Structural Integration benefits people from all walks of life:

• All age groups. The work can benefit children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. Some people receive the work at age 80 or 90 and say they’ve never felt better. Others start in their mid twenties or earlier and reap the benefits for the rest of their lives.
• Athletes and dancers. Runners, cyclists, other athletes, and dancers find that the work improves breathing and body awareness and allows them to perform with more ease and joy. It is also well suited to help you when with recovery from an injury. Dancers appreciate especially the grace coming from being naturally more aligned. See Structural Integration for Athletes.
• Yoga practitioners. Experienced yoga practitioners find that Structural Integration brings balance to their bodies and increases their ability to fully explore the range their body supports. If you're new to yoga, I can help you by showing you some simple yin yoga poses that can support your practice. See my yoga page for more background.
• RSI. People at risk for Repetitive Stress Injuries can benefit greatly from Structural Integration work. See Structural Integration for Repetitive Stress.
• Chronic illnesses. People with chronic illnesses such as asthma or diabetes may find that Structural Integration can help. Asthmatics find that holding patterns are released and the body feels more open, which may result in improvement of symptoms. Diabetics comment on the improved circulation that can result. Recent reports indicate that Structural Integration can also benefit people with ADD.

I want to make sure that each of my clients receives the maximum benefit from the work. I therefore allow extra time for the first session, so you have time for questions. Before I actually start to work, I also review my client's medical history. If there are indications that the work might not be beneficial for you, I will recommend that you first talk to your doctor. Possible contraindications include cancer and acute inflammation. Other acute problems, such as spasms in your back, may be worked around to provide release and relief in that area of the body.

Athletes find Structural Integration particularly beneficial for several reasons:

• Better performance. As you become more aligned and breathe more efficiently, your performance improves.
  
  
• Rehabilitation of old injuries. Most injuries result in a build-up of scar tissue. The scar tissue makes the area less flexible and decreases mobility. Strain or injuries in the same area or in a compensating area of the body are frequent. Structural Integration can soften the scar tissue, so that the area can heal at a deep level. Note that Structural Integration is holistic bodywork, its focus isn't work on acute injuries. I could, however, start a series of sessions and avoid the area of injury initially, then give that area some extra attention in the later sessions as appropriate.

• Decreased risk of injury. Most athletes find that they tend to feel discomfort or even injure the same areas of their body again and again. Most people have such imbalances in the body, be they leaning to the front, back, or side, or a twist somewhere in the torso. During Structural Integration, the tight fascia that holds the imbalances is loosened. Gravity can now support you instead of pulling you to the area where you are leaning. Risk of injury decreases.

  For example, I used to have pain in my left knee when running, then I tore a ligament in my left ankle, which, even after it healed, made my left knee hurt more frequently. I later found out I actually had chronically tightened areas in my left leg which made it appear shorter. After my first ten series, this tendency toward injury on the left side noticeably decreased.

A November 2000 press release from the Rolf Institute reports that "Officials at Starkey Laboratories, one of Minnesota's largest and most successful manufacturers, cite Rolfing® structural integration as a big factor in slashing their workers compensation costs nationally to less than $150,000 in 1996 from $1.3 million..."

My personal experience is that Repetitive Stress is a complex problem that must be addressed from many angles. I believe that an ergonomically sensible work setup, and appropriate breaks are essential. Structural Integration can then support you in becoming more aligned and can thus be of tremendous benefit.

Because I've spent over 15 years in front of a computer as a technical writer, I'm especially interested in helping you avoid repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrom, chronic neck pain, and so on. If you are considering Structural Integration as a preventative measure, I'd like to talk to you about it. If you already suffer from symptoms, I'd like to become part of your treatment team.

To get started, you may find the following web sites useful.

http://www.engr.unl.edu/ee/eeshop/rsi.html#WHAT

http://www.rsihelp.com/