Kristen Thompson Structural Integration

04/30/2026

Parkinson’s disease can affect movement, coordination and everyday quality of life.

While medical treatment remains essential, complementary approaches can also play a role in supporting people living with the condition.

Rolfing® Structural Integration is a form of hands-on fascial bodywork that focuses on posture, movement and the body’s relationship with gravity. By working with the body’s structure and movement patterns, Rolfing can help some people experience more ease in movement and improved body awareness.

In our blog article, we explore how Rolfing® Structural Integration can support people living with Parkinson’s and why structural bodywork is gaining interest as a complementary approach.

👉 Read the full article:
https://rolfing.org/articles/blog/rolfing-and-parkinsons-improving-movement-and-quality-life/?ra

01/01/2026

Case study: neck pain and tingling down arm

I often hear, “That’s weird,” in my treatments….

During a full body assessment, we found that if we altered the contralateral ankle with a wedge, the complaint pain practically vanished.😯 …to the confusion of the client. Fortunately, this image portrays it perfectly.

Time for movement training because we could adjust and try and hammer that neck into place, but just like in architecture, we don’t always see foundational issues at the foundation, but up in the corners.

10/12/2025

If you live with chronic back pain, you’ve probably tried massage, chiropractic care, or physical therapy. But if the problem keeps returning, it may be about more than tight muscles.

Rolfing® Structural Integration works with the fascia, which is the connective tissue that surrounds and supports every muscle, bone, and organ.

Over time, injuries, repetitive patterns, and poor posture can cause the fascia to shorten or shift, pulling your body out of alignment and increasing strain on your spine.

The goal of Rolfing® is to restore balance in your body’s structure so gravity supports you instead of working against you.

As your posture improves, the strain on muscles and joints decreases, often relieving pain that has been present for years.

Whether your discomfort stems from prolonged sitting, sports injuries, or old injuries, Rolfing addresses the root causes.

09/12/2025

Neck and shoulder tension is one of the most common reasons people seek bodywork. Constant screen use, stress, and repetitive activities can cause the fascia and muscles in these areas to shorten and hold, limiting your range of motion and creating discomfort.

Rolfing® Structural Integration addresses the underlying structural patterns that keep tension returning.

By working with fascia throughout the whole body, Rolfers™ can relieve restrictions that start in your feet, hips, or spine and travel upward into your neck and shoulders.

The result is more space for movement, better posture, and a release of chronic holding patterns that have been weighing you down.

01/31/2025

"Issues are in the tissues."

very cool with beautiful illustration, thank you so much!

We will be exploring this concept and how to uncover these "blocked" / "stuck" emotions in two weekends in Santa Cruz!

Link in bio

04/21/2024

Did you know the muscles controlling your eye movements and neck are interconnected? This incredible connection is due to a complex network of nerves that control both these areas.

Your ocular motor muscles, a group of six muscles responsible for the movement of your eyes, are connected to your brainstem. Here, they intersect with the 11th cranial nerve, also known as the accessory nerve.

The accessory nerve is crucial for controlling the movement of your upper trapezius muscle. This large muscle in your neck and shoulder region helps support your head and neck. When your ocular motor muscles work correctly, they stimulate the accessory nerve, promoting the proper function of the upper trapezius muscle.

However, an imbalance in your eyes can affect the accessory nerve’s function, causing your upper trapezius muscle to become tight. This may lead to discomfort in your neck and shoulder region, poor posture, and reduced mobility.

To maintain overall body health, it’s essential to assess and address any imbalances or misalignments with your eyes. Incorporating eye exercises into your daily routine can go a long way towards ensuring your eyes and neck work together harmoniously.

In addition to this, Functional Activator is a great tool that can be used to retrain your tongue. The Functional Activator is designed to have you position your tongue in its physiological position, at the top of your palate.

Breathe BETTER → https://bit.ly/2ZB3cHy

NeuroVision → https://bit.ly/PostureproNeuroVision

Join our Discord Community and gain exclusive access only to our first 1,000 members →https://discord.gg/DQWVFaU3Yr




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02/27/2024

Flip-flops are famously rough on the body and it's NOT just because they lack support. They encourage flexion of the toes (to hold the shoe to your foot) at a time in gait when you should be EXTENDING the toes. The result is compensation throughout the body, especially the neck.

02/12/2024

The jaw floor and pelvic floor share a relationship from an embryological, connective tissue and neural tissue perspective.

We have theories how the tension of the jaw influences the tension of the pelvis but the exact mechanisms aren't totally clear yet.

Addressing the jaw can be a useful holistic approach to pelvic floor training as excessive tension at the jaw can result in excessive tension at the pelvic diaphragm (and vice versa).

Mobilisation exercises for the tempolar-mandibular joint is a great way to relax the jaw and encourage more optimal tone at the pelvic floor.

We are on week 6 of the Fit Floor Support For Life online pelvic foor programme, Jaw & Floor!

Looking forward to all the jaw focused classes this week 💯

Movement is medicine

Tom

01/19/2024

Incredible view on the human's nervous system, showing the brain, spinal cord, cauda equina, spinal nerves and the lumbar plexus! :)

Credit: Gunther von Hagens, Body Worlds

12/13/2023