Myofascial Release Massage – Part I: Upper Body with Christopher A. Morakis

We know that the body holds tension and repressed emotion. Many of us, however, do not know what specific tissues are responsible for this occurrence. In this workshop you will learn to identify, manipulate, and release myofascial tissue that holds chronic, painful, and exhausting stress and tension. By the end of the workshop you will know how to release this unwanted stress in the chest, neck, shoulders, hands, back and waist, in other words, over the whole upper body. In addition, you will gain an understanding of the relationship between posture and emotional attitudes and how constricted myofascial tissue leads to creating and reinforcing emotional negativity. The strokes will be taught in sequence so that once learned you will be able to give a Myofascial Release Massage for the upper body. Imagine how you will feel at the end of the workshop! Your hands will become supple and strong, your neck and shoulders will relax, your chest will be more open, you will naturally breathe more deeply with less effort, and your back and waist will be more flexible. Imagine how your clients will feel after you have mastered these techniques. The hand, neck, and shoulder work is suitable for on-site application as well as clinical practice. We will discuss the conditions and occupations that will benefit most from this work. Contra-indications will also be noted. (Please note: Bring a massage table, sheets, towel, and oil. Women should wear a bra or bikini top.)

Presenter: Christopher A. Morakis took the Upper and Lower Body courses while a student at the Ohio College of Massotherapy from which he graduated in 1994 and immediately after completing these seminars was asked to serve Howard as a teaching assistant. He has assisted Howard over 40 times. Chris is licensed by the State of Ohio as an LMT. In addition to his private massage practice Chris is responsible for massage therapy, rehabilitation, exercise, and some physical therapy at a Chiropractic Clinic in Ohio. He was the massage therapist for the 2000 Hewlett Packard Women's Bicycle Challenge in Boise, Idaho as well as for the LPGA in Warren, Ohio from 1998 through 2000. Chris is also certified as a fitness trainer by the International Sports Sciences Association, and is also an instructor of T'ai Chi and Chi Cong. From 2000-2003 Chris was also an instructor at the Ohio College of Massotherapy. In addition, Chris, with his wife, own The Focal Point in Poland Ohio, where they are redefining preventative health care. Chris has worked for the Pro-Am PGA in Pittsburgh PA as a massage therapist. He is dedicated to educating students to the healing art of Myofascial Release Massage!