Structural Bodywork

Structural Bodywork is myofascial work that illuminates your habitual postural patterns and begins to unravel root causes of chronic pain and trouble areas.

Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds and comprises muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and organs. This matrix of soft tissue literally gives the body its shape. Our fascial system has a high density of sensory receptors, making it a prime communicator with our nervous systems. Fascia responds to and holds the stories, successes, and stresses of daily life.

Our bodies are a tensegrity system; a continuous fascial network of balanced tension and compression. Bones floating in a sea of soft tissue.

With this tensegral concept in mind, we read the shape and position of the bones and determine how the fascia is supporting (or not supporting) the skeletal structure. Over a series of collaborative sessions, we work communicate with the nervous system to re-educate the body into more efficient and energy-sustaining patterns.

Above all, structural bodywork aims to give you awareness of how you hold yourself and bring greater understanding of the function of your body.

What to Expect
Before beginning your 3-series, we’ll schedule an initial intake session to understand your health history and current habits. In each of the subsequent sessions we’ll spend time observing your posture in standing, walking, and performing other simple movements. We’ll use this information to map a treatment plan for our sessions with the aim of improving your posture, breathing, movement, and awareness.

Structural Bodywork sessions are booked in a series of three and are best received weekly (biweekly at maximum) as they build on each other.

Each session examines different fascial planes and sets of relationships in the body. We’ll work progressively and methodically. It is important to note that we might not always work where you are reporting symptoms, as patterns that contribute to the problem may be total-body patterns.

Session 1: Pelvic Girdle + Legs
Session 2: Ribcage, Shoulder Girdle + Arms
Session 3: Spine

Dress: You'll wear appropriate underwear, a bathing suit, or gym clothing to receive bodywork.

Documentation: We'll take pictures before each session so we can visually track changes.

Application of work: A fascial release wax is used instead of oil or lotion so that tissues are easier to pick up.

Participation: You'll be more active in receiving by moving and breathing in particular ways as we work with your fascia. Expect to be on and off the table over the course of the session so we can feel and see how the work is landing in your body.

Other Things of Note
This process can be “sensation-ful” and involves feelings of stretch, perhaps burning, sometimes working deeply or in ways you may not have experienced in other bodywork modalities. You are in control and draw the line between sensations that are productively uncomfortable and ones that are truly painful. We’ll always work together to find the “right” level of sensation and make adjustments when needed.

Your honest feedback and participation in the process is appreciated.

Though we are working with the physical body, it is not uncommon to have mental/emotional feelings related to the work come up during and between sessions. I’m here to support you within my scope of practice and will gladly refer you to my auxiliary network of trusted mental, physical, and medical professionals if you’d like.

Rather than an ongoing, endless therapy, think of our 3-series work as a project with a beginning, middle, and end. These sessions are meant to be a catalyst for change and curiosity, a way for you to bring the work forward in your life. We can discuss additional “tune-up” sessions and ideas for maintenance practices.

While structural bodywork can be very effective, it is not meant to be a substitute or curative for injury or disease that is in need of medical attention.

Please reach out directly to schedule your 3-series so we can ensure the timing of your sessions.

This experience is equal parts science and art while leaving space for the unquantifiable. I look forward to how our work together will unfold.

Yours in curiosity,
Kat