There was a time in the not too distant past, where many people looked down with distain on those of us who believed in the ancient thought concerning energy fields around and produced by the human body. As a Rolfer and Craniosacral therapist t I think it is increasingly more important to be aware of the energy that circulates in and through our bodies. In fact, I believe that the more a therapist explores that connection, the deeper their work becomes. I have seen many massage continuing education classes where the concept of energy is completely devoid of those teachings. 

 Buckminster Fuller provides a conceptual link between patterns of structure and energy flows. When I was a student at the Rolf Institute, Buckminster Fuller was consider a pillar of thought, and his concept of the tensegrity model was used as our vision of Rolfing/Structural Integration. It can be argued that the entire body is made up of a continuos network of tensile elements called tendons and a discontinuous flexible system of compression members that we will call the struts of the systems. So, when a vector of physical force enters the biodynamic system the body absorbs the force without damage, at least most of the time. In Rolfing work, the pain that is held by the client isn’t always at the site of the force that is being presented  by the system. Very often in craniosacral therapy it is taught that a force vector which is held in the system is held in a completely different area of the fluid organism organized in a centripetal manner. We call this a site of inertial energy. 

 Energy flows away from the site of impact. The more balanced the structure, the more able it is to absorb the shock. Many athletes who have received Structural Integration/Rolfing, work can attest to the benefits of the work in a lower incidence of sports injuries in their disciplines. A tensegrity network is a continuum both of vibratory and mechanical components. If there are restrictive imbalances in the organism there will be energetic repercussions. Sensitive hands can feel the differences when fascia is opened and the energy patterns have been changed. 

 There are many teachers who completely ignore in their massage continuing education classes, the concept of structural integrity and energy flow. You can’t influence the structure without influencing the energetic system and vice versa. We are witnessing the movement of energy medicine to the forefront in health care. When you choose a massage continuing education course look for a teacher that works with and teachers both the structural/mechanical and energetic concepts of healing in their massage approach.