Believing in Touch

I have never been a very conventional religious person. Maybe those of us who practice massage therapy are, however, in touch with something deeply spiritual underlying all beliefs. From an early age I did have a respect and attraction to the sacred, often through art and music, and also from a deep hope that humans…

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LAUTERSTEIN-CONWAY’S TOP TEN IN 2017

This year we began nine new 500-hour professional training classes. New teachers, tutors, assistants, and alumni joined our faculty to enthusiastically teach and further our mission to fully support every student’s success. Each year taking students from beginners to, in as little as seven months, becoming full-time licensed therapists and doing something they love –…

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SELF-EVOLUTION AND MASSAGE THERAPY

Uniquely among animals, humans can consciously initiate enormous changes in our lives. Basically, we are the only species that can self-evolve, sometimes many times, within one lifetime. This incredible capacity is what our society should be organized around – each human’s ability to create a better life for her/himself and our community. We have the…

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Life in the Bones, The Book I Didn’t Write and the Book I Did

by David Lauterstein Beginning about ten years ago, Aminah Raheem, the wife of my Zero Balancing mentor, Dr. Fritz Smith, asked if I would consider writing his biography. At the time I was still working full-time on my second book, The Deep Massage Book, so I thanked her and declined but promised I would give…

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VITAMIN T

Life cannot thrive without touch. This is so fundamental that too often it goes without being said or even recognized. The embrace of the baby in womb, the touch of the mother, father and other adults nurturing, feeding, welcoming the child, the later touch of peers, lovers, partners, the touch of our own children –…

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ALL I REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN MASSAGE SCHOOL

The Astonishing Benefits of High Level Massage Education “EVERY ONE SHOULD KNOW THIS!” I have been teaching massage therapy since 1982, teaching all around the U.S. and in England. In every single class I hear a voice in my head loudly saying, “Everyone should learn massage therapy.” And they should. Because the lessons we learn through…

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THIRTEEN RULES OF MASSAGE

by David Lauterstein 1. Slow down when you need to. Speed up when you don’t need to slow down. Massage that’s always slow is ultimately boring massage. 2. Palpate – how can you love if you don’t know what’s there? 3. Know anatomy – not just in general. Have memorized the origins, insertions and actions…

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DON’T IGNORE THE INTERCOSTALS

Intercostal Muscles

by David Lauterstein “Anything with wings always comes down in the end”. ~ Simone Weil One of the most important groups of muscles often ignored by massage therapists is the intercostal muscles. These of course give rise to the deliciousness of “spare ribs”. But far more importantly they are core muscles involved more or less…

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I COME OUT OF THE ILIOPSOAS CLOSET!

By David Lauterstein I’ve just taught a one-day class on the iliopsoas. It was wonderful and we explored not only the anatomy and techniques for that fascinating muscle, but equally its important neighbors. The “psoas,” because hidden and elevated to pedestal status by Rolfers and others, has enjoyed a somewhat inflated reputation. On the other…

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Massage Can Be a Light at the End of the Carpal Tunnel (video included)

inside view of the wrist showing muscles and tendons

Massage Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome  What is the “carpal tunnel”? A passageway from the wrist to the hand, the carpal tunnel is made of tendons, ligaments and bones. The median nerve passes through the tunnel and provides sensation to your thumb, index finger, middle finger and the thumb side of the ring finger. The…

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