(Note: Session 4 is for the “spiral line.” My body didn’t need that work, so we skipped to session 5. I like that the series is customize-able.)
This fifth Structural session was one I was not looking forward to. It’s the first time I really read & researched a session before going in. It’s the “lower deep frontal line” session, which works on the inner legs for support, balance, and posture. It also involves the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is a hammock or sling of several different muscles that run horizontally along the underside of the pelvic bone. Melissa stays within a respectful distance of private parts while still treating as much as this muscle group as is “appropriate.”
I do not like pelvic work at ALL. I went to a very new massage therapist a couple years ago, and he was trying things on me that he had no business trying. I was almost on the defensive going in today. I was anticipating and drawing a conclusion that I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as the previous sessions.
The inner leg work was a little intense at times. I was laying on the table, on my side, for my legs to be worked on separately. I have a really high pain threshold (I have a few very large tattoos), but this almost made me say “Uncle.” When Melissa got into my pelvic floor, I started to take long, deep breaths. That really helped and the pain subsided.
At the end, walking around, I could feel such a difference! My legs felt lighter. I felt more balanced overall. Even my head feels clearer.
So far, I am really enjoying the series. I am not going to read ahead for the next session, though.
~ Guest post by Amy D.
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A Note from Melissa regarding why she did not incorporate Session #4 into Amy D’s treatment plan: We call session 4 the “spiral line.” All the muscles addressed in this session have been worked in treatments one through three. Our focus, however, is on a different myofascial layer that spirals around the body. Amy’s spiral line holds little restriction, and because all of the areas in session four have already been touched on, we both felt she would benefit more going straight into the core treatments and beginning session 5.