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About Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques

Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (MAT) is a system developed by Erik Dalton as a tool to help relieve our nation’s neck and back pain epidemic. By incorporating muscle balancing techniques with joint stretching maneuvers, manual therapists learn to quickly identify and correct dysfunctional, neurologically-driven strain patterns before they become pain patterns. The typical deep tissue massage focuses mostly on providing temporary relief without identifying and correcting dysfunctional patterns.

The Lower Body Course has hundreds of effective assessment and treatment techniques for low back, hip, leg and ankle pain. Erik loves to say:): “Learn to fix backs, and you will always have a full practice.”  Lower Body Course

Erik’s “Dirty Dozen” techniques are visually explained in the Upper Body Course. Deep tissue, myofascial release, assisted stretching, joint capsule routines and special “spindle stimulating” maneuvers help promote myoskeletal balance. Learn low-force receptor recoil techniques to restore soft tissue, pain-free movement. This is a great home study course offering lines of defense for chronic myoskeletal pain. It’s a must-have course for treating chronic upper body pain patterns. Upper Body Course

The Technique Tour Course is full of great techniques, and a good overview of head-to-toe maneuvers. It includes treatment for hiatal hernia, abdominal scar release, and TMJ, which aren’t seen in any other of our DVD sets. The 3 DVD set and step-by-step manual were formulated for in-the-trenches massage therapists and bodyworkers. Each technique is sectioned so you can easily locate and practice a particular maneuver until you get it. It is also available online, as an e-Learning course. Technique Tour Course

Erik typically teaches two workshops each year. Check the MAT Workshops page for dates and a complete list of workshops offered this year with our other MAT Teachers.

Continuing Education Credits

MAT Courses
Upon successful completion of our MAT courses, you will earn CE hours, for your bodywork licensure, recognized by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), and most State Licensing Boards. MAT courses are approved by CE Broker under the “General Category” only. Upon completion of the requirements of any MAT course you’ll receive your Certificate of Completion. Completing a Foundational or Advanced course will automatically add you to our highly searched Online Directory of bodyworkers with MAT training. You will have also taken the first step toward Master Myoskeletal Therapist (MMT) Certification.

MAT Workshops
All workshops count toward the Master Myoskeletal Therapist (MMT) Certification and will provide you with CE credits for National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and most State Licensing Boards. All MAT workshops are approved by CE Broker under the “Relevant to and focus on massage therapy techniques” category.

All courses on the site are approved for continuing education by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). Our NCBTMB provider number is 157429-00.

We are also one of the few continuing education providers approved by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). 

We are also one of the few continuing education providers approved by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). As the name implies this is an organization of state licensing boards. They have recently set up a CE reporting system and most states will likely be transitioning from NCBTMB as their CE gatekeeper to their proprietary reporting system over the coming years. 

Yes. There are a few ways you can study on your own. Learn from Erik’s Technique DVDs or MAT Textbooks, or purchase any of the courses and skip taking the test. Please note that the supplemental reading manuals included in some courses are only available when you purchase a complete course. Refer to our Catalog page for more information.

To receive certification, you must purchase the full course(s) and complete each test. The same test is required for both CE’s and certification. MMT Certification

Questions About Certification

Erik Dalton and the MAT trainings are well-respected in the bodywork and massage community for their quality and efficacy. You’ll never question whether you’ve spent your money well with our programs.

However, it all depends on your goals as a massage therapist. There are a lot of great teachers and a diversity of specialty techniques available. MAT training is for bodyworkers interested in learning more clinical approaches to finding and resolving pain patterns in the body, rather than relaxation techniques or spa treatments.

Our courses are considered post graduate courses for massage therapists and bodyworkers. They do not supersede state licensing requirements.

No, there are no prerequisites for any courses or workshops.

No. Erik highly suggests you start with the Foundational Courses to establish a set of skills for issues across the entire body. However, you can start with any course you like, and complete the courses in any order.

Whenever you take one of our courses and pass the test with a 70% or better, you will receive a certificate of completion for that course. 

For students who wish to become experts in Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques, you can earn the Master Myoskeletal Therapist (MMT) certification. This certification is a registered trademark with national recognition in the bodywork industry. Completing this certification entails completing all 9 of our courses (either in Homestudy format or eCourse), as well as attending 50 hours of live workshops. More details are available on the Master Myoskeletal Therapist Certification page. MMT Certification Details

The Foundational Course Bundle is not a stand alone course, it is a bundle of 4 courses offered at a lower price than if you would have purchased them individually.  Upon completion of each of the course requirements, you will, receive four Certificates of Completion for the following courses: Posture, Pain, Performance (20 CE), Upper Body (20 CE + Bonus! Ethics Course 2 CE), Lower Body (32 CE) and Professional Ethics (6 CE). These courses are designed to give you a solid foundation of MAT skills to use to resolve pain from head-to-toe in your clients. The bundles are also designed to save you money. 

Complete any of our MAT Courses in the Complete Library and contact our office to let us know you would like to be listed in our directory. We’ll then list you in our popular and highly visited directory on the erikdalton.com site. Contact Us page

Courses: eLearning Courses and Home Study Courses

Many of our courses can be completed in a weekend of intensive studying, like a self-guided workshop. However, you’re welcome to spread your study time out across several days or weeks. There are no time restraints on taking the courses. The CE credits are non-expiring.

The eLearning Course contains:

  • Online streaming instructional videos (instant access)
  • Detailed instructions for all techniques
  • A downloadable full-color manual
  • Online tests and printable certificate of completion
  • Lifetime access to all course materials

The Home Study format contains hard goods that are shipped to you. This includes:

  • All course materials are either on instructional DVDs or USBs
  • Full-color printed textbook or manual
  • Mail-in test 
  • FREE BONUS: When you purchase the Home Study version, you’ll get access to the eLearning Course as outlined above

You save with eLearning: Because there is no hard product to ship with the eLearning Course format, we can pass the savings onto you!

Billing and Shipping

As soon as your payment posts the eCourses are delivered to your inbox.

When you purchase a home study course you will also get access to the related eCourse.

For Shipping Orders: Within the U.S. shipping is generally 7-10 days.

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