Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Holland.
Hi Xavier, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My interest in structural integration started when I first received a 12 series as it provided me with completely new opportunities for movement. It also reduced bodywide strain, nagging pains during exercise, and induced a better sense of stability in everyday life. A major pattern for me are my laterally shifted knees, varus in latin and bow legs for an easy visual. As a child I walked by 9 months old, which may have contributed to my legs being bowed out. Although doctors had told my mother that my legs would straighten out with time, they never did. There should have been a manual therapy or movement intervention when the legs ‘should have straightened out’, as it is easier to change knee position when you are younger. Additionally, loading the body in varied ways can unintentionally reinforce suboptimal positioning when there is limited awareness of how to reduce its severity, which was especially relevant given my active lifestyle.Track was a big part of my athletic career and I consistently had pain in my legs from the poor alignment. After completing the structural integration work, I was able to run without pain. It has been a massive catalyst for change that has transformed my everyday experience of life.
On the journey to becoming a structural integrator, I trained in Big Sur, CA and became certified in Esalen massage. Esalen massage is a type of massage that emphasizes listening to the whole person through touch and providing a sense of wholeness and completeness upon the end of a session. The skill of listening through touch is vital for structural integration as imposing a will for change elicits the opposite effect.
I have found structural integration has been the key to more keenly understanding who I am. It evokes a new possibility for physical and emotional adaptability by focusing on the present by challenging limiting beliefs from the past or future. Structural integration has provided me with the capacity for physical, emotional, and mental transformation.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges with the business has been increasing the awareness of structural integration within the general population. Although it has been around since Dr. Ida Rolf developed the practice in the 1960s, Rolfing and structural integration are not as well known in society compared to other movement practices such as PIlates or Yoga which are complimentary to structural integration in creating a more aligned body structure. Structural integration manipulates the muscles and fascia creating more change in a shorter amount of time than just movement practices alone can achieve. When combining structural integration with effective movement practices, the body can achieve a greater sense of ease throughout everyday activities.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in Structural Integration which is a holistic approach to address the alignment of the entire body which in turn can also affect emotional well-being. Structural Integration works on providing glide between fascial sheaths and easing restrictions in a body-wide series based manner. The holistic series based work creates lasting change and catalyzes a path towards balance long after the series has ended.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.somatichealingalignment.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somaticalign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somaticalign
