Continuing Education

In Spring 2023, having studied extensively with her mentor, Claire Marie Miller, Devon Mitchell began teaching specialized Massage Therapy courses for Continuing Education.

Continuing Education Courses

Nurturing the Mother®

Nurturing the Mother® has certified 1000s of massage therapists in pregnancy and postpartum massage since 1990. This method utilizes a comfortable, secure side-lying position to avoid undue pressure on a growing abdomen and the lower back. Mothers are completely supported by pillows, keeping hip, knee and ankle on the same level to avoid pulling on the sacroiliac joint and to maximize blood and lymph circulation. Side-lying is the safest for mother and baby, and educates the client about the ideal sleeping position.

This Nurturing the Mother® protocol uses a combination of the following methods:

• Calming Swedish massage strokes for deep muscle relaxation, tension release and increased circulation.

• Gentle range-of-motion and stretching movements to relieve pressure through neck, shoulders, rib cage, lower back and hips, and to promote greater strength, flexibility and balance

• Deep tissue work in the hip and gluteal area to help alleviate chronic lower back and hip pain.

• Abdominal massage for round ligament pain, to support digestion, increase circulation to the placenta and baby and to increase awareness of the baby. The baby will feel and benefit from the massage.

• Lymph drainage strokes to reduce pregnancy induced edema.

• Cranial-sacral and polarity therapy for physical/psychological/emotional/spiritual centering.

• Acupressure and reflexology techniques shown to be effective in treating many common pregnancy related complaints

Integrative Reflexology®

Integrative Reflexology® is a foot and hand reflexology training that is designed to be a modality of massage and bodywork therapies. The Integrative Reflexology® method is a whole-hand technique that is easier for the therapists to give and more enjoyable for the client to receive.

In this foundational certification course you will learn the basic techniques of foot and hand reflexology through the 4-Theory Approach. The four theories include Structural Alignment Theory, Zone Theory, Meridian Theory and Psychoneuroimmunology Theory.

Benefits of an Integrative Reflexology® session:

• A deeply relaxing and therapeutic response.

• Increased digestive response and constipation relief.

• Sinus drainage, perhaps while still in the session.

• Decreased bronchi and lung congestion.

• Endocrine stimulation

• Organ stimulation

• Uterine reflex stimulation can help to bring on overdue babies or late menses.

• Uterine reflex stimulation will also relieve some of the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

• Reduced muscular tension in the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, sciatic area and spine.

• Reduced swelling in the feet and lower limbs.

• Increased lymphatic, nerve and blood circulation.

• Kidney stones have been reported to pass with the stimulation of the kidney reflexes.

• Many clients report they are as relaxed as if they had a full body massage.

Nurturing the Mother® Wise Woman Menopause Massage

The Nurturing the Mother® Wise Woman Menopause Massage class is a delightful, fun and informative workshop to learn techniques and protocol for therapeutic massage in support of the powerful life changes a woman experiences in her peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopausal stages. During this time in a woman’s life she can take charge of her body again, after decades of giving to her family and career. Women’s healthcare, especially for the aging female, is largely under-researched and unable to provide effective techniques for women to cope with their changing bodies. This course will support the massage therapist in educating the client, along with addressing her areas of concern that may have largely been overlooked by most healthcare practitioners.

The symptoms addressed are:

• Hot flashes

• Mood swings

• Loss of sleep

• Breast health

• Cardiovascular health

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Bladder control

• Memory loss 

To schedule a training for your spa, practice, or school, inquire with Devon Mitchell directly:

Devon@journeyofblisswellness.com