• Myofascial Release
  Massage
• How Does
  MRM Work?
• Why Learn This
  Technique?
• Courses &
  Certification
• I. Upper Body
• II. Lower Body
• III. Advanced
• IV. Certification
• V. Instructors
• Testimonials

• Find a Certified
  Practioner
  
• Sessions with
  Howard Rontal

Dedication

Instructors

Howard Rontal — Chris Morakis — Scott Dobbins

Howard Rontal

MA, CHP, CMT

Howard has been a Certified Hellerwork Practitioner since 1985 and began teaching what would evolve into the Myofascial Release Massage in 1991. Over 2,000 massage professionals and students have taken the Part I, Upper Body course since its inception. From a single two-day course the Myofascial Release Massage has grown to three 2 1/2 day courses.

From offering the Myofascial Release Massage at a single school, the seminars are currently available at eight schools in the eastern half of the United States and are taught by Howard and two other instructors he trained and certified. The Ohio College of Massotherapy in Akron, Ohio has also included the first two Myofascial Release Massage courses as part of the student curriculum.

Howard continues to maintain a private practice because he loves doing bodywork and because, as Joseph Heller once told him, "You can't teach well what you don't practice."

Howard specializes in traditional Hellerwork with its emphasis on postural correction, as well as relieving clients of the effects of physical trauma. Howard is a member of the American Hellerwork Association, the International Society of Structural Integrators, the American Massage Therapy Association, and the International Massage Association.

Chris Morakis

LMT, CMRM

Chris was the first person to become certified in the Myofascial Release Massage.

He took the Upper and Lower Body courses while a student at the Ohio College of Massotherapy from which he graduated in 1994 and immediately after completing these seminars was asked to served Howard as a teaching assistant. He has assisted Howard over 40 times.

Chris is licensed by the State of Ohio as an LMT. In addition to his private massage practice Chris is responsible for massage therapy, rehabilitation, exercise, and some physical therapy at a Chiropractic Clinic in Ohio.

He was the massage therapist for the 2000 Hewlett Packard Women's Bicycle Challenge in Boise, Idaho as well as for the LPGA in Warren, Ohio from 1998 through 2000. Chris is also certified as a fitness trainer by the International Sports Sciences Association, and is also an instructor of T'ai Chi and Chi Cong. From 2000-2003 Chris was also an instructor at the Ohio College of Massotherapy.

Scott Dobbins

LMT, CMRM, CNMT

Scott was awarded a A.A.S by the Ohio College of Massotherapy "with honors" in 2004.

His excellence as a student was recognized by Howard when he was chosen to be a Teaching Assistant for the Myofascial Release seminars while still in his third semester at The Ohio College of Massotherapy (OCM).

After being awarded his Limited Branch Practitioner License by the State of Ohio Medical Board, he was hired to develop and author the Associate Degree Program for the Massage Therapy Department of Tri-State Business Institute in Erie, PA where he also taught Anatomy, Physiology, Medical Terminology and Clinical Massage Skills.

Scott's main practice is in Canton, Ohio, but he also sees patients on a monthly basis at The Erie Massage Therapy Center in Erie, PA. Scott limits his practice to clinical cases — specializing in orthopedics,disorders of the spine including pre and post surgical applications, CAD injuries and migraines.

In addition to being certified in the Myofascial Release Massage, Scott is also certified in Precision Neuromuscular Therapy and has served as a teaching assistant for those courses at OCM. In addition, Scott practices Craniosacral Therapy. He served Howard as a teaching assistant in over 20 Myofascial Release Massage seminars.

More about Courses & Certification

I. Upper Body
II. Lower Body
III. Advanced Strokes
IV. Certification