Qi Gong And T’ai Chi Self-care For Therapeutic Massage

Dr.Val Nardo is one of our favorite new educators to have joined the HomeCEUConnection.com family this year. Dr.Nardo’s two seminar-on-demand courses delve into the uses of Eastern medicine not only for the benefit of the patient but also for the benefit of the massage practitioner. “Qi Gong and Tai Chi: Self Care for the Massage Therapist” explores the history and benefits of Qi Gong and T’ai Chi as well as postures, movements and breathing techniques. Dr.Nardo discusses causes and prevention measures for injuries as well as the utilization of the bodies core as the force of power in the application of therapeutic massage and bodywork as an injury prevention measure. Today he gives us a bit of insight into his course and how it can help the massage therapist prevent and treat work-related injuries.

Qi Gong And T’ai Chi Self-care For Therapeutic Massage

Thousands of massage therapists leave the industry each year due to injury in the performance of their massage job activities. Injuries typically occur to muscles, tendons, and nerves in the fingers, hands, wrist, neck, shoulders, and back. Similar professions, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and chiropractors, where massage therapy is used as an intervention, are also susceptible to injury. Injuries may be caused by poor body mechanics, repetitive motion, misuse of equipment, such as tables, chairs, and stools, lack of body awareness and the body core and its relationship to the true source of power. These injuries are preventable.

Qi Gong and T’ai Chi are ancient exercise practices that utilize non-aggressive breathing and movement on the principle that the bodies core is its source of energy for power. These exercise practices are commonly used in therapy and rehabilitation to improve balance, strength and vitality. Using these practices in therapeutic massage and bodywork allows the practitioner to use the center/core of the body as the source of power, saving the fingers, hands, wrists, neck, shoulder and back from overuse and helping to prevent potential injury.

In this 4 hours 4 credit course you will examine the causes and types of injury encounter in the manual therapy occupations. You will learn about general adjustments for injury prevention. You will explore the history and some basic breathing/movement techniques of Qi Gong and Thai Chi. You will become more aware of your own body entity, your core/body center, the true energy source and learn to incorporate and synchronize your movement for safe and effective treatment results. These practices can be used during therapy to foster ease of movement and reduce the risk of injury to the therapist and as a complementary treatment for client/patient.

This program will provide you with information that will enable you to work from the body core for safe and effective body mechanics. These are dynamic, complementary methods to help you preserve your most valuable assets and to enhance your overall general health.

About the Author

Dr.Val Nardo, Ph.D., LMT, is a former vocational consultant for nearly 30 years. He is currently a professional massage therapist, personal trainer and stress management educator, and consultant. He holds a Masters in Education from Coppin State College in Baltimore, Maryland and a Ph.D. in Natural Health from Clayton College of Natural Health in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Nardo obtained his massage training through the Academy of Healing Arts in Lake Worth, Florida. He is a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Personal Trainer and is also a Reiki Master.