Welcome to the Postural Integration Association of Southern Africa (PIASA)
What is PI about? If you ask somebody who just started receiving PI sessions, they would be able to wax lyrical with enthusiasm. If you ask someone who has been involved with the process and matured into it, they are with full confidence able to say “I don’t know” or “I cannot explain it”, “it works – go and do it”.
The “I don’t know” is what PI is about. The ability to “not have to know” is what PI supports in an integrating body-mind. As this “not knowing” develops, the integrating body mind is able to engage with more.
We're excited you're here. It is no exaggeration to say Postural Integration can be a life-changing technique. Learning more about it and becoming involved will enhance your journey of powerful personal self-exploration and transformation.
Our qualified Postural Integrators are highly skilled facilitators of self-exploration, employing a body-mind awakening and integrating approach.
The effectiveness of this technique comes from the simultaneous use of the four pillars of PI in each appointment:- Energetic work – breath work, physical movement, meridian acupressure
- Emotional work - body awareness, expressive movement, exploring feelings and attitudes, Gestalt
- Deep tissue work – fascial release work (connective tissue). Please note that deep tissue release work is not massage in the traditional sense
- Integration – after all of the above, there is an integrating of old patterns of emotional / energy / tissue stuckness with the new freedom, possibilities and attitudes encountered in an appointment
Do I need PI?
Are you experiencing any of the following that mainstream medicine and other treatments have been unable to treat?- Chronic pain?
- Finding that you are stuck in repetitive behavioural patterns – such as money, relationships, family, homelife?
- Repetitive sport or strain injuries?
- The inability to express emotion with words?
- Are you overwhelmed with your agitation and dissatisfaction?
- Have hunched or stooping shoulders?
- Flat feet, ankle, knee, hip, shoulder problems?
- The bottom part of your body is disproportionate to the upper part of your body or visa versa?
- Symptoms of chronic or long terms post-traumatic stress such as dry mouth, anxiety, sweating & heart palpitations, sleeplessness, nightmares and depression?
PI is a stand-alone modality yet works very well with mainstream medicine and other modalities & treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Postural Integration (PI)?
Postural Integration is “postural” as it is a way of bringing the posture into alignment by releasing deep-seated tension held in the body’s muscles, as well as stimulating muscles with poor tone. It also calls for an “integration” of all the wisdom available from a person’s heart, mind, spirit and body so that emotional turmoil and feelings of dissatisfaction can be transformed into a sense of wellbeing and empowerment.
What techniques does PI use?
The work combines structural deep tissue bodywork, psychodynamic techniques and breathwork.
Deep tissue bodywork:
The facilitator uses weight bearing techniques with their arms and hands to shift the tension in the muscular structure.
The extraordinary power of Postural Integration lies in the willingness of client and facilitator to work on many levels simultaneously.
Psychodynamic:
The work combines the structural bodywork and the psychodynamic techniques such as Gestalt, deep listening and reflection, mirroring and other skills that the individual facilitator can bring to the work.
Breathwork:
A body-mind shapes itself according to its relationship with breathing. Depending on whether we want to be vital or withdrawn, we shape our breath to meet that need. The breath will show the facilitator where the healthy and unhealthy armour is.
What will happen in a PI session?
After the initial assessment, the facilitator will guide the client through a 1½ hour (depending on the facilitator) process in which the client is encouraged to explore new physical movements, breathe more freely, express blocked emotions and discover unconscious self-limiting beliefs in a safe environment.
“This unique and unified style of deep work is unusually powerful in transforming the whole person.” Jack Painter, Founder of PI
How many sessions will I need?
10 Sessions are recommended to complete the Postural Integration process; however, it can take an individual one appointment to numerous appointments to complete one session. The client is always in control of booking the sessions according to their schedule and pace and can stop when they need to.
Time?
The time commitment is client dependent.
We would recommend that a person who starts a PI process completes up to at least a 3rd session. After that the client will have a very good idea of what PI is about and if it is something that they would want to continue with. That being the case, it is then recommended that the client completes all 10 session.
Costs?
Cost is subject to the facilitator
What training do PI Facilitators have?
Certification as a Postural Integrator is awarded by the International Council of Psycho-Corporal (Body-Mind) Integration Trainers (ICPIT) after successful completion of above a minimum standard of 700 hours of theoretical studies, practical work and case studies.
Can PI help with self-development?
YES
Does PI help with addiction?
Not all facilitators are prepared to work with addicts but the ones that do will insist on working in conjunction with a rehabilitation programme.
What is psycho-somatic support?
Definition: relating to the interaction of mind and body.
Where other treatments are unable to fully resolve a health issue PI, stand-alone or in collaboration, can be what shifts that psychosomatic issue.
How does PI work with deep trauma cases?
Clients working with a Psychologist or Psychiatrist who wants to work with a PI facilitator can get a lot of benefit from working with both.
PI is also effective in conjunction with qualified trauma councillors.
Does PI work with depression?
Yes, PI is effective when working in collaboration with a phycologists, psychiatrist or medical doctor.
MAP - Where are the facilitators based?
