Structural Integration – KMI
Trauma, injury, and years of poor posture and habits can cause the body to lose its natural balance, alignment, length, and ease. Too often, pain patterns develop and physical dysfunctions result. We learn to “live with these” until is so unbearable that invasive treatments are required including pharmaceutical drugs and surgery. Even less invasive treatments feel wonderful yet treat the symptoms temporarily.
There’s a new solution to whole body health called KMI. Kinesis Myofascial Integration (KMI) treats the complex matrix of connective tissue in the body called fascia, which literally holds us into the shape we are in. When we are injured or stressed, the fascial network is affected to where it may shorten, thicken (as in scar tissue), and bind itself to surrounding structures to compensate for the way the body is being pulled out of its natural alignment.
KMI involves freeing and repositioning the fascia using deep, slow manipulation as well as re-educating the body to help in efficient energy-sustaining (versus energy-robbing) patterns, allowing it to maintain the new, proper positioning.
KMI is also a companion to osteopathic or chiropractic care, as the fascial “guy-wires” are lengthened and balanced, so that bones stay in place. The new alignment that is achieved in KMI (usually 12 progressive sessions) simply becomes a part of who you are, not something you have to work at or repeatedly see a practitioner to maintain.
Abstracted by Dr. Ida P. Rolf’s fascial insight and structural integration work, combined with the movement insights of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, the geometry of structures as researched by Buckminister Fuller, as well as other influences, KMI was developed by Thomas Myers, author of the Anatomy Trains. The first four sessions of KMI begin with freeing the superficial tissues on the front, back, and sides of the body, as well as freeing the shoulders and arms from any binding to the trunk. The middle four sessions address the core of the body, working with the muscles that centrally stabilize the body in relationship to the spine, and the last four sessions integrate the previous work into your habitual movement, address specific problems you bring into the sessions, and leave you with a change that you carry throughout the rest of your life.
KMI helps with the following:
Easing pain
Correcting posture
Increasing range of motion
Improving Stress Responses
Help “change your body about your mind.” Try KMI!
For more information about KMI, click http://www.anatomytrains.com/.