Holistic Health Practitioner 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.
