"I wish more and more that health were studied half as much as disease is."

           ----Sarah N. Cleghorn (1876–1959), U.S. poet and social reformer.

Welcome to Werner Workshops for Massage and Pathology!

Why do massage therapists need to know about pathology?
We all know that the demographics of the average massage client are changing. Every year more people get a massage for the first time; every year massage is perceived by more people as health care modality rather than (or in addition to) as an occasional indulgence.

The result is that today massage therapists can expect to see clients who struggle with various simple and complex health issues. These clients may seek massage as a special treat, but they are just as likely to be using massage as part of an integrated, proactive, carefully constructed health care plan. This puts a burden on the shoulders of massage therapists that we have never had before. When we work with clients who are not perfectly healthy, whose bodies may not have the capacity to keep up with the kinds of changes some types of bodywork bring about, we run the risk of doing more harm than good.

Carefully, knowledgeably applied massage has found an important place in hotels, spas, cruise ships, and salons—but also in cancer wards, hospice centers, senior citizen homes, drug rehabilitation clinics, and other settings where the clientele may be extremely fragile. The only way to work safely in these environments is to be thoroughly educated about the physiology of a healthy human body, and the consequences of diseases and disorders that interrupt normal processes. This foundation is critical for the maintenance of public safety. 

The positive power of informed touch is irrefutable. When massage therapists and other bodyworkers have the tools to make educated decisions about how to structure their sessions for maximum benefit with minimum risk, they can help not only themselves, but whole communities of clients who might otherwise be out of reach. 

What is a Massage Therapy and Pathology workshop?

Massage Therapy and Pathology workshops are dynamic, exciting, interactive lectures presented by Ruth Werner, author of A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology and winner of the prestigious AMTA Council of Schools Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year award for 2005.

Workshops are flexible, but are generally offered in 4-hour segments, with 2-4 segments presented over a weekend. Workshops focus on various topics about massage and pathology, depending on the needs of the participants. Another workshop that focuses on the ethics of communication for massage therapists is also available. Click here for more information about hosting a workshop; click here to find a workshop to attend.

Ruth Werner is an approved provider of continuing education by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.