Resources
Sharing With Our Community
- SCHOOL OF -
Integrative Psycho Structural Bodywork
Our mission is to train sensitive, self-aware bodyworkers who use creativity and self-knowledge to transform basic skills into an artistic form that deeply touches the lives of others.
EXCITING NEWS FOR IPBS - SEPT 2023
On September 1, 2023 Gary and Tracy passed the IPSB torch to Cyndi and Sabrina Ortolano.
Cyndi and Sabrina are long time teachers, administrators, and IPSB community members. They are honored and thrilled to be carrying on the mission of IPSB and can't wait to share all the beautiful things they have planned to support the community.
Their vision includes plans for a clinic and community center and they are currently crowdfunding to raise money for the building IPSB needs.
THE FOUR TENETS OF
IPSB PHILOSOPHY
BODY
All bodies are good bodies and this work is meant for everyone.
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We do not believe in healing trauma by creating more trauma in the body. This means our approach is consent-focused, and a substantial part of what IPSB emphasizes in its training is how to approach collaborative bodywork with healthy boundaries and respect.
MIND
We know that learning is most robust when integrating as many senses as possible.
Because of this, we incorporate movement, laughter, play, and sensory experiences as often as possible. We revisit and layer information over the course of the program, giving people with different learning styles ample opportunity to master anything they may find challenging.
HEART
For us, touching the body touches the soul.
A heart-centered practice is focused on being present first with ourselves and where we are in the moment. This means that we need to learn about healthy boundaries, how to communicate from a place of neutrality, how to mirror back what we are hearing in order to ensure we understand what is being shared, and how to care for ourselves, so that we are resourced enough to show up for others​.
COMMUNITY
Shared resources and connection, in a diverse and inclusive space, are why so many wonderful people have been drawn to IPSB over the years.
Mentorship, volunteer events, and community gatherings at IPSB help support the health of our community by supporting practitioners throughout their lives. Tutoring, professional development, personal enrichment, and community events are among the many resources we offer to all alumni and their families.
Cyndi & Sabrina Ortolano
IPSB Owners
IPSB has been the single through line in both our lives for many years. This program and the broader IPSB community have been our grounding point, our touchstone, as we have developed our practices and grown, both personally and professionally. This community supported us during Cyndi’s battle with cancer, and gave us a point of connection through the pandemic, and we are honored to return that support, as we lead IPSB into its newest iteration.
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IPSB is unique. Founded on the idea of self-knowledge, personal exploration, and understanding as the root of healing, IPSB has been training bodyworkers since 1979.We are proud to say that IPSB has an unprecedented record of producing injury-free practitioners with decades-long careers. This can be credited to an emphasis on proper body mechanics that dates back to the original work of our founders, Barry Green and Eileen Hamsa Henry. Integrating the training they received in Tai Chi from Abraham Liu (student of Chen Man Cheng) IPSB’s founders created a style of bodywork that remains as innovative and creative as it was when they began over 40 years ago.
It is not just the work we do, but the people that make IPSB so special. Consistently, in our years as teachers, we have found that our students are extraordinary people who value human connection, community and mutual aid. This is reflected in our volunteer program,.and also in the lifelong friendships that our students form while at IPSB. Being able to hold space for these profound interactions is one of the most beautiful gifts we have received as teachers.
Over the next year we will be opening up a clinic and creating a new anchor space for our community. Our focus will be on supporting our students, alumni, and the people they love by offering bodywork, movement, stretching and other resources, making it easier than ever to care for ourselves the way that we care for so many others.
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For decades we have been dreaming of a space where our colleagues, students, family, and friends, can be wholistically supported, and it is so exciting to see our dream finally become a reality. Please be sure to add yourself to our mailing list to stay updated on our progress,and to learn about upcoming events. Thank you for all that you have done as part of IPSB’s wonderful community. We look forward to spending time with you all in the coming years.
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- Cyndi & Sabrina
CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS
IPSB at School of Integrative Psycho-Structural Bodywork is now the official Custodian of Records for Institute of Psycho Structural Balancing (IPSB) students who attended the school prior to July 1, 2016.
We are honored to continue the legacy of the IPSB style of massage therapy in the greater Los Angeles area.
APPROVALS
CAMTC - California Massage Therapy Council
BPPE - Bureau of Private Post-secondary Education
NCBTMB - National Council of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
Board of Registered Nursing
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BPPE School Code 98908029
NCBTMB 290146-00
CAMTC School Code SCH0077
AMTA - 109403
ABMP - LEI 781796
Board of Registered Nursing CEP 15379