Hellerwork Structural Integration
Training Curriculum

Each Hellerwork Practitioner Training covers the same curriculum following the five fields of study required to obtain a certificate of completion from the Hellerwork Foundation. This certificate of completion is required before you can identify yourself as a Hellerwork Practitioner.

TRAINING OVERVIEW

The curriculum of the Hellerwork Practitioner Training Program is divided into the following five fields of study:

Anatomy:
Knowledge of the names, locations, and functions of all principle muscle groups, bones, connective tissue, and fascia.

Bodywork:
Skill in administering deep tissue bodywork. Proper use of one’s own body. Thorough understanding of the purpose, objectives, and themes of the Hellerwork sessions and the relationship of emotions to specific body areas.

Business:
Establishing a business - office and equipment, financial management, and client development. Developing a positive attitude toward promoting oneself as a provider of holistic health care.

Movement:
Ability to teach movement lessons related to the Hellerwork series and activities of everyday living. Awareness of and ability to relate the relationship of movement to gravity and body tension.

Psychology:
Ability to establish rapport/trust with the client so that the client is willing to fully let go of long held tension in his or her body.

Courses

The following courses are given during the Hellerwork Practitioner Training Program. All courses must be completed successfully to obtain certification as a Hellerwork Practitioner.

Bodywork: 499 hours
• Principles of Structural Bodywork
• Techniques of Structural Bodywork
• Hellerwork Practicum

Movement: 182 hours
• Human Evolution and Gravity
• Introduction to Hellerwork Movement
• Body Awareness and Movement Lab
• Movement Practicum
• Communicating Movement Lessons
• Ergonomics

Psychology: 224 hours
• Introduction to Psychological Inquiry
• Movement and Psychology
• Fundamental of Dialogue
• Intra/Interpersonal Communications

Anatomy: 168 hours
• Introduction to Body Systems
• Structural and Functional Assessment
• Myofascial Anatomy
• Applied Human Anatomy/Physiology
• Gross Anatomy Lab (if available)

Business: 177 hours
• Introduction to Marketing
• Practice Development I
• Practice Development II
• Business Standards and Practices

Course Descriptions

BODYWORK

• Principles of Structural Bodywork
Students develop a deep understanding of the principles of structural integration. The course emphasizes the role of gravity, alignment and balance in human functioning. The primary skill developed in this course is the skill of seeing structural relationships. Activities include lectures, observation, palpation, and home study. Student progress is continually monitored and assessed. Feedback is integrated into the learning process.
• PSB I focuses on the extrinsic myofascial structures
• PSB II focuses on the intrinsic myofascial structures
• PSB III focuses on the integration of the entire system

• Techniques of Structural Bodywork
This is a hands-on course where the students learn to apply the techniques of structural integration. In this course, students learn to systematically improve the structural balance of the human body using myofascial manipulation techniques. This course also includes a strong emphasis of effective biomechanics in the delivery of the work.

• Hellerwork Practicum
Students apply their skills and knowledge by delivering the Hellerwork Series to “models” and each other under direct supervision of instructors.

MOVEMENT

• Human Evolution and Gravity
An overview of the development of human form and function, emphasizing psychological and cultural factors that interfere with optimal movement development.

• Introduction to Hellerwork Movement
An introduction to basic movement principles and movement facilitation. Students learn to analyze movement patterns in relation to the structural objectives of the Hellerwork sessions. Learning activities include lecture, demonstration, observation and practice sessions.

• Body Awareness and Movement Lab I
In this course, students acquire new movement patterns through experiential exercises which provide a foundation of movement awareness. Demonstration, observation, and video are utilized to facilitate student learning.

• Body Awareness and Movement Lab II
This course focuses on integrative movement techniques designed to establish “core” (intrinsic) movement and refine gross movement behavior.

• Movement Practicum
Students learn to deepen their gait analysis ability through observation. Students will begin the process of teaching effective movement lessons to others. Student progress is continually monitored and assessed. Feedback is integrated into teaching process.

• Communicating Movement Lessons
Students learn to assist clients in developing awareness of their functional body usage. This course includes practical applications of passive movement, video analysis, and both verbal and active movement lessons.

• Ergonomics
This course applies principles of daily movement of work, home, and sports. The student learns to evaluate and resolve interfaces of human and mechanical design that can affect optimal movement functioning.

PSYCHOLOGY

• Introduction to Psychological Inquiry
A survey of the major systems of personality and psychological functioning, including Freud, Jung, Erikson, Reich, and Stone.

• Movement and Psychology
This course develops an understanding of the psychological language of structure and movement. Students explore the creative expressions the human personality reveals through physical structure and movement.

• Fundamental of Dialogue
Communication is explored from an Humanistic and Transpersonal perspective. This lecture and lab course introduces students to the essential ingredients of effective process facilitation. Key concepts introduced and practices are: creating emotional safety, presence, building rapport, congruence, active listening, and working with emotional release.

• Intra/Interpersonal Communications
An exploration of the Psychology of Selves as a foundation for understanding the communication process. Voice Dialogue, a technique derived from the Psychology of Selves, is taught as a method of communication.

ANATOMY

• Introduction to Body Systems
The purpose of this course is to familiarize the students with the systems of the human body and gives general descriptions of their structure and function. The course includes lectures, slides, and home study.

• Structural and Functional Assessment I
The objective is for students to develop an understanding of how the musculo-skeletal system provides the functions of balance and alignment for the body. The course includes an overview of the extrinsic musculo-skeletal components and their relationships to one another. Lectures, observations, analysis, and palpation are primary teaching modes. Oral inquiry and assessment are the methods of evaluating student understanding.

• Structural and Functional Assessment II
This course continues the exploration of the musculo-skeletal relationships focusing on the intrinsic musculature of the body. Lectures, observations, analysis, and palpation are the primary teaching methods.

• Myofascial Anatomy
The course objective is the understanding of the fascial networks of the body. The course covers the constituents of fascia, the relationship of fascia to muscle, superficial and deep fascial, fascial planes of the body and connective tissues. In addition, origins and insertions of all of the major muscle groups are studied. Lectures, slides, palpation, and home study are the primary learning modes.

• Applied Human Anatomy/Physiology
Students develop the ability to manually identify the muscles of the human body and to assess joint function including range of motion, end-feel qualities, and neuromuscular and myofascial restrictions. Palpation and demonstration are the primary learning activities. Student observation and self-report are the primary methods of evaluation.

• Gross Anatomy Lab (where available)
This course includes a field trip to a cadaver laboratory. The purpose is to deepen the student’s understanding of muscular systems by observing a partially dissected cadaver.

BUSINESS

• Introduction to Marketing
The focus is on creating a viable business. The concepts of business identity, networking, and public relations are presented.

• Practice Development I
This is a practicum in which students are required to systematically develop their private practice. The classroom focus is on presenting Hellerwork in a lecture or demonstration format, networking skills, and word-of-mouth marketing techniques.

• Practice Development II
A continuation of Practice Development I. Goal setting, goal monitoring, and support systems are emphasized in this course.

• Business Ethics, Standards and Practices
This course deals with the principles and practices of successfully operating a personal business. The focus of course material is on self-management, ethical business conduct, and standards of excellence.


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