Manual Lymphatic Drainage Course Dates

Virtual Lecture Phase (Live via Zoom)

• Dates:Mondays & Tuesdays*,‍ and ONE (1) Sunday ‍

  • Tuesday, September 8 (only)

  • September 14 & 15

  • September 21 & 22

  • September 28 & 29

  • *Sunday, October 4 (only)

• Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET (3 hrs / night)

• Cumulative: 25 hours

• Attendance: If a student needs to make up missed time, they may do so by rewatching the recorded live class, completing the workbook, and passing a short quiz. These requirements must be fulfilled before the in-person, hands-on portion of the training begins. A written exam will be given on the first day of in-person training.

In-Person Intensive (CATA, New York City)

• Dates:Tuesday, October 6 - Friday, October 9 2026

• Time: 10:00 AM – 6:30PM*

• Cumulative: 30 hours

• Total Cumulative Time: 55 Hours

  • *Start and end time may vary by 30 minutes to an hour based on prior commitments scheduled at the course location.

Tuition

• $1,250

• $250 Deposit Payment is non-refundable.

• Payment Plans will be made available - Full tuition Due before Day 1 of Hands-on

The Winter/Spring2027
Please join the waitlist/future course newsletter

Estimated Dates (February/March) to be announced by November

This course will cover both the Macro and Micro components of the lymphatic system, equipping you with valuable skills in Vodder Method lymphatic drainage techniques. You will not only gain confidence in your new skill set but also acquire essential business acumen to introduce this specialized service into your practice.

What Makes Our MLD Course Different

Designed for busy massage professionals, this hybrid program delivers exactly what you need — no fluff, no filler.

• Flexible scheduling — Evening Zoom lectures, plus a focused four-day intensive that fits around your client hours

• Practice-ready skills — Start booking MLD sessions the day you earn your certificate

• Real clinical insight — Case studies from an instructor who practices MLD daily

• Seamless treatment planning — Client-centered strategies to integrate MLD and grow your practice

To earn full certification, students must complete both program components and pass written and hands-on practical exams demonstrating competency in A&P, pathologies, contraindications, and hands-on technique. Graduates receive two Certificates of Completion: 25 hours (Webinar/Distance Learning) and 30 hours (Live Hands-On).

What This Course Covers

A thorough, practical foundation in Manual Lymphatic Drainage:

• General full-body MLD techniques

• Lymphatic physiology and functional anatomy

• Client communication, education, and safety

• Contraindications and red-flag awareness

• Special population protocols, including, prenatal adaptations, and post-operative breast/chest clients (introductory level — not an advanced post-op course) with oncology-informed support

Accreditation + Instructor Introduction

Samantha Nicole Oetting is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider and is also sponsored by NCBTMB to teach New York LMTs continuing education that is accepted by the state of New York for license renewal. (ID: 1002991)

About Me — Your Instructor

I’m Samantha N. Oetting, BCTMB, LMT, founder and owner of Bodhi Work Massage Therapy in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’ve been practicing massage over 7 years, with 4 of those years specializing in Manual Lymphatic Drainage. My background includes clinical work in general MLD, advanced post-operative support, oncology-informed care, and prenatal/perinatal massage.

I hold advanced training in:

• Oncology Massage

• Advanced Post-Operative MLD

• Prenatal & Perinatal Massage

• Thai Massage

In addition to my hands-on clinical work, I:

• Formerly taught MLD for a national massage education organization in various cities across the US including: L.A., NYC, Chicago, Cleveland, and Ann Arbor

• Have trained members of my studio team in-house

• Led a 2022 Aerial Yoga Teacher Training

• Regularly educate clients and community members on lymphatic health

Through years of teaching and clinical practice, I noticed a consistent issue:
Weekend workshops and compressed a 40-hour weeks do not give students enough time to understand, retain, or confidently apply lymphatic techniques. MLD is subtle, precise, physiological, and deeply conceptual—requiring repetition, integration, and time.

That is exactly why I designed this extended 5-week, 55-hour hybrid program: to create a learning environment where practitioners can absorb the material, refine their touch, and build genuine competence rather than rushing through dense content.

My teaching style is:

• Science-driven and anatomy-focused

• Clear, sequential, and hands-on

• Trauma-informed and client-centered

• Rooted in building practitioner confidence and clarity