A therapeutic approach emphasizing deep massage, movement exercises, and verbal dialogue to encourage relaxation, release tight connective tissue, and promote general health.
A complex form of bodywork/massage named for its founder Joseph Heller. Heller began as a student of Ida P. Rolf, who had developed a form of mas¬ sage distinctive for its manipulation of the fascia, the connective tissue between bone joints. Heller became the first president of the Rolf Institute for Structural Integration in 1976. However, he was also attracted to the variation on ROLFING developed by Judith Aston that is generally termed structural patterning. This stresses the natural asymmetry of the body and applies less force in the massage. Heller was also interested in the theories of emotional energy awareness developed by psychologist Brugh Joy. In 1978 he left the Rolf Institute to found The Body of Knowledge, an institute to train Hellerwork practitioners, located in Mount Shasta, California.
Hellerwork fits within the larger perspective of holistic healing, which attempts to treat the body as a whole and looks for continued health, in large part, in keeping the body fit and toned. In this regard, Hellerwork offers sessions featuring rolling and body-movement exercises in an atmosphere that calls attention to the feelings experienced by the patient as the bodywork is pursued.