Massage Therapy Instructor Interview Series: Chris

When my Swedish Massage instructor told me that we would also be getting a few classes about myofascial release, I was excited. She said, "I hope Chris is your teacher. He's really smart. He's got a lot of experience. You will love him!" She wasn't wrong!

Chris Melmoth is an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner (OMP) and Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). He is also an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Drawing on over twenty-three years of clinical experience, Chris specializes in soft tissue work, manual therapy, and myofascial therapy. He attributes chronic pain and dysfunction primarily to fibrosis, scar tissue, and fascial adhesions, which he aims to remediate using specific manual techniques to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. He emphasizes that his work is "not magic" but rather a very, intentional and specific way of working.

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Chris operates under a holistic health model where he guides the assessment and treatment process by identifying restrictions that may interfere with a person's energy flow and natural healing ability. What I love most about Chris is that his approach focuses on establishing mind-body balance, opening meridians, and fostering a free spirit. He believes that the body is designed to heal itself if restrictions are removed and fundamental necessities are achieved.

He incorporates principles from various body-mind typing systems, including the Chinese Medicine Five Elements Theory, the Ayurveda Tridosha, and more, to tailor health strategies to individual needs. Chris's website, Vibe-Bodywork.com, offers further information.

1. Looking ahead to 2030, MassageLuXe predicts deeper roots for the massage industry in the health and wellness business sector, what emerging trends or specializations do you anticipate will shape the future career paths for your students?

In my professional opinion, from over 23 years of professional practice and experience, I believe one of the biggest shifts in the way manual therapists practice in the coming years will be much more focused attention on connective tissue restrictions... Particularly, the hands-on remediation of deep fascial restrictions, that in my opinion, are at the root cause of most chronic pain issues that are not able to be properly dealt with by mainstream medical practices. Massage therapists continue to be the only practitioners who are able to have the time, and take the time, to seek out these lesions. And as more massage therapists are trained to provide this very specific and specialized work for the public, I truly believe that it will be a professional specialty that the public will seek out more and more over the future years.

2. There are lots of approaches to practicing massage therapy on clients: medical, therapeutic, spiritual, relaxation, health & wellness...what is your approach and how has it changed over your career?

The way I see it, there are only two true ways to work as a massage therapist... Spa-style and Clinical. The vast majority of massage therapy that is practice these days is "spa-style"... It's what most of the public wants and expects when they book a massage therapy treatment. It is great and wonderful, and has it's amazing place in our world to help people reduce their daily muscle tensions, relax their nervous systems, and reestablish a sense of balance and well-being that helps them to get through their daily stressful lives. However, they're absolutely is another, more clinical, approach to massage therapy that is on par with all of the other health, wellness, and medical treatments out there that addresses the root causes of our patients complaints. This style of working does not use the normal massage therapy approach. Rather, it requires a formal and sophisticated consultation first, not only to hear the patient's complaints, but also to conduct a thorough professional assessment, and then also to establish an effective and orchestrated treatment protocol. This is the type of massage therapy that I specialize in, and teach in my classes. I do not want to teach future massage practitioners to just be "technicians", I strive to make them official "therapists'... Practitioners who regard themselves as healthcare professionals on the same level, if not more, then others out there who are dedicated to helping others in a way that genuinely helps.

3. Every massage therapist has a wide range of techniques to choose from. What is your specialty and what types of techniques do you tend to use the most?

My specialty is a form of soft (and sometimes hard) tissue lesion remediation... meaning that I take the necessary time to seek out the various types of structural, biochemical, or psychological restrictions that are at the core of the patient's chronic pain or dysfunction. And then I provided the necessary techniques & approaches that are required to get rid of these restrictions that are preventing the individual from experiencing life pain-free, mobility free, and psychologically free. 

You see, in my opinion, very sophisticated manual therapy has the potential to free every body of all psycho-structural restrictions, and helps to prevent any future illnesses and dysfunctions. 

My system is this: 

1. Open the tissue 

2. Open the joints 

3. Open the meridians

It is the only method available that can cure people from their core, prevent them from ever having to deal with dis-ease, and most importantly, allow them the opportunity to experience full body bliss, happiness, and all of the wonderful potentials that we all want from life.

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Final Words

It's truly been a transformational experience to learn from Chris. Chris has personally helped me overcome stubborn pain and restrictions, as well as several of my friends. He is a Master at his craft, and has the wisdom and experience and professionalism to help heal others through touch. If you want to learn from Chris too, call the European School of Massage Therapy at (702) 202-2455 for more information.