The Thinking Practitioner

🎙 Can You Really Palpate the Psoas? MRI Evidence, Clinical Debate & a Bonus Visit from the Researcher Can manual therapists actually palpate the psoas, or is it anatomically out of reach? In this episode, Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe unpack a new real-time MRI pilot study presented at the 7th International Fascia Research Congress by UCSF physical therapist Christopher DaPrato and colleagues. The study offers rare imaging-based insight into what really happens when we try to touch this deep, controversial muscle. And at the end, Christopher drops in for a brief bonus segment to share safety insights and his hopes for future research. The debate around psoas palpation has become a kind of proxy war in manual therapy — between pain-science and movement educators who question highly specific anatomical claims, and hands-on practitioners who have used psoas work for decades and find it clinically meaningful. This conversation explores how DaPrato’s imaging helps reframe that debate. In this episode, they discuss:- Why psoas palpation has become a flashpoint debate and a stand-in for deeper philosophical disagreements in the field- How DaPrato’s team used dynamic MRI to observe what happens under the hands during attempted psoas palpation- What the images showed about depth, tissue layers, and muscle deformation when pressure is applied- The surprising finding that even a higher-BMI participant showed clear psoas shape change under palpation- How viscera behaved under pressure — including what the study suggests about visceral compression and safety- Clinical implications for angle, depth, and pressure when working in the anterior hip/abdominal region- The role of tools like the PSO-RITE compared with hand palpation, and what may (or may not) be interchangeable- How this research interacts with the idea of “palpatory pareidolia” (imagining specificity that isn’t there)- What this study does — and doesn’t — say about treatment effectiveness and future research priorities- And in a bonus segment, Christopher DaPrato joins Til to talk safety, visceral sliding, and practical precautions for working this sensitive region Whether you regularly include psoas work in your sessions, or you’re skeptical of deep abdominal palpation claims, this episode offers a nuanced, evidence-informed look at what our hands may — and may not — be doing. ✨ Resources👉 DaPrato et al. pilot study abstract (MRI of psoas palpation): https://www.cuptherapy.com/_files/ugd/12c814_c0500f355036456eb450562461ff267c.pdf 👉 Thinking Practitioner Ep 25: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/25-psoas-work-is-it-safe-is-it-necessary/id1492004207?i=1000496358416👉 Video version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/@AdvancedTrainings/podcasts👉 Episode image courtesy Christopher DaPrato @cuptherapy Sponsor Offers:- Books of Discovery – Save 15% with code thinking at https://booksofdiscovery.com/- ABMP – Save $24 on new membership at https://abmp.com/thinking- Advanced-Trainings – Try one month free of the A-T Subscription at https://a-t.tv/subscriptions/ with code thinking- Academy of Clinical Massage – Grab Whitney's free Assessment Cheat Sheet at https://academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet ✨ Connect with us:Til Luchau – https://advanced-trainings.com | Facebook | InstagramWhitney Lowe – https://academyofclinicalmassage.com | Facebook | Twitter 📧 Email us: [email protected] The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies — bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, physical therapy, osteopathy, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.

🎙 Is Your Work Valuable? The Psychology of Perceived Value in Hands-On Practice What makes clients value your work — and come back for more? Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe explore the results of a survey of over 2,000 practitioners to uncover the surprising psychology behind perceived value. Spoiler: it's not just about results or price. Value is created in a reciprocal feedback loop between practitioner and client — shaped by confidence, preparation, communication, boundaries, and dozens of subtle signals clients pick up (consciously or not). In this episode, they discuss:- The "chicken-and-egg" relationship between value perception and client outcomes- The famous "expensive pain pill" study and what it reveals about perceived value- How discount addiction undermines both value and client loyalty- The 9 ways to communicate value — from linens and punctuality to CE certificates and testimonials- Why going over time can actually diminish perceived value- How asking clients to invest effort (goals, homework, participation) raises their commitment- The importance of receiving the work you give — and what the survey showed- The surprising correlation between in-person CE hours and practice satisfaction - The confidence paradox: does success breed confidence, or does confidence breed success?- Practical tips: where to start if you want to shift value perception tomorrow Whether you're building a practice, thinking about pricing, or wondering why some clients don't seem to "get it," this conversation offers a roadmap for communicating value from the inside out. ✨ Resources👉 Read the full article: Is Your Work Valuable? https://a-t.tv/articles/luchau_valuable_mbw_20180427.pdf   👉 Video version: https://www.youtube.com/@AdvancedTrainings/podcasts Sponsor Offers:- Books of Discovery – Save 15% with code thinking at https://booksofdiscovery.com/- ABMP – Save $24 on new membership at https://abmp.com/thinking- Advanced-Trainings – Try one month free of the A-T Subscription at https://a-t.tv/subscriptions/ with code thinking- Academy of Clinical Massage – Grab Whitney's free Assessment Cheat Sheet at https://academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet ✨ Connect with us:Til Luchau – https://advanced-trainings.com | Facebook | InstagramWhitney Lowe – https://academyofclinicalmassage.com | Facebook | Twitter 📧 Email us: [email protected] The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies — bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, physical therapy, osteopathy, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.

🎙 What Happens When the Body Lets Go? Werner Klingler on Anesthesia, Altered States & the Physiology of Relaxation What actually happens when the body "lets go" — in anesthesia, trance, or the deep relaxation familiar to hands-on practitioners? Til Luchau talks with Professor Werner Klingler, anesthesiologist, physiologist, and fascia researcher at Ulm University (Germany), whose work bridges clinical anesthesia, neuroscience, and connective-tissue research. Drawing on decades of operating room experience, Dr. Klingler explains how different parts of the brain disconnect and re-synchronize during altered states, why the "freeze reflex" comes first, and how fascia's responsiveness makes it a living sensory organ rather than inert tissue. Fair warning: Werner gets wonderfully detailed about physiology — but stick with it, because he drops some genuine gems about autonomic "push-ups," why tears cleanse neurotransmitters, and what happens when children wake from anesthesia with wide-open pupils. In this episode, they discuss:- The "octopus model" of consciousness — why "altered state" is too simple- The three pillars of anesthesia: unconsciousness, analgesia, and muscle relaxation- How breathing and CO₂ levels influence pH, drug effectiveness, and tissue tone- Why warmth matters: how temperature shifts the load between muscle and connective tissue- What "autonomic push-ups" teach us about resilience and cyclic training- The freeze-then-flight reflex pattern and how it shows up under anesthesia- How emotion and perception shift as anesthesia fades — and why some people wake up sad- Whether sensation is required for bodywork to be effective (spoiler: tissue effects happen either way)- Pre- and post-operative care: what bodyworkers can offer surgery patients- Why fascia is alive — restructuring, remodeling, and central to our sensory and autonomic systems- The FRECLS project: how practitioners can contribute to international fascia research Whether you're curious about the neuroscience of deep relaxation, how anesthesia informs hands-on practice, or what happens when different "arms of the octopus" come back online, this conversation offers a rare clinical perspective on the states we work with every day. ✨ Resources👉 Join the FRECLS project (Fascia Research Consensus and Liaison Statement): https://frecls.org/👉 Fascia Research Society: https://fasciaresearchsociety.org/👉 Video version: https://www.youtube.com/@AdvancedTrainings/podcasts Sponsor Offers:- Books of Discovery – Save 15% with code thinking at https://booksofdiscovery.com/- ABMP – Save $24 on new membership at https://abmp.com/thinking- Advanced-Trainings – Try one month free of the A-T Subscription at https://a-t.tv/subscriptions/ with code thinking- Academy of Clinical Massage – Grab Whitney's free Assessment Cheat Sheet at https://academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet ✨ Connect with us:Til Luchau – https://advanced-trainings.com | Facebook | InstagramWhitney Lowe – https://academyofclinicalmassage.com | Facebook | Twitter 📧 Email us: [email protected] The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies — bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, physical therapy, osteopathy, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.

🎙 Celebrating 50 Years of Massage: Benny Vaughn’s Legacy of Professionalism, Perseverance & Touch Whitney Lowe sits down with legendary massage therapist Benny Vaughn to celebrate his 50 years in the massage and bodywork profession — a career that helped shape modern sports massage, elevate professional standards, and open doors for generations of practitioners. From his early years breaking racial barriers in sports medicine to his pioneering integration of massage into collegiate and professional athletics, Benny shares powerful stories of courage, mentorship, and the mindset that turns adversity into purpose. In this conversation, they explore:• Benny’s beginnings in track & field and how that led him to massage in 1975• Integrating massage into university and professional sports programs — and how it changed the field• Overcoming racial and cultural barriers in the Deep South of the 1970s• The essential mindset shift for success in massage practice• Why mentorship matters — and how to approach a mentor with respect• What Benny hopes the next 50 years of massage will bring This inspiring retrospective honors one of massage therapy’s most influential pioneers — a practitioner who continues to teach, mentor, and elevate the profession every day. ✨ Learn more about Benny Vaughn:👉 https://bennyvaughnlifecoach.com/ ✨ Watch this episode on YouTube:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@AdvancedTrainings/podcasts Sponsor Offers:• Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering thinking at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.• ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.• Advanced-Trainings: try a month of the A-T Subscription free by entering “thinking” at checkout at a-t.tv/subscriptions/.• Academy of Clinical Massage: Grab Whitney’s free Assessment Cheat Sheet at academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet.• Til’s 2026 Thailand Retreat: use code “thinking” for $100 off Finding Balance in an Out-of-Balance World at a-t.tv/thailand-retreat-2026/. ✨ Connect with us:Til Luchau: advanced-trainings.com | facebook.com/advancedtrainings | instagram.com/til.luchauWhitney Lowe: academyofclinicalmassage.com | facebook.com/WhitneyLowe | twitter.com/whitneylowe ——— The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.

🎙A better understanding of the very human emotion of disgust can help us navigate boundaries, empathy, and connection in our hands-on work—and in the wider world. This week, Til welcomes back Todd Hargrove—Certified Rolfer™, movement educator, and author of A Guide to Better Movement and Playing With Movement. Together they explore one of the most primal, and often least examined, human emotions: disgust. Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, and his years of practice, Todd unpacks disgust as part of our behavioral immune system—a mechanism designed to keep us safe from harm that also influences our moral judgments, client relationships, and social divisions. In this conversation, they explore: • How disgust shows up physiologically and emotionally in practitioners and clients • The difference between protective instinct and unconscious bias • When disgust serves as a moral compass, and when it drives prejudice or separation • Practical ways to notice and work with disgust as a signal rather than a verdict • How turning aversion into curiosity can deepen empathy and compassion in practice At its heart, this dialogue invites practitioners to see disgust not as something to suppress or be ashamed of, but as a doorway into greater awareness, boundaries, and connection. ✨ Read Todd’s original article on disgust:👉 https://toddhargrove.substack.com/p/disgust ✨ Learn more about Todd’s books and writing:👉 https://www.bettermovement.org/books ✨ Watch this episode on YouTube:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@AdvancedTrainings/podcasts Sponsor Offers:  • Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on https://booksofdiscovery.com/.  • ABMP: save $24 on new membership at https://www.abmp.com/thinking.  • Advanced-Trainings: try a month of the amazing A-T Subscription free by entering “thinking” at checkout at http://a-t.tv/subscriptions/,. • Academy of Clinical Massage: Grab Whitney's valuable Assessment Cheat Sheet for free at: https://www.academyofclinicalmassage.com/cheatsheet/  • Til’s upcoming retreat, Finding Balance in an Out-of-Balance World, happening March 2026 in Thailand. Use code “thinking” for $100 off: https://a-t.tv/thailand-retreat-2026/   ✨ Connect with us:• Til Luchau: https://advanced-trainings.com | https://facebook.com/advancedtrainings | https://instagram.com/til.luchau• Whitney Lowe: https://academyofclinicalmassage.com | https://facebook.com/WhitneyLowe | https://twitter.com/whitneylowe ——— The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.