Toronto Structural Integration – Shawn Aarons

Imagine feeling light, fluid, uplifted, and balanced. Free of pain, stiffness and chronic stress.

“Rolfers make a life study of relating bodies and their fields to the earth and its gravity field,
and we so organize the body that the gravity field can reinforce the body’s energy field. This is our primary concept.”
– Ida Rolf, Rolfing and Physical Reality.

About Shawn

After completing her degree in Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, Shawn studied and received certification at the Guild for Structural Integration in Colorado and Brazil and has maintained a full time practice since 1990. She has extensive experience in athletics, dance, martial arts and sensory awareness movement work. Shawn has a broad wealth of knowledge and insight into health and individual growth and development, and has studied Gestalt psychotherapy, meditation, Tibetan Buddhism, Reiki, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Kung Fu and Native healing arts. Shawn is dedicated to furthering the work of Dr. Ida P. Rolf and continues ongoing studies in advanced Structural Integration.

I’m located in Riverdale, Toronto. If you’re interested to know more about Structural Integration and Rolfing or to book an appointment you can reach me at: 416-654-9402

The Ten Series of Structural Integration

Imagine a tent. The supporting guy wires are equal in length and tension, the center pole is upright without effort, the tent is balanced and firm. When tension is unevenly distributed, the tent leans and the center pole twists, yielding to gravity thus losing strength and balance. Our bodies are similar and more complex, because we are in a constant state of movement.

As a result of stress, injury, habitual posture, and/or trauma, the fascia chronically shortens, constricting muscles, organs, nerves and blood vessels. This causes disorganized patterns in the body. When the fascia is released and the body’s segments, namely the head, neck, rib cage, pelvis, legs and feet, are stacked on top of each other in a way that balances the body in gravity, magic happens and we experience all kinds of positive changes in our health. We feel better and move better.

Structural Integration involves a series of sessions whereby the therapist uses their hands to manipulate the soft connective tissues called fascia. Fascia surrounds and envelops muscles and muscle fibres, and comprises ligaments and tendons. Fascia is a fibrous membrane forming a network throughout the entire body connecting everything together. It is a living matrix. Lengthening and expanding fascia gives room for the bones to move into a better position allowing for greater balance and space around the body’s centre of gravity. This allows more space for the organs, blood vessels and nerves thus improving overall physiological functioning.
Video of fascia

More about The Structural Integration Process

Health Benefits of Structural Integration

There are many benefits with Structural Integration. The most notable is the deep healing that occurs on all levels. People report a profound sense of ease.

Everyone will benefit, including the most healthy people. Structural Integration maximizes the full potential of our ability to have greater energy and awareness.

Relief of pain, tension, stiffness, stress, and chronic injury are some of the most profoundly reported changes.

People who have received Structural Integration experience an improvement in:

• Well being
• Strength
• Balance
• Posture
• Breathing and circulation
• Energy levels
• Flexibility and movement ability
• Awareness and concentration
• Agility
• Consciousness

And report feeling:

• More pleasure and less pain
• Lighter and at ease
• Deeply relaxed
• Fluid and grounded
• At home in their body
• Happy and more calm

People with the following have benefited with Structural Integration:

Back pain, joint problems, poor posture, stress, arthritis, headaches and migraines, poor circulation, digestive disorders, whiplash injuries, muscle tension, asthma, constipation, flat feet, Scoliosis, tendonitis, osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and many other chronic problems.

Even if you do not have any pain or problems, Structural Integration can be profoundly life changing.

Structural Integration effectively improves performance and helps reduce susceptibility to injuries for athletes, singers, dancers, musicians.

People of all ages including children, adolescents and seniors respond wonderfully to the work. Even babies relax deeply with the gentle touch of a SI practitioner.

Testimonials

My experience of the 10 sessions with Shawn has been nothing short of miraculous. Nothing could have prepared me for the degree to which this therapy has helped me look and feel so much better in every aspect of my life. I feel completely transformed into a much more strong, confident, beautiful, radiant and healthy person. Shawn has a great deal of integrity, skill and experience, and anyone who discovers her and her work are very lucky indeed!
– Amy Tanner, Reiki and LomiLomi Bodywork Practitioner

Shawn’s amazing work always leaves me more open, grounded, relaxed and smiling : )
– Kevin McKague, MBA, PhD

I have worked with physiotherapists most of my adult life due to poor posture and poor alignment. I heard about Rolfing 8 years ago, so I set about acquainting myself with the practice. I began working with Shawn at that time and I noticed a release of old patterns and re-alignment which gave long lasting relief and improved my physical appearance. Shawn’s practice is true to Ida Rolf’s teachings. Shawn is perceptive about what needs to be worked on and how to go about it. She is committed to her practice – attending workshops and bringing new insight and energy to her sessions. I always look forward to my appointments with Shawn, she is the best in my opinion!
– Silvana Melara, Financial Manager

I have had the pleasure of working with Shawn since 2012. Her intuitive sensitivity has guided me into a new sense of balance, harmony and trust within my body structure and my energetic and spiritual levels. I am able to stand up on the subway without holding on, run 10 km races, and most importantly my sciatica has vanished. Shawn is an integral part of my healing path.
– James Crispin Janz, Designer/Artist

Structural Integration relieved my foot pain and allowed me to give up my orthotics. I feel lighter, breathe easier, and have less pain.
– Donna Duce, Yoga Teacher and Nutritionist

When I met Shawn, almost ten years ago, I was at a stage in my life where everything was going wrong. I felt depressed and had very low self-esteem. I felt tired most of the time, I had no energy. I was plagued with recurring low back pain, terrible migraines, accompanied by nausea, stomach aches and neck tension. In a word, I was a mess. I read about Structural Integration in our local paper and called Shawn. That telephone call has been the best move of my life. After a few treatments, the results were so incredible, that I told many friends about the work. They are as thrilled about their treatments as I was and still am, because I continue to receive maintenance work.
– Marsha Beaulieu, Translator

Shawn does masterful work. Thank you Shawn for ‘resculpting’ me.
– Stavros Stavrides, Film writer, director, producer