Continuing Education

This class applies gentle hands-on skills to work with regions of the body that hold stress and injury. Pain, injury and stress in tissues often occur as the result of a forceful event or events. Using gentle, non-forcing techniques allows the body to unwind with its own innate wisdom. We will work in a non-forcing way with the body’s natural intelligence and self-correcting mechanisms. Major topics of the workshop are: unwinding legs and feet, arms and hands, head and neck; releasing held energy from within the body; understanding the potential for working with trauma.

Jim Gilkeson has taught energy healing for 35 years. A former Harbin Hot Springs bodywork therapist, Jim has written two books on energy healing: A Pilgrim in Your Body: Energy Healing and Spiritual Process and Energy Healing: A Pathway to Inner Growth. His gentle soul and quiet wisdom permeate his teachings, bring a sweet magnetism to his presence in the classroom.
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Chronic pain and restriction occur in the fascia more than in the muscles. In this class we will cover techniques to target the fascia in the Low Back and Pelvis to provide long term changes in people’s bodies. There are 3 goals – Increase ROM, Correct Posture, Reduce Pain.

Matthew Schulman, LMT has been a full time LMT since 2007 and has been training in Taoist martial arts since 2002. In addition to his training at AIM, Matthew learned the “old way” through apprenticeships and countless hours of study, practice, and meditation. He had the great opportunity to study closely with Paul Grilley, who introduced him to many of the ideas and research that form the basis of this work. Fascia Energetics has come about as the result of these 17 years of learning and growth. It is Matthew’s hope to add this drop of knowledge to the bodywork field, helping it to grow and be accepted as the deep path for healing that it truly is.
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Have you ever wanted to take a professional kinesiology course without the stress of an exam? A course where you can pick and choose which muscle groups you want to review? Introducing the Kinesiology Review and Trivia Night Series! Designed for the busy therapist who wants to go back and add new layers of understanding to the anatomy behind bodywork, each three hour class will cover one functional muscle group. In addition to reviewing muscle attachments and actions, we’ll look at muscle innervation and fascial connections, and do some palpation! Add to this a touch of trivia, and you get a fun night of learning with information you can apply directly to your practice. Take a single class, only the classes you want, or the whole series. Muscles of the Gluteal Region – 02/11/2020; Muscles of the Medial Thigh – 02/25/2020; Muscles of the Posterior Thigh – 03/10/2020; Muscles of the Anterior Thigh – 03/24/2020; Muscles of the Anterior and Lateral Leg – 04/07/2020; Muscles of the Posterior Leg – 04/21/2020.

Trout America, LMT, BA, began his teaching career as an English instructor in Japan in 2005. After graduating from AIM in 2011 he joined our school’s science instruction team. His teaching style emphasizes the fun in learning, making him one of the most popular instructors on staff. Trout excels at finding ways to connect each student to the material and making class time memorable!
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Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is a dynamic technique that stretches muscles, tendons, and fascia specific to anatomical planes of movement. It remodels the body using gentle, rhythmic movements that avoid triggering the myotactic reflex, which causes a contraction in the tissues being stretched. Utilizing the principles developed by Aaron Mattes, this unique stretching modality restores joint mobility; reduces muscular/fascial tension; changes neurology and improves circulation. The simple yet profound difference is to avoid triggering the myotactic reflex. Repeated active muscle contractions along with gentle stretches create a venous/lymphatic pump, decreasing inflammation and combating disease. Dysfunctional movement patterns are exposed. Using pain free movements, the tissues are retrained and balance is restored to the joint. In this basic level class you will identify the physiology behind AIS and how it applies to healing. Contraindications and safety concerns as they apply to stretching will also be addressed. We will evaluate range and quality of movement before and after stretching, and apply the techniques to treat a wide variety of disorders in the shoulders, cervical spine and jaw. The material presented covers frozen shoulder, TMJ, thoracic outlet syndrome, whiplash and other upper body conditions.

Joshua Morton, LMT, MAISS, MMLT,s a co-owner and Master Instructor with AIS Northwest, LLC. Joshua has over 2000 hrs. training with Aaron Mattes, the creator of Active Isolated Stretching and over 15 years teaching AIS. Joshua is one of the leading AIS practitioners and instructors internationally. Joshua offers students in-depth experience and expertise in a supportive learning environment.
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Have you ever wanted to take a professional kinesiology course without the stress of an exam? A course where you can pick and choose which muscle groups you want to review? Introducing the Kinesiology Review and Trivia Night Series! Designed for the busy therapist who wants to go back and add new layers of understanding to the anatomy behind bodywork, each three hour class will cover one functional muscle group. In addition to reviewing muscle attachments and actions, we’ll look at muscle innervation and fascial connections, and do some palpation! Add to this a touch of trivia, and you get a fun night of learning with information you can apply directly to your practice. Take a single class, only the classes you want, or the whole series. Muscles of the Gluteal Region – 02/11/2020; Muscles of the Medial Thigh – 02/25/2020; Muscles of the Posterior Thigh – 03/10/2020; Muscles of the Anterior Thigh – 03/24/2020; Muscles of the Anterior and Lateral Leg – 04/07/2020; Muscles of the Posterior Leg – 04/21/2020.

Trout America, LMT, BA, began his teaching career as an English instructor in Japan in 2005. After graduating from AIM in 2011 he joined our school’s science instruction team. His teaching style emphasizes the fun in learning, making him one of the most popular instructors on staff. Trout excels at finding ways to connect each student to the material and making class time memorable!
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This class teaches you to work at the cusp of structure and energy. You will learn to use the physical body as a “handle” on physical, emotional, and psycho-spiritual processes. This is a non-modality bound approach to energetic bodywork. We will cover the development of bodyworker to healer, as well as the recurring psycho-spiritual themes in energetic work and their application in energy-active bodywork. You will learn: Four broadly applicable energy-based treatments that demonstrate principles of touch, connection and presence; Personal meditative energetic practices that apply to your development as a therapist; Recurring psycho-spiritual themes in energetic work and their application in energy-active bodywork.

Jim Gilkeson has taught energy healing for 35 years. A former Harbin Hot Springs bodywork therapist, Jim has written two books on energy healing: A Pilgrim in Your Body: Energy Healing and Spiritual Process and Energy Healing: A Pathway to Inner Growth. His gentle soul and quiet wisdom permeate his teachings, bring a sweet magnetism to his presence in the classroom.
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How we talk and what we say about the massage industry outside our studio is a foundation for our professional development. We will look at communication styles, ideals of professionalism, strategic patterns and the application of a graceful practice from the outside in. You will develop tools for personal development in relation to your individual practice and awareness of the larger industry that surrounds us. In this course we will review communication archetypes, tools for identifying and engaging various individuals in order to elevate customer service experiences, and how professionalism is a core concept for growth. We will also look at ways to outline and apply strategic action planning for tracking and completion. Applying this awareness will uplevel your professionalism, and the wider view of the industry in general.

Jordan Barton, LMT is a graduate of Ashland Institute of Massage’s class of 1994, and has not stopped moving since! Over the last 25 years he has worked across the country with addiction patients, practiced sports and medical massage, and managed a premiere resort spa among other things. He has a vast knowledge of industry and team dynamics, the importance of professional standards, and tools for navigating practitioner safety in the workplace. An educator since 2005, Jordan has also served on the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists.
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Review the basics, see them from another perspective, and apply your craft with new tools to create the core services your clients want and you know they need. This course negotiates the use of and access to areas of the body – it is not a specific treatment and technique course. These tools are meant to be applied as a foundation for work that students have already been taught, or will receive in the future. There will be hands-on exchange; critique from individuals in the group as well as the instructor; and self assessment and peer support skills. We will discuss new tools (including body cushions and table styles) and how to adjust for varying client body types.

Jordan Barton, LMT is a graduate of Ashland Institute of Massage’s class of 1994, and has not stopped moving since! Over the last 25 years he has worked across the country with addiction patients, practiced sports and medical massage, and managed a premiere resort spa among other things. He has a vast knowledge of industry and team dynamics, the importance of professional standards, and tools for navigating practitioner safety in the workplace. An educator since 2005, Jordan has also served on the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists.
Register

Have you ever wanted to take a professional kinesiology course without the stress of an exam? A course where you can pick and choose which muscle groups you want to review? Introducing the Kinesiology Review and Trivia Night Series! Designed for the busy therapist who wants to go back and add new layers of understanding to the anatomy behind bodywork, each three hour class will cover one functional muscle group. In addition to reviewing muscle attachments and actions, we’ll look at muscle innervation and fascial connections, and do some palpation! Add to this a touch of trivia, and you get a fun night of learning with information you can apply directly to your practice. Take a single class, only the classes you want, or the whole series. Muscles of the Gluteal Region – 02/11/2020; Muscles of the Medial Thigh – 02/25/2020; Muscles of the Posterior Thigh – 03/10/2020; Muscles of the Anterior Thigh – 03/24/2020; Muscles of the Anterior and Lateral Leg – 04/07/2020; Muscles of the Posterior Leg – 04/21/2020.

Trout America, LMT, BA, began his teaching career as an English instructor in Japan in 2005. After graduating from AIM in 2011 he joined our school’s science instruction team. His teaching style emphasizes the fun in learning, making him one of the most popular instructors on staff. Trout excels at finding ways to connect each student to the material and making class time memorable!
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Ortho-Bionomy® uses osteopathic-based gentle body positions and movements to stimulate self-correcting reflexes with the muscles and nerves. These responses can move the client out of pain and discomfort within 10-30 seconds. This method is very specific, structure oriented, and easily integrated into any body therapy. In this class, you will learn how to apply gentle pain relief techniques for knees, patella, femur head, ankle, and all the bones of the feet. This work is amazingly effective, yet gentle and easy on your body.

Jim Berns, Ortho-Bionomy®–Registered Advanced Instructorhas taught internationally for over thirty years. He is coauthor of Ortho-Bionomy: A Practical Manual. Jim was trained by Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls, the founder of Ortho-Bionomy®. A certified massage therapist since 1979, he was named 2013 Educator of the Year by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). With more than three decades of teaching, Jim brings detailed information, a compassionate heart, and a unique sense of humor to the classroom.
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Dare to go where few therapists go – the muscles of the anterior neck. Chronic neck pain often involves the anterior muscles of the cervical spine, but therapists usually focus treatment on the posterior muscles, missing out on crucial aspects of therapeutic treatment. We will explore this territory and learn how to skillfully apply therapeutic touch in order to release tension and trigger points in these anterior cervical muscles, changing the perception of the anterior neck being a hands-off area. Muscles we will cover in this class: Supra- and Infra- Hyoids, Rectus Capitis Anterior and Lateralis, Longus Capitis and Longus Colli, Digastric, Scalenes, and Sternocleidomastoid.

Joseph Micketti, LMT, NMT is a 1985 graduate of Boulder School of Massage Therapy. He spent eight years on the teaching staff of Neuromuscular Therapy, St. John Method. Joseph’s massage practice is based on injury rehabilitation and pain reversal using deep tissue techniques. Joseph and his wife, Janie Chandler, co-own Advanced Myotherapy in Ashland.
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A new twist on an ancient modality, cupping is no longer only for chinese medical practitioners. In the hands of a massage therapist, cupping can melt away superficial fascial tension, release trigger points without stress on practitioner thumbs and joints, and move lymph effortlessly. This class offers an introduction to active cupping techniques that will allow you to achieve great results with minimal time and effort. Cups will be provided, and available for purchase in class. If you have a set already, please bring them.

Jessica Masters, LMT, has been licensed for nine years in the state of Oregon and practices out of Siskiyou Massage Clinic in Ashland. A graduate of Ashland Institute of Massage in 2010, Jessica also holds a certification in Medical Massage, where she was first introduced to cups in 2014. Jessica has a passion for teaching and sharing her excitement about this incredibly effective modality.
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