Structural Bodywork

Structural Bodywork

Structural Bodywork improves poor posture, energises you, and releases muscular tension and pain.

Structural Bodywork uses guided client movement and myofascial techniques to improve natural posture and ease of movement. This often refines sensitivity leading  an increased movement ability pain relief,and elevated wellbeing.

This is achieved by working with the fascia.

Since most people haven’t heard of fascia, let me explain.

Fascia is a web-like connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, organs, and all structures in the body. It consists of collagen fibres and a gel-like substance called ground substance. 

Fascia is crucial in maintaining the body's structural integrity and facilitating movement. It provides support, protection, and allows tissues to glide smoothly against each other during any movement. Be this breathing, walking or your heart beating. Additionally, fascia also helps in transmitting mechanical forces throughout the body and contributes to overall body stability and posture.

So disturbances to the fascia can result in awkward movement and pain. The discomfort can be local or dispersed because fascia is connected throughout your body.

How does Structural Bodywork differ from massage?

During most massage treatments you can relax, drift off and even sleep if you want.The key to Structural Integration is that both you and I are both involved in creating change in your body.

I use myofascial techniques and you are asked to notice and refine your movement patterns.

You may receive treatment lying down, seated or standing. You may be asked to walk around  and do specific movement patterns.

Home practice movements are often given to help assimilate the changes into your body and strengthen the mind-body loop of information that creates easier movement.

 

Four different packages of Structural Bodywork available:

• Individual Myofascial Session
• Priority Rehab Package
• Introduction to Structural Integration 
• Full Structural Integration

Individual Myofascial Session for people who want to experience a feeling of change in their body. I work with what you present on the day to help you feel more comfortable as you move. Sometimes this indicates a need for further work, which is when you might choose one of the following options.

Priority Rehab Package is the best treatment to choose when you have specific pain or ache in one area of your body as  the session focuses on clearing all the influential structures that could be restricting easy motion and therefore causing you pain. These are great for chronic pain sufferers.

The range of Pain Management Sessions:

• Wrist, Arm, and Shoulder Discomfort
• Ankle and Foot issues
• Leg, Knee, and Foot problems
• Hip and Pelvis imbalance
• Lower Backache
• Lower back and rib issues
• Back tension
• Back, Neck, and Shoulder stiffness
• Jaw, Throat, and Face sensitivity
• Headache and Migraine 
• Sciatica
• Sacroiliac Joint Pain
• Whiplash

Pain Management Sessions are a set of four x 60-minute appointments,  some exercise patterns  as well as follow up contact each week to help you rehab the part of your body that is being troublesome.My goal is to create change that brings you relief from your discomfort. 

 

Introduction to Structural Integration 

This 3 session series allows you to experience Structural Integration as opposed to massage, and start the potential for change in your body and feel some positive movement therapy. 3 x 60-minute sessions.

 Full Structural Integration Series

Structural Integration is a process of bodily change achieved through a series of 12 x 60-minute sessions. It’s aim is to re-establish the natural alignment and movement of your body for vitality and well-being.

At your first appointment, we discuss and assess your natural posture, pain patterns, medical history, lifestyle, and what you want to achieve.I usually take photographs to help you understand your current patterns, record changes, and help in strategising and evaluating your progress.

A full course of Structural Integration follows a holistic pattern and yet is individualized to suit your needs. The 12 treatments build on each other and are not orientated by the symptoms you have. Myofascial techniques are used to rebalance the structures of your body with each other and gravity. I am aiming to align the feet, knees, hips, pelvis, spine, thorax, neck and head so will be working throughout the body during the 12 sessions, regularly reassessing and revisiting different tissues as holding patterns become visible and change occurs.

The first four appointments are about opening and differentiating the superficial tissues on the front, back, and sides of your body. They include work on rotational aspects. This prepares the way for the deeper releases to come.

The middle four focus on deeper fascia through the center of the body and therefore link to breath, emotions, and spirit.

The final four seek to free the arms, jaw, neck, and head, and to increase kinaesthetic awareness.  The closing sessions seek to integrate all the other work so you feel complete.

As you experience the Structural Integration process you may have fuller easier movement.You may gain a sense of being more comfortable in your own body.You may benefit by reduced pain, especially long term chronic pain. Unwanted emotions that have been residing in your body may be cleared through this process. It can be helpful in clearing trauma.

After you have completed your structural integration you need to allow it's effects to settle into your body as the body continues to make changes based on the fresh information it has been given through the process.

Pictures show a client before session one (left) and a later session (right) when change has happened but has not yet settled into his body.

 

To book, call 07889 532982 or use the email link on my Contact Us page.