What are Specialty Courses?
Specialty courses are designed for those practitioners who specialise in treating musculoskeletal disorders and would like to add extra skill sets to their treatment protocols. Although Craniosacral Therapy is a complete specialist modality in its own right, it was never perceived as a one-therapy-suits-all approach for treating all conditions.
The Academy for some time has presented specialty courses such as Biodynamic Cranial Touch, Muscle Energy Technique, Postitonal Release Therapy, Integrated Acupressure etc. These courses are comprehensive and in-depth. Obtaining basic skills in these modalities cannot be achieved by attending a one-day workshop, therefore the Academy presents them in a staged format for in-depth learning.
These courses are taught by Master trainers with considerable years of experience. Naturally their experience and the hours of the course are reflected in the subject prices which are listed on the following webpages – specialty seminars. Most of the courses are taught 9-5pm in an intensive format but some, like Integrate Acupressure, may be taught over two weekend seminars.
Upon completion of each course or level, a statement of attendance will be issued for CPE points.
Pre-requisite: Three levels of Craniosacral Therapy.
This course has been developed for Craniosacral Therapists who have wanted a course to thoroughly explain brain anatomy, brain function, as well as brain and behavioural disorders. The purpose of this course is how we, as Craniosacral Therapists, can have direct inroads in brain function and the facilitation of health. We know that brain waves can be entrained through external influences. Cultures that tone, such as in certain chanting measurably affect brain waves and function; as does listening to Mozart. If sound can have a profound influence on brain function, it is very possible that touch and manual therapy may have a direct influence. This class is about beginning that conversation and offering specific techniques and paradigms.
Many Craniosacral Workers understand that the treatment of brain anatomy and function is crucial along with the treatment of bones, sutures and membranes. The Craniosacral Therapist is in a unique position to address these issues. Craniosacral Practitioners and students are encouraged to attend to expand their knowledge and abilities.
Some of the topics that will be covered are:
- Brain Anatomy including all important areas of function, dysfunction and possible treatment.
- Brain Function & Biology including auditory and language processing, the impact of various hormones on cognitive function, the differences between the female and male brain in development and ageing, mirror neurons, neurotransmitters and hormones, pleasure and reward centres, and much more.
- Brain Development of the foetus, infants, children, adolescents and adults.
- Behavioural dysfunctions & functions including addictions of various natures (alcohol, drugs, thought, food, sex, work, etc), abnormal fears, aggressiveness and violence, anger, anxiety, attention deficit disorder (including hyperactivity), bipolar disorder, concentration, dementia, depression, hallucinations, impulsiveness, the nature of memory, nervousness, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, paranoia, post partum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and Tourette’s Syndrome.
- Physical & Genetic Manifestations including autism, biological clock disorders, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, dyslexia, Foetal Alcohol
- Syndrome, libido, Seasonal Affective Disorder, sleep disorders and stroke.
- Brain Plasticity and discussion of Cortical Mapping and Re-mapping.
- Effect of various medications, recreational drugs and the practice of meditation.
- Cranial holds and specific treatment protocols, practical techniques and specific holds for assisting with certain conditions.
The course is designed to give the Craniosacral Therapist confidence in understanding the material and hands-on confidence in addressing many of these issues.
Course Fee: $795
Pre-requisite: Somatic CST V or higher or equivalent studies.
Hugh Milne is a third-generation Scottish Osteopath who graduated from the British College of Naturopathy and Osteopathy in 1971. After several years in clinical practice he went on to study healing, perception and meditation in India, where he lived for seven years. He spends most of his professional time traveling widely, teaching Visionary Craniosacral Work. His books on Craniosacral Therapy – The Heart of Listening: A Visionary Approach to Craniosacral Work are world wide best sellers. They are required texts for students training at the Craniosacral Therapy Academy of Australia.
The general theme for this class will be ‘The Cranial Suries protocol’. Other themes will be explored if time permits. This is an Advanced Master class with Hugh Milne, World Visionary Craniosacral Master.
Course Fee: $795, see timetable for course dates
Hugh Milne is a third-generation Scottish Osteopath who graduated from the British College of Naturopathy and Osteopathy in 1971. After several years in clinical practice he went on to study healing, perception and meditation in India, where he lived for seven years. He spends most of his professional time traveling widely, teaching Visionary Craniosacral Work. His books on Craniosacral Therapy – The Heart of Listening: A Visionary Approach to Craniosacral Work are world wide best sellers. They are required texts for students training at the Craniosacral Therapy Academy of Australia.
Hugh has conducted Craniosacral Therapy retreats mainly in Tuscany, Italy. The Academy has arranged for these retreats to be held here in Adelaide for 2013.
This 5-day retreat is focused upon the discovery of exactly which areas of craniosacral technique or practice, or deeper perceptive work with clients, present the greatest challenge and potential breakthrough for you. You will have the opportunity to explore why you do not use certain approaches or techniques, what your special needs are, and where certain inner resistances to working with particular clients may come from. The class generally begins with a Vipassana meditation at sunrise. A further seven hours a day is devoted to craniosacral work development based upon the foundation of spiritual practice. This may include specific aspects of the Visionary Craniosacral approach and include methods outside the field such as holistic breathwork.
The Retreat is held in Adelaide due to the low cost of accomodation and for the quiet venue which supports this work.
Course Fee: $995 + accommodation (rates to be advised)
This includes all meals. Vegetarians and those who request gluten-free meals can be catered for at these retreats.
This course is taught by master 5 Element Acupressurist, John Kirkwood. If you would like to do Acupuncture without the needles then this course is for you!
Acupressure is a form of body work that uses pressure on acupuncture points rather than needles, treatment is focused along specific channels or meridians of subtle bodily energy called Qi. Qi is the Life Force which sustains every activity of the body, mind and spirit. Specific acu-points are used to treat disorders and bring about harmony of energy flowing through the meridians.
Course Outline
- Oriental Medicine – the basic concepts
- Yin/Yang theory
- Acupressure symptomatology
- Acupoint locations
- The meridians
- The chinese clock
- The 5 elements & diagnosis
- Treatment protocols
Course Fee: $695, duration 4 days.
We call this integrated acupressure as the course is designed to complement your main modality and to integrate with your current treatment protocols. The course will show you how to integrate structural balance with Meridian therapy to enhance the effectiveness of your treatments.
On the completion of this subject, practitioners will be able to immediately treat a wide variety of complaints using acupressure therapy.
Course Outline
- Causes of disharmonies
- The meridians and pressure points
- Introduction of back point diagnosis
- Treatment of common ailments
- Treatment techniques, inc. moxibustion & cupping therapy
Course Fee: $695, duration 4 days.
Positional Release Therapy is an excellent way to release hypersensitive tissue easily and quickly. Similar to Orthobionomy and Strain-counter-strain, this technique uses the body’s nervous system to remind the muscles to relax. The techniques consist of precise positioning and the use of monitor points to relax the muscle in an effortless way.
This therapy is gentle yet powerful and combines well with other therapies. Some practitioners use this style of therapy as their main modality. It will introduce you to the concept of Positional Release Therapy/Strain and Counterstrain, developed by Dr Lawrence Jones, DO, which aids in the evaluation and treatment of somatic dysfunctions. This course will teach you how to evaluate the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, ribs, pelvis, sacrum and upper and lower extremities. You will learn to find dysfunctions through palpation and through a technique called passive positional procedure. You will learn to alleviate both articular and soft tissue dysfunctions in the body and restore proper pain-free movement.
This technique is useful in the treatment of both spinal and peripheral orthopaedic problems. The body or body part that is in dysfunction is placed in the position of greater comfort there by relieving pain, joint hypomobility, fascial tension and protective muscle spasm.
Course Outline
- Theory and Definition of Positional Release
- History and Pioneers that support PR
- The Muscle Spindle system
- Palpation levels and practicum
- Treatment for Inion, Atlanto –occipital junction
- Treatment for posterior cervicals
- Practicum
- Anterior cervical tender points
- Anterior chest wall tender points
- Anterior axillary points
- Practicum
- Alternate Posterior Thoracic tender points
- Abdominal treatment for Psoas points
- Posterior chest wall and shoulder tender points
- Practicum
- Supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres muscle tender points
- Posterior lumbar and sacral border tender points
- Gluteal tender points including also piriformis and coccyx
- Practicum and Integration
Course Fee: Level 1 – $795, duration 4 days
This course is taught by international presenter, Dr Rebecca Ridge, PhD.
Spinal Release Therapy focuses on restoring the body’s centre of gravity (L5-SI) into a balanced state and releasing patterns of strain that are impacting on spinal nerves and vertebrae.
The entire weight of the upper torso presses down on this lumbar sacral region, which is also affected by other forces, stress or trauma exerted on the body. Spinal Release Therapy seeks to address and resolve the imbalances that may arise.
This course will cover:
- Restoring the body’s centre of gravity to proper positions and relationships to each other
- The effects of trauma and strain on the vertebrae
- Mechanics of body framework – relationships amongst ligaments, bones, muscles, viscera, and fascia and the centre of gravity.
Treatment protocols using light touch therapies such as:
- The Lovett Brothers
- Craniosacral Reflexology
- Chakra vertebrae therapy
- Polarity Spinal Balancing techniques
Spinal Release Therapy is suitable for all those who you are treating that have spinal complaints and merges easily with other areas of bodywork, in particular CranioSacral Therapy, Acupressure and Myofascial Release Therapy. This seminar is very much hands-on and techniques can be applied immediately to your clinic treatments.
This course will be taught by Kath Garth, Polarity Therapist.
Course Fee: $395, duration 2 days
Suitable for Massage Therapists, Myotherapists, Naturopaths, Osteopaths and Acupuncturists. Also suitable for midwives and beauty therapists who have a knowledge of massage.
During this course you will study the gentle application of massage for pregnant women, and the appropriate techniques and style of application suitable for each trimester. You will discover how beneficial massage is before, during and after labour.
This course covers:
- Body changes, and the effects on various bodily systems
- Joints and muscles affected during pregnancy
- Contraindications for massage during pregnancy
- Endangerment sites
- Massage goals and treatment
- Review of the three trimesters, including lying positions appropriate for pregnancy through each trimester
- Draping – client comfort and privacy
- Massage techniques appropriate during pregnancy
- Full body massage demonstrated
- Massage treatment and assessment of client
- Advanced massage techniques during pregnancy – considering appropriate application for each trimester such as lumbar spine treatment; Piriformis release and treatment; Gluteal release and treatment; Thoracic release and treatment of auxiliary breathing muscles; Abdominal massage and Treatment for cramping and restless leg syndrome.
This course is presented by Catherine McInerney
Course Fees: Full Payment – $550 or *Early Bird Fee – $500 Duration: 2 Days
*Total course fee must be received one month prior to course commencement date to qualify for early bird discount.
Weekend (9.00am – 5.00pm)
Course dates: 14 & 15 July 2012
Cupping workshop $395.00
2 day classes x 8 hours per day = 16 contact hours CPE
Cupping – Ancient Art to Modern Applications
Cupping refers to an ancient Chinese practice in which a cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced (by using change in heat or by suctioning out air), so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn into and held in the cup. In some cases, the cup may be moved while the suction of skin is active, causing a regional pulling of the skin and muscle, such as we will use in our Myofascial Cupping workshop.
Myofascial Cupping using a vacuum cupping set
At the end of the 20th century, another method of suction was developed in which a valve was constructed at the top of the jar and a small hand-operated pump is attached so that the practitioner could suction out air without relying on fire (thus avoiding some hazards and having greater control over the amount of suction).
Our Myofascial Cupping workshops specifically use this type of apparatus in new and innovative ways which techniques can be used as a total treatment on their own, or integrated into your typical treatment with manual therapy techniques that include Myofascial Release, Trigger Point (TrP) Therapy.
In order to allow easy movement of the glass cups along the skin, some oil is applied. Medicated massage oils (with extracts of herbs) are particularly useful for this purpose. There is some friction generated with Myofascial Cupping, so that there is a small but significant amount of heat applied by the method, especially when used in conjunction with topical Cupping Oil during the treatment and applying a warming ‘after-treatment’ balm.
What is Negative Pressure?
By creating a negative pressure (tensional) above the surface of the tissues, we decrease the atmospheric pressure allowing the tissue to be lifted and thus causing changes in pressure beneath the skin including the muscle and surrounding fascia. Importantly, when we glide over a muscle, we also cause compression pressure with the rim of the cup.
Main topics covered are: History & Equipment, Indications and Contra Indications, Variety of Stalic and Dynamic Techniques – general application through to specific ailments. Myofascial Cupping is a fabulous addition to the toobox for Massage Therapists. It is a modified version of the ancient Eastern-style cupping which major differences include targeting the musculoskeletal system rather that meridian systems used by traditonal Chineses practitioners and using cups in a moving sequence, rather than stationery.
The effects of Manual Therapies are greatly increased with Cupping
