Prairie House Massage Therapy

Most of the massage therapists in Indiana

have no college degree.  Many have not

graduated from high school.  Prior to 2009 no minimum training or certification was even required for persons using the title, "massage therapist" in Indiana.         

A reputable massage therapist has graduated from a state-accredited massage school with

a minimum of 500 hours of training, passed

the national NCBTMB massage exam and is

an active member of the AMTA or ABMP professional massage organizations.

Jeff Nixa has over 750 hours of accredited massage training, hundreds of hours of additional continuing education credits, a college bachelor's degree, and two graduate  degrees in both law and theology.  His formal education includes:

• B.A. Political Science & International  Relations, Carleton College, Northfield,    MN (1982)

• J.D. in Law, Lewis & Clark School of     Law, Portland, OR (1986)

• M. Div. Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN (1999)

• "Highest honors" massage therapy  certification, Davenport University, 

           South Bend, IN (2002)

 Jeff's Family: Andree, Regina, Jeff & Aimee

"Though Jeff's approach is grounded in the physical...his greatest gifts are as a reflective listener.  With the facility to engage from a

range of perspectives from spiritual to

cognitive/ behavioral to simple issues around lifestyle and practical tips on daily living."

-David, chemistry professor     

Continuing Education Matters

Jeff has continued his bodywork education beyond school graduation, with hundreds of hours of continuing education training.  His studies have covered:

• Wilderness First Aid Certific. 2011
  
• CPR and BLS Certification, 2012
  
• Myofascial Release (John Barnes)
• Pregnancy Massage (Osborne-Sheet)
  
• Common Injuries (Benjamin Institute)
• Positional Release & Patterns (WMTI)
• Sports Massage (Ctr. for Vital Living)
• Trigger Point Therapy (Amber Davies)
• Active Isol. Stretching (Aaron Mattes)
• Oncology Massage (Memorial-Sloan
  

• Professional Ethics (Cortiva Institute)

• Reflexology (Cortiva Institute, Chicago)
• Myoskeletal Alignment (Erik Dalton)
• Anatomy Trains (Tom Myers)
• CranioSacral Therapy (Upledger Inst.)
• Active Myofascial Therapy (Diamond)

• American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) - Professional Member, #205744
• National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB)  #400431-00
• City of South Bend, IN- Business License #09-00002972 
• St. Joseph County Health Department  Massage Therapist Permit 

  Jeff teaching a couples' massage lesson  

Community Involvement Matters

Jeff is active in the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and testified before the

Indiana state legislature in 1996 to help assure passage of a much-needed massage therapist certification law.  This statewide law went into effect in 2009 and established the first-

ever minimum standards of education and

professional accountability for all massage therapists in Indiana.

"I like that you operate out of a nearby

neighborhood center, and that you're also

a progressive activist.  Feels like I'm

supporting a good cause."

   Elaine, administrator    

Saint Mary's College    

For his peers, Jeff helped bring integrative

healing staff from Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Cancer Center (NYC) to South Bend in 2007 to educate Michiana massage therapists on safe standards for oncology (cancer) massage. 

A Balanced Life Matters 

Jeff seeks health in his own life and community

in several ways.  He has volunteered to captain

the annual Adopt-a-Block  program in his inner city neighborhood.  He is a runner, a year-round bicycle commuter, and Past President of the Bike Michiana Coalition, a bicycle advocacy group of 1,500 local members (www.BikeMichiana.org).  Jeff is a writer and radio essayist on local public radio station 88.1 WVPE (www.WVPE.org).  He practices daily zazen sitting meditation as a member of the Sophia Zen Center, South Bend.  And he learned to kayak and Eskimo roll on the Great Lakes in a 17-foot wooden sea kayak he built in his living room!

But his most challenging and rewarding activity to date is being the proud father of two teenage daughters :) 

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Prairie House Massage Therapy