Structural Therapy

WHAT IS STRUCTURAL THERAPY?
Structural Therapy is a form of gentle, deep bodywork that focuses on lengthening and relaxing the fascia. Fascia is the tissue that wraps muscles and gives the body its shape. When it becomes tight through stress, poor postural patterns or injury, the body develops mis-alignments that can result in impaired movement, chronic pain and further deterioration of the musculo-skeletal system. With aging, stress, and injury, the fascia will shorten and thicken, binding nearby structures together in attempt to add stability to a compromised system. This process drags adjacent parts into movement when they could be at rest. The Structural Therapists releases the fascia so that it can return to its normal state by working gently and deeply in the constricted layers. Over a series of sessions, structure is achieved that is well-ordered and able to function efficiently.

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM MASSAGE?
Structural therapy is different from massage in that it addresses the causes of discomfort in the musculo-skeletal system by changing the aberrations in the structure that are creating them. A healthy body, upright and balanced in gravity, should function without pain or undue fatigue. One that has a tipped pelvis, curvature in the lower spine, rounded shoulders or other similar distortions will not feel better for more than a short time unless these patterns are corrected. In Structural Therapy, we seek to re-establish healthy structural patterns, providing the long-term benefits of a balanced body.


WHO NEEDS STRUCTURAL THERAPY?
Imagine the effects on your car when the wheels are out of balance, the axle is at some angle or the frame is bent. Everything functions less effectively and wears out more quickly. That is how most of us live out our lives - in bodies that are in a perpetual state of imbalance, that have to work just to stand up. Nearly all of us have distortion. Studies show that 85% of Americans have back pain and most of these sufferers are between the ages of 35 and 65.

But a poorly functioning body, one that aches, goes into spasm and feels old and tired is not “just something you have to live with” or “a natural part of getting old”. It is a direct result of bad body mechanics and it can be helped.

You should consider Structural Therapy if you have:
- Poor posture
- Chronic Pain
- Frequent pain in certain parts of your body
- Limited range of motion from accident or aging
- Excessive fatigue or stiffness
- Started training for a serious athlete

DOES STRUCTURAL THERAPY HURT?
Like all massage and bodywork, Structural Therapy can occasionally be momentarily uncomfortable. If a muscle is very tight, it may ache a little as your therapist works it, but overall the work is very pleasant and relaxing. Your therapist is always prepared to work with you and ease up whenever YOU feel it is necessary.

HOW LONG DOES THE WORK TAKE?
WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS AND HOW LONG WILL THE EFFECTS LAST?
Generally, Structural Therapy is done in a series of ten one-hour sessions, each focusing on a different structural goal. Before beginning the series, your therapist will discuss your case with you and explain how s/he expects the work to progress. As the sessions progress, you will see (literally) your body look and feel very different; a difference that remains after the work is completed. With only an occasional session to keep you in balance. Your old patterns will no longer feel comfortable and so you will be unlikely to return to them.

Every person experiences Structural Therapy differently: however,
some of the benefits you can expect are:
- Improved posture
- Greater range of movement and flexibility
- Improved circulation and breathing
- Better Awareness of your body
- More grace and ease of movement
- Greater resistance to injury and muscle strain