Structural Integration

[Yanou]

I'm not sure if any of you has heard about Structural Integration. I didn't know about it until one of my friends started to have it. I still don't know exactly what they do but I think the purpose is to fix the misalignment of the body.

My friend, who started to take dance lessons about the same time I did, has been having lots of physical problems with her knees, hips, feet, back and shoulders. So, she's taking a leave of absense from dance lessons. She's overweight and has been doing a strength training with a personal trainer in the past 2 years. She just had her 3rd or 4th session (out of 10) and generally likes the results even though I cannot see any changes in her. I'm not interested in getting this therapy because I'm happy with the results I got from dance practice and weight training on my own.

Anyways, I was curious about it and found a video. This is a video of "before." It's kinda funny because Ida Rolf herself has a slouched back and her head is carried forward.

After I watched this video, I decided to take a picture of myself (not in unerwear, mind you!) in front of a wall with vertical and horizontal lines in order to assess how good/bad my posture is.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-fScuSzIM4A&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-fScuSzIM4A&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fScuSzIM4A

[samina]

we have a thread on this ("rolfing", which is also known as structural intregration)...it's powerful stuff. i went through my first series of 10 sessions last fall and shared much of my experience on that thread. i look forward to doing it again. can't say enuf positive things about the experience and its effects for me.

[Yanou]

oh, I didn't read the thread. I'll do a search on this.

But it is expensive especially if I think about the number of lessons I can take for the amount I spend on the therapy.....

[samina]

it was for me worth every penny. my dance lessons would never have done what the rolfing did, which only helped my dancing and have continued to yield some interesting results as time has gone by. it's estimated that the body continues to shift 6-12 months after a series has been completed, and i've found this to be true in my case.

[j_alexandra]

I'm seconding Sam's comments on, and endorsement of, rolfing. It has changed things for me in a Big way, and I am nowhere near done. Worth every penny, and then some. And yes, I could be spending that money on lessons/shoes/dance stuff. But the rolfing is having effects on my life, as well as my dancing (yes, I know: dance = life).

Thanks for posting the video. I've never thought of looking on YT for anything like that!

[waltzguy]

cool stuff, I'm still considering trying rolfing

[j_alexandra]

cool stuff, I'm still considering trying rolfing

Worth it. Worth it. Worth it.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's session!

[latervet1]

I am on session 8 of 10 in rolfing. I dont know that i'm quite as sold as samina and J A but i do think that they have helped my dancing in ways that would have been slower to come about if I was spending that money on dance lessons. most of it has been in my ability to carry my pelvis and head in the proper position more automatically.

[samina]

most of it has been in my ability to carry my pelvis and head in the proper position more automatically.
this may start to release your body to become more flexible, causing other shifts...it's cool to watch/experience it evolve.

[Yanou]

OK. I'm sold. I'll add this to my must-do list! :)