a community of practitioners

Where did you receive your MFR training?

There seems to be a diverse collection of people on this MFR Group. I was curious as to where each of you trained?

Mine was primarily through Barnes, but with others trainings through Upledger. Started this work in 1992, completing through Barnes' advance level, then worked as an instructor with him for 10 years. My practice is 100% MFR in a sole practitioner outpatient setting.

I'd love to hear other people's stories.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jonathan L. Sullivan on March 12, 2010 at 9:22am

Hi Walt,
i've trained with Barnes('90 MFR 1 (twice), Fascial Pelvis,Cervical), Upledger (CST1), and Boehme (for Pedi mfr), among a diverse range of other approaches like St. John NMT, Advanced NMT, Thai, and SomaZen. Also i've gained my Certification through the DayBreak Geriatric Massage Institute. These in addition to the advanced trainings i attended as an Occupational Therapist Ass't. for many years, like caring for clients with cancer. I've received lots of Rolfing, Aston Patterning, Zero balancing, Zen Shiatsu, Ashiatsu and other techniques over the years myself. My practice is mostly solo, though i do contract sometimes to cover folks when i'm out of pocket, and occasionally invite therapists to provide tandem mfr sessions with me for special cases. Currently my youngest client is 2 y.o., my oldest is 104 this year, and i have dozens of clients i've had for 10yrs or more at varying frequencies of treatment from 3 days a week to weekly to monthly, and even some that only come see me on their birthdays, or after occurrences of injury. This week i've had a varied range of new clients including 28 yr old profoundly affected adult with Cerebral Palsy, and a mom and dad with their autistic child. i hope your experience in our field has been as rewarding as i feel mine has. Don't we have the best work there is?
Now, tell me about any office help you've acquired, as i am in need of part time assistance, how did you find some dependable help?

Permalink Reply by Walt Fritz, PT on March 12, 2010 at 9:58am

Jonathan,

Yes, I do feel that we have the best work, though I certainly have a bias!

Thus far I manage to work solo, with no office help. Though with my practice, website duties, and expanding seminar teachings, it does become a struggle that I can see the need for assistance in the near future.

Permalink Reply by Marion McCall on March 12, 2010 at 11:07am

I have taken 10 Barnes seminars (some twice) but probably won't take more as I am not so keen on the "out there" stuff that especially show up in the more advanced seminars. I have also taken one Upledger course and Walt's seminars and peer training with Walt too. Walt's seminars are more down to earth.

I also have acupuncture, reflexology and chair massage training. Myofascial release is my passion and what I do the most. and I love to teach it too. To watch someone "get it" for the first time is very rewarding.

If you want to enhance your myofascial release skills, go and take some one on one peer training with Walt. You will not regret it!

Permalink Reply by Walt Fritz, PT on March 12, 2010 at 11:17am

Thanks, Marion! Nice to hear from you.

Permalink Reply by Antonia Nelson on March 12, 2010 at 11:27am

Hi Walt,
I also started trainings with John Barnes in l992., continued and have assisted with courses and worked at Therapy on The Rocks for l l/2 years. I LOVE working with clients using Myofascial Release, I have a client who calls it the "cadillac" of bodywork! Classes with Upledger, Judith Aston, Structural Integration, The Way of the Heart, been a full 30 years and looking forward to the next 30!
have had a private practice for 30 years

Permalink Reply by Janet on July 15, 2010 at 10:58pm

I took Barnes' Pediatric Intro. last year and have now taken over 100 hours of MFR course work from one of his advanced students at Hands on Healing Institute in Tujunga, California. I prefer it so much more. The instructor, Francis has gleaned so much from over a decade of seminars and work. We get what she didn't get in her first couple of years, and with so much more personalized attention. Also, she has created classes that are region and condition specific. Some are listed here: http://www.gotohhi.org/fofclasses.html

Permalink Reply by Walt Fritz, PT on July 16, 2010 at 6:17am

Janet,
I am not familiar with Frances Nicolais, but I do know Lori Zeltwanger, who co-teaches one of the classes on the link you mentioned. She is an excellent, experienced teacher and therapist. Frances seems to have a wonderfully comprehensive class listing.

There are so many wonderful approaches to MFR and, despite what some say, there is no one form of "true" MFR. Marketing realities dictate branding yourself as something superior. I get it, but it is simply untrue.

Walt Fritz, PT
www.MyofascialResource.com

Permalink Reply by Janet on July 16, 2010 at 8:15pm

Whenever I see marketing that brands something or someone as superior it turns me off. True MFR is when fascia is released. I believe optimum wellness is synergistic. You may need a team of different types of facilitators to get farther along in your process. One of them is not superior to the other.

I am only a facilitator of wellness. I don't heal. In the same vein, I can only facilitate enlightenment. If someone can't see what I see, it is just where they are at in their journey, and I can't criticize them for their perspective or think of myself as superior in any way. Some people however, feel the need to be associated with someone or something that can transcend the way they feel. Some grow out of it and some become disenchanted.

Permalink Reply by Walt Fritz, PT on July 17, 2010 at 2:01pm

Well said.

The disenchantment often stems from seeing the limitations in being a part of a group that allows little space to truly grow.

Walt Fritz, PT
www.MyofascialResource.com

Permalink Reply by Janet on July 17, 2010 at 3:52pm

Now I understand it a little better.

Permalink Reply by Jessica Weagle on July 21, 2010 at 6:14am

http://www.howardrontal.com/

I am in the processes with my training now. I choose Howard bc I knew Howard was going to be the one teaching the class. And I wanted a training that was coming straight from the horses mouth. At some point I will take some classes from Barnes & Dalton

Permalink Reply by Frances Nicolais on July 22, 2010 at 11:05pm

I am a very grateful MFR therapist, with my MFR training through the Barnes seminars (over 400 hours), but I have taken some Craniosacral classes by someone who taught through Upledger and took the first Visceral Manipulation seminar through Barral. I am the owner of the Myofascial Release Center in Glendale, CA, and I have several other MFR therapists working there with me. I feel absolutely blessed to be able to facilitate people's choice to heal on this level, and look forward to networking with other MFR therapists around the country!