Structural Integration
Structural Integration
Gravity is the Therapist
Gravity is the Therapist
The Method
Structural Integration is a process of re-education of the body through movement and touch.
It systematically releases patterns of stress and impaired function. The primary focus of Structural Integration is facilitating the relationship between gravity and the human body.
By lengthening and opening the patterns in the connective tissue. As a result the thickened, toughened tissue becomes soft, rehydrated and more pliable, thus allowing movement and flexibility.
Structural Integration changes the body’s compensations because it organizes the imbalances in the tissue. The systematic approach to relating gravity through the myofascial layers aligns the body and improves posture. The body lengthens allowing muscles the space to work and joints the freedom to function.
Client, 60 years, before series and
after 10 sessions
Fascia
Connective Tissue or Fascia is a very tough, strong tissue, otherwise known as the myofascial system. Connective tissue is an important part of the support system of our body. All of the major systems in the body – circulatory, digestive, nervous, musculo-skeletal, and organs – are ensheathed in connective tissue.
A healthy and balanced connective tissue system’s characteristics are flexibility, elasticity, length and resilience. The tissue absorbs and responds to gravitational force, illness, injury, emotional trauma and plain everyday stress. Any of these factors will immediately, or over a period of time, cause an imbalance in the tissue system.
When imbalance exists, the system’s healthy characteristics are affected. The imbalance is identified as a shortening, thickening, dehydration of the tissue which impairs joint mobility and muscle function. This is often felt in the body as chronic pain, discomfort, stiffness, or de-creased flexibility and impaired movement.
Fascia appears in the whole body and surrounds muscles, organs and bones. For a long time fascia was dismissed by medicine as relatively unimportant. Recently many experts have started researching this multi-functional, fascinating body organ.
Fascia Research
The fascial system is being recognized and its relation to pain and proprioception will be studied.
Fascial Net Plastination Project
In January 2018, the Fascia Research Society, Somatics Academy, the Plastinarium, and Body Worlds embarked on a new collaborative journey to create the world’s first, 3D Human Fascia Plastinates.
-> You can see more pictures from the Plastination Project on Facebook
Here the list of my favorite links on Fascia Research:
Ida Pauline Rolf
Biochemist and Founder of Structural Integration.
Dr. Ida P. Rolf was the founder of Structural Integration. In 1920 she earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University.
For twelve years she worked at the Rockefeller Institute in the Chemotherapy and Organic Chemistry departments. In the 1930’s, challenged by a friend’s disabilities and dissatisfied with the available medical treatment, Dr. Rolf explored Osteopathy, Chiropractic Medicine, Tantric Yoga, the Alexander Technique, Homeopathic Medicine and Korzybski’s work on the consciousness.
By the 1940’s she had developed and experienced many breakthroughs with the work she did on chronically disabled persons unable to find help elsewhere.
During her scientific research, she made a fundamental discovery about the body: the same network of connective tissue which contains and links the muscle System when it’s healthy can be used to reshape it when it’s been pulled out of proper order. Dr. Rolf further refined her technique and developed a training program to insure that this important work would continue.
There are several schools that conduct Dr. Rolfs training. The two most important ones are the Guild for Structural Integration and the Rolf Institute. Both are involved in research to enhance the understanding of gravity’s relationship to the human structure.
Swiss Health Insurance
Structural Integration / Rolfing® will be covered by your Swiss Complementary Health Insurance (“Zusatzversicherung”).
Call your health insurance to find out how much exactly will be covered towards this method.
Contact
Please contact me if you have any questions or if you want to schedule an appointment. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
I speak English, German, Italian, French and Portugese.
Diego Albertani
info@albertani.ch
+41 76 22 777 55
Practices
Einsiedeln
village centre
8840 Einsiedeln
Horgen
Dorfgasse 28
8810 Horgen
Getting there by car
You can use the parking lot # 5 in front of the practice.
Getting there by public transport
Get off the train at the station “Bahnhof Horgen See”. From there it’s only 200 meters to the practice.
About me
People have always stood in the center of my attention whether in the work as a socio-cultural animator or as administrator, project manager or consultant for organizations in various industries.
The first sessions of Structural Integration were a turning point in my life. They taught me that it is possible to let go of old patterns at any time. Therefore, I decided to be trained at the Guild for Structural Integration. After graduation in 2007 I started my practice in Horgen.
