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Til Luchau

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The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner162: AI in Massage: Thinking Partner, Threat, or Crutch? (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)🎙 AI in Massage: Thinking Partner, Threat, or Crutch? Is artificial intelligence coming for your massage practice? Not the way you might think. In this episode, Til and Whitney dive into the rapidly evolving world of AI — exploring where it genuinely helps manual therapists, where it falls short, and why the human elements of touch, presence, and clinical reasoning remain irreplaceable. From AI-generated anatomical images with mysterious octopus tentacles to "massage robots" that feel like being rubbed by a cow, they share their own experiences with these tools and separate the hype from the helpful. Whitney unvei...
2026-01-2149 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner161: Science, Skepticism, & Keeping Heart (with Paul Ingraham)🎙 Science, Skepticism, & Keeping Heart (with Paul Ingraham) What happens when a former massage therapist turns a skeptical eye on his own profession and starts asking uncomfortable questions about pain science and manual therapy? You get Paul Ingraham of PainScience.com — a writer whose work has challenged, irritated, and influenced practitioners in equal measure. In this episode, Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe sit down with Paul to explore how clinicians can think clearly in a field crowded with confident claims, competing models, and stories that feel true even when the evidence is thin. The conversation doesn’t shy a...
2026-01-0757 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner160: 5 Years & Half a Million Downloads: Your Favorite Episodes & Ours (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)🎙 5 Years of The Thinking Practitioner: Our Favorites & Top 5 Most Popular Episodes It's been 5 years since we launched The Thinking Practitioner — with over half a million downloads and 130,000 unique listeners along the way. In this special retrospective episode, Til and Whitney look back at personal favorites that shaped their own thinking, then count down the top 5 most-listened episodes of all time. What stands out? A clear shift from tissue-focused to nervous-system-first thinking. Ideas about consent, context, and the client experience that once felt radical now feel like common sense. And the conversations that resonated most? They're about...
2025-12-2441 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner158: Is Your Work Valuable? (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)🎙 Is Your Work Valuable? The Psychology of Perceived Value in Hands-On Practice What makes clients value your work — and come back for more? Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe explore the results of a survey of over 2,000 practitioners to uncover the surprising psychology behind perceived value. Spoiler: it's not just about results or price. Value is created in a reciprocal feedback loop between practitioner and client — shaped by confidence, preparation, communication, boundaries, and dozens of subtle signals clients pick up (consciously or not). In this episode, they discuss: - The "chicken-and-egg" relationship between value pe...
2025-11-2648 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner154: Sacroiliac Joints: The Next Level (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe) Listener Favorite! 🎙Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe go deep into the sacroiliac (SI) joints in this listener-favorite rebroadcast of Episode 74, where they unpack anatomy, mechanics, assessment controversies, and treatment strategies. From the relationship between pain, stability, and mobility, to ligamentous support, gait mechanics, and the limits of positional models, they offer both clinical clarity and practical takeaways. Along the way, they share road stories, podcast crossovers, and resources for further learning. 🎧 Listen in for evidence-based insights, hands-on strategies, and nuanced discussion that balances analytical precision with experiential wisdom. 👉Thailand Retreat 2026 Join Til and friends for Finding Balance...
2025-10-011h 03The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner153: Conversations from the 7th Fascial Research Congress (with Robert Schleip, Gil Hedley, & more) 🎙In this special episode recorded live at the 7th International Fascial Research Congress in New Orleans, Til Luchau gathers conversations with leading researchers, educators, and practitioners from around the world. From collagen synthesis breakthroughs to fascia typologies, scar tissue management, mental imagery, and integrative perspectives on touch and movement, this episode captures the excitement and connections at the forefront of fascia research. 🔍Interviews by Time Code: •01:04 — Robert Schleip: Conference spirit, collagen synthesis, ultrasound, and vagus–immune connections •10:01 — Cathy Ryan: Scar tissue management, bridging research and practice, teaching with Healwell & Advanced-Trainings.com •13:45 — Gavin Ruiz: A first-time attendee’s perspective, tendon...
2025-09-1744 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner152. Does Pressure Matter? What the Research Says (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe) 🎙In this intriguing episode, Til and Whitney dig into a recent study that tested the effects of pressure in myofascial release—comparing a traditional pressure-based technique with a light-touch "sham" version. The study measured changes in pain sensitivity, neck mobility, and proprioception. What did the study find? And what can that teach us about technique, touch, and the therapeutic encounter? Join us as we unpack the design, outcomes, and broader implications of this fascinating study—and reflect on what really makes manual therapy effective. 🔍 Key Topics: 00:47 - Study Introduction - Exploring immediate effects of suboccipit...
2025-09-0336 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner148: The Vagus Nerve: Buzzword or Biology? (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe) 🎙From “vagal push-ups” to inflammation to trauma healing, the vagus nerve is everywhere in bodywork and wellness talk—but what does the science actually say? And more importantly, what does this mean in actual practice? In this episode, Til and Whitney take a grounded, myth-busting look at the vagus nerve’s role in health, relaxation, and hands-on practice. They explore what we can clearly influence through bodywork, what’s misunderstood, and how to work with and think about this vital nerve in our hands-on practices. 🔍 Key Topics: 0:01:50 Introduction to the vagus nerve 0:02:0...
2025-07-0954 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner[Class Announcement Episode!] Leg Knee & Foot Masterclass (Thomas Myers with Til Luchau) 🎙In this special mini-episode, Til Luchau previews his upcoming Leg, Knee & Foot Masterclass (August 17–19, 2025 in Walpole, Maine) while catching up with his longtime friend and colleague Thomas Myers, founder of Anatomy Trains and host of the Anatomy Trains Summer Program.  Together, they reflect on: How their teaching—and their excitement for it—has evolved Why the leg, knee, and foot deserve more focused attention The meaning of mastery after decades in the field The value of proprioception and embodied experience in our work How hands-on practice helps restore a...
2025-06-1815 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner146: Inflammation, Touch, & the Grieving Body (with Mary-Frances O’Connor) 🎙Grief is not just an emotion—it’s a full-body experience. In this episode, Til Luchau talks with neuroscientist and psychologist Mary-Frances O’Connor, author of The Grieving Body, about how grief changes the brain, affects inflammation, and alters our physiology. They explore how attachment loss rewires the brain, how inflammatory responses shape behavior and mood, and how the body experiences grief via physical sensations. They also discuss the role of touch, bodywork, and therapeutic presence in supporting people through grief, and together they reflect on the profound connections between grief, the body, and the healing power of...
2025-06-1156 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner145: Can Discs Heal? (with Stuart McGill) 🎙 World-renowned spine expert Dr. Stuart McGill returns for a deep dive into the complexities of disc healing and adaptation, back pain mechanics, and what manual and movement therapists need to understand about spinal loading, adaptation, and practitioner longevity. In this rich and wide-ranging conversation with Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe, Dr. McGill offers both cutting-edge science and practical insights for helping clients—and ourselves—move with more strength, resilience, and less pain. 🔍 Key Topics: (04:43) Can Discs Heal or Adapt? – What the science says about disc recovery and tissue response. (09:47) Posture vs. Load-Driven Pain – Simple tests to dif...
2025-05-281h 11The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner142: Fascia and the Vagus Nerve (with Fabiana Silva) 🎙Til Luchau speaks with physiotherapist and fascia researcher Fabiana Silva about the emerging connections between fascia, the vagus nerve, and systemic inflammation. They explore both the science and the practical applications of manual therapy, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, and the challenges of clinical research in the hands-on healing arts. Fabiana is also the President of the Fascia Research Society, and shares highlights from the upcoming 2025 Fascia Research Congress in New Orleans. 🎧 Tune in to learn how fascia influences vagal tone, inflammation, mood, and more — and how practitioners can work more effectively with these systems. 🌟 Key Topics:...
2025-04-1645 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner140: Embodied Attention: Contact Improvisation and Bodywork (with Nita Little) 🎙How does touch shape our perception, our movement, and our connection with others? In this fascinating conversation, Til Luchau welcomes movement pioneer Nita Little, a foundational figure in Contact Improvisation dance, for a deep dive into the world of touch, movement, and attention. Join them as they explore the ways that touch is a language, why attention transforms both bodywork and movement, and how embracing uncertainty can expand our understanding of presence and connection. Their conversation also touches on the challenges of aging, the importance of imagination, and the potential of touch to expand our identity and sen...
2025-03-191h 01The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner139: Scoliosis: Lessons for Every Back (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe) 🎙Scoliosis can offer valuable insights into working with the spine, and the same principles can be applied to anyone dealing with stiffness, back pain, postural issues, or mobility challenges. In this deep-dive update, Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau explore the latest perspectives on scoliosis, debunk common myths, and discuss how hands-on therapy can support mobility and comfort. Drawing from their decades of experience, Whitney and Til discuss the differences between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and adult-onset scoliosis, the role of strength and balance training, and why spinal curvature doesn’t necessarily mean more pain. They also exami...
2025-03-051h 08The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner138: Carpal Tunnel Crash Course (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau) Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common nerve compression issues—but how can massage and manual therapy help? In this in-depth episode, Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau break down the anatomy, risk factors, and assessment strategies for carpal tunnel syndrome, exploring its causes, differential diagnosis, and effective hands-on approaches. They discuss the importance of nerve mobility, client education, and activity modifications to relieve symptoms and improve function. Whether you’re a hands-on therapist looking to refine your treatment strategies, or someone experiencing wrist and hand discomfort, this episode offers valuable insights into understanding and managing carp...
2025-02-1945 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner136: Season 5 Highlights (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe) In this special retrospective episode of The Thinking Practitioner, Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau look back season five's thought-provoking discussions, expert interviews, and groundbreaking insights into the world of massage therapy and bodywork. Reflecting on their most impactful episodes and a guest list that included Tom Myers, Sharon Wheeler, Jill Cook, Antonio Stecco, Greg Lehman and more, they explore highlights such as pain science with Lorimer Moseley, innovative anatomical approaches with Gil Hedley, and Til's profound personal and professional journey through grief. With a mix of deep dives into manual therapy techniques and candid personal stories, this episode celebrates...
2025-01-2241 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner135: The Neuroscience of Bodywork (with Mark Olson) In this episode, Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau welcome Dr. Mark Olson, a neuroscientist and massage practitioner, for an engaging conversation about the fascinating intersection of neuroscience, trauma, and massage therapy. Dr. Olson shares insights into the complex processes of pain perception, the role of descending modulation, and how manual therapy can create lasting impacts beyond any tissue effects. The trio dives deep into practical applications for massage therapists, addressing divergent views around posture, nociception, and the impact of environment and interpersonal dynamics on client care. This episode will leave you inspired to deepen your practice and reconsider how...
2025-01-0859 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner134: How Bodywork Changed Our Lives (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau) In this reflective anniversary episode, hosts Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau take a heartfelt look at the transformative impact of massage and manual therapy—both personally and professionally. Sharing stories from their own journeys into the field, lessons learned from clients, and transformative bodywork experiences, they explore how this work profoundly shapes lives.   The conversation touches on balancing professional demands with personal growth, the joys and challenges of teaching, and the deeper connections formed through touch. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting, this episode offers inspiration, insight, and a celebration of the uniqu...
2024-12-2647 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner133: ScarWork: Origins and Legacy (with Sharon Wheeler & Wojtek Cackowski) 💥Just a few openings left! Thailand Retreat, Feb 22-Mar 5 Advanced Myofascial Techniques, ScarWork, Zoga Movement, and Contact Improvisation https://advanced-trainings.com/thailand-retreat-2025/ ----- In this special episode, Til Luchau is joined by the Sharon Wheeler, a Structural Integration pioneer who trained under Dr. Ida P. Rolf and later developed the popular methodologies of ScarWork and BoneWork. Sharon shares captivating stories from her time at the iconic Esalen Institute, her unique experiences with Dr. Rolf, and how her innovative techniques emerged from an intuitive understanding of the body.   Learn about the power of light touch in addressing scars and bone...
2024-12-111h 05The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner131: Mindfulness, Hands-On Therapy, and Pain (with Bronnie Lennox Thompson)In this episode Til Luchau interviews Bronnie Lennox Thompson, a pain management expert from the University of Otago in New Zealand. Bronnie shares insights on supporting people with chronic pain to live well, emphasizing pain’s complexity as a personal, multi-dimensional experience. They discuss the value of hands-on therapy, discussing both physical benefits and its comforting, human connection. The conversation highlights mindfulness as a tool for managing chronic pain, extending beyond meditation to include simple, everyday practices. Bronnie and Til explain how mindfulness helps people observe pain without reacting, fostering a healthier relationship with their bodies. Bronnie al...
2024-11-131h 09The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner130: The Body of Grief (with JS Park)Joon Park, author of "As Long as You Need" discusses grief and its impact on bodyworkers and their clients with Til Luchau. Park, a hospital chaplain, shares his experiences with grief, trauma, and the importance of acknowledging and integrating pain rather than suppressing it. He emphasizes the role of the body in grief, the concept of "letting in" rather than "letting go," and the significance of rituals and community in processing loss. The conversation also touches on the idea of the "intimate stranger" and the therapeutic power of touch and presence. Key Topics: •Grief isn’t ab...
2024-10-301h 00The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner129: Is Your Touch Aging Out? (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)A new study shows that our fingertips lose sensitivity as we age. What are the implications for massage and bodywork practitioners? Tune in and listen as Til and Whitney think it through, and along the way, share fascinating tidbits about tactile sensitivity training, and its relevance to actual practice.  Key Topics: •Introduction and Sponsor Message (00:00 - 01:30) •Discussion of Tactile Sensitivity Study (01:30 - 03:30) •Decline in tactile sensitivity, especially in fingers with age •Importance of glabrous skin (hairless skin) in mechanoreception •Mechanoreceptors and Aging (03:30 - 06:00) •Von Frey monofilament...
2024-10-1645 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner127: Low Back Pain Update (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)In this episode, Til and Whitney dive into strategies for addressing low back pain (LBP) with hands-on work, exploring LBP's prevalence, causes, and treatments. Sharing the insights they've gained from experts such as Nikolai Bogduk, Stewart McGill, Paul Hodges, Lorimer Moseley, Helene Langevin and Antonio Stecco, they lay out the diverse views on both the structural and non-mechanical origins of LBP. Listeners will also learn about therapeutic approaches, the significance of practitioner confidence, and the importance of comprehensive evaluations. Tune in for a fascinating look at how practitioners and clients alike can better understand and work with low back...
2024-09-1850 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner125: Moving with Grief (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)🎙️ Grief affects everyone: every person, every practitioner, and every client will lose something important to them, whether it’s their youth, ability, dreams, or a loved one. And so, everyone will grieve. In this episode, Whitney interviews Til about how the recent loss of his wife has given him a new perspective on grieving, and being with others in grief: what helps, what’s important to know, and how to move with grief, as we feel what needs to be felt, and do the things that need to be done. 🔍🗣️👥🔊 Key Points in the Podcast Introduction to the p...
2024-08-2144 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner123: Getting Over Over-Pronation: Ankle & Foot Function (Rebroadcast)In celebration of Til Luchau's upcoming "Ankle Issues" livestreamed course, Til and Whitney pulled one of their favorite ankle-related episodes (#43) out of the archives. Listen in as they geek out on ankle- and foot-related conditions, anatomy, function, biomechanics and more. Topics include:  How the structure of the foot/ankle complex determines function Are we over over-pronation yet?  Plantar fasciitis/fasciosis, bunions, hammertoes, and other things you wouldn’t have thought of as ankle issues. Episode Outline: Structure of the foot/ankle complex Medial side deltoid ligament complex Lateral side ATF, CF, PTF How does stru...
2024-07-2455 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner117: Ankle Issues Demystified (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)🎙️Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau explore the complexities of ankle anatomy and stability, discussing everything from the mortise and tenon structure to valgus and varus alignments. Join them as they debate ligament injuries, nerve compression, and practical strategies for addressing ankle issues. Tune in for valuable insights into the importance of client education and the role of massage in enhancing ankle function. 🔍🗣️👥🔊 👉Check out Til Luchau's new Ankle Issues livestreamed and recorded course (first time online!) at a-t.tv/workshop/onl2408m/ Watch the video and get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites: 
2024-05-0156 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner116: Anatomy Trains Updated (with Tom Myers)🎙️This episode of the Thinking Practitioner podcast features an in-depth interview with Tom Myers, author of the influential book Anatomy Trains. Host Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe discuss Tom's bodywork background, and how his goal of providing a holistic framework for understanding the body's fascial connections lead to the development of his "Anatomy Trains" concept. They explore Ida Rolf's legacy and influence on developing a model of structural integration, and Tom shares his evolving views on topics like exercise, fascia, and the potential for sustainable posture changes. The interview provides fascinating perspectives on the history and future of bodywork model...
2024-04-171h 08The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner110: Hands-On the Nerves (with Gil Hedley)🎙️ Anatomist extraordinaire Gil Hedley stops by to talk with Til and Whitney about nerves, dissection, bodywork, and what hands-on therapists can learn from his most recent project, the Nerve Tour. 🔍🗣️👥🔊 Watch the video and get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Topics: 0:00 - Introduction to The Thinking Practitioner Podcast 0:30 - Introduction of hosts Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau and sponsor ABMP 1:57 - Introduction of guest Gil Hedley and discussion of his nerve tour 7:00 - Gil Hedley's background...
2024-01-2454 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner109: Season 4 Highlights: Insights and Legacies🎙️ Join us as we revisit the key moments of The Thinking Practitioner’s fourth season. This year, our esteemed guests shared both the latest research, and historical insights into the legacies that continue to shape our field. A heartfelt thanks to our amazing guests, sponsors, and to you, our audience—your support continues to drive the Thinking Practitioner community. Subscribe now for a condensed dose of practical wisdom and discerning reflection. 🔍🗣️👥🔊 Watch the video and get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Resour...
2024-01-1036 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner108: Trauma & Bodywork (with Peter Levine)Legendary trauma pioneer Peter Levine PhD talks with Til Luchau about how bodyworkers might recognize trauma, and, how can they be most helpful with its effects. Along the way, Dr Levine reflects on topics such as his own training with Ida Rolf (the originator of Rolfing® Structural Integration), scope of practice considerations for bodyworkers, self-care and much more. Watch the video and get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Topics: - Introduction to The Thinking Practitioner Podcast...
2023-12-2740 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner107: Knee Deep: Understanding Baker’s Cysts (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)Baker's cysts, the most common cyst behind the knee, affect about 20% of all people. When painful, they can limit mobility and impact quality of life. In this episode, Til interviews Whitney about what Baker’s cysts are, what we as hands-on therapists can do about them, and how we can broaden the lens about the benefits of our work.  Watch the video and get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Resources: Nanduri A, Stead TS, Kupsaw GE, Deleon J...
2023-12-1340 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner105: Chronic Cough: the Prequel (with Walt Fritz and Ruth Werner)Til Luchau and Ruth Werner talk with Walt Fritz PT, as they prepare for some hands-on work with Ruth's chronic cough. Listen in as these three powerhouse presenters discuss hands-on strategy, potential triggers, and psychosocial impacts related to chronic coughs. Ruth shares her personal experiences, emphasizing the challenges and similarities with chronic pain. Their stimulating conversation then delves into the broader implications of treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms, offering unique perspectives on the intersection of manual therapy, anatomical specificity, and the human experience. (This conversation was the run-up to Ruth and Til's "Chronic...
2023-11-1537 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner104: The Many (Cervical) Facets of Neck Pain (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)The neck's facet joints (or the harder-to-to pronounce and remember "zygapophyseal joints") are the primary articulations involved in cervical movement. They are commonly thought to be involved in a range of painful cervical conditions. What do manual and massage therapists need to know? What are some helpful ways to think about and work with these joints? Whitney and Til think it through, and touch on topics such as: Does or doesn't head-forward posture cause pain? What about text-neck? A self-assessment, and, A hands-on technique for working with the cervical facets.  ...much more Watch the video and g...
2023-11-0139 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner100: Chronic Symptoms & Other Mysteries (with Ruth Werner & Til Luchau)When Ruth Werner sought Til Luchau's hands-on help with a chronic symptom, they stopped by ABMP's Colorado studio for a fascinating discussion with Darren Buford and Kristin Coverly about what they were learning by working together.  (This special episode is thanks to ABMP.) Get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Resources: Ruth Werner's site Til's site Sponsor Offers: Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout at booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.c...
2023-09-0632 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner97: Back At It: Back Pain Revisited (with Stuart McGill)Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe welcome back special guest Dr. Stuart McGill, a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo and one of the world's leading experts in back pain and spine health. They discuss: • Common misconceptions about back pain  • Stiffness and mobility in back pain, and the role of bodywork  • Inflammatory factors in back pain • Traction and movement techniques to mechanically "vacuum" extruded nucleus and alleviate disc bulges • The McKenzie prone press-up exercise, and its potential effects on disc bulges and facet joints, • and more.  Overall, this episode sheds light on the complexi...
2023-07-261h 04The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner95: Learning to Learn (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)If we don’t learn, we’re doomed to the same results over and over. But sometimes, we get in the way of our own learning. Can we learn to be better learners? Til takes Whitney on an illustrated tour of some of his favorite obstacles to learning, and gets his help applying these to our work as hands-on practitioners.  Get the slideshow-handout, watch the video, and get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Resources: Handout (self-assessment and key slides)
2023-06-2846 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner92: The Art of a Good Question (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)A good question is said to be the first half of knowing, and can make the difference between understanding each other, or operating on our own assumptions. Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe compare notes on some of their favorite questions to ask clients, mentors, and themselves, as well as principles that will help practitioners craft their own good questions.  Resources mentioned: "Favorite question" Facebook post  Check out the video, show notes, and full transcript on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Sponsor Offers: Books o...
2023-05-1754 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner90: Turning Down the Volume on Back Pain (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)Back pain is incredibly common, and it can be incredibly puzzling. Whitney and Til discuss their respective views on causes, types, and effective manual therapy treatment strategies for turning down the volume on back pain. Check out the video, show notes, and full transcript on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Sponsor Offers: The Back Jam: 1 body part, 17 amazing teachers, 4 days. Live in May or by recording.  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinki...
2023-04-191h 03The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner89: Adventure Education (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)What's the reality of combining learning with travel? Whitney talks with Til about his recent  educational retreat in Thailand, his teaching trip to Taiwan, and his upcoming professional continuing education retreats in Puerto Rico, on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and around the USA.  Check out the video, and full transcript on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Resources: Til's schedule of upcoming retreats and events Whitney's schedule of upcoming classes  Sponsor Offers: The Back Jam: 1 body part, 17 amazing teachers, 4 days. Live in Ma...
2023-04-0533 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner85: Collateral Damage: Acute Knee Injuries (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)Whitney and Til talk about acute knee ligament injuries, with Til's recent ski accident being an apt case study. Topics include: Differences between the "big four" knee ligament injuries Medial collateral ligament (MCL) specificies Rehabilitation and bracing controversies Psychological or mental impacts The role of manual therapy Check out the video, illustrations, outline, and full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers: The Back Jam: 1 body part, 17 amazing teachers, 4 days. Live in May or by recording Books of Discove...
2023-02-0852 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner82: Season 3 Highlights - Best of the Thinking PractitionerWith a quarter-million downloads to date, Whitney and Til share their top 5 episode highlights and notable ideas from their third season of interviews, conversations, and inquiries into the thinking behind effective hands-on work. The Ten Most-Downloaded Episodes from Season Three: 53: Fascia: A Deep Dive (with Dr. Antonio Stecco) 69: Back Pain, Stiffness & Fascia (with Stuart McGill) 56: Working with Rib Issues (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe) 71: Fascia & Pain: What We Know (with Helene Langevin) 67: Aging Gracefully, Breathing Well, and Long COVID Recovery (with Jan Sultan) 70: Stretching: Would Everyone Just Relax? (with Jules Mitch...
2022-12-2846 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner81: Fascia, Length-Change, and Language (with John Sharkey)Is language important? Do muscles actually change length? Does posture matter? Is “fascia” a reductionist idea? Whitney and Til head straight down these rabbit holes (and more) in conversation with clinical anatomist John Sharkey. Get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage   Sponsor Offers: Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Low...
2022-12-1451 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner80. What We Might Learn From Sex (with Betty Martin)What can we as bodyworkers can learn about intimacy, ethics, consent, touch, and boundaries, from people working on the other side of the no-sex "firewall" that (very appropriately) separates our profession from erotic and sex work? Betty Martin is a leading author, thinker, and trainer in the field of consent and touch; listen in as she and Til think it through.  Check out the video or get the full transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Resources: Waking Up The Hands (Y...
2022-11-3048 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner79: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos, Fascia, and Pain (with Tina Wang)Does stiff fascia hurt because it's stiff? Why then is there pain with the softer-tissue patterns of hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes? Dr. Tina Wang's fascinating research (as well as her own story) helps shed some light on this paradox. Check out the video of her Thinking Practitioner conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Til Luchau’s Advanced-Trainings.com  Whitney Lowe’s Academy of Clinical Massage Resources: Dr Wang's clinical practice https://tupelopointe.com/ Dr Wang's neurofascialinflammation seminars including hEDS course: https://www.thebraincelledu.com/seminars Selected research: Wang, Tina J., and Antonio Stecco. “Fascial Thickness and Stiffness...
2022-11-1653 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner78: More Carrots, or More Sticks? The Continuing Education ConundrumMost everyone agrees that the current system of continuing professional education (CE or CPD) for massage and manual therapy has problems. Should CE requirements simply be abolished? Or is even more regulation needed? Whitney and Til think these things through and come up with individual and system-wide options. Check out the video of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Julie Onofrio’s post “The Continuing CE Conundrum in the Massage Profession”  Whitney Lowe’s “The Future of Advanced Massage Credentialing” 
2022-11-0255 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner77: The Future of the Profession (with Sandy Fritz)Whitney has a conversation with Sandy Fritz on her vision of the current and future state of the profession.  How the current economic situation has impacted the massage profession Innovative changes with the ICMT The migration of massage employment to a "job" Challenges with massage employees How to work full time Ergonomic challenges in our field Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites: Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: International Consortium of Manual Therapies: https://www.icmtconference.org/ Health Enrichment Center: https://www.hea...
2022-10-191h 03The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner76: Fascia Research Congress Highlights (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)Til & Whitney share their takeaways, impressions, and highlights from the recent 6th International Fascia Research Congress in Montreal. Topics include: New research correlating tissue qualities with depression Biomechanics of thoracolumbar fascia Counterintuitive findings about Ehlers-Danlos Fascia and elastic recoil Should we massage tumors? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites: Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Robert Schleip's recent article in Massage & Bodywork magazine: The Fascial Network; Our Richest Sensory Organ The Fascia Research Congress info page for speaker info, recordings and 2025 dates...
2022-10-0548 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner75: Secret Shopper CE Review (bonus episode, with Hands at the Table podcast)Unbeknownst to us, the hosts of the 'Hands at the Table' podcast recorded and aired a “secret shopper” episode about one of Til Luchau’s most popular online CE classes. Listen in as they dissect and review the course, bit-by-excruciating-bit.  (And, you can find out more about Til’s next Principles course, live or by recording, at Advanced-Trainings.com.) In this episode: Were the techniques useful? How was the course structured?  Can something like this even be learned at a distance? Get the transcript of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe...
2022-09-2645 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner74: Sacroiliac Joints: The Next Level (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)Whitney and Til dive deep into their differing (and shared) approaches to sacroiliac joint pain, pelvic anatomy, biomechanics, and much more, all in celebration of Whitney’s recent SIJ article and Til’s upcoming live-online hands-on training. NEW: check out the video of their conversation on Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Article: “Current Concepts in Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction” (free, registration required) Training: Ilia & SI Joints: Principles Free intro: Sep 28, first lecture: Oct 5, 2022 Review: the Hands at the Table podcast hosts dissect an AMT P...
2022-09-211h 03The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner73: Long Term Lyme Disease: What Helps? (with Ruth Werner)Can massage and bodywork help with long-term Lyme Disease? The answer has implications for working with similar conditions such as long COVID, post-viral syndromes, and more. Til Luchau talks it through with pathology writer Ruth Werner. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Ruth Werner's: Podcast: I Have a Client Who Textbook: A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology from Books of Discovery Article: "Long-Term Lyme Disease: Controversies and Challenges" in Massage & Bodywork July-August 2022, p72 CE site...
2022-09-0745 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner72: Intimacy, Sex & Massage: Strange Bedfellows? (with Cal Cates)Til Luchau talks with Cal Cates about "massage therapy's sex problem:" how the profession's "touchiness" about the intimacy-sensuality-sexuality continuum, however well-founded, might not be serving either our clients, nor ourselves.  Watch the video of their conversation and get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe: Academy of Clinical Massage Til Luchau: Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Cal Cates’ Strange Bedfellows blog post  Interdisciplinary Podcast Healthcare & Intimacy Virtual Symposium on September 24, 2022  The Healwell Online Community Sponsor Offers: Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking"...
2022-08-2455 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner71: Fascia & Pain: What We Know (with Helene Langevin)Famed fascial researcher Helene Langevin MD talks with Til and Whitney about what we know (and _don't_ know) about the role of tissue stiffness in pain; the effects of stretching on cell function and inflammation; contextual effects and placebos; and much more. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Fascia Mobility, Proprioception, and Myofascial Pain (Langevin 2021) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) site NCCIH Director’s Page Sponsor Offers: The 6th Internatio...
2022-08-1043 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner70: Stretching: Would Everyone Just Relax? (with Jules Mitchell)Whitney and Til have an in-depth conversation with Jules Mitchell (author of Yoga Biomechanics: Stretching Redefined) about topics like tissue change, flexibility, hyper-mobility as they relate to yoga and manual therapy.  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Jules Mitchell’s book: Yoga Biomechanics: Stretching Redefined. Save 20% when you enter TTP at checkout at Handspring Publishing.  Jules Mitchell’s site: julesmitchell.com Previous podcast: Stretching the Tissues, or the Truth? Episode 11 of The Thinking Practitioner ...
2022-07-271h 03The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner69: Back Pain, Stiffness & Fascia (with Stuart McGill)Legendary back pain researcher Stuart McGill (author of Back Mechanic and others) talks with Whitney and Til about spinal pain, fascia, biomechanics and other topics including: - Stiffness/mobility tuning in manual therapy - The psoas' role in supporting the spine - Fascial connections, Janda's lower-crossed model, and more.  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources: Stuart McGill’s site: Backfitpro.com Books by Stuart McGill: Back Mechanic ISBN: 978-0...
2022-07-131h 08The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner68: Working with Sciatic Pain (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)Til and Whitney compare notes about their tests and techniques for recognizing, understanding, and working with sciatica, sciatic pain, and similar conditions. Download the free technique handout from https://bit.ly/sciatica-handout-68 Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers: Til Luchau's 'Sciatica & Disc Issues' training: save 15% by entering "thinking" at https://a-t.tv/onl2208/.  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  ...
2022-06-291h 08The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner67: Aging Gracefully, Breathing Well, and Long COVID Recovery (with Jan Sultan)Til talks with Jan Sultan (one of the first Rolfers trained by Ida Rolf to teach her work), about his life and work; about aging well; and about his take-aways from his ongoing COVID recovery process. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources mentioned   Til's 'Cytokine Storm' article Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® Jan Sultan's email: janhsultan@gmail.com Sponsor Offers: Z Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 o...
2022-06-151h 24The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner66: Beyond ”It Depends:” Oncology Massage (with Janet Penny, Rebecca Sturgeon, and Loretta Luchau)Til gets personal as he discusses bodywork with people living with cancer, with Janet Penny and Rebecca Sturgeon, the authors of “Oncology Massage: An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care.” They’re joined by Til’s wife Loretta Carridan Luchau, a bodyworker and therapist who has been living with cancer for many years.  Watch the video (NEW!) and get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites:  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources mentioned   Oncology Massage: An integrative approach to cancer care at Handspring (enter TTP at checkout fo...
2022-06-011h 04The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner65: Women Leaders in Massage Therapy (with CG Funk, Ruth Werner, and Irene Diamond)Women account for about 85 percent of Massage Therapists in the US. However, there isn't always a corresponding representation of women as CE providers, conference headliners, or in other roles of visible leadership. Whitney and Til explore this phenomenon in discussions with three women leaders, as a way to acknowledge just a few of the many women who have made significant contributions and impacts on our field, and who continue to provide outstanding leadership and guidance for the future. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Cour...
2022-05-181h 02The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner64: The Handspring Story (with Andrew Stevenson and Mary Law)It’s no exaggeration to say that in its ten years of existence, Handspring Publishing has had a profound impact on the bodywork and movement therapy fields. Til and Whitney talk with two of Handspring's founders about some very big recent news, and about their unique vision of a place where both long-established authors (such as Robert Schleip, Leon Chaitow, and more), as well as promising newer voices, could all share their knowledge and advance our field. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s course...
2022-05-0458 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner63: Turnabout is Fair Play: Our Favorite Perspective ReversalsPeople change their minds--sometimes, radically. Learning, improving, refining, all involve changing how we saw things before. But is there a cost? And what makes changing our views such a challenge? Whitney and Til compare notes about how their perspectives have taken a 180° from how they used to think, and, about how that's played out. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources mentioned   Todd Hargrove: Three Reasons It Matters Why A Treatment Works (blog) Andreo Spi...
2022-04-2055 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner62: Educational Innovations (with Anne Williams and Eric Brown)Whitney talks with Anne Williams and Eric Brown about innovations in education. They delve into these important topics: such as: -Early explorations of online education, podcasting, and the World Massage Conference -Why instructional design and educational theory matter in education? -New frontiers in the publishing of digital textbooks …and much more. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources mentioned   Massage Mastery Digital Textbook Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "...
2022-04-061h 03The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner61: Massage Therapy Research (with Niki Munk)Whitney talks with Niki Munk about massage therapy research. They delve into these important topics: such as: -What are levels of evidence and why does this matter? -Why should massage therapists care about research? -How to get involved with research -Challenges of massage education existing outside traditional academic models …and much more. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Resources mentioned   The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: a unifying model for th...
2022-03-2357 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner60: Physical Therapy Assisting and Massage (with Matt Gavzy)Whitney talks with massage therapist and physical therapy assistant Matt Gavzy about working in a team practice with other professionals, and about integrating massage therapy with physical therapy approaches.     Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Episode Resources Matt Gavzy's contact info: Email:  bodyworkingsmt@gmail.com Phone: 201-410-7855 Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “...
2022-03-0945 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner59: What Influenced You? (with Whitney Lowe & Til Luchau)Whitney and Til compare notes about the major influences on their own careers, and along the way discuss topics such as: -The development of massage and bodywork education and practice  -Their Esalen Institute and Emory University crossroads -The role of lineage, teacher personality, and standards -The evolution of online learning -Mentors and mentoring …and much more. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at...
2022-02-2351 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner58: Outside the Box (with Judith Aston)Til Luchau asks pioneering movement and bodywork teacher Judith Aston "Do you think being a woman ever held you back?" Then, they talk about what she thought of that question.   Get the full transcript, and the answer to Judith's 9-dot puzzle, at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Episode Resources Judith Aston's upcoming classes, newsletter and more: Site: astonkinetics.com Email: office@astonkinetics.com Phone: +1 775-831-8228 Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdisc...
2022-02-0949 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner57: A Fine Irish Visit (with Aubrey Gowing)Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau catch up with Aubrey Gowing about the practice of massage and bodywork in Ireland. Aubrey is Senior Instructor at the Holistic College Dublin and past President of the Irish Massage Therapists Association. Plus: Check out the FREE 'Rib Issues' Intro Jan 26, and join the live course with Til Luchau until Feb 9. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s courses at Advanced-Trainings.com  Episode Resources Holistic College of Dublin website, Facebook page Aubrey Gowing's Facebook...
2022-01-2656 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner56: Working with Rib IssuesTil Luchau and Whitney Lowe talk through their hands-on approaches to rib pain, ribcage restrictions, and related breathing issues. Download the technique handout at https://bit.ly/rib-handout-56  Get the handout and full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s Online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s 'Rib Issues: Principles' training at Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  'RIB Issues: Principles AMT' training with Til Luchau: https://a-t.tv/rib-principles Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing...
2022-01-1256 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner55: What Is Success? (with Diane Matkowski)Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe get personal with Diane Matkowski (The Massage Mentor) about what "success" means to each of them, and preview their upcoming online collaborative, the "Success is an Inside Job" training (learn more at bit.ly/thinking-success). Get the full transcript) at Til or Whitney's sites!  Whitney Lowe’s Online Clinical & Orthopedic Massage Courses Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com. ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspring...
2021-12-2957 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner54: Season Two Highlights - Best of the Thinking Practitioner PodcastWhitney Lowe and Til Luchau review highlights and key take-aways from their busy second season of interviews, conversations, and inquiries into the thinking behind effective hands-on work.  The Ten Most-Downloaded Episodes from Season Two: 45: Fascia in Sport & Movement (with Robert Schleip) 38: Frozen Shoulder & Adhesive Capsulitis: Updating our Approach 42: Scars and Scar Tissue (with Cathy Ryan) 46: To ITB, or Not To ITB? (Iliotibial Band Controversies, Conditions, and Approaches) 47: Getting Over Over-Pronation (Ankle & Foot Function) 48: Psoas Work: Is it Safe? Is it Necessary? (Hip Jam rebroadcast) 44: Table Lessons (with Doug Nelson)
2021-12-151h 03The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner53: Fascia: A Deep Dive (with Dr. Antonio Stecco)Til and Whitney speak with fascial researcher, anatomist, and manual therapy teacher Antonio Stecco MD PhD about his research in to fascial properties, pain, and the effects of hands-on work. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode: Dr Stecco’s research and publications (NYU) FM app on the Apple Store and Google Play Dr Stecco’s site: fascialmanipulation.com Papers mentioned in the episode: Gerber et al., “A Systematic Comparison Between Subjects With No Pain and Pain Associated With Active Myofascial Trigger Points.” Langevin, Helene M. et al. “Reduc...
2021-12-011h 09The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner52: Orthopedic Special Tests (with Whitney Lowe)Til interviews Whitney about his use of Orthopedic Special Tests. Topics include: The promise and the reality of special tests Pros, cons, and controversies When to use them, when not to. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode: Lowe, Whitney. “Suggested Variations on Standard Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Assessment Tests.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 12, no. 2 (April 2008): 151–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.04.001. Hegedus, Eric J, Alexis A Wright, and Chad Cook. “Orthopaedic Special Tests and Diagnostic Accuracy Studies: House Wine Served in Very Cheap Containers.” British Journal of Sports Me...
2021-11-1753 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner51: Neuroinflammation (with Todd Hargrove)Til & Whitney talk with Todd Hargrove of the Better Movement blog and podcast about neuroinflammation and its role in pain and health. Topics include: What is neuroinflammation, and how is it relevant to hands-on work? How does the concept of the "neuro-immune system" change things? What are our levers for helping with neuroinflammatory conditions? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode: “Neuroinflammation: A common factor in many chronic health problems" blog post Todd's Better Movement blog and podcast Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Adva...
2021-11-0352 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner50: A View Across The Border (with Jamie Johnston & Eric Purves)Whitney interviews Jamie Johnston and Eric Purves Topics include: How does massage education differ in the U.S. and Canada How have things changed with the adoption of educational competencies for MTs in British Columbia  Should we keep performing special orthopedic tests if they aren't considered as accurate? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode: Hegedus, E. J., Wright, A. A., & Cook, C. (2017). Orthopaedic special tests and diagnostic accuracy studies: House wine served in very cheap containers. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(22), 1578–1579. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjspo...
2021-10-2157 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner49: Interoception Is The Key, Like It Or Not (with Til Luchau)Whitney interviews Til about his upcoming “Three Questions About Interoception” article in Massage & Bodywork magazine. Topics include: What is interoception, and why should I care? Is interoception our profession’s “mindfulness?” How can I actually use interoception with my clients? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode: “Three Questions about Interoception” article in Massage & Bodywork November/December 2021 Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abm...
2021-10-0652 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner48: Psoas Work: Is it Safe? Is it Necessary? (Hip Jam rebroadcast)In honor of the upcoming Hip Jam, Whitney and Til discuss the controversies, disagreements, considerations, and their own views on the infamous psoas muscle in manual therapy and massage in this "Greatest Hits" rebroadcast of ep25. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests, and a special chapter from Til’s book from https://a-t.tv/ttp-psoas/, plus check out the Hip Jam at https://bit.ly/Hip-Jam-TTP Topics include:  Psoas: Holy Grail muscle, or wholly irrelevant?  Psoas and back pain, leg length, etc.;  Safety considerations;  What Til and Whitney actually do (and don’t do) in...
2021-09-2248 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner47: Getting Over Over-Pronation (Ankle & Foot Function)In celebration of Til's upcoming "Leg Knee & Foot" online course, he and Whitney geek out on conditions, anatomy, function, and biomechanics of the ankle and foot. Topics include:  How the structure of the foot/ankle complex determines function Are we over over-pronation yet?  Plantar fasciitis/fasciosis, bunions, hammertoes, and other things you wouldn’t have thought of as ankle issues. Episode Outline: Structure of the foot/ankle complex Medial side deltoid ligament complex Lateral side ATF, CF, PTF How does structure govern function Distal tibiofibular joint & talocrural joint form mortise & tenon Primary supporting ligaments Mech...
2021-09-0855 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner46: To ITB, or Not To ITB? (Iliotibial Band Controversies, Conditions, and Approaches)Whitney and Til unfold the controversies, compare thoughts, and share approaches for working with the iliotibial band. Download the free handout!  Topics include:  Little-known facts, well-known myths, and over-heated controversies about the ITB,  When and why would (or wouldn’t) we work, roll, or massage the ITB (aka the iliotibial tract or fascia lata)?  Hands-on techniques for some of the most common ITB-related client complaints.  Get the HANDOUT and full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites, plus sign up for Til's upcoming Leg Knee & Foot course!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Baker...
2021-08-2550 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner45: Fascia in Sport & Movement (with Robert Schleip)Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe talk with researcher and Robert Schleip about fascia, movement, and research updates in the newly released second edition of Fascia in Sport and Movement, co-edited by Jan Wilke. Topics include:  Should bodywork cost half of what movement therapy costs? {joke!} Is the issue fascial stiffness, or fascial shearing? What does fascias' extensive sensory innervation mean for manual therapists? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Book: Fascia in Sport & Movement at Handspring (Get 15% off with coupon code TTP)  fasciaresearch.de ...
2021-08-111h 10The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner43: Trauma, MDMA Psychotherapy, and the Body (with Marcela Ot'alora G.)Til Luchau talks about trauma, psychedelic psychotherapy, and the body, with Marcela Ot'alora G., the principal investigator in a very promising FDA-approved study into MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Topics include:  How does trauma relate to bodywork, and how does MDMA therapy help with trauma? How is psychedelic therapy different from just taking psychedelics? What can we learn from your MDMA/PTSD study that can help us be more effective as massage and manual therapy practitioners?  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Marcela Ot...
2021-07-1448 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner39: Are You Thinking Critically? (with Ruth Werner)How often do we think about the assumptions that inform our decisions? Til Luchau talks to writer Ruth Werner about her recent work on critical thinking skills, steps, and stages.  Topics include:  What is the big deal about critical thinking?  What are the signs that I might not be thinking critically? Is intuition the opposite of critical thinking? And more. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Supplemental video: Ruth interviews Til: “What is critical thinking?” “Critical Thinking” article in Massage & Bodywork magazine I Have a Clie...
2021-05-2658 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner38: Frozen Shoulder & Adhesive Capsulitis: Updating our ApproachWhitney Lowe & Til Luchau give a crash course on frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis, discussing recent research and comparing their respective views and strategies. Download the free handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests, and join them at the upcoming Shoulder Jam event via Whitney or Til’s sign-up link.   Episode topics include:  Types, terms, stages, and debates  Who gets it, why, and what makes it stiff?  What can we do about it, from biomechanical and biopsychosocial perspectives?  Get the handout or get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and reference...
2021-05-151h 07The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner37: Shoulder Pain, Impingement, & Rotator Cuff Issues: The Most Common of ProblemsTil Luchau and Whitney Lowe share their ideas, strategies, techniques, and tests for better results with the most common type of shoulder condition, subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) and its myriad presentations, including rotator cuff pain, etc. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests from http://a-t.tv/ttp-saps/ Episode topics include: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: SIS or SAPS? Rotator cuff syndrome, labrum injuries, adhesive capsulitis, and more Biomechanical and biopsychosocial perspectives and approaches Get the handout or get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! Resources and references discussed in...
2021-04-2859 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner35: Resources That Inspire Our LearningTil Luchau and Whitney Lowe share their top resources for information and inspiration, both professionally and personally, letting us in on everything from their favorite podcasts, playlists, books, and apps, to how they recharge and find meaning in their work and in their lives.  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! Resources and references discussed in this episode:  Mendeley   Zotero   PubMed   Sci-hub (note this URL often changes)   Concast (Conor Collins)  2 Massage Therapists and & Microphone (Canadian perspective)  Clinical Edge/Physio Edge (David Pope)   Physio Matters (Jack Chew)  Gait Guys   Google Scholar   ResearchGate   Wiggins: Understanding by...
2021-03-3157 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner34: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: What You Didn’t KnowWhitney Lowe and Til Luchau share trivia, tips, tests, and techniques for working with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), including some cool self-care methods for you and your clients. Find out why TOS is “one of the most controversial topics in musculoskeletal medicine,” and how Til and Whitney actually work with TOS symptoms in practice. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests from http://a-t.tv/ttp-tos/ Get the handout or get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! Resources and references discussed in this episode: Download the handout for full refe...
2021-03-1757 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner32: Aging Well (with Art Riggs)Art Riggs was one of the first Certified Rolfers[tm] to publish a book about "advanced" techniques. His textbook (Deep Tissue Massage) was adopted by massage therapy programs worldwide, and as a result, his teaching and style has influenced tens of thousands massage and manual therapists in the decades since. Art talks with Til Luchau about his work, aging, self-care, and more.  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!   Resources and references discussed in this episode:  Art Riggs’ site: deeptissuemassagemanual.com  Art Riggs’ videos and DVDs on Til’s site: a-t.tv/art-riggs W...
2021-02-1759 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner31: Headaches of Another Kind: Cervicogenic HeadachesWhat are cervicogenic headaches? Are they even a thing, and if so, why are they particularly amenable to manual therapy and massage? Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe discuss these questions, and share some self-care tips for you and your clients. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests from http://a-t.tv/ttp-cgh/  Episode topics include:  What kinds of headaches CAN manual therapy help with?  What’s the controversy around cervicogenic headaches?  What kinds of self-care help?  Get the handout: a-t.tv/ttp-cgh/ or get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Re...
2021-01-2755 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner30: Excuses, Excuses: Our Favorite Reasons Not To ________What makes taking care of ourselves so hard? Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe dissect the difficulties, and share their favorite excuses for not putting their own care first.  Episode topics include:  The five key self-care behaviors;  The date we’re most likely to give up on our resolutions;  Getting “internal bipartisanship” around your own self-care initiatives.  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode:  Stress in America™ report on caregivers’ self-care  Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Boo...
2021-01-0648 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner29: Season 1 Retrospective - Best of the Thinking PractitionerTil Luchau and Whitney Lowe review highlights and take-aways from the star-studded first season of their acclaimed podcast (yea, right).  Most-Downloaded:  03 Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Causes, Controversies, and Considerations  15 Robert Schleip: Talking to Fascia, Changing the Brain, 20 Years Later  07 Scoliosis and Manual Therapy  11 Stretching the Tissues, or the Truth?  12 The Cytokine Storm of COVID-19  First Season, by Episode:  01,02 The Back Story, Pt. 1, Pt 2  03 Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Causes, Controversies, and Considerations  04,08 Key Challenges Facing Our Field, Pt. 1, Pt 2  05 Documentation and Electro...
2020-12-231h 04The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner27: The Little Man In The Brain: The Sensory HomunculusTil Luchau and Whitney Lowe discuss the most famous (yet, unreplicated) illustration in neuroscience, the sensorimotor homunculus, which purports to show the proportion of the brain dedicated to each body part. Is it accurate?  Episode topics include:  Is the cortical homunculus a map, or the territory?  How did it come about? Penfield's methods and limitations.  How might this all apply to manual therapy and massage?  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode:  Catani, Marco. 2017. “A Little Man of Some Importance.” Brain 140 (11): 3055–61. https://doi.org/10.1093/b...
2020-11-2548 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner26: Zoga: Movement for Manual Therapists (with Wojtek Cackowski)Til Luchau talks with Polish physical therapist, Anatomy Trains teacher, and manual therapist Wojtek Cackowski about his innovative Zoga Movement method, and how it can help manual therapists not only with their clients, but with their own embodiment and self care.  Episode topics include:  What is Zoga? How does it relate to manual therapy and massage?  Fascial shearing and gliding, vs fascial “stretching”  Til and Wojtek’s collaborative online courses combining Zoga and Advanced Myofascial Techniques  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode:  Zoga online courses with...
2020-11-111h 06The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner25: Psoas Work: Is it Safe? Is it Necessary?Whitney and Til discuss the controversies, disagreements, considerations, and their own views on the infamous psoas muscle in manual therapy and massage. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests, and a special chapter from Til’s book from http://a-t.tv/ttp-psoas/  Episode topics include:  Psoas: Holy Grail muscle, or wholly irrelevant?  Psoas and back pain, leg length, etc.;  Safety considerations;  What Til and Whitney actually do (and don’t do) in practice. Get the full transcript and handout at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode:  Free Episod...
2020-10-2848 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner22: Fascia, Fuzz and Furor (with Gil Hedley)Anatomist Gil Hedley discusses fascial debacles, debates, and dissection with Til Luchau.    In this episode,  Gil Hedley’s Fuzz Speech: facts, fantasies, and furor;  Sexuality in the dissection room;  Conspiracies: pattern of meaning, or menace?  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode:  Gil Hedley’s Fuzz Speech on YouTube  Gil Hedley’s site: gilhedley.com  Til's “patternicity” reference: Finding Meaningful Patterns in Meaningless Noise: Why the brain believes something is real when it is not (Michael Shermer)  Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advan...
2020-09-0250 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner19: What About Risk?How do we manage risk, in a world where we don’t even agree about what the risks are? Pathology writer Ruth Werner joins Til and Whitney for a lively conversation about risk, risk tolerance, and ethical decision making in massage and manual therapy, in the face of both COVID-19, and in the differences in how we perceive the risks involved.  In the Thinking Practitioner series, join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate you...
2020-07-221h 02The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner18: Project COPE (with Ann Blair Kennedy and Kemi Balogun)Project COPE is tracking the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on both essential and “non-essential” healthcare practitioners, including massage therapists and bodyworkers. It’s already revealing some insights about representation and diversity in our field. Listen to learn more, and participate in the project at the link below.  In the Thinking Practitioner series, join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sci...
2020-07-0850 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner17: Who Charts Our Path?Manual therapy and massage practitioners are voracious consumers of professional continuing education. Who should be deciding what they learn?  In this episode,   What implications does the “medically necessary” discussion have on massage and bodywork education, CE, and credentialing?  Why don’t Rolfers™ think they’re doing massage, anyway?  What is the post-COVID roadmap for professional continuing education?  In the Thinking Practitioner series, join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative...
2020-06-2459 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner16: Black Lives Matter (with Benny Vaughn)Benny Vaughn, an iconic figure in massage therapy, talks with Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau about his experiences as a African American massage therapist, and offers both practical advice and deep inspiration on how manual therapists can address racism and bias in their own lives.  In the Thinking Practitioner series, join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sciences, with W...
2020-06-111h 07The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner15: Talking to Fascia, Changing the Brain, 20 Years Later (with Robert Schleip)Fascia evokes widely divergent responses from manual therapists, with viewpoints ranging from “incredible” to “irrelevant.” Til Luchau talks with fascial researcher Robert Schleip PhD about his current perspectives on tissue change and the nervous system in manual therapy; fascial debates; and much more.  In this episode,  Questioning the tissue-based narratives in manual therapy,  Putting to rest the question “How is your work misunderstood?”  Inflammation, insula, networking, and much more.  Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on pra...
2020-06-031h 05The Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner14: Do We Keep Doing This?A lot of hands-on therapists are wondering about “staying with it.”  Til and Whitney explore the reasons massage and manual therapy practitioners might (and might not) be thinking about quitting.  Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sciences. With Whitney Lowe and Til Luchau.  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this e...
2020-05-2043 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner13: Inflammation: Hands-OnInflammation is implicated in nearly all musculoskeletal complaints, including chronic pain. Til and Whitney explain this, and talk about the implications for massage and manual therapy.  In this episode,  Are most client complaints related to inflammation?  What most practitioners don’t understand about inflammation,  Key points practitioners should keep in mind,  Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sci...
2020-05-0647 minThe Thinking Practitioner
The Thinking Practitioner12: The Cytokine Storm of COVID-19Coronavirus symptoms range from mild to fatal. Though still mysterious, in many patients it seems to be the patient’s own inflammatory reactions that tip the scale. Til and Whitney explain this, and talk about the implications for massage and manual therapy.  In this episode,  What is the deal about COVID-19 and cytokine storms?  What is a cytokine, and why do I care?  As massage therapists and bodyworkers, where does this leave us?  Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, researc...
2020-04-2242 min