I have built my education, as many of us do in our field, in a layered and exploratory manner, following my clients’ needs to a large degree. Some examples: healing techniques for pain patterns, assessing the increasing number of orthopedic clients, and postural approaches to assessment. Looking for something useful and unique, I enrolled years ago in the Acupressure Institute for one of my first courses of study, about 250 hours. Its practical ability to calm down the central nervous system, for example, has been a powerful adjunct to my other techniques. In the process of mapping out my path to licensure, I attended a professional massage training program at National Holistic Institute (720 hours), a broad survey of multiple modalities, physiology, pathology and extensive hands-on clinical experience.Through processes of elimination, trial, and error, purchasing and studying many courses and workshops, while working as a full-time therapist through the years, I found my MENTORS:
One day while on break at my first job as a massage therapist at Massage Envy, I saw an ad in a massage magazine advertising Art Riggs’ 7-DVD Set teaching Deep Tissue massage (he is a trained Rolfer). I’d gotten client feedback recently about my boring cookie cutter massages and also encouragement from my lead at Massage Envy to keep learning and practicing, so I purchased his set.
Art’s measured approach and patient delivery of precision deep tissue techniques, especially in areas that are commonly tight on athletes, really slowed me down in a good way. I wasn’t intimidated, and could easily grasp how to approach difficult stuck tissue. One of his visual phrases stuck with me: ‘peel the meat off the bone’.
His insistence on learning how to properly palpate at a deeper level definitely catapulted me to the next professional level. My repeat clientele were the first indications of this. Second, colleagues started asking me for guidance, bringing me into their rooms to help work on their clients. This confidence builder gave me proof that I was helping to relieve discomfort.
I began practicing on my friends and family, getting to the deeper tissue slowly and with precision. I greatly appreciated Massage Envy for giving me the opportunity to hone my skills, and client reviews improved. This was getting more fun!
Through diligently studying Riggs-style bodywork, I was voted Best Regional Massage Therapist of Northern California for the year 2007. All 247 national recipients were gifted with a special class featuring…
James Waslaski
That class inspired me to attend another 48 hours of James Waslaski’s massage workshops. One of his classes took me to Niagara Falls to his 5 day intensive. These classes led us slowly through his protocol of assessment, history-taking and a slow, lighter myofascial release technique.
His workshops are well structured in a twelve step protocol, from assessment, choosing techniques for each structure, tense-and-release methods, and a stretching program to finish up with.
I gained much-needed skills and confidence to assess and help my clients with orthopedic conditions such as complicated knees, frozen shoulders, repetitive arm strains, and sports neck injuries.
Tom Meyers
I found Tom’s work when his name was repeatedly being mentioned in James’s workshops. His work came to me via his video library, Anatomy Trains. Through studying this work I was able to unlock tight extremities and receive great results.
His skills in illuminating anatomical connections led me to discover lower leg discrepancies to asymmetrical patterns upstream. Through his teaching, I gained confidence in addressing the whole body as one. I learned to slow down my techniques even more and be able to safely work extremities and the deeper layers, especially necks.
Erik Dalton, PhD
Erik Dalton’s name had crept into workshop conversations numerous times through the years. I found his work to be intriguing and unusually different from others. Coining his work Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques, it evolved out of his twenty years as a Rolfer, extensive study of Osteopathy with Dr. Philip Greenman, and studies with rehabilitative neurologist Dr. Vladimir Janda.
In blending his mentors’ teachings, he was able to unlock years of held tension in his clients. His work takes on the cross patterns that create dysfunctional posture and gait. A lifelong learner of evidence-based modalities, Erik always urges his students to have a well balanced modality tool chest.
Over many years, Erik developed his 210 hour, well-crafted home study course, which included 32 hours of mandatory in-person seminar. Tied into the fabric of his intensive educational program, Erik employed enough teacher’s aids to insure that all students could get direct feedback.
Starting in 2011, I graduated Erik’s course in 2018, adding an additional 63 hours of his hands-on workshops as well. They have given me keen insights into hip rotational patterns related to back strains, and how to unravel potential pain patterns and locked joints.
Sharon Wheeler
A client of mine introduced me to Sharon Wheeler, a Rolfer specializing in scar tissue. I attended her two three-day Kinesis Workshops in Maine. These seminars consisted of 1. Integrating the Cranium, and 2. Tail End: Balancing the Sacrum and Coccyx.
Her work was fascinating and touched on how to move fascia that was built up from aging scar tissue. After visual and hands-on assessments of the participants regarding any physical traumas we had experienced through the years, Sharon went through the causes and effects that would release the built-up fascia/scar tension.
The classes had a detailed syllabus which included how to work the sacral area, how to position hands on head, and how to work in the mouth and inside the nose to release fascia.
When you release head and tail it results in a better overall release of areas in-between. I now better understand the important relationship between pelvic mobility and breathing, headaches and clarity of mind.
Why this Approach is Different. Going Far Beyond Simple Massage.
Whether you’re an athlete or just active… Whether you face aging issues, or you have the lingering effects of an injury…
If your body hurts, or it isn’t functioning at its best, pain and stiffness can cut into your quality of life.
Get Help from a True Healer
Gentle massage and medication can provide some relief. But real healing requires help from a highly trained professional.
Unlike most standard massage therapists, Mark Senzig is certified in highly specialized approaches that promote healing on a deeper level.
Mark has advanced training in:
Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy– helps break pain cycles and muscle spasms, and improves range of motion.
Deep Tissue Massage– helps trigger the release and realignment of the body and reduce muscular tension.
Myofascial Release Therapy– Improves range of motion, reduces soreness and offers many other benefits.
