Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (MAT) Workshops
Treating Trapped Nerves: Neurodynamics “The MAT Way”
Richmond, VA. | October 2–3, 2027 | with Nate Fay
When a client experiences burning pain, tingling, numbness, or radiating discomfort, treating tight muscles and restricted joints is not enough. Peripheral nerves must move and adapt as the body bends, stretches, and rotates. When nerves become compressed, irritated, or sensitive to movement, even everyday activities can trigger pain, protective muscle guarding, and compensatory patterns that perpetuate dysfunction.
Discover how neurodynamic techniques can expand your treatment options, sharpen your clinical skills, and help clients move with ease and confidence (16 CE Hours).
Erik Dalton’s Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (MAT) offers an integrated approach to nerve-related pain that goes beyond traditional soft-tissue work. Through guided, hands-on practice, learn to recognize common nerve-related pain patterns, prepare muscles and joints surrounding sensitive nerves, and perform precise upper-body and lower-body neurodynamic techniques.
In this workshop, you’ll learn:
- Neurodynamics. Explore the fundamentals of neurodynamics and learn how peripheral nerves respond to movement, compression, and mechanical stress.
- Entrapment Patterns: Assess cervical and lumbar nerve root mobility and recognize common compression and entrapment patterns that cause radiating pain, numbness, and tingling.
- Thoracic Outlet. Address restrictions in the cervical spine, scalenes, first rib, and pectoralis minor that contribute to brachial plexus irritation and symptoms associated with thoracic outlet syndrome.
- Upper-Body Nerve Mobilization Techniques. Practice nerve mobilization techniques for the median, ulnar, and radial nerves to help clients overcome symptoms linked with carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, and radial nerve entrapments.
- Sciatic and Piriformis Syndrome: Address restrictions in the lumbar spine, pelvis, and deep hip rotators that factor in sciatic nerve irritation and symptoms related to sciatica and piriformis syndrome.
- Lower Body Nerve Mobilization Techniques: Practice nerve mobilization techniques for the sciatic, femoral, obturator, tibial, and common fibular nerves to help clients experiencing nerve-related pain and restricted movement in the hip, thigh, leg, and foot.
- Technique Guide: Take home a beautifully designed, full-color Technique Guide to use as a reference manual in your session room.
New to MAT? Discover a practical approach to nerve-related pain that expands your treatment options beyond traditional soft-tissue massage.
Already practicing MAT? Recognize when neural sensitivity may be contributing to persistent pain and add targeted nerve mobilization techniques to your existing myoskeletal framework.
Leave with new hands-on skills and practical methods you can integrate into your sessions right away. Level up your approach to challenging client complaints with clinical self-assurance.
Meet Licensed MAT Educator Nate Fay
Nathan Fay holds a Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Therapy, and a Master Myoskeletal Therapist® certification from Dalton Myoskeletal. Nate has studied extensively with Erik Dalton to become a Licensed MAT Educator in 2020. An LMT for 20 years, Nate teaches MAT internationally and maintains a thriving private practice using MAT to support bodywork clients in Connecticut.
“Nate has a well-honed gift for presenting technical material in a smooth, well-rehearsed, seemingly effortless manner. Nate has an impressive background and the experience to stand behind this impressive catalog of therapeutic work.”
Participant, Meredith, NH, 2026
“Nate took extra time to circulate the classroom and check on the positioning and accuracy of our hands, elbows, posture, etc.”
Participant, San Francisco, CA, 2026
“I was already using a lot of the techniques in my treatments and stretches. I am super excited to have a deeper understanding of what is actually happening and how I can add more to them.”
Participant, Red Deer, AB, 2026
“Nate is an amazingly gifted teacher. All that material in another person's hands could get lost and become very confusing. Nate made it seem simple, but we all know the years of research, love, and care that it took to create a course like this. Nate presented it with the same care, clarity, and respect it deserved.”
Participant, San Diego, CA, 2026
“Nate is a fantastic educator! He's very clear in his instructions and easy to follow. He's also just a cool guy and made it a lot of fun!”
Participant, San Diego, CA, 2026
“I think MAT should be taught in massage school. It's an eye-opener on postural dysfunction and also saves the practitioner from using excessive hand and finger movements.”
Participant, Red Deer, AB, 2026
“This was my first-ever workshop as a massage therapist, and it was the best experience! I was very nervous, but our educator Nate and the teaching assistants were amazing and made the nerves go away. Nate would also take time to help us one-on-one whenever he could. I cannot wait to attend more Erik Dalton Myoskeletal Workshops!”
Participant, San Francisco, CA, 2026
“I felt we covered a lot of material, but the teaching pace was not rushed. The use of videos and slides was effective. I liked that hands-on time was short and frequent, not requiring us to practice too many techniques at once. I have a short memory span, so it helped a lot.”
Participant, San Diego, CA, 2026
“This is my second MAT workshop with Nate and his team, and this one was exceptional. We all had a blast, and the TA team was second to none. I always feel challenged the entire time, and this one was no exception. The amount of one-on-one work with both the TAs and Nate is what really makes this course stand out among the rest.”
Participant, Meredith, NH, 2026
“I found the workshop a wonderful balance of therapeutic assessment and treatment options for a multitude of presentations, with a sprinkling of humor mixed in.”
Participant, Meredith, NH, 2026
Location
The workshop will be held in the Junior Ballroom at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, located at 403 N. Third Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The venue is located approximately 12 miles from the Richmond International Airport (RIC).
Continuing Education
This workshop is approved for 16 CE hours by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).
Schedule October 2–3, 2027
Day 01: Registration and setup start at 8:30 a.m., with class running from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with regular breaks and lunch.
Day 02: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., with regular breaks and lunch.
Supplies
Bring a massage table. Bring sheets, face cradle, face cradle cover, massage lubricant, and snacks. If you are traveling by air, let us know, and we will arrange a massage table for you. Wear comfortable sports clothing in layers as hotel and classrooms are typically too hot or too cold.
Accomodations
The Hampton Inn and Suites Richmond Downtown is the closest moderately priced hotel, just 0.3 miles or a 6-minute walk from the Richmond Convention Center. The Richmond Marriott, Linden Row Inn, and Holiday Inn Express are all within a 10-minute walk from the venue. There are also Airbnb options. No room block has been reserved for this workshop.
Food
Inside the Greater Richmond Convention Center, you can find the second-level Food Court and Cyber Café. Nearby restaurants are ML Steak (American, 0.12 miles and a 2-minute walk), Fall Line Kitchen & Bar (American, 0.2 miles and a 3-minute walk), Buttermilk and Honey on Grace (Southern, 0.3 miles and a 6-minute walk), and Mama J’s Kitchen (Southern, 0.3 miles and a 6-minute walk). Don’t miss Nate’s favorite restaurant, the GWARbar, at 217 W Clay Street. It’s 0.6 miles away and takes 3-9 minutes to walk, depending on your route.
Parking
The Greater Richmond Convention Center has an attached, multi-level parking deck located at 3rd and Marshall Streets, directly connected to the center via an enclosed skywalk on the 3rd level. Rates are typically $8 to $10 per entry for daytime event parking, and $26 per night for overnight parking. Free street parking is extremely limited, but metered spots are available on nearby downtown blocks and are free on Sundays and during evening hours.
Completion Policy
To receive a certificate of completion and continuing education (CE) hours, participants must attend the workshop in its entirety and submit a completed workshop evaluation form. No partial CE credit or credit towards MMT certification will be awarded for incomplete attendance.
Cancellation Policy
Dalton Myoskeletal offers a refund for cancellations made up to 30 days prior to the workshop start date, minus a $100 administrative fee. Cancellations made within 30 days of the workshop start date are non-refundable.
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