Meet Our Teacher: David Lauterstein
The teachers at The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School have skill, experience, and a true passion for Massage Therapy. Let’s take a moment to get to know one of the 500 hour program instructors.
Q&A with David Lauterstein
Q: When did you start your career in Massage Therapy?
A: 1977
Q: Why did you decide to become a Massage Therapist?
A: I had from 1973-1977 transformative experiences, both physically and psychologically, from receiving various forms of massage and Rolfing.
I had started a group in my hometown of Chicago in which interested people – both professionals and non-professionals – shared ideas and experiences. Gradually this went from a desire for personal benefits, to intellectual and emotional fascination, to finally realizing this simply was the most satisfying thing I could do for a living.
Q: What training and experience do you have in Massage Therapy?
A: Initial training at the Bodymind Center in Chicago, which became later the Chicago School of Massage Therapy. Then in 1982 and 83 I did a 500-hour training in a variation of Rolfing called Structural Bodywork, with Rolfer, Daniel Blake. Along the way I studied Cranial Sacral therapy and then, since 1986, I have been studying mostly Zero Balancing with its founder, Dr. Fritz Smith, MD (probably done a few thousand hours with him.) I teach Deep Massage and Zero Balancing here at our school, throughout the U.S., and in England. Practice-wise I began a part-time practice in 1977 and doing full-time massage then at a racquet ball club in Chicago 1980-92. Since 1982 I have been in private practice. I fell in love with Austin when I came here to teach workshops in 1984 and moved here by the end of that year.
Q: What was your favorite aspect of Massage School?
A: The teachers – primarily Bob King and Jim Hackett – were delightful and incredible teachers. I was just fascinated with learning about the body, the body-mind connections, and the role of touch in making a giant difference for people.
Q: Do you have a favorite modality? If so, what is it?
A: I love especially “Deep Massage” which is what I call my method. And I love “Zero Balancing”. Both focus on ideas and techniques for working very precisely with physical structure, but, like acupuncture, with the person’s energy (aka nervous system) as well.
Q: What is your approach to Massage Therapy?
A: To use whatever I know to help the person as best I can in their body, mind and spirit. Ultimately I say to someone named “Bob” my approach is the Bob-approach :).
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Red and blue are tied! – red flowers and blue eyes….
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Bread
Q: What kind of movies do you like?
A: Ones that take me out of this world and leave me happy with the one I visited during the film.
Q: Why do you think Massage Therapy is important?
A: I think massage is carrying a precious message for all humans – the message of the importance of practicing kindness, of peace on earth, of the preciousness of life, and that touch, healthy touch, is in many ways the most direct way to feel and express kindness, peace and valuing of this life. I love the quote from Stephen Gilligan. “The thing that brings human value back to experience is the touching of it with human presence.”