Save the Date!

October 25, 2026

Philadelphia, PA

Join us for the 2026 Regional Education Event and Meetup in Philadelphia, PA!

Registration Deadline:  October 18, 2026!

Get ready for an inspiring day of education, connection, and community at The Discovery Center—a unique urban environmental center and migratory bird sanctuary located in East Fairmount Park, just minutes from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row.

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Event Highlights:

• Earn 8 CE Credits in Sports Massage in a serene natural setting dedicated to self-discovery and personal achievement.

• Expert Instruction with Christopher Deery: Learn from an instructor who masterfully blends clinical reasoning, hands-on application, and engaging discussion.

• Key Takeaways: Build your confidence, sharpen your assessment skills, and learn to deliver more thoughtful, effective care.

LOCATION

The Discovery Center
3401 Reservoir Dr.
Philadelphia, PA 19121

discoveryphila.org

Please note that The Discovery Center has a parking area with 40 spaces on site and ample parking on the surrounding street. For those individuals bringing massage tables or who have difficulty walking, a Discovery Center employee will be available for transport from the parking lot to The Great Room where classes will be held.

REGISTRATION RATES

$120 – Professional AMTA Member

$97 – Graduate AMTA Member*

$165 – Non-Member

*A Graduate AMTA Member is a newly licensed massage therapist within their first year as an LMT who holds an active AMTA Graduate Membership.

FEATURED INSTRUCTOR

Christopher Deery, LMT, BCTMB

With nearly 30 years in practice and a history of leadership in the massage profession, Christopher Deery brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, research literacy, and educational excellence to every class he teaches.

A graduate of the Massage Therapy Institute of Oklahoma and national educator, Christopher spent nearly 20 years providing massage therapy services through contracts with Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa, working as an integral member of the sports medicine team alongside certified athletic trainers and osteopathic physicians. His experience includes training room care, event coverage, team travel, and working with PGA professionals, WWE talent, and competitive athletes of all ages.

As co-founder of Anatriptic Alchemy with his wife, Xerlan, Christopher develops and teaches innovative, evidence-informed continuing education in sports massage, pain science, and advanced manual therapy. His classes blend clinical reasoning, hands-on application, and engaging discussion, helping therapists build confidence, sharpen assessment skills, and deliver more thoughtful, effective care.

AGENDA

Sunday, October 25,2026

8:00am-8:30am

Registration

8:30am-10:30am

The Ethics of Athletics (2 CEs)

12:30pm-1:30pm

Lunch will be provided.

(A variety of sandwiches, cold salads like potato and macaroni, assorted cookies, and beverages.)

10:30am-5:30pm

Sports Massage Beyond the Technique: Pre and Post (6CEs)  <Includes a lunch break>

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WHAT TO BRING.

Participants work 3 to a table, that way each person has a chance to watch and reflect.

Each person should bring

• a massage table*

• a large towel

• their medium of choice

• an open mind

• questions

Face cradle covers will be provided for the class.

We encourage a willingness to mingle so no static groups... (cliques) We like to create a safe space for all participants.

* 1 in 3 attendees will need to bring a massage table,

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations received at least 30 days prior to the class: Full refund. Due to the costs of rentals, supplies, and speaker fees, if cancellations are received within 2 weeks prior to the class, there will be no refund - between 30 days and two weeks, there will be a 50% refund. Cancellations must be either written or via email. The Board reserves the right to amend or waive this policy in documented emergency situations.

QUESTIONS

Email:Pennsylvania@amtamassage.org

Phone: (570) 507-5720

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Class Descriptions:

Sports Massage Beyond the Technique: Pre and Post

Most athletes do not need to be “fixed.”

They need someone who understands what 18 miles of pavement, dehydration, cumulative fatigue, nervous system overload, and relentless repetitive movement actually do to the human body.

This class moves beyond the old-school “sports massage checklist” model and into something far more useful: understanding the athlete in front of you.

Using the philosophy and framework from Sports Massage: Beyond the Technique, this course teaches massage therapists how to approach pre and post-event care through the endurance paradigm, especially for runners ranging from weekend 5K participants to marathon athletes.

You’ll learn:

• Why aggressive work before an event can sabotage performance

• Why post-event soreness is often neurological and metabolic, not just muscular

• How hydration, stress, sleep, heat, pacing, and psychology alter tissue presentation

• What the endurance athlete’s nervous system is actually asking for

• How to adapt pressure, pacing, positioning, and intent based on timing and fatigue

And yes, there will be hands-on work. Lots of it.

No magic strokes. No “sports massage secrets.” Just smarter reasoning, better observation, and practical approaches that make sense in the real world. 

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The Ethics of Athletics

This class will examine the specific ethical issues surrounding the dynamic world of sports medicine, from dealing with athletic personalities regarding injury and codependency, understanding hierarchy in the training room, teamwork among the sports medicine team to considerations including NCCA compliance and appropriate referrals. This is a great course for Massage Therapists who currently practice sports massage, or want to investigate the panorama of massage in the athletic realm. Lecture and discussion.

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*A Graduate AMTA Member is a newly licensed massage therapist within their first year as an LMT who holds an active AMTA Graduate Membership.

**Per the PA State Board of Massage Therapy, Student Members are not permitted to participate in hands-on continuing education classes unless those classes are conducted under the umbrella of their massage school. Student Members are welcome and encouraged to attend lecture-based classes, the Friday evening Dessert Social, and the Sunday Annual Meeting and Lunch. If you’re unsure of your membership status, please reach out. We’re happy to assist.