45 Newbury Street, Boston
Structural Integration combines myofascial bodywork & movement awareness to improve your body's alignment & function. It leads to improved posture, better joint function, & enhanced energy!
For appointments, please use the BOOK ONLINE button above. For questions, please send a message from the Contact Section below.
Open Tuesday-Thursday (7am-12pm); Friday & Saturday (9am-2pm).
The Ida P. Rolf Method of Structural Integration
The Ida P. Rolf Method of Structural Integration is a 10-session process of bodywork that aligns & balances major body segments (head, shoulders, ribcage, pelvis, legs, feet) by lengthening the connective tissue called fascia. Fascia encases your muscles, bones, & organs. Over time this wrapping can become short, adhered, & dense from injury, poor posture, emotional stress, & overuse. When fascial restrictions are released, your body is free to return to its structurally optimal position. Click here to listen to Dr. Rolf describe Rolfing.
Dr. Ida P. Rolf
The art of Structural Integration represents the life work of Dr. Ida Rolf. After earning her Ph.D. in biological chemistry in 1920, she worked as a research scientist for the Rockefeller Institute in New York for 13 years. She spent 50 years studying, searching, developing, & teaching her system of creating a more upright human structure, a body with greater verticality & balance.
She determined that the body is a plastic medium, & by applying pressure, energy, & intention, the structure can be altered & freed from long held dysfunctional patterns - the result of physical &/or emotional traumas. The body can return to its natural organization, & accordingly function in a more efficient, graceful, & comfortable way. She observed that when the human structure becomes more vertical, balanced, & upright, a whole series of other significant beneficial changes occur.
The 10 Session Process of Structural Integration
Fascial restrictions are released in the following areas:
- Session 1: Ribcage, pelvis, & lateral thighs. Improves breathing capacity & starts to create a more mobile, horizontal pelvis.
- Session 2: Lower legs, feet, & back. Continues goals of first session by releasing superficial fascial layers.
- Session 3: Lateral torso. Begins to free the deeper core layers of fascia.
- Session 4: Medial thighs. Creates more mobility for the lower pelvis.
- Session 5: Abdominal wall. Creates more mobility for the anterior pelvis.
- Session 6: Posterior thighs & hips. Creates more mobility for the posterior pelvis.
- Session 7: Neck & head. Releases fascial restrictions in the neck & creates a more horizontal cranium.
- Session 8: Remaining restrictions between the lower body & the core. Creates more fluid movement.
- Session 9: Remaining restrictions between the upper body & the core. Creates more fluid movement.
- Session 10: Putting it all together. Creates open balance across the torso & between the limbs.
- The goal of the entire process is to create a more vertically aligned body that's more balanced & resilient to the downward pull of gravity.
FAQs & Suggestions
- Do I have to commit to 10 sessions? Although Structural Integration is frequently received as a 10-session process, you're not required to commit to multiple sessions to benefit.
- COVID Concerns: 1) Please let me know if you'd like me to wear a mask. 2) Vinyl coverings underneath the pillowcases are disinfected between sessions. 3) HEPA air filter is used for optimal air circulation. 4) Venmo is a hands-free option for payment (David-Cobb-77). 5) Please reschedule if you're not feeling well. 6) I received the Moderna vaccine and booster.
- Is this Rolfing? Are you a Rolfer? I learned Dr. Ida Rolf's Structural Integration at the Guild for Structural Integration. However, the Dr. Ida Rolf Institue is the sole owner of the trademark "Rolfing", so I can use the term structural integration, but not Rolfing.
- How does receiving Structural Integration differ from Massage Therapy? 1) The session begins with a visual assessment to look for imbalances that could be the root cause of a problem. 2) Women usually wear a sports bra & shorts. Men typically wear boxer briefs or athletic shorts. 3) The session can be intense at times; however, the pressure can be adjusted to your comfort level. 4) The emphasis is on improving alignment & function. 5) Massage lotion & oil are not used. This allows the practitioner to grip & stretch the tissue more effectively.
- Do you sell Gift Certificates? Yes! Please use the BUY NOW button below.
- Should I include a gratuity with payment? No thanks. You're not expected to leave a tip.
- Improve your yoga practice: Bare Bones of Yoga & Your Spine, Your Yoga: The Course.
- Chiropractic, Physical Rehabilitation, & Functional Strength: Laura Latham.
- Acupuncture: Christina Dea, Fannie Koa, & Philip Barlow.
David Cobb, LMT
I enjoy helping people feel better! My clients usually see me to improve posture, enhance athletic performance, prevent/recover from injury, or just improve overall health & wellness. Clients consistently leave my office feeling better, looking better, & moving better!
After graduating from college, I attended the Bancroft School of Massage in 1995, & the Guild for Structural Integration in 2007. I'm a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, the International Association of Structural Integrators, & Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. I'm also certified in Neuromuscular & Orthopedic Massage, Primal Health Coaching, & Personal Training by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
2023 Price List
90-minute sessions: $195
120-minute sessions: $240
For all appointments, please use the "Book Online" button above. Thank you!
Contact
45 Newbury Street, 5th FL, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, United States
Text: (617) 721-5534
Hours
Tuesday-Thursday (7am-12pm); Friday & Saturday (9am-2pm).