Neuro-Structural Integration and Vagus Nerve Work

Neuro-structural integration, Myofascial release, and vagal work

Neuro-Structural Integration is a modality for transformative structural balance, opening qi along energy meridians, activating the parasympathetic nerves and freeing blockages in nerves that have been impinged and shut down. This modality is much like Rolfing, in that we look at your structural balance and seek to create new patterns, but with a calmer approach which focuses on tendons and nerves themselves, unwinding the neck and spine, balancing the pelvis, and healing tailbone (coccygeal) traumas and rehabilitating other injuries.  Always includes assisted integrative movement exercises at the end to restore proper muscular function and new neurological patterning.

This body work modality is a form of structural alignment work, focusing on muscle and nerve.  First, I assess your body to see what its underlying patterns are, and assess what part of that is due to muscle tension and nerve dysfunction.  While some structural imbalance is normal, and can be due to unique bone formation, some is due to traumas, big and small, which alter the holding patterns of our nervous system. I assist the body in balancing its structures, by working on the nerves themselves, as well as muscle origin and insertion points. 

Look at the pictures below as an example of what this work can do in a scoliosis client in her 50s. With this client we not only unwound distortion in the pelvis, but also worked directly along the spine, with the shoulder girdle, legs and so on, to unwind the pattern at both ends of the system, and directly in the spine as well. We also worked to a small degree (this was before my full training in corrective exercise) on some basic exercises to help re-train the neurology and musculature for a healthier pattern of movement around the newly mobilized spine and tissue.

Beyond changing structure, the true magic of this work is in the pelvic and cranial nerves, including the Vagus nerve, the 10th cranial nerve which travels down the body and ennervates the internal organs. The pelvic nerves also travel up to enervate the lower part of the gut, and together with the vagus, these are the seat of the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of our nervous system responsible for “rest and digest”, and deep surrender and repose.  It is at these two points where we can unwind patterns that affect everything in between.  By gently but firmly awakening dulled nerves, and releasing tension patterns in the surrounding musculature, I am able to access the full spectrum of the parasympathetic response.  When this occurs, the client will breathe deeper, and a wave of relaxation will wash over.  

This work is particularly helpful for those who have pelvic or tailbone trauma from falling, childbirth, or other events.  These events can not only damage the tailbone, but cut off or numb the nerve supply to the genitals and internal organs. These nerves can be accessed in a simple, comfortable way, usually through a sheet, and gently awakened again from their amnesia.  Doing so not only can assist me to coax the tailbone back into alignment, and balance the pelvis and hips, but it can also affect the entire nervous system as the deep autonomic nerves of the sacrum are affected.  

This work also can be helpful for neck issues, supporting the balancing and awakening of the cranial neurology and the upper end of the parasympathetic nervous system.  We can also address shoulder, hip, scoliosis and other spine issues, creating balance in all vectors of the body and relaxing the musculature that holds unhealthy patterns. Each session is ended with a series of integrative exercises, which often include my active resistance, helping the musculature to re-orient itself into a more fluid and healthy movement pattern.

I have begun integrating this work more with other modalities as well, especially cranio-sacral, as well as using some of our session time, or entire gym sessions as needed, to work on corrective exercises/ personal training regimens to help re-organize the system and use new movement patterns to help the work truly stick and integrate.

I generally work for at least 1.5-2.5 or more hours at a time, longer for the first session and usually closer to 1.5 hours for subsequent sessions, at $100/ hour. Generally, once we truly assess the whole body, we will find that what you believe is the only problem area, is affected by imbalance in other parts of the body, and as the body begins to unwind, some of these holding patterns may also be revealed in deeper layers. For this reason I suggest beginning with a 2 hour initial consultation and session, which will involve a complete analysis of the body, usually a solid 1.5 hours of body work, and integration exercises at the end. This also allows me to nourish the whole body and help you feel like a complete person walking out, rather than being picked apart and not put back together again.

Sessions can vary from clothed or covered by a sheet and very clinical focus, to a more nourishing whole body massage that still has very focused target work, but also using oil and Swedish and deep tissue techniques to help the body feel held and complete. I love combining my more clinical work with yummy massage when it feels like the right mix to meet your needs. I also combine forces at times with my knowledge of Mayan abdominal therapy and other visceral work, as this is the seat of the parasympathetic system. Read more about this and the pelvic work I do HERE

Feel free to contact me to see if this modality might be helpful to you! All modalities I use can be combined in various forms, tailored for your needs or specific desired outcomes. I’m happy to have a free 15 minute consult over the phone if you need to get more clarity before coming to see me.