AROMATHERAPY 16 Hours
Instructor: Sandra Goguen, C.T.M.I.
Prerequisite: none

Each day we use scents to communicate, elevate, and recreate moods and sensations. Scents are unique in their ability to access the central nervous system without being filtered by the blood-brain barrier. Scents alone can directly stimulate the limbic center of the brain, the seat of emotion and memory. Aromatherapy uses essential oils derived from plants, roots, flowers, trees, and fruits to bring about physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual balance within people and environments. This class will explore the different aromas and therapeutic properties of essential oils. Students will get a chance to create a signature massage oil blend and learn the beneficial properties of various sources and scents.

AROMATHERAPY BLENDING 8 Hours
Instructor: Sandra Goguen, C.T.M.I.
Prerequisite: Aromatherapy

Essential oils can combine with exciting results. These aromatic blends can provide scents that can uplift, calm, or energize. Therapeutic blends can assist with a number of complaints and conditions, from depression to acne. Aromatherapy blending appeals to the artist and the scientist in us, galvanizing inspiration along with exploration. In Aromatherapy Blending, students will learn the correct techniques for blending essential oils into massage oils and other carriers. This class provides the ultimate tools for using rare scents in unique ways in your work and life.

CHANGING WOMAN 8 Hours
Instructor: Renee Gauthier, L.M.T., C.C.E.
Prerequisite: none

This class presents the changing physiology and needs of women in their middle years of 30-50. Students will receive a 60+ page book in class and learn about normal hormonal fluctuations and changes during perimenopausal and menopausal times. The specifics of estrogen replacement therapy and hormone replacement therapy are discussed, as well as alternative options.

Many self-help tools are presented for you to teach to your clients. These include breathing techniques to maintain body temperature, nutritional suggestions, helpful herbs and essential oils, and self-massage techniques. Also, you will learn special massage techniques for the needs of these women including accupressure, neurolymphatic and reflexology points, skin rolling techniques, and a facelift massage for a youthful appearance.

CRYSTAL HEALING 4 Hours
Instructor: Sue Burton Hidalgo
Prerequisite: none

Civilizations across the world, from ancient Egyptian to Native American cultures, have used stones and crystals in spiritual rituals and for their healing powers. Although no one knows the exact science behind the phenomenon, the earth's minerals show an inexplicable capacity to alter and enhance response in the human body. This workshop will explore the potential of using stones to heal. We will experiment with flow patterns in the human energy field using crystal layouts, and discuss basic patterns for using stones to compliment the energy centers of the body. This class is perfect for anyone fascinated with the beauty and energy locked within stones and crystals, and can add new dimensions to traditional massage.

GUIDED IMAGERY 4 Hours
Instructor: Sue Burton Hidalgo
Prerequisite: none

Guided Imagery is a useful technique in the healing process. Numerous medically based studies have proven its effectiveness. A myomassologist who can offer guided imagery along with massage, possesses a skill that enhances their ability to help their clients. This class will provide students with a variety of dialogues they can use during massage to assist a client's relaxation and healing process.

Imagery is a tool that utilizes the power of one's mind to achieve desired physical and emotional results. It can stimulate all of our senses - sight, sound, smell, taste and feeling. When we remember or anticipate an event, we do so with our whole body. These thoughts can cause our face to flush, our pulse to quicken, and our hormones to energize. What the mind/body believes to be true creates physiological responses which help to encourage healing.

HERBOLOGY 16 Hours
Instructor: Eugene Watkins, B.S.ed. M.S., N.D.
Prerequisite: none

The Earth's herbal remedies for better health have been time-tested over thousands of years. Use of herbal tonics to treat various injuries, illnesses, and diseases, is found throughout the history of mankind. Herbology, the study of using herbs as traditional medicinal remedies, is a class for those who want to reclaim their health without relying on synthetic and engineered pharmaceuticals. Students will learn plant-derived remedies for many specific complaints, from managing infection to regulating hormones. We also discuss how to use herbs for general health and maintenance, from improving vision to increasing energy.

HOLISTIC CARE OF CHILDREN 4 Hours
Instructor: Harsha Jayatilake, M.D., FAAFP, DABHM
Prerequisite: none

Over 60% of adults are seeking Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM). Current studies on the use of CAM show that up to 70% of children are benefiting from these modalities. In particular, parents of children with chronic illness are combining both conventional medical care and CAM modalities. In other words, they are seeking care that is holistic. This care addresses the Body, Mind and Spirit of the child in the context of their family. Practitioners taking care of children need to use a holistic approach.

This elective will go over how these modalities are integrated. An overview of specific CAM modalities and their role in pediatrics will be presented. Current trends on the use of CAM in children will be covered. Also, specific conditions and benefits of using holistic care in children will be discussed.

MIND/BODY MEDICINE 8 Hours
Instructor: Harsha Jayatilake, M.D., FAAFP, DABHM
Prerequisite: none

In recent years, western medicine has begun to wake up to a concept that Myomassologists have always known: We must treat the complete body and mind along with the symptoms of an illness. Complementary and alternative medicine is gaining popularity as science, medicine, and spirituality begin to come together to share tools for healing. This class will detail the mind/body connection so vital to the process of caring for the entire person, and how that connection can be used to heal the body. Students will learn the ways that body, mind, and spirit work together toward self-healing, and how the thoughts, feelings, and words we choose every day can affect our bodies and immune systems. Emotions can and do affect our health, and an illness can be an opportunity to learn. We will emphasize the roles that the outer world and our overall attitude play in self-healing and inner peace. Mind/Body Medicine examines western medicine in relation to its eastern counterpart, and how alternative techniques, ideas, and treatments are useful in conjunction with traditional care to put individuals back in control of their own healing. We will also focus on the role that a Myomassologist can play in mind/body cooperative healing, and how often allowing an individual to really talk is the most potent medicine we can offer them. This look at the power of treating a complete individual will encourage you to challenge and expand your thoughts and attitudes on health, healthcare, and the relationship between the mind and body.

YOGA FOR THERAPISTS 16 Hours
Instructor: Michael Rice, NCTMB, C.T.M.
Prerequisite: none
Bring: wear loose, comfortable clothes

The word yoga is Sanskrit for union--the union of the body and the mind. It teaches us to bring all aspects of ourselves and our lives into balance and harmony. Modern culture is more apt to revere the mind at the expense of the body, although they are designed to be equal partners. The result of this imbalance are stress-related symptoms that afflict us. Yoga helps us become more healthy and whole as the body responds to the mind's suggestions, and the mind is alert to the feelings and needs of the body. This class will focus on the specific needs of massage therapists: the physical stresses on our body, the emotional impact of being givers and the need to feel rejuvenated while we work. Learn postures and techniques that can relieve stress and give you energy in your daily life or between clients.