What is structural integration?
Based on the work of Dr. Ida P. Rolf, Structural Integration is based on the idea that the body is a unit, and that all of its parts are connected and interact with each other. It is believed that when the body is out of balance, it can cause pain and dysfunction. Structural Integration works to restore balance and alignment to the body, allowing it to move more freely and efficiently. This form of therapy can have a variety of benefits for health and mobility. For example, Structural Integration can improve flexibility, posture and balance, reduce chronic pain, and improve the range of motion. It can also help with stress and anxiety, it can improve overall strength, circulation, and well-being. Structural Integration can be an effective tool for improving health and mobility, and should be considered for those looking for ways to improve their overall wellbeing.
Structural Integration works with connective tissue - or fascia - to create key segmental changes in the body’s soft tissues and joints which, ultimately, helps achieve a higher level of flexibility and balance. Structural Integration has become increasingly popular among bodyworkers and their clients due to the improved mobility and movement they experience. Structural Integration also has the potential to improve the overall quality of life of those who undergo it.
Gravity, stress, trauma, physical injuries, and poor posture patterns all have a significant impact on our day to day lives. Gravity is a constant force that affects our bodies in many ways. It affects our posture, balance, and alignment, and can lead to a decrease in energy, flexibility, and an increase in back pain, headaches, and general aches and pains. Stress can also have a negative effect on our bodies, as it can cause tension in our muscles and joints, leading to pain and discomfort. Trauma, such as a car accident or a fall, can cause physical injuries that can lead to long-term pain and discomfort. Poor posture patterns can also lead to a decrease in energy, flexibility, and an increase in back pain, headaches, and general aches and pains.
Structural Integration focuses on the body as a whole, rather than just treating individual parts. It is a systematic approach to addressing the body's structure and function, usually over a series of sessions. Structural Integration practitioners work with the body and its relationship to gravity, helping bring relief from pain and discomfort, and awareness of how you’re holding and using your body. This allows the body to learn new patterns of movement and heal itself.
As you begin to feel how you relate with your body and the environment around you, you can begin to recognize patterns of tension that no longer serve you and discover new options for movement, posture, and your physical experience. Rather than treating symptoms, SI practitioners work to help your body integrate internally between systems, and externally toward your life’s challenges.
Structural Integration can be a great way to improve posture, flexibility, breathing capacity, energy levels, and eliminate chronic pain. It is a safe and effective form of bodywork that can help to improve overall well-being and quality of life.
What to expect from A Typical Structural Integration Session
During the Structural Integration process, changes in your posture, movement, and physical experience are achieved through education, awareness, and therapeutic touch. The focus is on relationship—how you relate with your physical experience of yourself and your environment—rather than on any particular body part or region.
When working with a Structural Integrator for the first time, an intake process is performed, including your health and personal history, followed by an initial assessment of how you hold and move your body. Clients remain clothed to whatever extent they wish, though some kind of activewear is common. Typically, your standing posture, breath, gait (walking), and perhaps other movements are observed. Your practitioner will use that information to help design a session strategy with you, then ask you to move onto the therapy table.
While SI practitioners are often trained in “myofascial release” techniques, a range of techniques may be applied in service of the goals of the SI process. The amount of pressure used may vary greatly. A practitioner may use touch that is lighter or heavier, slow-moving or still, depending on therapeutic intent and your preferences. You may be asked to move as pressure is applied, or to stand, move around, and notice your experience during the session.
While working with your practitioner, you may experience a variety of sensations ranging from warm and pleasant to mild discomfort. Your feedback will allow your practitioner to adjust their pressure accordingly—the pace of the session is always under your control.
Structural Integrators emphasize movement education in their practices, to varying degrees. Your practitioner can help you become aware of your habitual ways of holding and moving your body and help you explore easier, more natural ways of being. Movement education might address your habits of standing posture, breathing, walking, sitting, or any specialized movements you might perform in your daily life.
Usually, Structural Integration is performed over an initial series of ten to thirteen sessions that systematically address your body as a whole, with each session building upon the previous. SI practitioners often tailor their approach to address individual needs and preferences. After your initial series, you might continue to work with your Structural Integrator to further support your goals.
© 2021 International Association of Structural Integrators
