Integrative Bodywork

Integrative Bodywork looks like massage to some and physical therapy to others. It is the integration of the parts of the body that feel fragmented and separate from the whole self through the use of traditional massage, structural integration, and cranial sacral therapies. It is my belief and experience that in order to heal, all areas need to be worked with. This includes not only the physical, but the mental, emotional, psychological and physiological parts of you. Bodywork is the use of touch to facilitate change and can include many different techniques or modalities. I tend to use the word BODYWORK rather than MASSAGE. Massage brings up an image of a spa, nakedness, cucumber water, lavender, light, flowy strokes and music that recycles itself every hour. I worked at a high-end spa years ago. I can still hear the music. The method of touch that I utilize varies and is dependent on what we discover in that session. You may have received a deep tissue massage that left you in pain and unable to move the next day. Like the word massage, deep-tissue massage has varying definitions and therefore varying expectations.

We are energetic beings that at our best are in a light, grounded, strong, clear state with freely flowing energy from head to toe. From a structural and functional approach, I look at all aspects that make up your whole self. Posture, symmetry, movement, voice, emotional state, level of energy, attitude, and pain location are just some of the areas assessed.

Many people seek this type of work because they are in pain and tend to feel like they have tried everything. This usually means that pain meds no longer work and they are sick of being sick. In other words, they have now been labeled with a chronic pain diagnosis by a western medicine doctor and told there is nothing they can do. The patient is then forwarded to a pain management doctor and started on a pain management protocol. Early on, this focus on one physical aspect of the whole person usually results in only temporary relief. They progressively are placed on more addictive medications that create a life-long cycle of requiring more and more drugs. This dependence creates a focus that becomes the patient’s life. This patient is a person. This person wants to have a life that is not consumed by a constant need for pain relief.

This is an important concept: that practitioners are integrating something; we are not restoring something.  This puts us in a different class from all other therapists that I know of.  It takes us out of the domain designated by the word “therapy,” and puts us in the domain designated by the word “education.” It puts our thinking into education: how can we use these ideas behind Structural Integration?  How do we put a body together so that it’s a unit, an acting, energy efficient unit?  One of the differences between Structural Integration Practitioners and practitioners of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, etc., is that the latter are all relieving symptoms.  They make no effort to put together elements into a more efficient energy system.                          –Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D

An Integrative Bodywork session begins with a discussion where I will learn more about you and your story. I may ask you to stand, walk or move. We may then move to the table where this part will significantly vary from session to session. Many sessions are performed with the client wearing comfortable clothing such as leggings or shorts and a tank top, underwear and bra or swimsuit. Long compression-type shorts are difficult to work on as they are too slippery. I would prefer that those not be worn during your session. Occasionally there are clothes-off sessions. We will always discuss the best way to work in your session. Breasts and genitals will always be covered either with your clothing or a drape that I provide. I encourage you to ask questions and interact during the session as to how you are feeling. It is most important that you feel safe and comfortable in order to heal.

One Integrative Bodywork session may start with craniosacral techniques that move to myofascial and deep tissue work. I may also pull from my experience with Zero Balancing, meridians, chakras, yoga, and Shaman work. There will always be time at the end of the session for you to integrate the work, ask questions and discuss findings. You may even receive homework. It will always be a holistic and intuitive approach that will help you move out of your head and into your body.

Find out how an Integrative Bodywork session can help you.

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