Beyond the Long Stroke: Integrating Esalen® Massage and the Healing Art of Deep Bodywork®

Deep Bodywork®, when applied with great sensitivity, is one of the most effective healing modalities available to the professional bodyworker. It combines the integrating qualities of flowing massage with therapeutic deep tissue work to promote relaxation, restore tissue health, and support long-term structural change. Developed by the Hollomans over the course of 40 years, the form emerged from the knowledge brought to and created at Esalen in the ’60s and ’70s by early bodywork masters.

Through Deep Bodywork techniques, practitioners can enter the deeper soft tissue layers, freeing previously dense, hardened areas that may be chronically painful due to a lack of fluid exchange and energy flow. As these areas soften and “re-organize,” chronic tension patterns release, revitalizing living tissues with blood, lymph, and chi (life) energy. 

With a clear curriculum and moves designed for easy integration into any practice, we’ll focus on intermediate and advanced deep tissue techniques blended with Esalen® Massage to enhance the therapeutic skills of practicing bodyworkers, including massage therapists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, and chiropractors. We will learn effective Deep Bodywork techniques on the entire body, integrating them with the presence-based long strokes characteristic of Esalen Massage. This creates a powerful blend of structural change and pain management with deep relaxation and integration. 

Emphasis will be placed on proper body mechanics so practitioners can learn to work with a sense of inner ease and avoid placing unnecessary stress on their own bodies. We’ll also explore how these techniques can complement other healing modalities in the treatment of soft tissue pain for a multidisciplinary approach to pain relief and functional restoration. Previous massage experience is recommended for this workshop.

Notes: 

• Participants should have prior hands-on experience giving bodywork (massage, somatic work, or related modalities) and be physically capable of both giving and receiving deeper touch over multiple sessions.
• *30 CEUs are available through the NCBTMB, provided by Deepbodywork® LLC for bodyworkers. There is an additional $50 fee for CEUs. Please contact johannaholloman@gmail.com or phollomanconsulting@gmail.com with any questions. 
• This workshop includes an additional $30 for materials.

Recommended reading: Quantum Healing by Deepak Chopra