Structural Organization & Integration

The Rolf method of Structural Integration combines touch, movement and awareness to optimally organize the Whole Being in the field of gravity. The human body is designed to relate to the space around it and the earth underneath in a highly dynamic way.  We expand: there is an inherent, spring-loaded, anti-gravity mechanism in the body, which expands us in all directions – down-up, side-to-side, and front-to-back. Structural Integration supports people to unfold this innate potential. When we find this natural state of Expansional Balance we can release pain from its roots.  We develop grace, ease and efficiency on all levels.

The IPSB Structural Integration Program is unique among Structural Integration trainings.  It emphasizes the somatic scope of the work while remaining firmly grounded in the body’s physical reality.   Contacting the fascial connective tissues that envelope muscles and bones, Structural Integration uses the tangible and impeccably honest reality of the body as a door way to unfold the full potential of the Whole Being; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  To that end the IPSB Structural Integration faculty has developed the awareness and movement aspects of the work.  Students new to the field will receive a complete and sophisticated understanding of the work as it was classically taught by Dr. Ida Rolf, the founder of Structural Integration.  Professional Structural Integrators working in the field will refine and expand their skills, developing practical means to efficiently and safely unfold new levels of integration in their clients, and themselves!  The IPSB Structural Integration Program keeps the size of its classes limited In order to support each student to develop their full capacities as a somatically sensitive Structural Integrator.

The IPSB Structural Integration Program offers two certifications.

Certificate in Structural Organization

Successful completion of the Principles of Structural Integration allows a student to continue their training in Structural Integration Phase A.  This course is designed to train students in remedial applications, giving them powerfully effective tools to provide clients relief from many myo-skeletal pains and challenges.  Students become acquainted with the full Structural Integration process.  They begin learning posture analysis, as well as a plethora of hands-on contacts. Each class session includes lecture, demonstration, hands-on individual supervision by the faculty, dialogue on related readings, and supporting movement explorations.  Students are supervised in practice on each other. At the end of Phase A the student is awarded a certificate in Structural Organization and is encouraged to practice for at least 6 months before returning to take Phase B.

Certificate in Structural Integration

The Structural Integration Phase B course is designed to train students in the full Structural Integration process.  Students assist clients to activate their internal “anti-gravity spring”, releasing pain from its roots and unfolding their full potential.   Students learn to integrate core structures, as well as how to teach clients more effective movement patterns.  Applying of the Four Parts of Expansional Balance and client movement training each student works in class taking three clients through the ten-session series as originally devised by Dr. Ida Rolf.  Each of the ten sessions is presented with lecture, demonstration, hands-on individual supervision by the faculty, dialogue on related readings, and supporting movement explorations.  Students are taught how to use the National Institute of Health (NIH) digital imaging system. This is a powerful tool for learning posture analysis.  Students view their client’s photos to reflect upon and dialoguing with clients about their progress.

After the successful completion of Phase B the student returns to the classroom for 30 hours as a Classroom Aide.  The student’s role as an Aide is to return to their “beginner’s mind” by working with less experienced students.  Classroom Aides deepen their understanding of the work through the process of communicating about Structural Integration to others.  The Structural Integration practitioner is ultimately a teacher of movement that uses a “hands on” approach.  The Classroom Aide role provides this “movement teaching’ experience while being supervised by seasoned instructors.  Upon completion of the above stated requirements the student is awarded a certificate in Structural Integration.

The IPSB Structural Integration Program is an approved Structural Integration Training Program by the International Association of Structural Integrators (IASI, www.theiasi.org).  After successfully attaining the Structural Organization and Structural Integration Certificates (300 hours), and with the necessary prerequisites (350 hours) listed below, a student is eligible to sit for the international certification test issued by IASI.  Upon passing the exam one is acknowledged by IASI as a Board Certified Structural Integrator.

The IPSB Structural Integration program is designed to accommodate the needs of both the local and commuting student. San Diego International Airport is within 12 miles of the campus. The Introductory course, Principles of Structural Integration, is offered four times a year meeting for two weekends in a row.  The Structural Organization and Integration specialization classes are offered every Spring and Fall semester.  Class meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays for ten weeks.  Students can easily commute to the IPSB San Diego campus, allowing them keep their practices and life going rather that having to take an extensive hiatus from other activities to do their training.

IASI Exam  Additional Prerequisites

Required Courses		Course Title		Credit Units		Credit Hours
EMB101		Essentials of Massage and Bodywork		10.00		120
COMM305-I		Communication I: Client Centered Techniques		1.50		15
ANT104		Anatomy		8.00		80
PHY203A		Physiology/Pathology A		3.00		30
PHY203B		Physiology/Pathology B		3.00		30
CPP208		Creating a Professional Practice		3.00		30
HS204		Hydrotherapy and Self-Care		1.25		15
CL206-30		Clinical Applications II		1.50		30
		Total Units / Hours		30.95		350

Structural Organization

Certificate Course Requirements
150 Clock Hours for each certificate

Prerequisite:		Students must meet all general admission requirements. In addition, students must have completed Essentials or equivalent. It is strongly recommended that students receive 10 private sessions of Structural Integration. Each Course taken will count toward only one specialization.
Required Courses		Course Title		Credit Units		Credit Hours
PSI318		Principles of Structural Integration		2.50		30
SP322HS		Structural Integration – Phase A		10.00		120
		Total Units / Hours		12.50		150

Structural Integration

Certificate Course Requirements
150 Clock Hours for each certificate

Prerequisite:		Structural Organization coursework.
Required Courses		Course Title		Credit Units		Credit Hours
SP322IS		Structural Integration – Phase B		10.00		120
PSI300A		Structural Integration Classroom Aide		1.00		30
		Total Units / Hours		11.00		150