Is the hands-on manipulation painful?
In general, the applied pressure is at a level that is comfortable with the client. The client has control over the speed and depth of the bodywork and is encouraged to vocalize their pain and/or discomfort. Also, it is not to the client’s benefit to cause too much pain because it will result in contraction or shortening of a myofascial structure. Pain threshold is very individual to the client. Some request deeper manipulation while others are quite comfortable with a lighter and gentler tissue connection. Structural Integrators also insist that we do not inflict or cause the pain, but we discover it within the body. The negative reputation that Structural Integration is ‘torturous,’ or ‘painful’ should not prevent a client to try out a session. A few seconds of mild discomfort will bring about a prolonged period of time pain-free. Visualization methods and conscious breathing to endure this discomfort may be introduced during a session.
