The Yoga Center of Minneapolis - Structural Integration Q & A

Structural Integration Q & A


"If you can imagine how it feels to have a fluid, light, balanced body, free of pain, stiffness and chronic stress, at ease with itself and the earth's gravitational field, then you will understand the goals of Structural Integration." ~Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D. What is Structural Integration? The goal of Structural Integration is to obtain balance & alignment in both structure & function within the field of gravity by freeing & unwrapping the connective tissue. What is a Structural Integration ten-series? The Structural Integration ten-series is the typical progression whereby the client receives ten 1-hour sessions to address every part of the body to achieve balance & alignment as a whole. Do I have to get a ten-series to receive the work? No, there are stopping points in the series where the client can stop the process and obtain some order & alignment. Clients have the option to try one session of SI, continue through to three appointments or complete the ten-series. However, once you pass session #3, you have to continue through to session #10. Who can benefit from Structural Integration? Dr. Rolf believed that everyone would benefit from Structural Integration. In fact, all human bodies hold a level of dis-ease & compensation, which makes everyone an ideal candidate for Structural Integration. Will Structural Integration hurt? There are several factors to be considered if Structural Integration will hurt. First, many clients seek Structural Integration due to an acute or chronic condition. This depends on the level of trauma & how long the compensatory pattern has been prevalent within the body. Another factor to be considered is the level of emotional charge has been held in the tissue or area of trauma. The practitioner’s job is to gauge the level of intensity and what kind of touch is necessary. What should I wear to a Structural Integration session? SI sessions are completed with comfortable attire for the client such as running shorts & a sports bra, a 2-piece swimsuit, or undergarments for women. Men can wear their undergarments or running shorts too. What does a session look like? First, the client & practitioner will discuss the goals of the treatment. The practitioner will assess how client stands & walks with dialogue between client & practitioner. Client will receive work from practitioner occasionally asking for small movements. The practitioner will take before & after photos to track the progression of the sessions to physically see changes. What’s the difference between Structural Integration & massage? Although massage & Structural Integration are both healing in nature, the techniques performed are quite different. SI practitioners separate connective tissue to create fluidity. Massage is typically for relaxation, while SI aims to achieve long term results via structure & alignment – long term meaning the results last a lifetime. What does the media have to say about Structural Integration? Oprah & Dr. Oz say, "Rolfing literally releases the joints. When you talk to folks about the impact it has on them, a lot of them just stand taller. A lot is just freeing you up to live the way you're supposed to live." Vogue magazine says "I’m sold. Like yoga, rolfing is one of those practices that your body instantly tells you makes a lot of sense." Structural Integration & Yoga Dr. Ida Rolf used yoga as a method to gain length & balance in her own body before she began developing the Structural Integration Rolf method of bodywork. Yoga was a tool to advance her understanding of SI & the human form. Today, yoga can help gain flexibility, length, balance, & structure in addition to the Structural Integration Rolf Method ten-series.


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