Rolf Structural Integration is work in motion: why active movement during bodywork sessions is beneficial

The body was born to move. Many of modern physical issues come from sedentary behaviour. While many people don't believe themselves to be sedentary, it is highly likely they could still be considered sedentary. Some years ago a Japanese man (I believe) came out with the notion that 10,000 steps in a day is a good number of steps. Many people have taken this onboard, which is good... and also not so good. If we rely on doing 10,000 steps a day, what is the body doing the rest of the time. 10,000 steps equals approximately 6 kilometres. According to a quick 'duck duck go' search, the average person can walk 6 kilometres in an hour. So what are we doing for the rest of the day?

The stationariness of our lifestyle creates certain tension patterns. Our exercise programs create different tension patterns. Our thoughts, the way we move through life, our experiences, conditioning, genetics, imitation of our parents, you name it, all of these things create patterns through the body.

Tension patterns, patterns that become somewhat fixed in the musculature and fascia, become unnoticeable, but they generally lead to one area of the body fighting another area. Which is why it is necessary to understand a person's movement habits while releasing their tissue.

Rolf Structural Integration (Rolfing) is one of the only manual therapy modalities that calls for movement to establish how the practitioner will work and to allow the client to participate in the session. Once a movement pattern is recognised, a good practitioner will note whether the movement is efficient, easeful and effective. It is generally true to say that most people move by engaging too many muscles and specifically the incorrect ones for the job.

The incorrect and overuse of muscles comes from sedentary contracted muscles as well as from misguided physical training. Many physical training regimens suggest the recruitment of muscles in order to move. For example stabilise the 'core' or switch on the glutes or tense the knees. These instructions and many more suggest a willed engagement of muscles even before the body has begun to move. In many cases, this creates aberrant movement patterns. The body is fully prepared to do what is necessary to make a movement unless the movement calls for doing something that is beyond the body's natural ability. For example, lifting weight beyond our natural ability requires bracing in order to protect the body. In general, however, this bracing action is not required and can actually lead to injuries, postural imbalances, general discomfort, joint compression and pain.

When a client moves while either standing, sitting or on the table, the Rolf practitioner will begin to see how the movement is leading to imbalances. The tissue is then contacted and the client moves again. The movement helps to create order in the tissue as the practitioner works with her hands, and also allows the client to 'receive' the correct movement. This works in both mind and body realms.

Often a client is surprised at the tension they feel at certain points in the body. This is hardly surprising as habits are deeply held and very quickly become unconscious. What a person considers to be an easy movement becomes more difficult when the tissue is held in place. The client and practitioner work together to tease out the tension and restore order in the fascia, muscle, bone and nerve. When the structure is free to move back into a more natural position, muscles activate differently and soon it is possible that tone is restored.

Rolf Structural Integration is designed as a 10 series of work usually conducted over 10 weeks. While a lot of progress can be made in these sessions, the continued integration of the body continues well beyond the 10 weeks. Some time later it is worth doing a little more work as the body becomes more open and receptive. Rolf Structural Integration is work in motion.