October 24th & 25th in Thermopolis, Wyoming @ the County Annex Building

CTM-Bindegewebsmassage – 8 CE hours  

Bindegewebsmassage, or Connective Tissue Massage (CTM), is a precise and elegant way

to work with the body’s dermatomes and autonomic reflexes to induce corresponding

autonomic changes in specific organs. The technique was developed in Germany by

Elizabeth Dicke, and is widely practiced there, although it is less known in the United

States. Bindegewebsmassage is quite powerful, although it can appear subtle at first.  

Starting with the sacrum, specific cutaneous zones are stroked with a dragging pressure in

a precise and orchestrated way that can “trick” the body into responding as if specific

organs or organ systems are being massaged. In response, the target organ vasodilates

and its smooth muscle tissue relaxes. Bindegewebsmassage is quite effective for

treating menstrual cramps, eliminating or reducing symptoms over 90% of the time. It can

also be helpful with reducing the symptoms of migraines, asthma, CFS, fibromyalgia, and

intestinal cramping. In addition, CTM can subtly affect the fascial layers (especially

adhesions in the subcutaneous layer), increasing range of motion and flexibility, and

reducing pain or tingling from tightened tissue. Bindegewebsmassage typically has a

calming effect and can be used for general parasympathetic relaxation as well.

A handful of clinical trials have shown CTM-style manipulation has beneficial effects in pain

reduction, reduced depression, improved quality-of-life, and moderate short-term increases

of beta-endorphins. These trials add to anecdotal observations from clinicians that CTM

often causes “virtually immediate relief in visceral or myofascial pain as well as general

relaxation.” (Prendergast & Rommer, 2013)

In this class, you will learn the “basic build-up,” a seated technique which primarily focuses

on the sacral and pelvic areas and their corresponding target organs, and the “first follow-

up” and “second follow-up” which focus on the back and posterior ribcage.