Instructors
California
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Tom Hendrickson, DC, is a respected authority in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and a pioneer in the field of massage and manual therapy. With more than forty years of clinical experience, he has been teaching Hendrickson Method®, an innovative system of orthopedic manual therapy, since 1982.
Dr. Hendrickson’s training in manual therapy and the healing arts began in the 1970s and includes an apprenticeship and four-year course of study with the legendary Lauren Berry, RPT—a mechanical engineer and physical therapist whose work made pioneering contributions to manual therapy. He also studied with healers Rosalyn Bruyere and Muriel Chapman, DO, deepening his understanding of energy healing and integrating these principles into Hendrickson Method.
The development of Hendrickson Method emerged from decades of hands-on clinical practice, combined with Dr. Hendrickson’s in-depth study of anatomy, orthopedics, and the body’s innate capacity to heal. The method reflects both scientific rigor and experiential understanding, emphasizing precision, presence, and sustainability in hands-on work.
Dr. Hendrickson is the author of Massage and Manual Therapy for Orthopedic Conditions, first published in 2003 and translated into five languages. Long regarded as a trusted resource for manual therapists, the book’s extensively revised Third Edition (2026) incorporates current research in musculoskeletal medicine, massage, manual therapy, and energy healing. Together, his teaching and writing offer practitioners a clear framework for treating orthopedic disorders efficiently and effectively while supporting longevity in the healing arts.
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Maria Fernandez is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Hendrickson® Method Therapist with a lifelong passion for sports and movement. Maria has been active in basketball and athletics since childhood. This dedication led her to pursue a degree in Kinesiology from Humboldt State University, where her interest in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine flourished.
Maria became a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) in 2011, and shortly after, in 2012, she discovered Hendrickson Method®. Inspired by its profound effectiveness and gentle approach to healing, she began integrating it into her professional practice. Over the years, Maria has continued her clinical work and, in 2023, became a Teacher of Hendrickson Method, sharing her knowledge and passion with others.
Combining a strong foundation in sports medicine with a holistic, hands-on therapy approach, Maria is committed to helping clients recover from pain and injury while improving movement, balance, and overall well-being.
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Qilo (“ky-lo”) (they/ he) focuses on bodies in motion through dance, Hendrickson Method®, and an early love of physics. After receiving a BFA in Dance in 2002, they studied Dynamic Embodiment — Somatic Movement Therapy and Swedish Massage through Moving on Center School for Participatory Arts and Somatic Research.
Drawn to Hendrickson Method for its profound clarity and effectiveness, Qilo used a combination of HM and Pilates to recover from years of dance injuries and chronic fatigue. They graduated as a Hendrickson Method Therapist in 2014 and completed their teacher training in 2019. For 7 years Qilo worked with Tom Hendrickson at the Hendrickson Clinic in addition to their thriving private practice in North Oakland.
Along with a vibrant dance and choreographic practice, Qilo studies Bagua Zhang and Xing-yi with Maija Soderholm and rehabilitative pilates with paige starling sorvillo. Their anatomy and bodywork training comprises osteopathic techniques with Elizabeth McClain, Embodiment in Education with Susan Bauer, Anatomy for Hendrickson Method with Bethany Drohmann and Dallas Everleth, and dissection courses with Jim Donak and Professora Em Segmen.
Qilo has taught anatomy and kinesiology with paige starling sorvillo through their Articulate Anatomy series for HM students and the wider community, and loves connecting with students as a Hendrickson Method teacher.
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Randy Lind, CMT is a certified HM teacher and has been using Hendrickson Method in his private practice as his primary healing technique for more than 20 years.
For over 15 years Randy has been a teacher at several schools in the Bay Area including the McKinnon Institute, the San Francisco School of Massage and the Hendrickson Method Institute. He’s led workshops in sports massage, METs, orthopedic assessment and other manual therapy techniques.
Since starting his massage career in 1996, his work experience has been quite diverse, from sports therapy clinics and chiropractic offices to New Age conference centers and world-class spas. He led the AIDS Lifecycle massage team for several years and has volunteered at non-profits providing manual therapy to underserved populations.
Randy has also created and organized a community “pop-up” Hendrickson Method clinic that provided training for HM practitioners as well as low cost manual therapy for community members. He currently also leads guided group meditation and breath-work sessions twice a month on Zoom.
Sigal Guanish
Certified Hendrickson Method Teacher
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Sigal was drawn to Hendrickson Method’s gentle yet effective treatment for chronic pain and nervous system rehabilitation. She has deep appreciation for the importance of integrating both physical and emotional well-being for optimum health. Prior to HM, she studied at Avalon School of Massage Therapy in Walnut Creek, CA where she learned Swedish massage, deep tissue reflexology, and aromatherapy. She worked at the Hendrickson Clinic for many years and maintains a private practice in Berkeley, CA.
Sigal grew up on a farming kibbutz in Israel. She enjoys growing her own vegetables and riding horses with her two sons. Sigal shares that one thing she loves about Hendrickson Method is the opportunity to listen as patients communicate through their bodies.
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Nikki Rae Whitlock is a dedicated Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Hendrickson Method® Teacher, with a career in bodywork that spans nearly two decades. Since 2011, she has studied and practiced the Hendrickson Method®, serving as a teaching assistant to the founder, Dr. Tom Hendrickson, for five years. She earned her Teaching Certification in 2019 and has since brought the transformative Hendrickson Method® to Utah.
A graduate of the Utah College of Massage Therapy in 2004, Nikki also contributed as a teaching assistant from 2006 to 2008. Nikki has previously served as Spa Director at Healing Mountain Massage School, where she redesigned spa treatments and developed training manuals for their programs. Her passion for empowerment extends beyond the clinic; as Director of Unity For Women, LLC, she facilitates international workshops that foster connection and growth among women and communities.
Outside of her professional life, Nikki finds joy in raising her three children, balancing a fulfilling family life with her impactful career.
Salt Lake City, UT
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Nikki Rae Whitlock is a dedicated Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Hendrickson Method® Teacher, with a career in bodywork that spans nearly two decades. Since 2011, she has studied and practiced Hendrickson Method®, serving as a teaching assistant to the founder, Dr. Tom Hendrickson, for five years. She earned her Teaching Certification in 2019 and has since brought the transformative Hendrickson Method® to Utah.
A graduate of the Utah College of Massage Therapy in 2004, Nikki also contributed as a teaching assistant from 2006 to 2008. Nikki has previously served as Spa Director at Healing Mountain Massage School, where she redesigned spa treatments and developed training manuals for their programs. Her passion for empowerment extends beyond the clinic; as Director of Unity For Women, LLC, she facilitates international workshops that foster connection and growth among women and communities.
Outside of her professional life, Nikki finds joy in raising her three children, balancing a fulfilling family life with her impactful career.
United Kingdom
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Sue completed her massage certification at the UK’s Northern Institute of Massage in 1991. She received her diploma in Manipulative Therapy in 2002 and the title of Physiotherapist in 2004. As a massage therapist, Sue has always worked by the ethos that the body needs to be understood as a whole. This inspired her search for a technique which would acknowledge the precision needed in practice as well as the person behind the pain.
After reading Dr. Hendrickson’s textbook Massage and Manual Therapy for Orthopedic Conditions, Sue knew she wanted to study Hendrickson Method®. In 2006 she began her HM training in Berkeley, flying back and forth from Otley, England in order to study with Dr. Hendrickson. In 2009 she became the UK’s first qualified Hendrickson Method® Therapist and in 2013 she began offering the UK’s first HM workshops. Sue is a certified HM Teacher, leading HM trainings in addition to having a vibrant private practice.