Background and Training
Doug is a visual artist and bodyworker who has been providing massage, and teaching massage, anatomy and Qi Gong since 2003. Doug’s journey to bodywork began in art school with anatomical drawing, and continued as an English teacher in Japan, where he used embodied experience to teach and learn language. After returning to the States, he completed his training in Acupressure and massage at The Acupressure Institute in Berkeley and McKinnon Institute in Oakland in 2003 and 2004, where he studied Acupressure, Zen Shiatsu, Craniosacral, Reflexology, Swedish, and Deep Tissue.

Massage Practice

Doug currently lives and works in Joshua Tree, CA where he has a thriving private practice at his private studio.  In the past Doug has worked as a massage therapist at Bodywork Central, Transcendentist, California Pacific Medical Center, McKinnon Institute, and Piedmont Spa.  Additionally, he performs on-site chair massage for such clients as California College of the Arts, Kaiser Hospitals, American Licorice Factory, Stanford University, Touch Health Association and the Bioneers Conference.

Teaching

Since 2006, Doug has taught massage technique, anatomy and business practice at McKinnon Institute, New College, and National Holistic Institute.  He currently teaches the Massage Therapist Program at San Francisco School of Massage, and Continuing Education workshops for therapists at Massage Envy - Bay Area. He has led Qi Gong classes at East Bay Meditation Center and at Spirit Rock.  Doug also tutors massage therapists in technique, business practice, and interview preparation. As a massage therapist and teacher, Doug integrates Qi Gong and meditation into his work to teach his clients and students to tap into the flow of their Qi.  Currently, Doug teaches workshops in Couples Massage, Acupressure, Foot Reflexology, and one-on-one tutorials for students preparing for the MBLEx Exam.

Volunteer Work

Doug has worked as Massage Team Leader with Suitcase Clinic in Berkeley, and once a year on the Massage Team for AIDS LifeCycle, which provides massage for 3000+ cyclists riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles.  In the past he has also done trainings for the AIDS Project East Bay and worked as a massage therapist for Life Center Oakland.

Writing

Doug’s true passion is Acupressure, in fact, he wrote the book on it — literally.  In 2008 Doug wrote and designed the McKinnon Acupressure Manual, an introductory textbook used by the McKinnon Institute in its Acupressure classes.  The book features basic information on Qi, the Five Elements, the Meridians, the Extraordinary Vessels and traditional assessment techniques.  It also includes detailed drawings of 99 Acupressure points with explanations illustrated by Doug.

In addition to the curriculum he designs for his workshops and classes, he has also written and illustrated several curricula for classes at McKinnon Institute, National Holistic Institute and New College, including basic and advanced anatomy and physiology, Reflexology, Craniosacral, Acupressure, and deep tissue.


Credentials

Certified Massage Therapist with the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). Certificate number 1892.

Certified Member of the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP). Member number 860636.

Doug Blanc is an Approved Continuing Education Provider with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).  Provider number 307.