Comprehensive Intensive + Science of Scar Tissue Retreat
10-Day IN-PERSON Massage Therapy Training for Breast, Chest & Oncology Massage
Gain Clinical Readiness with hands-on supervision | Work with real post-surgical breast/chest clients | Approximately 75 hours of learning and supervision overall | Food and accommodation included
Naramata, British Columbia, Canada
October 21–31, 2026
(Arrival October 20 · Departure November 1)
Accredited in 5 countries*
39 CEUs (NCBTMB)
Join the Waitlist
A Different Kind of Massage Work
Many massage therapists feel a quiet pull toward more meaningful work, supporting people going through life-changing experiences.
A cancer diagnosis.
Major surgery.
Gender affirmation.
A deeply personal decision about one’s body.
These moments require care that is thoughtful, respectful, and clinically informed.
Yet most massage therapy programs never teach how to safely work with surgical tissues, scar patterns, or oncology considerations.
Therapists are left wanting to help, but unsure how.
This retreat was created to change that.
Over ten immersive days, you will learn how to support people recovering from breast cancer treatment, gender-affirming chest surgery, and elective breast surgeries using safe, evidence-informed approaches grounded in current research and best clinical practices.
The goal is not simply to learn techniques.
It is to develop the clinical readiness, confidence, and ethical grounding needed to offer this work responsibly.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
Every year, millions of people undergo breast and chest surgeries.
- Mastectomies
- Lumpectomies
- Breast reconstruction
- Gender-affirming chest surgeries
- Implant removals and revisions
These procedures can profoundly affect the body. Scar tissue forms. Mobility may change. Sensation can shift.
Once medical treatment ends, many patients receive little guidance for physical recovery. Many often wonder, "What now?".
Massage therapists are uniquely positioned to help.
Thoughtful touch can support mobility, comfort, scar tissue adaptation, nervous system regulation, and reconnection with the body.
But most massage therapy training programs never teach how to safely work with surgical tissues.
This training was created to help close that gap.
WHO THIS RETREAT IS FOR
This retreat is designed for registered or licensed massage therapists who want to safely support people recovering from breast and chest surgeries.
You may be a strong fit if you:
- Feel drawn to working with breast cancer, gender-affirming surgery, or elective breast surgery patients
- Want to develop advanced clinical skills in post-surgical massage care
• Are interested in light-touch techniques that are effective without exhausting your body - Value ethical, trauma-aware care when working with sensitive populations
- Prefer in-person learning in small groups with hands-on guidance
You do not need to already specialize in oncology or post-surgical care. This program will show you exactly what to do!
Join the Waitlist
WHAT YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH
By the end of this retreat you will:
- Develop clinical readiness for post-surgical care
- Understand 18+ breast and chest surgery types
- Recognize common post-operative complications
- Learn evidence-informed scar tissue treatment
- Use effective light-touch techniques
- Practice with real post-surgical patients
- Strengthen ethical and trauma-aware care
Join an international community of like-minded and heart-centred massage therapists
Your 10-Day Clinical Readiness Retreat Overview
Naramata, BC, Canada (In-person Event!)
A peaceful lakeside community in the Okanagan Valley surrounded by nature, vineyards, trails and beaches.
October 20, 2026 - group pickup at the Penticton Airport at 3 PM
Includes a grocery stop before arriving at the retreat site
Please note: this is the only pick up we will be doing. If you are not able to meet us by 3 pm, you will have to book your own travel to the Naramata Centre, in Naramata BC. Cost of a taxi is between $55 - $70 one way.
Morning of November 1 - group return to Penticton.
We will drop you back at the Penticton Airport so you can either get your vehicle or next mode of transportation to send you back home on a wave of bliss....
Retreat Itinerary
October 20 - Day of Arrival (Full Retreat Members)
- Group pick up at Penticton Airport 3 pm (grocery stop included)
- Arrival at Naramata Centre about 4:30 pm
- Meet n’ Greet from 6 - 8 pm
October 21–22 - Foundations: Breast Surgery Basics
- Ethics & professionalism, healthy breast massage
- Practice on fellow course participants
- Morning, afternoon & evening sessions
October 23 - Integration Day
- Mornings - yoga + supervised practice
- Afternoons/evenings off - quiet contemplation space available, explore nature and beaches, walk the labyrinth, visit wineries if desired (in moderation!)
October 24–25 - Level 1: 18+ Types of Breast & Chest Surgery
- Breast cancer, gender affirming and elective breast surgeries, intermediate clinical skills and clinical discernment
- Practice on fellow course participants + arrival of volunteer post-surgical patients for discussion, palpation and/or treatment
- Morning, afternoon & evening class sessions
October 26 - Integration Day
- Mornings - yoga + supervised practice
- Afternoons/evenings off - quiet contemplation space available, explore nature and beaches, walk the labyrinth, visit wineries if desired (in moderation!)
October 27–28 - Level 2: Top 10 Post-Operative Complications
- Advanced clinical skills and discernment for avoiding or reducing post-op complications
- Practice on fellow course participants + arrival of volunteer post-surgical patients for discussion, palpation and/or treatment
- Morning, afternoon & evening class sessions
October 29 - Integration Day
- Mornings - yoga + supervised practice
- Afternoons/evenings off - quiet contemplation space available, explore nature and beaches, walk the labyrinth, visit wineries if desired (in moderation!)
- Arrival day for SST-only participants by 3 pm PST at Penticton Airport, pick up and shuttle to retreat site
October 30–31 - Science of Scar Tissue
- Immature vs. mature scar work, pathophysiological scar tissue, body systems that influence healing
- Practice on fellow course participants + arrival of volunteer post-surgical patients for discussion, palpation and/or treatment
- Morning & afternoon class sessions
October 31 Evening - Wrap up Dance Party!
- Closing Celebration + Ecstatic Dance faciliation
November 1 - Send off
- All participants shuttled off site at this time
- Departure at 9 am, arrive Penticton Airport between 9:30 - 9:45 am
The Training Curriculum
Breast Surgery Basics
- MG Clinical Brain Map
- Ethics, language and communication skills
- Contraindication and precautions
- Charting, intake, assessments
- Stages of healing and appropriate techniques
- Trauma-aware care when working with breast, chest, and oncology clients.
- Best practices for healthy breast massage (Entry/exit & draping protocols; fluid-based techniques -lymph, circulatory, Swedish)
18+ Types of Breast & Chest Surgery
- 13+ types of breast cancer surgery, including non-reconstructive, implant-based reconstruction and autologous flap surgeries
- 4+ types of gender affirming top surgery
- 3 elective breast surgeries
- Intermediate skills for scars, connective tissue, nervous system, joints
- Case studies throughout for developing real clinical discernment
Top 10 Post-Operative Complications
- Advanced skills for post-op complications, including prevention, mitigation and when to refer out
- Fluid-based complications - lymphedema, seroma, hematoma, necrosis
- Connective tissue - breast capsular contracture, axillary web syndrome (chording)
- Nervous system - post-mastectomy pain syndrome
- Auto-immune - breast implant illness
- Surgical - multiple revision surgeries, explants
- Case studies throughout for developing real clinical discernment
Science of Scar Tissue
- Physiology of wound healing
- Body systems influencing wound healing
- Structured approaches to scar tissue treatment through various stages of healing
- Pathophysiological scar tissue (keloids, hypertrophic)
Learn From Experienced Clinicians
Lead Instructor
Eryn Price, RMT
Founder of The Mastectomy Guide, Eryn has dedicated her work to developing education programs that help massage therapists safely support post-surgical breast and chest patients.
Co-Facilitator – Science of Scar Tissue only
Cathy Ryan, RMT
Author of the textbook on Traumatic Scar Tissue Management, Cathy brings deep expertise in scar physiology and treatment and will co-facilitate the Science of Scar Tissue training.
Learning With Real Patients
Throughout the retreat, you will have supervised practice with volunteer post-surgical patients.
This allows you to:
- Observe and palpate real post-surgical tissues
- Hear directly from patients about their recovery experiences
- Practice techniques with guided supervision and feedback
- Translate theory into real clinical understanding
In previous courses, therapists consistently share that this experience is when the material truly comes to life.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE RETREAT!
- All four clinical courses
- 10 days of in-person training
- Supervised practice with real patients
- Accommodation
- 3 Meals on course days
- Integration day yoga and supervised practice
- Transportation to and from Penticton
- Retreat facilities and contemplation space
- Closing celebration with DJ and Ecstatic Dance facilitation
Accommodation
Participants will stay in shared suites located a short walk from the training space, making it easy to move between learning sessions, rest, and practice.
Each suite includes:
- 4 bedrooms, each with their own private bathroom (shower, sink, toilet)
- Each room has 1 queen bed, and 1 twin bed. Can be booked as single or double occupancy
- Bed linens and towels are provided
- Shared living room and full kitchen
Suites are conjoined with an accordion wall, which can be pulled back to create a full shared living space and 8 bedroom suite
Final room assignments will be confirmed after registration, once all participants have indicated their room preferences.
During registration you will be able to:
- Request a specific roommate
- Indicate your bed preference (queen or twin)
- Request single occupancy
Bed selections are assigned first come, first served, based on availability.
*Please Note: Be sure to include the type of sleeping arrangement you are looking for at the time of registration - add both the retreat AND rooming preference to the cart prior to checkout.
Food (Yum yum)
All meals are locally prepared and curated for a variety of food preferences. Healthy, nourishing and designed for mental clarity and energy, you will be nourished from the inside out!
Food is served on arrival days and class days. Integration days and departure day you take care of your own food.
We will do a grocery stop on the way into town on pick up days so you can grab whatever supplies you want.
Each suite has a full kitchen so you have access to all amenities.
You will be served 3 meals a day on class days, plus snack, coffee/tea & water.
Arrival days will offer dinner for all participants (Oct. 20 & 29th respectively).
Please indicate at the time of booking any food preferences and/or allergies.
We are able to accommodate:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
INVESTMENT
This retreat combines advanced clinical education, hands-on practice, accommodation, and retreat integration over ten days.
Comparable specialized training retreats often range from $6,000–$8,000 USD.
Because this is the first year offering this retreat format, founder pricing will be offered.
Science of Scar Tissue Only
A limited number of participants may attend the 2-day Science of Scar Tissue training at the end of the retreat.
Pricing will be announced to the waitlist first.
Button: Join the Waitlist
Questions?
You are welcome to book a 15-minute Clarity Call if you would like to discuss:
- Whether this retreat is the right fit for you
• Your professional goals
• How this training could integrate into your practice
Button: Book a Clarity Call
Ready to Build Strong Clinical Readiness for Breast, Chest and Oncology Massage?
Join the waitlist to receive:
- First access to registration
- Founder pricing details
- Early room selection
Spots are limited to 24 retreat participants.
Join the Waitlist today!
Join the Waitlist