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Learn the fundamentals of deep tissue massage and develop practical skills for incorporating deeper techniques into massage therapy sessions. This 15-hour continuing education course introduces massage therapists to the principles of deep tissue massage, muscular anatomy, client positioning, body mechanics, contraindications, and the use of familiar massage strokes in deeper work.
Whether you are new to deep tissue massage or looking to strengthen your existing techniques, this course provides a foundation for understanding how deep tissue principles can be applied safely and effectively. Step-by-step instruction and more than one hour of online video demonstrations provide additional guidance for developing practical deep tissue techniques.
In this course, you will learn:
The definition, principles, and potential benefits of deep tissue massage
Muscular anatomy relevant to deep tissue massage
Client positioning for effective deep tissue bodywork
Proper therapist body mechanics and ergonomics
How pressure and technique can be adapted for deeper work
How effleurage, friction, and petrissage can be incorporated into deep tissue massage
Contraindications and safety considerations
Step-by-step deep tissue massage strokes and techniques
How to use different parts of the hands, forearms, and elbows during deep tissue work
Practical deep tissue techniques demonstrated through more than one hour of online video
Why take this course?
Deep tissue massage requires more than simply applying greater pressure. Understanding anatomy, client positioning, body mechanics, technique selection, and appropriate pressure can help massage therapists approach deeper work with greater control and awareness.
This comprehensive 15-hour course combines foundational instruction with step-by-step techniques and more than one hour of online video demonstrations. It is a useful option for massage therapists who want to develop their deep tissue skills, build on techniques they already know, and expand their professional massage therapy knowledge.
Define deep tissue massage and describe its fundamental principles and potential benefits.
Identify relevant muscular anatomy used in deep tissue massage.
Apply appropriate client positioning for deep tissue bodywork.
Demonstrate proper body mechanics and ergonomic principles when performing deeper techniques.
Identify contraindications and safety considerations associated with deep tissue massage.
Describe how effleurage, friction, and petrissage can be adapted for deep tissue work.
Identify appropriate deep tissue strokes and techniques for different areas of the body.
Apply deep tissue principles to develop more effective and informed massage therapy techniques.
Text: Deep Tissue Massage by Art Riggs, 263 pages
Course instruction guide
More than one hour of online deep tissue massage video demonstrations
86-question multiple-choice final exam
Course evaluation
Certificate of Achievement upon completion
Unlimited phone support for course-related questions
The Center for Massage Therapy Continuing Education, LLC is an Approved Provider through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); Approved Provider number 409296-00.
Our online massage continuing education courses are also accepted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and most state boards.
For more information on individual state requirements and approvals, please visit our Approvals page and click on your state.
I liked everything about the course. - Kari Mantini, LMT
I like that the course was clear and easy to understand. - C. Panera, LMT
The exam questions followed in order of the textbook. - Jamie Bernard, LMT
I liked that it used techniques I already know to form a deep tissue routine. I can begin incorporating techniques into my practice right away. - B. Harding, LMT
Deep tissue strokes are performed with:
A. Fingers and knuckles
B. Forearms and elbows
C. Fists
D. All of the above
Tightness in the upper chest can cause:
A. Strain in the upper back
B. Tightness in the neck
C. Strain in the quadratus lumborum
D. Strain in the abdominal muscles
Flexing the client’s wrist while treating the wrist extensors will:
A. Place the wrist extensors in a stretched position
B. Place the wrist flexors in a stretched position
C. Place the triceps in a stretched position
D. Place the biceps in a stretched position
Course Author
About the Instructor
Art Riggs, LMT
Art Riggs is a Certified Advanced Rolfer® and massage therapist who has taught bodywork since 1988. He leveraged his extensive experience to create myofascial release videos and manuals for therapists worldwide.
A lifetime of hard physical activity and high-level athletic pursuits, including ultra-marathons, introduced Art to bodywork, first as a grateful recipient and later as a student. The fulfillment of receiving and performing bodywork led him away from his graduate studies in Exercise Physiology at the University of California, Berkeley, to a full-time career as a Rolfer and deep tissue massage teacher. He has conducted numerous workshops for health spas and medical professionals, including physical therapists, and has assisted in Rolf Institute training.
