Erik S. McWilliams, M.S., P.S.I., Q.H.

Structural Integration is a form a body re-alignment and movement education mostly based on Osteopathy and chiropractic. Dr. Rolf developed this therapy to treat the chronically disabled unable to find help elsewhere.

All clients start with the basic ten series. Which Consists of ten progessive sessions as outlined below.

1. Session One - The Structural Integration Practitioner systematically loosens up the superficial fascia, which is just below the skins surface. The key to the 1st session is to increase the clients breathing capacity.
2. Session Two - the feet and lower legs are the focus. The practitioner will correct all the arches of the foot and loosen the deep fascia of the lower leg. Deep work in the neck and back is also involved. The key to the second session is to ground the client. After the session a meditation will be taught to begin to teach the client how to use "gravity as the therapist."
3. Session Three - the sides of the body are the focus of this session. The key to this session is to make the pelvic and shoulder girdles independent. The theme of this session is length. The client will be taught how to move their arms correctly.
4. Session four - begins the core hours. The practitioner works up the inside of both legs, and integrates this with back work. The focus of this session is to seperate the adductors from the quads and hamstrings, and organize the pelvic floor. This provides the client with a great deal more strength. The client will be taught an exercise to strenghen the pelvic floor.
5. Session five- The focus of this session is to balance the clients shoulders. Work is done down the front of the body across the hip joint and down the thigh. The key muscle is this session is the psoas, which crosses the hip joint and is very influential, since it can influence the the top and bottom halves of the body.
6. Session six - works the backside of the body starting at the ankles and working as far up as the upper back. The key muscles in this session are the rotators of the hip. A repatterning exercise is taught after this session to loosen the spine. In addition the client is taught how to walk properly.
7. Session Seven - involves the head and neck. The practitioner works on balancing the neck and head on the spine. He/she focuses on the fascia of the neck, loosens up connective tissues around the skull and face, and further enhances the clients breathing by freeing constricted nasel passages.
8. Session eight, nine and ten - The last three treatments are devoted to integration. The practitioner creates a body that is balanced on a narrow base and can move in any direction with equal ease and freedom. Every session builds upon the previous one. The ultimate goal in Rolfing is to get the energy to flow freely. When this happens the client is pain free.

  Below I am pictured at Xi Yuan Hospital in Beijing, China, where I begain my Qi Gong training. On the left I am demonstrating Shaolin Gong Fu (Tiger form) and on the right I am treating one of the hospital's patients using External Qi Healing.

Qi Gong Therapy - The Art of Healing with Energy.

Qi literally means "energy" and Gong "work". Within the context of Qi Gong - qi means universal energy - what makes up all things, and Gong means daily effort, which leads to acquired skill. So ultimately Qi Gong (pronounced "chee goong")means aquired skill with universal energy.

Qi Gong breaks down into two categories - 1) internal Qi Gong, and 2) External Qi Gong. The former refers to self healing and wellness, and the later to the skill of Qi Gong adapted by a practitioner to help heal a patient.

Internal Qi Gong has two aspects - 1) static - a meditation with no physical movement, and 2) dynamic - a meditation that involves a series of postures and movements. This aspect looks something like Tai Ji since, Tai Ji is the "daughter" of Qi Gong. There are approximately 1,500 Qi Gong routines.

External Qi Gong or External Qi Healing is the foundational branch of Oriental Medicine - another branch being Acupuncture. This aspect of Qi Gong is thus referred to as "needleless acupuncture" since the principles are the same simply different techniques are employed to simulate the points.

A typical treatment involves detox, strengthening, and balancing yin and yang. After the treatment a Qi Gong prescription may be given and/or a herbal prescription.

I stock a full compliment of US manufactured Chinese herbs to address any health problem. I make custom formulas to address your unique diagnosis. They are liquid based and very easy to take. They are ready for immediate use via a glass dropper bottle. A typical dose is only 25 to 35 drops taken 2-3 times per day and only takes a few seconds to administer.

The herbs are a very inexpensive way to continue  to improve between your sessions.