Contact Us:

To book an appointment, or talk to one of our therapists, please call: 518.389.2200. Email:
BodyworkProfessionals@gmail.com

Our Hours:
Monday-Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 9:30am-3:00pm
Sunday 11am-4pm

Location:
578 New Loudon Road. 
Latham, NY 12110
Serving the Greater Albany, NY area

(518) 389-2200



Rolf Structural Integration



WHAT
Structural Integration was developed by Dr. Ida Rolf in the 1960’s. The basis for this work came from her research into the properties of connective tissue called fascia. This fascia has thixotropic properties, meaning it can change forms with the addition of energy, change shape, and return to its original state.

Practitioners of this work take advantage of this property by using manual, direct manipulation techniques to help improve the body’s relationship to gravity. Patterns of movement and injury can cause less than optimal function between body segments and joints. The goal of Structural Integration is to improve alignment and functionality. The work is done in a series of 10 sessions.

The 10 series:

Structural Integration is classically done in a series of 10 hour-length sessions. Each session has a different body part focus and set of goals.

This is an abbreviated outline of each session:
Session 1. Open up the front of the body. Superficial layer fascia
Session 2. Lower body and feet. Relationship with ground, stability.
Sessions 3. Hip and shoulder girdle relationship. 
Sessions 4. Inside of the legs and pelvic floor stability.
Session 5. Core and abdomen
Session 6. Back and spine
Session 7. Face, head and neck
Session 8. Lower body integration
Session 9. Upper body integration
Session 10. Whole body integration

While this is the framework or recipe, each session will vary greatly for different bodies and people. For those interested in experiencing this work, the first session is an excellent stand alone session. It is your choice to do this work, and our honor to do it. You will find there is no pressure to do all 10. It is simply a framework that has been successfully employed in the past. Phone consultations are welcome and encouraged prior to starting the work.

WHY

Tensegrity and Natural Balance:

Tensegrity is a system of tension and compression that allows dynamic and supported movement. Tensegrity is widely used in nature as the architecture of life. From the simple cell wall to the complex movement of a ballet dancer, static engineering would not allow for complex and dynamic movement.

The human form has a natural relationship with gravity. We are born and live our entire lives in this force, and our bodies have evolved into mechanisms for coping with the stress of movement and action. This sense of balance in inherent in all of us, but is different for every body. What may work for a linebacker, may not work for a ballerina.


WHO
Each person's body has developed to accommodate what the body had been asked to do. In this way each person has a different and unique body segment, organization and relationship to gravity. It is the goal of this work to re-establish natural alignment and restore vitality and well being.
 

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Nick Pavoldi,
Apr 23, 2010 12:18 PM

Comments

Bodywork Professionals - Apr 27, 2010 10:40 AM

Metroland Article

Nick is featured in this weeks Metroland Health and Wellness article. We've always avoied the word wellness because it sounds corney but I suppose it's here to stay. The editorial features Nick with a simple explanation of Structural Integration.

"People choose Structural Integration or Rolf Bodywork for a variety of reasons. The most common goals are to regain easy and natural movement and the desire to feel more at home in the body.

Structural Integration looks at the body as a system of tension and compression, a dynamic relation to gravity. Practitioners see pain as the result of dysfunction. The byproduct of improving function is often decreased pain.

I've been a licensed massage therapist for 14 years. I spent the early part of my career chasing pain without any real sense of what was causing it. The training in Structural Integration gave me the skills to evaluate a body and it's patterns and see what causes soft tissue pain.

Grace and ease are the trademarks of alignment. Movement is pleasure in a balanced body and Structural Integration can be a tool to re-establish your body's natural potential."