Sign-up early and save! Take advantage of early registration discounts and guarantee your opportunity to study with Ralph.

All courses taught in person by Ralph R. Stephens.

Class sizes are limited.

Custom programs can be created for your staff, school or organization.

Participants receive significant discounts on Ralph's videos and Body Cushion Systems at all Ralph Stephens Seminars!!

Dates are subject to change - Please call to confirm before traveling.

About Ralph Stephens Seminars

Ralph R. Stephens is an internationally recognized instructor, author and video producer, and has been a popular presenter at state, regional and national massage therapy meetings for more then 15 years. He has a bachelor's degree in education from Iowa State University and graduated from New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics as a Natural Therapeutics Specialist. He is an Iowa and a New Mexico Licensed Massage Therapist, is past chair of the Iowa Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, and was awarded the AMTA National Meritorious Award in 1997. Ralph is a 2008 Inductee in the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. He is the author of Therapeutic Chair Massage, published in 2005 by Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

He was the first to adapt anatomically specific massage and stretching techniques to the seated position, and is currently specializing in Medical Massage and Seated Therapeutic Massage. In addition, he has produced 15 training videos and written numerous articles and chapters for magazines and textbooks. Ralph is a friendly, dynamic, inspiring instructor known for his entertaining delivery style that makes learning easy and enjoyable. He lives in Coralville (Iowa City) IA., and relaxes by playing golf, drumming, doing Yoga, and meditating.

All seminars are Approved CEU's

Ralph R. Stephens is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider, # 037587-00, since 1996.

Seminar descriptions are listed one after another. Keep scrolling until you find the course you want. The order is:

Medical Massage Certification Course
Medical Massage Courses
Seated Massage Courses
Sports Massage Course
Others

Medical Massage Certification Program

A 100-hour training with Ralph Stephens, LMT

In this comprehensive 100-hour program, therapist and author Ralph Stephens presents a powerful and highly effective clinical approach that will enable you to help your clients with a wide range of musculoskeletal problems.

Explanations of postural distortion, including common postural syndromes and conditions in each body region will be presented. Assessment techniques will be demonstrated, followed by specific massage and stretching techniques which will enable the therapist to address the abnormal and dysfunctional tissues. Learn why it is so important to work on the "other side of the pain" and the most efficient, yet gentle ways to do it.

Module 1:
Assessment & Treatment of the Cervical, Lumbar and Pelvic Regions

Module 2
Assessment & Treatment of the Abdominal Wall, Shoulder Girdle and Upper Extremity

Module 3
Assessment & Treatment of the Lower Extremity, plus Side-Lying Strategies

This program includes 63 hours of in-class instruction, delivered in three separate modules. For those who wish to pursue certification, there are 37 hours of required out-of-class assignments and treatment documentation. This work will give you the opportunity to put the theory and methods into practice, and to get feedback from Ralph in this process.

This 3 -seminar certification program is available in NC, OH, & NJ. Each 3-day continuing education seminar is 21 contact hours.

Flexible Training Format—You can progress through these modules in any order — and you can register for them individually, or together as a program for a significant savings.

You will receive award certification upon completion of all required course work and you will be required to pay an additional $150 certification fee. You will receive ongoing continuing education documentation after the end of each module.

Comments from graduates of the 2006 Medical Massage Certification Program

"I have incorporated these methods into my work in a busy physical therapy clinic; my clients note a significant reduction in pain and symptoms as a result."
"Ralph is a phenomenal teacher... he has a wonderful sense of humor, is down-to-earth and has so much information to share. He is an encyclopedia of massage techniques."
"These three classes have given me a quicker and more effective way to treat my clients' conditions."
"Not only have I gained confidence and a whole new level of specific knowledge, I can now look at specific complaints at a holistic level throughout the body... I'm gaining a whole new base of clients who are looking for pain relief and real results."

Program Cost: Cost is $450 per workshop if registered individually. The cost for all three modules when paid at the beginning is $1150 — a savings of $200.

Individual Medical Massage Courses

Ralph's Medical Massage courses are one-day education modules, each covering a specific area of the body ( except the certification program modules ). They are sometimes offered as single day courses which are 7 to 8.5 hours in length. Other times they are packaged together as an intensive, most commonly as a 2 day course of 14 to 16 hours. Longer intensives are available each summer, as in Hawaii in 2008. The courses may be taken in any order. Some of the most popular combinations are:

Medical Massage for the Lumbar/Pelvis and the Cervical Region
The Essential Course for Medical Massage Therapists
Medical Massage for the Abdominal Wall and The Shoulder Girdle
The "El Torso Courso"
Medical Massage for the Lumbar/Pelvis Region and the Abdominal Wall
The Ultimate Low Back Course
Medical Massage for the Upper Extremity/Carpal Tunnel and the Knee, Leg, Ankle, & Foot
"The Extremity Extravaganza"

Medical Massage for the Lumbar/Pelvic and Cervical Regions—16 hours CEUs

"The Essential Course for Medical Massage Therapists - Low Back & Neck!"

This 2-day seminar includes:

Posture Analysis - with emphasis placed on assessing the pelvis, low back and over pronation.
Posterior Lumbar (low back) (now available on video & DVD)
Thigh & Hip (available on video & DVD)
Cervical Region (now available on video & DVD)

This is one great course! Posture analysis places emphasis on assessment of the pelvis, reading pelvic landmarks and learning their significance. Assessment and correction of functional long leg is presented. The postural components of the pronation syndrome is also covered.

All postural muscles (except abdominals) that attach to the pelvis are studied and examined, with emphasis on postural correction and pain reduction. Examination, treatment and stretching are presented for each muscle.

Entire cervical region, posterior, lateral, and anterior is studied and examined, including the anterior muscles like longus coli, scalenes, SCM and hyoids. This is the routine shown on the Medical Massage for the Cervical Region video. It's awesome!

Sometimes presented as separate, one day courses.

Lumbar/Pelvis course is often combined with the Abdominal Wall Program. (See below)

Medical Massage for the Abdominal Wall—8.5 hour CEUs

The information and techniques most therapist are missing

One full day is spent studying and working the Abdominal Wall, anterior, posterior, and lateral; both superficial and deep. Yes, Psoas too! You will learn why it so important to work "The Wall," which is one of the most under treated muscle groups of the body. Pain complaints caused by these tissues will be presented in detail along with how the abdominal wall musculature affects posture, athletic performance and distant joints like the shoulder. 30% lecture-70% hands-on. A variety of modalities will be presented to give you the best ways to examine and treat this region.

Participants should bring Body Cushions if they have them or three pillows (bolsters), shorts, sports bra or equivalent (female), lubricant and massage table.

More Medical Massage courses are available for every major body area including:

Knee Leg, Ankle, Foot — "The Plantar Fasciitis Course"—7.5 hours CEUs

An awesome course - all muscles from the knee down are addresses. Ligament structures of the knee and ankle are covered. Learn how to treat knee and ankle sprains, hammer toes, bunions, plantar fasciitis, and other common complaints of this area.

Includes Active Isolated Stretching — Mattes Method© routine for the entire foot and for the leg, PLUS — Active Isolated Strengthening - Mattes Method© routines for the foot and ankle.

Lower Extremity—8.5 hours CEUs

A comprehensive course on the lower extremity. Excellent for athletes and athletic injuries of these areas. Applies to "couch potatoes" as well. Covers ankle, leg, knee, thigh and hip in prone and supine positions. Includes some Active Isolated Stretching - Mattes Method© for this region.

(available on video: Therapeutic Sports Massage for the Lower Extremity)

Shoulder Girdle: Anterior and Posterior Shoulder Girdle and the Rotator Cuff—7.5 hours CEUs

Includes Active Isolated Stretching - Mattes Method© routine for the shoulder.

Available on video & DVD - Seated Therapeutic Massage, Vol. 2 - Shoulder

Therapeutic Side Lying Massage—7.5 hour CEUs

Ralph's ONLY full body course - ankle to occiput!

This day is spent working in the side lying position. Positioning, bolstering and draping are presented. Areas covered include the ankle, leg, knee, thigh, hip, abdominal wall, back, ribcage, shoulder and neck. This is excellent work for athletes and will also help you better treat special needs patients and pregnant women. 10% lecture, 90% hands on.

This course is often presented in segments for conventions. Lower extremity is 4 hours, Torso is 2 hours, Cervical regions is 1.5 hours.

Available on video & DVD - Therapeutic Side-Lying Massage

Participants should bring Body Cushions if they have them or three pillows (bolsters), shorts, sports bra (female), lubricant and massage table.

Upper Extremity/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - forearm, wrist, hand, carpal tunnel, tennis & golfer's elbow; Deltoid to fingertips;

This is a GREAT self-help course for Massage Therapists to prevent or treat over-use injuries of the upper extremity. Take this course to help yourself as well as to help your patients!!

NOTE: Shorter versions of these courses are sometimes offered for meetings or special situations.

Seated Therapeutic Massage—16 hours CEUs

This entire course will be presented at: The 2007 AMTA - Fl Convention in Orlando, FL — February 26 - 27, 2007

2 day program. A complete course in seated massage. This is the course you need to take to move your seated massage practice to the next level of success! Covers all material on all three best selling Seated Therapeutic Massage videos, plus more stretches, more muscles, more promotional tips, and supervised, timed, practice sessions.

Participants receive significant discounts on Videos and Golden Ratio Quik-Lite Massage Chairs.

NOTE: This course may be broken into shorter segments for conventions or special promotions. For example, in 2005, Ralph will be presenting a 4 hour segment on Forearm, Wrist, and Hand from the Volume 3 video for the New England Regional Conference, The International Spa Show in Las Vegas, and the AMTA National Convention in Albuquerque. See schedule for dates and contact information.

Short programs include:

Back & Neck - 4 hours
Shoulder - 4 hours
Forearm, Wrist & Hand/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - 4 hours

NOTE: Massage Chair or other seated system needed. Bring yours if you have one. Pillows will be provided for those without a chair or system.

Theory and Practice of Event Sports Massage—8.5 hours CEUs

In this course you will learn:

Each stroke used in the Sports Massage System, how each stroke affects the body and the nervous system and when to use each stroke.
Proper working postures, therapist body-mechanics and correct hand and thumb techniques will be emphasized.
Techniques for managing cramps and thermal injuries
You will study, give, and receive 12 minute Pre-Event and Post Event treatments as well as a short inter-competition routine.

Note: The information is this seminar is condensed in theEvent Sports Massage video; bring shorts, sports bra, lubricant, linens and table.

Other Courses:

Ralph has courses available on:

Trigger Point Therapy
Business Promotion
Cranial Pain - Headache and Face Pain

Ralph can create a special course for your meeting, school, or staff. Call and ask about custom courses—1-888-570-9040