You became a massage therapist to help people feel better. And most of the time, continuing education supports that goal beautifully.
I’ve taken some incredible classes over the years – instructors who changed how I think about bodywork, who taught me techniques I still use daily, who made learning feel exciting and achievable.
I’ve also sat through classes where I left thinking “That was more complicated than it needed to be” or “I’ll probably never use this.”
Here’s the thing: I’ve been teaching for 30 years (though I’m newer to the massage CE world), and those amazing classes I took taught me what works.
Hi, I’m Doreen. My business is called The Doreeno Method – a nickname from 30 years ago involving Spaghetti-O’s and being very poor in Portland.
I’m here to create the kind of classes I love taking: practical, fun, and actually useful.
What I Learned from Great Teachers (And Not-So-Great Ones)
I started teaching massage therapy continuing education 3 years ago, but I’ve been in education for 30 years total. More importantly, I’ve been a student for even longer.
I’ve taken classes that completely changed my practice for the better. Instructors who made complex concepts feel simple. Teachers who answered every question with genuine enthusiasm. Classes where I left thinking “I can’t wait to try this with my clients tomorrow.”
Those experiences taught me what makes education actually work:
The best instructors didn’t just know their stuff – they remembered what it felt like to not know it yet.
The most useful classes gave me tools that fit into what I already did well, rather than requiring me to overhaul my entire approach.
The classes I still reference years later focused on principles I could adapt, not rigid choreography I had to memorize perfectly.
But I also experienced the flip side. Classes where the instructor seemed disconnected from real practice. Techniques that looked impressive but weren’t practical for everyday use. Learning experiences that left me feeling like I wasn’t “advanced enough” to get it.
Those experiences were just as valuable – they showed me exactly what I didn’t want to recreate when I started teaching.
The Question That Changed Everything
I was teaching a cupping class, and this therapist – let’s call her Sarah – raised her hand and said, “I’m sorry, but I have to ask… is this actually worth learning? I mean, will my clients really benefit enough to justify the time it takes me to set this up?”
And you know what? That was the BEST question anyone had ever asked in my class. It reminded me of all the great instructors I’d learned from – the ones who encouraged questions like that.
Here’s the thing: Sarah wasn’t being difficult. She was being smart, just like the teachers who taught me to think critically about what I was learning.
That question – “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” – became my teaching filter for everything.
It means: Is all the extra effort you’re putting in actually making a meaningful difference for your clients?
Some techniques require you to completely change your setup, learn complex hand positions, and remember 12 specific steps… but don’t actually give clients better results than what you’re already doing. That juice? Not worth the squeeze.
But tools that integrate into your existing practice, make your job easier, AND give clients noticeable benefits? That’s juice worth squeezing for.
That’s when I realized – I shouldn’t be teaching techniques. I should be teaching tools. Tools that build on what therapists already do well.
My Teaching Philosophy
**”Is the juice worth the squeeze?”** – A question I learned to ask from taking both amazing classes and… less amazing ones.
**Build on what works** – The best instructors I’ve learned from never made me feel like I had to start over. They showed me how to make what I already did even better.
**Integration over choreography** – I’ve taken techniques classes where I used parts of what I learned, adapted other parts, and honestly never used some techniques at all. That’s normal and okay.
**Tools, not rules** – Learn principles you can adapt, not rigid sequences you have to memorize.
**Questions make everything better** – The instructors I learned the most from encouraged questions. Even the “basic” ones.
**Your body matters** – If a technique hurts the therapist long-term, it’s not sustainable. Period.
The Boring-But-Important Stuff
**30 years in education** (because I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t)
**20 years teaching massage therapy** (I understand your world)
**3 years as a CE provider** (but honestly, the best part is seeing therapists get excited about learning again)
**NCBTMB approved** (yeah, we checked all the boxes)
**Teaching at schools all across the US** (keeping me connected to new therapists and industry changes)
The real credential? I’ve never had a student say my class was boring. And trust me, I ask.
What It’s Like to Learn with Me
**You’ll hear “Here’s the thing” a lot** – It’s my way of cutting through the fluff and getting to what actually matters.
**I’ll admit when I don’t know something** – And then we’ll figure it out together, because that’s how real learning happens.
**You can ask ANY question** – Seriously. From “What if this doesn’t work on my client?” to “Is it normal that I’m nervous about trying this?” All good questions.
**I might poke fun at industry overcomplications** – But never at students. We’re all learning, including me.
**My hands-on classes will be hands-on** – Because massage therapists learn by doing, not by watching videos. (My online classes focus on the parts that don’t need physical practice.)
**You’ll leave feeling confident** – Not overwhelmed. Not like you need 47 more classes to use what you learned. Just confident that you can integrate this into your practice.
**Your body will thank you** – Because I only teach tools that make your work easier, not harder.
What Students Actually Say
*”26 year LMT/MTI and she was my favorite instructor. Would host her any time!”*
**- S.U.**
*”Doreen was knowledgeable, energetic, and dynamic. She was very engaging and nurturing, it was a pleasure.”*
**- A.P.**
*”Always love Doreen’s classes! She is always amazing and I actually learn from her.”*
**- M.C.**
*”I would take her course again and again and again!”*
**- Anonymous**
*”Very engaging, will seek out more classes from you!”*
**- J.D.**
Ready to take a class that you’ll actually use? Your hands (and your clients) will thank you.