Over the weekend, I completed the Massage & Sports Therapy class I had begun in September. It’s a very interesting class, and I learned a lot more than I had anticipated. At least a few things are worth noting:

• Even though it listed Stages 2 and 3 as prerequisites, one really should have a firmer knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
• Stretching is wonderful. A good reference is Kit Laughlin’s Stretching & Flexibility
• Release of fascial tissue can do a lot more than expected.¹
• Economy of both time and energy is key to practicing sports massage. It’s not easy to see everything and do everything, especially in 15 minutes.

I have an assignment yet to complete for the class, with 2 months until the deadline. It includes both theory and practical components, so I’ll be strapping someone to a massage table for a few hours yet. Further down the line, I have Stages 4 and 5 to complete, which will take me up to the Christmas break, with practical assignments going into the new year. Maybe I should ask Santa for a massage table for Christmas…

¹ Because of an old spinal injury, the fascial release that was done to me left me in a large amount of pain. It seems as if I don’t have the core stability to hold my back in place without the assistance of the fascia. I was almost unable to do my assessment because I was barely able to stand without a lot of discomfort. I stayed out of my volleyball game yesterday, but I’ll be playing tonight.