One way to maintain the benefits of bodywork (either structural integration or massage) outside the session is with yoga and stretching, which is why I have so many posts about yoga. Sometimes, though, one needs something at home that more-or-less replicates hands-on work. Some examples are the foam roller, Thera Cane, Yamuna® balls, and other tools like these.
Read MoreI used to read Ascent Magazine, which covered the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga. The magazine is no longer published, but the web site lives on. One of the columns was called The Hidden Language of Yoga. This column, and compilation in book form, “blends real-life reflections with Hatha Yoga instruction and penetrating questions that point to the spiritual roots of the practice,” according to the publisher’s web site.
Read MoreOne of my yoga heroines is Vanda Scaravelli. She started her practice of yoga at age 58 in her 40s and became a very wise practitioner. She wrote a beautiful book called Awakening the Spine. There are lots of parallels between her approach and the goals of structural integration bodywork. Here are a few lines that resonated with me.
Read MoreWhat would the world look like if everyone practiced compassion and had empathy for others? I hope it would be a world free of the tragedies that have been in the news lately. I heard an interview today on the topic of compassion with Karen Armstrong. Along with practicing the Golden Rule, she also reminds us to have compassion for ourselves.
Read MoreWith a new year just starting, many people take the opportunity to assess their situation. Perhaps they decide to make some changes, like taking better care of themselves. This might even include getting structural integration bodywork to improve how one’s body feels (just a thought!).
Read MoreFor all you cross-country ski fans – excellent grooming today at Lebanon Hills in Eagan. The forest was truly a winter wonderland, with the trees flocked with snow. And, have I mentioned that XC skiing is a great full-body, low impact (well, as long as you don’t fall!) workout? In honor of the snowy season, here is a short poem on the topic.
Read MoreToday was a good day for a walk with a friend around a nearby lake. The temperature was brisk but the sun was shining and the Minneapolis Park Board did a great job of plowing the paths after last week’s big snow storm. If you don’t already have an exercise program, walking is a good place to start.
Read MoreIt seems that lots of people don’t realize how important the way they breathe is. Having habits like taking shallow breaths or sometimes holding the breath can contribute to back and neck pain and increase your stress.
Read MoreClients have asked me how to maintain the changes to their body that they experienced from structural integration (SI). Common activities of modern life tend to work against maintaining the benefits of SI. Computer or desk work, being in a car and plane trips are all things that hold your body in a more-or-less fixed position and that tend to contract the body’s structure.
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