Structural Transformations

Is Structural Integration the same as rolfing®?

Ida P. Rolf called her work Structural Integration.  Both rolfing and Structural Integration refer to the work that Dr. Rolf originated, this does not mean that they are the same though.  Since the time of the original Rolf Institute when Dr. Rolf was alive there have been a few splits and parting of ways in terms of transmitting the system, as is common with many organizations.  Structural Integration is taught at the Guild for Structural Integration, rolfing (which is trademarked by the Rolf Institute) is taught at the Rolf Institute.  The Guild has been know to be the more traditional of the two, and that is where I studied.  As with others skills, the name, however important, is less important than the combination of who is teaching and who is learning.  

I have chronic pain, will Structural Integration cure it?  

I don't know.  

But isn't it supposed to help chronic pain?

S.I. does have a good name for helping those with chronic pain.  In the past 8 years of practice, I would say that roughly 95% of my clients have seen significant positive and lasting changes.  There have been only a handful who have felt no benefit whatsoever.  However, S.I. was not created to cure or treat any kind of chronic pain.  The fact that many time it does is only a side issue--the main thing is the overall change in structure and the effect this has on one's whole being. 

Chronic pain is usually what brings people in the door, since it is common for most of us to not want to change unless we have a good reason to, or unless we have no other choice.  If your chronic pain is serving as a reason for you to change, you are welcome to schedule a session.  

Is it painful?

At times if can be painful, yes.  Playing football can also be painful though, as can ballet dancing, ending a relationship, being embarrassed, stretching, carrying a suitcase...but we still keep going.  The "pain" experienced during a session is usually considered a "good pain", and is very different than being attacked or stubbing a toe. At times, we may be moving tissues that have not moved in a while, and this "waking up" of the tissues may be interpreted as pain.  

S.I. deals with change, and many times change can be painful, especially when there is not a clear understanding of the cycle or process which one currently is in.

The good news is that most people get up off the table happy as a clam and forget about "the pain" until the next session.  

Are there any prerequisites for having an S.I. series?

No, there are not.  However, I do highly recommend that potential or current clients spend at least 20 quality minutes of their day doing some form of gentle exercise. 

I know that there are certain lifestyles, or times in one's life, where there is little spare time to be had.  Your lifestyle is your choice.  However, I can tell you that my view is that there is no excuse for self-neglect, even under the worst of conditions.  Taking care of yourself should be a priority, particularly if you are not in top shape. 

Ignoring your health for the benefit of others, or because of the demands of a job, is like neglecting to stop at a gas station on your way to an important appointment because you're in a hurry.  

What happens after the ten series?

We may run into each other in the supermarket, but as far as S.I. work goes we will generally part ways for at least a year.  This period of time is necessary for the integration of the changes which began during the series.  Following this time period, clients are invited to come back for advanced work which is usually done in either a 3 or 5 session series.  You may also consider learning the Longevity Exercises which I teach as a way of self-care and self-maintenance. 

I've heard that Structural Integration is about changes.  What if I'm afraid of changing? 

Change and changes can be scary, and rightfully so, since change demands vigilance, patience, and an ability to adapt in new ways.  Structural Integration is not about random changes.  The changes that occur are an aligning of the physical body to the gravitational field.  As my late teacher, Peter Melchior, said:  "if you're going against gravity, someone's going to have to change, and guess who it is..." 

If it were only about a physical body changing, then I believe the process would be much easier.  We do have our own self-image, which is closely related to the way our body feels to us and the way we see ourselves.  When the body changes, the self-image will change too.  This is where most of the fear of changing comes in.  Sometimes we like to think of ourselves as something fixed:  "This is who I am."  Children don't think this way.  Somewhere along the line we tend to get more rigid.  When this self-image gets too rigid, and all of the sudden something in the physical body changes, this can be a big shock, since now the physical reality of the body does not match the self-image.  So someone might go through a period of self-searching, asking questions like "who am I?" "what am I?" etc.  If you think of it as a learning process, then's all a lot of fun.  

The fact is that the body is something that has an enormous capacity for change, and a fluid, upright body should have a fluid, upright self-image to match it.  If it were so much fun to be and feel rigid, I doubt you'd be looking into Structural Integration.  

Would you like to share anything else about this work?

Yes, thanks for asking.  Structural Integration is a very large and encompassing body of work, and for those who are interested in reading more about it, I recommend taking a look at Dr. Rolf's book entitiled "Rolfing", as well as "Rolfing and Physical Reality".  Those books offer more into the inner workings of Structural Integration.  You are also welcome to call me with any questions you may have regarding this work.