TORONTO, Ontario, Canada — Canadian registered massage therapist (R.M.T.) Paul Lewis returns from England where he presented talks to therapists and students at a number of continuing education events. The journey’s original purpose was Lewis’ attendance at Great Britain’s CamExpo, where he would be a presenter for the fifth year in a row. Before long, it mushroomed into a whirlwind of opportunities to provide teaching sessions and workshops in a number of cities.
When word got around that he would be in England, Lewis was invited by massage therapist Virginia Evans to the Isle of Wight to provide a continuing education event for the region’s massage therapy local support group. The group is a forum for practitioners, students and in many cases, the public, to hear from speakers on various topics within the fields of complementary health care, beauty and sports therapy. Members of the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) run local support groups on a voluntary basis. Lewis was honoured to be invited to speak to this group and, in fact, partnered with his corporate supporters to help make the event—which presented a funding challenge for its members—come together.
Lewis was also invited by the University of Warwick Medical School to lecture to second-year medical students at the school’s integrative teaching sessions event. There were about 400 participants made up of graduates and second-year medical students. The students broke into smaller groups of up to 20 per therapist and then reconvened for a closing question period. Lewis spoke about rehabilitation and treatment techniques for cancer patients who experience post-surgical issues. He described the reasoning and rationale for the treatment methods, position and techniques used for addressing patients with post-mastectomy pain, restricted range in motion and Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). He also talked about techniques for addressing Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS), reconstruction and helping with post-secondary lymphedema. He discussed six case studies with outcomes and treatment protocols for each of these topics.
“I believe the students were quite receptive to the discussions,” Lewis said. “Given the opportunity, I would love to do it again.”
While in Europe Lewis took time to treat patients in Germany and the U.K. He also provided advanced workshops for therapists on seated massage and table treatment techniques in areas such as London and Cardiff.
Lewis is registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO), the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) and The Complementary and Natural Health Council (CNHC) in Great Britain. He is an accredited provider and has taught advanced treatment techniques, using a method called Dynamic Angular Petirissage (DAP), across North America, Europe and Japan. He has also contributed to a number of massage therapy publications and has recently completed his preliminary filming on two new DVDs about Joint Mobilizations and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Lewis said he looks forward to returning to Great Britain and hopes for more opportunities to convene with therapists there, both as a presenter and as a colleague. For now, he said he is happy to be back in Ontario, providing services to his patients.
For more information on Paul Lewis, visit www.paullewis.ca.