ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HELLERWORK and ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

What is Fascia?

Fascia is an interwoven connective tissue system that provides a framework of shape and support for our body through the muscles, soft tissues, organs, and bones. It’s intricate fibrous webbing with gel-like lubricant wraps around and through muscle tissue to give it structure and stability, allowing the layers of muscles and soft tissues to slide and glide smoothly, and help us feel loose and limber. Increased demand, strain, tension, or lack of use can cause the fascia to become rigid, stuck, or less flexible in that area. The rigidity or immobility of the fascia in one area transmits throughout the entire structure and can create strain and tension in other areas.

Is Hellerwork® similar to Massage Therapy?

Both modalities are forms of manual therapy and there are some aspects of Hellerwork® that may feel the same as getting a massage, such as types of pressure and touch or feelings of relaxation. Structural Integration (SI) is based on the work of Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D. Dr. Rolf developed the process of SI as a holistic approach utilizing soft tissue manipulation and movement education to restore the body to its natural state of alignment and balance. Joseph Heller was trained by Dr. Rolf and eventually created a branch of SI that he called “Hellerwork” based on his training in structural integration, movement education and body awareness. The Hellerwork® Structural Integration approach focuses on releasing the tissues in a way that supports an unwinding of holding or compensation patterns to help you return to your structural integrity. This invites you to be fully present and active with the process, so that we can work together to facilitate change and restore a greater sense of freedom, ease, and well-being. While you may feel immediate changes during a session, our work together is also kick-starting a process of deep integration, organization and healing in the body that continues on, long after the session.

Can I experience Hellerwork® Structural Integration with a few sessions or do I need to do the entire series?

The process addresses the body as a whole, usually over a series of sessions. You can experience Hellerwork® with a few individual sessions to address a specific issue or a comprehensive progressive exploration through the entire series. Individual sessions provide an opportunity for you to either get an experience of the work, address a specific area, or go at a pace that feels right for you. If you decide later that you would like to experience the sequence of the series in its entirety, it is always available.

What should I expect for my first session?

In the first session, you will be asked to complete an intake form that provides information about you and your medical history. There will also be a postural assessment and a movement assessment. After the initial assessments and in subsequent sessions, the bodywork will mostly be done on a massage table, and there may be some seated or standing work as well. There is a brief movement lesson offered at the end of the session to help you embody and practice the new movement patterning as you return to your daily life.

What should I wear?

The most important thing is that you wear something you feel comfortable in. Hellerwork® looks at how specific areas of the body relate to the wholeness of one’s structure, and also utilizes movement while on the massage table to facilitate change in the tissues and re-educate healthier movement patterns. Minimal or fitted clothing helps the practitioner distinguish patterns and shifts in the body to optimize the treatment, while also keeping within your modesty level. Some standard options are sports bras, regular bras, tank tops, bathing suits, work-out shorts, or underwear. If these options don’t work for you, please know that we will work with whatever your comfort level is.

What are some of the benefits of Hellerwork®?

We have all spent our lives growing, moving, and living in the constant field of gravity. Things like physical injuries, trauma, the ways we use our body on a daily basis, and even the stresses of our daily lives can affect how we hold ourselves in relation to gravity. Our life experiences and interactions require us to adapt and respond in the best way we can in that moment. These adaptive patterns can become ingrained in us long after they have fulfilled their function, leaving us with a sense of effortful and inefficient movement or holding. Feeling better in your body is a primary goal of Hellerwork® and many clients find relief of pain and discomfort, while also gaining a sense of ease, efficiency and grace. While these are some general benefits of Hellerwork® Structural Integration, ultimately the overall benefits of this process are unique to each individual.

Do you accept insurance?

I am not a contract provider with a health insurance company so I cannot directly bill for coverage for the cost of treatment. If your insurance company reimburses for treatment costs made to out-of-network providers, I can provide you with a receipt that provides the insurance company with the necessary information.