Hoboken, NJ - September 24, 2007 – National massage therapy community of schools, Cortiva Institute, announces the formation of a strategic partnership with The Upledger Institute , an international leader in health and wellness continuing education. Cortiva Institute will support The Upledger Institute's programs starting this fall by offering several of their introductory courses at Cortiva locations nationwide.

Cortiva Institute will offer students a unique opportunity to explore new modalities by providing one-day, seven hour introductions to Upledger's curriculum. By exposing students to courses of study they might not otherwise have considered, the alliance between Cortiva Institute and The Upledger Institute will allow students to expand into new areas of learning; provide exchanges of insight and technique between two educational companies that focus on different touch modalities; raise the national standard of health and wellness professional training; and fulfill employer's needs within a rapidly evolving industry.

Barb Richmond, Vice President of Communications for The Upledger Institute says, "We've developed an international reputation over the past 22 years, and Cortiva Institute has demonstrated that quality education is a priority. It's a great match and a marvelous opportunity because we each have complementary areas of expertise to offer to students and practitioners." Cortiva Institute VP Employer & Alumni Relations Diane Trieste says, "The Upledger Institute is an industry leader and is very well known. At Cortiva, we take a personalized approach with our graduates, and by adding The Upledger Institute's continuing education options, we believe we will continue to advance massage therapists as practitioners and as people." Richmond adds, "For example, students and professional massage therapists will be able to learn about CranioSacral Therapy from the company that developed it, including the philosophy and anatomy behind it. Exploring The Upledger Institute's curriculum through introductory courses will allow Cortiva students and alumni to investigate whether they have a natural aptitude for a new modality."

Cortiva Institute is implementing a new online tool that will send users e-mails alerting them to upcoming courses to notify therapists when an Upledger Institute class they may be interested in becomes available for registration. Additionally, participants who take The Upledger Institute's introductory classes at Cortiva will receive discounts if they decide to register for the related, four-day course with The Upledger Institute.

The Upledger Institute (www.upledger.com ) has trained over 80,000 therapists for the past 22 years in complementary and alternative therapies in a variety of modalities, including CranioSacral Therapy, Healing from the Core, Lymph Drainage Therapy and the Advanced Brain Curriculum.