Unwinding the Artist
Sometimes artists become so engrossed in their creativity that they forget their bodies. For example, writers may be bent over laptops for hours, musicians may repeatedly practice the same bars, and dancers may tire and resort to bad habits learned at a younger age. Add that to the everyday stresses of making a living, raising families, uncomfortable sleep positions…and the body can become a burden even to those who don’t believe they use it for their creative process.
Structural Integration can help ease the artist’s body so that rather than be a pain to be ignored, it can be a comfort to be celebrated. Whether you’re a performance artist, writer, musician, filmmaker, painter, sculptor, master craftsman…whether you are a professional or hobbiest, Structural Integration can help you relax, reducing the body discomforts that can drive your muse to distraction.
The basic “recipe” of Structural Integration is comprised of ten sessions called the Ten Series. Because each body is different, every session is catered to the unique individual, meaning no two series are ever alike. As a matter of fact, because the body is not perfectly symmetrical, how each side of the same body is worked is unique. That means no two tuba players will ever get the same rote strokes, nor will all writers or all pianists, for that matter. During our sessions, how one plays, writes, sculpts, or holds the camera will be integrated into the work with the intention of creating healthier movement patterns for that individual. As a practitioner, I see and treat each artist as a customized miracle here to bring something special to the world.
Fine Tuning the Athlete
Sometimes performance has reached a plateau and needs more than a push. Sometimes old injuries decrease flexibility or even prevent us from practicing our sport. Structural Integration can help the athlete by freeing up range of motion, creating better body alignment and balance, relieving chronic strain, and fine-tuning specific movements to improve performance.
In most sports, the results of Structural Integration—length, flexibility, balance, and more efficient use of the body—are assets. Strength is improved because muscles that are no longer stiff, contracted and/or held have greater range of motion and therefore greater power. Length and flexibility are increased for the same reasons. Balance is better because Structural Integration helps to unwind rotations in the joints and allows muscles to do their job without being held back by other tissues.
Every body is different, and the theories behind Structural Integration provide the flexibility to cater each session to the client’s individual needs while reaching toward the goal of alignment with gravity. The basic “recipe” of Structural Integration is comprised of ten sessions called the Ten Series. Because each body is unique, every session is catered to the individual, meaning no two series are ever alike. As a matter of fact, because the body is not perfectly symmetrical, how each side of the same body is worked is unique. That means no two runners will ever get the same rote strokes, nor will all swimmers or all cyclists, for that matter. During our sessions, the client’s sport will be integrated into the work with the intention of creating healthier movement patterns for that individual. As a practitioner, I work with each athlete to create a customized strategy in order to encourage the healthiest performance.
Are the Benefits of Structural Integration Limited to Artists and Athletes?
Absolutely not. However you use your body, holding patterns in the tissue are the result of many things, such as emotional circumstances, exertion, and repetitive motion. They can even be unconsciously mimicked from those with whom we live or have lived. Structural Integration can benefit anyone looking to find release from chronic stress.
Love the art focus. Thank you!
By: Laura on August 13, 2008
at 10:36 pm
Thank you for checking out my site!
Debbie
By: debbiemihal on August 14, 2008
at 8:06 pm