AIS versus ART

[Chris R]

There are so very many acronyms for different modalities, and it seems like there are a lot of therapists who are taking what they have learned, tweaking it a bit, and re-marketing it as a new and different modality.
The two I am questioning today are ART (Active Release Technique) http://www.activerelease.com

and AIS (Active Isolated Stretching) http://www.stretchingusa.com
http://www.duhac.tcdlife.ie/Training/stretching_local_copy.php (interesting article with pictures of self care)
I know little about the 2 modalities, and I am hoping to learn more, and what the major difference is between them.
If you have been trained, use, or know anything about these modalities you could share, let me know!
I have had some ART work done, with some wonderful results. I wanted to see what it would take to become certified, and it is QUITE expensive. If AIS is similar enough, and people have had good results with it, I may look into that as an alternative.
Please share!

 

[Jarhead]

I have taken the upper body course for ART. I've looked that the AIS, but with so many things to take, it is low on my list atm.

ART is very expensive, especially if you have to travel. They are not held at cheap hotels, I paid $189 a night (Canadian) for 4 nights. You are certified in ART after passing your first course, but to only do that area of the body. You are not supposed to take the skills you learned say doing the upper body, and apply them to the lower body. Your certification is good for 1 year, then you must do a recertification. Much cheaper.

I have gotten fantastic results with the upper body ART course. I see a lot of desk jockeys, so the upper body was where I started. Technically my certificate has expired, but I must say, after using it consistently for a year, my skills have gotten better, not worse.

I do find it hard on the hands, and thumbs. I have changed the way I do it, from the way it was taught. He teaches it to go right in and do the work. I prefer to warm the tissues up first, I work superficial deep superficial. He teaches to not use oil, at all, but sometimes when I get someone who is really in pain, has a lot of hair, to not use oil seems like it is just cruel. The ones who are really in pain, I work up to working dry, and have still gotten great results, maybe just took longer. But my clients have appreciated it. *shrugs*

I will do the rest of the body at some point when I get the money, but I see he has just raised his prices (@#$%) so I will be putting it off even further.

Myrrha