Dietrich W. Miesler, M.A., C.M.T., Founder

Sharon Puszko, PhD, C.M.T., Executive Director/Dean of Continuing Education

Judy Varvel, C.M.T., Assistant to the Director

In the summer of 2000, Massage Review Publications became the exclusive publisher and distributor of all videos, books, courses, and products created by the Day-Break Geriatric Massage Project that was founded by Dietrich Miesler in 1991. The Geriatric Massage Project, now known as the Geriatric Massage Institute (GMI), is an institute that encourages and teaches the use of skillful hands-on work to make life more enjoyable for the elderly by helping them to maintain their health and often to regain physical capabilities that seemed lost forever.

The word “geriatric” refers to health impairments that are associated with the later years of life. Hence, this type of massage takes age-related health conditions into account. To do this successfully requires theoretical knowledge and technical skills that go beyond what is usually taught in massage schools because it is not needed in a practice directed at younger clients. As this information is not readily available, GMI was founded to pull pertinent facts from the fields of medicine, psychology, sociology, gerontology, and various bodywork disciplines to develop Geriatric Massage as a specialty. This ever-growing body of knowledge and techniques is the basis for GMI’s instructional books, videos, weekend workshops, and correspondence courses.

At the present time, GMI has seven instructors conducting workshops at various locations throughout the country several times each month. Since its inception, GMI has conducted over 500 workshops.
( To see the current schedule, just select Day Break Schedule at the bottom of this page.)

All GMI courses are NCBTMB and FSMTA approved Category "A" courses.

Level 1 – Geriatric Massage Workshop

This 2-1/2 day weekend workshop is the base course for the training program in Geriatric Massage. It offers 17 CEU contact hours for Massage Therapists and completion qualifies you for the Level 1 Certificate in the Geriatric Massage Training Program. The therapist who likes to work with seniors is put on the path to a massage career that is emotionally satisfying and financially promising without being physically draining.

Level 2 – Advanced Geriatric Massage Workshop

This 2-1/2 day weekend workshop is the next level in the training program in Geriatric Massage. It offers 17 CEU contact hours for Massage Therapists and completion qualifies you for the Level 2 Certificate in the Geriatric Massage Training Program. Two days of the workshop are spent in a nursing home or assisted living facility, working directly with elderly volunteers.

Prerequisite:  Must have attended the Level 1 Geriatric Massage Workshop within previous 2 years.

Massage Therapy & Medications

This newly established weekend workshop provides you with a wealth of information and 17 CEU’s. Particularly applicable to the geriatric population, the workshop is based upon Randal Persad’s new book “Massage Therapy and Medications”. Upon completion, participants will possess the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required understanding how and why medications work; how medications can influence the outcome of a massage; and how to adapt the treatment with a focus on client safety.

Five Rites of Rejuvenation

This is also a new course. The course is based on the Five Tibetan Rites. It introduces the techniques and wisdom that can enhance your health, increase your joy and longevity with quality. It demystifies the ancient science of Yoga. This course offers you 17 CEU’s.

Symposium

It became apparent early on that our approach to massage, successful as it was, could only gain more by the inclusion of other hands-on modalities suitable for our work with the elderly, such as Trager, lymphatic massage, and energy work. So, the idea of inviting other interested therapists and experts in various bodywork fields led to the search for an appropriate location where we could meet for a week of studying and relaxing. The first three symposia were held at Isis Oasis, a quaint retreat center in beautiful Northern California. Additional symposia were held in Murphy, North Carolina, with future ones to be held in Colorado and Florida.

The symposium creates a wonderfully congenial atmosphere among the attendees. As this bonding process proved to be a major factor of the success, we no longer accept people who just want to attend the lectures. The bonding process led to many friendships over thousands of miles. One of our Canadian participants spent a week in Arizona visiting with a new friend. Another from Lake Tahoe spent her entire vacation trip going from place to place all the way to Texas, visiting her new acquaintances met last year. This camaraderie is especially important for instructors, who, under normal circumstances would never see each other again, while all are working for the common goal. This fits beautifully with the actual purpose for these annual symposia, namely exposing therapists who are deeply committed to working in the field of Geriatric Massage to other methods and philosophies. We feel that one never has too many tools at one’s disposal, or too many friends.

Please see the online workshop schedules or for more information, contact:

Sharon Puszko, PhD, CMT, Owner, Executive Director

Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute

7434 King George Drive, Suite A

Indianapolis, IN 46260

Phone: (317) 722-9896 · Fax: (317) 722-0511 · E-mail: spuszko@juno.com

Or

Visit the Day-Break web site at www.daybreak-massage.com