Are you new to Hellerwork Structural Integration, Curious but not quite sure what it’s all about? Well let me tell you a bit about this amazing modality and my journey into Hellework.
Hellerwork Structural Integration is a powerful system of somatic education and structural bodywork, based on the inseparability of body, mind, and spirit. Following Ida Rolf’s lineage of Structural Integration, Joseph Heller incorporated movement education, which helps clients become more aware of their patterns and possible reasons of injury in their bodies. Joseph also incorporated dialogue to expand the client’s awareness of how their mind/thoughts and body are connected. The Hellerwork Series is 11 sessions created to unwind the fascial strains in the body and to integrate the body as whole.
Deep tissue bodywork combined with movement education and dialogue of the body and mind connection guides you to new options both physically and emotionally. Hellerwork encourages you to make the connection between movement and body alignment. Hellerwork helps to restore your body’s natural balance from the inside out. When your body comes into alignment within the field of gravity, chronic pain and tension dissipate. A comfortable sense of support replaces the stress and strain of carrying your body through life!
In 2008 I began my journey with Hellerwork Structural Integration. I was at a time In my life where I was newly a single mother raising a five year old boy, life was a bit difficult during this transition and I was being called to develop my career, but also felt that it could be difficult to go back to school with a small child and needing to work.
One day I was visiting a friend who was telling me about Hellerwork Sessions she had been having with a local practitioner. It sounded a lot like the Rolfing sessions I had experienced many years back. She was overjoyed with the results she was having in her body. At this time in my life I was already a body-worker, trained in Massage and Acupressure. I really felt ready for a deeper experience and understanding of the human body. I wanted to connect all of the pieces together with the mind and the spirit. My friend told me there was a Hellerwork training happening in Victoria right where I was living! I was excited and knew in my heart that I was going to be a part of that training. It was going to start in a month. I contacted the trainers straight away and I was told that I was put on a waiting list and the training was full, if a space opens up they would let me know. I still knew that I would be part of that training, for some reason there was no doubts or fears.
A few days later they called me and said two spaces had opened up, one for me and one for my friend who had told me about the training. We were both on our way for an epic journey. .
Straight away I had to start getting my 11 session series before the training started, which didn’t leave me much time. I was entering the training before even having the work done! I called my local practitioners and started booking in the sessions. I decided to try different practitioners to get a sense of the work.
My first session was profound! Session one is called Inspiration. I was encouraged
to find what inspires me in my life, what makes me feel alive! This session is also very much about the breath, the more we open up and free the breath; the more our body is able to expand and open. So much was opened up and realized in my body. I couldn’t wait to have my next session! And it went from there, each session was amazing and just what I needed for my body at the time.
In September of 2008 my training began, we were a circle of 16 souls. I can’t express how amazing this first module of the training was. We had the gift of Don and Diane St John leading the first module around embodiment, somatic reflection, presence, attunement, mindfulness, and continuum movement. This first intensive gave us some of the most important skills on how to be with ourselves and with others while staying present and in our bodies. WOW what a life skill to receive! Every intensive was amazing! We were able to watch a very skilled teacher work with a client and then be able to work on each other. There were radical shifts and changes with everyone! I could write pages and pages about some of the most profound and amazing moments in my life that were realized at this training.
During the training I realized that even if I never made a career out of Hellerwork that it didn’t matter because I had experienced others and myself in a way that had never been experienced before. I had found places that were hidden away, in the shadows and were finally set free and seen. I had felt places in my body that I had not felt in decades. I had support and love. I still have long lasting friendships from this training.
I can’t express enough how thankful I am for this training. Almost 9 years later and I have had a successful career doing what I love and helping others find themselves again and to feel more free in their bodies. What could be more awesome then that! It has also been a gift to set my own hours and as a single parent in the beginning I could still work and make a great living and be with my child. Now I have another child who is 3 and have also made the choice to be with my child and work part- time. I love being my own boss, while doing what works best for my rhythm in life, making a good living and being able to be with my family and farm.
If you are thinking about a career in Hellerwork I can’t encourage you enough that it will change your life! And you will build a successful business. The world needs more people like you! Hellerwork changes the world one body at a time!