The Ten Series

Rebecca L. Coursey

Songbird Healing Studio, Bozeman, Montana

(406) 587 - 0241 / coursey.rebecca@yahoo.com

Private Professional Healing Practice since 1998.

Certified Structural Integration Therapist, Rolf Method

Advanced Energy Healer , graduate Barbara Brennan School of Healing

Visceral and Neural Manipulation, Vascular Rejuvenation Technique, Cranial Sacral Therapist

Reiki Master/ Teacher & more

Sessions for Adults, Adolescents and Children to help

--gain proper postural and anatomical alignment and ease of movement

--resolve chronic pain patterns and injuries , healing from disease

--increase vitality, joy, and sense of personal direction in life
--unite the body, psyche, spiritual wholeness, and heart in your life

The Ten Series: Rolf Method of Structural Integration

Introduction

The Ten Series of the Rolf Method of Structural Integration was developed through the work of Dr. Ida Rolf. Structural Integration is also known as "Rolfing" which is a term coined by her students based on her last name. Because of our marketing and legal trademark system, you will meet "Rolfers" and "Structural Integration Therapists" depending on the school where the therapist trained. We are all doing the same work with our own specialties of study, however, the work is the same and learned through intensive training programs. Rolfers and Structural Integration Therapists are interested in helping you live the life that is inherently YOU. The Ten Series is a very direct method of bringing your body into a naturally aligned, well-organized and greater vital and joyous functioning for life. Many illnesses, stresses, physical problems, psychological stress and more is healed through the process.

The Ten Series is a highly refined set of manual therapy, energy work, and movement re-education which facilitates the release of long-term holding patterns of strain which have inhibited movement, health, natural authenticity and life. The connective tissue or fascia hardens in the aging process and this is softened to allow your body to return to a more natural upright and fluid posture. You will regain flexibility and balance. There is also a strong psychological and spiritual sense of well-being, inner harmony and inner knowing that arises naturally with this work. As more chi or energy moves through the body, there is also an increased rate of personal growth and sense of inner maturation of selfhood. The fascia is the actual structure of life, and it encases all the organs, is the material of bones as well, and in general, is what keeps the body in its form and allows movement.

This work has been around in the intuitive knowing of homo sapien for far longer than Dr. Rolf's lifetime. It is a very basic form of manual therapy that relieves stresses which inhibit correct and natural movement of the body. Dr. Rolf studied and organized the work into a systematic structure so that one could move efficiently and completely through every layer of the body in ten concrete and distinct sessions with a repeatable end result for every person.

Below I share some of my insights regarding the Ten Series and how you might respond to each session.

Session 1

The first session of Structural Integration creates space by releasing strain patterns mostly held in the superficial fascia. Releasing the diaphragm is key structural work which will allow you to breath more deeply and easily. A lot of basic stress is released through the body. Often basic strain in hips, knees, shoulder and neck are released. I often work with the liver, stomach and duodenum, and gallbladder. Depending on your personal issue/s, I might also address tension in the kidneys, spleen, small or large intestines. Session one is more general, however, so I never am working very deeply with any organ. I also support the body's natural sense of vertical alignment with minor adjustments.

After the session, you will feel more light, expanded yet have more feet on the floor. If you had hip or lower back pain, it's probably gone or almost gone. Your shoulders will be back and the front of the body open. Generally people feel happy or peaceful and relaxed in a soft way yet alive way. You might have a lot of energy or you might want to take a good nap.

The days after the session, usually you will have more energy and feel much more relaxed about life. Sometimes, however, if you have been carrying a lot of stress, you could go into what's called a "healing crisis" which can appear as exhaustion, toxin release or a cold, or sometimes a sort of depression if there are feelings you have not been able to deal with regarding your own life situation. In general, you will be able to breath more easily, move more easily and be much more aware of your body.

Session 2

Session 2 begins the real structural work with corrections in the lower leg. I am beginning foundation work with the tibia and fibula, as well as how they connect to the calcaneous and navicular bones of the ankle joint. I am beginning to work the fascia of the lower leg from the achilles tendon, around the heel and into the underside of the foot, including all the toe joints. I am also easing tension along the knees and beginning to adjust the knee joint, with some possible work up to the hips/femur ball joint. I am beginning to work with the muscles of the lower leg to release the tensions and compensatory patterns you use to balance everything above, including your head!

In general, the deepest work of this session is in the releasing of the planar fascia of the foot and softening all the toe joints, fascia and muscles. It is deep and it feels incredibly good! Pulled up toes and bunyons start to be softened and changed. The foot and body is far more platic and malleable (changeable) than you probably think. I can erase years of bad shoes and injuries in this session. I will need to make more substantial changes in the core sessions, but I do a lot in session 2.

From a structural point of view, this is a critical session. Other issues in your body will only be able to resolve to the same extent as I can readjust the foundation of the body. Every rotation in the body affects the lower leg, knees and feet. Your body has to adjust to compensate for all mis-alignments above. Hence any accidents or trauma you have had, shows up in the feet. By beginning to re-establish proper foot and ankle mobility and alignment, the upper parts of the body will begin to adjust as well.

An analogy for this session is like working on the foundation of a house. Often the problems that show up in the ceiling of the second floor are a result of a structural problem in the foundation in the basement.

If you were thinking of getting a new pair of walking or running shoes, sometime in the next few sessions is a good time. Otherwise you will put your "new feet" back into the pattern we are correcting. Many of my clients have stopped wearing orthotics after and during a Ten Series. Other clients are sure they have one leg shorter than the other when in fact usually it's just a rotation in the hip. This starts to change even in session one. My experience is that orthodics actually end up creating more of a problem than solving one.

After this session you will usually feel very grounded (like being heavy on the earth) but your step will have a lot of lightness. As the foot bed opens and becomes more anatomically correct width, men's hips can begin to widen to their natural girth and women are able to begin to relax into their hips. Because of our shoes from early ages, we have compromised our pelvic and shoulder girdles greatly. This also affects our natural response as being mature men and women. The body which cannot correctly inhabit its anatomically correct structure is inhibited in its natural physical maturity.

Psychologically you will most likely experience much greater ease of walking through the hurtles in your life with this session. Put your feet underneath you, and you remember how to walk and deal with the basic life problems.

Session one opens the front of the body, and session two opens the back. Lower back strain is greatly released in this session.

Session 3

The main structural component of this session is release of the diaphragm and fascial strain at T12. I am also working with the side vertical line through the body, bringing balance from the parietal suture of the head through the shoulder/elbow/hands, hips, knees and ankle. The IT band will be softened more (we began this in session 1), as well as ankle flexion and extension. Shoulder strain is released often in the armpit, as well as release along the thoracic spine and sternum. I often work more deeply with the intercostal muscles bringing much greater ease of breath. This is wonderful for anyone pursuing an athletic endeavor or singing! This session also works with the obliques, quadratus lumborum, and sometimes perietal fascia of the abdomen. It allows for greater articulation between the hip girdle and thorax.

There is a lightness and wholeness to this session. I call it Grace. You have a sense of who you are in a new way. It also opens up a whole new dimension in your body -- the side! Yoga students and teachers often work to open the side (side body long) and this session does just that. Women tend to get better waists! There is a new sense of knowing where the line is for you. Not too far back or in your past, not too far into planning a future. It's rather a "be here now" sort of session and having a sense of really who you are. It's a very "I" session which also allows a new development of understanding of relationship with others.

For you can only have as deep or clear of a relationship with others as you have with yourself. Session 3 brings a lot of clarity to who you are and the line or intention of your own life.

I often do more energetic work with the Hara Line (your energetic line of purpose or incarnation) with this session. Sometimes I might dip into past lives or core star clearing or cord work with parents if these issues seem to be limiting who you are right now.

There is a sense of Peace with this session. It's a good time to put things in order and organize. Session 4 - 7 will generally rock the boat of your life some as we make changes in the core and work with the psoas as it relates to the core body's structure. The core session will find you needing to grapple with something very deep about claiming your own life and aligning your personal small ego will to that of the divine will working through you. So Session Three gives you a sense of yourself and ease before we begin the deeper physical structural work and hence psychological/spiritual work as well.

Session 4

to be continued soon! blessings,

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