Massage Education Services

Heartland Institute of Touch Therapies (HITT)

Heartland Institute of Touch Therapies (HITT) is the educational branch of Touchwork of Weston Massage Therapy and was founded in 2005 to promote and present quality education for and about the massage profession. Courses range from informative lunch-and-learn seminars for the general public to highly advanced trainings for professional healthcare providers. Our passion for massage therapy and related healthcare issues combined with our down-to-earth teaching style creates a stellar environment for learning.

Both Kirk and Julie Nelson hold degrees in education, and Kirk is an approved provider of continuing education for the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. He has taught at national conventions and various state conferences within the massage industry, has been featured in national trade publications, and has presented seminars for numerous corporations and civic groups.

Call (816) 640-2788 for more information about HITT.

Educating the General Public About Massage

Partner's touch

Kirk and Julie work with both groups and individual couples, teaching them massage therapy techniques they can use at home to improve their quality of life. 

Speaking engagements

Kirk and Julie are happy to speak with groups about a variety of health issues and how it relates to massage therapy. To request more information, contact us today.

Self-massage and stretching for the workplace

Employees learn massage therapy and stretching techniques to alleviate stress and reduce the risk of injury in the workplace. This can be set up as a one-time general presentation or incorporated into an ongoing wellness program.

Continuing Education for Massage Therapists

Unlike so many other presenters who only share information specific to their own trademarked technique, HITT specializes in strategy-based education. Instead of giving therapists just one more 'recipe', we prefer to explore what, how and why things actually do or do not work. Our goal is to empower therapists with the knowledge, wisdom and critical thinking skills needed to create their own personal strategies for successfully serving their clients.

Current offerings (all live courses) approved for NCBTMB CE hours include:

Clinical Massage

• Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Head and Face Complaints - 6 or 8 hours
• Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Neck and Head Complaints - 12 or 16 hours
• Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Shoulder Girdle and Shoulder Joint Complaints - 12 or 16 hours
• Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Complaints - 6 or 8 hours
• Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Back, Thoracic, and Abdominal Complaints - 12 or 16 hours
• Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Hip and Pelvic Complaints - 12 or 16 hours
• Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Knee, Ankle, and Foot Complaints - 12 or 16 hours

Sports Massage

• Event Sports Massage - 6 or 8 hours

Chair Massage

• Advanced Treatment Strategies Using the Massage Chair - 12 or 16 hours

Aromatherapy

• "Scents"able Use of Essential Oils - 4 hours

Ethics

• Drawing a Line: Strategies to Create and Manage Ethical Boundaries - 3 or 4 hours (includes standard V)
• Interacting With Professionals as a Professional - 3 or 4 hours

Business and Marketing

• Marketing Strategies That Make Dollars and Sense - 6 or 8 hours
• Marketing and Managing Workplace Massage Programs - 3 or 4 hours
• Marketing and Managing On-Site Massage for Special Events - 3 or 4 hours
• Client Education: Massage and The Healthcare and Sick-Care Paradigm - 3 or 4 hours

Self-Care

• Self-Care Strategies for Massage Therapists - 3 or 4 hours
• Body Mechanics: Work Strategies to Prevent Repetitive Use Injury - 3 or 4 hours

Massage Therapy Training Program

Heartland Institute of Touch Therapies: A 700+ hour massage therapy training program that is approved by the state of Missouri and the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Classes are small (generally 3-4 students) to ensure personal attention to every student.