Deep Bodywork®: The integration of Deep Bodywork® and Esalen® Massage with Perry Holloman

Deep Bodywork® is a form of bodywork developed by Perry Holloman over the last 40 years at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. The aim of this method is to help massage practitioners integrate effective techniques for working the deep connective tissue into their practice — enabling you to work more deeply whilst achieving a noticeable therapeutic effect.

This seminar focuses on the whole body. Perry Holloman will show you how Deep Bodywork can be fully integrated into a full-body massage. You will learn to apply Deep Bodywork techniques to both sides of the body — whilst maintaining the flowing, integrative quality of an Esalen massage.
As a practitioner in wellness centres or in your private practice, you’re no doubt familiar with this question from clients:

"Could you please work a bit deeper?"

That’s exactly what this is all about. How do you manage to facilitate depth in a way that is both effective and empathetic—so that the tissue can open up within a 75-minute session?
In this seminar, you’ll learn the most effective techniques from the entire body of work. You’ll combine long, integrating strokes across the whole body with targeted, pain-relieving methods on specific areas — where your clients want and need deep work. This creates a harmonious flow that integrates seamlessly into your treatment.

Course Content

• Ergonomically ideal body posture for each participant, enabling work with gravity rather than muscle strength. This makes giving Deep Bodywork effortless and receiving it a sensitive and organic experience.
• Advanced work on the lumbar region to release the quadratus lumborum and address chronic pain in this area
• Effective techniques for the psoas and adductors to bring the pelvis and spine into optimal alignment with gravity
• Addressing chronic pain and understanding the connection between fear and pain during deep work
• Understanding “therapeutic healing reactions” and how to handle them competently

Course Objectives

• Understanding the structure and function of the lumbar region, the quadratus lumborum, the psoas, and the thigh adductors
• Deep connective tissue techniques suitable for treating these areas
• Effortless integration of these techniques into one’s own massage practice
• Use of subjective and objective observation skills to assess the client’s needs and responses
• Ability to work with cases of acute and chronic pain
• Ability to understand contraindications and healing reactions to treatment
• Ergonomic and safe standing and movement at the massage table to work with gravity, which can positively transform participants’ entire massage practice, prevent injuries, and make the work more enjoyable and effortless.

Perry will also have time to address specific questions from participants.

After completing five courses, participants can earn the “Deep Bodywork Practitioner” certificate.

Prerequisites

Massage experience is recommended for this workshop.

Note

32 hours of training/continuing education, EMR/ASCA compliant.

What to Bring

Neutral, plant-based massage oil and a richer massage cream (thicker consistency, such as shea butter, cocoa butter, etc.).