Bound up

I am sure that some of you are wondering why no entry last week. Has she succumb to the tortures and given in.? Quite the contrary. Is is most surprising each week. Now I think I am getting "sick and demented" because I actually look forward to it.

Last week was lifting my torso and ribs off my pelvis. This is sure to help with the 1 1/2 inches that I have lost in my height. It was grueling but nothing like today. Adductors, hamstrings and quads, the bound up muscles of my thighs and did I mention that my legs felt like they were going through a vise grip. The key there is going through, not just being held in the grip, but having that grip slide, no not slide, rip? no not rip, oh hell, you know what I am trying to say, as she takes the bound up muscle and puts it back where it belongs. Holy shit. One does not just lie there and take the pain. You must participate in it. "Sick". Be a willing, or unwilling participant, however you want to look at it. I can hear her saying "knee up, knee down" and wanting me to do these motions as she frees the muscle, but sometimes it is all one can do to keep breathing, pant and swear. No knee up, knee down. She won't let you get away with it for very long. And did I tell you it feels like she has hands of steel with the grip of Hercules. But it is so awesome.

My knowledge and enthusiasm for Structural Integration grows with each session. While SI is probably not for everyone, it certainly couldn't hurt the majority of us. Oops, sorry about that play on the word "hurt". It really is okay to experience the breath sucking pain that one must endure to get through a session because when you come out of it you are a new person. Each week as she works the misalignment of my body up from my feet and out the top of my head I move with much more ease. I knew I was "tight" but not bound up. My thigh muscles were bound up into one unit. The individual muscles were not working undependantly like they are designed to do. Needless to say when that happens other things stop working, which affects something else until one day your body screams at you "HELP, stop what you are doing". And that is where I am at. Stopping and smelling the roses in between being in the moment and the breath being sucked out of me.

It is becoming much easier for me to stand and walk in alignment. I still struggle sometimes especially when I flip into auto pilot. It's that "teach an old dog new trick" thing. It is getting easier. I have noticed that sitting correctly takes less work. I catch myself slouching and bring myself into alignment a lot quicker. I have slouched for many years now. When working at my computer for long hours I was usually slouched completely down in my chair by the end of the day. Bad habit....

Wouldn't it be great if as we entered into our mid years that we felt physically as good as we did in our earlier years.? We don't have to be all bound up, hunched over and in pain 24/7. There are alternatives and I can clearly see the SI is one of them. It is working and I am feeling much better each week. Until next time.

Happy Feet

My homework from last week was to walk toes forward, heel to toe. You say, so. Don't we all? Not really. As I have focused on that, and it does take concentration not to walk in my comfort zone, I have felt the misalignment of my feet, ankles and knees. To walk with my toes forward actually made my knees feel really awkward. I have become much more aware of how my feet touch the floor. More specifically what parts of my feet are touching the floor and at what point. I have been walking laterally on my feet which would explain why my knees are rotated outward. The body is so amazing. These misalignment's are so gradual. They just sort of creep up on you until one day your body rather than just talking to you begins screaming at you.

I went to the doctors office to have them measure how tall I am at the beginning of these sessions. 5'51/2". WHAT? I used to be 5'7". Where did the other 1.5 inches go.? Oh wait, I know, it is there, just supressed by tight facia and tendons that are restricting movement of my body.

I'm not sure I was prepared for the pain I endured today. Karon told me the first few sessions were realitively easy. Well if this is easy, I'm not sure I want to play anymore. Oh, but I do.!
I can feel it allow my body to move with much more ease. I didn't really feel I was so tight all over. Ya, my shoulders and pelvis region I now are, but never really knew my feet had issues.

It is not an easy task to train your body to move differently than it has for the past 50 years. So those of you who are following this pay attention. Pay attention to how you are walking, sitting and standing. If you are in generally good physical condition, but have pain somewhere chronically maybe you are out of alignment. Seek structural integration sooner rather than later.

I also need to express that I may show signs of personality disorder. I have not become possessed by demons. Although you might look at me in wonder as I begin to speak things that in the past may have been held back because of fear or rejection. Thoughts and emotions will most likely be flowing freely from my mouth. Karon told me to warn my loved ones that I may display a personality that is unfamiliar. So maybe I will, maybe I won't. It will just happen. Just know that I love you all, but I am loving me now.

I have discovered that I have some emotions stored within. It is so weird, amazing, not sure how to describe what happens. Karon completes a stroke and a floodgate of tears and emotions come pouring out of me. Totally unbeknownst to me. It happened in the first session and it happened again today. Its not every stroke. Most of those are just fist clenching hold your breath and scream strokes. It just happens. I have no control what so ever.

I've decided to blog this hoping that I can share my awareness and make those of you who are following more aware. Structural Integration is very powerful. After just two sessions I can see why Karon gets so excited to do this work. It isn't becasue she is sick and demented and likes to cause you pain. She knows the outcome and how it transforms the body. It is amazing. Just watch and see.

ROLFING: Reestablishing the natural alignment and structural integration of the human body for vitality and well being.
Thank you Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D.

Spring is in the air today. The crab apple trees are in full bloom with bright pink blossoms. A slight breeze has the branches dancing. I find myself reflecting on the past 3.5 years. Diligently and as naturally as possible I have tried to resolve my low back pain. From kidney and liver cleanses to releasing emotional issues.

Today there was a fork in the road. I am taking a new path to realignment and balance of my body and my life. Karon, a friend and rolfer, began the 1st of 10 sessions today. This, I can tell, will lead me back to a pain free body that moves with ease and freedom.

The realization hit me when we looked at pictures of me standing in a normal relaxed position. We knew that I had some slight rotation at the hips, but it blew both of us away to see how uneven I am from the shoulders all the way down. I think we both new at the sight of the misaligned body what needed to be done.

These sessions are not relaxing in any way. Quite the contrary. Four letter expletives flow from my mouth with great intensity. I must admit, however, that after the stroke is finished there is significant release of tension and relaxation. So, relaxing? yes and no.

Awareness has new meaning. Becoming aware of how I sit, stand and walk is not going to be easy. It is really easy to fall back into the old habits of walking and sitting. It takes more work to walk the right way. You have to think about how you get yourself out of a chair. This will be a challenge I can tell. I am up to it. The outcome will be well worth the effort. I pledge to be more aware of my movements and my thoughts.

I usually have to lay back on the bed and raise my feet into the air to put my socks on. Today after the session while talking to Karon, I sat on the table and was able to put my socks on while sitting without pain. Holy heck. Why didn't I start this long time ago. Amazing.. I feel much lighter. It is hard to describe the difference you feel, but there is definitely a difference.

Walk with your chin level, feet pointed forward with a slight spring in your step. Heel to toe. Sounds simple doesn't it.? It feels totally awkward to me.