The human body
is highly intelligent
Many structural challenges individuals experience are the result of repeated micro trauma, an action that has been repeated literally thousands of times over years, such as carrying a purse on one shoulder, but always the same shoulder, or carrying a wallet in a back pocket, and always the same pocket. These behaviors set up minor structural imbalances that when repeated over years or decades, create an imbalanced body pattern that ultimately results in pain. Our bodies are highly intelligent and always strive to achieve equilibrium, if possible. By retraining the nerves and muscles, a more balanced structure can be achieved, and the patient’s discomfort is greatly reduced.
Structural Integration
Structural integration is a type of body work which addresses the disconnects between body parts and the whole structure. Muscular re-education can occur all over the body – for example, upper back, neck, pelvis, shoulders and feet, etc. By re-educating muscle groups to essentially retrain the conflicted posture and assume an appropriately connected posture, individuals can move forward on their journey toward body comfort.
There are many techniques used to achieve structural integration, but paramount among all of them is creating symmetry in the body from right to left, and front to back. Often muscles have settled into a length which is hyper-contracted, so it is the practitioner’s job to lengthen them. Another common challenge is that soft tissue structures become compressed. A corrective technique that creates space within the structures is vital. Adequate muscular space and length result in a body that is comfortable and efficient in achieving its many tasks.
Overcoming Trauma
Muscle memory remembers trauma and the emotions associated with it. If an event or events trigger a protective posture, our muscles may recall and reflexively recreate that structural pattern. If we have witnessed or been the victim of trauma, our muscles recall their length and tone at said event.
If we experienced an accident, our muscles may register the emotions of the accident. When re-exposed to a similar perception of trauma, our posture can subconsciously recur to the postural pattern of the traumatic event.
When subjected to physical or sexual abuse, our muscles know when to tense, how to dissociate, what position to assume to decrease pain, and how to fight back. Similarly, when individuals experience body trauma or shame, they may assume specific postures as an attempt to shut down these feelings.
If one is uncomfortable with breast size, shoulders may rotate forward in an effort to diminish the body part, resulting in a chronic structural fault.
If there is a disconnect between anatomy and gender identification, muscle memory may produce a detached structural relationship to various body parts.
Years of this type of disconnect can result in a chronic dysfunctional separation of anatomical structures from the whole body. Societal marginalization may be internalized as body concept marginalization, ultimately translating to structural faults.
Gender non-binary individuals are commonly prone to these types of disconnected structural findings. For decades, their pelvis and genitalia may have been a source of emotional pain, confusion, hatred or shame.
One might subconsciously shut down pelvic floor musculature as an attempt to diminish these conflicting feelings.
The critical synchronicity of the lower half of one’s body to the top half may lack unification because an individual has never experienced the two regions to be part of a whole. Unknowingly, they may develop a schism between the body parts, as opposed to optimal connectivity necessary for favorable functionality.
Interestingly, the structural patterns of gender non-binary individuals are tragically similar to those of abuse victims, as there is often a subconscious walling off of affected body parts. Because dissociation does not exclusively occur in the brain, there is a somatic, or body, expression also. Structural integration body work yields improved biomechanics by releasing traumatized muscles. Both emotional and physical patterns are redrawn, and the resultant elimination or dramatically decreased distress generates a safe and hospitable environment allowing the entire body to function as a whole.