Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy
Monday through Thursday, August 18-21, 2008
9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (6:30 p.m. on 8/20)
Fee: $575 if enrolled prior
to Friday, July 18; $625 after that date
Credit: 32 hours (3.2 CEUs)
Course Developer and Primary Instructor
Carole Osborne-Sheets has been an integrative body therapist since 1974. In addition to private practice, she has worked in osteopathic, women's medical, and psychological practices. Her work focuses on facilitating somatoemotional and neuromuscular integration. She is a specialist in family issues, including childbearing, physical and emotional trauma, substance and eating disorders, self-image, and nurturing.
Her earliest bodywork studies were with the Arica Institute, Milton Trager, and tai chi Master Abraham Liu, and in an apprenticeship in the teachings of Ida Rolf with Edward Maupin, Ph.D. More recent studies have included osteopathic soft tissue therapies. Carole co-founded the International Professional School of Bodywork (IPSB), in San Diego, in 1977, where she continues to teach. She is also an original faculty member at Big Sky Somatic Institute, Montana, and has taught throughout North America and in Europe.
Sparked by personal and clinical experiences, Carole began researching and developing infant and prenatal massage therapy programs in 1980. With the collaboration of perinatal professionals and colleagues, she co-created the forerunner of this course, trained parents and hospital and association staffs, and, in 1996, developed this current program. Since 1980 she has taught maternity massage therapy to over 4,000 massage and perinatal specialists. She is inspired in this work by the gestations, births, and lives of her own two grown children.
Carole has published two textbooks, Pre-and Perinatal Massage Therapy and Deep Tissue Sculpting, and has articles in Massage and Massage Therapy Journal, and in other publications. She provided consultation on several videos, and for other prenatal and infant massage media items, including Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus' book, When Survivors Give Birth. In 1999 she was one of only 10 internationally selected therapists contributing to the AMTA Foundation Massage Research Agenda Workgroup setting research priorities for the Foundation.
Program Description
This 32-hour specialization certification course in Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy is a hands-on intensive workshop.
Participants will learn:
• an integrative somatic approach incorporating the insights and selected techniques of Ida Rolf
• neuromuscular and myofascial therapy
• movement
• osteopathetic soft tissue techniques
• other Western methods
• applied tai chi principles
• emotional sensitivity
Well-researched guidelines will empower participants to safely and effectively modify techniques to address expectant women's concerns.
Pregnancy topics will include:
• Facilitating the physiological processes of gestation
• relieving common pregnancy pain, dysfunctions, and concerns
• alleviating musculoskeletal strain and pain
• reducing prenatal complications with preventative touch therapies
• recognizing potential benefits, contraindications and precautions
• working with high-risk, complicated, and bed rest pregnancies
• providing nurturing support and stress reduction
• enhancing couples' childbearing experience with touch
• modifying your technique repertoire for pregnancy
• designing effective, personalized sessions for your client
Postpartum topics will include
• Facilitating postpartum physiological adjustments
• restoring abdominal functioning
• rebalancing postural and movement patterns
• reducing the musculoskeletal strain of mothering tasks
• improving post-surgical recovery after Cesarean births
• supporting the somatoemotional integration of the childbearing experience
Labor and birth topics will include:
• Understanding labor physiology and psychology
• preparing clients physically and emotionally for birthing
• increasing clients' kinesthetic awareness for easier labors
• facilitating relaxation, pain reduction, and progress of labor
• supporting laboring women and their partners with touch
• managing the practical challenges of providing labor massage therapy
Additional topics will include:
• Reviewing relevant touch and maternity research
• embodying and guiding efficient, stress-free body mechanics
• communicating and cooperating with other perinatal healthcare professionals
• confronting ethical issues in perinatal healthcare (2 ethic hours)
• developing effective promotional strategies for business success
Prerequisites: This certification workshop is designed for experienced graduates of 500-hour diversified somatic programs. Other perinatal professionals are admitted with instructor approval. Advance study requirement includes reading the required textbook, Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy.
The textbook can be purchased from Body Therapy Associates at (800) 586-8322 or at
www.bodytherapyassociates.com at an
approximate cost of $35. Participants who prefer to order by mail can
check the website for the exact charge and send a check, payable to Body Therapy Associates at 11650 Iberia Place, Suite 137, San Diego, CA 92128.
