»At the centre of the human being« is the motto of the Vienna training centre Manus. For many years, the institution has been offering a wide range of high-quality professional training and further education courses with a broad therapeutic spectrum. It is aimed at all those who are looking for serious and exciting training in the field of bodywork. In addition to great practical relevance, values such as humanity, respect, open-mindedness, diversity, solidarity and individuality count at Manus. The students learn to care for people individually and to treat them as individuals. Manus focuses on criteria such as diversity of methods, closeness to life and clarity – for independent and responsible action by the students.

The Manus training centre supports its students after their training with a wide network. The contact with the Leipzig Institute of Anatomy is based on the common interest in certain scientific topics, explains Andreas Haas, head of the institute: »I got to know Dr. Steinke as a committed lecturer at several symposia, with a sensationally extensive anatomical knowledge, especially about fasciae and their anatomy, physiology and morphology. I was particularly impressed by the honest interest in the work of manual therapists and the respect for their palpatory skills.«

Andreas Haas first came across the topic of fascias in connection with trigger points: »Simons and Travel described in their work myofascial trigger points that can cause pain radiations. The involvement of fasciae was postulated by the two authors. This was the impetus for me in 1998/99 to take a closer look at this topic. From the therapist’s point of view, fasciae are very relevant due to their high innervation from the somatic and vegetative nervous system. On the one hand, they are characterized by a high level of perception and – according to Dr. Robert Schleip – can be regarded as an interzeotive organ. On the other hand, the fasciae of the skin as well as those of the organs have a strong connection to the vegetative and thus also to our psycho-vegetative perception.«

For some years now, the Manus training centre in Leipzig has been offering the seminar »Fascia live«. It is the only seminar that combines anatomy on the specimen with the imaging of sonography and manual palpation in vivo, thus making anatomy not only vivid but also »understandable«. The participants receive a lot of practical and useful knowledge for therapeutic practice and have the opportunity to palpate fasciae »live« on the specimen and compare them with the palpation findings on living human beings. »Fascia live« offers the first and only possibility to compare palpation directly with the real fascia situation on the preparation and in imaging by means of ultrasound and to obtain a comprehensive, three-dimensional view of the fascial layers and spaces. This provides the basis for the evaluation of palpation findings and manual therapy procedures.

Andreas Haas would not want to do without the joint projects with the Leipzig Anatomy: »Our cooperation is characterized by an open and respectful interaction with each other. The seminars are excellently prepared and meticulously implemented. We would be extremely satisfied with a continuation of the collaboration.«

The next seminar date has not yet been fixed. However, interested parties can obtain information on the website https://www.manus.at/fascia-live.html and subscribe to the Manus newsletter: https://www.fascia.center/newsletter-fascia.html.