Hands-on work and mindful movement, in search of more balance and ease in everyday movement.
Structural Integration is a method developed by Ida P. Rolf that combines hands-on work with the fascia and movement education. It looks at the body as a whole and at how its parts work together when you stand, walk or breathe.
Its aim is to help you find more fluid ways of moving and a greater sense of balance, through touch and your own active participation.
I’m Tatsiana Harelava, an EGSI-certified Structural Integration practitioner in Bolzano. I see clients at my studio at Piazza delle Erbe 37.
The body as a whole. Attention does not stop at the place where you feel tension: feet, pelvis, ribcage and head are considered in relation to one another.
Fascia rather than individual muscles. The work addresses the connective tissue – slowly, precisely and, in places, deeply.
You take part. Small movements, breathing and attention to how you are supported are part of every session.
Support and gravity. Posture here is not a position held by effort, but a balance in which moving feels easy.
Ten connected sessions. Not ten separate massages, but a progressive process in which each session builds on the one before.
Ida Rolf’s method: the body as a whole
The American biochemist Ida P. Rolf developed Structural Integration out of her interest in the relationship between the body’s structure, movement and gravity.
It may sound abstract, but it comes down to very simple things: how you place your feet, distribute your weight, carry your head or get up from a chair.
In this approach, posture is not a position to be held by bracing yourself. The search is for a balance that leaves room for movement.
That is why attention does not stop at a single area: feet, legs, pelvis, ribcage and head are considered in relation to one another.
Why the work focuses on fascia
Fascia is a network of connective tissue that surrounds, supports and connects the structures of the body, including the muscles.
In Structural Integration, the hands-on work addresses this network and the soft tissues. The touch is slow and precise, sometimes deeper, and always adapted to how it feels for you.
The point is not to force the body into an ideal shape. The work seeks to encourage tissue mobility and to help you become more aware of how you support yourself and move.
Hands and movement: two parts of the same process
Hands-on work and movement are not two separate treatments: they complement each other.
During a session, I may ask you to accompany the touch with a small movement, or to notice how your feet meet the floor and how you are breathing. These are opportunities to recognise habits that can go unnoticed in everyday life.
It is not a performance to get right. You do not need to show flexibility or hold a perfect posture.
My way of working starts from a simple idea: I do not work only on your body, but together with you. What you feel and what you tell me are part of the session.
Who it may be of interest to
Structural Integration may interest you if you:
spend long hours at a desk or in the same position and want to pay attention to the way you move;
practise sport, dance or yoga and would like to get to know your movement habits better;
are looking for a process that connects posture, movement and body awareness;
want to take time to recognise habitual tension and try out different ways of standing and moving.
The aim is not the same change for everyone. Before we start, we talk about what you are looking for and consider whether this approach matches your needs.
What happens in a session
We begin by taking a moment to talk about your needs and to look at how you stand and move.
The work takes place mainly on the table, but may include some time seated or standing. I alternate hands-on work with small guided movements, giving you time to notice what you feel.
Some moments can be intense, but you should not have to put up with pain. You can ask me at any time to ease the pressure, change position or stop.
We usually work in underwear or comfortable sportswear. We agree beforehand on an option you feel at ease with.
Each session lasts 60 to 90 minutes.
Why a series of ten sessions
The traditional series consists of ten connected sessions. Each one has its own theme, while keeping the whole body in view.
These are not ten independent massages, nor a sequence in which one part of the body is treated at a time without regard for the others. It is a progressive process that links work on the tissues with the way you stand and move.
You can start with a single session to get to know my approach and then decide whether to continue. If you choose the full series, we agree on its pace together.
The changes people notice, and how long they last, vary from person to person.
Before you book
Structural Integration as offered at my studio is dedicated to wellbeing and body awareness. It does not replace medical appointments, treatment or physiotherapy.
If you have severe or persistent pain, or pain that appeared after an injury, please see a doctor first.
Before your appointment, please tell me about any medical conditions, pregnancy, recent surgery or ongoing treatment: medical advice may be needed to decide whether to go ahead. If you have a fever or an active infection, we postpone the session.
Book a session in Bolzano
I see clients by appointment at Piazza delle Erbe 37, in central Bolzano.
Message me on WhatsApp to ask about availability and prices, or to tell me what you are looking for.
How does Structural Integration differ from massage?
What sets Structural Integration apart is a process that links hands-on work, posture and movement education. Attention is given not only to the area being worked on, but to the relationships between different parts of the body and to your participation during the session.
Do I need to book ten sessions straight away?
No. You can start with one session and decide later whether to continue. The ten sessions are the traditional form of the method, not a commitment to make before you have experienced it.
Is the work painful?
The touch can be intense, but you should not have to put up with pain. I adapt the pressure to what you feel, and you can ask me to change it or stop at any time.
What is your training?
I am an EGSI-certified Structural Integration practitioner. I was certified by the European Guild for Structural Integration in 2021 and have been practising bodywork since 2015.
