Structural Transformations

Is Structural Integration the same as rolfing®?

Ida P. Rolf called her work Structural Integration, the name "rolfing" is what some others called Ida Rolf's work.  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.  The Rolf Method of 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 known to be the more traditional of the two schools, 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? 

This is a tough question, because each person has had different experiences of pain and different reactions to it.  If the thought behind the question is:  Will you push me beyond my limit?  Then the answer is no, I won't.  My job is to help your structure change and for that I need your cooperation.  Sometimes we may work on areas that have been injured and there may be some pain and discomfort during that time, but this is considered good pain.  Most people are happy that someone can finally "get in there" and help soften and smooth out some of those old injuries or mishaps.  

S.I. deals with change, and many times change can be painful or uncomfortable, especially when there is not a clear understanding of the cycle or process which one currently is in. In Structural Integration this discomfort, if present at all, is almost always accompanied by a feeling of being more open, lighter, and having more freedom of movement.  

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

You need to have a physical body of your own and a willingness to experience something new, other than that there are no prerequisites.  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 or stretching. 

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.  It is necessary to have a vision or sense of the long term while still dealing with the short term.  If you do not treat yourself with the proper respect and care, it is only natural that certain chronic difficulties and problems may begin to surface. 

I also recommend having some type of self-reflection practice such a writing in a journal, meditation, artist pursuits, something where you can express yourself or listen to yourself in a caring or honest way without having to worry about what others think.  This will help you have a richer and more fruitful SI series.  

 What happens after the ten series?

I generally recommend taking a break from SI or related bodywork for 9-12 months.  This period of time is necessary for the integration of the changes which began during the series.  There are some exceptions where I will work with someone on a more regular basis, but the majority of my work follows the strategy of doing a series followed by a break.  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.  

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.  The greater the change, the more resources you will need to have available.  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...", so these changes are not meaningless changes. 

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," or one of my favorites "That's how I've always been."  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 just a lot of fun.  Most of this fear, if at all present, comes prior to the first session, kind of like the feeling before jumping in a lake without knowing the temperature of the water.  Once you're in, things are a lot easier.   

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.  Some things about the process of Structural Integration is difficult to talk about because sometimes it is hard to tell that things are difficult or negative until it all of the sudden becomes better. 

I have been diagnosed with condition x,y, and/or z.  Can Structural Integration help or cure it? 

SI is based on a different way of seeing, and it is not about treating or diagnosing symptoms or conditions.  In SI each part of the body interacts with and informs the rest, and in this system the connecting aspect is connective tissue, which is continuous throughout the body.  So in SI, there is no such thing as having "only a neck problem" or "only a low back problem".  SI works with the whole person, with the point of access being the connective tissue. 

I'm a hard-core skeptic, how would you convince me that SI can really work? 

I can't say that I can, or even will try to convince you of anything, but that is just my personal preference.  I'm sure you could find other practitioners who could and would take the time to convince or prove whichever points you are unsure of.  I would recommend you read and digest the book that Dr. Rolf wrote, so that you can a better understanding of what you are skeptical of.  

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.

Also, since Structural Integration is a process which requires good communication and understanding between the practitioner and the client, I think it is important that you take the time to speak with potential practitioners either over the phone or in person to get a sense of how you feel with them first.  The more comfortable you feel with your practitioner and with the SI process, the more benefit you will receive, and I think the extra time in finding the right one is a wise choice.