QL and lumbodorsal fascia; the iliopsoas and diaphragm; the muscles and fascia of the shoulder girdle; and the muscles of the posterior, lateral, and anterior neck.
These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. Body mechanics will also be a focus of the workshop, as well as proper use of fingers and elbows to save wear and tear on joints.
Thurs eve-- Introductions, Deep Tissue (DT) theory
Fri am- DT of the Paraspinal (back) muscles
Fri afternoon-- DT of the Iliopsoas, Diaphragm, and QL
Sat am-- DT of the Shoulders, side-lying
Sat pm-- DT of the posterior and lateral Neck
Sun am-- DT of the anterior Neck (throat) area
Descriptions of the class modules:
Deep Tissue of Prone Paraspinals 3.5 hours
We will focus on some muscle-specific Deep Tissue techniques for the Paraspinals (erector spinae and transversospinalis groups) that are different from but complementary to what most massage therapists know and use. Practitoners who have taken this class have reported that it helped to increase their precision and effectiveness with their back massages, and that they were able to integrate the techniques into their practices right away.
DT for the Iliopsoas, Diaphragm, and QL 4-4.5 hours
These muscular structures support the core-- they are integral to maintaing balance, structural alignment, ease of breathing, and the ability to function without lower back pain. You will learn specific, potent, and effective Deep Tissue techniques to release the iliopsoas, diaphragm, QL, lower multifidus, and the lumbodorsal fascia. These are straightforward, muscle-specific techniques that can be immediately applied in practice, often with profound results. There will be a concise and insightful anatomy review of these structures with an eye toward fascial continuities and the functional relationships between them. We will also focus on proper use of fingers and elbows for optimal results and to save wear and tear on joints.
DT for the Paraspinals and Side-lying Shoulders 4-4.5 Hours
Besides being deeply comforting and relaxing, skilled side-lying work gives you excellent access to the structures of the shoulder. We will focus on the releasing the whole shoulder girdle, including the trapezius, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, levator scapula, subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, pectoralis minor, and the surrounding fascia. Our shoulders are meant to float freely on our ribcages, held in suspension by 16 muscles, but very often they are restricted, stuck down, and in pain. You will learn to effectively free up any glued-down structures, and it feels great. When this work is applied effectively, your clients may hop off the table and exclaim, "I feel like I have wings!"
Deep Muscle-specific work of the Posterior and Lateral Neck 3.5 Hours
It is rare to find LMP's who really know how to massage the neck in a precise, specific way-- especially around the small muscular attachments to the TVP's-- even though this is where the cervical muscles are most often frayed and /or inflamed. The techniques we will cover are well-suited to either an injury clinic or a spa, and it will increase your precision, palpatory sensitivity, and effectiveness. The focus will be on the cervical paraspinals, suboccipital triangle, levator scapula (especially the cervical attachments), splenius capitus and cervicis, scalenes, and SCM.
Deep Muscle-specific work of the Anterior Neck 3-3.5 hours
Many people learned in massage school to avoid this area, but it responds safely and well to skilled and precise touch. We will focus on the scalene, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and longus capitus and colli groups. This is really helpful work for clients who have been in car accidents, have emotional or structural issues with their necks or throats, or use their voices professionally (eg, singers). Prerequisite: DT Posterior & Lateral Neck.
... I should also clarify that although this work is rigorous and anatomically based, it is not merely mechanistic, and I teach with a lot of heart (and humor). I would prefer 'to think of myself as grounded' rather than mechanistic. We all have bodies, and almost all of us like skilled and contactful touch.
A unique opportunity to train with a master of deep tissue massage, in the tranquil and inspiring beauty of the Scottish Trossachs.
Course: £275 plus accommodation and meals £150. Deposit £100. Deposits, payable to Lendrick Lodge, are non-refundable or transferable.
I think of Lendrick as a place that protects your inner journey.
You are touched by its peacefulness and inspired by the beauty around. Yoga comes easily to you in such a place.... 
Detox retreats
