During the "MotherMassage ®: Massage During Pregnancy" certification workshop, you learn the physiology of pregnancy, labor and postpartum as well as the skills and bodywork techniques necessary to massage your clients competently from their first trimester through labor and postpartum recovery. Hands-on work includes full body prenatal massage in 5 different ways (side-lying without turning the client; side-lying turning the client to her opposite side; side-lying turning client supine; in a seated position; and using the Body Support System), labor support massage and postpartum massage. Appropriate draping and practitioner body mechanics are discussed. Many hand-saving techniques are demonstrated. Special attention is paid to high risk pregnancies and treating the most common discomforts of pregnancy (i.e. lower back pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.) The contraindications and precautions of prenatal massage are discussed in detail.

A variety of bodywork systems, such as Swedish massage, acupressure, trigger point therapy, deep tissue, myofascial, reflexology, etc are used. Herbal remedies and nutritional supplements are discussed along with marketing and promotional strategies to help increase your specialized practice. Insurance considerations are also explained.

This three day (9-6 on Friday and Saturday and 8:30 - 3 on Sunday, unless otherwise noted.), 24-hour certification course is approved for twenty-four (24) contact hours by: ALACE, DONA, Florida Board of Massage, ICEA (21 contact hours), Lamaze International and NCBTMB, Category A provider. It is open to all massage professionals, advanced massage therapy students, childbirth educators, midwives, labor support coaches and doulas. All non-massage professionals must have basic massage skills as a prerequisite to this course.

A student handbook is distributed and a certification of attendance is provided at the satisfactory completion of the course. Professional certification is awarded after passing a take home exam with a score of at least 80% and validated proof that you have massaged at least two different pregnant clients (or one pregnant and one during puerperium).

The cost of the class is $395.00. A late fee of $425.00 will be charged for registration within one week of the class. All students must PAY IN FULL at the time of registration. Through December 2007, students are also required to purchase MotherMassage: A Handbook For Relieving the Discomforts of Pregnancy (Stillerman, Elaine, Dell, 1992) $17.00 + tax. Starting January 2008, the new required text will be Prenatal Massage: A Textbook of Pregnancy, Labor, and Postpartum Bodywork (Mosby, 2008), $41.95 + tax. Either book should be purchased prior to the class at the school's bookstore or on-line at Amazon.com.

In addition, students are required to read Massage Magazine back issues #87, #88, and #89 (www.massagemag.com).

Participants are also required to bring two towels, 2 pillows, 2 sheets and unscented lubrication. If you are able to provide a pregnant model for the second day of class, please advise the host school.

The instructor and developer of the course is Elaine Stillerman, LMT. Licensed in New York since 1978, Stillerman began her pioneering work witih pregnant women in 1980. She has been teaching the professoinal certification course "MotherMassage: Massage During Pregnancy" at prestigious massage schools, spas and resorts across the country since 1990. She has authored several books, including MotherMassage, The Encyclopedia of Bodywork (Facts On File, 1996), Prenatal Massage: A Textbook of Pregnancy, Labor, and Postpartum Bodywork (Mosby, 2008), and Modalities for Massage and Bodywork (Mosby), as well as numerous magazine articles. Her work has been featured in dozens of magazines and she has appeared on several radio and television programs, including Live! With Regis and Kelly on many occasions.

Free Raffle! At each class, there is a free raffle for a Full Pro Plus
Body Support System (www.bodysupport.com). Valued at over $750, this system is provided compliments of the kind people at Body Support System. In addition, free samples of Mamamio products (www.mamamio.com) are distributed.