Ahhhh, welcome, long days of sunshine and happiness. Whether spending the day at the pool or lake, picnicking, hiking, attending sporting events, working in the yard, or enjoying visits with loved ones, June is a month filled with outdoor fun.   

As you reacquaint yourself with your summer clothing and gear, take a moment to refresh your sun safety practices. This month’s Health Talk article will help you stay up to date with the latest resources.  We’re excited to introduce you to one of our new Interns, Shawn Smoker, this month. You will also find information about a great way to access Implicit Bias training and upcoming fall Improving Therapy Outcomes training with Pete Whitridge, BA, LMT.Summertime 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.

Twenty-five years ago, when I was a much younger man, I was working in a factory. The job was a literal pain in the glutes, and I built up a restriction in them. Hearing of my discomfort, my sister suggested that I get a massage. She booked me a half-hour massage, and the lady worked it out. I left the appointment completely relieved, and my sister said, “Well, what do you think about doing that as a career?” The next thing you know, I was enrolled at KCHA, and upon graduating in 2002, KCHA offered me a position to work for them.

After a few years of working with an overseeing practitioner specializing in Cranial Sacral Therapy, I left the East Coast and moved to the West Coast, where I spent 15 years in Los Angeles. While there, I continued to work as a Massage Therapist for Burke Williams Day Spa and eventually for myself. Being in L.A. I had the opportunity to work with some notable celebrity clients, including Ron Howard, Frank Langella, Giada De Laurentiis, and the late Leslie Jordan.

When COVID slowed everything down in 2020, I found myself missing my family and decided to move back home to West Michigan. I soon discovered that Michigan’s requirements for practicing massage had changed while I was away, and I had only a limited number of hours to complete my practice in the state. These factors inspired me to enroll in classes at the school I had attended many years before, KCHA. My hope for my internship is to connect with as many people as possible while I continue studying for my MBLEx test, which I’ll take at the end of summer to regain my license in Michigan. Once I pass the test, I’ll return to helping others and continuing bodywork in my local area while also pursuing my personal endeavors.

Tap here to book a massage with Shawn at our Intern Clinic

Are you looking for an on-demand or live training opportunity with a nationally accredited provider? Michigan Implicit Bias Training has what you need at reasonable prices. All of the implicit bias trainings are available online via interactive webinar – select your ON-DEMAND or LIVE training! All implicit bias trainings include a participatory pre-test and post-test as mandated by the state of Michigan and report to the CPE Monitor.

Ready to have fun while earning CEUs? Join us from 9 am – 6 pm on September 13 & 14 for this excellent hands-on workshop, focusing on how to apply current massage therapy research findings to improve and refine your clinical practice.    While focusing on topics such as affective outcomes, inflammatory response, pain science, and trauma and resilience, over these two days, you will learn the proper use of thermal therapies, the reeducation of post-traumatic injury response in wound repair, and functional movement patterning.

By the end of this training, you will have:

*Deepened your knowledge of anatomical and fascial structures

*Learned how to teach your clients to work with you during therapy

*Gained skills for eliminating chronic pain by working below the client’s pain threshold

*Practiced slowing down, focusing your attention, and being more effective with less effort

*Learned how to eliminate chronic pain by working below the client’s pain threshold.

Pete Whitridge BA, LMT

Pete has been a licensed massage therapist since 1988, is a founder and Past President of the Alliance For Massage Therapy Education, and has dedicated his career to helping establish high standards in massage therapy education. He teaches throughout the U.S. and is a frequent speaker at FSMTA, FCA, and AMTA meetings and conventions. He has served as Chair of the FL 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.

He lives in Fort Pierce, FL, with his wife, Lee.  They travel frequently and would love to visit your town.

When: September 13 & 14 Where: KCHA 5320 Holiday Terrace, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

CEU Hours: 16 NCBTMG

Cost: $295 (before August 22)                                                                                                                                            $350 (after August 22)

For registration information, call or email KCHA at: (269)-205-3165    KCHA@kcha.com

Contact Information for Pete Whitridge  (772)-332-6116 or justaskpete@mac.come

When it comes to ensuring we’re up to date on Sun Safety guidelines, the American Cancer Society’s resources are the best! As you explore their website, take just a few minutes to sharpen your sun safety know-how by watching these three key videos: How to do Self-Skin Checks, How to Protect Yourself From the Sun, and How to Correctly Apply Sunscreen. Each video is less than three minutes and well worth your time.  After you watch the video, explore the rest of the available, including checking your knowledge and  Take the Quiz: Skin Cancer or learning more about how to lower your cancer risk through the ACS Cancer Risk360TM assessment.

Summertime is the perfect time to bolster your wellness routine—and massage therapy is the ideal way to start! Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, recover from muscle tension, or simply 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, they are ready to provide massage for the public.

 These relaxing sessions are affordable. Gift certificates and monthly specials are available.

Tap here to book a Student Clinic Massage

“June is the time for being in the world in new ways, for throwing off the cold and dark spots of life.”     ~ Joan D. Chittister

As June envelopes us in sunshine, warmth, and beauty, may we welcome opportunities to support our vitality.