August Belonging Matters

The month of August is known for bringing peace and holding the legacy of prosperity, triumph, and the culmination of hard work. It’s a time to reflect on and celebrate the fruitfulness of our efforts, dreams, and aspirations, while preparing for the changes ahead.    

As KCHA prepares for fall, we share our pride in KCHA co-owner and instructor Val Erlandson’s latest discoveries and adventures, as well as our upcoming fall Improving Therapy Outcomes training with Pete Whitridge, BA, LMT, and CranioSacral Wisdom Workshops with Doreen Hart, LMT, CST. 

August  Reminder: KCHA’s Student and Intern Clinics are open and ready to help relieve any discomfort caused by summer fun. You can learn more below.

Hi! I’m Val. I am a co-owner of KCHA, a licensed massage therapist with over 23 years of experience, and an instructor at KCHA. In this article, I will share how my wellness and teaching at KCHA influence each other

Shawn and I are coming up on our third anniversary of owning KCHA; what a trip it’s been so far. I recently began a new class focusing on Eastern medicine studies, and shared with the students how much I love teaching this class in particular because each time I learn something new that I can apply to my own life or practice. There is an abundance of information available in the world of massage and bodywork, and I feel that our 625-hour program barely scratches the surface of all there is to know. I’m also excited about the continuing education opportunities we are bringing to the school and look forward to introducing more.   

I am committed to striving to better myself, my teaching, and my practice. A significant part of that is the work I do in the early mornings when I wake before anyone else in my house and engage in some form of exercise. My favorites are running, strength training, and yoga. I am currently training for my 7th marathon, which takes place on October 12th in Chicago. I have wanted to run for a charity for several years, and this year I will fulfill that goal as I run for the Red Cross. In past years, while training for races, I’ve had the attitude that I needed to push myself to the limits to achieve the best results.

Recently, I’ve been focusing more on running slow to run fast, which is counterintuitive at times. The idea is to build endurance to run for more extended periods of time, which on race day translates to a stronger performance.

Over the past three years, I’ve taught several of our classes. One that I truly enjoy is Advanced Massage, where the students get an introduction to myofascial therapies and craniosacral therapy. This class teaches students to slow down, tune into their clients’ bodies, and even let the clients’ bodies do the work. In this class, I remind them that they are human “beings.”, not human “doings.” Whether they continue to pursue this type of work after graduation or not, my hope is that when they slow down and tune in, this will help them become better practitioners, no matter which route they take.

I am learning to do the same in my training. I recently completed an 18-mile training run where I slowed things down, enjoyed the route and being outside, and when I was done, I felt more energy than I’ve ever felt after a long run.   To enhance my training, I am incorporating plenty of massages. I receive slow, easy work with deeper, more invigorating work mixed in to help keep me on my feet. When teaching basic sports massage, we explore the differences between event massage (pre-, post-, and inter-), maintenance/follow-up, and treatment massage. We further examine how, during a treatment massage, we can help clients: 

The latter requires additional training. I genuinely believe that whether you are a professional athlete, weekend road warrior, or anything in between, sports massage can be a vital tool for achieving your goals. 

Check out Val’s Chicago Marathon Red Cross Fundraiser page! 

Ready to Improve Therapy Outcomes and have fun along the way?  

Join us September 13 & 14 from 9 AM – 6 PM, when Pete Whitridge, BA, LMT, will travel from his home in Florida to Kalamazoo to offer an excellent hands-on workshop focusing on how to apply current massage therapy research findings to improve and refine your clinical practice.

A licensed Massage Therapist since 1988, along with Pete’s practical experiences, he is a founder and past president of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education. His career has been dedicated to helping establish high standards in massage therapy education, teaching throughout the U.S., and frequently speaking at FSMTA, FCA, and AMTA meetings and conventions.

A licensed Massage Therapist since 1988, along with Pete’s practical experiences, he is a founder and past president of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education. His career has been dedicated to helping establish high standards in massage therapy education, teaching throughout the U.S., and frequently speaking at FSMTA, FCA, and AMTA meetings and conventions.

Additionally, Pete has served as Chair of the Florida Board of Massage Therapy and received the FSMTA Charles Canfield Award for service to the massage profession in 2004. In 2016, he was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame at the World Massage Festival.

During Pete’s two-day workshop at KCHA, he will focus on topics such as affective outcomes, inflammatory response, pain science, and trauma and resilience. Additionally, you will learn the proper use of thermal therapies, the reeducation of post-traumatic injury response in wound repair, and functional movement patterning.

When: September 13 & 14   Where: KCHA 5320 Holiday Terrace, Kalamazoo, MI 49009  CEU Hours: 16 NCBTMG         Cost: $295 (before August 22)                     For registration information, please call or email KCHA at (269) 205 -3165 or KCHA@kcha.com.    Contact Information for Pete Whitridge:  (772)-332-6116 or justaskpete@mac.com

Sports massage is a specialised form of massage therapy tailored to meet the needs of athletes and individuals with active lifestyles. This form of treatment focuses on the manipulation of soft tissue to prevent injuries, aid in the healing process, enhance athletic performance, and aid recovery.

Broadening Strokes, which are applied to stretch and relax the muscle fibres, increase flexibility and decrease muscle tightness. 

Compression involves applying direct pressure to specific areas to help loosen tight muscle fibres and increase circulation. 

Cross-fiber friction involves applying pressure in a transverse direction relative to the direction of the muscle fibers, which helps break down scar tissue and improve healing in the muscles.

Direct Pressure is similar to compression and involves applying pressure directly to specific areas to alleviate tension and muscle knots.

Effleurage (Stroking) involves long, gentle sweeping strokes applied with the palms. It is also used to promote lymphatic drainage and to warm up the tissues, stimulate blood circulation, and prepare the body for deeper massage work.

Friction is a deeper technique used to target specific problems within the muscle or connective tissue by applying pressure to specific points or areas to release muscle knots and adhesions.

Lymphatic Massage is designed to stimulate the lymphatic system, promoting the removal of waste products and reducing swelling. 

Petrissage (Kneading) is a more intense technique than effleurage, involving squeezing, rolling, and kneading muscles to mobilize soft tissues, enhance circulation, and release toxins. It is more intense than effleurage and helps break down knots and relieve muscle tension. 

Range of Motion and Stretching are used to improve flexibility and movement by stretching the muscles and joints. 

Vibration/Shaking is a technique that helps relax and loosen muscles by applying rapid, shaking movements, which stimulate blood flow and improve muscle relaxation.

Consider gifting yourself the time to refresh your wellness routine this August; massage therapy is an ideal way to do just that! Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, recover from muscle tension, or recharge, regular massage can help you embrace the season with a renewed sense of energy and well-being. 

A massage at Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts is a perfect gift to give or receive. As students near the end of their training and new graduates hone their skills, they are ready to provide massage for the public with relaxing, affordable sessions. 

Gift certificates and monthly specials are available. 

“August is the slow, gentle month that stretches out the longest across the span of a year. It yawns and lingers on with the light in its palms.” – Victoria Erickson

As the sun is at its peak power, the Earth’s bounty is in full bloom.