Postural integration and energetic integration are based on the knowledge of the Reichian therapy and Bioenergetic therapy of Alexander Lowen (both interested in the relationship between character and body structure) and the approach of gestalt therapy of Fritz Perls.
We cannot really separate postural integration from energetic integration. Both have been developed by Jack Painter, by revisiting and adapting the above mentioned techniques. The result is a respiratory technique that enables awareness and work on the release of specific blocks linked with a specific character. Working on specific block will require a specific breathing pattern.
When, during a session, the person comes in contact with deep fears, there is a risk the person dissociate herself from these fears by fragmentation. A natural and calm pattern of breathing will keep the person from dissociating (not contacting the fears). The body part associated with fragmentation is the eye (s).
When the block has to do with nutrition, we will need a breathing pattern focusing especially on inspiration, without fully discharging (more inhale, less exhale), in order to release the "oral" block. The body part associated with this block is the mouth and throat.
When the body part concerned with the block is the thorax, it will be blocked and inflated. Then, the will be on exhale.
Focussing on a breathing pattern that include a free inspiration and expiration (charge and discharge of the body) will allow to work on forces of compression interesting the trunk and the pelvis.
These breathing patterns can be used to work on the blocks occurred in the "prege***al" phase (referring to the developmental phases according to Freud), but they are essential in the work on the blocks occurred in the "ge***al" phase, working on the specific type of character.
Jack Painter created energetic integration to clear the blocks formed in the "ge***al" phase. The aim of this technique is to restore the natural union between our heart and our ge***als (sexual energy), bringing together our female and male energy. When we feel the inner union of these two energies, we are able to experience a natural sexuality in our relationship with our partner. In early childhood this union is generally present. Energetic integration aims to help us experience the natural rhythms of pleasure and excitement in our body. It shows us how to let our inner female and male parts communicate and helps us discover how we can develop and deepen the love for ourselves and others.
By opening ourselves to the spiritual energy from the past, from our parents, and from the former generations, we can receive the support for the energy of the ge***als and of the heart. We become aware that our sexuality is a force of vitality. When this energy is supported, we will start experiencing new levels of excitement and pleasure.
Firstly we need to allow the energy flow to move freely in all our body, to go through all our sensations and tensions kept and blocked in our pelvis and in our heart and allow these tensions to be released. This will bring us in contact with the situations that caused the blocks. Energetic integration will help us to get in touch with the desire and the feeling of freedom and encourage us to explore, with our own rhythm, a variety of breathing patterns that can lead us to a new level of excitement.
Through the different breathing patterns, (flow of charge and release of energy), we will find the possibility to express all tension we accumulated or denied. Energetic integration will help us release that energy freely and completely, opening old blocks, restoring a warm flow of pleasure. Massage can be used to release some parts and allow this energy to flow in all tissues of our body. This contact with the tissues (skin, muscles, joints) both soft and deep, will help open each part of the body. Old frustrations will show up, our needs will show up, strongly and freely, though a part of us will try to keep back the experience. The memory of pain belonging to the past may cause our thorax to collapse or our belly may contract to keep physical excitement apart from emotional disappointment.
Breathing patterns, body work, role play and fantasy will bring us to discover and deeply experience these blocks. Our bodies and our sensations will reveal old schemes of sexual passivity, denial, competition and seduction, games we used to play with our parent, because they are our first sexuality teachers. As children we grew up between our parents (triangle mother, father and child) and we have mixed up our male and female roles. As children, we wanted to be present with all our body, our feelings, to open up our heart and show our desires, naturally, but our parents were not able to support our sexual innocence and curiosity. As a result, to protect ourselves, we cut down the natural flow between our heart and our ge***als. The goal of energetic integration is to recreate the old union between male and female part. During our journey, we will discover the old blocks, and the real desires of our body. We will discover what our male and female parts need and we will work toward the harmonisation of these aspirations. We will work at it looking for the support of the inner father and inner mother for the sexuality of our inner child. Then, we will love ourselves really and we will be able to create a strong flow between the heart and the pelvis, instead of looking for love outside ourselves. Inner integration gives a constancy to our love and allow us to share love with others without loosing ourselves. Sexuality is actual, though inspired by past and future.
When we physically feel the connection between heart and ge***als, we allow our inner parents to be present. At that moment we understand they have the same aspirations of our real parents and their parents, sharing the same unmet needs. Then, we feel we are part of a continuous flow of energy, between heart and pelvis, real and physical, and the new generations can carry it on.
