If you’re like me, you might consider massage a luxury. You might think of it in the context of a day at the spa, a
Find your structure again with structural integration massage.
relaxing pampering activity. And certainly, massage can promote relaxation. What changed my mind about massage and re-categorized it for me as an important wellness activity was receiving the 10 structural integration massage sessions.
What does receiving structural integration massage feel like?
Before receiving the structural integration massage sessions, I was aware of places in my body that felt stuck, kind of out of place. I was aware that it sometimes felt like it took effort to sit up fully, especially after long hours of working at the computer. I first heard of structural integration about 10 years ago from my yoga teacher, who is also a massage therapist. I understood mentally that the idea of the work was to systematically, through 10 consecutive massage sessions, allow the body to put things back where they actually go.
As much as that idea appealed to me, I kept putting it off. I’m generally a frugal, super-practical-type person, and it just seemed like a lot of money to put toward something that I still thought of as a spa-type luxury. When I finally did decide to pay the money and receive the structural integration massage sessions, it was worth every penny. This was bodywork of a kind that I had never experienced before. It wasn’t just relaxing, it was impactful. It created actual change in my body. I was aware of a new sense of ease, lightness, and mobility in my body. Simple daily movements felt like they just took less work to do. My body simultaneously must feel more alert, like I’d just had a great restful night of sleep. I was so fascinated and surprised by the results that I started to learn the method.
The structural integration sessions are a series of 10 methodical massage sessions that work systematically through the whole body. The method of massage that’s used in these sessions is connective tissue style. Connective tissue is a slow, directed method of contacting the fascia to restore structure to the tissue and in that way, restore structure to support stability and ease in the body as a whole. More on the method of structural integration massage in the next post.
Why get structural integration massage?…because it works!
If you’ve been noticing areas of your body that feel sluggish or stuck, I encourage you to give this method a try. While you may not be ready to commit to 10 sessions of massage, consider trying one session. One session will give you an idea of the work and even one session will often have a recognizable impact on the body.
If you have questions or want more details on how the structural integration method works, email or leave a comment at the bottom of the post.