L’postural integration is an approach of body psychotherapy which uses physical sensations and emotional manifestations as much as the cognitive process. Its main characteristic is the in-depth manipulation of bodily tissues by the therapist (also called “integrator”). The objective is to undo both the physical tensions chronic and emotional blockages that are attached to them. The approach is part of the theory of mindbody (“Body-consciousness” or “body-spirit”), which considers that the body and the spirit are two inseparable aspects of one and the same reality, and which is at the base of the psycho-corporal approaches. Thus, the sets of “emotional blockages-physical tensions” would be lodged concretely in the tissues from early childhood, and throughout life. They would remain engraved there, unless something was done to free themselves from them.

The therapist’s manipulations target the muscles, but especially the fascias, these tissues which envelop muscles and organs, and which constitute the myofascial system. Naturally thin and flexible, the fasciae can constantly wrinkle, contract and stiffen under the effect of tension, stress, fear, repression, trauma, etc. These contractions are called the “character armor”. The strategy of the approach therefore consists of relaxing and then reorganizing the different parts of the myofascial system.

L’postural integration has affinities with several other approaches created in the second half of the twentieth^e century in the United States, following the work of Wilhelm Reich. This doctor and ex-disciple of Freud was the first, in the 1930s, to introduce the concept of “bodily unconscious” and to try to discover the physical traces of psychic pain. It is to him that we owe the notion of character armor, which he described as an amalgam of physical and psychic tensions which protect us and suffocate us at the same time (we also say muscular armor). More details on Wilhelm Reich in the Bioenergetic analysis sheet.

The instigator ofpostural integration, Jack W. Painter, was a strained philosophy professor. He tried several ways to gain flexibility and ease, including yoga and Rolfing. To his dismay, all kinds of emotions overwhelmed him during these sessions. He therefore turned to Reichian therapy which aims to release repressed emotions. This relaxation should allow the body, thus freed, to find a better balance on its own. But that did not answer what he was looking for from the point of view of physical restructuring … In short, for Painter, it gradually became clear that a therapeutic process absolutely had to work on three planes at the same time: the physical, mental and affective. It is such a tool that he took years to develop, inspired by his predecessors and, he says, by his own “body-consciousness”.

Like the onion and its superimposed layers, frequently used to describe the human being, the integrators prefer that of a vibrating mass, more or less dense in certain places. A mass animated by a double movement, going as much from the inside to the outside as the reverse, like the movement of the tides. When you touch this mass anywhere, it instantly responds with changes that are reflected in all of its dimensions.

The body being its “revealing” material, the practitioner in postural integration grabs and moves different planes of tissue, compresses them, pinches them, kneads them – on the surface and in depth, as in a vigorous massage. He uses his fingers, palms, elbows and his own weight. He can also use his arms to rock. At the same time, it causes energy imbalances through breathing exercises, such as gasping or choking. Breathing is also considered to be an “energy in motion” and a fundamental element in change.

The practitioner makes eye contact at the same time as he makes contact with the client’s body, asking the client to express what he is feeling, whether through sounds, cries, words or movements. The client and the practitioner are a team: they have the same goal and must both be engaged in the process. To work with the very fine fabric of fascias, you must be in direct contact with the skin. Depending on their level of ease, clients can choose to be more or less stripped or completely naked. It is up to everyone to establish the protocol with their therapist and to ensure that the latter respects their limits.

The relationship of trust is essential. By the end of a first session, a person should be able to sense if communication and trust are good enough to engage with this therapist.

In order for the changes to be integrated on all three levels – physical, mental and emotional – and to prevent blockages from lodging themselves deeper into the body, the integrators assert that the work must be done very gradually and very systematically. The technique therefore comprises ten basic steps, generally spread over 20 to 30 sessions (depending on each client). Sessions typically last over an hour, sometimes up to two hours.

This method is not particularly “gentle”. Like any psychotherapy, she brings her share ofemotional discomfort, but above all there is the fact that the work on the breathing is often unpleasant. In addition, the manipulations can be painful, not because the practitioner hurts the tissues, but because the emotions blocked in the flesh would have the property of making the latter particularly sensitive to certain touches.

As we can see, the process is emotionally demanding: impossible to “pretend”, the body does not cheat! Also demanding in terms of time and money. It’s the kind of adventure you embark on when you are ready to dare.

In a way all its own, thepostural integration pursues the same goal as most psychotherapies : help the person to free himself from the unconscious forces which prevent him from leading his life as he wishes and which are detrimental to his happiness. “Postural integration aims to help individuals become aware of themselves in their body and empower them to change – whether it is their body, their feelings or their thoughts”¹.

Its practitioners say it can lead to more than receptivity, D ‘affirmation and D’harmony. It is aimed more particularly at people who feel ready to dive with intensity into a therapy that will engage them in all aspects of themselves, while respecting their overall harmony. It is suitable for anyone who aspires to improve their quality of life and to be free from multiple stresses. However, this technique is not indicated in subjects with serious mental disorders.

No well-controlled scientific studies on the effects ofpostural integration has not been published to date.

L’postural integration is offered in private practice by psychotherapists who generally combine several training courses.

The International Center for Release and Integration (see Reference Sites), established in San Francisco, coordinates training in this discipline and grants diplomas. The training courses are spread over three or four years and are given, in large part, in the form of four-day internship-workshops.

The training has three main parts: theory (energetic, psychological and spiritual aspects of character defenses, psycho-corporal work, body armor, typologies, transference and counter-transference, etc.); practice (reading the body, manipulating the fascia, acupressure points, etc.); and emotional and therapeutic work (physical interventions to release emotions, Reichian work, bioenergetic analysis, breathing, bodily gestalt, psychodrama, visualization techniques, integration of emotions, etc.).

Trainings are given regularly all over the world, especially in Europe and America. They are led by members of an international team of trainers, often accompanied by Jack Painter himself.

Jack Painter’s books translated into French are no longer available from the publisher, but can still be found in some libraries:

— In-depth bodywork and personal development

— Postural integration: a holistic manual approach – technical manual

Both published by Éditions Maloine, France, 1992.

In English :

— Painter Jack. Deep Bodywork and Personal Development, Bodymind Books, United States, 1986.

— Painter Jack. Technical Manual of Deep Wholistic Bodywork: Postural Integration, Bodymind Books, United States, 1987.

Institute for the Integration of the Body-Consciousness

Presentation documents that are generous in their information and clear in their invoice. A must.

www.bodymindintegration.com

International Center for Release and Integration

Lots of information on postural integration and other techniques for integrating the body and consciousness put forward by Jack Painter.

www.bodymindintegration.net

International Council of Postural Integration Trainers (in French)

For information on the technique and the organization of practitioners. The Links section gives, among other things, access to the various national associations.

www.posturalintegration.info