Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/885423
EDUCATION INSPIRATION Q&A Who is Erik Dalton, the bodyworker? My college years were devoted to psychology and drumming in a rock 'n' roll band, but after attending an Ida Rolf presentation at the Esalen Institute, I was hooked on bodywork. There is nothing more exhilarating than the ability to help people using only your hands. That's why, in 1998, I introduced the fi rst state and nationally approved home- study course, "Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (MAT)." To my pleasant surprise, the program was immediately successful, and students quickly demanded more. In response, I decided to organize all I'd learned through years of study and practice into a full training curriculum, licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools and named the Freedom From Pain Institute. What's new with the Freedom From Pain Institute? With the completion of our new "Art of MAT" fi ve-piece home-study and e-learning course, we're thrilled to offer the long-awaited Master Myoskeletal Therapist (MMT) certifi cation, which includes a teachers- in-training program. Currently, we have nine highly skilled instructors conducting live MAT workshops internationally, and in late November, I'll teach my 18th annual "Pain Management in Paradise" retreat in San Jose, Costa Rica. We've also been doing a lot of fi lming for our upcoming online "technique-only" subscription service with special guests Paul Kelly, Nick Cress, Michelle Mokracek, and James Waslaski. What are you most proud of in your career? My greatest joy has come from working with and learning from clients for the past 38 years. No teachers, books, or research conferences can take the place of the things I've learned in my full-time bodywork practice. I love teaching and am proud of my three textbooks and numerous technique videos, but my deepest satisfaction comes from getting to know people and helping them resolve their chronic pain and injury problems. What's your primary concern relative to today's massage therapy profession? I would like to see more young educators, especially women, rise up through the ranks. Also, although I really like communicating and keeping up with my bodywork friends on social media and sharing new relevant research, I fear we may be sacrifi cing expression of our personal clinical fi ndings for fear of evidence-based rebuttal. It's exciting to see a trend toward science-based methodology, but the pendulum must not swing so far as to impede fresh, creative clinical ideas from bright young minds. On a positive note, I'm very impressed with the hands-on skill set I'm seeing recently in my MAT workshops, which tells me massage schools may be doing a better job in basic curriculum. What are you most excited about? What inspires you? I'm most excited about spending more time at my Costa Rica home, working on a new book, hiking with my wife and spoiled dogs, and upgrading my snorkeling skills. I've set up a video studio on my terrace, so when I run across an unusual client case I can quickly get it on fi lm. There just isn't enough time in the day to list all the things I'm passionate about when it comes to touch therapy. That's the wonderful thing about this work— never a dull moment. Just when you think you've seen it all, boom! Erik Dalton Founder of the Freedom From Pain Institute sponsored by "I would like to see more young educators, especially women, rise up through the ranks." SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION