Tony Preston is a leader in both practice and education of bodywork with emphasis on Neuromuscular Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy. He is the Co-Author of the ASHA Neuromuscular Manual, Author of Integrative Craniosacral and developer of Neuromuscular Treatment Guides.
In the early 90s, Tony had a successful career as an international software consultant and was looking to change to a career in bodywork. After researching many schools, he decided on ASHA and started with our program in 1993. The founder of the ASHA School of Massage, Jim Gabriel, noticed that Tony was reorganizing the notes for the neuromuscular program. Students began to use these revised notes for study. Jim asked Tony to get involved in teaching at ASHA and rewriting a manual for the program. Working together, they created a detailed manual for treatment of the entire body. This manual set ASHA apart from other programs as a school of excellence.
During this same period, Tony began to study craniosacral with G. Dallas Hancock LMT, DC. Hancock had pioneered craniostructural techniques that were changing the face of craniosacral treatment. He revealed unseen relationships between the craniosacral and musculoskeletal system. This helped to make craniosacral less esoteric and more pragmatic. He recognized Tony as a capable therapist, writer and instructor. After Tony completed the CranioStrucutral Integration program, he began assisting and working with the National Institute of Craniosacral Studies. At NICS, Tony became an instructor, contributing editor and illustrator.
While working with NICS, Tony started working with other therapists, specializing in sensory integration dysfunction, developmental delay and autism. He worked with children at an occupational therapy practice and helped to coordinate seminars to educate the community. Tony began to see how to integrate the concepts of sensory integration, craniosacral and neuromuscular. With guidance from Hancock and others, he refined the treatment of developmentally delayed children as well as adults in pain.
In 2007, Tony returned to ASHA to revise the neuromuscular manual and teach. While at ASHA, he continued to focus on advancing the field of bodywork. Along with the ASHA staff, he pioneered concepts that have helped therapists to assess clients and sequence treatment. These changes make treatment easier, more effective and longer lasting. The development of these Neuromuscular Treatment Guides has linked neuromuscular and other techniques into a more systematic treatment approach.
He teaches his work in seminars. Integrative Craniosacral takes even the seasoned bodyworker to new levels of effectiveness. From the first class, even well educated ASHA graduates make notable advances in their effectiveness. With a focus on neurological organization, refining assessment and the proper sequencing of techniques, these students often surprise themselves.
Tony continues with a busy practice, here in Atlanta. This practice of developmentally delayed children, adults in pain and athletes allows him to treat a wide variety of problems. He has successfully treated standard bodywork cases like low back pain and headaches while working with problems that are less common to the bodyworker, including sensory defensiveness, ADD, auditory processing issues, speech, mood disorders and autism. This busy practice keeps his development grounded in clinical experience.