Courses
We Offer In-Person, Live and Webinars to Fit Your Needs
You want skills, we can help!
Skills That Help You Succeed
Courses designed to ensure that students walk away with confidence. In both the actual hands-on skills and the appropriate reasons why you would choose to implement these techniques.
Simply TMJ
Your doorway to Mastering the temporomandibular joint. This is a comprehensive workshop on the joint itself and the soft tissues involved and how to treat TMD.
Cranial Sacral Therapy
Including Introduction to Cranial, Basic Cranial and our Mentorship Program that teaches Cranial Mandibular Orthopedics.
Muscle Energy Technique
An osteopathic technique that uses contract/relax for correcting somatic dysfunctions in the Thoracic and Lumbar Spines as well as increasing function of the sacroiliac joints and aligning the Ilia (pelvis).
Fascial Facet Treatment
Offers two distinct methods of correcting somatic dysfunctions (AKA spinal joint restrictions) that are gentle and easy to perform. Clients appreciate the gentleness. Practitioners enjoy the ease of integration with other techniques.
Sacral Balancing
Using osteopathic principles to assess and treat the joints of the pelvis and give insight into which piriformis muscle(s) to treat.
Mindfulness
Often called Grounding & Vitality, mindfulness can give you strategies to deal with feelings of being overwhelmed by your clients negativity.
Simply TMJ
Learn to be a Master
This celebrated workshop explores the TMJ. If you learn and master this material you could have a practice full of TMJ patients in very little time. TMJ pain and dysfunction is so common that almost everyone has experienced it at one time or another. When you are effective in helping these suffering people the flood gates will open and your waiting room will need to be enlarged.
No cranial experience is necessary for this course. I will be discussing aspects of how the cranium effects the TMJ; but, we will not be doing any cranial manipulations. This is covered in DynamicTherapies.com’s cranial courses.
This is a comprehensive workshop on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and soft tissues involved.
We will walk through the functional anatomy and physiology of movement of the TMJ. Measuring the movement of the jaw and taking a base line will help us determine if the problem is muscular or derangement of the joint. (The measuring tool is included in the cost of the tuition.) The “Achilles heel” of the TMJ will be explored. Then we will learn the common areas of pathology and how we can rebalance the tissues to restore harmony to this difficult joint. These tissues include external and internal tissues and how to reposition the disc within the joint.
There are an enormous number of your clients suffering with pain and noises in the TMJ. You will be given the tools to help with their suffering and as a result build your practice through word of mouth.
You will be shown clear directions for homecare to help progress and maintain the changes you facilitate in your treatment room. Your patients will feel confident in your knowledge and understanding of this often-misunderstood area after you have taken this course.
Here are some of the things you will learn about and learn to do during this two-day workshop.
- Functional anatomy of TMJ
- Bones
- Disc
- Teeth
- Occlusion
- Muscles
- Other soft tissues
- Understanding TMJ movement with anatomy
- Jaw tracking
- Assessment of the TMJ
- Postural evaluation
- Understanding relationship of TMJ to the body
- Understanding relationship of TMJ to the cranium
- Headaches
- Disorders that frequently cause TMJ pain
- Physiology and concepts of TMJ treatment
- Physiological laws
- Orthotics
- Home care
This is what you will learn hands on:
- Assessment of opening
- Tracking
- Measuring range of motion
- Treatment of fascia
- Samples of the “Range of Motion Scale” for the TMJ will be provided
- Treatment of external muscles
- Treatment of internal muscles
- Mobilization with active movement of the TMJ
Advanced Cranial Therapy
Complete Cranial Connection
Dynamic Therapies is your Complete Cranial Connection. Offering manual therapists courses from the most basic cranial to the most difficult cranial mandibular orthopedics. Even though the technique is termed “Cranial” we assess and treat the entire body when required.
Initially the challenge is to be able to palpate the Cranial Rhythmical Impulse (CRI) or as many people call it the Cranial Sacral Rhythm. From there we learn to make changes to the body utilizing various pressures from extremely light in the “Basic” levels to heavy pressures in the more advanced courses that are dangerous in novice hands. Using fundamental principles you will be assured that the technique you are performing are the correct manipulations, thus avoiding harming patients.
Mastering Cranial Through Mentorship
The Real Deal
Finally a course that makes sense! This Mentorship program has been years in the making. I wanted to incorporate much of the skills in my Advanced Cranial classes with even more techniques but combined with the time and guidance necessary to really “own” the material. My belief has been that even though you have been exposed to information and techniques it often isn’t enough to become unconsciously competent with these skills. This course is front loaded with information and techniques and back loaded with finer details and mentored guidance to answer the difficult questions which always arise when you are on your own in the clinic setting.
This course is intended for those who have shied away from performing cranial sacral due to previous difficulties or fears, but also for those who enjoy cranial but find that they need to strengthen certain areas and it is hoped that this intensive, and focused course can clear up any misconceptions and alleviate any fears that you may have. We encourage dialogue with the instructor and hope that you can pick up some “tricks” along the way. Basically we hope to demonstrate how with proper assessment, treatment planning and the execution of proper basic skills that you will be able to consistently obtain better results, that will satisfy your patients and make your practices more complete.
Participants in this course will get a combination of theory, practical and practicum. This workshop is designed to reinforce and implement the techniques presented in the lecture.
The success of the cranial sacral portion of your practice is going to depend on your ability to identify/motivate patients in need of care, and then to use a therapeutic approach that gives the maximum chance to achieve and then maintain a preferred level of health. This course will show you how to do both. You will leave with the knowledge and materials necessary to use the new cranial sacral to benefit your patients and your practice.
Finally, a comprehensive course on cranial sacral that puts it all together in a way that makes sense! Significant numbers of patients are walking into our offices every day with legitimate cranial treatment needs. There are now more than ever compelling reasons to address these needs. We have the techniques and abilities to address these needs better than ever before.
Instructor:
Robert’s courses are the most intimate small courses you will find. They are based on osteopathic principles. He has brought together several different styles of cranial sacral into a complete package. Robert has continued to study cranial for over 20 years and brings a level of expertise to the course that is unparalleled. He strives for excellence in both his practice and teaching.
Introduction to Cranial: The Rhythm
Your fastest easiest approach to learning Cranial
If you want to see what its all about or just want to get your foot in the door this is where you want to start. Learn about the cranial system and how to feel the Cranial Rhythmical Impulse. Also learn how to use the right hemisphere of your brain and how to get into a deeper brain wave in order to focus your mind and enhance your palpation. It will be a fun day of hands-on with some theory.
This is a one-day course.
Dates: No Dates set at this time. Please call for more information
Classes will be offered in Vancouver BC only at this time; however, I may do a course in other locations if enough students are interested.
Basic Cranial: Beyond the Rhythm
Head to Tail Cranial Sacral Approach
This four day course takes you on the journey of learning Cranial. We start by learning how to feel the Cranial Rhythmical Impulse. From there we set sail for more adventure. We first travel to the land of “fascia”. We discover the membranes in the cranium and spine, and how these membranes are the core link between the sacrum and the skull. Along the way we’ll experience an appreciation for the body’s facial system and how to release transverse diaphragms in the pelvis, torso, thoracic outlet, and neck. And then we continue our expedition to the cranium.
This is a four day course.
Dates:
Classes will be offered in Vancouver BC
Beyond Basic Cranial: Introduction to Craniomandibular Orthopedics
Speeding up the healing process
As the name suggests, you must have at least Basic Cranial to take this course. From us or a similar program.
Now that you can feel the cranial rhythmical impulse you have probably noticed that some heads are more “pumped up.” You can make improvements to some heads but fail to notice change in others. Or the improvement can take a very, very long time. By improving the mobility at the pivots you will increase the motility more rapidly than by doing many other maneuvers. This is when you start becoming a therapist by picking and choosing what you will work on and why versus following a set protocol.
What are pivots?
There are certain areas in the cranium that are extra special. These areas are where there are bevel changes between bone(s) and we call them “pivots.” When the sutures become “gummy” and “sticky” there is less compliance through the head. Unlocking these pivots allows the bones to express themselves and you will feel more motion under your hands.
What are some examples of pivots?
Coronal pivot: between the frontal and parietal (on each side)
Occipitomastoid suture: between the occiput and temporal bones (this is also very important because it mimics the sacroiliac joint)
Sphenosquamous pivot: between the greater wing of the sphenoid and the temporal bone
Hinge mastoid pivot: between the parietal and temporal bones
Other “Hot Spots”
Other hot spots are areas that give a much bigger “bang for the buck” when you facilitate a change with them.
One of these areas we will cover is the correcting an inferior subluxation of the petrojugular articulation. This often happens from falling or landing hard on the feet, buttocks or knees such as in snow boarding.
Prerequisite of at least one cranial course
This is a 2 day course. 9am – 6pm with 1 hour lunch break.
Location: Vancouver
Dates: Please contact us if interested
Fascial Facet Treatment
The fast gentle way to correct joint dysfunctions
Correcting facet joint dysfunctions are an important aspect of manual therapy. As Massage Therapists we often employ Muscle Energy Technique (MET). This is an excellent choice for many people. However, just like high velocity (Chiropractic) adjustments it can be too aggressive or inconvenient at times. Using two subtle techniques we can correct facet restrictions and also change muscle tonus to the paraspinal muscles.
Easy to use
The Peri-ischial and Auricular Techniques are especially useful for very sensitive clients. You are able to perform these on someone that has just sustained an injury, for example having been in a MVA on the way to their appointment. Many fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue clients enjoy this method because they don’t have to sit and bend forward, bend backwards and resist to test the facets. Positionally these techniques are patient and practitioner friendly. You can perform them standing, sitting and prone. It makes it easy to incorporate into your treatments as you won’t need to have the person move to a chair half way through a visit.
What’s involved
- Review of joint anatomy and motion
- Locating and palpating for cervical, thoracic and lumbar facet joints
- Motion testing
- Peri-ischial Technique
- Auricular Technique
This is a 1 day course. Class time: 9am – 4pm with 1 hour lunch break.
Location: Zoom meeting
Sacral Balancing
An easy and gentle way to balancing the pelvis
Based on osteopathic principles and an alternative to chiropractic and muscle energy techniques. Creating a stable foundation at the pelvis can help with apparent leg length discrepancies, scoliotic patterns, upper cervical mal-alignment, low back and pelvic pain associated with joint restrictions. This method is gentle enough to use on just about any body.
You will learn how to differentiate between sacroiliac joint restrictions and pelvic viscera causing restriction in the pelvis. Direct assessment of the sacrum will take place in two forms: static (positional) and dynamic (motion testing).
What’s Involved?
- Pubic symphysis correction
- Opening up of sacroiliac joints
- Motion testing
- Understanding of sacral torsions and dysfunctions
- Palpation, testing and correction of sacral dysfunctions
- Understanding which piriformis muscle(s) to treat
This is a 1 day course. Class time: 9am – 4pm with 1 hour lunch break.
Location: Zoom meeting
Muscle Energy Technique
Thoracic and Lumbar Spines
Muscle Energy is an osteopathic treatment based on contract / relax theories and part Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF). We will use muscular contractions as a way to lengthen tight muscles and strengthen weak muscles. We can get “deeper” into the tissues with contract / relax than with our fingers.
The effect is to gently mobilize joints to relieve muscular tension and tissue congestion, thus helping a somatic dysfunction.
What happens when we have a somatic dysfunction?
When we try and side bend a vertebral joint segment to the right and it says “nope!” However other segments in the spine may be able to move.
They can last a short time then go away. Or they can last a long time, then we need to worry about them because they can cause symptoms and we can’t compensate for the dysfunction. If there is enough irritation then our nervous system can get really fired up.
Muscle Energy Technique
Treating the Ilia
MET uses muscular contractions as a way of lengthening tight muscle, strengthening weak muscle and gently mobilizing joints to relieve muscular tension and tissue congestion. This course will present the principles, concepts and techniques of MET and allow you to practice this modality to balance the ilia. At the end of this course you will be able demonstrate techniques and explain the physiologic mechanisms of MET.