The Myoskeletal Alignment Approach:

Advancing Pain Relief and Structural Balance through Myoskeletal Mastery

The team attending the MAT workshop in February 2025 with Heather on the Teaching Team.

At Blue Monarch Advanced Bodywork, we take a science-based, results-driven approach to bodywork, focusing on techniques that address the root causes of pain and dysfunction. One of the most impactful methods we use is Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy (MAT)—a powerful system that blends osteopathic principles, myofascial therapy, neuromuscular techniques, and joint mobilization to optimize posture, movement, and overall function.

Honoring Erik Dalton’s Legacy

Erik Dalton, Terri, Paul Kelly, and Heather at a Myoskeletal Workshop in 2014

MAT was developed by Erik Dalton, a visionary in the field of massage therapy and bodywork. His groundbreaking work in pain relief and postural correction has reshaped the way many therapists approach treatment. Earlier this year, Erik Dalton passed away, leaving behind a lasting impact on our industry. We are deeply grateful

for his contributions and honored to continue applying his principles in our work.

How the Myoskeletal Approach Works

Unlike traditional massage, which often focuses on relaxation or localized tension, MAT takes a whole-body approach to pain relief. It is based on the idea that postural imbalances, muscle dysfunction, and joint restrictions are key contributors to chronic pain and movement limitations. Rather than simply treating symptoms, MAT identifies and corrects structural misalignments, reprograms neuromuscular patterns, and restores functional movement.

Terri and Lisa at the first annual MAT workshop in San Antonio 2024.

At Blue Monarch Advanced Bodywork, we incorporate a range of MAT techniques into our wellness, therapeutic, and restorative therapy sessions, including:

• Myofascial Release – Frees up fascial restrictions to improve mobility and reduce pain.

• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Stretching – Enhances flexibility and neuromuscular coordination.

• Joint Mobilization – Restores natural joint function and relieves stiffness.

• Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) – Uses gentle contractions to correct joint and muscle imbalances.

• Trigger Point Therapy – Releases deep-seated muscular tension for long-lasting relief.

The Benefits of Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy

Heather and Terri learning in paradise at the Costa Rica workshop in 2023

By addressing underlying dysfunctions rather than just surface-level tension, MAT provides a wide range of benefits:

🔹 Chronic Pain Relief – Effective for back pain, neck stiffness, headaches, joint discomfort, and more.

🔹 Postural Correction – Helps realign the body, reducing strain and improving movement efficiency.

🔹 Increased Mobility & Flexibility – Releases restrictions that limit range of motion.

🔹Injury Prevention & Recovery – Corrects muscle imbalances to prevent future injuries and speed up recovery.

🔹 Optimized Nervous System Function – Improves neuromuscular coordination and movement efficiency.

Our Commitment to Myoskeletal Mastery

At the time of this article, all therapists at Blue Monarch Advanced Bodywork have attended Myoskeletal Alignment workshops, demonstrating our collective dedication to learning, refining, and applying this cutting-edge approach.

To further our expertise, we have developed an in-house Myoskeletal Mentorship Program, which supports our therapists in completing the Myoskeletal Mastery Program—the highest level of MAT certification. Our goal is to help each therapist reach the status of Myoskeletal Master Therapist, ensuring that we continue to offer the most advanced bodywork techniques available.

Additionally, our co-founder Heather has taken this commitment a step further by becoming a Teaching Assistant for the Myoskeletal Teaching Team. Over the past year, she has assisted in three MAT courses, helping to train the next generation of therapists in these advanced techniques. Her involvement in teaching allows us to stay at the forefront of MAT advancements and bring the latest knowledge directly to our clients

The Blue Monarch team sporting their MAT merch. You have to go to a workshop to get a Myoskeletal shirt.

Whether you’re struggling with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or looking to improve your movement and posture, our team at Blue Monarch Advanced Bodywork is here to help. By integrating Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques into every session, we provide care that is not just relaxing but also highly effective in correcting dysfunction and promoting long-term wellness.

Book a session today and discover firsthand how Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy can help you move better, feel stronger, and live pain-free.

Erik Dalton on the drums demonstrating brain waves in OKC 2022. Did you know he was in the band The Flying Burrito Brothers?!

Blue Monrch News

Vagus Nerve Activation of the Spleen: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Boosting Immunity During Cold and Flu Season

How hacking the parasympathetic nervous system and combining VNS therapy with regular massage therapy can create a powerful immune-boosting routine.

As cold and flu season approaches, it's a good time to seek out natural, effective ways to strengthen our immune systems to stay healthy. Our regular self-care routines are a great start to creating a defense against illness. However, emerging research into the vagus nerve, particularly its connection to the spleen, offers a promising new approach to boosting immunity. Cutting-edge therapies such as non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation can hack your nervous system, which may be a game-changer in fighting infections and diseases. Emerging research into the vagus nerve, particularly its connection to the spleen, offers a promising new approach to boosting immunity. Therapies like vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) combined with Massage Therapy, also known to stimulate the Vagus Nerve, can give your body the extra support it needs during this time of year.

Understanding the Vagus Nerve and Its Role in Immunity

The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in counterbalancing the body's sympathetic stress response, which is associated with the "fight or flight" state. When the body experiences stress, the sympathetic nervous system triggers an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness to prepare for perceived threats. The vagus nerve, as part of the parasympathetic system, helps to restore balance by activating the "rest and digest" response. It slows down the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and promotes relaxation and digestion, thus regulating stress and helping the body return to a calm, balanced state after a stressor has passed. Proper vagal tone, or the health and responsiveness of the vagus nerve, is essential for managing chronic stress and maintaining overall nervous system harmony.

One of the most vital roles of the vagus nerve is its connection to the immune system through the spleen. Activation of the vagus nerve signals the spleen to release anti-inflammatory molecules and immune-regulating cells, which aid the body in fighting off infections and reducing inflammation. This nerve-spleen connection offers a pathway to modulate the immune system, making it a natural and non-invasive way to boost immunity.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Immunity Boosting

Given the vagus nerve's central role in immunity, therapies that target this nerve are showing great promise. One such therapy is Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), which involves bioelectronic therapy using microcurrent to gently stimulate the vagus nerve and enhance its communication with the body's organs, notably the spleen.

Dolphin Neurostim VNS Therapy is one of the leading devices designed to offer easy, noninvasive VNS. The Dolphin Neurostim device delivers precise, low-frequency microcurrent stimulation to the vagus nerve through the tragus in the ear. This gentle therapy has been shown to improve vagal tone, which is associated with a stronger immune response, reduced inflammation, reduced sympathetic stress, and a greater capacity to fight off infections.

Incorporating VNS therapy during cold and flu season can help keep your immune system in check by maintaining a healthy balance of immune cells, reducing stress, and preventing inflammation—one of the root causes of many seasonal illnesses.

Creating a Holistic Immunity-Boosting Routine for Cold and Flu Season

Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system through sensory receptors in the skin, muscles, and connective tissues. These signals travel through the nervous system to the brain, prompting a relaxation response. The brain then activates the vagus nerve, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, promoting digestion, and releasing tension. Additionally, massage increases the production of calming neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine while reducing stress hormones like cortisol. This effect shifts the body from the sympathetic "fight or flight" state into the parasympathetic "rest and digest" state, promoting deep relaxation and recovery.

Adding VNS to a massage session accelerates the shift from the "fight or flight" state into deep relaxation, reducing stress-related symptoms like elevated heart rate and muscle tension. This allows the body to respond more fully to the massage, promoting deeper muscle relaxation and enhanced circulation. The calming effect also supports the body's anti-inflammatory processes, which helps regulate the immune system. As stress decreases, immune function improves, making the combination of VNS and massage more effective in boosting overall health, reducing pain, and speeding recovery.

Additional Tips for Staying Healthy This Season

1. Stay Hydrated: Water supports all bodily functions, including the immune system.

2. Get Plenty of Sleep: Rest is critical for maintaining a healthy immune response.

3. Eat a Nutrient-Dense Diet: Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants help fuel your immune system.

4. Exercise Regularly: Moderate exercise, such as walking or yoga, boosts circulation and promotes the healthy movement of immune cells throughout the body, improving your body’s ability to fight infections.

5. Manage Stress: Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, so make time for relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.

By combining these holistic lifestyle practices with advanced therapies like Dolphin Neurostim VNS and therapeutic massage, you can create a robust defense against seasonal illnesses.

Conclusion

The vagus nerve's connection to the spleen offers an exciting, natural way to modulate the immune system and improve health, especially during cold and flu season. With therapies like VNS and massage, you can tap into your body's natural defenses to stay healthy, balanced, and resilient.

If you want to boost your immune system this season, consider incorporating VNS therapy and regular massages at Blue Monarch Advanced Bodywork. Our tailored sessions are designed to enhance your body's overall function, providing long-term support for optimal health.

Stay ahead of the season by giving your immune system the care and maintenance it deserves!

Read the Vagus-Spleen Research Article Here!