Structural Experience: Session 6

Structural Experience: Session 6 - Releasing the back

While the last two sessions delved deep into my emotions, this session dove into my physical body on a very deep level.  The main focus of this session is releasing the sacrum and coccyx, the end of your spine.  About 10 years ago I suffered from a bulging disk at L4/L5 which is near the end of the spine before it connects to the sacrum.  Since then I frequently have hip pain in the joint between my sacrum and my pelvis.  Having that area worked so specifically all the way to the tip of the coccyx was incredibly freeing.  I can actually feel my sacrum move when I walk.  There is a fluidity to my hips that I have not felt for a long time.  Strangely enough this freedom has also allowed me to feel more supported in my pelvis.

I feel myself standing firmer on the ground and straighter in my posture.  I keep correcting myself to be in a more upright position when I walk or sit and even when I'm sleeping.  This is causing all manner of aches & pains to come and go as I continue to readjust.  My hips hurt right at the acetabulofemoral (my favorite) joint; that is right where the head of the femur rests in the socket of the ilium or hip bone.  One thing is for certain - I cannot slouch.  Even if I try my body pulls itself back up.  I feel like one of those toys that when you push the button on the bottom the figure crumbles to the ground and when you release the button it springs back up.  It is a strange feeling because now sitting up straight is the more comfortable position.  I am certainly not going to complain!

On a more personal note...  This class was difficult due to the absence of John Northage, one of the founders of the Chicago College of Healing Arts, The Chicago Center for Psychophysical Healing and my Father-in-law.  I feel so honored to have had the opportunity to learn from John.  He was an amazing healer and an incredible instructor. I missed his presence in our class.  I missed his knowledge and experience.  I missed watching his hands move effortlessly through the body's tissue. I even missed his bad jokes!   The Center (where I have my practice) seems bigger without him in it. I still felt his energy swirling through our classroom inspiring us all. I miss him immensely but will carry on with the knowledge he imparted to me and strive to help people with as pure a love that he embodied.

Much Love and Peace,
Rebecca Pollock

Rebecca Pollock, LMT, NCTMB

Graduating from the Wellness and Massage Training Institute in 1999, Rebecca began her massage therapy career.  She has worked in chiropractic offices, salon spas, five star hotel spas, fitness facilities and wellness clinics.  She has continued her education with courses in Thai Massage, Structural Therapy, Cranialsacral Therapy, Four Hand massage, Hot Stone Massage, Aromatherapy and Ayurvedic. Furthering her interest in the Holistic health field, Rebecca has been studying Herbalism since 2009.  Education is a passion for her.  She has been a massage therapy instructor and continuing education instructor since 2006.  She is a member of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), American Herbalist Guild (AHG), and THAI Healing Alliance (THAI).  In 2011 she collaborated with other Herbalists to begin a Great Lakes American Herbalist Guild Chapter.  Helping with the growth of the massage community she is a committee member for the NCBTMB.  She is also the current Owner of Harmony Wellness Group; a company in Rogers Park where she has a private practice and hosts Holistic workshops.

Structural Experience - Session 4 & 5

Releasing the pelvis

I did not make a post after the last session as it has continued to unfold in my body over the past few weeks. Session 4 was the inner thigh and posterior (or back) attachments to the pelvis.  I have the strangest sensations now - I can feel the space between the uppermost part of my thigh.  I did not know that I never felt it before; but I sure feel it now!  These two sessions have brought up emotions for me that I can't quite put a name to, nor do I feel I need to.  I feel my gaze moving more and more inward and realizing that I have been very neglectful.  So much of my focus has been on others and things happening outside of myself that I have forgotten to take care of myself.  Session 4 brought me back inside myself and session 5 made me look at myself.

Session 5 focuses on releasing the abdomen and the attachments to the anterior (or front) of the pelvis along the pubic bone.  My abdomen is extremely tight as I tend to hunch forward in a defensive posture.  It was really stuck in my lower abdomen.  It felt so good to have it worked.  The specific work to the pubic bone felt amazing.  It was so releasing, I could really feel the lengthening. 

      
The psoas work was the most profound.  The psoas muscle attaches from the front of your lumbar vertebrae (the lowest on your spine) to the edge of the top of your femur (the large bone in your leg) and one section attaches also to the front of the pelvis.  Having the length of the muscle worked so deeply was almost indescribable.  I felt pressure, then nothing as if I was in a void outside of everything as if I was the Universe itself.  I could feel my connection to anything and everything.  Nothing mattered, everything was calm, peaceful.  I have never felt more alive and more free than I did in that moment.  It has taken me almost 5 days to put words to my experience.  Put simply; I became my soul.

I can't wait for the next experience...