BTI founder and co-director Rick Rosen attended a gathering of the seven primary organizations that comprise the massage therapy profession. This meeting was held in St. Louis on September 13-14, and was called to identify and focus on solutions to the most significant challenges that are limiting the ability of the massage therapy profession to move forward in its evolution.

Rick was there in his role as Executive Director of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, an organization that serves as the voice, advocate and resource for massage schools, teachers and continuing education providers. The other organizations represented at this meeting were: American Massage Therapy Association, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, Massage Therapy Foundation, and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. It was the first time all seven of these groups have come together for a common purpose.

The meeting was positive, powerful and highly productive. This historic event took place just a few hundred yards from the iconic Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River, which commemorates the expedition of Lewis & Clark and the western expansion of the United States. The explorers’ spirit of “going where no one has gone before” was palpable during the Summit.

Left to right: Ruth Werner (MT Foundation), Shelly Johnson (AMTA), Rick Rosen (AFMTE), Glenath Moyle (AMTA), Randy Swenson (COMTA), Debra Persinger (FSMTB), Bob Benson (ABMP), Kate Zulaski (COMTA), Paul Lindamood (NCBTMB), Pete Whitridge (AFMTE), Les Sweeney (ABMP), Alexa Zaledonis (NCBTMB)

BTI Co-director Carey Smith was recently inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame at the 2011 World Massage Festival. At the ceremony held in Cullowhee, North Carolina on July 16, Carey was honored and acknowledged for the many contributions she has made to the massage therapy field.

As a pioneer in the area of teacher training and professional development, Carey was the 2009 recipient of the AMTA National Teacher of the Year Award.

BTI’s students, staff and faculty are proud of Carey, and congratulate her on this much-deserved honor!

Carey Smith, BTI Co-Director, is presenting an art show and sale entitled

Body, Earth & Imagination

This interactive event will be held at the classroom building at South Wind Farm on
Saturday, April 30 from 11:00am-5:00pm, and
Sunday, May 1 from 1:00-5:00pm.

The show will feature new original works that blend mixed media, archetypal themes, poetry and found objects from nature. The theme of this show is the healing and generative relationship between the human body and the natural world. In addition, there will be works displayed from Carey’s 2006-07 art show, Awakening Wisdom.

The event will also offer interactive art making, live piano music, and a Q&A session each day with Carey and her art teacher Sue Anderson. They will be discussing the transformative process of art and learning.

Many of Carey’s original pieces will be available for purchase, as well as archival Gicleé prints. [Click here to preview some of them.] Copies of her book, Awakening Wisdom: Exploring the confluence between Learning, Healing and Creativity will be available. This book, published in 2006, documents the developmental process that gave rise to this show.

The show will be at the Body Therapy Institute
300 Southwind Road, Siler City, NC 27344

Click here for driving directions to BTI