Are you one of millions of Americans with chronic pain or physical restriction? Are you stressed out and unable to get your body to relax? Have you tried many different ways to feel better, like massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, exercise and other holistic approaches? If you have not found lasting relief from any of these different disciplines you owe it to yourself to try Structural Integration, the work of Dr. Ida Rolf. Structural Integration is the art of bringing the body into ease, balance and alignment within the field of gravity. As a Rolf Practitioner, I work hands-on with connective tissue, the root of many physical problems.

Structural Integration is unlike any other form of bodywork. It is a highly evolved system for introducing profound and lasting physical change, usually presented as a series of ten consecutive sessions over a period of about three months. It is possible to get relief from just one session for a specific problem, but long lasting results are found by going through the entire series. That is because problems located in one area are always tied through the connective tissue to other parts of the body.

For example, chronic neck pain is often related to the complex structure of the feet and legs, the positioning of the spine, cranium and pelvis and the relationship of the pelvic and shoulder girdles. By working with the entire structure of the body and slowly bringing it into vertical alignment, the underlying dysfunction resulting in neck pain is addressed and removed. When that happens, the pain goes away. In most cases that is a permanent shift.

I would like to clear up a common perception that Dr. Rolf’s work always has to hurt. I can’t tell you how many times people have looked at me when I told them what I do and said, “But isn’t that painful?” Well, it used to be, no question about that. Dr. Rolf was a strong willed woman, determined to teach a difficult work and get results. She had little tolerance for folks who didn’t want to put up with intense discomfort. When I learned in 1979 most of it was like that. I was fortunate in that I had a master teacher, the first person certified by Dr. Rolf to teach and practice. He knew that it was intention and sensitivity that produced change, not simply the studied application of force. I do my best to follow his example.

Over the last 27 years I developed my own way of doing the work. Clients experience pressure and occasional mild discomfort, but not the pain once associated with getting results. I can feel the tissue change under my hands and I sense the levels where pain begins and change meets resistance. I have a very high intention to minimize discomfort. Clients tell me that my work produces a sense of deep relaxation.

Each session builds on all sessions that have gone before, producing incremental and related change throughout the body. Many people who work with me report permanent relief from pain caused by life experiences. Car crashes, sports injuries, spinal problems, surgeries, horseback accidents—I’ve seen it all, and it can all be helped.

Structural Integration is not just for those with chronic pain and old injuries. It is a marvelous tool for awakening the body and invigorating natural health and vitality. All of the body is affected. Circulation of all fluids improves. Reaction time quickens. Muscles move freely and with ease, because they no longer have to overcome the misalignment and stuck tissue that hinders ideal function. It is a perfect fit for athletes, yoga practitioners, dancers, people who do physical labor, teenagers, older folks and anyone else who wants an active and healthy body.

Of course there are some things Structural Integration cannot address and which are better served by a different modality. I offer a free consultation to everyone, to determine if it is the right approach for your particular needs. To find out if this powerful work is for you, please give me a call at (530) 277-9884. My office is at 419 Broad Street in Nevada City. I love my work, and I would love to share it with you.