Hellerwork is a form of body work that combines Rolfing techniques of deep body massage with movement education and guided verbal dialog. The purpose of the technique is to PREVENT illness and not to TREAT illness. The main thrust of Hellerwork is to help clients achieve vitality by releasing physical and emotional tensions.

Joseph Heller, the man behind Hellerwork was a disciple of Rolfing, until he began to feel that the manipulations and massage of the bodys connective tissue was insufficient.

He felt that although Rolfing aims to realign the body, improve posture and promote overall wellbeing, its results were not long lasting and the benefits wore off after some time.

Heller added certain aspects to Rolfing that he felt would help to make massage and muscle work yield better and lasting benefits. He added certain educational aspects and also encouraged his patients to engage in dialog and discussion. He discovered that many patients were actually unaware of what was happening to their bodies even after they underwent 8-10 sessions of therapy. Thus the benefits yielded by therapy were often lost when the patient left therapy.

By engaging the client in a discussion of his or her lifestyle and daily habits, the practitioner is able to pick the habits and emotions that play an important role in his or her life. Through proper guidance and education the client learns to release tensions and move properly. To bring about lasting beneficial effects in the body, Heller designed a thematic and structured approach consisting of eleven sessions. These sessions form the core of Hellerwork, and they aim to reeducate the mind while realigning the body.

The physical techniques used in Hellerwork are basically similar to Rolfing techniques. Heller also based his manipulation techniques on the bodys innate need to maintain its balance. Hellerwork attempts to put the entire body back in equilibrium with the nervous system, with the mind, and the natural systems in the body.

By bringing the bodys natural structure back into order, Hellerwork brings relief from general pains and aches. The first 6 sessions of Hellerwork consists of gentle massage where the practitioner uses his fingers and hands sometimes the elbows too to massage the chest. This enables fuller and deeper breathing the first precursor to good health. It also paves the way to relieving physical and mental stress.

Specific physical problems like chronic neck, back, shoulder and joint pain is treated with Hellerwork. Repetitive stress injuries that result from the overuse of certain muscle groups (like carpal tunnel syndrome) can also be treated with Hellerwork. Hellerwork is also used by professional athletes to prevent injuries, to manage stress and to treat aches and pains.

Hellerwork, like Rolfing, is tuned to teaching an individual the correct and natural rhythm of his body. As a child grows into an adult, he or she adapts to the environment by altering the natural patterns of the body. The imbalance in the body is further increased when negative emotions, stress and negative attitudes swamp the individual. As stress accumulates over the years, the body shortens and stiffens. Hellerwork aims at loosening the stiff body and returning it to its natural vitality and flow. By reconditioning the body and educating the client, Hellerwork is able to ingrain new habits for a lifetime.