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Some Comments by people who have received
Structural Integration
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"Alarmed by the steadily increasing curvature of my spine and the myriad of
pains accompanying it, I sought help. Traditional medicine only offered
the threat of eventual surgery. Disheartened and feeling twenty years past my
age, I was stiff, achy, and unable to walk for more than 10 minutes without
limping from the pain that shot down my right leg from the hip to the knee. Back
spasms, cramping calves, tearing heel pain, and restless legs were the norm.
Balance and strength eluded me. Then I was blessed with a great gift of healing.
Through the masterful hands and expertise of Dr. Bruce Andrews and the process
of Structural Integration, I was freed from these ailments."
"After a few S.I. sessions, I shifted from feeling physically deformed to
feeling physically capable. My energy increased by leaps and bounds -
literally - as for the first time in my entire life, I experienced the joy of
exercise and body awareness. Despite scoliosis I am now able to sit
straight and stand tall. I am changed and still changing, and a deep happiness
fills me. I am truly grateful that Bruce Andrews has dedicated his life to
serving others in this powerful way."
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- F.D., Glen Ellyn, IL
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"I met Bruce Andrews and discovered Structural Integration in early 1998.
I was seeking relief from severe cramping in my calves that prevented me from
walking distances or running. I was also intrigued by the possibility that SI
could improve my posture and general health.
I can describe the sessions of SI with one word: Intense. Those of us whose only
prior experience with body work is a relaxing massage, will find SI totally
different. The mind, body, and spirit integrate and respond to SI in a very
personal way.
Bruce is not only gifted in the physical body work he practices, but he has a
kind, gentle way of explaining the work and guiding you through the sessions. A
skilled practitioner is vital for SI because the work is a partnership between
the practitioner and the client. SI strives to undo patterns that bind the body
and mind. So, the practitioner must probe and the client must receive. Bruce
accomplishes this fragile bond of trust with much sensitivity.
The ten sessions of SI is just the beginning of a rewarding and introspective
journey for me. It is all a question of timing. I am at a time in my life when.
I am open to alternative health options, and I have the maturity to weigh the
promises of good health with the methods. Besides SI, I have also begun to pay
more attention to my diet by supplementing it with vitamins, minerals, and
antioxidants
I have seen tremendous benefit from my SI sessions with Bruce. The cramping in
my calves is completely gone and I am now able to enjoy sports such as tennis
again. My walking gait has improved to the point where I can now join my friend
on a daily fitness walk. My carriage and posture have greatly improved also.
But mostly the benefit of SI is what I call “an incredible lightness of being”.
Instead of feeling trapped or “bound-up” in my body, I now feel more fluid and
relaxed in the way I move, sit, and stand. This feeling is most pronounced just
after SI sessions. However, Bruce has given me cues and tips to use and to help
me keep these benefits long after the sessions.
I would recommend SI to anyone who is willing to begin the journey. Bruce
Andrews is the perfect choice as a SI practitioner. He has training, experience,
skill, and sensitivity required to guide you on this journey. Although, I
appreciate the relief from pain in my legs, I feel the pronounced impact on my
general health and well being is the greatest benefit of SI.
I would be willing to speak with anyone who has questions about my experience
with Bruce Andrews and SI."
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- J.S., Elmhurst, IL
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"I want to thank you for the work you did for me. The work
(Structural Integration) made me more comfortable in my body and got rid
of a lot of anger and other emotions that were damaging my life. It also
helped me start my own business. The confidence I gained helped me lose
a lot of fear. I’m more flexible and just happier in general. I feel
more connected to earth and the grounding has made me stronger. I have
accomplished a lot more than I thought I would. I feel more tolerant of
life’s ups and downs. I would recommend this work to everyone."
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"P.S. Some people ask me if I had a facelift!!!"
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- J.L., Maywood, IL
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"I experienced Structural Integration four years ago and was so
impressed with results that I referred several friends to the work. I
initially felt more relaxed and was able to achieve a deeper, more
restful sleep pattern. I had been enduring some annoying back pain that
was also greatly relieved. The effects of Structural Integration have a
cumulative benefit. I better understand how stress affects my body, and
I find I am much less likely to suffer colds and flu. The work has
provided a sense of balance and well being. I was most pleased to be
greatly relieved of the recurrent pain of migraine headache. I continue
to work with Bruce through other therapies. I look forward to the
further empowerment that Structural Integration brings to my life." |
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- J.W., St. Charles, IL
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"I completed my initial rolfing series five years ago. I wanted to
decrease the overuse injuries that I had experienced from training and
racing triathlons. Since the initial series my injuries are greatly
reduced. The number of colds that I get is much less. My training is
much more consistent and I have done better at the races. I am in tune
with my body and I am able to realize when my body is in need of rest. I
would suggest Structural Integration to all athletes." |
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- B.W., St. Charles, IL
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"I began Structural Integration in an effort to get relief from
chronic low back and hip pain. What I discovered is that S.I. is about
so much more than mere pain relief. S.I. treats pain not only as a
symptom, but addresses the deeper causes as well. This results in some
very subtle yet profound changes. I can breathe more deeply. As tight
muscles begin to relax and lengthen I notice that not only do I feel
less pain, but I somehow feel taller, less compressed. I have an
increased sense of balance and centeredness as I walk. I feel more
graceful. Actually, S.I. is about learning to move the way the human
body is designed to move. I am becoming more aware of how my body
functions not just on the physical level, but on the more subtle levels
as well. Being multidimensional, how I think has a huge effect on how I
feel. Traditional doctors led me to believe that hip pain was something
I would just have to live with. I no longer believe that. S.I. is about
change—not being changed, but making changes. Believing that I can
indeed make changes is very empowering. S.I. is a wonderful tool for
making changes, and Bruce Andrews is a remarkable and skillful guide on
this journey toward health and healing." |
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- D.B., Sterling, IL
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"I’ve been wanting to write something about my experience with
Structural Integration (aka Rolfing) with Bruce Andrews. It is a tricky
thing to write about though. I don’t remember all of the details; I
didn’t keep a journal of every session so I’m left with the impact of my
“10-series” on my body and some vague memories of how I felt during some
of the sessions. I’m hoping that by sharing my experiences, I can make
the Rolfing or Structural Integration experience more accessible to
others."
"In May, a work colleague of mine in Wisconsin mentioned that he was
considering getting Rolfed. I had heard of Rolfing before but had never
looked into the details. He was talking about the initial ten sessions
(known as the “10 series”) helping to increase a person’s body awareness
and improve their posture. These were two goals that made sense to me; I
had been doing some yoga, working out, and had even taken some dance
classes all with the intent of improving my posture and getting more in
touch with my body. I’ve struggled with my weight for a good portion of
my life. For the past 5 years, I have maintained an almost 100-pound
weight loss. However, years of being overweight have served to
disconnect my mind from my body. Through various conversations, I made a
decision to try Rolfing for myself. I looked up practitioners on the
website for the Guild for Structural Integration and found Bruce
Andrews. He practices at his home in Glen Ellyn. I contacted him and,
without hesitation, scheduled my first session. From the start, Bruce
was totally open to answering any questions I had and made me feel that
anything I would ask would be ok. When I arrived for my first session, I
was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect and could feel the butterflies
swarming in my stomach. I met Bruce; I felt awkward. I wasn’t sure what
I would wear, how it would feel. It is a quite intimate experience. You
have only your bottom and top covered. I wore shorts and a sports bra.
This alone was a big deal for me - to let Bruce see my bare midsection!
For me, for someone who has struggled with their body image, the mere
fact of letting that happen was transforming. I wish I could remember
the details of each session to relay to you, so you would know what to
expect. Unfortunately I can’t. What I can tell you, however, is that
with Bruce and throughout the entire process, I felt completely and
totally safe. I always felt like he had my well being firmly in mind."
"The first three sessions really lay a groundwork for the rest of the
work. During all three I felt safe and cared for. After each session, I
would leave feeling more energized. After my first session I felt
lighter and bubbly. I felt like someone had uncapped a fizzy drink
inside me. After sessions 2 and 3 I felt my feet more firmly planted on
the floor. I recall during the week following session 3 I became keenly
aware of my seated posture - when I was slouching, when I wasn’t. It is
difficult to describe but I knew that something was happening to me even
though I couldn’t see it. And I trusted Bruce to keep leading me
forward. The 4th and 5th sessions are critical. Bruce works some
interior muscles; it is very intimate and sometimes uncomfortable. But
again, he does a wonderful job, by keeping you talking, by describing
what he is doing, of putting you at ease and making the experience
enjoyable. I’ve read about the 4th and 5th sessions as the point of no
return in the 10-series. It does feel like that. Once you’ve gone
through 4 and 5, you are really starting to realize that something is
happening, even if you aren’t quite sure what. I laugh because after
session 5 I left feeling like Athena, a warrior princess. I kept
thinking “I feel mighty.” A journal entry soon after the fifth session
really captures my experience: “I still can’t believe that I’m doing
this. It is such an intimate experience, and Bruce does such a nice job
of making it comfortable. I have never felt once like I did something
wrong, like anything at all was wrong. That’s the thing, everything is
really changing, I really do feel like being more healthy.” By the time
I got to sessions 8, 9, and 10, I was so looking forward to going but
also starting to feel sad that the experience would soon be over."
"During these later sessions, Bruce taught me how to stand up correctly,
how to sit and connect with my sits bones, and how to stand in order to
connect to my core “rolfing line.” During each of the last sessions,
Bruce focused at least some time on my shoulders. These final sessions
are often customized to focus more on specific areas unique to each
person. I have a chronic “rise” to my shoulders, which I now recognize
as being a self-protective posture. Over time, my shoulders are coming
down; over time I’m learning to own my place in the world.
Interestingly, after my 10-series, people have commented that I am “so
tall”. I think this is related to my deepening ownership of my rightful
place in the world. I have more confidence that all is well – both with
the world and with my place in it."
The following is a list of the outcomes or benefits of my experience
with structural integration:
Better flexibility
Less pain in back and knee when running
Less anxiety
More confidence
Better body awareness
Better posture
Feel thinner
"Some of the other benefits are less tangible, but nonetheless valuable. Bruce
created one of the safest spaces that I’ve ever been in. I feel myself getting
stronger and growing in awareness daily, even after my initial 10 sessions have
ended. I have experienced both physical and emotional change as a result of my
10-series. I feel more in touch with my body. I feel more together. I feel more
grounded. I feel more open. I like myself more."
"I was having some pain in my knees while running; that has gone away. Also, I
used to have intermittent lower back pain; that is almost entirely gone. I also
have more flexibility in my hamstrings. I have become more and more aware of my
body in space. The other day I bent down to pick up a pair of shoes and I was
aware of my body position, of how much space I was taking up. This kind of
subtle shift in awareness is clearly an outcome of the work I have done with
Bruce."
"It does seem that Rolfing would appear a little too “out there” for most
people. That is so unfortunate because my experience has been that it is an
incredibly rich experience and one that most (if not all) people could benefit
from in some way. Whether the goal is relief from pain or an increase in
emotional awareness, the work of structural integration is a powerful tool.
After my experience, when I hear of a person with chronic back pain I wonder
what a difference the work could make in their life."
"Structural Integration has enriched my life. I feel more inside of myself now,
more solid. I do feel more integrated. Bruce said when we started that I would
end up feeling like I have more options. I think that has proven to be a very
accurate statement. It isn’t that I’ve been magically transformed, but rather
I’ve just gotten a better understanding of myself – both my body and my mind."
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- K.L., Wheaton, IL
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