Certification Programs:

Holistic Health Practitoner Program

This program combines over 1,000 hours of bodywork and associated classes into an integrated approach to health and wellness. The Holistic Health Practitioner Program offers a well-rounded training in the knowledge and skills that professional bodyworkers require. Its purpose is to develop skilled, well-trained therapists with the ability to recognize and respond to the needs of the whole person (body, mind and spirit) on their path of healing. You will learn to apply touch therapeutically using skills developed in the bodywork classes and knowledge gained from the science and professional development classes.

In some parts of California and certain other states, laws require 1,000 hours of massage training to practice. Employers are impressed with the amount of training in the Holistic Health Practitioner Program. Graduates of this program are well qualified for employment or self-employment in a broad range of bodywork applications and job opportunities in the health care field.

This program allows you to spend a year at Heartwood through all the seasons and the many transformative experiences available from living in the Heartwood community. It is a wonderful opportunity for internal reflection, personal growth and developing interpersonal skills as you study and prepare yourself for a new career in bodywork and holistic health care. A year-long training allows ample opportunity for practice under the guidance of our experienced and skilled faculty.

Program Objectives

• To teach you physiology-based massage and subtle healing techniques oriented toward sensory awareness, stress reduction, pain relief, and rehabilitation
• To help you integrate those techniques into your own unique style
• To give you a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and kinesiology, as well as the complementary skills and practices needed to develop your approach to Massage Therapy
• To foster an appreciation of the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual effects of massage on the client and the therapist
• To guide you in developing the qualities of a professional therapist
• To give you the tools and the information you need to build a successful practice or gain employment in the field
• To qualify you for full membership in the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals (ABMP)
• To qualify you for entrance to the National Certification Exam (NCE)

The bodywork modalities that you will study are Shiatsu Acupressure, Massage Theory and Technique, Deep Tissue Massage, Polarity Therapy, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. The common thread through all the bodywork modalities is effective clinical technique, grounded presence, and spiritual focus.

Shiatsu Acupressure is a meditative form of bodywork based on Asian traditions. Fingers, thumbs, palms, forearms, feet, and knees are used to apply pressure to the client’s body in order to contact, balance, and move the internal life energy or “Qi” along the meridians. Balance of these energy flows is considered to be essential for health and wellbeing. You will learn a complete Shiatsu bodywork sequence including pressure points and body manipulations. You will be taught both table work and a seated sequence to integrate Shiatsu with other massage techniques. Also covered are the Law of Five Elements and the acupuncture meridians.

Massage Theory and Technique is an introduction to therapeutic massage and provides a foundation for continued study. You will learn full-body soft tissue massage featuring the popular and effective modality, Classic Swedish Massage. It combines smooth, gliding strokes with strokes that are more vigorous and stimulating, as well as Joint Mobilization for joint health and flexibility. This blend results in a massage that encourages deep relaxation and releases physical tension, while improving general tissue and joint health.

You will learn massage theory, benefits and contraindications, and the qualities of touch and presence required to create a safe and nurturing environment for your clients. There is a focus on proper body mechanics, hand care and self-care so that you can work without injuring or tiring yourself. You will also learn the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of massage for both yourself and your clients. Protocols for lymphatic drainage and fibromyalgia treatment utilizing specific Swedish techniques will be taught. You will be guided to evolve your own unique style of bodywork. This class includes a weekly, supervised practice session as well as hands-on practice giving and receiving the work in class.

Deep Tissue Massage addresses chronic tension and emotional trauma that is often stored in the body. You will learn how to help people with posture problems, common injuries and painful joints. Releasing deep-seated tension requires keen sensitivity to both the physical and the emotional nature of soft-tissue distress.

This class creates a safe, structured environment in which you can develop your intuitive sense, detect stiff or painful areas, and learn to notice changes in the quality and texture of the deeper layers of musculature. Specific hand positions and strokes designed to respond to various tissue qualities will be taught to enhance the effectiveness of this work. The class follows a regional approach to the body with a particular focus on identifying specific muscles, muscle groups and bony landmarks. This class includes a weekly, supervised practice session as well as daily hands-on practice giving and receiving the work in class.

Polarity Therapy is a holistic healing art providing experiential education for the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of being. Students learn bodywork techniques and protocol for five sessions designed to resolve energy blocks, clear emotional trauma, balance, and harmonize energy pathways, and attune one’s connection with Spirit. You will study energy theories, diet and health building techniques. Unique to Heartwood’s residential program is the opportunity for improving health with energy exercises and daily meditation, while receiving and giving this profound transformational work.

Cranial Sacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork that directly influences the brain and spinal cord. It is used to find and release areas of restriction, re-educate old holding patterns, calm over-stressed systems and over-stimulated nerves, support emotional clearing, and is an excellent tool for personal growth. Students gain heightened sensation and perception, self-awareness, and specific skills for listening, tracking and interpreting cranial rhythms as they reverberate through the body. You will learn cranial and spinal anatomy and step-by-step sequences.

A thorough understanding of anatomical structure and its physiological functioning is a basic requirement for all health care professionals. You will find learning easy and exciting in our six-course, 150-hour Human Sciences curriculum, as you use your vision, hearing, hands-on and internal experience to discover the human body in all its beauty and mystery. Our anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology classes are tailored to massage and bodywork applications. This knowledge and understanding of the body will assist you in building your effectiveness as a therapist.

Our Professional Development classes train you to market your services, build your own practice and find your perfect work situation. You will learn practical, tried-and-true methods for creating success, prosperity, and the career you want. You will also learn client care and professional service.

THE HOLISTIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER PROGRAM
12 months - 1,035 hours

Curriculum

Bodywork

Human Sciences

Professional Development

Other Required Classes

Students must possess a current Standard First Aid & CPR card at the time of graduation. First Aid/CPR class is offered on campus. Graduates earn a Diploma upon completion of the program.

Call our Enrollment Counselors for details
Toll Free 877-936-9663