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Spring Conference

2010

Registration Brochure

The Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) is pleased to invite you to join us in Calgary, Alberta Canada April 9–11, 2010 for the 2nd Annual NHPC Spring Conference, Treating Chronic Pain - Naturally.

The 2010 Spring Conference will focus on chronic pain and teaching practitioners skills and treatments to help their clients suffering from chronic pain.

Chronic pain affects millions of Canadians each year and is considered to be one of the top reasons Canadians choose to visit Natural Health Practitioners.

Join world-renowned presenters for an astounding event. We are thrilled to present keynote speaker Dr. Hal Blatman RMT/MD. Dr. Blatman is a Board Certified Practitioner of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, Designated A.B.I.H.M., for American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. Dr. Blatman is the immediate Past-President of the American Holistic Medical Association.

Feature presenters include Geoffrey Gluckman, David Lesdonak, Susan Krieger, Michael Epstein, Paula Nutting and others.

Space is limited. Don’t be disappointed. Register Now.

Courses and Presenters

Emergency First Aid/CPR C
Food Energetics and Shiatsu for Pain, Immunity, and Emotional Balance
Demystifying Ethics and Professionalism
Self Care and Body Mechanics
Thai Stem Herbal Massage
Massage for People in Cancer Treatment
Massage for People Post Cancer Treatment
MVA - Moving from Chronic Pain to Wellness
Stretching for Chronic Conditions
Structural Integration - The Architechture of Health
Muscle Balance and Function Development® for Chronic Pain
Pain, Stress, and Healing
Leadership, Change, and the Future of Healthcare
Anatomy Review & Palpation
Physiology & Homeostasis
Kinesiology & Remedial Exercise
Myofascial Release for Headaches, Neck Pain, and TMJ Dysfunction

Emergency First Aid/CPR C
Specialized Emergency Training
Fri AM & PM

This customized one-day course teaches the latest First Aid and CPR guidelines in an interactive environment. Skills and concepts are tailored to cover emergencies that may occur while practicing specific modalities. Core topics include; the EMS system, check/ call/care, airway/breathing/circulatory emergencies, CPR (level C)/ AED, shock, stroke, and bleeding.

Students will practice skills with the newest equipment technology available. This course meets OH&S standards, includes a Red Cross First Aid/ CPR manual, and a complimentary CPR kit. After completion this course will qualify as the First Aid/CPR portion of the NHPC Continued Competency Program.

Food Energetics and Shiatsu for Pain, Immunity, and Emotional Balance
Susan Krieger
Fri AM &PM

In this enlightening and therapeutic hands-on workshop participants will explore the Energetics of Foods and their specific relationships for dealing with pain syndromes. Participants will also practice gentle yet power Shiatsu techniques, meridian work, breathing and special acu-points.

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will have developed knowledge and skills that can assist clients in strengthening their pain responses both physically and mentally while strengthening the immune system and providing emotional balance.

Based on Asian healing arts, the body has energy pathways (meridans) and acu-points, which connect one’s spirit, mind, organs and systems. When flow to one’s core Hara (center of gravity) energy (Ki/Qi) is balanced and free to flow, blockages can release allowing renewal of physical, mental and emotional health, whereby complete health can manifest.

Demystifying Ethics and Professionalism: A Journey of Professional Integrity
Cathy Sveen
Fri AM

This workshop is designed to give therapists and practitioners a refresher on ethics in the business world. After completion, this course will qualify as the ethics portion to the NHPC Continued Competency Program.

Participants will learn why practitioners need to study ethics, what it means to be a health care professional, review the NHPC Code of Ethics, and how to use ethics in everyday practice and how to work through challenging ethical situations. At the end of the workshop participants will have confidence in managing ethically challenging situations.

Self Care and Body Mechanics
Marvin Milner
Fri AM & PM

The focus of this intensive one day workshop is to learn proper body mechanics and how to apply this to your work. Attention to body mechanics is necessary to promote the longevity of your practice and deliver the most effective care to your clients.

Participants will be given easy to follow lessons on the massage table that give you a kinesthetic experience of important concepts. Some class time will also be devoted to other aspects of self care including self massage and progressive relaxation techniques.

Thai Stem Herbal Massage
Lily Cook
Sun PM

Thai Stem herbal Massage is a treatment that incorporates elements of Swedish Relaxation Massage, Lomi Lomi, Thai Massage movements and Thai Herbal compresses. The benefits are two-fold; deeply penetrating moist heat and the natural oils of the herbs that will penetrate throughout the sessions.

You will find it an intensive, relaxing, and detoxifying treatment that will benefit your clients and your practice. It can be a stand alone as half hour treatment or can be an add-on to an existing treatment such as body wrap or facial.

Course 1: Massage for People in Cancer Treatment
Jamie Elswick
Sat AM & PM

Give the gift of improved quality of life for those living with cancer through massage therapy. Massage has been shown to be beneficial at all stages of treatment and the disease. The focus of this course is on learning massage therapy techniques appropriate for clients going through treatment. This course alternates between lecture and hands on practice.

Learning outcomes:

Examining the benefits and precautions of massage for those in treatment
Discussing the psychosocial aspects of cancer
Cancer physiology and metastasis
Common treatments for cancer and their side effects
How to adjust massage around the disease and treatments
Modifying massage therapy for a compromised lymphatic system
Detailed discussion of assessment/intake skills

Course 2: Massage for People Post Cancer Treatment
Jamie Elswick
Sun AM & PM

Massage has many benefits for the cancer patient once treatment has finished. The focus of this course is on learning massage therapy techniques to facilitate healing and well being post treatment. This course alternates between lecture and hands on practice.

Learning outcomes:

Examining the benefits and precautions of massage once treatment is complete
Discussion of long term effects of cancer treatments and their relationships to massage Chemotherapy Radiotherapy Surgery
Safe massage therapy for a compromised lymphatic system
How to safely apply range of motion exercises
Discussion and techniques for surgical scars
Discussion and techniques for massage in radiated areas
Learn to modify the massage therapy techniques you already are using
Discussion of assessment/intake skills
Detailed discussion of assessment/intake skills

MVA - Moving from Chronic Pain to Wellness through Energy Healing
Cindy Palajac
Sun AM & PM

Motor Vehicle Accidents can take a long time to heal when the energy field is not repaired. Pain often becomes chronic, lingers and holds people back from regaining their total strength and flexibility.

This course works with the energetic body to repair the energy field around the body so that the physical body can heal. This workshop will teach how to:

assess the seven energy fields
use your hands to sense heat and pain
determine the emotion attached to the field
Repair energy fields with six different Healing Touch techniques
decrease pain and increase recovery time for the client.

This experiential workshop will leave you wanting to learn more about energy healing.

Stretching for Chronic Conditions
Paula Nutting
Sat-Sun AM & PM

This two day workshop will take you through some of the more common chronic conditions seen by the therapist and how to affectively treat them using stretching. Stretches can be used to lengthen muscle, tendon, myofascia, and the connective tissue that houses the peripheral nervous system.

Learn to assess which type of stretch will produce the most effective outcome; PNF, MET, passive, active and neural tethering techniques will be demonstrated and practiced to normalize soft tissue length.

We will target tension and cervicogenic headaches, muscle imbalance in the rotator cuff that leads to shoulder impingement and tendinopathies. We will look at and treat the muscles, tendons and ligaments that create pelvic rotations and torsions and lower back pain. Chronic hamstring strain, ITB friction syndromewill also be covered in this hands on, user friendly workshop.

Structural Integration - The Architechture of Health
David Lesondak
Fri/Sat AM & PM

Our posture, how we habitually hold our body, and the unrelenting force gravity exerts on our posture has much to do with our chronic pain patterns, performance issues and overall wellbeing.

Our posture, how we habitually hold our body, and the unrelenting force gravity exerts on our posture has much to do with our chronic pain patterns, performance issues and overall wellbeing.

Shape Matters - Many things serve to change and distort our shape: repetitive motions, accidents, chronic pain, poor ergonomics, adhesions from surgeries, ill-fitting shoes – just to name a few. Structural Integration can help you and your clients get into better "shape" – and stay that way.

In this 2 day course you will be introduced to the history basic principles of Structural Integration; appropriate fascial touch and the latest in fascial research; Biotensegrity as a model for human structure and the art and science of bodyreading* – a way to evaluate how your clients shape impacts their pain problems. You will learn new strategies that you can use to improve your clients results – regardless of your preferred technique.

*Please bring shorts, swimsuit, or modestly appropriate underwear.

Muscle Balance and Function Development® for Chronic Pain
Geoffrey Gluckman
Fri-Sun AM & PM

This course introduces practitioners to the fundamentals of the MBF® System. Through applying the basic concepts of physics to the human body, the system addresses the importance of center of gravity, segmental alignment, and how the planes of motion, right angle fundamentals, and muscular function affect overall posture, performance, and chronic and acute pain. Through lecture and hands-on practice with class attendees, participants are taught how to apply the principles to recognize muscular imbalances and compensated motion as well as properly sequence the correct exercises.

*Supplies required: goniometer, comfortable clothes

Pain, Stress, and Healing: Concepts, Principles, and Implications for Clinical Practice
Michael Epstein
Fri PM

We will review selected elements of healing, including breathwork, vocalization, creative expression, visualization, movement, relaxation and social support, and explore ways in which these simple elements can be incorporated into the therapeutic process. Central components of the healing process will also be discussed, including belief change, relaxation response, unblocking of energy, unlearning, ambiguity, paradox, cultivation of awareness, and psychophysical restructuring. This workshop will assist natural health practitioners in broadening their practical strategies for addressing chronic pain. A variety of interactive, participatory, and experiential activities will be employed.

Leadership, Change, and the Future of Healthcare: Implications for Natural Healthcare Practitioners
Michael Epstein
Sun AM

This interactive workshop will prepare natural health practitioners to function as effective change agents, in order to help shape and influence the future of healthcare in Canada. We will review practical strategies for building change leadership capacity in the natural health sector, through education, research, personal growth, professional development, marketing, communications and community engagement. Topics include: third party healthcare insurance, influence strategies, and community health planning, organizational change, occupational cultures, managing conflict, resistance to change, diffusion of innovation, and financial incentives. We will also identify strategies for promoting change by amplifying the patient’s VOICE: Values, Opinions, Intuition, Control and Empowerment.

Anatomy Review & Palpation
Robert Cross
Fri AM & PM

Palpation is one of the fundamental skills required for Massage Therapy and other body work modalities. Without being very familiar underlying structures a therapist cannot use their talents to the fullest. This one day workshop will cover the structure of the body focusing mainly on palpable structures. There will be alternating lecture and hands on palpation throughout the day focusing on muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and pulses. The workshop is designed for those who have knowledge of the body but wish to refresh and relearn the material. It would also be beneficial for those who want to further their knowledge of the subject.

Physiology & Homeostasis
Robert Cross
Sat AM & PM

In this workshop the concept of Homeostasis will be explored to fully understand how the body continually works to keep itself in balance. Basic homeostatic reflex loops will be discussed as well as muscle reflexes and the physiology of stretching. We will also discuss the structure of fascia and how it can limit movement and cause discomfort.

Kinesiology & Remedial Exercise
Robert Cross
Sun AM & PM

Central to any rehabilitation process is an understanding of how the body moves. There will be a half day lecture on the principles of movement and how it relates to therapy followed by a hands on clinic focusing on muscle length testing, Joint play techniques and Range of Motion exercises. All of these techniques can be used for a variety of conditions.

Myofascial Release for Headaches, Neck Pain, and TMJ Dysfunction
Dr. Hal Blatman
Sat All Day

In this one-day workshop, study new techniques on treating TMJ dysfunction, as well as reducing headaches and treating neck pain. Ergonomic and other perpetuating factors can keep your clients in a pain pattern. Participants will learn to examine the head, neck and TMJ structures for pain patterns and Myofascial Release techniques to treat those pains. You will also be introduced to TMJ techniques, through intra-oral work, that can be applied to clients suffering from a wide range of problems. This workshop will give you the ability to make your current treatment more effective. Dr Blatman’s unique approach to integrating techniques will help all practitioners whether your focus is massage therapy or energy work.

2009

Click an image below to see the entire photo from the 2009 Spring Conference in Edmonton, Alberta.