F.A.Q.
- What do you do?
I do structural bodywork. I look at the architecture and alignment of your body and the way things move, and then work to improve it. Strain and tension can build up from poor posture, misalignments, traumatic injuries and so on. The work I do undoes that sort of stuff to help the body move better, to stand and sit more comfortably, and to do the activities you enjoy without nagging pains.
- How does it work?
Simply put, I find the stuck stuff and un-stick it; I find the tight stuff and loosen it up. Joints can get compressed and stuck together and there are many techniques I use to help get them moving again. The soft tissues accumulate strain and tension, which makes them stiff and brittle. I use different techniques to work out those strain patterns and improve tissue vitality.
- What causes “that”?
Strain patterns and misalignments are part of life. We all accumulate injuries and build tension in our tissues. For example, a common response to an injury is to brace/tense around the area to protect it. Over time this bracing response becomes, to some degree, normalized by the body and a strain pattern sets in. There are two issues at play; the original injury and the compensations resulting from it. By using a variety of techniques in a systematic fashion, these strain patterns can be removed leading to improved physical function.
- How many sessions until I’m fixed?
Everyone is different and will require differing amounts of work. Even genetically identical twins will accrue different sets of tension patterns throughout life, leading to very different treatment approaches. Some people need more work than others. But in general, most folks will see some improvement within one to three sessions and serious, lasting change after eight to twelve sessions. And by taking the time to go through the body in a systematic and thorough way, the inertia of your injuries and strain patterns can be overcome and momentum is gathered in a new direction.
- How long are sessions and what are they like?
Sessions are 60 minutes. Each session begins with an intake to go over your history. This is followed by a postural and palpatory assessment so that I can triage what areas need work and how to go about addressing my findings. At the end of the session there’s another postural assessment to see what changes took place and how things are unfolding so that I can plan for the next session building upon the work just done.
- Can I just get Rolfing/CranioScaral/Visceral Manipulation?
No. All my training and skills have been homogenized over the years and I often work multiple systems in the same session. For example, within the course of one session I might use some Rolfing for certain parts of the body, then feel the need to switch to a more osteopathic approach. I usually address musculoskeletal, visceral, cranial, and energetics in every treatment session.
- How far apart should sessions be?
One to two weeks apart is best especially in the beginning so that we can get some momentum going. After a few sessions (3-5) spacing sessions out every few weeks is a good rhythm. And then after a good chunk of work is done (10 or so sessions) we can work together to find a good maintenance schedule for you.
-Do you take insurance?
No. But I can give you a superbill which can help you to get reimbursed by many insurance programs.
-I’ve heard people can have emotional releases during this kind of work.
Yes, that does happen form time to time. We experience life as a physical organism and as such, some of those experiences can be held in the tissues. And sometimes as chronic holding patterns are released, suppressed emotions can bubble up. I try to pay attention for this and work delicately so that emotional holding is released slowly and in a way that can be integrated psychologically rather than an explosive, overwhelming, cathartic release.
-Do you give people homework to do between session?
Yes. I have a lot of experience in many different types of therapeutic movement styles and can give you a few simple things to do on a regular basis that will help maintain the changes we make through bodywork and gradually work to reshape your body.