Structural Bodywork

Structural Integration, the finest system of bodywork

Structural Integration is a form of bodywork that was developed by Dr. Ida Rolf about 50 years ago. Some may know Structural Integration as “Rolfing”. In the 1970s, Joseph Heller was appointed by Ida Rolf as the first president of the Rolf Institute. He added to the scope of her work which later became known as “Hellerwork."

Goals of Structural Integration

Expanded energy, vitality and awareness Flexibility in movement Better posture Fuller and easier breathing Freedom from chronic pain Improved relationship with your body and the world around you Weight loss

Structural Integration is a technique of systematically manipulating the myofascial tissues of the body in order to restore functionality and strength to the physical structure. Myofascial tissue is a network of connective tissue, also called fascia, that surrounds each muscle, muscle group and organ. Fascia gives you your characteristic shape because it keeps all your parts in their proper place. Fascia should stay loose, hydrated, and flexible for optimal ease of movement. Stress, pain, a hectic or sedentary lifestyle causes our fascial network to become dry, stiff, and tight. Layers of fascia then glue together and become the “knots” or tight spots we feel in our tissues. This, in turn, causes imbalances in our posture such as raised or forward shoulders, a tilted pelvis, uneven leg lengths, and other conditions that all result in pain.

Chronic imbalance ultimately affects the body’s organs and overall health in a dramatic way. Even smaller imbalances produce compensations (where one muscle or joint takes too much of a load) which are the cause of so much of the discomfort that people experience today. Structural Integration releases the tension in the body by restoring movement and glide to the fascial tissues. In a short period of time, structural integration can dissolve the body’s old patterns of holding. The body then returns to its natural state of vertical balance and ease of motion. One client said, “it was like someone released the handbrake that was holding me back”. See testimonies.

Structural Integration includes movement education which promotes healthy patterns of natural movement and posture. The body will be more efficient in its use of energy and prevents the return of tension or stress. Gaining awareness of proper body mechanics will bring you centeredness and enjoyment in walking, exercising, working, yes, in any activity you do. Our movement habits greatly affect how we age and our quality of life as we get older.

Structural Integration also includes dialogue. This is a creative and insightful process that brings awareness to our relationship with our body, mind, emotions, outlook and attitude. These all affect the structure of the physical body. Self-understanding and self-expression have much to do with the relationships we encounter in life.

Diet

Diet is what we put into our body, when we put it into our body, how we put it into our body and the quantity we put into our body. Appreciating that our body must take us through the rest of our life, we have to be aware of how our diet affects our health now and in the future.