Therapeutic Self-Defense & Somatic Awareness for Massage Therapists

This class is 2 DAYS, Please be prepared to attend BOTH days!

Sunday June 14: 1:00pm-8:00pm

Monday June 15: 9:00am - 6:00pm

Price: $550

16 NCBTMB CEUs [Certifications Awarded Upon Completion]

Instructor and BIO: Christian A. Spriggs, Sr., LE, LMT, MLD-C, S40M, Owner/Founder ‘Gueru Wellness & Continued Education

Christian has a Master’s degree in human services from Lincoln University, over 30 years’ experience combining a comprehensive background as a Psychotherapist with work as an LMT by introducing clients to the benefits of massage for complete well-being.

Location: The Wellness Institute of Chester County

402C Gordon Drive

Exton, PA 19341

Facilitator: Robyn Zappy/ WIofCC Acting Director

robynzappy@wcofcc.com

ROOM 2

This class will be held in 402F, please enter at the back of the building. You will see a set of double doors under an awning, enter through the glass door with the CE Classroom sign on it.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Please use the name you would like on your certificate when registering. Please use the email you would like event notifications sent to.

WHAT TO BRING: Notebook, something to write with, yoga mat and wear flexible, comfortable clothing. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BRING A MASSAGE TABLE.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: Practical strategies to prevent and respond to dangerous situations, incorporating physical techniques, awareness skills, plus verbal tactics like boundary setting and de-escalation.

This dynamic 2-day continuing education course is designed to equip licensed massage therapists with practical self-defense skills, trauma-informed awareness, and somatic tools to foster professional safety and personal empowerment. Rooted in both behavioral science and body-based disciplines, this training offers a unique integration of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu principles, somatic self-regulation, and ethical safety strategies tailored for bodyworkers.

Participants will gain the ability to identify early warning signs of boundary violations, understand the physiological impact of trauma, and respond to challenging situations without compromising their professional integrity. Through a combination of lecture, case study discussion, and hands-on practice, students will learn how to maintain control in potentially threatening scenarios, set clear energetic and physical boundaries, and recover from stress responses using nervous system reset techniques.

This course prioritizes therapist well-being and emphasizes the importance of embodied presence, client communication, and environmental awareness in preventing burnout and ensuring safety. Whether navigating discomfort during sessions or de-escalating client aggression, attendees will leave feeling physically confident, mentally prepared, and emotionally grounded. By the end of the training, students will walk away with practical tools, a personalized safety plan, and renewed clarity around their scope of practice in high-stress or boundary-testing environments. This course is ideal for massage therapists seeking holistic, strength-based approaches to personal safety and professional sustainability.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in safe ground recovery and seated boundary moves, applying techniques with control and awareness during simulated practice.

• Identify and articulate early warning signs of escalating client behavior, including physical, verbal, and energetic cues.

• Apply trauma-informed communication strategies to de-escalate uncomfortable or unsafe interactions within a clinical setting.

• Exhibit the ability to regulate their own nervous system using somatic grounding techniques before, during, and after high-stress encounters.

• Design and present a personalized professional safety plan, incorporating physical, environmental, and psychological readiness strategies.

• Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate physical intervention based on their scope of practice, ethical guidelines, and legal boundaries.

• Perform a series of therapeutic self-defense techniques—including breakaway moves, position escapes, and redirect strategies—demonstrating safe body mechanics and awareness.

• Reflect on the impact of trauma exposure and boundary violations, and explain how self-protective practices support long-term career sustainability

These outcomes ensure students not only absorb the theoretical components but also embody and demonstrate the material through critical thinking, physical movement, and personalized safety integration.

Additionally students will:

• Demonstrate effective use of verbal boundary-setting phrases that are clear, professional, and trauma-informed in roleplay scenarios.

• Analyze real-world case studies to identify critical safety errors and propose improved intervention strategies.

• Recognize the signs of dysregulation in both themselves and clients, and respond with appropriate somatic co-regulation tools.

• Perform safe transitioning techniques from vulnerable positions (e.g., kneeling, supine) to standing or exit positions with minimal risk.

• Demonstrate confidence in using body leverage techniques rather than force to neutralize or exit from common grabs and holds.

• Apply situational awareness mapping, identifying high-risk zones within treatment spaces and adjusting for optimal therapist safety.

• Integrate breathwork techniques into physical drills, demonstrating the link between breath, control, and emotional regulation.

• Distinguish between freeze, fight, flight, and fawn responses, and describe how each state can affect client and therapist behavior during a session.

• Explain how to document and report a boundary violation or safety incident, following ethical and legal guidelines for licensed professionals.

• Demonstrate the use of simple, non-invasive exit strategies designed to preserve client dignity while maintaining therapist safety.

These outcomes support a well-rounded evaluation of knowledge retention, physical competency, and the embodiment of trauma-informed principles in real-life therapeutic environments.

CONTACT INFORMATION: gueruwellness@gmail.com

Website: https://www.thegueru.com

Disclosure Statement by The Wellness Institute of Chester County Acknowledgment of Audio and Video Surveillance: I hereby acknowledge that I have been informed and understand that The Wellness Institute of Chester County utilizes continuous audio and video surveillance on its premises. I understand that surveillance is conducted for the safety, security, and well-being of all students, staff, and visitors, as well as for the protection of property. I am aware that audio and video monitoring is active at all times in common areas, classrooms, hallways, and other designated spaces within the school. Upon arrival I understand that I will be asked to sign a statement stating I confirm my awareness and consent to this ongoing audio and video surveillance while on school property.