In preparation for ABMP Movie Night on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, we ask the filmmaker and star of Touched: A Massage Story to join the podcast and tell us about their experience making the documentary. Touched: A Massage Story uncovers the wisdom found in the hands of a world-renowned massage therapist, Jonathan Grassi. This documentary offers insight into the hardships of entering this profession. Inspired by his personal journey of healing from loss and isolation, Grassi masters his gift of touch through the encouragement of mentors and newfound love. Visit www.abmp.com/ce-socials to sign up to watch!

Jonathan Grassi, world champion massage therapist and founder of Bodywork for Liberation, is dedicated to promoting somatic bodywork and advancing the field of massage therapy as a pillar of the healthcare system. Featured in national and local print and broadcast media, Jonathan brings vast training, expertise, and passion to his work.

Jonathan is the subject of the documentary Touched: A Massage Story (Toffu Films, 2020). The film unfolds the art of human connection through massage, and reveals Jonathan’s journey to the World Championship in Massage. It offers insight into the massage profession and showcases massage throughout the world and the importance of touch in all cultures. As a bodyworker, teacher and speaker, Jonathan guides individuals on a journey of transformation, supporting them in embodiment. Whether he’s helping massage clients to access their inner wisdom or sharing his modality with massage therapy students to help them expand their gifts, Jonathan understands the wonders of the body and its potential to lead people to inner peace and clarity. Jonathan’s approach to somatic bodywork is gleaned from over 2,700 hours of body-centered training. He is a graduate of the Finger Lakes School of Massage and completed advanced neuromuscular training at the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado. His education at the Colorado School for Somatic Studies, along with his work at the Institute for Phenomenal Touch, where he received the Master Instructor designation, contributes to his standing as a nationally-recognized somatic bodywork leader. His degree in psychology, with honors, from the Metropolitan State University, reflects his commitment to unwinding the body’s traumas through somatic bodywork. In 2018, Jonathan won the bronze medal in the Freestyle category at the World Championship in Massage in Copenhagen. He lives in the foothills of Colorado with his family and dogs. You can find out more about his work at Bodywork for Liberation. For more information, visit www.bodyworkforliberation.com.

Chandler Toffa is an international storyteller in both traditional and new forms of media. He graduated from USC’s Film Program with a BA in Film & Television Production and East Asian Area Studies. With human connection at the focus of his work, he has directed and produced a variety of projects ranging from VR/AR to linear narrative and documentary films. His passion lies in bridging cultures and finding humility in the depth of what is bigger than us, one story at a time. He previously worked for Universal Pictures and currently works with Participant’s documentary team in Beverly Hills, California. For more information, visit https://chandlertoffa.com.

This podcast sponsored by:          

Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com       

CBD Clinic: www.cbdclinic.co       

Handspring Publishing: www.handspringpublishing.com

(se) Connect: https://network.structuralelements.com        

Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.         

Website: anatomytrains.com             

Email: info@anatomytrains.com              

Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains   

Instagram: Instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial        

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA              

CBD Clinic products are the first nonprescription, over-the-counter topical medications that combine authorized active pharmaceutical ingredients and CBD enriching emollients such as hemp extract. Visit cbdclinic.co to get a sample and start feeling the difference for yourself today. Join our private Facebook group and connect with other massage therapists and HCPs using CBD Clinic products already.   

Website: www.cbdclinic.co         

Email: info@cbdclinic.co         

Phone: 303-223-0863         

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/CBDCLINIC       

Instagram: @officialcbdclinic         

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA              

Handspring Publishing specializes in professional-level books for massage therapists, osteopaths, yoga and Pilates teachers, physiotherapists, and other professionals who use touch or movement to help patients achieve wellness. Handspring Publishing’s books are written and produced to serve the professional and educational needs of health and medical professionals, musculoskeletal therapists, and movement teachers. Its list includes bestsellers like Fascial Stretch Therapy by Chris and Ann Frederick, Fascia: What It Is and Why It Matters by David Lesondak, and the just-published third edition of Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy by Carole Osborne, Michele Kolakowski, and David M. Lobenstine. Handspring’s books combine attractive and accessible presentations with an evidence-based approach to writing, including referencing the latest research findings. Authors are drawn from the ranks of highly respected teachers and experts in their area of specialization, including Kelly Bowers, Til Luchau, Robert Schleip, Graham Scarr, Gayle MacDonald, and Carolyn Tague, among others. ABMP members save 20% on regular list prices. Visit handspringpublishing.com and use discount code abmp20 to order. Shipping is free to all addresses in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Website: handspringpublishing.com

Email: info@handspringpublishing.com

Instagram: instagram.com/handspringpublishing

Twitter: twitter.com/HandspringLtd

Facebook: facebook.com/handspringpublishing

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCiD4TybAPVTbCL_xvCrwNOQ

At Structural Elements, we view ourselves as Body Engineers. We evaluate the human body according to its structural integrity and establish proper balance between compression and tension elements. Through identifying patterns in the body, we are able to locate areas of compensation to treat the cause of the imbalance, not the site of pain. Our patients achieve lasting results as we reduce structural imbalances, improve connective tissue health, and re-educate movement patterns. Now, we have taken our education, operations, and communications infrastructure from our franchise company and made it available to the industry through (se) Connect.       

            (se) Connect is the only interdisciplinary knowledge sharing platform that exists in the wellness industry. Participants gain access to treatment tools, business tools, and the ability to connect with other professionals in a variety of modalities. Through our community, massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, acupuncturists, and others all learn to look at the body through the same lense, which allows for rich discussions on patient care and treatment options. Our training staff brings decades of experience in massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and business, and we look forward to sharing that with you.     

Website: https://network.structuralelements.com/connect       

Email: team@structuralelements.com       

Facebook: www.facebook.com/structural.elements       

Instagram: www.instagram.com/structuralelements/       

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/structural-elements       

Ep 114 - Touched: A Massage Story, ABMP Movie Night! with Jonathan Grassi and Chandler Toffa

The ABMP Podcast | Speaking With the Massage & Bodywork Profession