*This article is a translation of one I wrote while I was practicing in Japan.

I would like to report on the progress of N’s 8th session.

Having completed the seven sessions from Sleeve to Core, the symptoms that were initially concerning have improved. N has reported feeling physically and mentally comfortable in daily life.

Sessions 8-10, the remaining three sessions, are called Integration sessions, which serve as a summary. From this point, we customize the sessions to suit each individual. If we view the seven Sleeve to Core sessions through the filter of “What is limiting?”, we now construct these sessions through the filter of “What can be enhanced, what does the client want to become?” In simple terms, while the seven Sleeve to Core sessions focus on limitations and areas for improvement, the three Integration sessions focus on deeper needs.

We agreed that further improving the balance of the legs, which still show a slight knock-knee tendency with hyperextension of the knees, aligned with both N’s response and my assessment.

At the beginning of the session, we first confirmed where on the soles of the feet N was supporting their weight while standing. When asked to check the sensation in the soles, N reported feeling strong ground contact on the heel and the lateral side near the little toe, but less so on the ball of the foot near the big toe.

After confirming the foot sensation, we first re-balanced the upper body, which bears the burden during desk work. Then, while making contact with the feet, we simultaneously adjusted the fascia, bones, knees, hip joints, pelvic floor, and peritoneum. Although I was only touching around the ankle area, N reported feeling movement in the hip joints and abdomen.

We then used an approach incorporating AMP (Active Movement Participation, where the recipient moves slowly in conjunction with the treatment), and concluded the structural work in a lying position with craniosacral work.

Challenging Discomfort

We aim to establish the structural work done in a lying position into Coordination (how the body is used) and Perception (how phenomena are perceived) under gravity.

The two most important points when working in standing or sitting positions under gravity are:

1. Awareness of familiar sensations
2. Challenging new sensations

We again asked N to feel the ground contact sensation while standing (subjective) and simultaneously confirmed the current alignment by taking a camera shot (objective). We focused on the changes in sensation between the state of knee hyperextension and the neutral state.

Naturally, at first, the hyperextended position that N was accustomed to felt more comfortable, while the neutral position felt uncomfortable. After clarifying the foot sole sensation and femur sensation in the neutral position, we performed two types of Rolfing movement work. This was to establish the new lower limb sensation in connection with the pelvis and head, integrating it into the brain.

By the end of the movement work, N seemed to have become quite accustomed to the new sensation, but reported feeling a sense of discomfort as if the knock-knees were being emphasized. Challenging a new center of gravity provides fresh stimulation to the brain. At first, other patterns may be emphasized, but they will gradually become familiar.

Until the new stimuli are integrated into the alignment and sensation, it would be good to incorporate them into daily life with the stance of enjoying the unfamiliar discomfort.

Challenging New Sensations

N’s final three sessions are structured around awareness of body sensations such as Coordination (how the body is used) and Perception (how phenomena are perceived), and challenging new sensations.

Reviewing daily body sensations is essential when seeking further change. Further change involves challenging new sensations different from those we’re accustomed to. Being unfamiliar, these sensations will initially feel uncomfortable.

However, this discomfort is a necessary process for change, from which we can bring out deeper needs and help N acquire better physical and mental usage patterns, moving from existing patterns to new dimensions. This becomes the theme of N’s final three sessions.

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