Structural Integraton THE JOURNAL OF THE ROLF INSTITUTE® MARCH 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION: LETTERS 2 THE JOURNAL OF THE ROLF INSTITUTE® COLUMNS March 2009 Vol. 37, No. 1 Ask the Faculty 3 In My Practice 6 PUBLISHER The Rolf Institute of ® Structural Integration® ROLFING HISTORY 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103 Dr. Rolf Remembered 11 Boulder, CO 80301 USA Karen Lackritz (303) 449-5903 (303) 449-5978 Fax First-Generation Gleanings 13 Compiled by Deanna Melnychuk (800) 530-8875 Byron Gentry, D.C.: My Dad, My Friend, My Mentor 15 EDITORIAL BOARD Dan Gentry and Robert McWilliams Sara Bayer Eva Bucher Ida Rolf’s Astrology Chart 19 Craig Ellis Anne F. Hoff and Diane Clarke Szaja Gott lieb The Passing of Ida Rolf 22 Anne F. Hoff , Editor-in-Chief Murray Korngold, Ph.D. Linda Loggins Heidi Massa Rob McWilliams PERSPECTIVES Deanna Melchynuk John Schewe Muscle Repositioning 24 Susan Seecof, Managing Editor Fernando Bertolucci Dave Sheldon Dueling Divas 35 LAYOUT AND Raymond J. Bishop, Jr., Ph.D. GRAPHIC DESIGN Susan Winter REVIEWS

Articles in Structural Integration: The Classic Tales and Timeless Wisdom 39 Journal of The Rolf Institute® represent the Books By and About Ida P. Rolf views and opinions of the authors and Reviewed by Dave Sheldon do not necessarily represent the offi cial Ideokiniesis 40 positions or teachings of the Rolf Institute Reviewed by Claudius Nestvogel of Structural Integration. The Rolf Institute reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to accept or reject any article for publication in Structural Integration: The MEMORIALS Journal of The Rolf Institute. Gregory Hampel 42 Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Raymond J. Bishop, Jr., Ph.D. 43 Institute® (USPS 0005-122, ISSN 1538-3784) is published quarterly by the Rolf Institute, 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, INSTITUTE NEWS CO 80301. Periodicals Postage Paid at Boulder, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send Graduates 46 address changes to Structural Integration: 2009 Schedule 47 The Journal of The Rolf Institute®, 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301. Contacts 48 Copyright ©2009 Rolf Institute. All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without writt en permission from the publisher.

Rolfi ng® is a service mark of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration.

Cover Photo: Ronald A. Thompson LETTERS

My Dear Colleagues;

I recently had the pleasure of taking Don Hazen’s workshop, “The Neurology of Posture.”

This was a very useful and informative look at the role of the nerve tissues in relation to the common postural stressors that show up in a Rolfi ng® practice.

The introduction to the feel of the nerves, the location, and the application of technique was a profound opening for me. The material in this course was a unique approach to nerve work. All my Rolfi ng training, and teaching, has been about avoiding the nerves, and working around and between these structures. In Don’s class we took the exact opposite approach, locating and working directly with them in a coherent and systematic manner.

Since the class, I have had my anatomy books open and have been studying and tracking the nerves, with respect to the region I am working in, and fi nding very quick symptom relief for many of the common strains and pains that the clients routinely bring to the practice. This has been a very important reframing of the role of the nerves, beyond the transmission of impulses.

I want to commend Don for the work he has developed in this area, and to recommend this to any Rolfer as an important deepening of our understanding of structure and function.

Jan Henry Sultan, Advanced Rolfi ng Instructor

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a person), disconnecting the person from the environment and others, while our functional perspective relates the person to the environment. What is interesting for me is that, like in Ask the Faculty so many other situations, we don’t need to have one or the other. We can have “this ® and that”—let’s say “all.” We can work Core Strength from a Rolfi ng Perspective structurally to “get the core,” and be guided by the functional goals of the “Recipe” to develop a dynamic stability/movement In the fi tness world the concept of “core strength” is often mentioned as adaptability, and then go for muscle Q a benefi t of certain exercise regimens. Please compare and contrast the build-up. But this muscle build-up for concept of core strength/stability from a Rolfi ng perspective and from a more core strength/stability that the mainstream mainstream fi tness perspective. values should take into consideration the concept of the person relating to the directions of “down/up and other/things,” meaning that a person would have to “Every day (and each moment) we must learn—as of now, from a Rolf movement A Core As An Event in Time rebuild the world; we must rebuild ground practitioner—how to re-build perception A Rolfi ng practitioner must be comfortable and space.” before each movement using machine or with phenomena that are always shift ing, As structuralists we say that we want the fl oor exercises. As Dr. Rolf said (referring to always moving. This is what makes things system to move with “economy of function the teaching and learning of Rolfi ng): “Your tough. Those few people who can build a and grace.” What that means from the security comes only from relationships.” body up are the few who have sensitivity functional perspective is that we want the to a sense of security in insecurity. We’ve Monica Caspari system to be able to have what we call really given “The Wisdom of Insecurity” Rolfi ng Instructor, “dynamic stability” so that it can then a physical component. When you come Rolf Movement Instructor move with fl uidity through space, quickly right down to it, that wisdom of insecurity adapting to whatever stimulus evoked the explains what Rolfing practitioners movement. I like to think of the big cats: Rolfing and the Fitness are talking about—it’s the body’s need for A they are very stable and strong, and yet World: Complementary quick adaptation. have lots of fl uidity. Strength in the core Approaches to Core Strength Let us start fi rst by defi ning what is the does not mean rigidity in the core. If I think As winter is upon us and the weather “core.” From a structuralist point of view, of “core strength” as building muscles in encourages me back to the gym, I once core is oft en defi ned as the “visceral space” the sleeve around the visceral space, then I again get a glimpse into mainstream fi tness. that goes from the pelvic fl oor to the roof of end up cutt ing the “melody” of the person, Mind you, I am in Boulder and mainstream the mouth/nasal cavities. In this sense it is the fl ow in her movements. We end up may be diff erent in your neck of the woods. a “place,” a geographical something (that gett ing rigidity around the core and less Anyhow, if you follow the trends in exercise as structuralists we want to “organize” adaptability. And this is what I see the and fitness, you’ve probably heard the through our unique kind of touch). Yet mainstream fi tness perspective producing, phrase “core strength.” Core strength from a functional point of view, core is an maybe because it values the form of the in this context refers to the muscles of “event,” something that happens in time— sleeve muscles so much. your abdomen and back and their ability if and when we get the right coordination to support your spine and keep your The mainstream emphasis is not on gett ing between the muscles that stabilize the body stable and balanced. Targeting the dynamic stability but on building up the system, then the muscles that give it ”strength” of these muscles has been linked sleeve muscles. Paradoxically, it focuses strength, and then the muscles that give in the exercise world to managing back pain on the sleeve to “get the core,” while our it speed. It is a gestalt: either you have it or and supporting functional movement. focus is in the way the person relates to the you do not have it. It depends on a certain environment—that is, to the substratum Images of a weight-lifting belt, corset, way of relating to the substratum and to (gravity, or “down”), to space (“up”), and or a wrap around the center and to the space through the senses. We call the use of to other and things. In this sense we can spine are common and allude to the the senses “perception.” Coordination and say that our focus in building core strength/ protection and stability these structures perception are the two sides of the same stability is in changing the way a person off er. These programs typically target the coin. We can’t separate one from the other. uses her senses in order to get the “right” external obliques, internal obliques, rectus When you aff ect one you aff ect the other. order of events—i.e., the right order of abdominis, transversus abdominis, erector But because our patt erns of coordination muscle firing: first the local stabilizers spinae and sometimes the deep multifi dus. are deeply imprinted in our systems, all we (the most deep muscles), and only then While there are exercises to target the can do to build core strength/stability is to the more superfi cial (sleeve) muscles. The individual muscles, it is also common to aff ect the way the client perceives (uses his mainstream routine shrinks the kinesphere hear that these muscles must work together senses) in order to evoke the best possible (the potential space for movement around to function most eff ectively. coordination. And as Hubert Godard says:

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The exercise community, as well as Pilates access appropriate contraction with a large adequate ATP or energy in the muscles. and physical therapy, have benefi ted by demand, but many dysfunctions occur Therefore, restoring function may require the research in low back pain that has when the local stabilizers do not contract repeated low-threshold contraction as in also influenced our Rolfing®/structural to anticipate a movement or do not receive Kegels or other simple pre-movements, integration perspective. Pain may be at the adequate stimulus to reach the threshold of which not only make the neural pathways root of dysfunction and can be responsible contraction and assist in stabilizing under more accessible, but retrain ATP production for inhibiting deep stabilizers and restricting normal conditions of sitt ing or standing. over time. their capacity to sustain contraction. The Thus, instability leads to phasic global It seems important to investigate these messages from the research trickle down muscle bracing, and eventually fatigue other approaches and understand their and hold unique interpretations as they and pain. strengths as we support our clients in resurface in our gyms and health clubs. Aff erent nervous system input infl uences their activities. Rolfing has developed While we are utilizing the same research tonic motor output. In order for the and appropriated unique approaches to inform our approaches, there are some body to anticipate an action and enroll to restoring function and access to core noteworthy refi nements that fl avor each coordination to support effi cient movement, experience that can complement these modality as it defi nes “core strength.” an appropriate sequence of firing must other pursuits. This is especially true when From the exercise perspective, depending occur. Rolfi ng, and for that matt er clinical there is interruption of the low-threshold on your “problems,” there are activities Pilates and skillful physical therapy, will contraction of deep stabilizers, as in pain you can do to help “correct” your posture. off er awareness-based activities to clients and chronic imbalances. For example, if you have an excessive that activate the appropriate aff erentation Jon Martine anterior pelvic tilt, corrective stretching (information into the system) to inform would be suggested for the hips and back and initiate balanced stability and mobility. Rolfi ng Instructor and strengthening exercises would be However, gym-style Pilates and other done for the lower body and abdominals. general core approaches may be taught A Core Considerations Performing these functional exercises by someone with a shorter training and Many people who come for Rolfing utilizing balls, wobble boards and other involve deliberate movements, breathing ask about exercise and the use of core orienting challenges requires the active and centering but may lack the preparatory, muscles. Many have had training in core engagement of the core muscles. Other low-threshold stability necessary to access strength. When I ask clients to demonstrate exercises target these muscles with weights appropriate deep stabilizers. This may how they access a sense of core, I usually or body weight as in a plank or side plank, result in over-contraction and recruitment see an overuse of sleeve musculature and where the body is held in a rigid position to of large stabilizers instead of the deep fascia. I start by telling them that we have reinforce core stability. These exercises are local stabilizers. a different definition of core in Rolfing useful especially if one can maintain these Core activity as coordination is a potential structural and functional/movement work. high-demand challenges, but they may strength of Rolfi ng. The invitation to utilize It can be communicated as a concept, but fall short of addressing the low-threshold awareness to inform a way of being is I prefer to give clients the experience of contraction of joint stability. necessary for recovery of function. Rolfi ng accessing core in a diff erent way than their From the Pilates perspective, change may be a missing piece that assists the accustomed use. in function occurs as a consequence client to access proprioception that feeds I ask the person to show me how he of repetitive retraining of movement. appropriate anticipatory stability to the might engage the core, lying supine and The exercises are carefully performed deep stabilizers. We do this by mobilizing raising one leg. Most oft en what I see is orchestrating breath, awareness, detailed the tissue with touch to free the restrictions the lumbars coming off the table, or being muscle recruitment, proprioception and and then off er education to our clients to pushed posterior into the table. Many kinesthetic feedback. Intention and imagery orient and appropriate gravity to their times there is a preparatory movement of are commonly used to invite appropriate benefi t. Use of imagery and a felt sense tightening the abdomen. Core engagement integrative movement. Of course the skill of connection to ground and space, while is not happening as ideally as it could. So of the practitioner will determine the not unique to Rolfing, is necessary to I ask the client to notice how he is making focus of the work. Pilates has been recently sustained, low-threshold contraction, which the movement. Then, I ask him to do this defi ned by its intention, with clinical Pilates is at the foundation of more gross and simple sequence: and exercise Pilates expressing subtle, yet complex movements. distinct diff erences in intent. 1. Have the client lay supine and bring Core stability is thus less a set of muscles one leg up so that the foot is fl at on the Clinical Pilates may focus on restoring that are strong enough to do the job, but a table. That leg can be used for support appropriate function disrupted by synthesis of orientation, proprioceptive- for the next step. accidents or injury. The slower, staged, driven afferentation, and retraining of clinical approach may utilize more gradual the deep stabilizers and global movers to 2. Have the client bring the other knee enrollment of stabilizers and bring more facilitate appropriate function. Awareness towards his chest, then extend that foot focus on sequencing and firing of low- is key to the rehabilitation of function toward the ceiling, reaching or pushing threshold stabilizers by enrolling the client’s and the restoration of fi ring sequence and through the heel, while supporting with awareness. The focus is on enrolling the capacity to sustain contraction. Studies the other foot to stabilize the pelvis. Have low-threshold stabilizers prior to adding have shown that inhibited contraction him notice how he does this movement. more challenge, as most everyone will can lead to reduced capacity to produce

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3. I then hold the heel and show him how onto with your hand, in case you lose your Photo 2. Here, Claire is using that same to do this movement by lengthening balance. Allow the other leg to swing gently “sleeve” eff ort to hold her core, and bring through the bones of the leg, allowing the —imagine that it is dropping, or reaching, her foot toward the ceiling. psoas/core space to stay long, and the sit all the way from the top of the psoas at the Photo 3. Here, Claire has allowed her bones to rest toward the table. back of your diaphragm (the front of your abdomen to rest, and her sit bones to sink spine at around T12/L1). Allow your head 4. Then I ask the client to bring that leg toward the table. I lightly held her heel to be curious about the ceiling. Notice if down, keeping the extension through and gave a slight pull toward the ceiling, you tend to push or pull your leg to move the heel, and staying long in front of the while encouraging her to allow her heel it. Continue the exploration until you can spine. I keep contact with his heel, with to be drawn upward as if being pulled by begin to get a feeling of ease, like nothing a slight suggestion to lengthen there. I a string. Notice the diff erence in the shape but gravity is doing the work. I like the place my other hand over the psoas to of her mid-section, abdomen, and pelvis. image of sea plants swaying gently on the help him fi nd the length, or behind the ocean floor, but use whatever image or Photo 4. Claire is able to keep the length and lumbars and lower ribs to allow that sensation allows you freedom and fl uidity lightness as she brings her leg down. Notice to rest. in the action. Then play with the sequence the ease through abdomen and pelvis 5. Usually the client is very surprised at outlined above, which we see demonstrated compared to Photos 1 and 2. how easy it is to do this motion. There in Photos 1-4 by my offi ce manager, Claire Libby Eason is no “scrunching” of the core Anderson, whose assistance I appreciate. abdominal space, no compression of Rolfi ng Instructor Photo 1. I asked Claire to do this motion the lumbars. The transversus abdominis without any coaching. She tightened her is engaged, supporting the transverse abdomen, and rolled her pelvis toward processes of the lumbars, providing the the ceiling to pull her knee toward her ability to lengthen and distribute the chest. Notice the shortness from mandible reach of the leg through the rest of the through abdomen. core space. 6. I always remind the client to notice what he is doing with his neck. There Photo 1 Photo 2 is usually some tendency to pull in the shoulders and neck, and allowing these to rest keeps the client from adding tension here. 7. I repeat this with the other leg, asking the client to notice any diff erence in how the two sides feel. 8. Aft er a few times with my contact, I ask him to fi nd it on his own, and to play back and forth between the old patt ern and the new. This anchors the new patt ern, while keeping the security of the old and the space in between. This is helpful for clients who are doing Photo 3 Photo 4 any kind of exercise. Finding length and space in the core keeps one from gett ing compressed during weight-lift ing, provided the weights are not more than the structure is suited for. Practicing Pilates is much more eff ective with this diff erent use of core. Dance, martial arts, or any movement practice are enhanced, as are everyday activities like picking up children. Of course, the most essential element for teaching your clients a sense of accessing core is having that experience yourself. One simple way to initiate this experience (or re-establish it) is to practice fi nding easy motion in the psoas. Stand with one foot on something low, one or two books or a stair. Make sure there is something to hold

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was that my daughter was transformed from a quiet bookworm, hiding behind her veil of hair, to a kid who was out racing around on the beach and playing basketball. (Lael Keen is now a Rolfi ng Instructor and In My Practice Rolf Movement Instructor, based in Brazil.) The fall of 1970 found our family in Prescott Arizona where Sam and I both had teaching appointments at Prescott College. I was teaching dance and yoga. My eyes had been Receiving, Learning, Teaching, Becoming . . . opened by my Rolfi ng, and I was concerned about the restrictions I saw in my students. By Heather Starsong, Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™, So I contacted Esalen and asked for Rolfers Rolf Movement Practitioner to come and work with my dancers. Jan Sultan came, and Gael and later Stacy. One n December 21, 2007, I closed my of my students was Tom Wing, the college ® ORolfing practice of thirty-three librarian, who had told me when we met years. Not without grief! It has been an that he had always wanted to dance. Jan exceedingly rich and rewarding part of the took him through the Rolfi ng series, and tapestry of my life. the process was as transformative for Tom It all began for me in January of 1970 as it had been for me and Lael. when I accompanied my husband, Sam The early seventies was a turbulent time for Keen, who was leading a month-long many of us. Suffi ce it to say that by the fall of seminar in theology and human potential 1972, Sam had returned to California to live at Esalen Institute. Ed Maupin led one of with a young woman he had met at Esalen, our aft ernoon explorations, an introduction and I had married Tom Wing. to Rolfi ng. I lived in constant pain in those days. At the end of the workshop, I went In 1973, Tom and I, with my children, to Ed and asked him if he thought Rolfi ng moved to Boulder to study Rolfi ng. Tom would be helpful for me. He looked at began his studies with Dr. Rolf in the fall of my sixth. We had a bedtime ritual of going my tense, severely arched body, and 1973. At the end of his audit, I was invited to sleep on our bellies side by side; as we allowed, with kindly understatement, that into class for Dr. Rolf to demonstrate how were sett ling, he would reach over and pat it probably would. Rolfi ng awareness could benefi t the practice me on the bott om and say “Good night, of yoga. I will never forget that aft ernoon. My fi rst three sessions were held on the honey.” The fi rst night that he was home I met Dr. Rolf for the fi rst time, looked into fl oor of his cabin, high in the hills above aft er my sixth session, he reached over to her piercing blue eyes and fell in love. She Big Sur. Rolfi ng was rough in those days. pat me as usual. Then the light went on, and had me demo my yoga sequence, then We who were receiving Rolfi ng compared Sam was sitt ing up in bed, throwing back guided me through it again, cueing me. I our bruises in the Esalen baths, and I cried the covers, exclaiming, “What happened have a video tape of that session, but alas, a lot during my sessions. But after the to your ass?” no sound, so her words are lost. Except that fi rst session, when I practiced my yoga, I That made a believer of him. He went to they totally transformed my yoga. breathed in and breathed in and breathed Dr. Rolf herself to get the rest of his sessions, in . . . And aft er my second, I wept as I Even though that was the only time I was interviewed her for Psychology Today, and walked the mud paths of Esalen barefoot in class with her, I feel her to be one of wrote what I believe was the fi rst article on in the January rain, because for the fi rst the most important teachers of my life. Rolfi ng that she permitt ed to be published time in my memory, my feet opened out of Tom did all his training with her, audit in a popular magazine—“Sing the their high arches and touched the ground. practitioner, and advanced, and was very Body Electric.” generous in sharing with me in the evenings When we left Esalen aft er the seminar and I was working at Kairos Institute, just east all that he was learning, so I feel as if I got returned to Del Mar, I drove up to Los of Del Mar, doing movement warm-ups a strong transmission through him. Other Angeles each week to continue my Rolfi ng for the workshop participants on weekend teachers also transmitt ed the Rolfi ng vision with Dorothy Nolte. Each session was a mornings. I met Rolfing practitioners to me—Emmet Hutchins, Peter Melchior, diffi cult and extraordinary initiation. My who came to work there—Gael Ohlgren Jan Sultan, and teachers with whom I later sixth was particularly hard: I had one of (then Karlan), Stacy Mills, and Giovana taught and from whom I learned in the those tight high butt s, that are considered D’Angelo. My ten-year-old daughter did process—Jeff Maitland, Gael Ohlgren. cute and sexy, but are very painful to not have good support from her legs, so I live with. I was interested in doing the movement arranged for fi rst Stacy and then Giovana work, then taught by Judith Aston and Sam had been skeptical about the Rolfi ng, to work with her, I remember watching in called Rolf-Aston Structural Patterning, even though he had had three sessions also amazement as Giovana straightened her so while Tom was studying Rolfi ng, I was at Esalen. He was out of town when I had legs before my eyes. Even more amazing taking Patterning lessons from Marya

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Byron. I was so excited about what I was teaching lead-in classes for Rolfi ng students In the fall of 1979, we off ered our fi rst Rolf learning that I practiced for an hour or more before their practitioner training. It was Movement training. Megan James and I every day. The movement work touched me an important beginning in the gentling co-taught it. In the mornings we audited even more deeply than the structural work. of Rolfi ng. the Rolfi ng training, across the hall in what My high tight chest began to soft en, and for was called the Annex, in our new Rolfi ng In my opinion, the importance of the way months, I wept every day as I practiced, facility at 3rd and Pearl in Boulder. In the a practitioner uses her body cannot be then got up off the fl oor and went about aft ernoons, we gathered in the Skylight overstated. Throughout my career I have my life with my hand on my chest like a Room and worked with movement. Our struggled with my students’ denial of Victorian heroine. first group of Rolf Movement Teachers that. “I just need to get the Rolfi ng done. was certifi ed in the spring of 1980, Jane As a dancer, and for many years a Don’t bother me about my body.” We Harrington and Vivian Jaye among them. theologian’s wife, I had puzzled about cannot impart what we don’t embody. how the same word, “grace,” could be used How can I impart ease and release to a Teaching that fi rst training was a stretch and to describe both a relationship to God and body I am working on with tension and an adventure. At the end of the fi rst week, a quality of movement ascribed to dancers force? When the practitioner is moving I was quite upset with Megan. We met to and athletes. As I practiced the Patt erning, with contradiction of direction in his consult. I laid it down. We must do this and I began to understand. “Grace” as it is body, how can he impart integration? If this, we must not do that, etc. etc. Megan used theologically describes a harmonious she is off balance as she works, if he is listened. Then she said in her low rich voice relationship between God and the person pushing instead of melting into the tissue, with her wide smile, “But, love, I don’t teach in grace. Grace in movement is also about the client resists, tenses in response, and that way.” I learned tons from Megan. We harmony. From Patterning I learned to the work becomes unnecessarily painful, turned out to be excellent complements to move in harmony with the gravitational even traumatic. Yes, some work can still each other, I bringing continuity, structure fi eld. What a change from the att empt to get done, but the unfortunate reputation and boundaries to our teaching, she defy gravity! What ease and peace came that Rolfi ng still has, of being unbearably bringing irreverent spontaneity, inspiration into me as I learned! Someone once told me painful, results from just this neglect of the and laughter. She died in 1986 of AIDS, a that the gravitational fi eld was the physical practitioner’s body use. I strongly believe sad loss to our community. manifestation of God’s love. I love that! that sophisticated body use should be In those days, Rolf Movement Practitioners inextricably woven into the teaching of the With the Patt erning, I began to learn—I am did not have to be Certifi ed Rolfers. We felt Ten Series. still learning—to be gentle with myself. it was important for our movement students Such a concept! Discovering ways to move Sadly, in l977, Judith and Dr. Rolf, aft er to understand Rolfi ng, hence our morning that were easy, effi cient and comfortable many long arguments, came to a parting audit of the Rolfi ng class in the fi rst phase of was revolutionary for my tense and striving of the ways. Judith was taking her own our training. But in our early trainings only body. Ease and gentleness with ourselves direction, and it evolved that she was a few of our students were trained in the and others is such an important learning working from diff erent premises than those structural work. Some, like Jane Harrington for all of us in our hard-driven culture. It Rolfi ng was based on. Premises were very and Carol Agneessens, did their Rolfi ng has been a blessing all these years to have important to Dr. Rolf. Judith separated from training aft er their movement training. I the opportunity and the tools to open that the Rolf Institute and renamed her work was a Movement Teacher for almost twelve possibility for my clients. Aston Patt erning. It was a diffi cult and sad years before training in the structural work. divorce for all of us who were devoted to Having movement as my only tool for all During that time, I also began to discover both teachers. We had to choose. Tom and those years taught me deeply how powerful that bringing the principles of the I had no question; Rolfi ng and its premises the movement work is, how much it can movement work to my daily activities claimed our loyalty. do, how eff ectively it can stand on its own. evoked a quality of presence that had I don’t remember exactly when we decided profoundly spiritual implications. In 1978 Gael Ohlgren, Roger Pierce, and I that all Rolf Movement Practitioners should picked up the teaching of the movement In the fall of 1974 I did the fi nal piece to fi rst train in the structural work. It was lead-in classes. We began contacting other prepare for Patt erning training—auditing probably a good decision, but perhaps has Patt erners who had chosen to stay with a Rolfing® class. I audited with Emmet resulted in fewer movement practitioners the Rolf Institute. In October of that year, Hutchins in the conference room of a having movement as their fi rst love. eight of us gathered, from the east and west motel on 28th Street in Boulder. Another coasts and between, at my home in Boulder, Finally in 1980 our group of former huge initiation. to begin sharing our work and planning a Patterners and our newly trained Rolf Then I went to California and began my movement program for the Rolf Institute Movement Teachers were accepted as Patterning training. I did three levels of Structural Integraton®. It was a high, members of the Rolf Institute. Megan and of training with Judith in the next two exciting time. During that week we met I became Rolf Movement Instructors on years. I am deeply grateful for all that I with the faculty education committ ee and the faculty. learned from her. It has formed the core presented our program. Our high energy Our group of former Patt erners, now called of my work for all these years. Judith was was fairly well dampened. They told us to Rolf Movement Teachers, continued to especially brilliant in her realization that wait, gather more input. So we did. And meet between 1978 and 1980 in what we how a Rolfing practitioner uses his/her we persisted. called Movement Exchange Workshops, body is crucial to the quality of the work not only sharing amongst each other, but that results. In the early 1970s she began

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 7 COLUMNS also bringing in other movement teachers I returned to Boulder in 1998 and went relationships with others as well as to enrich our practices. At one of these right into working with Dr. Joe Swartz in through ‘just being’. In this way they gatherings I met Emilie Conrad and was his chronic pain practice. Most of my clients endow the seemingly insignifi cant introduced to Continuum. With Continuum were victims of auto accidents. I learned with profound meaning. Their task I accessed a still deeper level of holding in a great deal about whiplash, and how is to bring spacious stillness into this my body/psyche and found a deeper level very lightly you need to touch someone world by being absolutely present in of healing. Many of the tools of Continuum so severely traumatized as many of my whatever they do. . . Their purpose have become part of my teaching of Rolf clients were. is to do everything in a sacred Movement, have infi ltrated my yoga, and manner. As each human being is an I have explored a number of other healing continue to heal me. integral part of the collective human modalities during my years as a Certifi ed consciousness, they aff ect the world From the time that we both trained in Rolfer™. A year aft er my basic training much more deeply than is visible on 1973 and 1974, Tom and I worked as a I studied craniosacral therapy with Jim the surface of their lives. team, often with the same clients, he Asher and Jane Harrington. While in doing the structural work and I teaching Durango I learned Reiki. I studied visceral Do not imagine that because I quote these the movement. In January of 1985, while work with Don VanVleet and later with Liz words that I have embodied them. Hardly, walking in the snowy forest in Rocky Gaggini. For an amazing year, I worked oh hardly! But they guide me, and show Mountain National Park, I felt called to with Deborah Stucker, only beginning to me my path again when I feel lost. And train in the structural work. I think my learn her work with Rolfi ng the energy though I do very few sessions now, it is heart knew, though my mind was in no fi eld, barely touching or not touching the Rolfi ng, so deeply a part of me, that I will way ready to accept it yet, that our years physical body. All have enriched my work. be expressing as I seek to “do everything in as a team were ending. I talked to Peter a sacred manner.” In the year 2000 I became very ill. I Melchior and he said, “I always thought you tried every conceivable traditional and were a closet Rolfer.” So I applied, wrote alternative method I could fi nd. Chronic my paper on the diaphragms, and audited fatigue, they called it, which means they with Emmett in the fall of 1985. I did my have no diagnosis. I recovered enough to practitioner training in the spring of 1986, resume my work, but for the next seven and began a new practice, part structural years, struggled with fatigue, overriding and part movement. It was exciting to have it to continue the work I loved. Finally, both modalities in my hands. in the fall of 2007, aft er yet another trip As a Movement faculty member I continued to the emergency room with frightening to teach lead-in classes and Rolf Movement and inexplicable symptoms, I knew I had Certifi cation trainings. Other teachers also to let it go. shared this work. In 1991 I went to Brazil So now I am retired. Well, not entirely. Aft er and co-taught the fi rst movement training all, aft er a few months, I did take back two there with Gael. I came home and went into of my long-term clients injured by auto advanced training with Jan Sultan only a accidents, and also found that I was not yet month later. ready to let go of giving Rolf Movement In the late 1980s and the early 1990s sessions for incoming Rolfi ng students. But the faculty was exploring a number of it is a diff erent life now, no longer shaped by diff erent ways to shape the Rolf training: my regular Rolfi ng schedule. I do only one what forms might replace the old audit/ or two sessions a week, some weeks none at practitioner model, what ways we might all, instead of long full days of saying good- integrate the movement into the basic bye to one client as I welcomed the next. training. I participated in a number of In January 2008, aft er a friend gave me very these experiments. It was exciting, trying moving ceremony and party to celebrate new ways. The high point for me was a my retirement, I became quite depressed. combined Rolfing® and Rolf Movement What use am I now, I asked myself, if I am training that I co-taught with Gael in the no longer of service? I found an answer in summer of 1992. the words of Eckhart Tolle, at the end of In 1993 I moved to Durango and stayed his book, A New Earth. He speaks of the for fi ve years. During that time, I decided “frequency holders”: to retire from the faculty. My health was Their function is to anchor the wobbly and my stamina not up to the frequency of the new consciousness long hours any more. I sorely missed the on this planet. . . . They are here to excitement of teaching, but had more time generate consciousness through the to devote to my private practice. activities of daily life, through their

8 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org COLUMNS

us to this work, and that they’re its highest reward. Of course, I still can’t stop wanting to fi gure out how it all works. But now and Enjoying a Work That’s Always New then I remember Dr. Rolf saying that as hard as she worked to fi gure out Rolfi ng, it “would never have come together By Nicholas French, Ph.D., Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ without the help of the Good Lord.” Was this her way of acknowledging ears ago, a president of the Rolf the presence and power of what Jung YInstitute of Structural Integration® called the Irrational (phenomena that are decided to pull together a profile of verifiable by observation or experience, the average Rolfing practitioner, so he but are beyond reason, incapable of being distributed a questionnaire that would have explained logically)? I submit that it was put the CIA to shame. It probed everything Dr. Rolf’s ability to balance the rational from our education, politics and diet to and irrational realms that enabled her to gender preference, lifestyle and spirituality. see and sense with uncanny holism, like I waited eagerly for the results, and fi nally Einstein and a few others. Shaped, as we all the announcement came: it was hopeless. are, by the intellectual paradigm of linear The answers were so insanely diverse they atomism, she somehow was nonetheless couldn’t be collated statistically and make able to include as well an awareness of the any sense. Evidently we were simply a whole that is greater than the sum of its band of curious eccentrics. I like to think parts. I believe that ability was critical to that’s still true. the creation of Rolfi ng, and is still essential and followed my hunches to fill in the to its health. However she did it, seeing I feel extremely lucky that I got to study gaps. her analyze a person’s structure and then and hang out with Ida Rolf. She was help it transform was something like the intensely intelligent, and she exhibited When he got up and walked at the end of his old stories of seeing the lame healed and a rare but important balance of rational second hour, Joe seemed shaken. As coolly the dead raised. thought and intuitive insight. I had never as I could manage, I asked what was up. before encountered a person so strongly “This is the fi rst time in ten years I’ve felt Though I was educated to be reasonable grounded in science, who was also able carpet—or anything—under my right foot!” (how boring), I am now also fascinated by to balance rationalism with the slippery he said, and his eyes were big. I did my best inexplicable wonders. For example, my fi rst domain of intuition, that mysterious to appear casually confi dent, but may have year in practice was agonizingly sparse, and world of spontaneous but ungovernable mutt ered, “Well, I’ll be damned!” no matt er what I did, it didn’t change. I was knowledge. More than once, in fact, she about to decide the gods hated me. Then, By the end of his tenth hour, Joe’s right fi rmly pointed out that I needed to relax experimenting with a technique I learned lower leg was pink, warm and nearly the my tight grip on logic and let in other, less at an unusual weekend seminar, I suddenly size of its mate. Even more impressive, conventional information. Over the years, got in touch with what I think of as my movement and sensation were gradually I’ve had good reason to remember and unconscious resistance to having the full returning throughout his leg, ankle and appreciate her advice. practice I told myself I craved. The emotions foot. He was one happy roofer, and I was and reasons made perfect sense; they My fi rst client in private practice was a one happy, if dumbfounded Rolfer™. simply were diametrically opposed to my roofer with back pain and a terrible limp. Over the decades I was in Dallas, Joe conscious goal. Yet it made perfect sense— Joe loved to fight. Ten years earlier, he came through town for sessions a and something suddenly shift ed. In the next had been knocked through a plate glass few times, and each time, the leg was moment (literally), the phone began to ring window, part of which fell like a guillotine more normal. and suddenly it seemed as though everyone blade and just about took his right lower My physician friends couldn’t explain in Dallas wanted to get Rolfi ng sessions. As leg off at the knee. The local hospital was such improvement, but neither could they loony as that sounds, my schedule books able to rejoin muscles and tendons, but deny the empirical evidence. I began to and tax records will back it up. I soon went not the nerves. The limb I saw was gray, understand that Joe was not a curse, but a from four clients a week to thirty-two, and badly atrophied and cool to the touch; gift , another reminder to let go of trying to presently my waiting list was a year and a there was no movement or feeling. The know everything and instead observe and half long. I know there is no way to prove conventional view was that since the nerves learn from my hands and the person under any rational connection between the “Aha!” had been severed, it would not improve, them. Ever since, I have encountered many and the shift , and I also know deep inside ever. Knowing that, how could we possibly more unexplained Rolfi ng “miracles,” just that they’re linked. reestablish balanced support for his back? as I assume all my colleagues have—or And what sort of bad cosmic joke or curse That’s why I also keep mulling over what I will. I figure those moments of happy was this, anyway? They never covered think of as Dr. Rolf’s koans (teaching riddles), astonishment are what drew most of this in class. But I worked as I was taught, the arresting remarks she didn’t explain, such as: “Seeing is touching at a distance,”

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 9 COLUMNS or “Healing is the intuitive art of wooing with whom my touch joined me, to follow acknowledge them as the foundation of nature,” or “Gravity is the therapist,” or and assist the changes that being was ready our art and its evolving importance. The “Rolfers don’t work on people; we work to make. oral tradition has always been important with people, in people.” Refl ecting on them historically. As an academic discipline, If “being” seems a bit imprecise, it’s probably can prompt new ideas, just as meditating it refers to both the objects of study and the infl uence of my fascination with the on the koan of Zen tradition can drive one the method by which they are studied. human psyche. I was a psychotherapist out of one’s “normal” mind, allowing life- During the years I was a faculty member, before coming to the Rolf Institute of changing fl ashes of insight. it was clear that my colleagues were Structural Integration®, and seven and a half bright, committ ed people. As far as I could For example, one of those bits of instruction years of Jungian analytic training in the 1990s tell, though, none of us had att ained the originally sounded simple, even obvious: only intensifi ed my desire to understand balance and vision of Ida Rolf. That was “If you really want to learn this work, keep the presence oft en referred to clumsily as some years ago, but I still doubt that we’ve asking yourself: how did this client get to be “mind and body.” While my Rolfi ng and outgrown the need to follow her protocol, this way?” Now, however, I think of that as psychoanalytic practices are quite separate, however much we like to test it or propose an invitation, an att empt to encourage our the two approaches clearly aff ect how I amendments to it. To abandon her holistic individual creativity and point to the path relate to both kinds of clients. For me, the vision to focus on treating symptoms would we must follow to make the work our own. “...how did this person get to be this way?” be an appalling regression, like turning our My guess is that Ida Rolf knew each of us includes the psychological and spiritual backs on Einstein in favor of Descartes or would see the structural, psychological, aspects as well as the somatic. There are Newton, or scrapping the Internet. That energetic and existential complexities of many ways to touch another. Sometimes, in doesn’t mean it hasn’t been tried. each client in very distinct, personal ways, a session, I just don’t know if a wonderful and she knew that if we could temper our change was prompted by my touch, by Finally, here’s one of Ida’s most intriguing idiosyncrasies with enough discipline, we something the client thought of, or the music koan: “When all is said and done, Rolfi ng, could help people as eff ectively as she did that was playing, or by something else I ultimately, is for the Rolfer.” What does —or ideally, even bett er. can’t identify. that mean? Knowing that she saw Rolfi ng as linked to the shamanic tradition, I While I’ve been in practice going on thirty- After practicing for thirty-two years in suspect it might mean, as one Irish poet three years now, Rolfi ng® is still new and Texas, I now live in Eugene, Oregon. As says, “Your calling in the world is to keep exciting to me. I’m continually amazed by much as I love Texas (except for those long, refi ning yourself until you fi nd the secret the degree of positive change it elicits; the hot summers), the death of my amazing form inside you.” Experience suggests that “Wow!” factor is ever-present, even in the wife Janie crashed my world, and one whatever views we hold, respecting the most challenging clients. I know that over day I realized I needed the nourishment map Ida Rolf gave us still off ers an exciting the years, with all the classes and workshops of natural beauty, which is abundant in path for achieving our highest potential as I’ve taken and taught (teaching is a great Oregon. Being quite new in town, working practitioners and as individuals. way to learn), my work has changed. I like to satisfy local requirements and develop to think it’s more refined and effective, my practices, I can defi nitely identify with yet compared to some of the concepts I new practitioners. It’s a real challenge. But read in Structural Integration, I sometimes shaking things up, lett ing go of att achments wonder if I’m a simple, even primitive and starting over is also exciting. As the practitioner. Sure, I’ve done my share Zen master Bunan commented, “Die while of “first aid,” symptom-oriented work, you’re alive. And be absolutely dead. Then but the most eff ective fi rst intervention I do as you like: it’s all good.” Retirement, to know to off er is Dr. Rolf’s holistic, ten-session me, is a foreign concept. Rolfi ng is a great protocol. With that as a foundation, so much way to make a diff erence in the world, and is possible. I really enjoy it. Hell, I’d like to follow the old tradition of dying with my boots on, if After Dr. Rolf’s death in 1979, I took it weren’t so hard on the client. the fi rst advanced class taught by Peter Melchior (the fi rst person Ida appointed Peter Melchior once joked that perhaps to teach her work) and Emmett Hutchins, some day future Rolfers would laugh at both exceptional practitioners. It was the us of the 70s for actually having to work unveiling of the new advanced fi ve-session on people with our hands instead of using series, but I was impressed most by the way pure energy. “But,” he said, “if they’re Peter worked, and by his eff ectiveness. His fair about it, they will remember that they approach looked subtle, even mysterious, stand on our shoulders, just as we stand on but what struck me was the depth of his Ida’s.” connection with his client. He was a strong That’s why I think that along with research infl uence for me, and before long I found and new ideas, there is enormous value myself moving away from the formal in paying attention to the ideas and structure of the series. Its guidelines stayed words of Ida Rolf, and not as a matt er of in the back of my mind, but the primary slavish devotion to the past, but rather to focus shift ed to att uning myself to the being

10 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org ROLFING® HISTORY

Dr. Rolf Remembered An Interview with Dr. Donald MacDonald

By Karen Lackritz, Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™

Donald MacDonald, an eighty-fi ve-year old retired cardiologist who lives in Eugene, Oregon, studied Rolfi ng® with Dr. Rolf at Esalen. This interview describes his personal relationship with Dr. Rolf when she taught her work at Big Sur.

Karen Lackritz: OK Donald, let’s talk DM: I was not exposed to a lot of historical and physiology. During that phase she had about something I love, Rolfi ng. things right away. Dr. Rolf was not the kind a litt le Volkswagen, I think it was a light tan, of person who would overwhelm you with and [when] she wanted me to take her for Donald MacDonald: I do too. her knowledge. She might say, “watch,” and a drive, we would go for a drive, and we KL: How did you get to be a Rolfer™? so I began to watch what she was doing. would talk about everything. There were about ten people in the class DM: In 1968 there was a great deal of KL: What do you remember talking about? [which] was in her place at Big Sur. So I got interest in [an] enlightened group of to know her and [had] conversations about DM: Well I remember talking about physicians that somehow became involved various things. She was interested in me, I astrology, she would do my astrology, and in this and recommended to me that I think, because I was a doctor. [Because I she talked about what I was interested in might be interested, so I went to Esalen and was] a doctor [who] admitt ed that he did —[which] is how she got started in all of entered into a group of people that were not know anything that was going on, she this. So I asked lots of questions. She started having these sessions. opened up a lot to me. I tried to be very her intellectual career at the Rockefeller KL: And were you a physician at the time? open-minded about all of this. She was not Foundation institute at Barnard College always in every class. She had people come in New York City, which is the woman’s DM: Yes, a cardiologist. in to give introductory lectures about what college of Columbia University. She married KL: What was intriguing about this to you? was going on, and [she] would come in. She this man who was an engineer, and she had a number of “pets” in the group that started talking to him about her ideas A friend of mine knew that I was DM: were students. They weren’t necessarily of what a person who was handicapped a person interested in new things. He pets in the usual way. She would make could do. She had two boys and she tried had been interested in meditation and jokes, and she had a great sense of humor, to fi gure out what she could do for these psychiatry, and I went down and became which was one thing that really set her boys that would improve their chances in involved in an encounter group. People apart. She had a beautiful laugh, loud life. We all do this with our children, and were talking about Rolfi ng, and I thought I bellowing, that was just wonderful. (He she wanted to improve these boys’ future. would try it, and I signed up for a session to imitates her laugh.) She became interested in osteopathy, and an experience something new and something off shoot of osteopathy. And as she pursued interesting. I was most impressed with KL: You know, Donald, this is interesting, these things, they had something, but they how I felt aft erwards, and I thought I was because I have heard many stories where did not have what she was looking for. not the kind of person to only experience people were intimidated by her, and I have Out of her knowledge of osteopathy and part of this, but I had to do the whole thing. not heard many stories where people talked chiropractic, there were elements that she When I went back to Esalen, I met Giovanna about her sense of humor. thought were of some interest. She and her DiAngelo, who introduced me to the idea DM: I am not a person who is easily husband use to go on hunting and fi shing of studying with Dr. Rolf. I went up to intimidated. But I love the way her trips in western Canada, and one year they Dr. Rolf’s house in Big Sur and asked if I personality was. She had such a great went to Alberta, and her husband fell and could study with her, and she said yes, and sense of humor. People would come in and strained his ankle, and they were in the I arranged to take the course. The class was express opinions about something, and wilderness, and he said, “Well, why don’t two three-week sessions. The fi rst was in she would just take them apart. It seems you fix it?” Her husband was her first Big Sur, and the second was in San Diego. that her explanation was threatening to patient, and she improved his ankle so they So I went and participated with what she them and I think that is probably why a could make it out of the wilderness, and was doing and I was fascinated with this. lot of people were frightened. I was just back to NYC. She started working on people KL: What do you remember about it? very much interested in what was going and she discovered one of the basic tenets of on [because of] my knowledge of anatomy Rolfi ng®, which is when you have a muscle

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 11 ROLFING® HISTORY or tendon that is stressed, the stress can be person you [were] going to meet in your area, traveling with Dr. Rolf, and what an relieved by working across the muscle. She life. She started with her children—“What opportunity this was. started the technique of going across the can I do to improve the life of my children?” KL: It is a metaphor in a way for Rolfi ng, tendon [to] relieve the spasm. —and from this came “What can I do to out on a journey in the back roads of life, improve the life of everybody?,” to improve KL: She also talked about how the energetic presenting opportunities. My guess is the life of an individual person. I think this fi eld is infl uenced in Rolfi ng®? she saw a lot of promise in you, that you is what she lived for. She had this enormous would be able to put her work into the DM: Well these things came later. You could intelligence, which would bypass a lot of medical fi eld. alter the way the tendon was reacting by people. When you meet someone like Ida putt ing your knuckles into it, this was a new Rolf, with tremendous intelligence, you DM: We communicated very well. She idea. No one else was doing that. are delving into a mind that is really very knew a lot about astrology, she knew superior. I realized that was going on, and about Buddhism, medicine, chiropractic KL: Did she ever talk to you about how she I was fascinated. work, and osteopathy. That may be one came up with the “Recipe,” the Ten Series? of the reasons why she liked to talk to me, KL: It seems what she did for you—being DM: I never asked her why she set it up because I have an interest in a lot of these in the medical fi eld, practicing the medical with the ten, but it seemed obvious. The things as well. model—and you going to Esalen gave you fi rst fi ve or six sessions, and the last sessions a very diff erent perspective of how to care KL: Do you have any suggestions for being a recapitulation [of the fi rst group]. for people. young Rolfi ng practitioners? For the future She emphasized how people moved and of Rolfi ng? how they [stood]. When someone came to DM: This is correct. Why did I go into have Rolfi ng done, she took lots of pictures. medicine? I went into medicine because I DM: Dr. Rolf was 100 years ahead of her In her textbook, some of those people were was interested in the intimate exposure to time. I think it will be a long time before people I was working on. human beings. the process of Rolfi ng is fully understood. What you are doing is Rolfi ng. It stands on KL: In the video that Giovanna helped KL: My guess is this is what you shared its own. It is its own technique. As time goes produce, you were there, next to Dr. Rolf, with Dr. Rolf, that intimate exposure to on, there will be recognition of this. As time and as she would talk about the person human beings. goes on, it’s going to fi lter into our lives. receiving Rolfi ng, your hands were the ones DM: I felt compelled by the idea that what a doing the work. KL: At one point you said you were talking physician does is make life bett er for people. to Dr. Rolf, and she had some concern about DM: Yes, I have to say something now. I [This was also true of] Dr. Rolf’s work how this work will be passed on. really loved this woman. I could see what [which came out of] her intuition. It [was] a remarkable soul she had. She had a not a mechanical thing. It [was] something DM: She was concerned with how she wonderful way... [Rolfi ng] was something that arose out of her knowledge of people was going to transmit this to [others], and that was totally genuine, and when someone and her knowledge of the world. Dr. Rolf how they were going to practice it. It was [asked] something about Rolfi ng, she had said you have to be careful, because you are my own concern at the time. People who already thought [it] through—the idea going to open things up. There was a patient were taking this course, I could see from that she could reconstruct a body; the who had an industrial accident, and I was what they said, what they were doing idea of gravity; the idea of walking, sitt ing astounded by what happened: after six with Rolfi ng, they were identifying with standing, those things in life that result in sessions, when he came back, he had quit whatever their education was—chiropractic deformity. What was she trying to achieve? his job, he had gott en a divorce. I realized work, psychology. Psychologists wanted to She was trying to achieve a body that could that the Rolfi ng had changed his life. He make something out of this in the fi eld of be lived without stress. I remember her had become a bett er person. . psychology. Rolfi ng is Rolfi ng. They wanted telling me how to stand, how to get up out to make Rolfi ng part of their work, and KL: Rolfi ng changes people lives in very of a chair, how to walk, what to do with my Rolfi ng stands alone. signifi cant ways. hands while I was walking, what to do with KL: Thank you for taking the time to share my feet when I was walking. She would see DM: Yes, it changed my life. I am a bett er your memories of Dr. Rolf. that and she would sit you down and put person. I am a more interesting person her knuckles in the thing and open it up. when I think about it. Once you have been You do the same thing. exposed to this, you have something that you may not be able to accept [i.e., you have KL: Apparently, you loved this woman, something that you carry through your life.] and many of my teachers say the same thing. What was it that you loved? There is KL: Donald, I experience you as being a something about this work as I see it that person who sees the best in people. My evokes something more. What is this? guess is with Dr. Rolf you were able to draw out the best parts of her. DM: Well I never thought about it at the time, but you must notice that tears come DM: I remember on one Sunday, we went to me when I think about this. She was so out on a drive around Big Sur, she knew genuine. People would say, she is this or where the roads went. I thought at the that. Bullshit. She [was] the most genuine time, well here I am out in this remote

12 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org ROLFING® HISTORY

breakfast on Sundays and show me what you’ve done.” Well now, I thought, who’s conned whom?

WISDOM SHARED First-Generation Hal Milton I was blessed with the opportunity to live Gleanings on the same property as Dr. Rolf as I was studying with her. I recall a time during a weekend when I visited with her as she Compiled by Deanna Melnychuk, Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ was doing some gardening. She said to understand Rolfi ng, it would be helpful to realize that this dirt that she was cultivating First-generation Rolfi ng® practitioners—those who studied directly with Dr. Rolf—are a tremendous and nourishing would allow the plants resource. They created a strong foundation for the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration® and a to grow and develop aligned with their path for us to follow. Their memories of Dr. Rolf’s comments still impact their work today—and nature. She went on to explain the same we can use their memories to enhance our own work. Several here share a “moment” with Dr. Rolf. was true with Rolfing: we cultivate the body through nutrition and movement “What for?,” she more or less growled. IMPRESSIONS exercise. By having the understanding of Bob Robinson “Because I’m interested in Rolfi ng,” I said. plant growth, we are able to cultivate and nourish the soft tissue so the body has the “So is the whole damn state. I’ve just turned I was in Dr. Rolf’s Advanced class in Boulder freedom to align itself with its nature in down twenty-fi ve people—why should I in 1976. She was in her seventies at the time gravity. As an eager student, this message accept you?” and an interesting paradox of Grandmother was profound and remains profound to this serving cookies and a focused, determined, Now this is a very intimidating old lady. day aft er years of practicing this art and all-business woman. When she worked, She was stocky and powerful-looking even science of Rolfi ng. her intent and presence was palatable; she though she wore a fresh fl ower in her hair. did not speak except to point out various I thought, well hell, I didn’t realize this HOW SHE WORKED things she was doing. This time was toward would be such a problem. I fi gured I would the end of her life, and she had a limited Tom Myers apologize for not knowing any of this and amount of energy having spent her entire for taking up her valuable time. But instead In my advanced class—fall of 1978 in life to create and build this work. She was I decided to lie. Philadelphia—I watched Dr. Rolf scratching not interested in deification; hence, she about the ankle of her model, seemingly called the work Structural Integration. For “I want to write about Rolfi ng,” I told her. with her fi ngernails. Puzzled, I went home those who were not taking the training “Oh?” she said, mildly interested. “Well, and tried it on some clients; but all I did seriously, she had less time. Her main push what have you read?” was leave fi ngernail marks on their ankles. was to train those whose passion matched It was only some years later that I found hers and who could carry on the work for Now here I was on slightly fi rmer ground— myself working very specifi cally about the many years aft er she passed. In the end I had read everything—I had even writt en ankles—but this time, I was sorting out the what I remember most was Dr. Rolf’s clarity, an article on “Human Energy” for World tendons and tendons sheaths north of the intelligence and, maybe most importantly, Book that mentioned Rolfi ng. The lie was malleoli. Suddenly I caught on: “Oh, that’s her intention. that I had no such intention when I showed what she was doing!” Imitation may be up. But maybe it wasn’t really a lie aft er Allan Davidson the sincerest form of fl att ery; but without all—why not write something grand? Ida the proper intent, the fl att ery is devoid of This excerpt is taken from a longer piece on studied me. meaning. With the meaning in place, the Allan’s introduction to Rolfi ng. “Stand up,” she commanded. “Where did intent is devoid of fl att ery. My Chicago Rolfing practitioner (Bob you get such a messed up body?” Nicholas French Hinds), who was att ending an advanced “But Ida,” I protested. “I’ve received (taken with permission from the Rolf Forum) class, had arranged a meeting for me with Rolfi ng.” Ida Rolf to see if I could sit in on the class— Dr. Rolf said from time to time she thought as a sort of unoffi cial auditor. I showed I was catching on. This gruff ness was a bit of one of the most productive kinds of work up at Adams House (down the road from an act. I had three aunts in their eighties, so I was “worrying,” which I understood as Esalen), and Ida came out at the break to was familiar with this cranky old lady style. leaning into the proper depth and using greet me—if greet is the proper word. very small movements of the fi ngertips (or Ida smiled. “OK, Allan,” she said, “you whatever) to free an area. The real key, of “What do you want?,” she asked. can be in this class. I want you to pay course, is the proper depth. att ention, and I want you to write something “Well,” I explained, “Bob Hinds had important. And I want you to come to mentioned that I might be able to sit in on the class.”

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Eric Jacobson unknown but exciting new worlds, and she for any piece of debris that looks as though (taken with permission from the Rolf Forum) was providing tools for exploring them. I it might keep your nose above water. But if was a kid in the biggest candy store ever. you have the courage not to grab for easy Do cross fi ber with your contact as you are solutions, and instead let yourself sink moving very slowly along the length of One day she quietly asked us to make a into deeper, unknown waters, you can fi nd the fascia. [I have] a memory of Dr. Rolf in simple commitment to the work. “There fi rm, new ground beneath your feet. Such class doing that and looking up and saying are all kinds of other therapeutic methods discoveries are worth the uncertainty to us, “See? See what I’m doing here? I’m out there: and I know it will be very and pain.” ‘worrying’ it.” tempting to add them to what you’re learning here, especially when you feel I had the sense that clever woman knew SAGE ADVICE frustrated, ineff ective and lost. They will that anyone willing to go deeper with be very att ractive, and you’ll want to grab the tools she gave us, even when scared Nicholas French for them. What I ask is that for the fi rst fi ve and desperate, would break through old When I applied for Rolfi ng® training, some years, you stay with this work, and this limitations and fi nd that the human beings friends who knew I was a psychotherapist work alone. If you have the discipline to under our hands off er infi nite learning. To asked, “Is that what you’re going to be search for answers in what you observe in focus on learning Rolfi ng, I withdrew from —just a Rolfer?” I smugly assured them: each person, using the methods learned practicing psychotherapy for years. Perhaps No, I wouldn’t be just a Rolfer. I would no here, you will be astounded with what it’s just my personal peculiarity, but doubt create my own (terribly brilliant) you will eventually discover. Then, aft er though I’ve studied other methods, I keep synthesis of therapy and Rolfi ng. But later, fi ve years, if you want to, feel free to add coming back to discover new appreciation face-to-face with Ida P. Rolf, I realized I had whatever other techniques you like. Just for the work and for that bright, funny, fi nally stumbled into an arena of infi nite remember that confusion, painful as it may far-sighted woman. possibilities. The woman was pointing to be, is a very fertile energy. When you feel as though you’re drowning, it’s natural to grab

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The 2008 keynote speaker, Serge Gracovetsky, privately offers a video CD of his presentations. For more information: www.somatics.de/gracovetsky_info.pdf

14 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org ROLFING® HISTORY

Byron Gentry, D.C.: My Dad, My Friend, My Mentor An Interview with Dan Gentry, Certifi ed Rolfer™ would get upset with one another like bothers and sisters do, and would voice By Robert McWilliams, Certifi ed Rolfer™ their feelings to each other. They talked on the phone on a regular basis, and shared The most incredible and powerful asset you own is your mind. With this magnifi cent thoughts and ideas about Rolfing. For organ, you can heal yourself and others physically, att ract wealth and prosperity, smooth example, they discussed how important troubled relationships—and that’s just for starters! your intent is when working on a particular Byron Gentry, D.C.1 area or regarding the whole Rolfi ng session. She came to Oklahoma City several times and worked on some of Dad’s friends Byron Gentry, D.C. was born in 1913. His childhood affl iction with polio only seemed to give him more determination to improve his own condition and that of others. He became a very and patients. All I remember of the early successful chiropractor based in Oklahoma City, and fi rst met Ida Rolf at a training she gave in years before the establishment of the ® Dallas in 1954. Gentry and Rolf became good friends and colleagues. Rolf Institute of Structural Integration in Boulder was that Richard Stenstadvold Gentry is credited with infl uencing Rolfi ng® regarding the use of focused intention. He had an apartment in California and the published Miracles of the Mind: How to use The Power of Your Mind for Healing and Rolf Institute was a P.O. box where Richard Prosperity in 1998, a book writt en with his wife Mary Gentry about his life and healing work, would pick up the mail. and especially about his developed use of mental projection. In it, he off ers instruction in the use of these techniques, including “The Tool,” a method of using mental projection and physical Once when Dr. Rolf was out visiting my actions to assess and re-balance the electromagnetic polarities and static charge buildups that parents, she invited me to be a model for may cause pain and dysfunction. Gentry died in 2001 aft er a lifetime of healing and learning. the class she was going to conduct in San Francisco. This was in 1976. Rolfi ng was so Dan Gentry (pictured with his stepfather and wife, Theresa) is Byron Gentry’s stepson. This intense in those days! When Dr. Rolf asked interview is the result of a set of writt en questions given by Robert McWilliams to Dan, and me to describe the pain, I said that it felt their subsequent “massaging” of the answers. Robert works in Dan’s Rolfi ng practice during to me like they took a nail, stuck it into a regular forays to Oklahoma City. fi re, then pushed it deep into my tissue! I remember her saying, while working on Robert McWilliams: In Miracles of the once said to me “Of all those people in the me: “I may be ‘paining you’ but I’m not Mind, written with your mother, Mary crowd, here comes Gentry with a really bad hurting you!” Aft er the treatment with my Gentry, Dr. Gentry relates that he fi rst met distortion.” That was the beginning of their student practitioner, Neal Powers, I could Ida Rolf at a workshop in Dallas in January lifelong friendship. She told me that Byron tell that she had been closely monitoring of 1954. They continued a professional Gentry was a friend of Rolfi ng. my session. She would come up and slowly association, and developed a lasting rotate her hand just above my abdomen. Dad was in the very fi rst class Ida ever friendship. Did he ever talk about the early The energy and warmth coming from her taught, and helped her schedule future days with Dr. Rolf before she had developed hand was so peaceful, and soothing, that it classes. I am not sure of the exact year or her school in Boulder? would sett le me down. location, but I assume it was in the fi ft ies. Dan Gentry: The fi rst time Byron met Dr. Rolf invited my parents to fi ve annual The classroom atmosphere was very Ida was at a Rolfi ng demonstration. She meetings to have “Gentry,” as she called serious, and if there was any clowning asked if there were any volunteers that Dad, speak. They had a mutual respect around, Ida would quickly dismiss you would like to come up to the front and be for one another and were both very from the room. She would say: “I don’t have worked on. Dad raised his hand. She didn’t strong people, with their own opinions time for that! My work is too important know that he had a bad scoliosis caused that sometimes collided. Their friendship and it must be done right!” She would by polio. She saw him and about died. She was like a bother-sister relationship. They also say that “any monkey could do this

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 15 ROLFING® HISTORY work, so don’t make it hard.” Ida was very in spasm, go in slowly and hold it and it my back.” That thought had never entered focused and determined that her work will let go in about fi ft een seconds,” and it my mind. would continue into the future. She said would. Right aft er my parents got married, RM: Can you talk a litt le about some of his that her work was part of the evolution of we were having breakfast and he told me treatment methods? man, because she was making it possible for about his mental healing work and asked man to stand more upright, instead of on all me what I thought about it. I said, “Okay, DG: His work was always precise and to fours, as in the beginning. She was a strong I believe you.” From that point on I would the point to give his patents relief from taskmaster on a mission, but had a kind, ask him questions about how he did it, pain, and to break up muscle constriction gentle and loving side at the same time. how it worked and I was very interested that was causing a vertebra to be out No one would mess with Ida, because she in possibly trying to do it myself. It seemed of place. Dad was trained in and used would put them in their place in a heartbeat. so big I did not think I could possibly do acupuncture with his clients on a daily I can see now that history was being made, it. From age sixteen I started trying to do basis, if the patient came in for it, or also if and feel very lucky to have been a model for what he did. I did not feel that was I was he felt it would particularly benefi t them. a class with Ida. Some of those students are having much success but continued to try. Dad would also perform acupuncture on now among the leaders of the Rolf Institute In my twenties I started gett ing prett y good his racehorses whenever they were injured of Structural Integration®. at it, but still needed a lot of work. Since or having a problem. Other owners would Dad had been a victim of polio, he needed ask him to do acupuncture on their horses, RM: Your mother married Byron in 1966, work done on a daily basis. I was happy to at times, and he would oblige. He worked when you were eleven years old or so. What work on him and have the opportunity to on many cats and dogs that were ailing, did you make of your new dad, and his learn from one of the best in his fi eld. He too. Oft en this was done by remotely, by healing work? continued to teach me many techniques telephone. He used his mental techniques DG: The fi rst time I met Dad I was ten years throughout the years, even aft er I became to help break up muscle constriction and to old. My mother was sick in bed and Byron a Certifi ed Rolfer™. I use his techniques get the aff ected vertebrae back into place. was making a house call to work on her. everyday in my practice—physical and He used the “Tool” for many different He bought us a bucket of Kentucky Fried mental techniques situations, too many to mention. He would Chicken. That made a big impression on check them using mental techniques fi rst to RM: How had polio affected him, as a me because it showed that he cared enough see why his patient was hurting before ever person and practitioner? to go out of his way to help people that he touching them with his hands, so he would really did not know that well. The second DG: As a parent he never complained know what he needed to do to treat them. time I met him was on a Saturday. My mom about his physical weakness. I never RM: Byron developed his ideas about had some friends over, and I had friends thought of him as one with an affl iction or working with mental energy for healing in over, and we were playing ping-pong in the limited physical abilities. Before becoming the Bible Belt area of the country. Was there basement. We lost our last ball and needed a chiropractor he was a basketball and ever a reaction against this work, there? new ones, so I went to see if my mom would football coach, sett ing school records for get us some new balls. Before I could say having the most wins in one season in DG: Dad did not tell people or patients anything, Byron smiled very warmly, both sports. He coached for two years and about his abilities because he was concerned motioned for me to come to him and asked both years they were state champions. that it would either scare them off or that me what I needed. I told him, and he smiled He was also an excellent golfer, and was they would think that he was a witch doctor. as he put his arm around me and said, involved with raising racehorses for over The only ones that knew about it were close “Sure! Lets go get those new balls,” and thirty years. As a practitioner he was more friends, relatives, and a handful of patients. off we went. Aft er that I was sold on him. compassionate and understanding about For years he did most of his mental work That was the beginning of a lifelong close what pain felt like and the limitations it by phone with many people throughout relationship that I still treasure to this day. causes. No matt er how he felt physically, the U.S. and internationally. They would it did not seem to aff ect him mentally. He call to have him check to fi nd what was The Christmas before my parents were put in twelve-hour days at the offi ce, seeing going on with their life circumstances or married, Byron bought us a very large on average forty-eight people a day for physical conditions and have him work on Christmas tree. It came with a wooden fi ft een minutes each, four and a half days a them from a distance. This work went on stand, but was so big that it would tip week. He took his work very seriously and for years and continued until four weeks over. Dad took care of it. He simply nailed was always a student of the fi eld, looking before he died at age eighty-eight, in 2001. It it to the living room fl oor! I had not been for new information to improve his work. was hard for him to stop, and he continued around anyone like this in my life. He did He took many classes in a variety of areas to work in this way even when he did not not take life so seriously, except when it of bodywork, ranging from nutrition and have the physical strength for it anymore. came to his work. acupuncture to craniosacral therapy. He RM: From his book, it is clear that Byron He was a very generous man in every way learned muscle testing, which led him into Gentry was determined to follow a and was fi lled with warmth, kindness and developing the work called “Miracles of the “scientific approach” in developing his love for others and completely enjoyed Mind.” The only time he ever mentioned theories, and he cites you as a researcher. helping others. He started teaching me his back was when I was gett ing married. What do you remember about the time body techniques when I was eleven: how He said, “Don’t worry, Dan, I will stand you spent working in the clinic in the 70s to work on muscles, what to feel for, where up straight so your friends will not notice and beyond? to look. He would say, “fi nd the muscle

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DG: Dad and I were always talking about posterior on the left or the right? B) What do an assessment by fi rst making a mental what he had recently discovered from his vertebrae are out? Are they posterior on statement about the client, and then mental and physical checking methods the left or the right? Is the atlas out of checking its validity by bringing his hands and the best way he had found to treat a alignment? Is it back on the left or right? C) together with his arms straight down in particular problem. I was always interested What ribs are misaligned and need to be re- front of him. If the statement were not in learning how to treat that condition aligned? What direction do they need to go? true his left arm would be shorter. It may and make sure I was doing the treatment By measuring the legs you can tell what is have taken several statements, getting correctly and efficiently. Sometimes, I out of alignment on a skeletal level. It also true and false answers, before knowing would do the work and have him check gives you information on what muscles are what to treat. He would then use strong mentally, from a distance, to make sure in spasm and need work to get the skeletal mental projection techniques to treat and I was gett ing the results I wanted. I also system back into its correct alignment. As to correct the problem. He could check and learned many offi ce procedures from him far as ways of addressing this, I would treat many diff erent issues and areas and that I use today in my Rolfi ng® practice. like to quote Byron Gentry regarding the have eff ective results. He would work on During the 70s I was going to school physiology of a muscle: “Anytime you the own mental-control center of his own part-time taking chemistry, anatomy and push a muscle together (flexion) for a brain that was used for projection to make physiology while working at Dad’s offi ce. period of time, it shortens, anytime you his projection techniques even stronger. I was running tests on urine and saliva and apply pressure to a muscle and hold it, This was just one of many things he did to putt ing people on diets according to their it lengthens.” improve his abilities. test results. The diets were determined by Dad was very interested in craniosacral I have worked to incorporate his mental the patients’ body chemistry and changing technique and nerve reflex points, and and physical techniques into my Rolfi ng what was out of balance. It was an accurate would treat them fi rst to break the refl ex that practice in every way I could. I do use the testing system. was causing the muscle(s) to go into spasm. Tool with effi ciency but I still need more RM: Can you talk a little about the That way the muscles would relax faster and practice with my checking to feel confi dent beginnings of your own professional life, the patient would have less discomfort. He with the answers I get. I do not feel I will and how you became a Rolfi ng practitioner? had an entire treatment system that he used ever be who he was or do what he was able on every patient: checking their leg length, to do in his work. He was one of a kind. DG: One day I was at my parents’ house, doing myofascial work (Rolfing), bone He was Byron Gentry, my dad, my friend and Dad asked. “Dan, would you like realignment (chiropractic), and working my mentor. to become a Certified Rolfer™?” I said, refl ex points to break up muscle constriction “Yes, I would,” and he said, “Let’s call the that was causing the misalignment. Rolf Institute®,” and the rest is history. It NOTES: reminded me of when I was ten years old, Everything that I have mentioned above 1. Gentry, Byron, Miracles of the Mind: How and he put his arms around me and said about treatment on the physical level, and to Use The Power of Your Mind for Healing ”let’s go get those ping-pong balls.” He more, Dad was able to do on an energetic and Prosperity, 1998, Rainbow Books (out talked to me with the same warmth and level using mental projection. He would of print). love as he had done so many years ago. I graduated November 15, 1987, having trained with Jason Mixer, Jim Asher and ® Neil Powers. First European Rolfi ng Week RM: Dr. Gentry trained at the Chicago School of Chiropractic Medicine. His own April 19-27, 2009 later research led him to work with what we might now call “energetic approaches” to healing, ranging from refl ex points and European Rolfers™ – Unite for a Thrilling Event! body vibrational rates to chakras, later adding the acupuncture meridian lines. Join Rolfers from all over Europe. Can you discuss his theories and practices as they relate to your Rolfi ng practice? Come and organize local events, mini workshops, demo DG: My work can be arranged into two sessions and lectures for the public. categories: the physical, and the mental. The physical combines Rolfi ng with Dad’s The European Rolfi ng Association will provide PR work, ranging from structural realignment and marketing support. and mobilization to refl ex evaluation and treatment. Regarding the mental aspects, Locations include: Austria, Denmark, Germany I use mental projection and energetic (Munich, Berlin), Italy. approaches. I have taken Dad’s techniques of measuring leg lengths to help determine the answers to the following: A) Is the For more information: sacroiliac joint out of place? If so, is it www.rolfi ng.org or email monika.lambacher@rolfi ng.org.

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 17 ROLFING® HISTORY

18 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org ROLFING® HISTORY

support, interest and encouragement for my work at a time when I felt at odds with the traditional astrological community. There wasn’t much experimentation, questioning or deviating from standard dogma at that time, and I’d felt like such a misfi t amongst Ida Rolf’s others in this fi eld. She gave me the courage to continue on with my research, to pioneer these concepts and to follow my own truth. Astrology Chart This meant a lot coming from her, being such a pioneer herself and so unafraid to An Interview with Diane Clarke champion what she believed in. She will always have a special place in my heart.

By Anne F. Hoff, Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ Ida Rolf was born on May 19, 1896 with her natal Sun placed in the very last degree of Taurus (once again, in full bloom!). Just as Although not all Rolfi ng practitioners will give astrology credence, Ida Rolf did. In 1999 I met Taurus is a fi xed earth sign, Ida was a very astrologer Diane Clarke on Maui. We both lived there, and Diane came to me for Rolfi ng® sessions down-to-earth individual with strong, fi xed subsequent to an auto accident. One of the fi rst things she told me was that she had done astrological opinions. She had tremendous willpower readings for Dr. Rolf. As Dr. Rolf was no longer living, Diane felt comfortable sharing the chart and stamina, and was highly practical and with me, and being interviewed about it. With Rolfi ng history as the theme of this issue, it seemed grounded. At the same time, she could an appropriate time to dig out the tape of our interview. be very fi rm, stubborn and obstinate. She certainly wasn’t someone who could be Anne Hoff: How did you meet Ida Rolf? very aware of everything that was going pushed around! Venus, the ruling planet on around her. of her sun sign, was also in Taurus. As Diane Clarke: I was introduced to her with most people who have significant through a mutual friend, Dani Starr, who We hit it off right away, and it didn’t take Taurean placements, she highly valued had been a restaurateur in New York City. too long for the subject of astrology to come her home, family and community—family, Dani and I had connected at Rio Caliente, up. I found her to be extremely alert and in particular, meant a lot to her. It seemed a health retreat near Guadalajara, Mexico, astrologically-aware. She told me that she to me that she considered all the Rolfi ng where I was doing an astrology lecture. He hadn’t had her chart done for many years, practitioners and people that she worked subsequently came to visit me at my home but had always been very interested in the with as her extended family. in San Diego, ended up falling in love with subject. I explained to her that I utilized the city and soon moved there. When he a diff erent system of astrology than was Using an equal house chart, both her decided to go back to NYC in the summer traditionally used—the “clockwise house Sun and Venus fall in the 9th house of of 1978 for a visit, he asked me to go along system” based on the work of Carl Payne her horoscope—the area of the chart with him. Since Dani was associated with Tobey. She said, “You know, I think we associated with education, knowledge, a number of Rolfi ng practitioners there, need a diff erent system, as I don’t see the religion and philosophy. Those with this we ended up staying at the Rolfi ng Center astrology that we’ve been using as being particular placement are usually big part of the time. We also spent time with that valid or useful. Although I know thinkers, enthusiastic and straightforward; his close friend Owen James and Owen’s there is much truth in it, I’ve had a real they tend to have strong beliefs, a well- wife, Heather, who was also a Rolfing battle with the way it’s being practiced developed faith and a great desire to share practitioner. One night there was a social these days.” So she asked me to explain the truth as they see it. They oft en have gathering at their home and Ida Rolf was to her the approach that I used, which is come into this lifetime carrying a particular one of the guests. based on ancient Sumerian and Babylonian message—and can become great teachers astrology and has been kept alive by certain and communicators. Ida was no exception Even though she was in a wheelchair at the secret societies over the millenniums. Well, to this! Her mind was very active and she time, she exuded a powerful presence when she absolutely loved this approach and it thrived on studying and learning. She she entered a room—Ida had an impressive resonated with her so much that she asked was impressively well-read and drew aura and big energy! Everybody was very if I would give her an astrological reading information from a variety of sources, respectful and in awe of her—they treated based on this system. So that’s how our seeming to know something about a lot of her with great reverence, deference and relationship began! diff erent things. Quite opinionated, she had admiration. There was quite an imperious no qualms about expressing her mind— dimension to her. [It made sense when I I was so delighted to have this connection and she clearly wanted to be heard. looked at her chart later, because her rising with her, particularly since I had undergone sign, or ascendant, was in the last degree a series of Rolfi ng sessions myself many With her Leo ascendant, she had a magnetic, of Leo—a fully-bloomed Leo personality!] years earlier—and had found it to be a even regal, presence and a lot of charm Ida carried herself much like the “queen profoundly transformative experience. when she wanted to turn it on. She could bee” that she was. She commanded much It was a thrill for me to be able to give turn it off just as fast though, when she was power and authority. Personality-wise, she something back to her! At the same time, it feeling ignored. She certainly liked being was also very feisty, very inquisitive—and was quite validating for me to receive her the center of attention! Her Moon was

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 19 ROLFING® HISTORY also in Leo, along with Jupiter—she had a her independent, individualistic approach DC: Probably because she felt that her colorful personality, was playful and liked to life; she could be quite uncompromising death was fairly imminent [she did pass on to laugh a lot. Ida exuded much vitality and and abrupt with those who disagreed with the following year]—and that there were a warmth when surrounded by her adoring her. Freedom of thought and action was number of things she wanted to make sure students and admirers and seemed to live high on her list (it must’ve been very tough were taken care of beforehand. She wanted her life with fl air and pizzazz. At the same on her to be confi ned to a wheelchair in to make sure the professional reins were in time, she could be quite the drama queen! her later years). And with her North Node good hands. She was very concerned about With her Moon in Leo being the focal point in Aquarius, it was defi nitely her calling things being done correctly and properly, of a fixed T-square involving both the in life to bring about change, question that the right people were taking care of Sun and Venus in Taurus, and Saturn and authority, upset the status quo and do business, and it wasn’t getting into the Uranus in Scorpio, she could roar like a lion things diff erently. She saw the world in hands of people who weren’t doing it the when things weren’t going her way. And unique ways and was really ahead of her way they were supposed to. She had clear she could be quite touchy and sensitive, time. And she was such an interesting and opinions about how it needed to be done oft en taking things very personally and unforgett able character! and wanted to make sure everything was in getting her feelings hurt when she felt order. At eighty-two years old, she was still Another signifi cant aspect of her horoscope disrespected or unsupported. running the show! She openly admitt ed that is the potent conjunction of Mercury, she had a problem delegating, and that’s The opposition between her planets in Neptune and Pluto in Gemini—the sign what she was working on. She wanted to Taurus and Scorpio seems to explain associated with inquisitiveness, versatility, make sure that her loose ends were tied some of the contradictions in her makeup. ideas and information. Gemini is a sign up. All I was able to do was give her some The nature of Taurus tends to be gentle, of duality, representing the hands, as tips and timing as to how to make the most supportive and comforting, whereas the well as the mind. Placed in her 10th of the near future. I recall that there were Scorpio nature is more focused on achieving house (career, power and leadership), this some important progressions and transits goals and taking charge. Scorpio energy can particular conjunction describes her great passing through her 10th house (career and come across as secretive, intimidating and curiosity, her talent with her hands and public image) at the time, so it was all about controlling when it doesn’t feel empowered her communication skills, which she used getting things under control, and that’s or is out of balance. When these two forces with great success in her professional life. what she was focused on. There were also aren’t in harmony with each other, confl icts This planetary confi guration also indicates some family concerns. It’s hard to remember and power struggles can be the result... a mind that is imaginative, mystical, the details—this was over twenty years ago! and it did seem that she had her share of investigative and transformative. Ida those. I know that it was very important to certainly had some powerful information Ida Rolf’s horoscope is a very powerful her that she had control, that things were to impart to the world and she spent her one, and certainly lines up with how done in certain, specifi c ways. With her entire life doing just that. her life evolved over the years. She was Venus-Saturn opposition, she had high fully-expressed in this lifetime! With the She came across as very witt y, mentally- expectations of people and situations, and majority of her planets in fi xed signs, she playful and conversational; she was became very disappointed and resentful was a very steadfast, loyal and determined extremely easy to talk with. Ida was spicy when they let her down. I’m presuming individual. No wonder she lived so long —she had a sharp tongue (perhaps due that it would’ve been challenging to live up and accomplished so much. All but two of to her Mercury-Mars square) and didn’t to her expectations, as she could be quite her planets were above the horizon when mince words. When she felt that things demanding. Was she known in Rolfing she was born, indicating a life lived mostly weren’t going her way, she would speak circles for being that way? out in the world, in the public spotlight— her mind and say it just like it was. She she was designed for it! It’s interesting to AH: Yes, I think so. was very outspoken and blunt! At the note that in her chart, the Ascendant, Sun, same time, I sensed deep sensitivity and DC: I’m sure that she provided much Mars and North Node all fall in the last emotional depth to her. The close sextile support and encouragement to those degrees of their respective signs, something aspect between her Sun in Taurus and individuals who were aligned with her karmic astrology interprets as being a very Mars in Pisces provided her with immense thinking. But for those who weren’t...well, old soul—somebody who was on this compassion, as well as energy and healing she probably didn’t have much room in planet to make a major contribution. I never ability. her life for them. It seems that she had did hear her story of how she discovered encountered many who didn’t like what One of the challenges that I had with Ida and developed Rolfi ng, but I suspect it had she was doing or approve of her methods, was her insistence on knowing when something to do with her own body or with but she was used to having to stand up and she was going to die. Somehow, she felt family on some level. With her Taurus Sun, fi ght for what she believed in. Once she that astrology should be a source for that Leo rising and Leo Moon, it had to have set her course, it would have been diffi cult information and that I should be able to tell been something very personal. Do you to stop her...kind of a human steamroller! her. No matt er how many times I explained know what led her into it? With her Sun-Uranus opposition, there’s to her that this issue was not in my realm AH: I believe it was some family medical no question that she had a rebellious, of experience, expertise or interest, she kept issues she was dealing with that led her to revolutionary spirit. She seemed to enjoy badgering me. She didn’t want to take no research things, but as I understand it she challenging the system and doing things for an answer! was kind of closed-mouth about how she her way. It was probably diffi cult in the AH: Why do you think she wanted to actually did develop Rolfi ng. People know relationship department for her because of know that? bits and pieces but not the whole story.

20 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org ROLFING® HISTORY

DC: Interesting. Despite her sunny exterior consciousness and actually channeled this associated with solidarity, stability and and her communicative nature, deep information. There are many indications structure. This is also the sign of the builder down she was quite a private person. With in her chart that she was capable of tuning —and she defi nitely built a solid practice Saturn, Uranus and the Part of Fortune all in to the higher realms. Looking at her and a foundation which continues on to this in Scorpio, she did keep her own counsel in chart from a reincarnation perspective, day. And we are all the bett er for it! many ways. She had a rich interior life and she may have had a signifi cant incarnation AH: Thank you very much. delved quite deeply into whatever caught in Egyptian times—which was the Age her interest. With Saturn in her 3rd house, of Taurus. Perhaps she was carrying this she was serious-minded and disciplined information in her phylogenetic memory Diane Clarke is an astrological and feng shui in her thought processes. Uranus, also in banks or was able to tune into some ancient consultant currently living in Las Vegas. She her 3rd house, gave her an openness to body wisdom. Whatever the case, she can be contacted at (702) 737-5636, or through unusual ideas and progressive approaches certainly was the bearer of many gift s. Her www.starsage.com, her website. Anne Hoff is —an indication of a very inventive, original focus on realigning the body’s structure in a Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ now living and thinker. It’s highly likely that she had relationship to gravity seems to be truly practicing in Seatt le. the innate ability to tap into universal aligned with her Taurus “roots,” the sign

THE ROLF INSTITUTE FROM AN ASTROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE By Diane Clark

The Rolf Institute was founded by Ida Rolf on May 27, 1971 in San Francisco, California. It came into being under the sign Gemini, which is associated with communication, connectivity and circulation.

The breath, as well as the hands, are also associated with this Sun sign—very appropriate for an organization whose role is to reach out and make contact with others. This chart has a grand trine in air signs, involving the Sun in Gemini, Mars in revolutionary Aquarius, and Uranus in Libra, the sign of balance and harmony: there will always be lots of ideas and information breezing about.

The Moon is in Cancer (its own home) and indicates a nurturing, feeling and tenacious nature. Mercury and Venus are in earthy Taurus, along with Saturn, which falls on Ida Rolf’s Sun in Taurus —it’s certainly her light that has contributed to the solidarity and longevity of this community. The Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius is opposed to the Sun in Gemini, suggesting that the identity of this organization has undergone numerous shifts and clarifications of purpose over the years. It also indicates an outreach that is international in scope.

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 21 ROLFING® HISTORY

At some point during the second day Ida got completely turned on and began to talk about the beauty of the English language, how perfect it was for literary beauty as compared with every other language. She began to reminisce about the sounds and The Passing of Ida Rolf sights she had seen, about her fi rst trip to California, and then ran out of steam all of By Murray Korngold, Ph.D a sudden, at which point she said, “Well, I think I’ll send you home now, to think up some more questions.” Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in The Journal of Energy Medicine, No. 1 I next saw Dr. Rolf the following Sunday (February 1980) under the title “The Dying of Ida Rolf.” It is reprinted here with permission of afternoon. This time, in addition to Joy the author. Belluzi, Dr. Rolf’s friend and companion, a close friend of Joy’s, Lorna Christianson, had never laid eyes on Ida Rolf before did it all without money, without support, was also present. Dr Rolf’s condition I that raw March 1979 Sunday aft ernoon while rearing her children and living her had worsened considerably. She was not when I visited her in a Pennsylvania nursing life. Even as a girl, she had overcome great responsive, appeared to be comatose—for home. I had come to tape an interview. I had obstacles, leaving home because of paternal a long time she hadn’t moved or opened her wanted to go directly to the source of the opposition to her becoming a biological eyes. There was no sense of her presence structural integration movement to report scientist at a time when women Ph.D.s were in the room. She was absent, definitely the original doctrine rather than someone’s virtually unheard of. not there. paraphrase. She lay, ravaged by rectal Our fi rst hour was abruptly ended when Ida cancer, in an att itude of constant att ention. About the same time I sensed Dr. Rolf had Rolf said, “I’m going to send you home now Her sight and hearing were not quick and returned, Joy and Lorna came back into —come back tomorrow.” And, aft er a pause, precise. She was immobile, yet at moments the room. I stood beside Dr. Rolf and told “Bring some samples of your writing.” her energy would lick out like a tongue of her that I knew she was there and could fl ame. Like an old fi ghter who had the style Taken aback, I asked why and was told that hear and understand what I was saying. but not the wind or legs anymore, she made if I had no samples that I should return the “If you want to say yes to anything I ask every move count. following day with Chapter One of Ida you, would you please open your eyes,” Rolf’s biography. I read her my Chapter I said. “Do you understand me?” She In the course of that fi rst hour we spent One on Monday, March 12th. She appeared opened her eyes. “Dr. Rolf, would you together, I became aware of two Ida Rolfs. to weep silently. like me to read to you?” I asked. She said One was the Rolf who lay patiently and yes by opening her eyes. From that point indomitably willing her work to proceed, When I fi rst met Dr. Rolf the previous day, forward our communication consisted of always—every instant—on the alert waiting two impressions were clear. One was that my putting questions to her which she to advance her doctrine, her praxis. For this she was dying; the other was that she was either answered “yes” by opening her Rolf there was only one task of importance: exerting a huge eff ort of will to remain eyes, or did not answer by not opening to align all people with the gravitational alive and alert. I was suddenly appalled at her eyes, which meant either “no” or that field; to get us all erect, straight, and the prospect of conducting an interview. It she was indisposed or in another space or effortless. The other Ida Rolf was the seemed to me that under the circumstances I not available. viewing, feeling heart that lived in and was obliged either to connect meaningfully out of time. She wondered and wandered with Dr. Rolf or leave as gracefully as Later, aft er rummaging around, we came and occasionally surfaced into the present. possible. In her barely audible way, she up with Itzhak Bentov’s Stalking the Wild She grieved of a fragment of half-forgott en seemed to welcome the idea of a visitor, Pendulum, which I opened at random—as verse and remembered the sound of horses’ so I found myself wanting to connect. it happened, to page 80—and began to read hooves and bellowing seals and the look of Her att ention came in bursts, there were a discussion of relative levels of reality. I old houses. This Ida Rolf dealt with sights moments when she was elsewhere or in read this to Dr. Rolf, slowly and clearly, and sound in the room where we sat as if other spaces (which felt like inner spaces) pausing from time to time to inquire if she she were peering through shift ing fogs—all and the diff erent contexts would overlap. understood or agreed, and so on. Almost with wry, bemused amazement. In a way, at moments, it was like conversing unconsciously I drift ed from reading to with someone who dozes off from time talking to her. As I realized this, I said I admired Ida Rolf enormously. Aside from to time and then wakes up talking in a to Dr. Rolf, “Are you aware that there is the substantive content of Rolfi ng®, the art dream. Yet it wasn’t altogether like that, more of you than there is in the bed?” and science of human verticality, which had because throughout the two days in which She said yes. “Are you connected with the taken her name, she had by dint of her own I spoke with her, she seemed to be totally more of you than there is in the bed?” She eff orts, unaided (indeed, undermined rather in command of herself, regardless of which answered yes. “Is it sometimes diffi cult than aided), promulgated, propagandized, spaces she was occupying at the time. It was to stay connected?” Yes. “If you have any demonstrated, taught, persuaded, simply that she lacked the physical means diffi culties at all, ask for help, sincerely organized—irreversibly brought into the to implement her intentions. Yet one felt ask for help, and help will come. Do you world a thing of great importance. And she that she had clear intentions at any moment. understand?” Yes. “Are there dark spaces?”

22 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org ROLFING® HISTORY

Yes. “Are there bright and shiny ones?” Yes. Murray Korngold turned eighty-nine on New Los Angeles Free Clinic in the 60s; and...in the “Well, it’s bett er for you not to hang out Year’s Day 2009. According to his memoir 70s, [a developer of] break-through techniques in the dark space. Go for the bright and (First Draft : A Life to Talk About; Valmy for the teaching of psychic healing.” Of his shiny ones. Do you understand?” Yes. And Press, Paris, 2005), he has been “a Detroit encounter with Ida Rolf, he reports that “It’s so it went. organizer of auto workers and college students not oft en that one has the opportunity to see in the 30s; an infantry soldier in World War such an admirable person off ... I felt honored and Aft er about ten minutes of this, the room II; a Hollywood poet, screenwriter, playwright privileged to have had such an opportunity.” felt empty again, this time peacefully empty. and Communist Party member in the 40s; one Aft er a long pause, Joy and Lorna and I of the original LSD researchers in the 50s; a laughed a litt le, wept a litt le, and hugged pioneer in the practice of clinical psychology and each other. A short time later, I returned to traditional Chinese medicine; a founder of the Philadelphia. Dr. Rolf died the next day.

® SHIFTING SAN G THE DS OF ROLFIN Body Maps, Perception, Gravity

The 2009 Membership Meeting Friday, July 31st – Sunday, August 2nd Hotel Boulderado, Boulder CO

Featuring: Sandra Blakeslee & Hubert Godard Matt Blakeslee, authors of Internationally reknowned “The Body Has a Mind Rolf Movement Instructor of Its Own”

JOINED BY: ROBERT SCHLEIP • STEPHEN EVANKO • TESSY BRUNGARDT BILL SMYTHE • DON HAZEN • NICHOLAS FRENCH ~ AND OTHERS ~

www.rolf.org/affi liates/membermeet.asp

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 23 PERSPECTIVES

Either way, subjectivity is unavoidably in the background. The majority of manual therapies cannot be practiced through anything other than the practitioners’ sensations, which is one reason it is so diffi cult to identify reliable variables for Muscle Repositioning the study and teaching of such disciplines. Perhaps because of these diffi culties, most A New Verifi able Approach documented studies of manual therapies are clinical outcome trials. Although these to Neuro-Myofascial Release? studies are important for evaluation of the By Luiz Fernando Bertolucci, M.D., Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ effi cacy and indications of the modalities concerned, they fail to bring a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Journal of Bodywork and Movement action—or to enhance their objectivity and Therapies, (2008) 12, 213-224, published by Elsevier Ltd. Reproduction and distribution, or selling reproducibility. Might there be other ways or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third-party websites are prohibited. to reach these goals? If so, what variables Please see the author’s Postscript, which follows the references, for developments since could help standardize and objectify an the Elsevier publication. inherently subjective practice? One possible approach is to monitor SUMMARY in various therapeutic sett ings—either as physiological reactions. A detectable the principal approach, or as an adjunct to physiological reaction to a maneuver The clinical observation of involuntary a variety of other approaches. might or might not contribute to its motor activity during application of a therapeutic eff ect. However, it might be particular style of myofascial release INTRODUCTION an indicator of or means of monitoring the (Muscle Repositioning—MR) has led to therapeutic eff ect, and in that sense be an the hypothesis that this technique might Manual Therapies, Enduring objective measure that could work toward evoke neurological reactions. Preliminary and Subjective reproducibility of the treatment outcome. EMG recordings presented here show Moreover, if the physiological reaction does involuntary tonic cervical erector action Manual therapies are part of human cultural indeed contribute to the therapeutic eff ect, during MR. Involuntary eye movements history. Over the centuries, countless the reaction might also shed light on the were also observed. This article presents manual therapies have been developed, and modality’s mechanisms of action. these experimental data, along with clinical even now many traditional approaches are observations during the application of still used alongside modern techniques. But The literature documents the evaluation MR in the treatment of musculoskeletal perhaps because some manual therapies of many diff erent physiological eff ects in conditions. The author hypothesizes that are difficult to study, their mechanisms the search for the mechanisms of action MR might constitute a novel manual of action are poorly understood. This of manual modalities, most of them using technique: it produces unique palpatory hinders their further technical development surface electromyography (EMG). There sensations for the practitioner (e.g., a and scientifi c validation, as well as their have been documented alterations on sense of firmness to the touch and the acceptance by the general public. motor-neuronal excitability produced by integration of bodily segments into a single One persistent diffi culty in the study of spinal manipulation and mobilization block) that correspond to unique sensory manual therapies is their reliance upon techniques. Both inhibition (e.g. Dishman experiences for the client. The article subjective criteria for both diagnosis and and Bulbulian, 2000, 2001; Murphy et al., raises the possibility that MR’s specific treatment. Because each touch is a unique 1995) and excitation (e.g.: Colloca and sensory input might activate the central event that combines countless att ributes Keller, 2001; Dishman et al., 2002; Herzog et nervous system, thus eliciting neural of the practitioner, the client, and the al., 1999) of motoneuron activity as accessed reactions. These reactions, in turn, might relationship between them, it is virtually by the Hoff mann refl ex (H-refl ex) has been be related to the technique’s effi cacy. As impossible to control and standardize observed. Improvement of pathologically the EMG objectively measures reactions the variables present in the interactions— affected reflex activity has also been contemporaneous with subjective palpatory many of which are not yet scientifi cally reported (Floman et al., 1997). Similarly, phenomena, MR potentially brings the understood in any event. muscle massage has been demonstrated objective and subjective into congruence. to modulate the H-refl ex (Morelli et al., EMG monitoring of touch could serve as Most manual therapies are inherently 1991). Such studies might both illuminate an objective criterion in the development of subjective. The practitioner palpates (and the mechanisms of action of the concerned treatment protocols, as well as a feedback interprets) what is hard, immobile or methods and, at least theoretically, lead to tool for teaching. Greater objectivity, displaced, and/or sees (and interprets) the development of standardization criteria precision and reproducibility are all what is supposedly wrong or displaced. for the techniques. However, with respect possible outcomes of such an approach. Thus, in many manual therapies, the to spinal manipulation and mobilization The author believes that MR can be used practitioner is either guided by sensation techniques, given the short duration of the or follows a predetermined protocol. treatments and the rapidity of reactions

24 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES measured, the EMG recordings show only state of electrical silence, recordings were for sixteen years. Each consisted of giving what has happened after the treatment taken in two situations: support to the weight of the subject’s head is fi nished. and delivering a specifi c combination of Reference recordings (voluntary elevation forces (shear of skin and minute translation But if the duration of the maneuver is of the head from the table, maintaining and rotation of the head) so as to produce long enough and the physiological eff ect the position for a short period of time, and the palpable sensation of hardening persistent enough during its application, relaxing again). They showed activity (co- (fi rmness) that characterizes this technique the physiological signal could be monitored contraction) of the cervical erectors (Figures (see Discussion below). The practitioner in real time as the maneuver is performed. 3a and 4a). continued the maneuver until he felt a tissue In that case, the feedback of the signal During an MR maneuver in the occipital release, which generally took between ten might help steer the manual technique as it region (Figures 3b-d and 4b-h). and fi ft een minutes (Figure 2a-c). is being applied. Should this be feasible in the ordinary clinical context, the monitoring The maneuvers were performed by the Mean RMS values of the EMG signal were of the physiological signal might lend author, a physiatrist for twenty years and a calculated; and video recordings were made. objectivity to the practice of the manual Rolfi ng® Structural Integration practitioner therapy, as discussed below. This article describes preliminary results observed during the application of a particular style of myofascial release called Muscle Repositioning (MR) (Bertolucci a et al., 2007) (see the Discussion section, below, for a description of the principal features of MR). Involuntary physiological reactions (tonic muscular activity and eye movements) were detected during the performance of an MR maneuver in the occipital region. The author hypothesizes that MR might characteristically evoke particular neurological reactions, as the search for similar reactions in response to maneuvers at other body locations suggests (see Discussion). b To the author’s knowledge, this phenomenon has not yet been described in the literature. It suggests the possibility that physiological signals might serve as feedback mechanisms to bring more objectivity and reproducibility to this and possibly other manual therapies. This Figure 1: article also describes some conceptual This figure depicts electrode positioning. aspects of the MR technique, and raises The electrodes were positioned bilaterally some related questions and observations. on top of the cervical erectors, at the level of C4, 3 cm from the midline. Ground Methods electrodes positioned on the acromion. Surface EMG activity (NeuroEducator II, Therapeutic Technologies) of the cervical c erectors of six healthy subjects was studied. These volunteer subjects worked as physical therapists in the rehabilitation facility Figure 2: where the data were collected. All were Schematic representation of the females, with ages ranging from 22 to 32 experimental setting: (a) the maneuver years (mean age 24.67 years). starts from a state of electrical silence, (b) sustained EMG signal appears and The electrodes were positioned bilaterally fluctuates during its application and (c) at the level of C4, 3 cm from the midline the signal falls abruptly after a tissue (Figure 1). The supine subjects were asked to release is felt, when the hands are relax and release the weight of their heads withdrawn. Often the signal persisted at a onto the treatment table. Starting from a reduced level for a few seconds thereafter.

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 25 PERSPECTIVES Results a All subjects demonstrated sustained involuntary electrical activity of the cervical erectors. The signal started a variable amount of time (0.5-1 min) aft er the start of the maneuver, lowered immediately aft er its end, and commonly persisted at a reduced level for few seconds thereaft er. During the maneuver, the initially low signal characteristically rose progressively and then fl uctuated. During the maneuver, the author also observed the involuntary and progressively more forceful extension of the subject’s head that pushed the practitioner’s hands down into the table. The intensity of this force seemed to correlate with the level of the signal: the higher the signal, the more intense the force. Usually, aft er the signal and the force of extension reached a maximum value, both fell suddenly. Immediately thereaft er, tissue release and muscle relaxation were evident. In most cases, the recordings were bilaterally asymmetrical; but the side showing the greater signal intensity at the outset would come to show the lesser intensity at some point during the maneuver. This shift apparently occurred in response to the practitioner’s small movements of the b subject’s head. Frequently, the signal was more symmetrical towards the end of the maneuver, when the subject’s head was closer to the midline. Figures 3 and 4 show recordings from two subjects, which readings are representative of and similar to recordings for all subjects. RMS mean values for all six subjects are summarized below:

Subjects Right (V) Left (V) A 0.81 3.32 B 6.28 10.29 C 1.26 2.50 D 21.70 3.93 E 4.67 17.68 F 1.78 3.03

Figure 3: Graphic representation of the EMG recordings of one subject: (a) voluntary sustaining of head against gravity, (b) progressive onset of involuntary EMG activity, more intense on the right side, (c) activity on the left side becomes more intense and (d) abrupt fall of signal at the end of maneuver, when tissue releases and hands are withdrawn.

26 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES c During the second half of the maneuver, involuntary horizontal eye movements were observed in four of the six subjects (see video links). These movements of the cornea (as it projects outward in relation to the sclera) were observable on the surface of the eyelids. They were mostly slow, periodic, side-to-side horizontal movements, the amplitude and velocity of which varied during the maneuver. The videos can be seen at the link htt p:// musclerepositioning.blogspot.com/, where additional documentation is also available.

Discussion This article has two goals—one based on the experimental data presented above, and another based on the clinical observations. The fi rst goal is to show the presence of an involuntary muscle reaction, which was absent prior to the maneuver, appeared during application of the maneuver, and disappeared almost immediately after the maneuver. The reference recordings are presented to illustrate the tracings of a sustained voluntary muscle action of the target muscles, but do not include a quantitative analysis of signal intensity. The second goal, based on five years’ d clinical observation of such involuntary muscle responses, is to describe what might constitute a novel manual technique. Therefore, prior to examining the experimental findings in more detail, it is important to understand certain key historical and conceptual aspects of MR.

History The author developed the MR technique during his sixteen years’ clinical practice in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. It started serendipitously during Rolfi ng Structural Integration sessions the author administered to other Rolfi ng practitioners. These “client” colleagues observed that the maneuvers they were receiving were somehow “diff erent” from the techniques familiar to them. As they made this observation more and more often, the author and a group of Rolfi ng practitioners began an empirical research project to investigate whether MR was indeed signifi cantly diff erent, as a technique, from those techniques traditionally employed in Rolfi ng. At fi rst, the author assumed the role of “client”, and instructed the participants to perform MR-style maneuvers on him.

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 27 PERSPECTIVES

Figure 4: c Graphic representation of the EMG recordings of another subject: (a) voluntary sustaining of head against gravity, (b) progressive onset of involuntary EMG activity; (c e) progression of the maneuver, right side showing higher EMG signal, (f) left side shows some activity when right side signal is the highest, (g) left side shows higher activity than the right side when the maneuver ends and signal falls abruptly; signal persists on left side for a few seconds and (h) final relaxation.]

a d

b e

28 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES f The participants immediately recognized the MR approach to be unlike their customary techniques. In particular, they were asked to rely on parameters they did not customarily consider, such as the fi rmness of the tissue they engaged during the maneuver and the integrative response of other body segments (see next section for details). Participants also recognized the sensations experienced by both client and practitioner as unfamiliar (see section below). Such particularities support the hypothesis that MR might be a distinct technique. It seems to aff ect the fascial system in a singular way, while engaging the nervous system at the same time. The main features of MR are summarized below:

Touch Integrates Body Segments g The technique begins with a singular way to engage and twist connective tissue structures (fascia) around harder structures (e.g. bones, joints). Initially, the practitioner’s hands anchor a portion of skin and move it in relation to the underlying tissues in a particular way. The palpable resistance to this mechanical input guides the practitioner to orient the touch in the proper direction. Apparently, the input reaches first the superficial fascia, and then stresses progressively deeper fascial structures as the maneuver proceeds. A curious phenomenon then appears: a relative immobilization among the client’s body segments, suggesting that stressing the soft tissues in this fashion generates an inter-segmental linking of body parts, which presents itself as unification (or integration) of the client’s body into a h single block. This phenomenon can be seen (see video links) and also palpated when small shaking movements are imparted to the client’s body. The body segments move in phase throughout the body, rather than in the waves through the segments that ordinary shaking induces. With MR, the segments move in synchrony; with ordinary shaking, the movement begins where the body fi rst receives input, and reaches the rest of the body sequentially. The client, too, senses the difference in the body’s response to integrative versus ordinary shaking. When receiving the integrative touch, the client oft en describes a sensation of expansion in the cephalo- caudal direction, or the formation of an axis through the body. As discussed later,

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 29 PERSPECTIVES this brings to mind one of the sensations Broadening the Initial Hypothesis The mechanical factor is generated by cultivated during the practice of certain the practitioner’s hands; and consists of The EMG data presented here represent martial arts. In the clinical experience of the particular combination of forces (i.e., the fi rst att empt to test the aforementioned the author’s group, the exploration of these tension, compression and shear) imparted hypothesis. Having detected tonic cervical sensations helps the client to diff erentiate to the subject’s fascial system. Such forces, reactions during a maneuver in the occipital various qualities of movements and when added to the pre-existing forces in the region in all subjects tested, the author then postures in daily life. fascial system, might compress the joints watched for similar muscular activity in enough to produce the degree of fi rmness The Sense of Firmness response to other maneuvers and in other that arises at the start of the maneuver. If body locations. So far, a maneuver in the Once the MR touch generates inter- the duration of the mechanical input is thoracic region of one subject has elicited segmental integration, the practitioner sufficient, the second factor apparently involuntary activity in the cervical erectors. senses a unique fi rmness under the hands. comes into play: the nervous system seems The same technique evoked tonic activity in It is a singular springy sensation that to engage to generate a progressively higher the abdominal muscles of another subject causes the force the practitioner applies to tonic response, which might account for (see video links). These initial data suggest rebound. The feedback of this fi rmness is a the progressively intensifying sense of that evocation of refl exive motor activity hallmark of the MR technique, and should fi rmness during the maneuver. The sense might be a hallmark of MR in general—a be present continuously as the technique is of fi rmness intensifi es in parallel with the hypothesis that awaits clarifi cation based applied. The practitioner usually detects a increased intensity of the EMG signal. When on further EMG recordings. Perhaps the progressive intensifi cation of the fi rmness these reach a maximum point, both decline cervical reaction was the fi rst one observed during the maneuver. The author believes precipitously—and at that moment, the clinically because the upper cervical spine’s that this phenomenon might be related to practitioner feels the tissue release. density of muscle spindles, higher than the tonic reactions described below. in any other spinal region (Kulkarni et Tonic Reactions Might Be Related Involuntary Reactions Suggest al., 2001), renders the cervical segment to Postural Reflexes Involvement of the Nervous System especially sensitive to MR stimulus. Based on the following, the author Until recently, the author interpreted the Does MR provide a procedure-specific hypothesizes that the neurological phenomena of inter-segmental integration sensory input that activates those neural responses observed might be related to tonic and fi rmness as purely mechanical; i.e., reactions? Such reactions were observed postural refl exes: twisting the fascias would tense them, only when this particular technique was applied. By contrast, local (sham) The responses extend the cervical spine, which would compress the joints, which which is an anti-gravity action. would unite the segments on either side maneuvers in the occipital region—with of them. This might be accurate as far no attempt to induce the characteristic As the maneuver progresses, the practitioner as it goes; but something beyond pure inter-segmental unifi cation and fi rmness— can sense (through the small shaking mechanics seems to be happening. failed to produce the reactions. It has been movements) the progressive engagement demonstrated that mechanical strain of the of spinal segments until the whole trunk If the manual contact with the sense ligaments and muscles of the spine evokes and legs feel integrated as a single unit—a of firmness is sufficiently precise and refl ex activation of the paraspinal muscles quality conducive to the maintenance of sustained, another class of phenomena (Holm et al., 2002; Solomonow et al., 1998). body position against gravity. oft en follows: the client begins to show Similarly, the MR mechanical input might involuntary motor reactions of various stimulate mechanoreceptors (e.g., those in EMG tracings obtained in the abdomen kinds. The fi rst reaction of this sort observed the spinal facet joints, joint capsules and are similar to those obtained in a subject was a progressive isometric activity of ligaments, as well as proprioceptors in the standing still (see video links). the cervical erectors, during which the cervical muscles) to create a combination of MR maneuvers induce in many subjects practitioner felt his hands pressed into the aff erent discharges to the central nervous sensations similar to those that arise table by the involuntary extension of the system that produce the reactions described during the practice of some martial arts, in subject’s head and upper cervical spine. —probably all of which are refl exive. which (as discussed later) postural refl exes This reaction can be so strong that the are cultivated. muscular activity can be seen and palpated. Mechanical and Neurological Basis for Segmental Integration and Firmness Following MR treatments, subjects Other observed involuntary motor activities frequently report greater perceived stability include horizontal eye movements, In the experience of the author’s group, in standing and walking. tremors, and clonic and tonic appendicular a certain degree of firmness—and also movements. A few subjects have even inter-segmental integration—arises at Experienced practitioners have also shown the extreme reaction of involuntarily the outset of a maneuver. What’s more, observed that the quality of the subject’s rising from supine to a seated position during the course of the maneuver, both movement becomes more stable, integrated (see video links). The observation of such reactions show a progressive increase and fl uid. In this sense, MR appears to be phenomena led the author’s group to in their intensity. Therefore, the author an approach that simultaneously releases hypothesize that the MR touch might proposes that such fi rmness might result myofascial restrictions and provides stimulate neurological refl exes, and also from the concerted action of two factors— postural integrative stimulus. to perform the preliminary measurements one mechanical and the other neurological. here described.

30 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES

Involuntary Eye Movements the intensity of the tonic reaction (as QUESTIONS AND and Shifts of Consciousness measured by the EMG signal) and the IMPLICATIONS degree of palpable tissue firmness. Vision is central to postural regulation. Second, in the author’s clinical experience, Tonic Response As a Possible Mutual In particular, gaze control is closely the greater the maximum fi rmness during Regulatory Mechanism related to the position and movement of a maneuver, the more effective the The MR practitioner senses that the subject’s the head. In humans, gaze is controlled clinical outcome. If these correlations system recognizes the manual input and primarily by vestibular refl exes, through are indeed characteristic of the MR actually responds to it. An observation from the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). But technique, eliciting such neural refl exes MR training classes illustrates the point. As additional refl ex pathways that infl uence in clinical practice would be desirable in a pedagogical method, the instructor oft en oculo-motor activity come from the neck— and of itself, in that their presence might places his own hands over the student’s i.e., the cervico-ocular refl ex (COR) (Fuller, very well enhance the eff ectiveness of hands to monitor the subject’s response. 1980; Jurgens and Mergner, 1989), which the treatment. functional relevance is still unclear. The When the student achieves the “right” Our subjects were asked to make COR has both slow and fast components. feeling, two things happen at once: the subjective self-assessments of certain The former is also elicited by other axial student fi nds the manual sensation pleasant; physical characteristics before and aft er body stimulus, e.g., of the trunk and legs while the subject immediately senses that the maneuvers. The clinical eff ects the (Mergner et al., 1998). Perhaps the tonic the mechanical stimulus is appropriate, and subjects reported aft er the maneuvers activity of the cervical erectors during the expresses this with words such as, “This is were: greater ROM of the head, overall maneuver stimulates mechanoreceptors in what I need,” “Don’t stop,” or “You got it.” the neck—which would induce slow-phase muscle relaxation, a sense of lightness COR-like responses, which, in turn, would throughout the body, and often more The subject’s reaction appears to be generate the involuntary eye movements. stability in the feet. Although not induced by the student’s contact, and These eye movements were observed when objectively verified, these subjective not by some suggestion as a result of the particular head positions (unique to each observations suggest that after the instructor’s presence. The shift in sensation subject) were maintained for sufficient maneuver, muscle tonus decreases. that the subject and student experience time. Such stimulus might also produce Other authors have already documented simultaneously takes place not immediately saccule and utricle afferents and evoke elevated EMG signals during a manual upon the instructor’s intervention, but only responses normally associated with the procedure and a drop off afterwards aft er the passage of some time, the length VOR. Semicircular canal aff erents are not (DeVocht et al., 2005; Herzog, 1996). The of which is variable. What’s more, the likely to contribute, as the eye movements practitioner’s subjective experience is mutual experience of “rightness” between occurred when the subjects’ heads of increasing tonic muscular activity in the subject and student endures even aft er were stationary. the cervical region, during which the the instructor has moved on. Therefore, it subject’s system seems to be struggling seems that the subject and student have The mechanisms and physiological against some resistance (possibly from formed a relationship at the sensory level, importance, if any, of such eye movements soft tissue restrictions), followed by a in the context of which they mutually and are unknown. One might speculate, taking sudden diminution in tonus (possibly simultaneously identify a very specific into account the possible connection between a sign that the resistance has been stimulus as “right.” the MR technique and the mechanisms of overcome, see Surgical Touch section It might be that MR stimulates some atavistic postural tonus control, that these eyes below), accompanied by a sense of release mutual regulatory mechanism, and that movements represent an adaptation of and relaxation. oculo-motor control mechanisms to altered the interaction between practitioner and postural tonic refl exive patt erns. Perhaps the tonic activity enhances the subject is similar to grooming behaviors of effi cacy of the maneuvers by creating primates and other animals? In the clinical Other intriguing events oft en accompany more support for the practitioner’s experience of the author’s group, a client’s the eye movements, such as shifts in manipulations. Given the characteristic expressed sense that the practitioner’s touch breathing rhythm (deeper exhalation progressive rise in fi rmness, one might is appropriate brings an element of safety and reduced frequency), as well as shift s be observing a positive feedback loop in to the work that actually strengthens the in consciousness. After MR treatments, which the more supported the subject’s social bond of the therapeutic relationship. subjects described having been “asleep body, the stronger the tonic reaction— What’s more, the activity of self-observation and awake at the same time” or in “dream- which reaction, in turn, induces even enriches the client’s experience. It is possible like state”, having lost track of time, and greater firmness (more support), and that the phenomena observed in connection similar states. Although the signifi cance of thereby greater efficacy to the touch. with MR might be no more than the this is unknown, it appears that autonomic This cycle seems to build to a point at result of the client’s self-observation, as and reticular formation aff erents might be which both subject and practitioner feel opposed to being the product of any neural aff ected by the MR sensory input. the tissues release (possibly when tissue mechanism. However, minute shift s in the Clinical Efficacy and Reflex Reactions restrictions are overcome); thereafter, quality of touch produce clear changes both tonic reaction and firmness in the client’s experienced sensations; the First, as already discussed, a positive abruptly diminish. feeling of “rightness” may be replaced by correlation has been observed between the sense of “simple pressure,” or even “threatening pressure.”

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In any event, within the context of indeed have a physiological basis. The The author knows of no other descriptions an ongoing therapeutic relationship, client’s system is participating automatically in the literature of manual techniques the client’s reports of those observations in the treatment. The firmness may be using real-time monitoring of physiological can inform the practitioner’s interpreted as a refl ection of the client’s variables as feedback for continuous treatment decisions. physiologic state, to which the treatment adjustment of quality of touch. MR is is continuously connected and adapted. well suited to such monitoring because: The Possibility of Simultaneous The proper location and direction of the (a) the maneuvers are long lasting and Diagnosis and Treatment necessary mechanical stimulus cannot be (b) the signal is continuously present during When, as is commonly the case, a manual foreseen. Adjustments to combinations the maneuver. of forces, mainly shear and torsion, are therapist fi rst performs diagnostic tests and This gives the practitioner the opportunity required from one moment to the next. then proceeds to treatment, diagnosis and to actually monitor the client’s response to treatment are discrete events. However, As already discussed, the degree of fi rmness his manual input. If a certain objective signal in MR, the refl ex reactions (manifested as correlates positively with the intensity were indeed to correspond to a desired client fi rmness to the touch) are a continuous of tonic activity detected by the EMG. reaction, the appearance of which depends source of diagnostic information that might Because increased tonic muscle activity on the technical adequacy of the touch, the facilitate the work as it is happening. In (like isometric contraction) could integrate potential value of such monitoring would addition to pre-treatment diagnosis, the body segments by reducing joint mobility, be obvious. In the teaching setting, the MR practitioner can monitor the results it is likely that the tonic reactions actually subjective sense of fi rmness could be tuned of the maneuver in real time and adjust cause the fi rmness. It follows that the EMG by comparison to the objective EMG signal; the mechanical input accordingly. In signal could be a surrogate for the fi rmness in the development of treatment protocols, other words, the practitioner’s diagnosis as a feedback mechanism to guide the the EMG could serve as an objective and treatment occur simultaneously as a quality of the touch. As the EMG signal is criterion. Greater objectivity, precision and single event. an objective measurement alongside the reproducibility are all possible outcomes of In the clinical experience of the author’s fi rmness, which is subjective, this approach such an approach. potentially brings the objective and the group, when the sense of fi rmness is lost, Surgical Touch and so is the inter-segmental integration. What’s subjective into congruence. Myofascial Force Transmission more, the subject senses the touch no longer As discussed above (see Introduction), most as global and comprehensive, but rather studies dealing with objective monitoring To achieve the desired fi rmness, the MR as no more than a local stimulus. If the of physiological eff ects of manual therapies practitioner approaches the soft tissues practitioner ceases to feel the fi rmness, the are before-and-aft er studies. While these at an oblique angle. This angle—coupled qualities of the touch should be corrected might help us to understand the possible with the counter-pressure given by the (e.g., the practitioner should change the physiological effects of the manual inertia of the integrated body segments direction or nature of the forces) so as to therapies, they do not constitute a resource —seems to direct the resultant vectors so reconnect with the sense of fi rmness. At that towards objectivity. as to produce internal shear forces among point, both the practitioner and the subject musculoskeletal structures in very precise re-experience the characteristic sensations. In contrast, real-time measurements that directions. During the maneuver, the result can be used as feedback tools might yield of such combination of forces is a clear This singular and reliable phenomenon more objective ways to study and teach sensation of relative movement among of fi rmness is one of the most important manual therapies. Some studies (Burns et myofascial compartments. Initially, it takes resources for both clinical practice and al., 2007; Descarreaux et al., 2006; Harms et place in small increments, which grow teaching of this method. Participants in al., 1999; Rogers and Triano, 2003; Triano larger toward the end of the maneuver and the author’s group have learned to trust et al., 2003, 2006; Van Zoest and Gosselin, are commonly followed by the subject’s the effi cacy of directing touch toward the 2003) have already shown the potential experience of a burning sensation. fi rmer sensation—even when this takes the benefits of using feedback signaling in maneuver on a diff erent path than the one the teaching of manipulative therapies. To the practitioner, the feeling resembles the practitioner might have expected at the At the same time, there is evidence that that of the blunt dissection surgical outset. That having been said, we cannot it is possible to immediately influence technique, in which the surgeon be certain that the information the sense of neurophysiologic variables through touch discriminates neighboring structures with fi rmness conveys is useful; we have not yet (e.g. Colloca et al., 2003; DeVocht et al., 2005; a blunt instrument—oft en the fi ngers. In performed studies to compare the effi cacy Symons et al., 2000). Therefore, there is a surgery, blunt dissection generates minimal of the maneuver when the practitioner theoretical possibility that the monitoring lesions because it discriminates structures adjusts the mechanical input in response of physiological variables may serve as at pre-existing points of natural separation to the information to its effi cacy when the feedback and thus lend objectivity to the —along the so-called planes of cleavage. practitioner disregards the information. practice of manual techniques. Particularly Although, of course, the MR practitioner lacks the advantage of the visual input that Physiological Monitoring Might Unite noteworthy in this regard are the fi ndings, exposed tissues provide the surgeon, the the Objective and the Subjective similar to those described here, of sustained increase of EMG during a manual treatment tactile input is similar. Therefore, during If one accepts that the tonic reactions are of the spine. (DeVocht et al., 2005). an MR maneuver, it is sometimes possible physiological responses to mechanical to discern which of the compartment’s stimuli, one might speculate that MR does cleavage planes are likely to be involved,

32 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES especially when addressing larger muscle previously (Keller and Colloca, 2000; Suter Burns, J.M., Willians, R.L., Howell, J.N., compartments. et al., 2000). Conaster, R.R., Eland, D.C., “Virtual reality simulation of fascial drag using Perhaps MR directs and concentrates the PHANToM 3.0 haptic interface.” In: forces so as to release abnormal adhesions CONCLUSION Findley, T.W., Schleip, R. (Eds.), Fascia in irregular connective tissue (tissue in The conclusions that can be drawn from the Research: Basic Science and Implications for which fi bers lack the type of directional material reported in this article are limited Conventional and Complementary Health Care. orientation found in regular connective because the study used a single clinician. Elsevier, Munich, 2007. tissue such as tendons), within muscle Currently, additional EMG evaluations compartments, and among other fascial are being undertaken involving other Colloca, C.J., Keller, T.S., “Stiffness and structures. As these adhesions infl uence clinicians, different muscle groups and neuromuscular refl ex response of the human relative muscle positions, one might diff erent maneuvers to confi rm and expand spine to posteroanterior manipulative speculate that one of MR’s mechanisms of upon the observations described here. thrusts in patients with low back pain.” action is reestablishment of relative muscle Journal of Manipulative and Physiological mobility, which allows the muscles to Future plans include development of Therapeutics, 24, 2001, pp. 489-500. assume optimal relative positions during qualitative research protocols to Colloca, C.J., Keller, T.S., Gunzburg, R., movements. Such repositioning might in investigate the sensations experienced “Neuromechanical characterization of in turn lead to more advantageous myofascial by both subject and practitioner, as vivo lumbar spinal manipulation. Part II. force transmission, as described by Huij ing well as electroencephalography (EEG) Neurophysiological response.” Journal of (Huijing and Baan, 2003) and hence an measurements to investigate the possibility Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, improved motor function. of characteristic cortical rhythms. These data, matched to EMG readings, might 26 (9), 2003, pp. 579-591. MR and Martial Arts reveal some important correlations. It is DeVocht, J.W., Pickar, J.G., Wilder, the author’s hypothesis that characteristic In the author’s personal experience as D.G., “Spinal manipulation alters EEG tracings (possibly related to the a practitioner of martial arts, the tonic electromyographic activity of paraspinal sensory-motor rhythm—SMR), EMG reactions described here bear a striking muscles: a descriptive study.” Journal of signals and subjective sensations will occur resemblance to postural and movement Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, simultaneously during administration of qualities cultivated in certain Chinese 28 (7), 2005, pp. 465-471. the MR touch. martial arts, such as Tai-Chi-Chuan and Descarreaux, M., Dugas, C., Lalanne, K., I Chuan. These disciplines include exercises The practitioners in the author’s group Vincelett e, M., Normand, MC., “Learning intended to optimize involuntary postural have been teaching MR in an experimental spinal manipulation: the importance of reactions. Some sensations the exercises fashion for four years—primarily within the augmented feedback relating to various produce are the same as those observed Rolfi ng community but also to chiropractors kinetic parameters.” Spine Journal, 6 (2), during MR, such as the sense of expansion and physical therapists. The feedback is 2006, pp. 138-145. along the cephalo-caudal dimension; most encouraging, and although the data the inter-segmental integration; and the gathered in the student questionnaires are Dishman, J.D., Bulbulian, R., “Spinal sense of fi rmness that should be present not yet formally arranged, their overall tone refl ex att enuation associated with spinal when exercises are performed with a suggests that the results are worth the eff ort. manipulation.” Spine Journal, 25, 2000, partner. During such martial arts exercises, The author believes that MR can be used in pp. 2519-2525. called tui-shou, in which the practitioners various therapeutic sett ings—either as the Dishman, J.D., Bulbulian, R., “Comparison play with each other’s postural balance, principal technique, or as an adjunct to a of effects of spinal manipulation and the presence of firmness in the contact variety of principal approaches. massage on motoneuron excitability.” interface—as well as its absence—is Acknowledgments: Thanks to Heidi Massa, Electromyogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 41 (2), 2001, continuously tested in a manner similar for revising the original manuscript; to Cesar pp. 97-106. to how firmness is tested during MR F. Amorim for his technical assistance; and to maneuvers. In fact, the author’s martial arts Dishman, J.D., Ball, K.A., Burk, J., “Central Luiz Antonio de Arruda Botelho for personal peers have commented upon this similarity motor excitability changes after spinal and hardware assistance. Thanks also to the while receiving MR maneuvers. Notably, manipulation: a transcranial magnetic Muscle Repositioning Team: Yeda Bocalett o, these Eastern disciplines are known to stimulation study.” Journal of Manipulative Angela Lobo and Soraia Pacchioni. cultivate positive qualities of posture and and Physiological Therapeutics, 25, 2002, movement that correlate with overall health pp. 1-9. and longevity (See, e.g., Esch et al., 2007; REFERENCES Esch, T., Duckstein, J., Welke, J., Braun, V., Gorgy et al., 2008; Greenspan et al., 2007; Bertolucci, L.F., Botelho, L.A.A., “Mind/body techniques for physiological Hong and Li, 2007; Yamaguchi, 2004). One Amorim, C.F., “Evoking tonic reactions and psychological stress reduction: stress can speculate that MR might similarly with myofascial touch: moving towards management via Tai Chi training-a pilot stimulate physiological self-regulatory objectivity?” In: Findley, T.W., Schleip, study.” Medical Science Monitor, 13 (11), motor and postural mechanisms. These R. (Eds.), Fascia Research: Basic Science 2007, pp. 488-497. changes are possibly refl exively mediated, and Implications for Conventional and as is the increase in muscle force aft er spinal Complementary Health Care. Elsevier, Floman, Y., Liram, N., Gilai, A.N., “Spinal manipulation, which has been documented Munich, 2007. manipulation results in immediate H-refl ex changes in patients with unilateral disc

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 33 PERSPECTIVES herniation.” European Spine Journal, 6 (6), Kulkarni, V., Chandy, M.J., Babu, K.S., Yamaguchi, A.M., “Effects of tai chi 1997, pp. 398-401. “Quantitative study of muscle spindles in chuan practice on balance in physically suboccipital muscles of human foetuses.” independent older women.” Postgraduate Fuller, G.H., “The dynamic neck-eye refl ex Neurology India, 49, 2001, pp. 355-359. thesis presented at Universidade de in mammals.” Experimental Brain Research, Sao Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Sao 44, 1980, pp. 29-35. Mergner, T., Schweigart, G., Botti, F., Paulo, 2004. Lehmann, A., “Eye movements evoked Gorgy, O., Vercher, J.L., Coyle, T., “How by proprioceptive stimulation along the does practice of internal Chinese martial body axis in humans.” Experimental Brain POSTSCRIPT arts infl uence postural reaction control?” Research, 120, 1998, pp. 450-460. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26 (6), 2008, The insights gleaned from the observations pp. 629-642. Morelli, M., Seaborne, D.E., Sullivan, J., set forth in this article led our group to “H-Reflex modulation during manual make further studies of MR. Summarized Greenspan, A.I., Wolf, S.L., Kelley, M.E., muscle massage of human trıceps below are some recent observations, from O’Grady, M., “Tai chi and perceived surae.” Archives of Physical Medicine and both clinical experience and objective health status in older adults who are Rehabilitation, 72, 1991, pp. 915-919. measurement, that we are using to refi ne transitionally frail: a randomized controlled our research protocol. trial.” Physical Therapy Journal, 87 (5), 2007, Murphy, B.A., Dawson, N.J., Slack, J.R., pp. 525-535. “Sacroiliac joint manipulation decreases the First, recent EMG recordings have shown H-refl ex.” Electromyogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. that the MR touch can indeed evoke tonic Harms, M.C., Innes, S.M., Bader, 35, 1995, pp. 87-94. activity in body regions distant from the D.L., “Forces measured during spinal contact region. For example, maneuvers manipulative procedures in two age Rogers, C.M., Triano, J.J., “Biomechanical in the costal arch have elicited involuntary groups.” Rheumatology (Oxford) 38 (3), 1999, measure validation for spinal manipulation tonic activity in cervical erectors and pp. 267-274. in clinical sett ings.” Journal of Manipulative abdominal muscles. Second, once tonic and Physiological Therapeutics, 26 (9), 2003, activity is elicited during a maneuver, it Herzog, W., “Mechanical, physiologic pp. 539-548. appears to maintain itself with the support and neuromuscular considerations of of progressive, but less intense, manual chiropractic treatments.” In: Lawrence, D.J., Solomonow, M., Zhou, B.H., Harris, M., Lu, input; i.e., the tonic activity, once evoked, Cassidy, D.J., McGregor, M., et al. (Eds.), Y., Baratt a, R.V.. “The ligamento-muscular seems to be self-perpetuating. Finally, Advances in Chiropractic, vol. 3. New York: stabilizing system of the spine.” Spine based on the clients’ reported sensations, Mosby-Yearbook, 1996. Journal, 23, 1998, pp. 2552-2562. these remote tonic reactions seem to cause Herzog, W., Scheele, D., Conway, P.J., Suter, E., McMorland, G., Herzog, W., Bray, spontaneous tissue release. We have been “Electromyographic responses of back R., “Conservative lower back treatment exploring and observing the self-organizing and limb muscles associated with spinal reduces inhibition in knee extensor muscles: quality of these reactions. Signifi cantly, the manipulative therapy.” Spine Journal, 24, a randomized controlled trial.” Journal of intensity of a client’s felt sense of tissue 1999, pp. 146-153. Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, opening is sometimes greater remotely 23, 2000, pp. 76-80. than locally, and seems to correlate with Holm, S., Indahl, A., Solomonow, M., the perceived degree of firmness. Such “Sensorimotor control of the spine.” Journal Symons, B.P., Herzog, W., Leonard Tand firmness, in turn, tends to be directly of Electromyography & Kinesiology, 12, 2002, Nguyen, H., “Refl ex responses associated proportional to the number of bodily pp. 219-234. with activator treatment.” Journal of segments integrated during the maneuver Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Hong, Y., Li, J.X., “Biomechanics of Tai Chi: (see new video documentation at htt p:// 23 (3), 2000, pp. 155-159. a review.” Sports Biomechanics, 6 (3), 2007, musclerepositioning.blogspot.com). pp. 453-464. Triano, J.J., Rogers, C.M., Combs, S., Pott s, In other words, correlations among key D., Sorrels, K., “Quantitative feedback Huij ing, P.A., Baan, G., “Myofascial force features of MR—the EMG response, the versus standard training for cervical transmission: muscle relative position and fi rmness and integration (observed by the and thoracic manipulation.” Journal of length determine agonist and synergist practitioner), and the sensations of tissue Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, muscle force.” Journal of Applied Physiology, opening (reported by the client)—are 26 (3), 2003, pp. 131-138. 94, 2003, pp. 1092-1107. becoming clearer. Triano, J.J., Scaringe, J., Bougie, J., Rogers, C., Jurgens, R., Mergner, T., “Interaction The intentional inducement of remote “Eff ects of visual feedback on manipulation between cervico-ocular and vestibulo- client-generated spontaneous responses performance and patient ratings.” Journal of ocular reflexes in normal adults.” is accompanied by some noteworthy Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Experimental Brain Research, 77, 1989, pp. phenomena: the client’s subjective 29 (5), 2006, pp. 378-385. 381-390. experience is increasingly reminiscent Van Zoest, G.G., Gosselin, G., “Three- of the languid tonic movement quality Keller, T.S., Colloca, C.J., “Mechanical force dimensionality of direct contact forces in of the spontaneous morning stretch. spinal manipulation increases trunk muscle chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy.” In this connection, it also appears that strength assessed by electromyography: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological visceral structures are being aff ected. These a comparative clinical trial.” Journal of Therapeutics, 26 (9), 2003, pp. 549-556. observations support the hypothesis of a Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, physiological basis for the eff ects of MR, 23, 2000, pp. 585-595.

34 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES and also suggest ways that the practitioner’s touch can be trained to be more effi cient. We have also begun to perform simultaneous EEG and EMG measurements. Outstanding among our recorded observations is the so- called sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) during Dueling Divas an occipital region maneuver. The SMR was fi rst described in cats1 and is associated with motor learning. Apparently, while the By Raymond J. Bishop, Jr., Ph.D., Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ cat is at rest and purring, it is processing the proprioceptive information stored in Editor’s Note: Ray Bishop passed away on December 5, 2008 (see memorial on page 43). Ray recent memory in order to enhance its served as an editor for Structural Integration for a number of years. More than that, he was a motor capabilities. Neurofeedback training frequent contributor to the journal, off ering up elegantly writt en and densely footnoted articles that of the SMR rhythm has been used to treat linked Rolfi ng® to other worlds—particularly music. This is a previously unpublished contribution disorders of learning and attention2, as from a few years back. To paraphrase one of its lines, “May we thank you, Ray, for sharing your well as seizures3. Our observations of SMR, voice with us.” although preliminary, are exiting because they suggest the possibility of inducing recognizable auto-regulatory mechanisms he CD arrived last week. I was intensely paragraph’s rapid-fire string of musical 1 through manipulation. Tcurious and oddly apprehensive as references is explained in the notes). I opened it. No plastic wrapping, a litt le What makes this tune’s nimiety so odd In keeping with these observations, our new crack in the lower left corner of the case. An is its general absence in the rest of the research protocol will include EMG and inauspicious beginning. My vague unease album, which contains more familiar and EEG recordings, along with questionnaires stemming from tenuous expectations of restrained numbers such as “A Litt le More to gather reports of the clients’ and a certain sonic event, tempered by the Love” and a pleasantly edgy version of the practitioners’ subjective experience and unreliability of musical memory. Quickly oft -recorded “Deeper Than the Night.” The observations. Moreover, to correlate these fl ipping the CD over, I check the date of only exception are the annoying reiterated data with functional variables, we will issue, 1978. I then scan down to locate the screeches that litt er the opening cut, the include stabilometry recordings to assess desired track (#8). A tamely sexy cover, our unusually long and rather raucous “Please standing balance. chanteuse in black leather pants and cott on Don’t Keep Me Waiting,” and waiting for shirt, a bit overly made up, but more late We hope soon to have a more comprehensive a reappearance of such bizarre whelping 70s Glamour than Hustler, black spike- understanding of these phenomena, both is something, I assure you, you will not be heel boots with hot-pink-colored toes, the theoretically and practically, to share doing aft er this grating aural assault. same color scrolling up the sides. Also, a with our colleagues in the MR workshops deliciously libidinous title, Totally Hot. we off er. Interestingly, even in her later hit “Physical” and the more generous contours of The song starts out conventionally enough. “Xanadu,” we are spared these oddly END NOTES A funky beat, moderate tempo, a rather intercalated vocal eccentricities. This fact, mediocre lyric with predictable harmonies Howe, R.C. and Sterman, M.B., “Cortical- along with her enduring popularity on and form, but soon things get a bit more subcortical EEG correlates of suppressed an international scale, raise some rather interesting. Our heroine, known for her motor behavior during sleep and waking in interesting questions that might have sweetly melodious ballades (“Have You the cat.” J. Electroencephalography and Clinical broader implications. Never Been Mellow?” anyone), ventures Neurophysiology, 32, 1972, pp. 681-695. into new territory, perhaps wanting to The most natural question is “Why?” Beauregard, M., Levesque, J., “Functional compete with booming divas like Streisand, Let’s, however, reframe that inquiry, magnetic resonance imaging investigation Before Her Parade Passes By. Odd litt le strains shift ing from the world of music to one of the effects of neurofeedback training begin creeping in, painful and forced. with which most are more familiar. Why, on the neural bases of selective att ention Repeated unpleasant cracks across the aft er Rolfi ng successfully for several years and response inhibition in children with break crop up at predictable places, creating and having achieved a certain level of att ention-defi cit/hyperactivity disorder.” a distressing cumulative eff ect. But, the Best success, might a practitioner suddenly Applied Psychophysiological Biofeedback, 31(1), Is Yet to Come, as Sinatra once predicted. pursue (studies in) other styles or technical 2006, pp. 3-20. During the fi nal instrumental refrain, the approaches? One answer might be a song’s title reiterates as a fi nal horrendous growing dissatisfaction with the routine of Sterman, M.B., Egner, T., “Foundation and squeak (although it is only a b’), a nasal the Ten Series, as rewarding as it might be; practice of neurofeedback for the treatment yawp so far beyond her clearly proscribed a certain restlessness of spirit, a craving for of epilepsy.” Applied Psychophysiological range that it elicits peals of laughter when its the novel in the hope that some new artistic Biofeedback, 31(1), 2006, pp. 21-35. intent was more likely some Melba Moore venture might off er a key to working with qua Minnie Ripertonesque stratospheric certain structural or mechanical issues with coloration, or perhaps an eff ort to evoke a which she has had limited success. funky meeting of Mado Robin and Sugar Pie Desanto down In the Basement (this

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Exploring new models and techniques is predetermined geography, regardless of There are, however, other less tangible usually considered laudable. Varying our whether our model is a line, a sequence ways in which we can get lost even when lens and shaking up our paradigm are of manipulations, a meridian, or one that seemingly operating safely within the Series. important aspects of the growth progress, addresses energetic or emotional blocks. These of course proliferate in the land of the but the search for novelty without a Exploring these multitudinous options emotional and psychological. An obvious clear understanding of both our gifts may be less interesting than learning some but not-so-quick solution to this problem and limitations may result in the kind of new repertoire, but repeated practice of the is a bett er understanding of the aff ective dissonance that pollutes the recordings of familiar may well provide an entrée to new landscape and the complexities of therapist- so many misguided and self-deluded pop worlds of understanding for the novice as client interactions, a terrain so internecine stars. When we look for explanations of well as the seasoned performer (in both that even the best of therapists err here, this disquiet, we frequently seek outside musical and structural integration realms). occasionally with extremely adverse justifi cations. We might for instance link consequences. Consider the slippery slopes Here are just a few possible variations our restiveness with that found in minds of of posing before and aft er each session, or on a familiar theme. We might choose to exceptional creatives in order to rationalize for those pre- and post-session photos. The literally recreate said hour exactly like our our meanderings. We might cite the possible emotional ramifi cations of simply favorite instructor, forgetting that what example of some folk hero or intuitive standing up in front of another in your we witnessed was merely one way the genius as the impetus for change without underwear are so numerous that we cannot instructor herself might do the hour and adequately refl ecting on our decision. even begin to consider them here (see the that usually said demo is a streamlined quote in the notes).3 For instance, those of us familiar with simplifi cation deliberately fashioned for Einstein’s approach to developing a unifi ed its didactic value. This approach of course To aid me in improving my understanding, field theory might take solace in his may yield rather nice results, but does not I have found it extremely helpful to obtain rather cavalier approach to the problem. get us very far unless we use this echoing of further guidance and education in the As described by those who assisted him, the familiar to more profoundly grasp the therapeutic realm. I now see that this Einstein would work for up to two years nuances of a session we have previously knowledge has proved as critical to my on a single solution, daily off ering new observed. Another option is formulating work as proper breathing and support mathematical computations for them a more intuitive approach. One manner of techniques are to structural integrators, to work out. One day he would quite doing this might be to limit our technical pop divas and neophyte improvisers (and unexpectedly walk in and inform them that choices to a classical manipulative protocol probably even more so). his theory was fatally fl awed and would while seeking to see the body in a more Let’s return to the musical realm. To extend have to be abandoned. With no remorse, organic or non-familiar way. Perhaps our metaphor a bit, we might consider any he would then off er a totally new approach some alternate hierarchical paradigm of a number of other divas or divos4 known to the problem on which he would focus or some intuitive seeing that suggests a for vocal excesses, many of which might without interruption until he found that resequencing or reprioritizing of how we be explained as much by the aesthetic of model’s fatal flaw. And so it went for creatively adjust the model to this body at their time as any deliberate testing of their several decades, up until the time of his this moment in time, whether we use a well- vocal limits or some spontaneously inspired death. The fact that he never solved this reasoned formulation or one that occurs effl uence. Here we can off er reasons why, problem and that he became increasingly to us spontaneously in the moment. Here but such speculations about artists long isolated from cutt ing edge physics adds to we might push the envelope, introducing dead and aesthetics of which we have a very the Romantic appeal of this beautiful mind. novel riff s and fi orature like an exceptional incomplete understanding would seem to However, the fact that we are not privy to improviser who is ever in touch with the be of limited value. Perhaps a singer closer his thought process mitigates the aptness tradition on which he elaborates (think J.S. to our time, Maria Callas (1923-1977), will of such a poorly conceived parallel to our Bach improvising on hymns in Cöthen or provide a more fruitful opportunity for own experience.2 Coltrane’s rapid-fi re riff s on some witt y posthumous speculation. Cole Porter standard). Of course, like our We might also look at the above cautionary daring diva, we run the risk of stress and Few defunct divas still generate as much vocal tale through a somewhat diff erent strain not only on our tactile apparatus but, partisanship and controversy as Callas. pince-nez. This parabolation involves less more particularly, on those recipients of our Opera fanatics the world over worship the need for novelty than how we cope “inspired extemporations.” We also hazard and vilify her, some auditors expressing with diurnal issues in our offi ces, both in losing our way as we chase the fascial both sentiments when describing diff erent terms of how we work and what we create. strains, rather like a novel improviser whose performances. Here are some wonderful Such choices have many motivations both exuberant choruses so far diverge from negative criticisms of her vocal apparatus. intellectual and emotional and warrant the tune’s changes (underlying harmonic We find humorous descriptions of her thoughtful scrutiny. One interesting progression) that what begins as joyful middle register as sounding “like singing example is how we might variously execute experimentation ends in some adventitious through a bottle,” while her rather a given hour of the Ten Series, one that cacophony. Any lack of security with the unpleasant upper register’s wobble or we understand quite well, whether our model will certainly account for these “fl ap” received excoriating disdain. The fi lters be linear and left -brain or organic fascial meanderings through structural critic John Ardoin, for example, described and right-brain. In each moment of this labyrinths without Ariadne’s thread to an offending pitch during a 1955 Aida session we have a limitless number of guide us home. performance as a “fl apping high C (c’’) choices even if we restrict our focus to

36 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES through which the entire Egyptian army prize in my work and that of so many fellow continue to generate such remarkable could have marched.”5 practitioners who expose the wounds of partisanship and interest. She is cult and others through connecting more fully to cult endlessly fascinates, particularly when Yet those who adore her “worship Callas their own. Such vulnerability is highly risky conjoined with genius and vulnerability. because she makes mistakes and because but yields, I believe, the greatest creative This “sacred monster,”9 as she has been she valued expressivity over loveliness.” and artistic rewards. called, would have been a fascinating Many relate to her because such “lapses creator in our realm, and had she done made her a sympathetic character,” Similarly, our work is replete with analogous bodywork, would have generated loyal fans and while the “steel (steely quality of confl icts of force and nuance, of refi ned and staunch critics. her voice) and the wobble announced order and simultaneous compensatory a predicament; we loved the mistakes strain. Just as the dynamic bodies with Sounds a bit like Ida Rolf and her legacy because they seemed autobiographical, which we interact manifest a complex doesn’t it? While we should exercise some because without mediation and guile relationship of compromise, imbalance restraint in overelaborating the analogy, they revealed a naked heart.”6 The opera and equipose, unresolved dissonances there are some interesting parallels. Both fanatic quoted above ends this section of of adaptability and translation, so our were powerful artists, both devoted their his discussion as follows: “We love her for discipline wrestles with these conflicts, lives to perfecting their technique, and both intruding, via magisterial discipline, such seeking to impose control while allowing proved seminal fi gures who reshaped their a range of mannerisms—a control of how order to simultaneously manifest. Yet this respective disciplines, and whose lives and a phrase might always, every moment, very notion of an imposition of will, a key careers, though on the surface far apart, mean something.”7 to the Callas aesthetic, is a diffi cult notion off er an interesting if tangential germ for for most of us to intone. further cross-pollinations. As you read the excesses of language above, you might fi nd yourself reacting negatively Although I doubt Callas ever felt uneasy Our Callas and Newton-John examples not only to its content but even more so with her fame or her cult following, can also serve as cautionary tales, ones to the transparent device of juxtaposing she certainly heard the imperfections in that warn of the risks of pushing beyond a pop diva with one of the greatest vocal her voice. Yet, for her the voice was an our limits, the risks of failed perfectionism, artists of the twentieth century. Collocating instrument to be controlled and disciplined. the price we pay for driving ourselves and different aesthetics, like comparing the Many of us also sense the flaws in our others beyond our and their limits, the brilliantly witt y and delightfully obscene performance, usually going further by rewards and penalties of a single-minded cartoons of R. Crumb with John Singer questioning the beauty of its execution. pursuit of any creative and artistic goal. Sargent’s sublime portraiture, can often We also struggle with any imposition of While not every practitioner will face result in snobbish and divisive language. will particularly when our audience is not these issues on such epic scales, most of But I assure you, such is not the intent here. as appreciative of our gift s as we might us who devote our lives to this discipline How slyly I stack the deck to illustrate a expect them to be. We therefore constantly soon become aware of the price we pay point, you might think. Yet, this pairing dance with the notions of creating and for such focus and readily surrender to all was chosen as much for its potentially allowing, with directing and responding, its inevitabilities. humorous implications as its utility for with discipline and freedom; musical as Along similar lines, when my teacher Jan illustrating certain ironic notions, not the well as somatic metaphors all, evoking the Sultan said that doing this work gradually least of which was poking fun at those Callas aesthetic at every turn. changes you, moving you further inward, who might react with ire to my highly We may wish to further discipline our making you more introspective, I instantly contrived analogy. voice but we more oft en question whether understood at a deeper level why Rolfi ng Let me admit, I love Callas warts and this subjugation is a matt er of the will to resonated so poignantly with me. It was all. Let me also confess that I love her power8 or a will to surrender. We might also precisely this introspection and private excesses, her simultaneous vulnerability ask whether or not ego-driven recastings obsessing that had dominated so much and rigorous discipline, the dizzying of our understanding and the co-opting of my life, this mode of consciousness succession of nuance, drama, pathos, of mediating techniques will actually having shaped me long before I became a garishness, strain and sublime refi nement elevate our performance while having a Rolfi ng practitioner. that characterized her singing throughout simultaneously palliative effect on our The world of music, seemingly more her career. What makes her voice even more intimate audience. Such are important externalized, is more accurately one of unfathomable is that not only can we fi nd questions. Ones that many may not choose introspection and isolated discipline all these elements in any performance, they to ask, but ones that, once posed, should as well, one where years of repetition may even commingle uncomfortably in a serve to encourage further study and and sacrifice shape the creative act of single aria. This complexity is perhaps the send us back to our practice rooms again performance. One where the artist returns source of the critics’ discomfort, this uneasy and again. repeatedly to seminal compositions and cohabitation of controlled refinement The obvious implication is that the Callas thereby gleans new insights and creative and strain. example raises many more interesting possibilities in the familiar. In both worlds What an interesting image. Its analogies questions than the still-popular Olivia we surrender ourselves to the technical: to for Rolfi ng® are delightfully fortuitous. Let Newton-John, because Callas endures as a the scales, interval drills and endless études, me also share that the vulnerability and more complex and powerful presence on which are analogous to the memorizations the risk-taking that I adore in Callas I also every level and because her gift s and defects of anatomy, techniques, cueings and the

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 37 PERSPECTIVES numerous specifi cs of each hour. At its most voice of Ellen Beach Yaw, who recorded (“Whip It!”) was hardly fortuitous. An- fundamental level, this is the bedrock of the in the 1910s, and whose suspect high e- other inane question that this silly pun creative process. fl at’’’ is as unsatisfying a peep (masking raises is whether we should call Farinelli, as a pitch) as I have ever heard. Sugar Pie the most famous Italian castrato of the We can also relanguage this construct in DeSanto was a wonderful R&B singer Baroque Era, a diva, or divo? a more elevated manner, evoking high of the 1960s who recorded a funky duet art as all Rolfing® practitioners should. called “In the Basement” with the more 5. Koestenbaum, Wayne, The Queen’s In both worlds, the technical informs the well-known and spectacularly visceral Throat: Opera, Homosexuality and the artistic and, on certain occasions, this act Ett a James of “Tell Mama” fame. Note: Mystery of Desire (New York: Vintage, of creation manifests spontaneously, a According to the Harvard Dictionary of 1993), p. 137. By this point the observant transcendent evocation of the ecstatic, an Music, Second enlarged ed., 6th Print- reader with nothing more important to intuitive entrainment between performers, ing (Cambridge, MA: Belknap, 1973), do might have noticed the similarity between soloist and orchestra, between the singer Lucrezia Agujari 1743-1784, of dates, recording dates of 1976, 1977 practitioner and client. Such was the goal is said to have had a c’’’, p. 920. See also and 1978, Callas’ death 1977, Rolf’s and of Callas’ art and that of many others the naming of pitches discussion which ex- Riperton’s deaths, 1979. This is either a plains the octave designations used here, wonderful coincidence or I am stuck in a whom we do not here credit for their rigor pp. 678-79. late 1970s time warp. I fear it is the latt er. and will. To make a fi nal parallel, Callas and Newton- 2. An interesting account of Einstein’s 6. Koestenbaum, ibid., p. 137. John would have been very different creative process is discussed in Paul practitioners but each would have off ered Halpern’s wonderful The Great Beyond: 7. Koestenbaum, ibid., p. 142. interestingly divergent approaches to our Higher Dimensions, Parallel Universes, discipline, just as their contrasting styles, and the Extraordinary Search for a Theory 8. A reference to a volume of Nietzsche’s of Everything (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, collected writings published posthu- vocal apparatus and musical journeys serve 2004), pp. 169-170. An additional bit of mously under that title. Nietzsche was as oddly contiguous models for the artist’s serendipity is that Olivia Newton-John a tragic individual who att empted to journey. A curious metaphor, but one that is the granddaughter of theoretical transcend his many physical limita- speaks to the more subtle aspects of our physicist Max Born, a contemporary of tions through his brilliant and inspired work, the dimensions of the creative and Einstein, who is credited with coining writings, hence, an apt choice for our individual, the subjective and the artistic. the phrase quantum mechanics. For more discussion. For this alone may we thank them for on this, see: Lederman, Leon M. & Hill, sharing their voices with us. Christopher T., Symmetry and the Beauti- 9. A reference to a coff ee-table biography ful Universe (Amherst, NY: Prometheus, of Callas: Galatopoulos, Stelios, Maria NOTES 2004), pp. 219 and 346 (chapter 10, Callas: Sacred Monster (New York: Simon fn. 10). & Schuster, 1998). 1. This string of vocal puns is perhaps too Fast and Furious, so here is a bit more 3. During our mentoring, Les Kertay information. First, most folks over forty shared a remark with me that went will remember Olivia Newton-John’s something like this: ‘Ray, the moment popular hit, “Have You Never Been you forget how diffi cult it is to stand Mellow.” Barbra Streisand’s spectacular up in front of another human being in rendition of “Before the Parade Passes your underwear is the moment it can By” from Hello Dolly is one of the most become a problem.’ Thanks for that gem gloriously moving moments in musical Les, among many. Any distortions of the fi lmmaking. Most should recall Frank pithy original are solely my responsibility. Sinatra’s beautifully restrained and ultra-cool rendition of the pop standard, 4. Here the musical pun is that there is “The Best is Yet to Come.” If not, put it really no male equivalent for diva, so on your short list. Melba Moore was a I fabricated one, and the fact that this popular R&B singer of the 1960s and term is a homonym for a wacky and 1970s, known for her dramatic sustained short-lived 1980s New Wave band, Devo high notes, such as in her 1976 live per- formance of “Lean on Me.” Minnie Rip- erton (1947-1979) was a remarkable, but short-lived, 1970s pop star whose 1974 top-40 hit, “Loving You,” contains an incredibly pure high f’’. Mado Robin, a minor and rather dull French coloratura of the 1950s and 1960s, is in The Guinness Book of Records for singing the highest recorded pitch, a b-fl at’’—a minor 7th above high c’’, although it may be ar- gued that this dubious distinction more properly goes the freakishly unpleasant

38 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org REVIEWS

The fi rst entry sets the stage: “This is the gospel of Rolfing: When the body gets working appropriately, the force of gravity can fl ow through. Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself.”5 Another gem reads, “Rolfers make a life study of relating bodies Classic Tales and and their fi elds to the earth and its gravity fi eld, and we so organize the body that the gravity fi eld can reinforce the body’s Timeless Wisdom energy fi eld. This is our primary concept.”6 Some quotes are short and brutally effi cient, Books By and About Ida P. Rolf others span pages and let the reader glimpse the tone of a lecture. The words are timeless, carrying the wisdom and Reviewed by Dave Sheldon, Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ confi dence Dr. Rolf was known for. For those who never meet Dr. Rolf in r. Ida Rolf’s person and work come experiences. However, what gives the person, the history contained in these Dalive in her words and in the stories book extra depth is the generosity many three volumes can help one feel more told by those who worked and studied with contributors show when describing how connected to the spirit and beginnings of her. Three books are valuable resources Dr. Rolf infl uenced their path and how she Rolfi ng®. And for all of us who practice that allow the reader to both witness continues to inspire their lives. structural integration, the books contain Dr. Rolf as a person and learn from her The book opens with a story from Rolfi ng timeless wisdom. actions and words. practitioner Dorothy Nolte, who remembers Rolfing telling Dr. Rolf that she had found that NOTES: receiving foot work was much less painful Dr. Rolf’s extraordinary textbook was when done under water: “She looked at me 1 Rolf, Ida P., Rolfi ng: The Integration of Hu- originally published as Rolfing: The and said, ‘I know, I know.’ She waved her man Structures. Dennis-Landman, 1977, Integration of Human Structures by Dennis hands in the air the way she did as her kind p. 29. Landman in 1977. In a later edition (Healing of personal gesture and replied, ‘That’s all I Arts Press, 1989), the title was changed to need, Dorothy, is to wear a bathing suit and 2 Feitis, Rosemary and Louis Schul- Rolfi ng: Reestablishing the Natural Alignment tz, Remembering Ida Rolf. Boulder: work under water with a snorkel.’”2 and Structural Integration of the Human Body Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, for Vitality and Well-Being. The book details, Nicholas French shares a story of being 1996, p. 3. among many things, how anatomical a student in class with Dr. Rolf and relationships shape the body and effect experiencing an alarming perceptual shift 3. Feitis and Schultz, ibid., p. 205. movement. In combination with the text, during one of her lectures. “Suddenly countless “before” and “after” client Ida stopped in mid-sentence, turned and 4 Feitis, Rosemary (ed.), Rolfi ng and Physi- cal Reality. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts pictures are used to show and explain looked straight at me, and asked, ‘What’s on Press, 1990, p. 2. common distortions in the body and what your mind?’…She grinned and waved her hand at me. ‘Don’t worry, it’s just a quantum was done to correct them. Also, clear 5 Feitis, ibid., p. 31. anatomical diagrams (many by the late leap in your spiritual process. Nothing to ® 3 Rolfi ng practitioner John Lodge) explain be afraid of, you’ll be fi ne.’” 6 Feitis, ibid., p. 86. how muscles and bones interact in regards Rolfing and Physical Reality to these distortions, and how balancing structural relationships brings more order. Rolfi ng and Physical Reality (Healing Arts In Dr. Rolf’s words, “Structure is the subject Press, 1990; originally published in 1978 and substance of this book. It is a road map by the Rolf Institute as Ida Rolf Talks About for a way of seeing which has led to the Rolfi ng and Physical Reality) is a compilation technique called Structural Integration.”1 of Dr. Rolf’s quotes, edited by Rosemary Feitis. In the introduction, Feitis tell how Remembering Ida Rolf she worked with Dr. Rolf on the book Remembering Ida Rolf (Rolf Institute of Rolfi ng: The Integration of Human Structures, Structural Integration®, 1996), edited by but felt something else was needed. “As we Rosemary Feitis and Louis Schultz, is wrote, rewrote, and edited, I realized that a compilation of first-hand accounts of I would like to see another book, one that was the woman herself. Told lovingly by her less formal, one that could capture the former students, the book is made rich with everyday feeling.”4 descriptions of classroom epics, animal Thanks to Feitis’s eff ort, Rolfi ng and Physical rehabilitation, visits with flying saucer Reality is a showcase for Dr. Rolf’s words. afi cionados and countless other real-life

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 39 REVIEWS

Ideokinesis: A Creative Approach to Human Movement and Body Alignment by André Bernard, Wolfgang Steinmüller, Ursula Stricker Reviewed by Claudius Nestvogel, Certifi ed Rolfer™, Rolf Movement Practitioner, Certifi ed Feldenkrais Practitioner

ince its inception by Mabel E. Todd so as to be att ractive to our unconscious Sand further development, later on, by processing—it would take a while to her disciples Lulu Sweigard and Barbara discover that Bernard used the images had to be edited, of course. Bernard used Clark, Ideokinesis has been a quiet but very skillfully, one building on top of first to discuss and explain an image, persistent presence in the realm of somatics. the other. Sometimes his meticulous art then subsequently guide participants Simply described by André Bernard in the only revealed itself in hindsight, when through the image (thus repeating it) while introduction to his book Ideokinesis (North one realized that the last images in the they lay in constructive rest. In written Atlantic Books, 2006), it “is a discipline that series were also the crowning ones, which form this repetition is unnecessary, and employs the use of images as a means of would have been much less eff ective if not the text was abridged accordingly. The improving muscle patt erns.” Its infl uence prepared for by all the preceding images. German-language edition of Ideokinesis was is widespread, although it often goes Bernard’s deft handling of his material published in 2003, shortly before Bernard’s unacknowledged; sometimes its presence also showed in how he would present his unexpected death. The U.S. edition came is not even recognized. more serious and advanced students with out in 2006, edited by Agius directly from enough material to busy themselves for a The late André Bernard was very much the original transcripts rather than have year, while at the same time presenting it like the method of Ideokinesis, of which the book be a translation back from the in a way that was accessible to newcomers he became a leading proponent when German edition. She also contributed and the merely curious. He emphasized his teacher Barbara Clark passed away. the very helpful “Suggestions on How to that ideokinetic imagery is to be used on He possessed a deep knowledge of the Use This Book,” which were added to the a daily basis to really unfold its subtle and structure and function of the human body, U.S. edition. profound eff ects. which he shared freely in his workshops, The workshop material was augmented and he was very experienced in teaching To prepare Ideokinesis, the book that became with an introduction by Bernard and an all kinds of audiences. At the same time Bernard’s legacy, two workshops were interview with him. In his introduction, he his demeanor was very unassuming selected from years of audio recordings gives a concise overview over the theory and humble. Those who were used to from Switzerland and Germany, one a and practice of Ideokinesis. In the interview, the charismatic and colorful ways of typical workshop open to all, the other conducted by Richard Rosen and Nancy well-known celebrities of the somatics an advanced workshop. The material Lyons (both longtime students), he off ers scene had to look twice to see the treasure was edited by Ursula Stricker (a longtime much more detailed insights into the history Bernard was. student and Bernard’s organizer in Bern, of the method, theoretical and practical Switzerland; she also provided the photos Once or twice a year Bernard would come questions about structure and the use of of Bernard teaching, which guide one into to Europe to present a few workshops for imagery, and application as it pertains to the ideokinetic images) and Wolfgang his scatt ered disciples here. Patiently he dancers. It is all about bones, muscles and Steinmüller (a student who organized would go through the necessary skeletal the nervous system, demonstrating that this workshops for Bernard in his last years in anatomy on which he would slowly build “old standard” view of the human body— Germany). The original transcripts, which the ideokinetc images. As the imagery is with bones as compression members and were prepared by Trishia Ruth Agius and intentionally simple and even childlike— muscles as tensile members—still has a lot then translated into German by myself,

40 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org REVIEWS to off er to Rolfers™ and is well worth the in some biotopes of somatics—and this In short, this wonderful book demonstrates detailed study that Ideokinesis off ers. made his way of teaching so precise. At how Ideokinesis is put into practice. the same time, he carried on the lively It opens a pathway to the depths of There is much more of interest to the quality of the imagery of his teacher this approach, which shares so much Rolfing® community, however. I do not Barbara Clark. Bernard’s workshops thus with Ida Rolf’s structural integration. exaggerate when I say that a number of had this aesthetically pleasing combination Visit www.ideokinesis.com; for more my questions about Ida Rolf’s template of precision and imaginative playfulness, information about Ideokinesis, and and “Recipe” were answered in Bernard’s and the editors of Ideokinesis have done a www.contactquarterly.com/ce/ce06.html workshops. (I studied with him from 1993 wonderful job in conveying this. for more information about the other through 2000 and served as his interpreter books mentioned. on a number of occasions.) Whoever has read both Dr. Rolf’s book and Mabel Todd’s The Thinking Body will have been struck, as I was, by the parallels in these two individuals’ thinking. (Again and again I have tried to fi nd out if Rolf might have studied with Todd during her New York years, but even Bernard told me that he could not substantiate a direct connection between the two. The similarities are probably due to the osteopathic background they share.) Both are concerned with how a body should be organized in gravity and organized by gravity, and the material in Ideokinesis supplies a wealth of ideas. If the reader takes this “how” into practical application by working with the ideokinetic images over time, slowly the deeper connections will be revealed. Although the use of images has become widespread—and has, in modifi ed form, become a part of Rolfing Movement Integration as well—all too oft en images are used in a rather arbitrary way. Litt le att ention is given to the interconnectedness of different images, which requires a profound understanding of human structure. Bernard was a master at eliciting this understanding through his creative imagery compositions, as the material in this book demonstrates. Such exposition of the deeper connections between sundry ideokinetic images is not easy to fi nd. For example, it is my opinion that the books of Eric Franklin (who studied with Bernard for several years) do not impart this deeper layer, although they are a good resource for a great variety of images (many of them from Bernard himself). Likewise, the bare bones of these deeper layers can be found in John Rolland’s Inside Motion and in the excellent manuals of Barbara Clark (see Pamela Matt ’s A Kinesthetic Legacy: The Life and Works of Barbara Clark). It is Bernard’s “voice” in Ideokinesis, however, that really brings the images to life. An engineer by training, Bernard always anchored his images very clearly in anatomical structures: he was well aware of the diff erence between reality and metaphor—now a rare quality

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 41 MEMORIALS

Gregory Hampel

Former Certifi ed Rolfer™ Gregory Hampel died August 11, 2008 in Seatt le aft er being hit by a car as he went into the street to try to catch his dog. Hampel had switched careers from Rolfi ng® to education, and was a fi rst-grade teacher at The Seabury School in Tacoma, Washington. He was thirty-nine years old and is survived by his partner Ed Swaya and their daughter Vivian (pictured with her father). Hampel helped make legal history when he and his partner won a case involving adoption rights for same-sex couples (htt p://newyorklawschool.typepad.com/leonardlink/2006/05/ oklahoma_adopti.html). Donations in honor of Gregory can be made to an educational fund for his daughter Vivian Swaya; if you would like to contribute, you can mail a check in her name to Ed Swaya at 6407 Fauntleroy Way SW, Seatt le, WA 98136.

 I feel incredibly blessed to have been too. He touched my heart and countless  I met Gregory through his partner, Ed, a given the opportunity to meet Gregory on others just by being who he was. As a Rolfer client of mine. He came in for one session my fi rst day arriving in Brazil for the start of his steady, fi rm yet receptive and sensitive aft er a car accident, wanting me to check my Rolfi ng® training. The instant bond we hands provided that healing touch so out any residual trauma from it and the formed can never be broken even as I still necessary to guide and transform a body to minor surgery they’d done to his belly. A deeply mourn today. I learned this word heal. His dedication to others seemed to be while later I heard through the grapevine in Portugese, saudade, when I left Brazil in just a natural extension of himself. that he had applied to the Rolf Institute of 1997. I understand it to mean an intense Structural Integration®, and was already Another time, I remember coming off the longing and missing that is felt deep within. doing Combined Studies in Boulder. My table during the auditing phase (back in Sinto saudades de voce, Gregory! comment was, “Well, he’d bett er come in the day when that’s what essentially was and get a Ten Series at some point before I have so many special memories of Gregory. Unit II in Brazil) of our training and looking he starts Auditing!” I remember when we ended up partners for across the room at Gregory who had also nosework. He started laughing when he just received work. His ribcage had soft ened Gregory practiced Rolfi ng for a few years raised his pinky fi nger up to my hand which signifi cantly and there was an increased and then went back to school to get a revealed that his pinky fi nger was about sense of groundedness about him. He teaching certifi cation to work with kids. We the size of my index fi nger! He jokingly was always able to meet you in complete would oft en chat at length on the phone, threatened me with that pinky finger realness on the ground and wherever you and I’d see him on occasion in town, on that was about to go up my nose. Despite were. I know he still lives on in the hearts the ferry, at parties, or carting around his teasing, I already knew I could trust of those that love him and in the bodies of his delightful daughter Vivian. I always him. Gregory had the gift of instilling trust those he has healed. enjoyed his enthusiasm for life and his oft en and safety when you were in his care and outrageous humor. He was in the midst of Gregory, you will always have a special presence. He was nurturing and sensitive, a full life, and his energy is missed. place within my heart, beij os. qualities that no doubt helped him be a Allan Kaplan wonderful Rolfi ng practioner, supportive Jennifer C. Mark Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ partner, loving father and true friend to Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™, Seattle, WA many. He was always 100% present and Rolf Movement Instructor, PT, giving of himself and full of endless fun and Yoga Teacher and laughter. You recognized immediately San Francisco, CA that there was something very special about him. He was able to extend this to include those around him so that they felt special

42 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org MEMORIALS

Raymond J. Bishop, Jr.

Editor’s Note: The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration® has published much of Ray Bishop’s writing in Rolf Lines and Structural Integration. This work is available at Pedro Prado’s virtual library of structural integration literature, The Ida P. Rolf Library of Structural Integration (www. pedroprado.com.br). We are publishing one fi nal article by Ray Bishop in this issue—“Dueling Divas” on page 35. Ray’s work is also available at www.idarolfsbrahms.com, his own web site.

 Ray Bishop passed away on December techniques as well as craniosacral, 5, 2008, of complications from cancer. A visceral, energetic manipulation, Rolfi ng and Rolf Movement practitioner musical imagery and metaphor, since 1995, he was a beloved member Reiki, and Rolfi ng movement, all of the Atlanta Rolfi ng® community. Ray of which are securely grounded in att ended the New England Conservatory, principles of Rolf’s model. and graduated magna cum laude from Ray’s web site presents his “constantly Rhode Island College. He earned his evolving ideas about this challenging and poorly master’s degree in musicology from Indiana understood discipline I so passionately love.” It University (1979), and his Ph.D. from the contains a wealth of information, including University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill many of his published articles. His ability (1987). Jeannie Beckam, Ph.D., Ray’s close  Ray was my student in a Unit 2 Combined to interweave disparate elements from the friend of thirty years, described Ray’s novel Studies class in 1995. It was a privilege far ethers of abstraction was remarkable. approach to his year-long preparation for to have participated in his education, his comprehensive examination on the When Ray discovered Rolfi ng, it became his and to have watched his need to serve entire history of music, which he passed true calling. Rolfi ng sustained him through others through Rolfing take shape. Ray with fl ying colors. Ray created his fi nal illness, as he continued to practice showed a quality very important to me: the into the last week of his life. As Carlton … a mural about four feet by thirty willingness to seek precision and scientifi c observed, “I knew Ray was brave, but in the feet with the timeline of music grounding, and at the same time to use his last year I was overwhelmed by his courage history. It was fi lled with pictures knowledge with sincere consideration for and determination.” and summaries. He carried it the well-being and development of each person he encountered. His humanitarian around with him rolled up, and Ray was a good friend, delightfully concern was evident, and stood above all oft en when we met for breakfast, he eccentric, energetic and generous. I will else. And his humanistic perspective was would share the era and information miss his warmth and wicked wit. What a manifest throughout his career, in which he had been working on. funny, gentle and brilliant person! he devoted equal att ention to life sciences Carlton Van Court, Ray’s life partner Libby Eason and to art. and friend of twenty-seven years, recalls Rolfi ng Instructor A gift ed writer, Ray taught us so much Ray as a walking encyclopedia—asked a Atlanta, GA question about almost anything, he would through his articles. These beautiful, instantly retrieve the answer from his vast well-writt en pieces had the fl owing style of a mature thinker—one who could memory banks. Ray was deeply engaged  Ray was a movement student of mine express himself through humor, art and in this inquiry we call Rolfi ng. A scholar of many years ago and I always enjoyed his science simultaneously. anatomy, he was training to join the Rolf bright mind and humor. His kindness Institute’s life sciences faculty and had towards me and his fellow students added Ray was a true colleague. A team player. taught anatomy for years at an Atlanta to the pleasure of the class. A few years ago I Although I never saw him again aft er that massage school. But Ray’s approach to was assisting a workshop in Athens, Georgia 1995 class, I could feel his presence through Rolfi ng was eclectic. To quote his web site, and fell in love with him again. Because of his prolific contributions to Structural www.idarolfsbrahms.com: geography, we didn’t see each other oft en Integration, and follow his thread of inquiry. and I always smile when I think of Ray and My style of Rolfi ng is a blend of Though I will miss his company, and all our wonderful conversations. I will miss several approaches, since, for me, of us will miss his contributions, we may him and the Rolf Institute will miss him. Rolfi ng is more a mode of inquiry still remember him and nourish ourselves than a rigidly predetermined through his writt en legacy. sequence of soft tissue release and Jane Harrington Pedro Prado balancing techniques (the textbook Rolfi ng Instructor Rolfi ng Instructor ten series described elsewhere). In Albuquerque, NM São Paulo, Brazil my work, I use traditional Rolfi ng

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 43 MEMORIALS

 I had Ray Bishop in one of my early Foundations classes at the Rolf Institute, somewhere back in the early 1990s. Thinking of him over the years, I remembered his earnestness and passion for learning, and of course his lighthearted spirit. Later, his contributions to this journal took its professionalism, diversity, and depth of content to a new level. Thank you for all of it, Ray! Til Luchau Rolfi ng® Instructor Boulder, CO

 Ray Bishop was a singular gem—and I don’t say that lightly to a profession rich with thousands of eclectic bodyworkers. His intellect spoke to a privileged slice of our readership and they loved him. One could not read a Ray Bishop manuscript casually. You had to focus and immerse yourself in his world, but it was always worth the investment. Those who did so understood his woven analogies and his rapid-fi re wit. would replace the previous version skin. By losing Ray Bishop, we lose a unique He was a meticulous writer in a world of with this one. perspective of good-humored, intelligent, shoddy language skills. I remember our scientific, musical passion for Rolfing. Any time, Ray … any time. early conversations about his submission of version aft er refi ned version of a piece. Leslie A. Young, Ph.D. Anita Acevedo I counseled him that, at some point, he’d Editor-in-Chief, Certifi ed Rolfer™ need to let go of the piece and let it live. Massage & Bodywork Magazine Tiburon, CA Here was his response, which says so much about his dedication to his writing and his profession:  Ray Bishop’s approach to Rolfi ng was  Shaka Zulu, Ray! uniquely inspired. His inspiration led him Just to warn you, I am more than a to explore the relationship between music During our advanced training together bit obsessive and do mull over my and integrative structural bodywork. He in 2000 in Seatt le, Ray and I became fast pieces for weeks and sometimes contributed greatly to our community by friends due to our mutual proclivity even months aft er they are done. writing from these unique perspectives. I toward scatological humor. Years later, I also frequently reread and revise recall articles that compared Rolfing to we still talked on the phone regularly. old articles for my own perverse a sonata, or explored how the fl uid tides He would regale me for minutes, if not pleasure as my ideas change even provide their own harmony and rhythm hours, with comedic monologues about his if I never resubmit them. All this to the fascial system. He also interviewed observations on anything from the time he means is that a piece that sits may senior practitioners to understand their experimented with drag to the challenges of be tweaked and all you have to do is experience of many years, and to glean being the evil step-sister assistant in a Rolf to say stop on any given piece once their wisdom and insight. I still remember Institute of Structural Integration® training. you are ready to publish it and I will the joy in his voice when he had the oblige even if a bit begrudgingly at opportunity to interview Peter Schwind, Ray was one Ph.D. who never took himself the time. Tom Shaver, D.O., and Louis Schultz. too seriously. Passionate writer that he was, he tried to make his own intellectual prose We will miss Ray and his exactitude. One more accessible to the average reader. I Ray loved his work. Even in his last year of of his last messages to me: quote Ray: life, he saw about fi ft een clients per week My obsessiveness sometimes gets and continued to work on articles. He was Finished up some annoying changes the bett er of me and my compulsion always grateful for being given this work, on the most recent article. . . I have to edit myself into oblivion as it constantly inspired and enlivened an unfortunate patt ern of agreeing overwhelms me. Your tolerance of him. He oft en said that the work of Rolfi ng to review books that I have not liked. my nature is greatly appreciated allowed him to become more embodied as . . I never know what abominations and I would be very happy if you a human being, more “okay” in his own

44 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org MEMORIALS

editors will rain on my idiosyncratic invaluable. He could spot something not for the many lett ers we’ve exchanged over labors of love. right in a document, even if it was well- the years. written; conceptual errors could not be In response to some challenges I was facing When you arrived in my Combined Studies hidden from him by superfi cial correctness. last June, Ray commented: class, I was intrigued by your musical Finally, in my tribute to Ray, I would say background and curious about its infl uence I prefer surrendering to the Present, that his choosing to join us was a tribute to on your learning style. I fondly recall a the Stillness, how Zen, how Long Rolfi ng, in that he saw this profession as a surprising moment when I approached Tide, how Shaka Zulu. Enough of fi tt ing place to exercise his gift s. your table and noted the presence not of dancing in the esoteric, sorry, too music, but of an aromatherapy fragrance. many Eckhart Tolle CDs in the past Karl E. Humiston When I asked about your choice of aroma few weeks. I need a good injection Certifi ed Rolfer™ rather than rhythm and melody, you gently of hard science, a myofascial San Diego, California explained that rather than Rolfi ng by ear, anatomy intensive!!!!!!!!! The you let your sense of smell guide your intertransversarii reign supreme… perceptions and palpations.  My friend Ray and I met in Foundations “What the hell is Shaka Zulu?” I asked.” of Bodywork in 1993. He gave me a birthday I was glad to see you enter the Rolfing A very bad movie from the 60s,” he present—Douglas Hofstadter’s book Gödel, community as a both practitioner and replied. “I just like the phrase, which I once Escher, Bach. The gift showed what Ray was writer. And although I cannot match your heard used by some whacko comedian to all about, and foreshadowed what he came enthusiasm for writing, I was pleased when mean bizarre—as in ‘How Shaka Zulu!’” to be to me and to many of us over the years. you sent me your rough draft s for comment. Ray was the rare great soul. As an educated The Advanced Training in Seatt le in 2000 So, Ray, how Shaka Zulu that I’m writing man—a renaissance man—he viewed and deepened our connection. Your courage this memorial for you! It has been a bizarre wrote about Rolfi ng through that exquisite and honesty were remarkable. To this day I journey together and my life has been lens. He was generous in his assessment honor what you shared with me about that enriched through knowing you. and treatment of others. His judgment and experience. And in your honor, I quote here With much love, disposition were exemplary. His approach something you wrote: to any task was earnest, disciplined and Carole LaRochelle I frequently stop and reflect on mindful: something worth doing at all Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ how amazing six weeks can be in deserved doing well. And his personal Santa Rosa, CA one’s life even aft er fi ft y years on honor and discretion were impeccable. the planet. They say that folks our For these qualities, Ray was on my own age cannot change but I wonder if  It was through some telephone very short list of good counselors—those that is really true, at least when you conversations a few years ago that I came whose advice is indispensable on delicate have the power of Dr. Rolf’s work to know Ray Bishop. I am grateful that we or diffi cult questions concerning matt ers reorganizing you and taking you had some serious business to discuss, for of moral or institutional importance to to higher levels all the time. Maybe that made it possible to experience some of the Rolfi ng community. When the Ethics her global transformational mission the depth of that remarkable man. and Business Practices Committ ee had a was not so far from the mark aft er dilemma, when delicate balances had to all. A real shame that so few of us are To my delight, our conversations ranged be struck in reformulating the Code of fortunate to really receive, integrate, far from the original business, into pieces of Ethics, when our Standards of Practice and verbalize this work. Such is life his interest in music and its relationship to needed rethinking entirely—in these and and this is why so many of us live Rolfi ng®. To me this was most meaningful, other matt ers in which nothing less than the work, to in our own way help as it was my singing in a college chorus in doing the right thing would do, I generally fulfill the mission or at the very concert with the San Francisco Symphony, turned to Ray. least, keep the work alive. What with Marian Anderson as soloist, that fi rst a gift . opened my soul to the deeper things in In many ways that most of us will never life. Ray’s life was built around that kind know, we have benefi ted enormously from With aff ection and self acceptance, of thing. He easily understood the spiritual Ray’s perspicacity and sound judgment— Ray essences of things that seem invisible to and we will miss them. most of us, especially things musical. Your words will guide and inspire my Heidi Massa preparations for an upcoming Advanced During the illness that ended his life, I had Certifi ed Advanced Rolfer™ Training. I will dedicate it to your memory. only brief contacts with him. Knowing Chicago, IL him, that was enough; it did not take many Aloha, words for him to convey so much to me. Sally Klemm  Dear Ray, His recent service on the Rolf Institute’s Rolfi ng Instructor Standards of Practice Committ ee was of real I am so saddened at the news of your death, Honolulu, HI value, despite that illness. Although he did as you hold a special place in my heart. not have the energy to do any of the writing, This last lett er to you is in appreciation his reviewing what the rest of us wrote was

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 45 INSTITUTE NEWS

Congratulations to the New Graduates

Unit III – Boulder, Colorado – December, 2008

Faculty: Ray McCall (Instructor) Students: Chas Blystone, Scott Bourne, Allie Burleson, Virginia Chaplin, Theresa Clark, Wesley Crist, Robert Garbellano, Sabrina Hill, Melanie Holt, Christine Lichtenfels, Dannette Little, Vincent Perez, Ann Shankle, Mike Williams, Kelly Wright

Unit III – Barra do Sahy, Brazil – December, 2008

Faculty: Jan Sultan (Instructor) Students: Pamela Carlson, Nikki Corona, James Donatelli, Gian Gibson, Ryan Goralsky, Toni Flores, Marty Morales, Katy Pankosky, Bernhard Raddle, Tom Richards, Jason Sager, Patrick Sassoon

Advanced Training – Berkeley, California – September, 2008

Faculty: Michael Salveson (Instructor) Students: Lisa Biow, Michael Boblett, John Doyle, Benjamin Eichenauer, Jennifer Eisele, Craig Ellis, Paul Fitzgerald, James Gates, Gary Gilbert, Szaja Charles Gottlieb, Robin Graber, Steve Inaba, Azar Jiwan, Anna Kokaurova, Melanie Lee Lancaster, Gerard LoCicer, Siegrun Maresch, Masaaki Miyao, Lorenz K. Schweitzer, Douw Smith, Heidi Thrasher- McReynolds, Christa B. Valentin

Rolfi ng Movement Certifi cation – Florianópolis, Brazil – December, 2008

Faculty: Lael Keen (Instructor) Students: Brigitte Berendes, Madoka Ikeda, Miquel de Jong, Bevin Keely, Lori Krohne, Larry Koliha, Wiley Patterson, Paulo Tushar, Bethany Ward

46 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org INSTITUTE NEWS

2009 Class Schedule

BOULDER, COLORADO Unit III: Clinical Application Advanced Training of Rolfing Theory Part I: August 3 – 21, 2009 Unit I: Foundations of Rolfing® March 9 – May 1, 2009 Location: Vienna, Austria Structural Integration/ FORSI Instructor: Valerie Berg Instructor: Ray McCall Anatomy Instructor: John Schewe Part II: February 2010 June 1 – July 13, 2009 June 1 – July 24, 2009 Location: Berlin, Germany Coordinator: Michael Polon Instructor: Libby Eason Instructor: Ray McCall August 24 – October 5, 2009 Anatomy Instructor: Michael Murphy Coordinator: Suzanne Picard August 17 – October 9, 2009 BRAZIL Instructor: Michael Murphy Anatomy Instructor: Juan David Velez Unit I: Advanced Foundations of Unit III: Clinical Application October 12 – December 11, 2009 Rolfing Structural Integration/ of Rolfing Theory Instructor: John Martine AFORSI Anatomy Instructor: John Martine September 18 – November 26, 2009 Instructors: Jan Sultan and Monica Caspari March 15 – March 28, 2009 Instructor: Michael Polon Advanced Training July 12 – July 25, 2009 Advanced Training Instructor: John Schewe Phase I: May 4 – 21, 2009 Instructor: Sally Klemm October 25 – November 7, 2009 October 19 – November 20, 2009 Instructor: Juan David Velez Phase II: August 10 – 21, 2009 Instructors: Tessy Brungardt and Lael Keen Instructor: Sally Klemm

Unit II: Embodiment of Rolfing & Rolf Movement Integration Rolf Movement Certification AUSTRALIA

March 30 – May 21, 2009 Phase I: August 4 – 7/10 –14, 2009 Unit III: Clinical Application Instructor: Thomas Walker Instructor: Mary Bond / Ashuan Seow of Rolfing Theory Principles Instructor: Mary Bond Phase II: August 18 – 21/24 – 28, 2009 June 1 – July 23, 2009 Instructor: Mary Bond / Ashuan Seow March 2 – April 24, 2009 Instructor: Kevin McCoy Instructor: Ray McCall Principles Instructor: Jane Harrington August 31 – October 22, 2009 GERMANY Rolf Movement Certification Instructor: Bethany Ward Principles Instructor: TBA Basic Rolfing Training: Intensive March,2009 October 12 – December 10, 2009 Instructors: Kevin Frank and Caryn McHose Instructor: Ray McCall Phase 1: August 3 – 22, 2009 Principles Instructor: Carol Agneessens Instuctors: Konrad Obermeier, Gerhard Hesse, Pierpaola Volpones KYOTO, JAPAN Phase 2: October 5 – November 27, 2009 Instructors: Marius Strydom, Rita Geirola Unit III: Clinical Application Phase 3: February 1 – March 26, 2010 of Rolfing Theory Instructor: Pierpaola Volpones October 5 – November 25, 2009 Instructors: Pedro Prado, Monica Caspari For a full list of class schedules please go to these websites:

USA www.rolf.org Europe www.rolfi ng.org Brazil www.rolfi ng.com.br Australia www.rolfi ng.org.au Japan www.rolfi ng.or.jp

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2009 47 CONTACTS

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48 Structural Integration / March 2009 www.rolf.org

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