We offer our congratulations to the graduates of the 2015-16 Spirit of Learning® Teacher Certification Program. This 100-hour training has been offered at BTI since 1998 by Carey Smith and the Center for Embodied Teacher Education. These dedicated learners will take their new skills, knowledge and awareness into many areas of teaching and clinical practice.

Another cycle of The Spirit of Learning® will begin at BTI this September, and applications are being accepted now. Click here to receive your FREE CATALOG and application form.

FRONT ROW: Jill Peden, Angie Dix, Roxanne Cherpeske, Deanne DiGirolamo, Michele Casey, Carol Verner (Faculty). MIDDLE ROW: Jillian Diffenbaugh, Kelly Hankey, Diana Latendresse, Carey Smith (Faculty). BACK ROW: Megan Jones, Michael J. Savino, Margery Nelson Price, Matt Adams, Melinda Hunt, Debbie Blake-Knox, Karen Delahunty (Faculty).

Sara J. Clawson, a 2009 BTI graduate, was recently awarded a Hayes Fellowship from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. This $22,000 award will support Sara in her pursuit of a Doctoral degree in Kinesiology. She previously earned a Masters of Science in Sports Medicine from the School of Health and Human Performance at UNCG.

The Hayes Fellowship is one of the largest and most prestigious graduate awards given at UNCG, and is based on the student’s prior academic performance as well as recommendations from references.

Sara has focused her professional practice on Sports and Performance Massage. She is also an adjunct instructor of biomechanics at Greensboro College, and a continuing education presenter at BTI. She says, “When I’m not treating clients in my office or teaching, I’m out on the road traveling with TWENTY16 RideBiker Pro Cycling, a women’s UCI World Tour professional road cycling team based out of California. I serve as the team’s head soigneur, which is a position specific to cycling teams — it is essentially a combination of massage therapist, trainer, medic, nutritionist, chef, psychotherapist, chauffeur, and generally benevolent caretaker. Race horses have grooms; cyclists have soigneurs.”

We’re extremely proud of Sara’s achievements, and wish her continued success in her academic and clinical pursuits! Here’s an interview with her in a post from the UNCG Department of Kinesiology: http://kin.wp.uncg.edu/incoming-edd-student-sara-clawson-awarded-hayes-graduate-fellowship/

Join us in congratulating the dedicated professionals who recently completed BTI’s 100-hour Advanced Myofascial Therapy Certification Program, led by John McKelvey, MS, LMBT:
Seated, left to right: Jenn Browning, Brenda Howell, Jeanette Stephenson.
Standing: Jeffrey Beadle, Kindal McFayden Marshall, David Hamilton, Matt Steere (Teaching Assistant), John McKelvey, Keyu Kulla, Sara Spiker O’Quinn.

BTI is excited to again collaborate with leading clinicians and researchers from Duke Integrative Medicine to help members of the massage therapy community gain the knowledge and skills to participate in research and to collaborate with other health care providers in interdisciplinary settings. Learn how research can benefit your massage practice.

The gift of a Winter’s Rainbow…
This afternoon, at the end of a cold and rainy day at BTI, the sun broke through the clouds and illumined the meadow and tree line in stunning contrast. Slowly, a rainbow appeared and grew in intensity, with gossamer sheets of rain dancing around it. Awe-struck we were, watching this beauty unfold!

This comprehensive workshop will give you a detailed understanding of sport-specific assessment skills, indications and contraindications for common athletic injuries, and the use of biomechanics principles to help both amateur and professional athletes optimize their performance during training, competition, and the movements of everyday life.

Learn about the teachings of the ancient Hawaiian Healing Arts, and the true spirit of Aloha. These methods have been carried forward in an unbroken chain and are still used today by elders from the Big Island of Hawaii. Two-day intro class on Lomilomi massage, followed by two-day Advanced class for those who have studied with Pua Gillespie or other teachers.

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Along with her role as BTI’s Co-director, Carey Smith is a Master Somatic Coach and Director of the Center for Embodied Teacher Education. On December 14-16, she led a three-day training at BTI for the staff of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), entitled The Embodied Psychotherapist: Using Somatics in Everyday Counseling.

CAPS provides mental health services and support for all students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their staff includes psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers and psychology interns.

Carey designed and delivered this groundbreaking program with Allen O’Barr, MD, Psychiatrist and Director of CAPS, and Maureen Windle, PsyD, Psychologist and Clinical Director of CAPS.

The training drew upon the current interface between neuroscience and somatics that bridge the fields of mental health and body-oriented disciplines.

Over the three days, the participants explored somatic theory and practices that created greater experience of an embodied self. This allowed them to generate and incorporate new strategies to build greater confidence, capacity and satisfaction as a team in their work with students.

Carey reflected, “It was a great honor to be in the presence of professionals with such open minds and hearts. Their capacity to show up fully, work hard and laugh often created a learning environment filled with wholeness and vitality.”

Assisting in this training were Carol Verner, LMBT, Master Somatic Coach and Trainer for the Center for Embodied Teacher Education, and Emily O’Barr, LMBT, graduate of The Spirit of Learning® and former BTI faculty member.

(In the photo, from left to right: Carol Verner, Emily O’Barr, Carey Smith, Allen O’Barr, Maureen Windle.)

Sunday, January 10, 2016 | 2:00-4:00pm

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Featuring FREE seated massage & refreshments!

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• Enjoy the beauty of South Wind Farm, and experience the relaxing touch of massage therapy
• Faculty, staff and students will be on hand to talk about BTI’s renowned Massage Therapy Diploma Program, which will prepare you for a rewarding and meaningful career as a natural health professional
• Click here for Driving Directions to BTI
• No RSVP needed – we look forward to seeing you here!

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Special Bonus: those attending our open house will receive complimentary registration
for a one-day Introductory Massage Workshop at BTI (a $50 value).

BTI has another great year of workshops and advanced trainings in 2016 with some of the leading presenters in our field, including Tom Myers, Tracy Walton, Michael Shea, Claire Marie Miller and Ralph Stephens.

Many of our most popular courses will be offered again, along with nine new courses for your professional development. Expand your skills and knowledge while you get inspired and renewed by your time at our beautiful country campus.

As always, you can browse Workshops by MONTH, or Workshops by CATEGORY. Each course has its own page with complete description, learning objectives and presenter bio.

Get a 10% DISCOUNT on the cost of ALL 2016 continuing education workshops and advanced trainings at BTI. You must register and pay the FULL FEE by February 1, 2016. Click here for the details.

Ready to register? You can call the BTI Office at 919-663-3111, or use our secure ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM.