Background

I’ve been a massage therapist for over 25 years, and I have never been more invigorated, inspired, and excited about my work. I have a great deal of intuition about massage therapy, and my style keeps evolving. There is also so much new research that I enjoy keeping up with.

I have had my private office in San Francisco since 2004. I am licensed in the state of California and city of San Francisco, and a member of the Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals.

I am originally from Baltimore, and back in 1998, I was voted Best Massage Therapist in Baltimore by City Paper of Baltimore.

I studied Neuromuscular Therapy/Structural Integration with Paul St. John and the Neurosomatic Educators. Under his guidance, I learned his technique of Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT), Posturology and Structural Integration for Low Back, TMJ, Cranial Decompression, Carpal Tunnel, and Cervical Issues. In 2012, I reviewed all the major NMT classes through the new St. John-Clark Neurosomatic Educators, Inc.

In 2016, I had the honor of studying with Erik Dalton and his Freedom from Pain Institute. I completed a 30-hour certification in his Myoskeletal Alignment Technique (MAT), and have found it to be the perfect complement to Neuromuscular Therapy. This year I had the opportunity to study Orthopedic Massage with the world reknowned, James Waslaski. This work really spoke to me and has been a part of my treatments ever since learning the modality.

From 1998–2004, I worked in the Ruscombe Mansion Health Community Center with world-renowned homeopathic physicians Dr. Lorraine Fertsch and Dr. Peter Hinderbeger, as well as Rolf Institute instructor and practitioner Tessy Brungardt. It was a great experience to work within the Ruscombe community in such a historic mansion.

I also had the awesome opportunity to work directly with Dr. Ariane Cometa at her Wellness Center; she is a front runner in Integrative Medicine and Women's Health (and a dear friend). I also worked with the Johns Hopkins Occupational University Occupational Health Services Department.

I am trained in Prenatal, Postpartum, Labor, and Infant Massage. While in Baltimore, I worked with OB-GYN Deborah Hebb, MD, who referred expectant mothers with low back pain and other muscular issues due to pregnancy. I had the joy of being a labor massage therapist for ten labor/births.

I am a graduate of the Baltimore School of Massage’s 500-hour program, and worked with patients at Maryland Chiropractic in Glen Burnie, MD.

I first learned the art form of massage therapy in 1992 from my best friend's mother, Diane Church, who was a certified massage therapist and esthetician.

I was originally studying Business at Towson State University and Essex Community College in Baltimore before I discovered I had an interest in massage therapy. The rest is history.

Fun Helen facts!

While in Baltimore, I worked as a massage therapist on several movies (including Enemy of the State, Pecker) and on the HBO TV shows Homicide and The Wire. A great joy was having the opportunity to work with Olympic gymnast Elise Ray before she headed off to the Sydney Olympics in 2000! And for several years, I worked with competitive body builders, strong men competitors, and with a Mr. Olympia competitor and placer, Kevin Levrone. Rawr!

Additional training:

-Prenatal & Postpartum Massage Certification/Bodywork for the Childbearing Year with Somatic Learning Institute

-Infant Massage Teaching

-Craniosacral Therapy with The Upledger Institute

-Myofascial Release Therapy with John Barnes

-Deep Tissue Passive Movements with Carolyn Osbourne-Sheets

-The Seated Massage Experience/Touch 4 Productions

-Member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals since 1998

Helen at play

When I’m not helping people stand up straight, I am busy as a tour guide for students in SF, New York, and Washington, D.C.; making costumes and volunteering for Burning Man; gardening in my backyard; pickling something; hanging with my husband, Ben; or singing rock songs from the top of my lungs!

Make an appointment today so I can help get you out of pain and back to fun!!!

Helen

Helen Hickman Bodywork

90 Minute Myoskeletal Alignment Massage Therapy Session