Manual Bodywork Healing Therapies

Course overview

Touch is one of the most primal needs of any human being. Manual bodywork healing therapies address the need for human touch, enhance health, and heal the body, mind, and spirit. Health care is evolving and integrating the worlds of alternative and allopathic practitioners, and these therapies are being integrated along with conventional health care in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice centers, and other healthcare facilities. This course describes somatic and musculoskeletal therapies (therapeutic massage, including Swedish massage, rhythmical massage, sports massage, hot stone massage, neuromuscular massage therapy, and Aston patterning); Eastern, meridian-based, and point therapies (acupressure, shiatsu, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and reflexology); energy-based therapies (Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, and Healing Touch); emotional bodywork (Rolfing and Hellerwork); and manipulative therapies (osteopathy and craniosacral therapy). The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the various types and benefits of manual bodywork healing therapies.