PNMT Instructors

Douglas Nelson

The founder and principle instructor of Precision NMT seminars, Doug has taught hundreds of seminars and to various populations from physician's conferences to educational seminars for lay people. Practicing massage therapy since 1977, he has studied with a host of great educators and worked in several clinical environments. He is the president of BodyWork Associates, a sixteen therapist massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL which has been in operation for over twenty five years. Doug still maintains a very active practice; he doesn't just teach, he has a busy personal practice (seeing over 1,100 client visits annually); the clinic is the laboratory for the development of PNMT. Doug has treated thousands of clients over the years, from the NBA to the NFL, to factory workers, to high level muscians who suffer musculoskeletal pain. Doug is passionate about the efficacy of the work and has conducted many clinical research studies to investigate PNMT.

For a longer bio, click here

Nick Smedal

Nick is a 1994 graduate of Blue Sky Education Foundation in Grafton, WI. and has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is the owner of Conscious Living Massage Therapy in Cedarburg, WI. Nick has been assisting Doug for many years, and began solo teaching in 2002. Nick did his research in the relationship of hand dominance to shoulder ROM restrictions. He is a marvelous teacher and very passionate about PNMT and a commitment to constant learning. Nick is a member of the AMTA and licensed by the state of WI.

Julie Nichols

A native of Cincinnati, Julie received a B.A. in Anthropology from U.C., where her senior research was a cross-cultural comparison of how women view and manage pain during pregnancy and childbirth. While attending U.C., Julie received massage therapy for injuries sustained in a car accident, and was amazed at the results. This experience led her to attend the Ohio College of Massotherapy, where she was first introduced to Douglas Nelson and PNMT seminars. Licensed by the State Medical Board since 2002, Julie enjoys private practice in Kent, Ohio, where she is also a certified fitness instructor.

Julie's areas of interest include lower extremity and pelvic dysfunction, and she is currently conducting research on the role of myofascial trigger points in pelvic pain. Her teaching style has been described as energetic and interactive. She finds PNMT both intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding, and enjoys sharing the experience with others.

Laurel Finch

Laurel Finch has been licensed by the Ohio Medical Board to practice massage since 1990. She is a graduate of Self-Health, Inc., School of Medical Massage in Ohio.

Inspired by a TMJ lecture at a Chicago AMTA convention, Laurel was led to study with Doug Nelson in early 1994 when he was an instructor for the St. John Institute. She has followed him closely since, assisting for many years before becoming an instructor and certification examiner. Her research is on the influence of head position on interincisal opening, with data from 200 subjects to date.

After growing and managing a clinical group practice, Massage Therapy Associates in Yellow Springs, Ohio for 14 years, Laurel is now enjoying full time private practice on a peaceful family property. She specializes in chronic pain problem solving based on PNMT principles. Her encounter and survival of aggressive lymphoma and subsequent radiation damage to her spinal cord has taught her a great deal about healing, pain management, and post-cancer rehabilitation first hand. She has been practicing hatha yoga for 25 years, teaching since 1988. She is an I.W.A. Certified Strength Specialist and holds a deep commitment to continuing education on all levels. She has completed Basic Human Anatomy and Exercise Science courses and a 10 week independent cadaver study focusing on the neck, TMJ, and upper extremity at Wright State University Department of Anatomy.

The PNMT process has opened many doors on many levels for Laurel and she is dedicated to passing that experience along to others.

Jan Kiener

Jan Kiener has studied with Doug Nelson for 10 years. Through those years, PNMT has transformed her relaxation massage and also given her the knowledge and skills to help in many people's recovery. Her research project, studying the correlation between musician's soft tissue pain and the instrument they play, has allowed her to work with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Dayton Philharmonic. Jan graduated in education and dance from Southern Ill. Univ. and got her massage license from S.H.I. Medical Massage School. She and her family live in Cincinnati, OH.

Jan is also the creator of a wonderful CD called "Relaxation Into Sleep". This is currently being used by Delta Airlines to help weary passengers sleep during long flights.

Check out more about Jan and her new CD

Seth Will

Seth is the developer of the Precision Muscular Mobilization courses (The Spine & The Extremities), Clinical Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Myofascial Pain Syndrome, and specifics of Neural Mobilization in the Level 2: Extremities class. His intense commitment to PNMT has helped to further the understanding of these intricate topics to the PNMT community and beyond. Pulling from his varied background (graduated from both Blue Sky School of Massage and Bodywork in Grafton, WI and from the Ohio College of Massotherapy in Akron, OH;engaged in postgraduate work in Acupuncture; undergraduate studies in Neuroscience and Theology; has also been involved in multivariate aspects of cadaveric dissection ranging from attending numerous full body dissections at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, assisting regional dissections, supervising and assisting undergraduate dissection programs, to performing prosections for demonstrative purposes), Seth works to relate seemingly divergent topics into clear, concise, congruent, comprehensive, and comprehendable ways to enhance student's educational experience and retention. Currently, Seth is working toward completing a degree in Neuroscience at Marian University, in Fond du Lac, WI, while maintaining a private practice and counseling the mentally ill. Seth's primary area of interest are the biologic underpinnings of pain, movement disorders, and behavior. He is also very keen on watching cooking on tv, reading about cooking, discussing cooking with others, visiting establishments where cooking is spectacular, actually cooking, and occasionally eating.

Christine Erickson

Christine Erickson is a 1997 graduate of the Blue Sky Sky of Massage and Bodywork in Grafton, WI. After practicing in Wisconsin, Christine moved to Colorado where she worked at the Colorado Center for Physical Therapy in Littleton, CO., working with work related injuries to motor vehicle accidents etc. She is now practicing neuromuscular therapy at Bodywork Associates in Champaign, IL, the clinic owned by Douglas Nelson. Her primary duties there include; manual manipulation of soft tissue and movement therapies using Precision Neuromuscular therapy and, Somatic and Pilates movement therapies.

Christine brings a passion for learning and knowledge to her seminars, as well as a healthy dose of fun! She primarily teaches the upper and lower extremity seminars.

NMT MidWest, Inc • 407 West Windsor Rd. • Champaign, IL 61820 • 866-325-7668
Website designed by OJC Technologies and Powered by Web Easel


about/podcasts seminars schedule instructor bios Research/Certification products Sponsoring discussion board Register online	PNMT Instructors Douglas Nelson The founder and principle instructor of Precision NMT seminars, Doug has taught hundreds of seminars and to various populations from physician's conferences to educational seminars for lay people. Practicing massage therapy since 1977, he has studied with a host of great educators and worked in several clinical environments. He is the president of BodyWork Associates, a sixteen therapist massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL which has been in operation for over twenty five years. Doug still maintains a very active practice; he doesn't just teach, he has a busy personal practice (seeing over 1,100 client visits annually); the clinic is the laboratory for the development of PNMT. Doug has treated thousands of clients over the years, from the NBA to the NFL, to factory workers, to high level muscians who suffer musculoskeletal pain. Doug is passionate about the efficacy of the work and has conducted many clinical research studies to investigate PNMT. For a longer bio, click here Nick Smedal Nick is a 1994 graduate of Blue Sky Education Foundation in Grafton, WI. and has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is the owner of Conscious Living Massage Therapy in Cedarburg, WI. Nick has been assisting Doug for many years, and began solo teaching in 2002. Nick did his research in the relationship of hand dominance to shoulder ROM restrictions. He is a marvelous teacher and very passionate about PNMT and a commitment to constant learning. Nick is a member of the AMTA and licensed by the state of WI. Julie Nichols A native of Cincinnati, Julie received a B.A. in Anthropology from U.C., where her senior research was a cross-cultural comparison of how women view and manage pain during pregnancy and childbirth. While attending U.C., Julie received massage therapy for injuries sustained in a car accident, and was amazed at the results. This experience led her to attend the Ohio College of Massotherapy, where she was first introduced to Douglas Nelson and PNMT seminars. Licensed by the State Medical Board since 2002, Julie enjoys private practice in Kent, Ohio, where she is also a certified fitness instructor. Julie's areas of interest include lower extremity and pelvic dysfunction, and she is currently conducting research on the role of myofascial trigger points in pelvic pain. Her teaching style has been described as energetic and interactive. She finds PNMT both intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding, and enjoys sharing the experience with others. Laurel Finch Laurel Finch has been licensed by the Ohio Medical Board to practice massage since 1990. She is a graduate of Self-Health, Inc., School of Medical Massage in Ohio. Inspired by a TMJ lecture at a Chicago AMTA convention, Laurel was led to study with Doug Nelson in early 1994 when he was an instructor for the St. John Institute. She has followed him closely since, assisting for many years before becoming an instructor and certification examiner. Her research is on the influence of head position on interincisal opening, with data from 200 subjects to date. After growing and managing a clinical group practice, Massage Therapy Associates in Yellow Springs, Ohio for 14 years, Laurel is now enjoying full time private practice on a peaceful family property. She specializes in chronic pain problem solving based on PNMT principles. Her encounter and survival of aggressive lymphoma and subsequent radiation damage to her spinal cord has taught her a great deal about healing, pain management, and post-cancer rehabilitation first hand. She has been practicing hatha yoga for 25 years, teaching since 1988. She is an I.W.A. Certified Strength Specialist and holds a deep commitment to continuing education on all levels. She has completed Basic Human Anatomy and Exercise Science courses and a 10 week independent cadaver study focusing on the neck, TMJ, and upper extremity at Wright State University Department of Anatomy. The PNMT process has opened many doors on many levels for Laurel and she is dedicated to passing that experience along to others. Jan Kiener Jan Kiener has studied with Doug Nelson for 10 years. Through those years, PNMT has transformed her relaxation massage and also given her the knowledge and skills to help in many people's recovery. Her research project, studying the correlation between musician's soft tissue pain and the instrument they play, has allowed her to work with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Dayton Philharmonic. Jan graduated in education and dance from Southern Ill. Univ. and got her massage license from S.H.I. Medical Massage School. She and her family live in Cincinnati, OH. Jan is also the creator of a wonderful CD called "Relaxation Into Sleep". This is currently being used by Delta Airlines to help weary passengers sleep during long flights. Check out more about Jan and her new CD Seth Will Seth is the developer of the Precision Muscular Mobilization courses (The Spine & The Extremities), Clinical Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Myofascial Pain Syndrome, and specifics of Neural Mobilization in the Level 2: Extremities class. His intense commitment to PNMT has helped to further the understanding of these intricate topics to the PNMT community and beyond. Pulling from his varied background (graduated from both Blue Sky School of Massage and Bodywork in Grafton, WI and from the Ohio College of Massotherapy in Akron, OH;engaged in postgraduate work in Acupuncture; undergraduate studies in Neuroscience and Theology; has also been involved in multivariate aspects of cadaveric dissection ranging from attending numerous full body dissections at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, assisting regional dissections, supervising and assisting undergraduate dissection programs, to performing prosections for demonstrative purposes), Seth works to relate seemingly divergent topics into clear, concise, congruent, comprehensive, and comprehendable ways to enhance student's educational experience and retention. Currently, Seth is working toward completing a degree in Neuroscience at Marian University, in Fond du Lac, WI, while maintaining a private practice and counseling the mentally ill. Seth's primary area of interest are the biologic underpinnings of pain, movement disorders, and behavior. He is also very keen on watching cooking on tv, reading about cooking, discussing cooking with others, visiting establishments where cooking is spectacular, actually cooking, and occasionally eating. Christine Erickson Christine Erickson is a 1997 graduate of the Blue Sky Sky of Massage and Bodywork in Grafton, WI. After practicing in Wisconsin, Christine moved to Colorado where she worked at the Colorado Center for Physical Therapy in Littleton, CO., working with work related injuries to motor vehicle accidents etc. She is now practicing neuromuscular therapy at Bodywork Associates in Champaign, IL, the clinic owned by Douglas Nelson. Her primary duties there include; manual manipulation of soft tissue and movement therapies using Precision Neuromuscular therapy and, Somatic and Pilates movement therapies. Christine brings a passion for learning and knowledge to her seminars, as well as a healthy dose of fun! She primarily teaches the upper and lower extremity seminars. NMT MidWest, Inc • 407 West Windsor Rd. • Champaign, IL 61820 • 866-325-7668 Website designed by OJC Technologies and Powered by Web Easel