Doesn't That Hurt?
One of the biggest misconceptions about Structural Integration is that it has to be extremely painful. Today, I’m here to tell you that’s just not the truth. While traditional Rolfing may be known to be painful, that does not account for all the different styles of Structural Integration that have developed since then.
In the Morales Method® Academy of Structural Integration (MMASI™), there is no tenet that the work must be painful. This is not to say that occasionally the work can be painful or intense, but even then, it’s not necessary, we can adapt. Our clients never need to grin and bear it.
In MMASI™, we’re acutely aware of our clients’ Adaptive Capacity (AC) throughout the session. AC is the ability for the client to receive and integrate the input from the work and it is one of the principles of MMASI™. Often, work that is uncomfortable has a tendency to burn out our clients. With too much of it (note: “too much” varies from client to client and session to session) they can become glassy-eyed, distant, or maybe they even start to fall asleep. All of these are signs they are distancing themselves from the input they are receiving as they have become overwhelmed.
In the Morales Method®, we believe at this point that adding more heavy input to the situation is falling on deaf ears. Our cake is baked, and maybe even a little over-baked in fact. When this happens in a session, I change my intention and meet the client where they are at with less intense input and more effort toward helping their nervous system settle down again before they leave. Listening and respecting our clients' boundaries are key and if we sign on to a “no pain, no gain” mentality then we are missing the nuanced needs presented by each of our unique clients.
If you’re curious to see how we work in the Morales Method® then check out all of our learning opportunities via the MMASI™.
