Training
Training in ‘New Intelligent Approach to Bodywork’, Myofascial Release and Working with Trauma
Anne Cheshire Cruickshank runs advanced bodywork courses in myofascial release and working with clients who have experienced trauma. These take place in Edinburgh UK with Joolz Flynn, director of the Pain Recovery Clinic. Anne and Joolz are experienced teachers of Myofascial Release. Anne has been in bodywork practice since 2000 and started teaching Myofascial Release in 2005. She completed her three year training as a Somatic Experiencing Trauma Practitioner (SEP) in 2009 and works with people suffering from PTSD and traumatic stress as well as physical and physiological dysfunction. Joolz has been in bodywork practice since 2002. She also has COSCA accredited counselling skills and extensive experience in working with vulnerable people. She is an advanced student of Somatic Experiencing trauma work, and also teaches ‘Essence of Touch’, a course designed for women to experience the power of touch in a safe environment. Together they have developed ‘A New Intelligent Approach to Bodywork’, introduced through a one day course and setting the framework for all other trainings.
‘A New Intelligent Approach to Bodywork’ is running three times in 2011 and it is strongly recommended that those wishing to participate in further courses do this one as well. It is priced lower than our technique courses to enable greater participation. It is not necessary to take any other of our courses to take advantage of A New Intelligent Approach to Bodywork.
The subsequent two courses are designed for those working with people in trauma or overwhelming stress. The Myofascial Release courses are designed for advanced work with clients suffering from acute and chronic pain conditions and dysfunctions, taking into account the role of stress, overwhelm and trauma in the development of dysfunction and pain.
‘A New Intelligent Approach to Bodywork’
Teachers: Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and Joolz Flynn
Date: 2nd April 2011, 11th June 2011, 27th August
Times: 9am registration. 9:30 – 5pm
Price: £60
Location: Edinburgh West End
A New, Intelligent Approach to Bodywork
A brand new approach
This new approach involves looking at our clients from a fresh point of view, one not dominated either by technique or modality, or by their diagnosed condition or pathology, but one which considers possible causes of their discomfort, pain or condition from several equally important points of view. This allows us as therapists to employ different ways of working with our clients depending on what we find.
“One size fits none”
With this approach we take into account the fact that that ‘one size fits none’. Protocols are no longer necessary, although they may be helpful if adapted for each individual depending on what we find. This approach is truly holistic, taking into account the various main factors affecting our wellbeing, and allowing us to use whichever techniques and modalities we are trained in to intervene at any stage. It provides the philosophical framework in which we bring all subsequent training.
Course overview
This one day course introduces this exciting new approach to the practice of bodywork, and, indeed all kinds of modalities. It is centred on a big picture regarding pain, dysfunction and illness and their associated healing processes, in which we can learn to position ourselves most effectively, whatever our modality.
Outcome orientated, it examines 5 major causes of pain and discomfort, and current, most effective ways to address each one. We then introduce powerful ways to intervene in 3 of the five areas (the tutors’ own areas of expertise), maximising our effectiveness. The focus is on accessing and incorporating our own existing knowledge, training, expertise and clinical experience into a clear overview.
The Big Picture
This is a brand new way of putting together information that we already have, for best effect. In introducing the big picture we aim to help participants recognize where they are already effective, avoid becoming overwhelmed by what they do not know in such a large field, and also suggest ways in which they might further develop their skills to be more effective in familiar areas or new ones.
Course aims
The aims of the course are threefold: Firstly to enable us to evaluate our clients within the framework of the bigger picture. Secondly to become clear about how our own already established areas of expertise can best be applied. Thirdly to determine where we might further develop these to increase our successful intervention.
The method is simple and quick to put into action. There will be plenty of practice on the day so that therapists can use the approach straight away in clinic.
Working with Trauma
Teacher: Anne Cheshire Cruickshank
Date: 4th February 2011
Times: 9am registration. 9:30 – 5pm
Price: £115
Location: Edinburgh West End
A one day course in working with the effects of trauma as they arise in clients. We shall look at symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, flash backs, sleep and digestion disturbances, chronic pain and muscular tension, relationship difficulties arising from trauma and a disturbed sense of self which so often appears in the aftermath of traumatic events or circumstances. This course will help bodyworkers and counselors / psychotherapists recognise and understand the symptoms – and give them tools to facilitate safe recovery.
For bodyworkers: the initial effects of trauma, and responses to it, are in the body. As bodyworkers we are uniquely placed to help clients who have symptoms of traumatic stress. In this course you will begin to understand how to recognize symptoms of traumatic overwhelm in your clients, see where they are in the stress cycle, and learn strategies to keep them safe. We will introduce and practise techniques to use with clients to restore a safe sense of the ‘here and now’ with minimal dialoguing, suitable for non-talk therapists.
For counselors: with clients suffering from the effects of trauma, ‘making the unconscious conscious’ needs to wait until the survival brain has processed the traumatic events safely. In this course you will begin to understand the non-conscious survival brain’s stress cycle, the physical and physiological responses to trauma and learn strategies to allow the body to restore its non-conscious sense of safety, before moving on to involving the neo-cortex and emotions with search for meaning.
For family and friends of those suffering from the effects of trauma: you will gain an understanding of how trauma affects the body, what the possible symptoms are, and why it is important to allow the survival brain to complete its work in restoring a sense of safety before trying to make rational sense of the events. You will learn strategies to help your loved ones, including first aid and easy exercises.
In this body-based course we look at the autonomic nervous system and physiological effects of trauma and traumatic stress within the stress cycle, and how the body uses hard-wired responses to recover from traumatic stress. We examine what happens when something goes wrong or the stress or trauma is too overwhelming for the body to recover, and what we can do to help it get back on track.
We also look at the connection – or otherwise – between rational or psychological work around trauma and interventions based on the non-conscious survival system’s response, along with where and when to best introduce psychological understanding and search for meaning.
Students will learn both first aid for clients who find themselves overwhelmed with anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, etc., and also long term approaches appropriate both for bodyworkers who do minimal dialoguing and counsellors whose work is entirely talk therapy. The dialoguing skills covered in this course are appropriate for both groups.
Working with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Teacher: Anne Cheshire Cruickshank
Date: 25th March 2011
Times: 9am registration. 9:30 – 5pm
Price: £115
Location: Edinburgh West End
A one day course for bodyworkers and counsellors in working with clients who have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. We will discuss what the conditions are, how they arise, how they affect the body and nervous system (what the symptoms are) and how to adapt our work with them, be it body work or counselling. This course consists mainly of theory and will include around 15% dialoguing and 15% hands-on bodywork.
Introduction to Myofascial Release
Teachers: Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and Joolz Flynn
Dates: 2 two day modules running on Friday and Saturdays: 6th and 7th May 2011 and 3rd and 4th June 2011
Times: 9am registration. Daily 9:30 – 5pm
Price: £460
Location: Edinburgh West End
Prerequisites: Qualified bodyworkers (e.g. massage therapists, sports massage therapists, bowen therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists and Pilates teachers) with an ongoing practice and at least 1 year qualified experience.
Class size: maximum 14
This is a four day course for qualified and practising bodyworkers who are interested in learning direct and indirect myofascial release techniques to enhance the effectiveness of their practice. This course covers general techniques and palpation skills in preparation for advanced two day courses focusing on conditions and pathologies in specific areas of the body. We also teach skills in responding to signs of overwhelm or traumatic stress in clients, for instance in cases of unrelenting life stress or traumatic incidences, using specific overwhelm oriented autonomic nervous system approaches.
Students will learn about what fascia is, and what its role is in the body, as well as how it affects musculoskeletal and physiological functioning. They will learn palpation skills to enable them to recognise fascia, adhesions and trigger points. They will also learn a full range of both direct and indirect myofascial techniques and how to perform advanced massage / sports massage techniques, such as soft tissue release and trigger point therapy, within the fascia. At the same time students will become familiar with signs of overwhelm in clients and gain effective techniques in helping the client to safely contain and release overwhelm.
Advanced Trainings: Functional Anatomy and Advanced Application
Teachers: Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and Joolz Flynn
Dates: See individual courses for dates
Times: 9am registration. Daily 9:30 – 5pm
Price: Each two day course will cost £230
Class size: maximum 14
Location: Edinburgh West End
In this series of two day courses we present two independent courses each in the following areas: Head, Neck and Face, Shoulder Girdle, Torso and Thorax, Low Back and Pelvis, Leg, Knee and Foot. The first course Functional Anatomy prepares the participant for treating fascial adhesions and trigger points by examining the functional anatomy of the area in detail. The focus will be on three main areas: muscles, attachments, synergists and antagonists; fascial lines within and crossing the area; and trigger points within the area or referring pain within it. With this course students will be able to release fascial restrictions and adhesions along fascial lines, and release trigger points relevant to the area. Theory is supported by practice throughout, with particular attention paid to the palpation of distinct muscles and their tendons, fascial lines, fascial adhesions, and trigger points.
The second course Advanced Application focuses on common conditions and pathologies in the relevant specific area and what the bodyworker can do within their professional sphere to treat the relevant muscoloskeletal trigger points, muscle imbalances and adhesions, which may be causing primary or secondary pain, and to help manage the condition. Approaches will include the release of myofascial adhesions and trigger points (covered in the previous course for those who are not confident in their anatomy) with specific reference to conditions and pathologies, supplemented by stretching and the application of other advanced massage techniques within the fascia. Again, theory will be supported by plenty of hands-on practice.
Prerequisites: We welcome enthusiasts to these Functional Anatomy and Advanced Application courses who have completed the Myofascial Release Foundation course above with Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and Joolz Flynn, or have previously completed the Jing Advanced Massage Myofascial Release Foundation course with Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and Rachel Fairweather, or any other 4 day or longer myofascial release training with a recognised training body. Participants must be already familiar with and using myofascial release techniques within their practice for the treatment of pain conditions.
All Advanced courses will be set within the framework of ‘A New, Intelligent Approach to Bodywork’.
Functional Anatomy of the Head, Neck and Face:
Teachers: Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and Joolz Flynn
Dates: 9th and 10th September 2011 (Friday and Saturday)
Times: 9am registration. Daily 9:30 – 5pm
Price: £230
Class size: maximum 14
Location: Edinburgh West End
This exciting Functional Anatomy course will cover the functional anatomy of the head, neck and face for the purpose of identifying muscles, tendons, attachments, synergists and antagonists, fascial lines, and trigger points referring pain into and within the area. This will enable the myofascial body worker to address numerous pain conditions and movement dysfunctions by the identification of fascial restrictions and trigger points alone, without an indepth knowledge of conditions and pathologies.
Advanced Application for Head, Neck and Face
Teachers: Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and Joolz Flynn
Dates: 22nd and 23rd October 2011 (Saturday and Sunday)
Times: 9am registration. Daily 9:30 – 5pm
Price: £230
Class size: maximum 14
Location: Edinburgh West End
In this course we follow on from Functional Anatomy, introducing common conditions and pathologies, and exploring what their implications are in terms of connective tissue adhesions and trigger points. We then look at how the therapist can use fascial release, trigger point release, stretching and the application of other advanced massage techniques within their skills set to help with this aspect of the condition. Students must have very good working knowledge of the anatomy, fascial lines and trigger points of the area, or have completed the Functional Anatomy for Head, Neck and Face course. Conditions covered in this course include neck pain and stiffness, suboccipital pain, whiplash, cervical dystonia, torticolis, migraines and headaches, voice problems, throat problems, TMJ problems, tinnitus, balance problems, eye pain, visual disturbances and sinus problems.