Structural integration – ATSI
REalEASE
Anatomy Trains Structural Integration – ATSI
Structural Integration - ATSI
Myofascial Release
Sharon Wheeler's Scarwork
Organ treatments according to Liz Gaggini
Why Structural Integration?
“Strength that has effort in it is not what you need; you need the strength that is the result of ease.”
Dr.Ida P. Rolf, Begründerin der Methode strukturelle Integration
Structural integration, and the incorporated methods of fascial release, scar work, and organ work can help you with:
- Pain reduction
- Rehabilitation after injuries and accidents
- The reduction of stress
- The reduction or resolution of posture-related tension
- The improvement of organ and circulatory functions
- The integration of scars into the tissue to improve tissue function
How does structural integration work?
"When the Body Gets working appropriately, the force of Gravity can flow through, then spontaneously, the body heals itself."
Dr. Ida P. Rolf, founder of the structural integration method
- Habits of overuse in the movement system are gradually resolved.
- A natural balance, alignment, length, and lightness are restored.
- The fascial tissue is freed and aligned more optimally with gravity
- Movement patterns are changed and simplified.
- A new, lighter posture becomes the new “normal”.
What is Structural Integration?
ATSI (Anatomy Trains Structural Integration) consists of a series of 12 neuro-myo-fascial manual therapeutic treatments.
It can be remarkably effective in acute & chronic pain conditions.
In twelve consecutive sessions you will learn how your body can move and behave more easily. Each session addresses a different part of the system. The treatments build on each other. First the superficial layers are treated, then the deeper-lying structures. The remaining sessions serve to integrate the whole body into new movement patterns.
Tension and pain are progressively alleviated or released.
Where does ATSI come from?
Structural integration was first developed, refined, and taught by Dr. Ida P. Rolf in the second half of the last century. Tom Myers added another thought to the original idea with his concept of Anatomy Trains.
How is fascial release different to Structural Integration?
The main techniques used in Structural Integration are myo-fascial release techniques. Individual therapy sessions can help to alleviate or resolve pain conditions through fascial treatments. However, over the last 50+ years of experience by Structural Integrators worldwide it has been confirmed time and again that lasting change is created by a series.
Sharon Wheeler’s ScarWork
In the world of connective tissue, working with scars is like speaking a different language. Scar tissue is very dense fascia with unique properties.
Scar tissue work uses light, almost casual touch.
The treatment is painless even for very new scars, and then amount of change in one intervention is extensive.
The cosmetic effect is delightful, and the functional changes can be profound. Natural and surgical scars of any age respond immediately to the treatment, followed by a short period of rapid healing and continued improvement. The improvements are permanent.
Which Scars respond to Sharon Wheeler`s Scarwork?
Natural and surgery scars of any age respond immediately followed by a short period of rapid healing and continued improvement. The improvements are permanent.
Scar tissue changes quickly and easily and integrates afterwards smoothly into the three-dimensional web of fascia.
The work starts with the surface layers and goes into the far reaches of the scar. Scar work often results in large whole-body integration shifts along with trauma resolution, and nerve -impaired numbness usually resolves within a session.
Sharon Wheeler’s scar integration can be taken as a one-off session and can be easily introduced alongside structural integration treatment.
Organ Treatment after Liz Gaggini
Why organ treatments?
Organ treatments can help with:
- Deep-seated, difficult to solve posture and movement restrictions
- Chronic problems in the gastrointestinal tract, renal system, and respiratory system
- Certain forms of scoliosis
- Chronic prostate and uterine disorders
- After-effects of whiplash injuries on the organ system
Acute complaints cannot be treated. Acute episodes of e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, kidney infections and the like must first be treated and have subsided before this organ treatment can be used.
How are the organs treated?
In these treatments, the fascial coverings of the organs are treated. Every organ has mobility, i.e., the possibility of movement in relation to the other organs and body structures, and motility, i.e., an autonomous movement of its own. During treatment, mobility and motility are checked for restrictions. When limitations are evident, this suggests that the fascial covering of the organ is adhering to other fascial structures.
What is The Philosophy of Organ treatments?
“The body honors the organ”. This means, our body will do everything in its power, to allow our organs, the most important structures for living, to work as efficient as possible.
If an organ is limited in its movement, it will have a knock-on effect on our bodies posture, as we bend around it, and the other organs will adjust to limit their own movement too. For the body looks for inner balance.
Postural limitations become deeply ingrained. For as long as the organ responsible for the pattern is not addressed and freed, the body will revert to its original posture to allow the limited organ to work as efficient as possible.
Sharon Wheeler's Bonework
Bonework uses precisely placed manual pressure on the fascial structures of the bone. Permanent deformations resulting from poorly healed bone fractures or scars even out. In addition, joint malpositions can react positively to this type of treatment.
“As a client of Joachim’s, I really valued working with him. He tackles the issue at hand with a great deal of sensitivity. He cares about getting to the heart of the problem. He is fascinated by people, and it shows. Transformations on physical and other levels are as satisfying to him as a therapist as they are to me. The structural integration therapy was worth the journey. I learned a lot in the process. Thank you.”
M.F., Spiraldynamik® specialist, Bern
“Physical personality is reflected in psychological personality. So, too, physical movement colours psychological behaviour. Through movement, human senses are the driving force of change. Movement is the physical acceptance of change. Awareness of this tends to be on a subconscious level. For psychological therapists as well as for therapists dealing with the physical body, the aim is to find the right moment. A psychotherapist senses immobility in the dimension of time rather than space. The individual gets bogged down, unmoving in time, unable to escape from their infantile or adolescent assumptions or trauma, and manifests this physically as well as psychologically. Their lack of movement, their general or localised rigidity, has the same root, and movement induced in the physical body will also loosen psychological chains. The job of the psychotherapist then becomes easier.”
Dr Ida Rolf, chapter 10, Function is Movement
“One of the more interesting aspects of scar work is observing the whole-body changes that can result from it. Because of the possibility of whole-body changes, scar work is best received by people who are being Rolfed. However, most scar work does not need a whole session to integrate what is released. It is usually enough to do back work, neck work and a pelvic lift for balance. This allows for the use of scar work outside of a Rolfing series as a stand-alone intervention with successful results. I don’t think of scar tissue as stuff to break up or material to get rid of. I think scars are made up of valuable stuff you want to liberate to become vital tissue again. It feels like all of it is used for good with nothing left over when you are done.”
Sharon Wheeler