256 pages


Structural Bodywork by John Smith

Providing an advanced introduction to the field of structural bodywork, this valuable resource combines coverage of both skills and theory into one comprehensive guide to this specialized form of bodywork practice. Featuring numerous illustrations with photographs and drawings, it provides extensive information on the theory of structural bodywork related to human anatomy and clinical presentations. Focusing on issues related to dysfunctions of structure, posture, and gait, this reader-friendly text also discusses the background of structural bodywork, how it has developed, and how it is understood today.

 
The text builds on the theories of Ida Rolf (Rolfing) and Feldenkrais and reviews them in the broader context of massage therapy and other complementary therapies based on bodywork techniques including chiropractic. The book is in 3 main parts. Part 1 looks at the background of structural bodywork and how it has developed before defining it as it is understood today. Part 2 looks at the theory of structural body work in more depth and relates it to human anatomy and clinical presentations. It draws together various strands of theory and practice which have not been considered together before but are all related to bodywork practice. Part 3 is a major part of the book and is a practical guide to structural bodywork techniques. This latter section is highly illustrated with photographs and line drawings.

Features

  • Content is highly readable, academically sound, and grounded firmly in bodywork practice.
  • Previously unrelated theories are discussed and applied to practice.
  • The well-known theories of Rolf and Feldenkrais are reviewed.
  • A comprehensive practical manual section provides numerous techniques and models for a variety of musculoskeletal skeletal problems.
  • Numerous illustrations provide a better understanding of text content.

A Required Reading for SI Australia training


Reviews/Endorsements:

The author displays an in-depth knowledge of all the currently taught philosophies, presenting many paradigms of manual medicine that are concurrent with contemporary care: massage, yoga, acupuncture, Pilates, Alexander technique, Rolfing, Feldenkrais, osteopathy and chiropractic. Smith has ably summarised the work of other practitioners, individualised some of his own contributions and produced a practical 'how-to' manual with a clear and simple working protocool." Complementary Medicine

"This is an essential purchase for chiropractors that focus on soft-tissue technique, as it provides an intelligent, yet highly readable, discussion on structural bodywork, building on the theories of Ida Rolf (Rolfing) and Feldenkrais. It focuses on the issues of posture and structure and the functional limitations that arise from them and presents a broader context of discussion that includes chiropractic."  Chiropractic Journal of Australia

"There is much in this book to expand your awareness of basic somatic methodologies and interventions. John has made the rich concepts of bodywork freely available" - A short extract from the foreword by David Lake MD.
 

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements

Section 1 Background and History of Structural Bodywork

1 Structural bodywork: an overview 
2 A brief history of structural bodywork
3 Structural bodywork in the context of other complementary therapies
4 What is structural bodywork?
5 Structural bodywork – some frequently asked questions

Section 2 Our Somatic Organisation

6 The mapping of man
7 The techniques of structural bodywork
8 Structure and function
9 The connective tissue network
10 The oscillatory properties of the fascial network

Section 3 Practical Manual

11 A catalogue of some common postural dysfunctions
12 Some useful models for working with structure
13 Practicum – assessment, technique and strategy in structural bodywork
14 A first approximation to balancing structure
15 Working in the sagittal plane
16 Working on the frontal plane
17 Working on the transverse plane
18 Working with the shoulder girdles
19 Working with the external rotation of the leg

 
John Smith

John H. Smith, Bachelor of Education (SYD); Graduate Diploma in Business Computing (UWS); Diploma Remedial Massage (NatureCare); Certified Rolfer; Certified Feldenkrais practitioner; Certified Cranio-Sacral practitioner (Upledger); Certified Trager practitioner, Somatic therapist, Certified Rolfing and Feldenkrais Practitioner, Sydney, Australia.

John has taught at NatureCare College, Sydney, (Living Anatomy), various TAFE colleges around Sydney, Cumberland College, Sydney University School of Health Science, and The School of Bodyworks, Singapore. He is the anatomy teacher for the Australian Rolfing Association and teaches weekend workshops in myofascial techniques and the structural bodywork approach.John is active within the Somatic community, lecturing, assisting at trainings and occasionally presenting at conferences. See John's website: http://www.rolfingworks.com.au/

 

See Also