Therese C. Pfrimmer ​

International 

Association of

Deep Muscle Therapists

Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy® is a registered trademarked technique, with those trademarks having been established in 1989, and renewed in 2009.  In 2008, events occurred that made it necessary for the TCPIADMT to defend the trademark and protect the technique that Therese C. Pfrimmer devoted 23 years of her life creating and perfecting.  The following information is being provided to illuminate the relationship between Therese C. Pfrimmer, Ruthann Hobbs and the development of the association that is charged with promoting and upholding the purity of the technique as created by Therese C. Pfrimmer.

Ruthann Hobbs was taught Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy® by Therese C. Pfrimmer in 1979; this would be Therese's last class before her death in March of 1980.  Therese stated numerous times that she did not want her technique altered in any way (Please see letter written by her assistant Mary Kish).  In order to help preserve and see her work continued, Therese requested that Ruthann Hobbs help her create the by-laws and establish the Therese C. Pfrimmer International Association of Deep Muscle Therapists (TCPIADMT).  Following Therese's request to her attorney to formally draw up the by-laws of her Association, Ruthann was asked by Therese to be on the first Board of Directors and she has been an active participant ever since; Ruthann now holds the title of "Honorary Chairperson".

Following Therese's death in 1980 Mary Kish, Therese's assistant and Master Pfrimmer Instructor decided to train the following massage therapists to become Master Instructors:  Ruthann Hobbs, Victoria Ross, and Maryann Lawrence.  Ruthann is the only active Master Pfrimmer Instructor of these three who received her initial Pfrimmer training directly from Therese C. Pfrimmer and was able to verify that what she learned during her Master Instructor training from Mary Kish in 1980 was the exact same technique that she learned from Therese in 1979.  Ruthann was gratified to know that Therese had not lowered her standards or left anything out, in spite of her medical condition.

Both Victoria Ross and Ruthann Hobbs established Pfrimmer Institutes to educate future massage therapists on the Pfrimmer Technique.  Victoria's Institute was established in Pennsylvania and Ruthann's Institute was established and continues to be located in Indiana where she teaches the original technique endorsed by the TCPIADMT board.  Maryann Lawrence shared with Ruthann that it was never her intent to start her own Pfrimmer Institute but rather to dedicate herself to assisting Mary Kish with her school in Canada.

In 2008 one of the schools was sold and events conspired that forced the TCPIADMT to defend its trademarks against the new owner in order to maintain and uphold the purity of the Pfrimmer technique.  An agreement was reached, finalized, and became effective June 16, 2010.  Currently the only Pfrimmer Institute that is endorsed by the TCPIADMT to teach the approved method as originally taught by Therese C. Pfrimmer is the Alexandria School of Scientific Therapeutics, Inc.

During her training with Therese, Ruthann overheard Therese praying, asking her Lord "How can I leave now?  How can I be sure they do it right?"  Ruthann took this seed into her heart and it became her mission to see that Therese's work was protected, continued, and kept pure. While the TCPIADMT was saddened that legal action was necessary to resolve a trademark violation; the TCPIADMT shares Ruthann's passion to protect Therese C. Pfrimmer's work and will continue to defend its trademarks and the Pfrimmer Technique.  The TCPIADMT continues to look forward to and embrace the new therapists trained by Ruthann Hobbs in the Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy® technique!