Curriculum Overview

Master the Art and Science of Holistic Hands-On Care

At the Pacific Center for Awareness and Bodywork (PCAB), our curriculum is designed to go beyond technique and teach whole-person, trauma-informed care that integrates the body, heart, and mind.

Based in mindfulness, somatic psychology, and holistic health sciences, our six-month, 740-hour foundational bodywork program provides a transformative learning experience that prepares graduates to support healing for their clients—and themselves.

Next Program:

January 5 - June 26, 2026

Our Body - Heart - Mind Curriculum:

Integrative Bodywork

A Whole-Systems Approach to Healing

This integrative training combines hands-on techniques with comprehensive study of anatomy and physiology to address the body as a dynamic, interconnected system.

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Our bodywork program includes a comprehensive range of modalities, including:

  • Our curriculum includes a strong foundation in Swedish massage, taught not just as a relaxation modality, but as a tool for supporting nervous system regulation and establishing trust through touch. Students learn how to apply flowing, rhythmic techniques with attunement and presence, creating sessions that feel grounding, nourishing, and safe. We integrate spa tools, such as warm compresses and hot stones, to promote grounding and nourishment.

  • We introduce students to Lomi Lomi as a traditional Hawaiian approach to bodywork rooted in rhythm, breath, and loving intention. Known for its flowing, wave-like strokes, Lomi Lomi supports deep relaxation and integration.

    At PCAB, we emphasize cultural humility and respect for the lineage and heart of this practice, especially within the context of learning on Kauaʻi. We are reverent and grateful to the Hawaiian wisdom-keepers who offer our students this teaching, and for their guidance in embodying the spirit of aloha.

  • At PCAB, we approach deep tissue and fascial work through the lens of the nervous system, not force. Rather than “breaking through” tension, we teach students to listen to the body's protective patterns and work in a way that supports safety, responsiveness, and client-led change.

    Students learn how to engage fascia with presence, precision, and an understanding of how connective tissue and the autonomic nervous system interact — especially in the context of trauma, bracing, and chronic holding. This approach allows for depth without overwhelm, and change that respects the body's pace.

  • At PCAB, we teach a dynamic approach to lymphatic drainage that integrates Ayurvedic principles and elemental diagnostics — teaching students to assess tissue through qualities such as hot/cold & wet/dry. This allows for a nuanced and responsive approach to fluid mobilization, tailored to the individual’s constitution.

    Students learn to recognize signs of fluid stagnation, inflammation, or depletion, and apply tools and touch in ways that nourish and revitalize the body & spirit. This work supports detoxification, immune resilience, and empowerment through self-care education.

  • At PCAB, we provide an introduction to the methodology of Structural Integration (SI) through a nervous-system-informed framework. Rather than approaching structure as something to “fix” or “correct,” we view postural patterns and fascial holding as adaptive responses to life experience — including injury, trauma, and emotional history.

    Students learn how to work with the fascial system in a way that supports regulation rather than overwhelm, helping the body reorganize itself from the inside out. We emphasize pacing, responsiveness, client intake, and clinical decision-making in facilitating structural change.

  • Thai Massage is a traditional healing art that blends acupressure, passive stretching, rhythmic compression, and movement-based bodywork. Practiced fully clothed on a floor mat, it invites a grounded, dynamic exchange between practitioner and receiver — supporting joint mobility, fluidity, and whole-body awareness.

  • Abdominal bodywork is a core part of our integrative curriculum, addressing the often-overlooked center of the body — where digestion, emotion, reproduction, and deep fascial connections converge.

    At PCAB, we approach abdominal work as both functional and somatic. Students learn techniques to support digestive, reproductive, lymphatic, and fascial health, as well as how to recognize the emotional and nervous system patterns that often reside in the belly.

    As part of this training, students also learn pre-natal massage and abdominal care appropriate for all stages of pregnancy. This includes how to adapt positioning, pressure, and technique to support the changing body and the physiological needs of pregnancy, while offering sessions that feel safe, grounding, and nourishing.

  • Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on modality that supports the body’s self-regulating and self-organizing capacities through subtle contact with the cranial bones, spine, sacrum, and the surrounding membranes and fluids. At PCAB, we teach craniosacral work as a nervous-system-centered practice, emphasizing presence, attunement, and the ability to listen deeply to the body’s internal rhythms.

    Students learn how to track and support the craniosacral rhythm, honoring the body’s capacity for reorganization when met with safety, stillness, and deep listening.

    This modality complements our broader curriculum by offering a quiet, profound access point to the nervous system, and by reinforcing the importance of attuned, non-invasive contact in therapeutic bodywork.

Our integrative bodywork curriculum will provide you with in-depth training in hands-on skills—building your capacity to confidently respond to your clients’ individual needs.

Mindfulness & Trauma-Informed Care

Cultivating a Therapeutic Relationship

At PCAB, we believe that touch is more than technique—it’s a dialogue between the practitioner and the client’s whole being. Our curriculum teaches mindfulness and relational skills that empower students to co-create a safe, supportive space where healing can unfold.

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You’ll learn to:

  • Cultivate loving presence and attunement to build trust and therapeutic connection.

  • Recognize and respond to nervous system cues to meet each client where they are.

  • Guide clients in developing interoception as a bridge between cognitive awareness and body sensations.

  • Understand the role of implicit safety in therapeutic outcomes.

  • Learn principles of somatic psychology to understand how the body holds and expresses experience, both past and present.

  • Engage in self-inquiry and reflective practice to integrate learning, track your growth, and sustain your capacity to hold space for others.

(and more…)

Our relational, trauma-informed curriculum will support your ability to cultivate attuned, therapeutic relationships.

Holistic Health Sciences

Bridging Science and Tradition

Our program merges scientific rigor with the wisdom of traditional healing practices. You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology while exploring how culture and nature affect well-being.

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Key areas of focus include:

  • Develop a deep understanding of the body’s structure and function, including the musculoskeletal, nervous, lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. This foundational course prepares students to offer skilled, whole-body care by integrating anatomical knowledge with hands-on practice.

  • Learn the science of human movement, including joint mechanics, muscle actions, and functional biomechanics. Students gain practical skills in palpation, movement analysis, and body reading, essential for effective, integrative bodywork.

  • At PCAB, we teach bodywork from a neurocentric perspective, helping students understand not just how to touch, but why touch can be so transformative for both the body and mind. Our curriculum covers the neuroscience of touch, pain science, and affective neuroscience, giving students a comprehensive understanding of how manual therapy influences the nervous system and emotional processing.

  • Study the nature and causes of disease, including the signs, symptoms, and contraindications relevant to therapeutic bodywork. This course equips students to recognize common pathologies, understand their effects on body systems, and apply safe, adaptive care.

  • Our curriculum integrates foundational principles from somatic psychology, including Hakomi Method and Somatic Experiencing®, to support students in understanding how the body holds emotion, memory, and meaning. Through experiential practices, students learn to track sensation, work with the nervous system, and cultivate mindful, non-invasive ways of supporting clients’ inner awareness and self-regulation. These approaches deepen the therapeutic relationship and prepare students to meet clients with presence, curiosity, and respect for the body’s innate intelligence.

  • Reconnect with the land as a source of regulation, resourcing, and resilience. We encourage students to ground, discharge stress, and build nervous system capacity through nature-based practices — integrating the body, mind, and environment.

  • Learn to assess and balance the body’s tissues through the lens of elemental qualities — such as hot/cold, wet/dry, heavy/light — drawing from Ayurvedic principles and other traditional systems. Students gain a deeper understanding of how constitutional types, seasonal changes, and lifestyle factors influence health, and how to adapt bodywork for whole-person care.

  • Explore the therapeutic use of medicinal plants to support the nervous system and enhance the effects of bodywork. This module focuses on nervine herbs, calming botanicals, and trauma-informed plant allies, as well as the practical skills needed to infuse oils, create topicals, and incorporate herbs into hands-on practice. Students learn to integrate nature’s medicine with manual therapy, supporting the body’s natural resilience and recovery.

Our holistic health sciences curriculum provides a deep understanding of the body’s interconnected systems, preparing you to offer informed, adaptive, and supportive hands-on care.

Program Details

Dates

January 5 – June 26, 2026

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:15AM - 5:15PM

Location

Church of the Pacific, Princeville, Kauai, HI

Tuition

See Tuition Page for details

Licensing

Our program is licensed by the Hawaii Department of Education and approved by NCBTMB

Clinical Training & Real-World Experience

Hands-on experience is a cornerstone of the PCAB curriculum. Our student-run clinic offers a supportive environment for applying your skills while receiving feedback from experienced mentors. You’ll:

  • Provide supervised massage sessions to real clients from the local community.

  • Build confidence and competence in adapting techniques to meet diverse client needs.

  • Learn to navigate the relational dynamics of therapeutic touch in a safe, supportive setting.

Licensing, Certification & Career Readiness

Upon completing our 740-hour program, graduates are fully prepared to:

  • Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam) and other state-specific licensing exams, including Hawaii.

  • Pursue a career in spa, clinical, private practice, or community settings.

  • Build a purpose-driven, sustainable career that blends technical expertise with relational intelligence.

Is This Program Right for You?

You belong at PCAB if you:

  • Are drawn to holistic healing and bodywork as a career

  • Want to develop technical massage skills with a deeper, more integrative approach

  • Believe in the mind-body connection and the role of trauma-informed care in wellness

  • Seek an intimate, community-driven learning environment in a setting that inspires transformation

  • Are ready to invest in yourself and your future through a program that combines rigor, depth, and heart

Start Your Journey Today

Are you ready to embark on a career where you can transform lives through mindful, compassionate touch?

Apply Now or Schedule a Call to learn more about how PCAB’s curriculum can prepare you for a purpose-driven career in massage therapy.

FAQs: Curriculum & Certification

  • Our 740-hour curriculum exceeds the licensing requirements in most U.S. states.

  • You’ll gain proficiency in a wide range of modalities, including Swedish, Lomi Lomi, Deep Tissue (influenced by myofascial release and structural integration approaches), Lymphatic Drainage, Abdominal, Pre-Natal, Thai Massage, and Craniosacral Therapy.

  • Trauma-informed bodywork is an approach to massage and manual therapy that recognizes how past experiences — including trauma — can shape the body, nervous system, and response to touch. It emphasizes safety, choice, and attunement, ensuring that sessions are supportive rather than overwhelming.

    Practitioners trained in trauma-informed care learn to recognize signs of dysregulation, honor boundaries, and work within each client’s capacity. This approach doesn’t treat trauma directly, but it creates the conditions for nervous system regulation, trust, and embodied safety, which are essential for healing to occur.

    Trauma-informed bodywork is for everyone — not just those with known trauma histories — because it honors the full complexity of human experience held in the body.

Have Questions? Let’s Connect.

We’d love to guide you through our curriculum and help you decide if PCAB is the right fit for your journey. Schedule a Call to speak with our team today!