Recent Podcast Interview with Erik Dalton
Q: Erik, you were one of the first home-study CE providers. What inspired you to create a distance learning program?
A: In my early days as an instructor, I often overheard workshop participants complain about the difficulties in obtaining education credits required for state and national licensing. Time, distance, and cost appeared to be the most common obstacles for those bodyworkers dedicated to learning more to provide the best quality care to their clients.
But, I wasn’t convinced manual therapy could be taught effectively outside a supervised setting so I decided to experiment by enrolling in the first post-grad Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine on-line training. To say it was a delightful learning experience is an understatement. The ability to manage my time, practice with the videos, and focus on technical concepts was an inspiration that, I believe, made me a better therapist. So, in my spare time, I began organizing notes from my Rolfing® and osteopathic studies and integrating them with the teachings of Vladimir Janda and named this collection of work, Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques.
In 1998 my initial home study course was formally released at a 4-State AMTA Convention and, at the time, was one of the only nationally approved programs that included hands-on videos, assessment manual, illustrated technique manual, and ethics course. Since that time, three other home-study courses have been released through the Freedom From Pain Institute, and I’m pleased to say it’s been a passionate and worthwhile endeavor.
Q: What do the Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques courses teach and what are the advantages for massage therapists?
A: The Myoskeletal Alignment home study courses teach practical approaches for finding and fixing chronic pain problems through deep-tissue, joint stretching and postural therapeutic routines. Designed for today’s massage, sports, pain management, and functional movement professionals, these popular distance-learning programs provide “Certified Myoskeletal Therapist” credentials that set massage therapists apart in the eyes of clients and referral sources.
Upon successful completion of each home-study course, participants receive a diploma of certification in addition to having their contact information added to our approved provider list on the highly ranked Google site www.ErikDalton.com. The Freedom from Pain Institute is an approved CE provider for online and live seminars. Our mission is to enhance skills, improve outcomes, and help build successful practices. Join our 13,000 massage therapy friends on Facebook’s “Erik Dalton Myoskeletal Therapy” page which is full of interactive instruction along with practice-building tips.
