What is a Session Really Like?
Sessions take place in Renate’s office, where she has a special low bodywork table and a bench that for seated work. At the beginning of the first session, Renate has some questions about the client’s medical history. At the beginning of other sessions, Renate asks about the effects of the last session or other issues you want to discuss. Renate performs a structural analysis, that is, she evaluates potential holding patterns in the body, with an eye toward the structures that are the focus of the session. The analysis might watching you in motion.
You then lie down on the table in a bathing suit or yoga outfit. Renate manipulates the tissue using her hands, forearms, and sometimes elbows to encourage release. You usually lie on your back or on your side; clients are face down only in one of the ten sessions. SI practitioners do not use oil to manipulate the tissue and work in slow movements.
Often, Renate asks for movement so you actually release the tissue yourself while moving against the pressure of her hand or arm. For example, Renate might ask you to bring your knee slowly toward the ceiling while working on your leg.
Being in touch during the session is important. Renate will ask you how you feel and you let her know if anything does not feel right, be it too intense or otherwise uncomfortable in any way.
Most sessions include some seated back work at the end. Renate also suggests one or two movement awareness exercises or yoga stretches that help you deepen the results of the work. For example, if we’ve just worked on releasing your neck, Renate might suggest you be aware of your head position for the upcoming week each time you sit down to eat or each time you open a file at your computer. Note, however, that this work is not about forcing yourself to be straight using muscle tension. Instead, you will find that with some awareness your body wants to move into a more aligned posture, which feels more comfortable and causes less strain.
In this way, you integrate the changed alignment into your daily life.
Does Structural Integration Hurt?
Structural Integration has a reputation of being painful. In the early days of Ida Rolf’s work, some practitioners worked very intensely or even aggressively. In the 60s, going through pain, screaming, and emotional release was considered part of the process.
Nowadays, Structural Integration practitioners believe that you as a client must be completely in charge of the session. At times, the work may cause some discomfort as we stretch the shortened tissue so it becomes more resilient. Renate likes to compare this to going to the edge in a yoga pose or other stretch. At other times, the release you get may just feel good. Either way, you’re in charge at all times. Renate will check in with you and wants to know if you’re moving out of your comfort zone.
Does this Work Cause Psychological Changes?
Some of the informational literature on Structural Integration emphasizes the psychological changes caused by this work. Many of Renate’s clients perceive the changes in their physical body only. Other Structual Integration clients feel that they can more gracefully respond to life’s demands and are more able to “stand their ground” in difficult situations.
These changes may well have been caused by being less tense or in less pain, or better posture may cause an uplifted feeling of the whole person.
Renate’s personal experience has been that as she became more aligned with gravity, she was better able to see what was appropriate for me and she changed my life accordingly. For me, it eventually led to the pursuit of a second career as an SI practitioner.
Think of your sessions as a joyful time