Massage Therapy Continuing Education

The world of massage welcomed Ben into it’s “house” in 1979. His 37 years of service to others since then has been a varied and eclectic path. He has provided therapy for the general population, professionals across the athletic spectrum, hospice and oncology patients, and those with special needs. He has treated newborns that were less than an hour old with the most gentle approach and then worked on professional football linemen utilizing deep therapy techniques. He is unabashedly excited about his profession and “brings it” every day to his patients and his students. To his closest friends and family he is truly a therapy nerd. One of his favorite quotes is, “I stand on the shoulders of giants.”. Ben will readily credit, and share, the names of the individuals he has met through the health care profession during the last four decades that have changed his life and helped him grow professionally and personally. Some were health care mentors, others were patients, and still many more were his students. As an instructor Ben blends humor, a gift for analogy, and critical Socratic thinking skills to engage his students. His entertaining approach to presenting is purposeful in promoting assimilation and retention of the material being taught.

In 2004 he was awarded the Florida State Massage Therapy Association’s “Service Award” for initiating an oncology massage program at his county hospital, and for traversing the state to help train therapists in hospice service while motivating several chapters to form Hospice Teams. He also served as a consultant for the formal hiring of massage therapists within hospice organizations.

Danielle Almendinger is a Licensed Massage Therapist with over 10 years of experience. She is a graduate of Career Training Academy with an Associates Degree. As the founder of MOMASSAGE and a mom herself, Danielle is driven by a desire to help women of all ages enjoy all that makes being a woman special. She started her massage therapy career in 2005, graduating from Career Training Academy. In 2006 she started working at a prominent spa in Erie, PA. While there she gained valuable experience in providing relaxation to her clients. In 2008 she opened her own practice located in a wellness center. It was during her time there that she started taking a more mind and body approach to her sessions. In 2010 her interest in working with pregnant woman expanded to working with couples trying to conceive. In 2013 postpartum services were included to her practice.

Danielle Almendinger is a Licensed Massage Therapy Fertility Massage Specialist.

Josh has studied the human body, along with its functions and movements for many years. Beginning at the age of 4, he started training in martial arts, earning a 2nd degree black belt at the age of 12. At 8 years old, he began assistant teaching martial arts to both children and adult students alike. His passion for learning about the body thru martial arts led him to dig deeper leading him to the field of massage and body work.

He studied holistic health & therapeutic bodywork at Body Mind College in San Diego, CA graduating in 2002. Since then he has taught full course massage therapy programs at Maric College, United Education Institute, as well as teaching select massage and communication classes at the School of Healing Arts, all based in California. He has also taught home health caregivers proper body mechanics and massage therapy to help care for their patients.

Along with teaching massage therapy and martial arts, he is also a teacher of Bikram yoga. Currently, Josh is a seasoned massage practitioner with a thriving practice in Florida. With great passion, his goal is to share his love and knowledge of the body so that others can learn what true healing is about, not only a physical level, but a mental and emotional level as well.