Should I sign up for a Bodywork & Acupuncture Session or KMI?

The KMI 12 series is geared towards people who are looking for better posture and better alignment. The acupuncture & bodywork sessions are geared towards those who are seeking relief from something in particular such as allergies, digestive issues, aches and pains, recovering from a trauma or just the extra added support that you need to get you through the work week.

What does a Bodywork and Acupuncture session consist of?

I describe what a session might look like here.

Does a Bodywork and Acupuncture session have to include needles?

If needles aren’t your cup of tea, that’s ok. In the Japanese style we use very small, thin needles, but even so, if needles aren’t what you’re looking for we can focus on other modalities such as cupping, gua sha, moxa and hands on work.

What is Visceral Manipulation?

My training of Visceral Manipulation is through The Barral Institute. They define visceral manipulation as the following:

1: gentle manual therapy that assesses the structural relationships between the viscera (organs), and their fascial or ligamentous attachments to the various systems in the body.

2: assists functional and structural imbalances throughout the body including musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, eliminatory, neuroendocrine and lymphatic dysfunction.

Ultimately this style of bodywork is very subtle and uses a very soft touch. Sometimes I incorporate this style into my sessions depending on what is going on.

What is KMI?

KMI stands for Kinesis Myofascial Integration and is a style of Structural Integration originally pioneered by Ida Rolf. KMI has been developed by Tom Myers and is a method of working with the myofascial layers of the body to bring the client into their optimal posture. The KMI style of structural integration is done during twelve sessions, thus the name 12-series. The first four address the more superficial layers of the body, while the core four target the deeper patterns. The final four sessions focus on bringing you back into an integrated pattern which will continue to evolve over time.

Is the KMI 12-series right for me?

You can always email me if you want to ask specific questions. Postural analysis and structural integration is something that almost every body can benefit from, as we each have unique habits specific to our individual lifestyles that pull us out of balance and away from center. There are specific conditions however that this type of work is not appropriate for, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Why bother with your posture?

Often our aches and pains are caused by a postural habit we are unaware of. The low back ache that won’t subside, the lingering headache, or the anxiety that cannot be lifted can all be traced back to one’s posture. Poor posture can also predispose us to injury: ‘throwing your back out’, for example, may stem from a long term postural habit that has been developing for years. This is a hands-on myofascial approach to posture that will make it easier to stand up tall and harder to slouch. The 12-series will make it easier to stand in a postural pattern that alleviates aches and pains instead of exacerbating them.

What is a KMI session made up of?

Prior to starting the series, there is an option to have photographs taken. If you choose to be photographed, I will take a full length photo of you from the front, from each side, and from the back. I will also take the same set of photographs once the series has been complete. I recommend photographs so that you can see the changes that have taken place over the course of the sessions, but of course do not require them.

At the start of each session, we begin with a postural analysis. I observe your posture from the front, from each side, and from the back of your body. This analysis allows me to see what we need to work on specific to your posture during that particular session. Once the postural analysis is complete, we start working on the table. While I am working on the muscles, fascia, organs, ligaments and tendons of your body, you will be cued to do small movements. For example: pointing and flexing your foot, or breathing where I direct you. The session concludes with back work on a bench which will help maintain the health of your spine, and neck work.

How often do I need to do a session?

Sessions are usually once a week, but they could be once everyone two weeks or even once every three weeks. Much of this will depend on how you are feeling after each session. I typically do not recommend going longer than one month between sessions.

What do I wear to the sessions?

Both men and women can wear gym shorts. I ask that women please wear a sports bra or a tank top.

What should I do between each session?

Between sessions I may recommend various things for you to do in order to continue fostering the postural alignment we worked on during a given session. Often this means giving you a practice of mindfulness where you pay attention to how you are holding your body in space during the routine of your daily life. It could, however, also mean specific exercises that I want you to do in order to strengthen a part of your body (like the arches of your feet).

How much does it cost?

Contact Lauren to find out about session rates.

What are your refund and cancellation policies?

All sales are final and no refunds will be offered. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy for all sessions. Packages expire one year from the purchase date, but I recommend completing the series well within a year.