Specialties

Ida Rolf's Structural Integration & Ortho-Bionomy

WHAT IS STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION?

Structural Integration is based upon the teachings & work of a brilliant woman, Ida Rolf. This bodywork is structured around the belief that gravity will “lift up” an aligned, comfortable body and continually compress an injured, misaligned body. The innate intelligence we have within our bodies tries continually to offer strength and support for gravity’s compression by building-up the connective tissue matrix. Connective tissue (or fascia) is a very strong, though pliable web that covers every fiber of muscle, every bone, every vascular and lymphatic vessel, and each organ of our bodies. This fascial web intertwines everything within us. Our efforts in the work of the Ida Rolf Method of Structural Integration focus on lengthening and rehydrating shortened, compressed, adhesive connective tissue to allow for fluidity (rather than gluing) and resiliency (rather than inflexible, inefficient “strength”). Our bodies then become more organized and relaxed, allowing for much better movement capability and healing. The athlete, physically hardworking person, those that sit in a static position at a desk or in a vehicle most days, injured or not, ANYONE feeling just plain “tired” and lacking energy can benefit from this work!

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION is first, a series of 10 “basic sessions” that emphasizes balance, education and release of a client’s physical patterns; structurally and in movement. After a session of Structural Integration, people (in amazement) often report feeling “lighter.” Sessions include the actual bodywork, both obtaining information from and conveying focus to the client regarding the work, as well as offering movement awareness for continuance of integration between sessions. Each session involves treatment of fascial tissue. The timing of receiving each session is up to the client though regularity is important be it weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

When this Basic Ten Series is completed, a period of time is allowed for integration in the body. Following this time, clients often return for more advanced work, dealing again with balance, movement and awareness. Each session (whether basic or advanced) is part of a progression in releasing myofascial restrictions that disallow comfort in the client’s body.

THE BASIC TEN SERIES

is referred to as Ida Rolf’s “Recipe.” Each session may be a bit different from one client to the next, depending on particular needs though there is a format or intention for the efforts in each session. The First Hour lengthens and relaxes the overworked flexor muscles in the front of the body offering an increase in vital capacity and breath. Session Two works feet and calves, providing better support for the body as well as lengthening the back. In general, the work in #1 and #2 attempt to balance the front (flexor muscles) with the back (the extensors). Third Hour lengthens the sides, giving vertical strength and support from ankles to ears. Sessions 4, 5, 6 and 7 are the deeper sessions and require full commitment from the client to complete the series. #4 lengthens the interior thigh and begins working with deeper structures associated with the pelvis, #5 works with the abdominal muscles and upper body, lifting the chest and diaphragm, creating comfort and length above the pelvis. #6 entails “freeing” the sacrum from the pelvis by treating the myofascial network holding it in place allowing the sacrum to be in its proper place at the base of the spine rather than tied-to the legs and pelvic girdle. #7 completes the core lift of prior sessions and frees the cranium and neck from shoulder and arm activity allowing the head to be freer-floating rather than compressed-into the chest and back. Sessions #8, #9 and #10 integrate all of the changes that have occurred through the client’s body during the prior 7 sessions, bringing buoyancy to the tissue, requiring less effort for the client to move and participate fully in life.

A PARTICIPANT

OF THE ROLF/STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION 10-SERIES

SPEAKS ABOUT THE WORK:

After a lifetime of normal physical challenges and stress, I found myself at age 63 knowing that I had the energy and motivation to live many more decades but being very concerned that I had a body nowhere near that readiness! I knew that I was carrying the normal years of wear and tear that age alone brings. I also knew that I was carrying the after-effects of a major car accident from years ago, involving a high-speed side impact long before air bags had been invented. After months of physical therapy, the residual damage from that even ended my professional dance career.Recently I had developed a neck pain from an unclear specific cause, although I had experienced the loss of several family members and endured two fairly impressive skiing accidents that certainly could be listed as possible causes. I went through a number of medical procedures to find the cause and eliminate the pain in my neck, without much lessening of discomfort. It was time to pursue a procedure I had learned about years before during my dance and theatre work: Rolfing.

After 10 sessions with Rolf Practitioner Marilyn Casey, I am now walking around with a body that resembles the one I had before the car accident in the 1980s and certainly before the recent neck problems. In terms of my neck, it has not been a “miracle,” because I still have to concentrate on eliminating neck muscle tightening, and I have to closely check that area. Likewise, there are days when my neck hurts and is not as mobile as I’d like. On a scale of 1 – 10, 1 = no pain, 10= the pain I had before, I moderate between 0 and 2. Oh yes!

But, the real treasure is what has happened to my body, and in direct relation, my entire sense of well-being and attitude toward life. As I’ve told Marilyn, despite the fact that I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been and despite the fact that this flat-stomached dancer now has layers of fat around my mid-section, I feel like a tall and slender person. When I do my morning yoga stretching without effort, I am able to exceed the amount of stretch that I have been able to achieve with effort over the years since I stopped dancing. My torso is now straight rather than torqued slightly around. My shoulders are on a level plain, rather than the 1” slope I used to have on my right side.The “well-being and attitude toward life” changes may end up being the most profound. I am aware of my body as I move through space, almost subconsciously. Whenever I connect with some tension starting to manipulate my body, I immediately find my body reminding me to acknowledge that tension and release it. When the tension moves from my body and into the floor and my body jiggles a little – as Marilyn did to it during sessions – I am immediately and consciously aware of how good I feel and how wonderful life is. The connection between body tension, lack of tension, and well-being is amazing.

A second consistent time when I’m aware of the connection between how my body feels and what is happening in my spirits is when I lay down in bed each night. Without consciously thinking about it, no matter what events precede the moment that my body stretches out for a night’s sleep, my mind takes over a conscious assessment of how I feel, releases all tension and creates in my mind an image of Michelangelo’s human body sketch. I feel the very center of my body, and I feel my arms and legs connected at that center point and stretching out, connecting to any imaginary circle that describes my entire body. Once that image is complete, my mind then moves through all the great things that have transpired during the day and moves into a litany of thanks and requests for guidance in the challenges of tomorrow. With each thought, my body sinks deeper into the mattress, and I move closer to a deep, cleansing sleep.

Finally, since completing the Rolf work, I have this insatiable need to talk about it all the time!

Harriet Vaugeois, Theatre Director SCRT

WHAT IS ORTHO-BIONOMY?

The word "Ortho-Bionomy" is often broken down like this:

Ortho = correct

the "-" = allows space

Bio = life

nomy = study or laws

Ortho-Bionomy was developed by Arthur Pauls' teachings of the "correct study of life" based in the principles he derived from:

Osteopathy: “the rule of the artery is supreme;” structure governs function;

Homeopathy: the effective dose is the smallest dose; “less is more,”

Martial arts: following the path of least resistance rather than opposing.

In Ortho-Bionomy a treatment is about relationship including awareness of self and other, initiation and a follow-on response, developing understanding.

The Society of Ortho-Bionomy International explains as follows:

Ortho-Bionomy is a form of bodywork that helps people experience comfort, balance and an enhanced sense of well-being. It is highly effective in working with symptoms from chronic stress, and pains or problems associated with postural and structural imbalances. The practitioner acts as a facilitator to educate the person being worked with. Positions of comfort, gentle movements, compressions, and subtle techniques are used to stimulate reflexes that initiate a relaxation response through the body. Self care is taught to support the changes that occurred during a session. Ortho-Bionomy relieves pain, tension and discomfort and brings about a feeling of wellbeing through a process that is interactive, educational and supportive.

Typically, Ortho-Bionomy sessions last approximately an hour. Wearing comfortable, loose fitting clothing is suggested to allow a full range of motion. The practitioner works with you to identify areas of discomfort, tension and pain as well as areas of comfort and ease of movement. The use of gentle movements, comfortable positioning and compression are incorporated. No forceful movements are used. Every Ortho-Bionomy session is specifically designed around your individual needs. Verbal feedback will guide the practitioner to find the movements and positions that facilitate your body’s release of stress and tension. Home self care is often suggested to further aid in relieving pain, restoring balance and function throughout the body.

Ortho-Bionomy helps people to break the cycle of pain. It works by stimulating appropriate reflexes that monitor the lengthening and contracting of our muscle system. This then allows the body to change the stress and pain patterns, which are causing the discomfort. Educational movements may be taught to help perpetuate the release of tension and muscle contractions. The release of tension and stress in the body brings about the relief from pain and discomfort.

Marilyn A. Casey, L.M.T., HI #10769, NM #1935 & Nationally Certified
Practitioner of Ida Rolf's Structural Integration and Ortho-Bionomy

68-1813 Puu Nui Street, Waikoloa, HI 96738 | 808-345-3155