Soma Structural Integration

The intention of Structural Integration is to create alignment within the body. Fascia is our guide to organize, support, and create ease for your unique body. Fascia is a dynamic and layered connective tissue throughout the entire body.

Fascia is meant to distribute strain evenly — when we sit, stand, or move. Through injury, trauma, stress, habits, and day-to-day life, our fascia can become tight, short or sticky, not allowing for easeful movement.

Through awareness and movement, Structural Integration lengthens and frees your fascia to restore an easeful and organic alignment. Together, we encourage your body to find its natural integrity of form, enhancing posture, mobility and vitality.

To experience Structural Integration, you may find benefit from just one session. Through The Soma Series of eleven sessions, deeper and long-lasting change is possible. Sessions are often scheduled 1-3 weeks apart.

The Soma Series is an invitation of generous space to release tension and limitations, so you may step into the present moment with openness and ease in your system.

Soma Series Session Descriptions

  • Session 1: Rib cage

    In session one, our focus is to free the fascia of the chest; creating lift and increased mobility throughout the torso, and lengthening the lower back. This results in a more upright posture, fuller, deeper breathing and a general feeling of well-being.

    Session 2: Lower legs and feet

    The second session focuses on the feet, ankles, knees, and lower legs, opening connection through the toes and a deep sense of grounding. Often a radiating sense of lightness and increased walking efficiency occurs after this session. This session helps to establish a stable foundation to build upon throughout the series

    Session 3: Sidelines

    The intentions of this session are to free the shoulders, widen the ribcage and lengthen the sides of the body. Often, breath feels much fuller and easier, especially in the sides and back, two places we tend to breathe much less deeply than what is possible. We also work a deeper layer of fascia in this session, an invitation into the Core Sessions.

  • To bring about the most profound benefits of Soma, we restructure, educate and enliven the center of your body: legs, pelvis, entire spine and muscles that support you from deep within.

    Sessions 4, 5 & 6: Vertical core

    These three sessions focus on freeing the pelvis from below, front and back. We work to lengthen the center of the body. The client will gain greater balance and freedom of movement. Walking takes a fraction of the energy typically expended.

    Session 7: Head, jaw & neck

    This session organizes and connects the chest and back with the head, neck, face and jaw. A more softened and relaxed appearance in the face, eyes, jaw, and neck with a feeling of being weightless is common.

  • These final sessions are the key to the lasting “effects” of Soma. By focusing largely on integration and connectivity, we allow your body-mind to fully connect to this new way of moving and being in the world.

    Sessions 8 + 9: Integration

    Integration is the sensation, feeling, and action of wholeness. These final sessions are designed to facilitate new neural connections by working into and across joint structures. We strive towards allowing grace, coordination and ease in movement. Additionally, less stress and increased energy as the body’s structure becomes better aligned with gravity.

    Session 10: Arms

    The focus of the tenth session is to release and balance the intricate structures of our arms and their connections to the shoulders. You may experience a lighter experience of the arms and neck, greater ease through the shoulders, and an experience of more connection through the entire torso.

    Session 11: Joints

    In the final session, we focus on all joints of the body. The places of connection. A deep integration and feeling of ‘wholeness’ transpires throughout the entire body, including in movement and stillness.

Individual Sessions are also a wonderful way to experience Soma Bodywork.

Goals of Soma Structural integration

  • Reduce pain

  • Alignment: support the fascia and bones to use minimal myofascial effort

  • Range of motion: range of movement within joints and movement is more available and open

  • Generosity of movement: decreased restrictions or limitations in chosen activities

  • Back to the basics: we use the foundations of movement (standing, walking, sitting, reaching, etc.) to cultivate awareness for new habits and effortless movement

  • Length and decompression: in the torso and limbs, in the muscles and across joints, the body can live in its full length and expression

  • Tensegrity: the myofascia is balanced around the skeletal structure such that there is a general evenness of tone (see video below)

  • Resilience: improved ability to keep your balance and suffer less negative impact from the inevitable rolling seas of stress

  • Feeling at home in your whole body

Curious if Soma is a good fit for you?

I look forward to connecting with you — please include a bit about yourself and what you are looking for at this time. There are many ways to experience Soma Structural Integration. Please indicate if you are interested in the Soma Series.