World Massage Festival
Massage Therapy Hall of Fame
Read our Philosophy - The Bridge Builder
 | 2008 Massage Therapy Hall of Fame Inductee Ralph R. Stephens, BS Ed, LMT, CNMT, NCTMB |
Highly acclaimed and internationally recognized as one of the best presenters in the profession, Ralph is known for his friendly, understandable, and inspiring style that makes learning specific concepts and techniques easy and fun. He is a sought after presenter at state, regional and national meetings where he gets excellent reviews every time. Ralph has put together a system of medical massage that gets dramatic results and teaches it in a way that you can take it home and use it immediately to get better, faster results with your patients.
Ralph has worked with many Olympic and All-American Athletes since the beginning of his massage career over 22 years ago. In his practice, he specializes in treating people with pain and injuries.
He was the first to adapt specific massage and stretching techniques to the massage chair in his groundbreaking videos (Seated Therapeutic Massage) and textbook Therapeutic Chair Massage, published by LWW. He has produced 16 video/DVD training programs, writes a bi-monthly column for Massage Today Magazine, has contributed to 3 other textbooks, and has written many articles for magazines and journals.
In 1997 he was awarded the AMTA National Meritorious Award for his leadership, dedication and commitment to the profession.
"It is not my intent to impress you with what I can do. Instead, I seek to openly share the techniques, knowledge, and experience I have gained over the last 22 years with you so that together we can help more people." Ralph R. Stephens
 | 2011 Massage Therapy Hall of Fame Inductee |
Tom, "the father of positioning", has engaged in the pursuit of therapeutic positioning for more than 25 years. The body positioner known today as the bodyCushion arose and evolved into the rudiments of it's current embodiment after the first two years of intensive pursuit. In the ensuing 23 years this positioning tool has been refined so that today there is a highly developed, functional body positioner that is used throughout the healing arts. It has been said that there is no one who knows more about orthopedic positioning. Tom is the acknowledged pre-eminent master, having explored, examined, researched and tested various aspects of positioning as a singular career pursuit since 1984.
Tom began practicing massage in 1970. The bodyCushion arose out his practical therapeutic applications as a licensed practitioner in Ashland, Oregon in 1986. In 1988 Tom became a CE Provider, teaching the elements and benefits of positioning for massage and muscle therapy. For several years Tom traveled to Japan where he presented seminars in positioning to doctors, physical medicine doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists in major cities throughout the country. These seminars were based on a book Tom authored and video series, "New Approaches to Muscle Therapy". In this book Tom demonstrates and describes seventy different positioning techniques that address and enhance specific therapeutic challenges. Tom was recently a presenter at the 2009 World Massage Conference.
Tom is now retired and resides in Hawaii. The bodyCushion continues to be manufactured in a plant Tom owns in Ashland, Oregon. Tom takes pride in the fact that all the component parts of the bodyCushion, as well as the bodyCushion itself are manufactured in the U.S.A. The bodyCushion is used throughout the healing arts, in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, athletic training rooms, chiropractic offices, acupuncture and oriental medicine clinics. It is used for applications of all kinds of massage disciplines including Thai massage, Shiatsu, and prenatal. It is also prescribable and can be assistive and therapeutic for post-injury or surgery recovery as well as pregnancy relief. The bodyCushion is sold and used worldwide in more than 67 countries.
Website: Body Support Systems
Tom began practicing massage in 1970. The bodyCushion arose out his practical therapeutic applications as a licensed practitioner in Ashland, Oregon in 1986. In 1988 Tom became a CE Provider, teaching the elements and benefits of positioning for massage and muscle therapy. For several years Tom traveled to Japan where he presented seminars in positioning to doctors, physical medicine doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists in major cities throughout the country. These seminars were based on a book Tom authored and video series, "New Approaches to Muscle Therapy". In this book Tom demonstrates and describes seventy different positioning techniques that address and enhance specific therapeutic challenges. Tom was recently a presenter at the 2009 World Massage Conference.
Tom is now retired and resides in Hawaii. The bodyCushion continues to be manufactured in a plant Tom owns in Ashland, Oregon. Tom takes pride in the fact that all the component parts of the bodyCushion, as well as the bodyCushion itself are manufactured in the U.S.A. The bodyCushion is used throughout the healing arts, in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, athletic training rooms, chiropractic offices, acupuncture and oriental medicine clinics. It is used for applications of all kinds of massage disciplines including Thai massage, Shiatsu, and prenatal. It is also prescribable and can be assistive and therapeutic for post-injury or surgery recovery as well as pregnancy relief. The bodyCushion is sold and used worldwide in more than 67 countries.
Website: Body Support Systems
Improving Your Success with Difficult Neck, Shoulder, & Low Back Cases
3 CE Contact Hours
Learn easy ways to get optimal results with back, neck, and shoulder issues... and have an opportunity to win one of two free bodyCushions (value $409, each) that will be given away in a drawing at the end of this class
Enhance your therapeutic outcomes with precise palpation and state of the art positioning techniques. Learn leading edge approaches to the three most common muscular complaints of neck, shoulder, and low back.
Experience how advanced positioning can release all related structures of the shoulder. Practice powerful therapeutic techniques that you can take home and use immediately to help your difficult cases gain relief from pain and motion restriction. You'll have fun while learning how to help more people when you study with these two veteran, master instructors as they share their favorite techniques for tough cases.
Experience how advanced positioning can release all related structures of the shoulder. Practice powerful therapeutic techniques that you can take home and use immediately to help your difficult cases gain relief from pain and motion restriction. You'll have fun while learning how to help more people when you study with these two veteran, master instructors as they share their favorite techniques for tough cases.
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