Structural Therapy Experience: Session 2 - Legs & feet
I am still breathing deeply with an open diaphragm from the first session and feel open across my chest. Already I'm impressed with the lasting effects. We are now finishing up our second weekend in the
Structural Therapy Program and this weekend was extremely grounding. We worked on the feet and lower legs to create a firm foundation to allow the knee to release. Almost every time I get a massage I have the therapist focus on the back and neck because I have chronic pain there; my legs are usually neglected. Living in the city of Chicago and not having a car I do a LOT of walking so my legs and feet are really tight. It's interesting to me how disconnected I am to the lower half of my body. I live in my neck and shoulders most of the time even though I use my legs & feet more in some cases. Having a whole hour spent just on my lower legs and feet was eye opening. Special attention was paid to the retinacular band of fascia that crosses the ankle as well as the tendons that connect to my toes. I have pain in my right big toe right in the tendon and could not bend it without pain. After the session I could bend my toe and had no pain at all!
I also do not have arches in my feet, not since I was a kid. My parents told me I actually wore orthotics for the first 2 years of my life because I did not have arches. After this session I had arches! I could feel a space between the middle of my foot and the ground. I could actually have a sense of where an arch should be and where I should be standing. That was unbelievable to me. At the end of the first day working Althea, the instructor, walked us through some
Psychophysical exercises for the feet. These are movements that create body awareness. I had yet another revelation; I have toes! One of the first exercises she had us do was to make a windshield wiper movement with our feet on the ground and try to sense our toes. At first I couldn't feel any of my toes. After we did a few more of the movements and reassessed with the windshield wiper exercise I could feel all of my toes on the floor. I could feel every part of my foot as I walked.
Working with my model on the second day I was able to focus on 2 different areas and see the change I was trying to create. I wanted to release the top of his left foot and the achilles on his right leg. After the session was complete we saw measured changes in both areas. It was so validating both for me and for this work! I love being able to see a difference. I felt much more confident in the work this weekend. I could really feel the tissue move more this time around. I feel more solid on the ground and I feel more solid in my head. It is a wonderful feeling to have support! We have three weeks now until our next session. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I am still breathing deeply with an open diaphragm from the first session and feel open across my chest. Already I'm impressed with the lasting effects. We are now finishing up our second weekend in the Structural Therapy Program and this weekend was extremely grounding. We worked on the feet and lower legs to create a firm foundation to allow the knee to release. Almost every time I get a massage I have the therapist focus on the back and neck because I have chronic pain there; my legs are usually neglected. Living in the city of Chicago and not having a car I do a LOT of walking so my legs and feet are really tight. It's interesting to me how disconnected I am to the lower half of my body. I live in my neck and shoulders most of the time even though I use my legs & feet more in some cases. Having a whole hour spent just on my lower legs and feet was eye opening. Special attention was paid to the retinacular band of fascia that crosses the ankle as well as the tendons that connect to my toes. I have pain in my right big toe right in the tendon and could not bend it without pain. After the session I could bend my toe and had no pain at all!
Working with my model on the second day I was able to focus on 2 different areas and see the change I was trying to create. I wanted to release the top of his left foot and the achilles on his right leg. After the session was complete we saw measured changes in both areas. It was so validating both for me and for this work! I love being able to see a difference. I felt much more confident in the work this weekend. I could really feel the tissue move more this time around. I feel more solid on the ground and I feel more solid in my head. It is a wonderful feeling to have support! We have three weeks now until our next session. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 
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