Structural Energy

"The Awakening" Spa Cafe That is what I was going to call it. Back in 2002, post-Psych. major graduation, and pre-deciding I wanted to become a Rolfer™, I had a vision of opening up a special kind of coffee shop. On the Cafe side, we would serve coffee, loose leaf tea, juice, and smoothies. My sister's paintings would hang on the walls, alongside my photography, which I would both display and sell. There would be live music by local artists, an open mic night where I would sometimes play guitar, poetry readings, and a Spanish night for language groups. You would find books about creativity and board games to play. On the Spa side, there would be two treatment rooms, one for talk therapy, and one for massage. At the time, I was of the mindset that I wanted to be a Psychologist and open up a private practice. My older brother had expressed interest in becoming a massage therapist. I had this vision that a client would come in for 30 minutes of talk therapy with me, get a 30 minute massage from my brother, and then have an additional 30 minutes of talk therapy with me. I believed that the bodywork would help the client better process their emotions and that the second part of talk therapy would enable the client to have more cathartic healing. I planned to add personal elements into the spa as well--my photography would hang on the walls, and my "Meditations" cd that I had created of my melodic finger-picking guitar music would play in the background. I am not quite sure how I thought I would handle the workload of owning a coffee shop and having a personal therapy practice, but I remember thinking I wanted to open it in Northern California, the place my husband and I had planned to eventually move to post-Rolfing® SI training. It's funny the dreams you conjure and the twists and turns that life takes you on. Instead of becoming a Psychologist and opening up my private practice, I became a Rolfer™ and have a different kind of private practice--one where I can help people both physically and emotionally. My photography hangs on my walls, but my guitar music doesn't play in the background...maybe someday ;).

Self-care is so important. What kinds of things do you do for self-care? Here are some of my favorite things: 1) Journaling. I love to journal--it is such an amazing way to process things and reflect on my life. I have been consistently keeping a journal since high school. Lately, I have been re-reading some of them and they are both enlightening and insightful to look back on. 2) Take a bath. Whether it is a bubble bath or a bath with therapeutic mineral salts, I love soaking in a warm tub. I light candles, turn on my Himalayan sea salt lamp, turn off the lights, and listen to relaxing music. 3) Play piano or guitar. Lately, I have been tinkering away on our piano. I have never had formal lessons, but I recently signed up for an online program to teach myself. Playing an instrument is incredibly therapeutic. I like to record my songs on my voice memo app, so that I can re-listen to them and build off of them. I also love to play my classical acoustic guitar that I bought when I was studying in Spain. I have cassette tapes full of meditative songs that I have written. 4) Roll on my MELT foam roller and use my Yoga Tune-Up balls. If my upper back is feeling tight, or I have a specific area of tension in my shoulder, I like to use these two tools to attend to my discomfort. They keep me feeling good until I can get back in for my own Rolfing® SI sessions. 5) Puzzles. I love doing jigsaw puzzles. I enjoy creating order out of chaos. It is a great way for me to organize my thoughts. I do my puzzles over a roll-up mat, so I can put it away when not in use. When I complete my puzzles, I like to take a picture of the finished product. 6) Connecting with a friend. This year, my theme word is "connection". Whether that is connecting more with my clients, my friends, my husband, or my girls. I have been making a more concerted effort to meet a friend for lunch or go for a walk. Friendship is so important for my personal well-being, especially since I work from home and can sometimes have limited contact with others. 7) Mosaic Art. I love using pieces of stained glass to make colorful candle holders. Much like with puzzles, I enjoy the therapeutic aspect of piecing together my own creation. When is the last time you did something creative or truly listened to what your body was craving?

Seven years ago, I had a client who was really interested in people's horoscopes. He had access to a program where you could input your date of birth, the time you were born, and the location of your birth. Those three pieces of information would then spit out a 25-page report, revealing aspects of how the planets, sun, and moon uniquely influenced you and your personality. He offered to send me my report and I happily accepted. I have always been eager to learn more about myself or affirm what I already know to be true. My Psychology background equates to an endless fascination with tests like the Myers-Briggs (I am an INFP, by the way), the Enneagram (I am a #2, which is the healer/helper), and my horoscope (I am a Cancer, though also a cusper with aspects of Gemini). The adage "Know Thyself" was almost like a mantra for me growing up. So needless to say, I was excited and intrigued to see what my report revealed. I couldn't believe just how spot-on most of it was! I recently re-read my report, and decided to take notes on the sentences and descriptions that most resonated with me. Here are some of the highlights, as they relate to my career choice as a Certified Advanced Rolfer™: • "You are talented at understanding others, and strongly motivated to help care for people." • "You know how to listen and take the interests of others into account." • "Extremely service-oriented person, strongly motivated to care for the needs of others." • "Your sensitivity to others makes you suited to the helping professions." • "Excellent at tuning in to the physical needs of others." • "You may choose to involve yourself in a caring profession." • "You are sensitive and intuitive--instinctive talent for grasping the thoughts and feelings of other people." • "You will be valued for the atmosphere of calm around you." • "Genuine compassion for other people may incline you to work helping others in some way." • "You are a physical person and you can develop special talents connected with the body, massage, muscles, physical training." • "A strong desire to create order on all levels is born in you." I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading my report. It was amusing and enlightening all at the same time. If you are interested in getting your own report, check out www.world-of-wisdom.com. It is truly fascinating!

I have played the role as client lately. Some of you may know that I was rear-ended in a car accident two months ago. I was driving carpool that December afternoon. I had just picked up my two girls, as well as my friend's three girls--five kids in tow. I was at a busy intersection and was about to merge onto the highway, when out of nowhere, someone rammed into me from behind. It took a moment to register what had just happened, as I did not see it coming. The next thing I saw was the driver cup her hand over her mouth in both shock and disbelief. I went to pull over, waiting for her to do the same. Instead, she paused for a moment and sped off. I quickly caught sight of her license plate number and drove to an empty parking lot nearby to call the Police. As I spoke with the 911 dispatcher, I discovered that a Good Samaritan had witnessed the accident and also called it in. I later came to find out that this Good Samaritan actually followed the driver until the Police caught up to her and pulled her over. I was pretty shaken up. Thank goodness, the kids were okay, though I suffered some minor whiplash. I worried that my older daughter and two of her friends might have been injured as well, since they were in the back of the minivan and only two feet from the impact. I was a mixture of emotions--relieved but overwhelmed all at the same time. It was a lot to process. What I have learned in the past about trauma is the importance to shake off the stress so that it doesn't remain stuck in the body. I managed to shake things off while the Police report was being written, later that night as I acknowledged the accident to friends and family on Facebook, and in the next few days as I recovered. It took a while before I could comfortably drive and turn on that intersection, and I still find myself remaining rather hyper vigilant as I merge there. Since the accident, I have been getting frequent Rolfing® SI sessions and chiropractic care appointments. My left neck and shoulder keep flaring, even two months after the accident. It's frustrating. I get it now. I understand how hopeless it can sometimes feel when your body no longer feels like it used to and you worry that it will never be free of the nagging discomfort. I find myself hesitant to move my neck much, since it has frequently been going out of alignment. But, I know that I need to keep moving it, and stretching it, and rehabbing it. It takes time. I am learning to be patient with it. It has been humbling being in the role of the client again. While I wish this accident never happened, there have been some hidden gifts. Namely, I have been able to focus a lot more on self-care--getting the bodywork that I need, and being more gentle and patient with myself. On a side note, I learned something new: In dealing with auto insurance companies, I discovered that Rolfing® Structural Integration sessions are covered. That is a nice added perk, should any of you find yourself in a similar predicament. Now, if only I could thank that Good Samaritan...

I often joke with my clients that in a former life, I was a photographer. I started taking pictures when I was in middle school. I was the kid in 8th grade who always had her camera in hand to capture memories with my friends. In high school, I took a black and white photography class, but quickly discovered that my real passion was color landscape photography. Sunsets, waterfalls, fall leaves at the Arboretum, trips to the North Shore, all amounted to a portfolio of photographs of my favorite shots. I formed my business "Scenic Energy", and started selling my work in 1999, mostly to members at the private golf club that I worked at. That same year, I had my first display at the former Border's bookstore in Richfield. In 2000, I studied abroad in Spain and took over 50 rolls of pictures. (That was pre-digital camera). After which, I had another display at the Arboretum, and later some more displays at a salon, and a coffee shop. It was fun learning the ins and outs of running my own business. I could not have predicted that those life skills would come in handy again as I eventually embarked on a new career of becoming a Rolfer™. As for photography, I still take pictures, but not as frequently. I do still love to take fall pictures at the Arboretum, and we take an annual family trip up to the North Shore. My framed pictures have made for instant artwork on the walls of my home, and can be seen in my office as well.

Here I sit now, 12 years into my practice, and forever grateful for that intense period of growth in my life, for without it, who knows what I would be up to. I have experienced firsthand, the wonders of this work. I feel truly honored to get to be a part of my client’s personal transformations and to help them feel better in their bodies.

Thanks for visiting Structural Energy!  I am excited to have this platform to stay in touch with what is new, post musings about Rolfing® Structural Integration, as well as other body-related things.  Bear with me as I am new to this whole blogging thing ;).  Feel free to post any questions that you might have.

My business name, Structural Energy, was actually inspired by my previous passion, photography. I started taking pictures back in high school and went on to mat, frame, and sell my work in '99. I loved color landscape photography and even had a few displays of my work around town. My business name for that side gig was "Scenic Energy". Two words that best described my work, taken from a list of adjectives that happened to be stacked in that order. Fast forward to 2004 when I graduated from the Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration, and I was faced with what to name my practice. I thought about the "Energy" series I could have and how incorporating "Structural" would represent the word "Rolfing® SI". I like the ring to it--Structural Energy. Yes, my main focus is to work on the structure, but the beauty of Rolfing SI, is that it affects mind, body, and spirit, and one of the end results is more Energy! As for my photography business, I still take pictures, but not as much as I used to. I do love to frequent the Arboretum in the spring and fall to maintain that passion, and I have my work hanging in my office as well as throughout my home. I love how the images invoke relaxation, a great complement to my practice.