Relieve Back, Neck and Joint Pain
Release Pinched Nerves
Structural Integration works by re-setting your body’s fascial network. Fascia is a web-like envelope that holds the muscles, tendons, ligaments and organs in place inside the body. Over time we develop holding patterns due to poor posture, injuries, accidents, stress etc... this leads to the fascia becoming dense and fibrous which inhibits the body from moving freely.
As a result of Structural Integration, the thickened and toughened tissues become re-hydrated and more pliable. Structural Integration organizes the imbalances in the muscles/tendons, balancing the body more evenly in gravity, giving muscles the ability to relax, leaving a more upright and balanced posture with greater ease in movement.
Restore flexibility, revitalize your energy leaving you feeling more comfortable in your body
Relieve Back, Neck and Joint Pain
Release Pinched Nerves
Increased Range of Motion
Better Balance and Ease
Increase Flexibility
Pre/Post Surgery Recovery
Reduce Scar Tissue
Improves Posture
Relieve Chronic Strain
As a long distance runner for over three decades, I have relied on Marnie in recent years to keep me balanced, flexible, and injury-free. She has done a terrific job! She is very intuitive, dedicated, and caring, and has an extensive knowledge of fitness and conditioning. I have referred numerous athlete friends to Marnie, and they are all very satisfied with her work.
Over the last twenty years I have developed a severe scoliosis that has become increasingly painful and inhibits my mobility affecting my back, contributing to pain and movement in my neck, hips, and legs—especially sciatic nerve problems. Marnie has an uncanny, instinctive approach to healing. She is unbelievably in tune with my needs because she is keenly observant, sincerely listens to me, and ‘hears’ what my body ‘tells’ her, both through touch and observing me kinesthetically. She goes right to the heart of my pain, knows exactly how to work me through it, and how it is connected throughout my body.
My sessions with Marnie have helped me stay active after tearing my medial meniscus years ago and finally deciding to do something about it. Hiking and being able to walk through the mountains for days at a time is so important to me - I live to hike and backpack long trails! Marnie helped me regain my ability to do so without the pain I was experiencing before I saw her. I recommend sessions with Marnie to anyone who is interested in staying as strong and flexible as possible for all their favorite physical pursuits.
I highly recommend Marnie at DeFord Structural Integration & Massage. After suffering for over a year with pain and weakness caused by an abdominal surgery, Marnie was able to help me return to more normal daily activities. She is very knowledgeable, professional, and intuitive. I made more progress with Marnie’s bodywork than I did with a combination of physical therapy, chiropractic, and traditional massage therapy. Marnie has also helped me overcome flair ups related to old athletic injuries. I am very hopeful that with her continued help, I will be able to participate in sports again.
Due to being born with club feet, my ankle issues had reached a point in my life where I could no longer enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities. I had tried massage, PT and yoga to fix this growing issue that was starting to really impact my life. Structural Integration was the last thing I ever thought to try! DeFord Structural Integration & Massage was willing to take on the problem, worked with me for months on therapy and stretching to do at home. I can now hike without days of pain afterward. Highly recommend trying Structural Integration with them to see if she can fix you too.
We are a dynamic duo, married for 20 years, with over 15 years of Structural Integration experience. We love what we do!
Certified Structural Integrator
Licensed Massage Therapist
Marnie, originally from the Kaitieke Valley, in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. She grew up on a sheep and beef farm riding horses. She moved to Alaska in 2004 to be with her husband Shawn who’s from Alaska. She graduated from The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration in 2013 as a Certified Structural Integrator. Since then she has completed additional Advanced Trainings in: Releasing Nerves & Arteries, Explorations in Wholeness (working with the body as a whole listening & unwinding strain patterns), Movement Education, Visceral Manipulation & Cranio Sacral Therapy. She enjoys helping people understand their body pattern & how to re-balance their body, relieve pain & gain more freedom of movement. She enjoys working with a large variety of people, wether it’s active people (training for Marathons/Triathlons), needing to get out of pain to move more easily or just regular maintenance.
She still loves to ride horses, enjoys many outdoor activities and has a love for animals. Shawn soon joined her as a Structural Integrator and together they enjoy working together helping people become pain free, have more awareness of their bodies and feel more comfortable.
Certified Structural Integrator
Licensed Massage Therapist
Shawn DeFord has been living and enjoying Alaska for over 38 years, currently he resides between Alaska and New Zealand with his wife Marnie. He was introduced to Structural Integration in 2007 and found it benefited him greatly by relieving pain and tension in his body. He also found it allowed his body to have more freedom and ease in function. It had also given him greater body awareness and a curiosity to learn more about the body. He found himself wanting to shift his focus toward health so in 2015 he began his course of study at the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and in 2017 became a Certified Structural Integrator. He then returned home to Alaska and joined his wife Marnie in their private self run practice. He acquired additional hours of Massage Therapy training to obtain his LMT. He would like to help others move in the direction of health and share the benefits of Structural Integration with the community. Shawn also enjoys practicing meditation and yoga and feels they are essential to our mental and physical health and are wonderful compliments to the Structural Integration work. Shawn spends as much time as possible outdoors enjoying a variety of sports and spending time with family and friends.
Consultation & Evaluation with Marnie
Consultation & Evaluation with Marnie
105 minutes / $250
105 minutes / $250
Structural Integration Session with Marnie
Structural Integration Session with Marnie
90 minutes / $200
90 minutes / $200
Structural Integration Session with Shawn
Structural Integration Session with Shawn
90 minutes / $180
90 minutes / $180
Massage
Massage
60 minutes /$160
60 minutes /$160
Massage
Massage
90 minutes / $180
90 minutes / $180
Location
1345 W 9th Avenue, Suite 202
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone
(907) 229-4422
Schedule
Office Hours: Wednesday's - Saturday's.
Call or email with inquiries.