Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers and learn more

What exactly do you do?
There is no set series of movements I do cookbook style.  The pattern of the work that we will be trying to determine lies not in my head or a book, but within your body.  Your body has developed its own unique pattern of managing the stresses of life  – from both within and from without.   Therefore, that pattern is the blueprint with which, and from which, we work – not necessarily to completely remove all your patterns, but to open the door for more possibility.

What is unique about SI is that there is a set series of goals to be accomplished.

Each session has its own particular goal or goals, but the overall goal is to begin to move certain patterns within your body towards certain general directions.  For example, the first session addresses the “slouch” pattern.  We are working towards getting you more upright and this is our first task.  I will be looking at where the major strains are in your tissue.  Then we will work together, using manipulation of tissue and your own movements, to begin to release the holding patterns and bring awareness to new ways of moving.

Each session builds up to the next; in the second session we are going to help support the new length in the front of your body by giving you a base of support and more length in your back.

The innate intelligence of SI is actually the intelligence of the body.  The sessions progress with this same movement throughout. One way to visualize SI’s work is as moving from outside in (from the most superficial layer of your body to the deeper structures) and then back out again, thus building new relationships from within.   As the outer strains release, the inner ones can be more readily and reasonably addressed. The eventual goal is to help you find a new way of moving and living as a result of a new possibility of being in your body.

Who receives Structural Integration?
1 People dissatisfied with their posture, who want to improve their appearance and mobility
2 People suffering from aches or pains in areas such as the neck, shoulders, hips, back, arms, legs,etc
3 People, in physically demanding jobs, who feel pain, are stressed, tense and stiff.
4 People suffering from the effects of injuries and accidents.
5 Active people e.g. artists, athletes, dancers, students of Yoga and meditation, musicians who wish to improve their mobility and reduce the risk of injury.
6 People that feel as if they have lost or are lacking their inherit energy/vitality.
7 People from all walks of life and of all ages, from children to seniors, with structural related issues.
8 Pet owners who want to bring this work to their pets.
What are the benefits?
As a result of Structural Integration, people commonly report feeling physically taller, lighter and more flexible. They report feeling better balance and greater self-confidence. As a result, discomfort or pain in the body is alleviated. It is important to remember that because no two people are alike, each experience and its benefits will cater to the individual.
Why the 10 session series?
The goal of Structural Integration is to balance your body’s structure in gravity. To do that, the Practitioner looks at how your entire body has compensated and shortened over time. The ten-session format allows us to systematically open the body to deal with those compensations, not just to fix a local problem, but to get at your body’s entire postural pattern.
Do I have to do the entire 10 sessions?
Of course not. You can try a session or two to see if Structural Integration fits your needs.
Do the results last?
Yes! Photographs taken of people years after the Basic Ten Series show that changes are still present with structure and function improved. Keep in mind however, as life changes, bodies change in response. Injuries, accidents, lengthy illnesses, and emotional stress may necessitate additional work.
Does Structural Integration have psychological benefits?
While Structural Integration† is primarily concerned with physical changes in the body, it does affect the whole person. As well as our physical being, we are made up of emotions, attitudes, belief systems, and behavior patterns in concert with perceptions of body image that all determines how the person is shaped and what their limitations are in how they move. For some people, the physical holding patterns they have adopted can be related to emotional holding or tension. For others, their structure may carry the effects of an emotional experience. Aligning the physical structure is a useful tool and complementary to psychotherapy and/or personal development work.
How is Structural Integration different from massage?
Massage focuses on relaxing and releasing muscular tension and stress while Structural Integration focuses on changing biomechanical patterns of movement and making postural changes long-term.
How long are the sessions?
Most sessions are 70 minutes. 80 Minute sessions are available by request, weekends are exclusively 80 minute sessions.
How often should I book sessions?
You can book sessions weekly, bi-weekly, or every 3-6 weeks.  Differing from massage and chiropractic, more change will happen after your sessions than during; as you move around with the new relationships created.  It is important to keep things moving.  The appropriate time frame is something that becomes clear once the process begins.

Typically, new clients work with me on a weekly basis.

What do I wear?
Optimal attire for men is underwear, boxers, or non-bulky shorts. For women a sports-bra and/or a tank top with loose fitting pants and or shorts works well.
It is very helpful to be able to see your physique, and the changes that occur during the sessions. I recommend not wearing anything too bulky, too tight fitting, or long pants. Please feel free to check-in if you have further questions.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Scheduled appointments cancelled within 24 hours are subject to an $100 cancellation fee.  Full payment is expected for no-show’s and cancellations made within 6 hours or the appointment time.
Is Rolfing different from Structural Integration?
Following Dr. Rolf’s death, the terms ‘Rolfing’ and ‘Rolfers’ became registered service marks of the Rolf Institute in Boulder, CO, which is now one of perhaps a dozen schools of Structural Integration.  ’Structural Integration’, Dr. Rolf’s original name for her work, has always been the official, and formal designation for this type of manipulative approach. The word ‘rolfing’ was a nickname for her work which came from her time in the Esalen Institute in California, and a name she herself disliked and only reluctantly accepted.
‘Rolfing’ and ‘Rolfer’ remain, for the time being, the more publicly known term for this type of work, which to this date is service marked and owned by the Rolf Institute.
I was trained by an elite core of Rolfers who trained at the Rolf Institute with Dr. Ida Rolf herself,  including Peter Melchior, the first known teacher aside from the good Doctor herself.  Peter left the Rolf Institute, with several other faculty members, and formed a school to maintain the original teaching methods of Dr. Rolf – called the Guild for Structural Integration.  I attended the Guild and have earned a full certificate to practice Structural Integration.

Have another question? Ask away.

Getting the most from Structural Wellness involves talking together. Asking questions is central to what we do.

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Email Address

briantherolfer@gmail.com

Studio / Office Address

1500 Walnut St, Unit 1305
Philadelphia, PA 19102

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