tructural ntegration S ® I THE JOURNAL OF THE ROLF INSTITUTE NOVEMBER 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FROM THE EDITOR 2 STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION: THE JOURNAL OF COLUMNS ® THE ROLF INSTITUTE Rolf Movement® Faculty Perspectives: 3 November 2015 The Art of Yield – An Interview with Hiroyoshi Tahata Vol. 43, No. 3 ROLFING® SI AND ANIMALS PUBLISHER Reflections on Three Decades of Rolfing SI for Animals – 5 The Rolf Institute of and the Story of Mike the Moose Structural Integration Briah Anson 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103 Rolfing SI for Horse and Rider 9 Boulder, CO 80301 USA Lauren Harmon (303) 449-5903 Rolfing SI for the Performance Horse 13 (303) 449-5978 Fax Sue Rhynhart Equine Motor-Control Therapy Using Perceptual 17 EDITORIAL BOARD and Coordinative Techniques Shonnie Carson Robert Rex Diana Cary Dispatch from the Amazon 19 Colleen Chen Igor Simões Andrade and Heidi Massa Lynn Cohen Craig Ellis Sensory Awareness and Feline Play 22 Jazmine Fox-Stern Heather L. Corwin Szaja Gottlieb Beamer: The Chihuahua That Somehow Knew 25 Anne F. Hoff, Editor-in-Chief Liz Gaggini Amy Iadarola Kerry McKenna THE HUMAN ANIMAL Dorothy Miller The Human Animal 26 Linda Loggins Matt Walker Heidi Massa The Three-Dimensional Animal 28 Meg Maurer Michael Boblett Robert McWilliams Deanna Melnychuk Refining Dr. Rolf’s Lateral Line 31 John Schewe Richard F. Wheeler Max Leyf Treinen Polyvagal Theory for Rolfers™ 36 Lina Hack LAYOUT AND The Reptile and the Mammal Within 38 GRAPHIC DESIGN Barbara Drummond Susan Winter The Long Body: An Interview with Frank Forencich 39 Frank Forencich and Brooke Thomas Articles in Structural Integration: The Turning Our Lens Inward: Acknowledging the Animal Under Our Suit 42 ® Journal of The Rolf Institute represent the Norman Holler views and opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official PERSPECTIVES positions or teachings of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. The Rolf Institute An Overview of the Fourth International Fascia Research Congress 46 Szaja Gottlieb reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to accept or reject any article Integrating the Fourth International FRC 49 for publication in Structural Integration: The Naomi Wynter-Vincent Journal of The Rolf Institute. Biotensegrity Summit Report 51 Brooke Thomas Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Institute® (ISBN-13: 978-0692578865, Snowflakes Falling: A Personal and Professional Relationship 52 ISBN-10: 0692578862, ISSN 1538-3784) with Gravity is published by the Rolf Institute, 5055 Caryn McHose Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301. The Three-Dimensional Foot, Part 2: 55 Evoking Pattern-Consistent Competency Copyright ©2015 Rolf Institute. All rights Michael Boblett reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without written CONTACTS 58 permission from the publisher.

“Rolfing®,” “Rolf Movement®,” “Rolfer™,” Cover image: Briah Anson and some of the many animals she has worked on using the and the Little Boy Logo are service marks principles of Rolfing Structural Integration applied to animal structures. of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. FROM THE EDITOR

Ida P. Rolf developed and taught Rolfing® Structural Integration (SI) for the human body, but that has not stopped our community of innovators from applying the Rolfing conceptualization of structure in gravity and fascial touch to animals, usually starting with our own pets. Some Rolfers™ have taken it much further, and made work with animals a centerpiece of their practices, particularly those working in the equine (horse and rider) communities. But how many of us have considered applying Rolfing methodology to an eagle, or a hamster? Briah Anson has ventured deep into this territory, as the photo gallery on the cover of this issue attests. Anson’s article, and a chapter about working on a wild moose (from her book Animal Healing: The Power of Rolfing Structural Integration), open our Rolfing SI and Animals theme, followed by Lauren Harmon, Sue Rhynhart, and Robert Rex addressing aspects of the work, both structural and movement, for horse and rider. Then we hear about Igor Simões Andrade’s Rolfing practice in the Amazon, which includes aquatic work assisted by boto cor de rosa, the pink river dolphins. We round out the theme with stories of how domestic animals have initiated engagement with Rolfers, and what transpired: Heather L. Corwin shares how play with her cat deepened her experience of Sensory Awareness, and Liz Gaggini relates how a perceptive Chihuahua made good use of her presence, directing the session she wanted from the visiting Rolfer. The discussion of animals leads us to the fact that we humans also are animals. We know this from Darwin’s theory of evolution, but how far have we have drifted from understanding our animal nature and its implications? Test this in yourself by considering a question posed by Norman Holler: “What might the cultural/spiritual shift be if we were to consider all doctors of medicine to be veterinarians?” Let that percolate and consider what we have to offer in this theme of The Human Animal from a variety of angles, first the study of anthropology and/or paleontology that Matt Walker, Michael Boblett, and Richard F. Wheeler bring to bear. Walker opens our theme with a contemplation of the human animal vis-à-vis the other ‘earthlings’ among us. This is followed by Boblett’s consideration of the evolution of bipedalism and the human foot, drawing on the latest discoveries. Then we have Wheeler’s thesis, drawing on vertebrate paleontology, that Rolf’s ‘lateral line’, as depicted pictorially in her book, needs modification to account for the curvilinear structure evident in all bones. As he states: “There is linear order in the body and it is curved.” Further articles take us into particular systems: Lina Hack offers a concise outline of polyvagal theory, and Barbara Drummond shares how humans have both reptilian and mammalian respiratory mechanisms and the implications of that for structure/function. Then we conclude the theme with considerations of how the human animal lives in his environment – both the outer environment (Brooke Thomas’s interview with Frank Forencich) and the biological environment of our animal bodies (Holler’s plea that we ‘acknowledge the animal under our suit’). This issue also brings an interview with Hiroyoshi Tahata on The Art of Yield (a significant development in Rolf Movement® Integration), reportage from the Fourth International Fascia Research Congress and the First Biotensegrity Summit, a meditation on ‘a personal and professional relationship with gravity’ from Caryn McHose, and further considerations on ‘the three-dimensional foot’ from Michael Boblett.

Anne F. Hoff Editor-in-Chief

2 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org COLUMNS ® expressed it this way: “It seems like you Rolf Movement are doing less and I am feeling more.” The essence of my practice is evolving in a new direction. The work now is in Faculty Perspectives being present with myself, the client, and the third organism that is activated by the The Art of Yield: An Interview with Hiroyoshi Tahata relationship (the field).

By Hiroyoshi Tahata, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Rolf Movement Instructor This interview was done via email, and as and Kathy McConnell, Certified Advanced Rolfer, Rolf Movement Practitioner English is not Hiro’s native language, it has been edited for clarity. Note from the Editor: In 2016, U.S. workshops on the Art of Yield will be held in Santa Cruz, California: Yield 1 dates are April 13-16 and Yield 2 dates are April 19-22. Contact Carol Agneessens Kathy McConnell: Please describe the for more information at [email protected]. Art of Yield approach to Rolfing® Structural Integration that you have developed. Introduction by Interviewer Hiroyoshi Tahata: The Art of Yield Kathy McConnell stimulates the motility response in living tissue, which promotes a system-wide ‘The Art of Yield’, developed by Rolf coherency that has profound transformative Movement instructor Hiroyoshi Tahata, potential. The practitioner’s touch invites a has been described by Mary Bond as “an very deep relaxation in the whole body- exploration in being fully present and in mind system, facilitating decompression observing the whole again and again.” of joints and core-space expansion. It I attended a workshop on The Art of Yield evolved in response to the need to provide with Tahata in April 2015. Since then, I structural integration to people who could have been weaving various aspects of not tolerate the classical myofascial release his innovation into my sessions with techniques typically used in Rolfing SI. The good results. In his method, sessions Art of Yield demonstrates that effective begin with the practitioner bringing structural change can be achieved through awareness to his/her own body sensations, Hiroyoshi Tahata gentle and brief, but precisely timed, touch. then grounding him/herself, and finally It is based on the concept that change expanding awareness to include the client, becomes more lasting and meaningful by and the space in the room. This all happens engaging the client’s own self-regulatory before making physical contact with the intelligence, rather than forcing change that client, and is what creates the ‘field’. The the practitioner believes needs to happen. practitioner then employs a technique The perceptual state of the practitioner called ‘conditioning’. Conditioning is key for this work. It is important to prepares the body for change by applying attend to your internal sensations, as a light touch, most often with the back of well as the sensation of the space around the hand, in various places on the body. you, including the client, consistently The purpose is to ground the client, set up throughout the session. This state enables scaffolding for cells, and animate subtle a palpable flow that assists the practitioner waves of motility. Once this first part is in tracking the emergent wave of motility. complete, the rest of the interventions are In addition, orienting around perception equally gentle and brief. After each one, the and interoception engages presence, which practitioner steps away from the table to is essential. scan and track changes. The client’s system Kathy McConnell will give directions about where to go next KM: How did the Art of Yield evolve? when the practitioner is acutely receptive. my intuitive perception emerges. My hands HT: I am relatively sensitive to pressure, Typically, more time is spent away from seem to know where to go, before thoughts so I was looking for a way to touch people the body than actually touching the body about what I want to accomplish invade the in the way that I would like to be touched. during a yield session. space. Everything feels more malleable; my breath, my body, and, best of all, the client’s I saw many Rolfers hurting themselves In my own practice, I have found that tissue. Strategizing with my thinking mind by using too much pressure with elbows, beginning sessions mindfully, with the has become secondary to staying present. knuckles, or fingers in their practices. We intention of creating a field of change, sets a are body/wellness professionals teaching tone that helps me maintain a rich presence Feedback from clients has been very others how to live and move with more throughout the session. As long as I keep positive, in part because integration is ease. There should be a consistency between bringing my awareness back to my body, inherent to each contact. They have been what I am doing and what I am teaching specifically my belly, I am able to engage the surprised at how effective the light touch the client. I wanted to find a way to work flow within the field. Time slows down and is, as have I. One of my longtime clients with more ease.

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Just after becoming a certified Rolfer in 1998, That was the turning point in my Rolfing practitioner to discern and follow a more I took a gentleman in his eighties through career. Since that class, I have been actively extensive range of change. In the early a Ten Series. He was very satisfied with experimenting with the yield touch in my stages, I thought I would be using the Art the work because his tinnitus improved. practice. I find that when I intentionally use of Yield only for pressure-sensitive people, However, the Series didn’t yet feel complete the touch to introduce cellular scaffolding, but over time, I am finding it is appropriate for him. I gave him a post-ten session the client responds more easily. for everyone. using a prototype of the Art of Yield touch KM: Why do you think this minimalist Hiroyoshi Tahata is a Certified Advanced in which I simply put my fingers under intervention can create such significant Rolfer and Rolf Movement Instructor. Prior him and followed the motility. He really change? to becoming a Rolfer, he worked as a research appreciated it, and I felt a true ‘closure’ of biochemist at Hayashibara Biochemical the Series that had resulted in meaningful HT: Imagine the body as if it were jigsaw Laboratories, where he became intimate with the structural change. Soon after that, another puzzle. As Rolfers, we know that if we colonizing behavior of cells. Also relevant to the client came to my office. He was suffering only change one piece without including development of his current work is his training from severe constipation. His skin was so the entire picture, the change will not hold. in Somatic Experiencing®, completed in Tokyo slick and waxy that I finally had to give Trying to keep track of the jigsaw puzzle in 2011. He lives in Tokyo with his beloved wife, up using manual techniques to affect his while we are working has the potential to son, two dogs, two cats, and a turtle. To find out structure, and took him through the Ten block us from sensing the living, breathing more and see photos, go to: http://rolfinger.com/. Series using exclusively movement work. whole. By working at the cellular level, it Interestingly, by the end, his constipation becomes possible to bypass the individual Kathy McConnell, RCST, is a Certified Advanced was resolved and his skin became more pieces of the puzzle. One tiny shift of a cell Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner. She is normal. These cases, together with various transmits information to all the cells and also certified in Biodynamic Craniosacral other people who had skin conditions or holographically affects the whole field. This Therapy and Medical Qi Gong. She has been other reasons for not being able to tolerate results in systemic coherency, or what I call practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area direct fascial manipulation, forced me to ‘palintonic harmony’. The cell is different since 2000. improvise. They ended up becoming great from a jigsaw puzzle piece, it is more resources for the development of the Art dynamic and more responsive. Endnote of Yield. KM: How does Art of Yield fit within with 1. The Art of Yield approach is a derivation [There were other influences too.] In the traditional Rolfing paradigm? of ‘yield’ touch being taught in some Rolf my Advanced Training in 2002, my left Movement trainings. A key difference is HT: I blend Rolfing SI, Rolf Movement, shoulder was strained, so it was difficult that integral in Tahata’s approach is the and the yield touch with the Ten Series, to use my elbow during practice sessions. ongoing inclusion of the practitioner’s taking photos before and after the sessions. Fortunately, I was able to have a private perception, which creates the field the work The Art of Yield evokes structural change Rolf Movement session with Vivian Jaye. occurs in. For more information, see the and integration in a new way by using the During that session, the epiphysis of my article entitled “Yielding” in the June 2012 client’s system to make the decisions about humerus found ‘home’ with a loud pop, issue of Structural Integration. From that where to go. I use the classical territory and my shoulder was completely fixed. article: “Yield is the first developmental of the session as a portal to the system, It was a dramatic change, and I was able movement. Often misunderstood as a instead of trying to change the part that to experience the power and potential of passive surrendering or a ‘doing nothing’, I am touching. We establish a functional movement work in a very deep way. Before yielding is in fact an active coming into goal at the beginning of the session as you that, an event happened during my Rolf relationship and is the fundamental would in any Rolfing session. However, I Movement training in 1999. The instructor, movement behavior underlying all others.” use my internal sensations, as well as my Carol Agneessens, gently touched my The issue also includes an article by Tahata awareness of the field, as the primary tool low back and head without stretching or called “Case Studies with Yielding,” where to create change. Each time I touch the body, forcing decompression. I felt my spine you can read more about his process and I am feeling for the resonance of the entire elongating spontaneously. It was the first see before and after photos of his clients. body in that place. For example, when I put time I had felt this kind of motility response. my hand lightly on the knee, I feel for the Bibliography This experience ignited my curiosity to resonance of all the diaphragms through find a way to evoke this kind of reaction Agneesens, C. and H. Tahata 2012 Jun. the knee. I often find the change starts to more frequently. “Yielding.” Structural Integration: The happen after releasing my hand from the Journal of the Rolf Institute® 40(1):10-16. Also during the Rolf Movement training, body and stepping back to observe the we were introduced to the concept of wave. Tahata, H. 2012 Jun. “Case Studies with yield as the first movement underlying all Yielding.” Structural Integration: The Journal KM: Is there anything else you would like ® movement.1 With this new foundational of the Rolf Institute 40(1):31-33. to share? understanding, I recognized a bridge between my experience in cellular biology HT: People often ask me if this intervention and the practice of structural integration. is a kind of energy work. I do not see it as It dawned on me that this touch may act energy work, despite the very light and to stimulate a collective response in cells, brief interventions. I see The Art of Yield providing scaffolding for enhanced motility. as a movement intervention. It allows the

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race horses, as well as show dogs and Reflections on Three Decades working and agility dogs) an extra edge. Working with a large population of cats, ® dogs, and horses, as well as llamas, eagles, of Rolfing SI for Animals – an owl, hawks, guinea pigs, a rooster, frog, donkeys, rats, goats, a deer, and even a wild and the Story of Mike the Moose moose, I was able to witness how quickly and naturally the animals took to the work. ® By Briah Anson, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Rolf Movement Practitioner It gave me profound insights into the nature of the energetics of trauma, armoring, and Reflections on side to side and top to bottom (just like the PTSD responses in my human clients as well. human process) so she could function better. Three Decades of I feel very grateful for the different Rolfing SI for Animals Practicing Rolfing SI on Kore was a circular energies I have learned from these animals. procedure – I worked to establish balance For over sixty years, Rolfing Structural They have deepened my sensitivity and with my hands, and then observed the Integration (SI) has helped reverse the understanding of presence, connection, results in the dog’s movement. It was a effects of trauma, illness, injury, and the mutual respect and understanding, and the sculpting process of science and art coming everyday impacts of gravity for tens of dignity of each animal I worked with. This together. With just a couple of hour- thousands of people worldwide. The ideas has truly helped me to be a better and more long sessions spaced a week apart, I was and principles Dr. Ida P. Rolf embodied sensitive practitioner with people. successful in working a new alignment into in her development of the basic Rolfing Here, and on the cover, you will see Kore’s structure. As the weeks progressed, series and advanced work, as well as photo galleries of the various species I’ve I continued to see remarkable changes in her realization that movement work is worked with. The stories of the work my dog. She became ‘younger’ in her body important, are central to the success stories with many of these animals are in my movements and disposition – more playful, we’ve all experienced in ourselves and book Animal Healing. The following story less hyper, and more at ease in every way. witnessed in our human clients. of “Mike the Moose from Montana” – an It was fun to watch her blossom into more up close and personal encounter with During the early months of my Rolfing of who she really was! career – which began in 1979 – I wondered if this magnificent wild beast – is also from When one of my equestrienne clients these same benefits could extend to animals. the book. asked if I’d be willing to work on his lame, That hunch came naturally to me given my competition-jumper thoroughbred, I was childhood affinity with animals. My first Before given a second animal Rolfing opportunity. efforts came about as I thought of applying The veterinarian route had been slow in the balance and alignment principles to my yielding results. Could Rolfing SI cure a medium-sized poodle. As a young Rolfer, lame horse? When five two-hour sessions I was consumed in exploring more deeply allowed me to sculpt this misaligned the principles and goals of the sequentially horse into a regal creature with stately arranged sessions and how they related conformation and great movement, I knew to Rolf’s (1978, 31) belief that, “This is the I was onto something. gospel of Rolfing [SI]! When the body gets working appropriately, the force of gravity I’ve been applying Rolfing SI to animals can flow through. Then, spontaneously the ever since, and it’s been a thirty-six-year body heals itself.” At the time, my poodle, journey. It led me to write a book: Animal Kore, was experiencing movement and Healing: The Power of Rolfing Structural gait restrictions in her pelvis and back legs. Integration (Anson 2011). In it I present over Could the freedom, lightness, and resilience three dozen profiles and 170 photographs I felt in my own mind and body as the result of fifty-six different animals – domestic After of Rolfing SI be possible for her? and wild – as they experience the Rolfing process. All the animals, of any type, and I started with the premise that a four-legged suffering from movement limitations will have two sets of vertical lines where resulting from injury, disease, surgical I’d need to organize structure and energy trauma, and even old age, experienced relief throughout her body: starting from the and recovery. paws, through the front legs, and then into the shoulder, and also up the hind legs into Rolfing SI can also be done as a preventive the pelvis. I then imagined a lateral midline measure when animals are young to lay through her torso, neck, and head. Thus the foundation for a longer and healthier seeing an anatomy of form, I was able to life. As a regular part of training, Rolfing observe gait problems, where Kore was sessions can give performance animals ‘tied up’, and what needed to be released. (hunter jumper, dressage, eventing, and I worked in layers to find the balance from

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Before After An Excerpt from Animal Healing: The Power of Rolfing Structural Integration Mike the Moose from Montana Briah recalls her experience in the Big Hole, Montana I moved to Minnesota in July of 1998. I quickly rediscovered the wonders and Before After beauty of the North Shore of Lake Superior and had some exciting moments seeing majestic moose on the side of the road grazing. The moose is a state icon in Minnesota and anyone who had any kind of encounter with one regarded it as a fine event. It was then that I gave birth to the intention of doing a Rolfing® session on a moose. It occurred to me that I would gain a greater understanding of these Nordic people and their ways if I could find a moose to work on. I found myself announcing to people that somehow I was going to give a moose a Rolfing session. Each time I made this known, people would burst into laughter and proceed to tell me that that was just impossible. But I believed that working on a moose would help me more fully understand this Scandinavian Before After Before After land that felt so foreign to me. Mind you, I had only moved 450 miles north from Kansas City, Missouri, to St. Paul, Minnesota, and yet the cultural background was very different than what I was accustomed to. I found people here to be emotionally held in and their physical structures mirrored this tradition. Expressing a range of emotion both positive and negative, the highs and lows, seemed to be more foreign to people in this Nordic land. I came to understand the lone introverted nature of the moose to be in rhythm with the Scandinavian temperament. I knew that I had moved to a place of educational, cultural and artistic excellence; to a land of hardworking, determined people. However, I have always felt that the animal world functioned as my teacher to better understand the people with whom I worked. I had no idea how I would find this moose. However, every kind of animal that I have done Rolfing sessions with came from my clear intention first to work with that particular species. Then through synchronicity it would come to pass. A few months later, I was at my parent’s home in Florida for Christmas and was

6 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS looking through all the Christmas cards of Wisdom. There had been no sightings better take him all in, not knowing if there that my parents had received. I came upon of Mike for weeks, and yet I had this would be another encounter. a photo card of “Mike the Moose” drinking incredibly jittery feeling that I would soon As I was working, Mike suddenly stopped water out of a kitchen sink. I immediately be meeting Mike. I had a couple of months eating and raised his head up. The next thought to myself, “There’s my moose.” to chant about this through my Buddhist thing I knew he had lunged about fifteen This moose lived on a 40,000-acre ranch practice. I felt that the encounter would be feet forward and gave a karate kick to a in Wisdom, Montana, the birthplace of imminent, as I had already connected with skunk that was in the process of climbing my father and the ranch of one of his best Mike spiritually. in the big pan of food scraps for the dog. friends, Jack Hirschy. When Marilyn and I arrived, Ann came out He did this so quickly and precisely that I asked my parents to tell me about Mike to greet us. She had been experiencing some the skunk never knew what hit him. This and found out that Mike was an orphan troubling dizziness. I immediately went in to skunk did not even have time to spray us. that one of Jack’s cowboys had found on the house and set up the Rolfing table. I did a We all thought that the skunk was dead. the ranch. He’d brought the calf to Ann cranial session on Ann before dinner. Dinner Mike quickly returned to his dinner and I Hirschy to see if she could work her magic was in the cookhouse where all the cowboys noticed that my heart was beating a million to keep this little one alive. She fed Mike and the Hirschys ate their meals together. miles an hour. I was processing how fast and nursed him so that he would thrive, and and ferocious this seemingly gentle creature There was two feet of snow on the ground; they set him free to roam on their ranch. The had become. I knew then that you better not it was still winter in Montana. Halfway Christmas photo of Mike had been taken mess with a moose. I suddenly appreciated through dinner I looked over to the when he was under one year old. He would all of the stories that people had told me window and saw this big animal walk by. now be two years old. about their fearful and healthy respect for It was Mike the Moose coming to meet me. this animal. I had seen a moose in action. He My parents thought this was another of Everyone was excited. The cook instantly was fast and frighteningly precise. my ridiculous and dangerous ideas and gathered up leftovers for Mike to enjoy. just laughed it off. A month later, Jack They had built a big pole that went up four A few minutes later we saw the skunk and Ann Hirschy were visiting my folks feet and nailed a large pan on top where emerging out of the dog’s pan and quickly from Montana to attend the Super Bowl. Mike could feed. This was my opportunity. staggering away. He wasn’t dead after During their visit, my parents learned that CARPE DIEM. all. We were all amazed that the skunk Jack was having terrible back problems never sprayed. I followed Ann out since she had the and was facing back surgery. My mother connection with Mike. As he was hurriedly I returned to this impromptu Rolfing enthusiastically shared with Jack my book eating dinner, I stood next to Mike and session and I noticed that Mike, even as of Rolfing stories,Rolfing: Stories of Personal started to do a little Rolfing SI on his left he ate, was leaning into me just like the Empowerment, which Jack read from cover shoulder. One of my clients who was horses I’d worked on, so I knew that he to cover. He then proceeded to ask my into Shamanic practices had given me the was accepting this work. As he finished his mother if she would contact me to help assignment of cutting a piece of moose food, he seemed to get a bit aggressive and them locate a Certified Rolfer™ who lived mane for her medicine pouch. I whipped I knew it was time to scoot back into the in his area. out my Swiss Army knife and cut a few cookhouse. The next thing we knew, Mike This was my moment to seize. It just so locks of Mike’s mane. I smelled his fur; it was gone into the hills of the 40,000-acre happened that one of my best friends and smelled clean and sweet. I figured I had ranch. All pretty exciting to me. Rolfing colleagues, Marilyn Beech, had moved from Kansas City to Missoula, Montana, which was only a two-and-a- half-hour drive from Wisdom. I proceeded to talk with Jack and propose to him that I would personally fly out to Montana from Minnesota and give him and Ann some free Rolfing sessions with the hope of being able to see Mike the Moose. Ann told me that Mike was over two years old, which meant that his testosterone was elevated and he was getting quite wild. She also told me that they have very infrequent visits from Mike nowadays and that there was high probability of not seeing him at all. It mattered not to me. My desire was so strong that I intuitively thought that Mike and I would meet. I arrived at their ranch close to dinnertime on March 5, 1999, which was my Dad’s Figure 1: As I worked into his shoulder, Mike stretches down and out, cooperating with eightieth birthday. I was in his hometown his own release. Photo by Marilyn Beech.

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seventy-five feet away with two feet of snow on the ground. When I finished Jack’s session I went outside and slowly made my way over to Mike. Mike lay there and made no attempt to get up. I found this fascinating. When I reached him, I knelt down and once again continued the interrupted Rolfing session on him. I started in on his left shoulder and gradually worked my way back through the torso. He calmly welcomed the work. About half an hour into his session, Jack’s son, Fred, who was in his forties and owned the adjacent ranch, pulled by in his truck, got out and loudly exclaimed “Oh, that moose hates my guts!” I quietly asked Fred if he would get my camera and take some Figure 2: Mike returns for another session. Photo by Marilyn Beech. photos of this experience. As Fred got closer to us, Mike stood up, and so did I, and the Breakfast was at 5:30 AM, which felt like suddenly Mike lifted his head and intently strangest thing happened. Mike started an ungodly early time to eat. While we looked forward towards the pasture that licking my entire face with his big long were having breakfast, Mike showed his was only 200 feet away. There was a string tongue and Fred was able to capture this on face again at the window. I was no longer of five mature wolves walking across our film! I have a priceless photo of this. It was interested in breakfast. Ann and I went line of sight. I had never seen a wolf in the the largest tongue that I had ever seen and I outside. Mike had his head down and wild, let alone a pack of five. Knowing that was ecstatic with joy. Then Mike did an even seemed more feisty and aggressive. In fact, the main predator of moose is wolf, I stood more amazing thing – he turned directly he seemed interested in chasing us a bit and next to Mike for several minutes while he around and lay down again, presenting didn’t seem to be too friendly. He sort of watched into the distance not moving a the other side of his back and shoulder to followed us, chasing us back to the house muscle and remaining as still as a statue. me so I could continue working the other where we quickly disappeared. I could feel his fear. I could hardly contain side of him. He knew he needed both sides my excitement as I realized how much worked on and wanted to make sure I got I was feeling rather disappointed at that Rolfing SI I had just done while sharing the message. moment. Ann was cautioning me that Mike this experience with Mike and the wolves. had reached the age where his behavior It felt like he and I had bonded and it was may be less predictable due to increased an awesome experience. testosterone levels. Ann came up with the idea of getting some dried fruit, as that was Since I could not contain my excitement his favorite treat when he was younger. any longer I rushed into the house to tell We went out with assorted fruit and Mike Ann about working on Mike and the pack quickly and rather aggressively took it from of wolves. Ann was amazed. She had been us. Ann then said she thought we better call watching through the window and couldn’t it quits for the day with the moose. believe Mike had been acting so docile. She then told me that ranchers in the area I remember feeling disappointed that I had been having trouble with the wolves might not have any more Rolfing encounters occasionally attacking their cattle and with Mike and just did not want to give up. because wolves were on the endangered I stood inside and looked out the window. species list it was against the law to I saw Mike standing outside. I remember shoot them. thinking “What is he waiting for? More fruit?” After watching him I decided to It was time for me give Jack a Rolfing quietly exit the house and see if I could session. During the next two hours of make some contact with him. He just stood my session with Jack, Ann kept giving still as I stood next to him and once again us updates on Mike’s location on their I carefully and slowly started doing a little property. As I was doing the session in their Rolfing SI on his left shoulder. He remained living room, I would occasionally take a Figure 3: An extraordinary moment. Mike calm and I continued. Once again he leaned momentary break to look out the window giving me many licks. Photo by Frederick into me and I knew I had found my way in. to see Mike. Frankly, I could hardly wait to Hirschy. The connection had been made. complete the session on Jack. At one point Ann reported that Mike was lying down in I worked on him for fifteen to twenty the snow under a pine tree near the house, minutes. It was all going very well until

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I went back into the house as Fred had to He had his ears up as if to eagerly greet us, was of mating age. He had other things on leave, and found that Marilyn had finished and about another 150 feet away there was his mind. a session with the cook. I asked her to come a pair of female moose. He had brought Briah Anson, MA is a Certified Advanced outside with me and take more photos. along his harem! After breakfast Mike hung Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner with Mike had moved to a different location around. I had the opportunity to do a little over thirty years of experience. She is the on the property. He was by a wood fence more Rolfing work. I truly felt as if I’d made author of Rolfing: Stories of Personal bordering the yard. I approached Mike, a new friend. Empowerment and the producer of a video who was standing, and I started to work I remember calling Ann a week later to on Rolfing SI and children, Growing Right on him again. As we worked, Mike would check up on Mike. She told me that Mike with Rolfing. Briah is a pioneer in the field stretch his head toward me, into the work, stayed around the house for three days then of Rolfing SI for animals. She has a private as horses do when I work on them. Marilyn disappeared. She thought he was waiting for practice in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her website is moved closer to take more photos and his Rolfer to come back! I think it was about www.rolfing-briahanson.com. suddenly Mike felt trapped, with the fence a month later that I learned that a writer behind him and Marilyn approaching. and photographer for People magazine had Bibliography He put his head down and went after her. come to Wisdom to do a story about Mike. Luckily Marilyn was close to the house and Anson, B. 2011. Animal Healing: The Power Mike had appeared and they were able to escaped in the nick of time. I did not feel any of Rolfing Structural Integrion. Minneapolis, get a photo of Mike kissing Ann. However, fear for myself as it was clear he was not MN: Mill City Press. Available at www. during the photo shoot, Mike managed to upset with me, so I continued the session. rolfing-briahanson.com/Pages/animal.html. kick the photographer. I did call back within As this point he even decided to kneel down, the next couple of months and they had not Rolf, I. 1978. Ida Rolf Talks About Rolfing and which was amazing not only for the act of seen Mike. As I mentioned in the beginning Physical Reality, R. Feitis, Ed. NY: Harper submission but it made it easier for me to of the story, it was breeding season and Mike & Row. work on his back. It was as if he knew that this would facilitate his Rolfing session and be much more comfortable. Mind you, Mike stood at least five and a half feet tall, ® foot to back. I could not have used my Rolfing SI for Horse and Rider elbow to reach his back and torso had he By Lauren Harmon, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ not cooperated by kneeling down in this amazingly intuitive way. It was clear to me that Mike was fully conscious of how this When a horse and rider move in harmony Rolfing session was helping him. So for those together, it is a spectacular melding of two people who believe Rolfing SI to be a painful beings becoming one. There is a balance in experience, if you could witness these wild the connection that allows them to move animals and their response, you would have effortlessly through space and gravity. The an entirely different impression. mind-body maps of horse and rider merge, and they become something more than their It was time for lunch so I suspended my individual selves. Rolfing session with Mike. I was in the house waiting for Ann to call us to the table. This harmony between rider and horse is I noticed Mike at a seven-foot high gate as unique as it is beautiful. Other than in outside, standing there, and suddenly from folklore and Hollywood movies, it doesn’t a dead stop, I witnessed him leap over that just happen; it takes keen awareness fence. I could not believe his athleticism. and the ability to communicate across I was beginning to have an appreciation the interspecies language divide. The application of the principles of Rolfing® for the design of his structure. To me, a Lauren Harmon and her horse Hawkeye. moose had seemed to be put together by Structural Integration (SI) to both rider and horse make this communication and committee, like a wildebeest. But now I the relationship between horse and rider by the resultant grace more likely. Even if the could appreciate how his structure enabled facilitating better communication. him to be so quick and agile and athletic. I Rolfer works only with the rider, it can was amazed. still greatly impact the connection between Structurally, the horse and rider must horse and rider, as the horse will have a each be able to activate their respective We then left the ranch to go into a nearby more balanced partner to work with. prevertebral spaces, enhancing hind-end town for Ann’s doctor visit, other errands support for horse and pelvic girdle support The challenge in riding occurs when and to visit their distant relatives in the for rider. This creates the possibility of reach the rider, horse, or both rider and horse valley. This would be our last night in and extension in the front end of the horse, are blocking movement and inhibiting Wisdom at the ranch and I was wondering and adaptability in the rider for lift through transmission through the fascial web. if I’d see Mike again. Breakfast was in the her spine. cookhouse at six o’clock on Sunday, and There are many variables that can cause when we left the main house, lo and behold, this disruption. Rolfing SI can identify and we saw Mike standing a mere 100 feet away. remove holding patterns, thus improving

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Body Awareness and adaptation of one of the standing exercises A Movement for the Rider Ray McCall uses to begin class. The rider must be able to find her ‘Line’, regardless Riders often present with holding patterns, of her pattern, to keep from falling off and/ possibly from injury or from the discipline or unbalancing the horse. This is especially of riding itself. What follows are some important in disciplines with tight turns, common movement principles that apply to intricate movements, and fast speeds. riding. The movement work was developed by various practitioners in our Rolfing SI Helping the rider access her Line on the community, and for the purpose of this ground first will make it easier once she is article has been adapted for riders. on the horse. Have her sit on an exercise ball, similar to how she will sit in the saddle Breath (see Figure 1). While on the exercise ball, Breath is the foundation. If the rider stops instruct her to shift her weight left and B breathing, the horse will feel it and respond right until she finds a place that is neither accordingly. Holding the breath decreases left nor right, but center. Next, have her do fluidity through the rider’s body and raises an extreme anterior and posterior tilt until her center of gravity. This ‘pulling up’ causes she finds sagittal-plane center. her to lose her ‘seat’ (fluid response to the The next two exercises take a little more horse’s movements). As she loses her seat, sensitivity and awareness. To find up/ she is likely to compensate by gripping with down balance, have her arms hang freely adductors and the medial portion of knees, while she imagines her fingers reaching to and calves. As Ray McCall says, “If the the ground. Next, she imagines the energy tissue can’t lengthen, it will rotate.” Thus the in her fingers coming back up as far as rider’s legs will shorten and rotate laterally necessary until she can feel balance between (instead of resting long and easy around up/down. It will feel like a vibrational C the horse), decreasing responsiveness of energy or a wave moving down the body her pelvic floor and creating instability then back up. Once she accesses this, have through her structure. As a result, she is her explore inside/outside balance. Ask her now putting a vice grip around the horse’s to sense her skin from the inside and take rib cage, hindering its ability to breathe and deep slow breaths, imagining her breath is feel connection between its front and hind meeting her skin. If this doesn’t resonate, end. This is very commonplace for beginners she may need to imagine her skin is meeting and timid riders. her breath at a deeper place, such as slightly As a Rolfer you can begin working with this muscle deep. She is searching for a place pattern by helping the rider bring awareness where her insides match her outsides. to her breath. Instruct her to exhale into Once Rolfer and rider have gone through different places in her body while alternately each of these explorations, repeat all of them D placing hands on her sacrum, ischial one more time in a more succinct way. The tuberosities, serratus anterior, clavicles, more she practices, the easier it will become. diaphragm, feet, and occiput. These areas Once on the moving horse, the rider will represent centers from which she will cue constantly need to refer back to her Line. her horse. Educate the rider that moving her breath lower and into her back space is Going through this process helps the rider a subtle and effective way to half-halt the to find balance in her ischial tuberosities. horse without creating an imbalance. The Differentiation and awareness herein is half-halt is used to collect the motion of the crucial, as she will be asking the horse horse, like compressing a spring. It stores the to move according to how she uses her potential energy so that the horse is prepared weight on the sit bones. The Rolfer can track the ischial tuberosities to increase to go into extension. Without this skill, the E rider cannot effectively communicate with awareness and differentiation. Seat the rider the horse, and the horse cannot access its on a bench with sit bones lightly higher full power or fluidity. than knees, and with your hands cradle Seat and Line Awareness Figure 1: Working with seat and Line The adaptability the rider gains from awareness: have the client shift her movement in the breath leads to the weight left and right (images A and B), next important lesson, which I call ‘Line and tilt her pelvis posterior and anterior awareness’ (up/down, left/right, inside/ (C and D), until she finds center in both outside, anterior/posterior). It is an planes (E).

10 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS her ischial tuberosities (you may want to have the rider inhale into her clavicles and A put a blanket down for padding). While exhale down her back, over the scapulae, connecting into her feet, the rider hinges all the way to her coccyx. forward slightly at the hips, and you track The rider needs clear transmission through the ischial tuberosities evenly in a posterior her arms to keep connection with the horse direction. Then ask the rider to shift back through the bit. She allows for a bend in to neutral and repeat until the hinging the elbows and keeps them close (but not motion feels smooth. This is how she will tight) to the torso, as discussed previously move with the horse as it trots (a two-beat, when connecting to the serratus anterior. contralateral gait). Encourage her to keep From the elbow to the bit there should her psoas relaxed by having her exhale into be a straight, fluid line as the horse and her pelvic floor and relax the front of her B rider move together. This allows for clear, sacrum and use her feet to connect with her undisrupted communication between the prevertebral space during tracking. horse and rider and gives the horse a place Breath is also a very effective way to balance to move into as it lengthens through its the ischial tuberosities. Riders tend to sit topline. For the rider to be able to accomplish heavier into one sit bone than the other. this, it is necessary to have open and The horse will compensate for the rider’s adaptable interosseous membranes and an weight imbalance; it may adopt patterns of understanding of the ulna/radius. In order to rotation or side preference which, over time, keep the interosseous membrane open, the can result in unequal muscle development rider learns to keep her hands closed around To help the rider distribute weight evenly the reins with her thumbs up and slightly C through both ischial tuberosities while in bent, bringing the bones in the forearm into the saddle, ask her to identify which is parallel relationship (see Figure 2). raised, and have her exhale into it. This Restrictions in the interosseous membranes should help anchor/settle that side. When reduce the rider’s ability to connect to the ischial tuberosities are balanced and the horse through her shoulder girdle, receptive, the pelvic floor can help the while adaptability in the forearm and transmission of support upward. interosseous membranes fosters fluidity Arms between elbow and bit so the rider can cue the horse effectively. Differentiating Once the rider has a sense of her seat and the ulna and radius gives the rider better Line, help her find lift, and connection from D access to this connection. This is a great her arms to the lumbodorsal hinge (LDH), opportunity to do some movement work the serratus anterior, and her back space. with the ulna and radius to demonstrate to It is very important for a rider to have: the rider how each bone relates to different 1) her scapulae resting on her rib cage, lines of connection through her body. (This 2) fluid movement through the shoulder movement piece was presented to me by girdle, and 3) access to serratus anterior. Suzanne Picard and has been adapted to The serratus anterior muscles stabilize the the needs of the rider.) The ulna line relates scapulae when using the reins to connect to the rider’s back space, while the radius to the horse through the bit. To help the relates to her serratus anterior and anterior rider find her serratus anterior muscles, line into her neck. This means that as the E ask her to sit, supported, with connection rider holds the reins, the ulna stays in through her feet. To simulate the riding relationship to them, giving the rider that position, have her bend her elbows as if connection into her back space. The radius holding the reins. Stand behind her with ‘belongs’ to the horse, creating a bridge your hands on each of her serratus anterior through the rider’s front line, between muscles, and have her take a deep, slow herself and the horse’s topline. breath, then exhale while slightly drawing her elbows in towards the rib cage. As she does this, you should feel the serratus anterior activate and the rib cage rest while connecting into the LDH. If one – or both – Figure 2: Working with arm and hand position. Image A shows a neutral, correct hand position with the bones of the forearm in parallel relationship to allow for transmission sides don’t activate, repeat the action more through the interosseous membrane. Images B-E show common ways in which the slowly while lightly tractioning her serratus rider interrupts the connection through the interosseous membrane due to rotation muscles downward to help her access the or compression. sensation. Repeat to retest the movement. To reinforce awareness of her back space,

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To increase connection to her back space the importance of keeping her eyes on the touch. The tissue will invite you in as the through the ulna, have the rider lie supine, horizon: when she looks down, her spine deeper layers become available. Less is more. arms by her sides and palms down. Places flexes and her weight shifts to her posterior Working with the superficial layer from the one of your hands under her scapula and tuberosities, thus losing her seat. As a cue to very beginning not only prepares the fascial the other along her ipsilateral ulna. Have her avoid looking down, invite her to imagine system for change at the deeper layers but is imagine the ulna and fifth phalanx growing her favorite smell, so as long as it is not part of gaining rapport. Most horses haven’t longer from the scapula. Try this as well with food. A food smell will draw her in and received this type of work, so it is important radius/ulna in parallel relationship. Once she down, bringing her further into flexion, to take the time to acclimate them to your has a sense of how to find length, play with while a non-food smell will help her find touch. You can start your session through ‘lengthening’ the bones and then relaxing lift through her eyes. palpation or take time to watch the horse back to neutral. Do the same exercise move. At the walk (a four-beat gait) and In summarizing this section on work on the with the radius alone, asking for intrinsic trot (a two-beat gait), their movement, like rider, know that, without ever touching the length through the thumb (pollex) from ours, is contralateral. (The exception to this horse, if you work with the rider, you help the radius. Have her imagine the bones are is in Pacers – the Pacer trot is a deliberate the horse. growing long. If she is unable to access the ipsilateral pattern in which front and back sensation of lengthening from a stabilized Working with the Horse legs on one side move forward while both scapula, try the exercise starting from her legs on the opposite side move back.) As with elbow downward. Unlike the basic Ten Series we use with people, contralateral movement through the human clients, the Equine Natural spine is a sign of myofascial health. Another way to explore the ulna and the Movement School, where I studied, teaches radius in parallel relationship is with the a five-session series. (Various other SI Common Structural Patterns rider in a seated position, her elbows bent practitioners have come up with different While there are as many different patterns as if holding reins. Place your hands on her models.) However, just as with human in horses as there are in people, two main scapulae and have her feel ‘lengthening’ clients, we can also do non-formulistic patterns consistently present themselves. through the ulna and back into the scapulae. work, applying the Principles of Rolfing SI: A note on language: when talking about Do the same for the radius. When working holism, support, adaptability, palintonicity, horses, dorsal is synonymous with posterior with the radius, remind the rider that this and closure. line and ventral with anterior line. is her connection to the bit. First Considerations Eyes Anterior Tilt/Extension Pattern: In this When working with horses, it is very pattern, where the horse lacks connection to The final piece is to bring awareness to the important to relate to your Line and be its hind end or hasn’t been asked to collect importance of the rider’s eyes and how grounded. You can use the same centering its movement, the horse tends to go into micromovements there create movement exercise, ‘Line awareness’, elucidated anterior pelvic tilt. Its body is slightly held in the spine. This is incredibly important: above, but do it standing. Horses are prey in extension. The quadriceps are short and even the smallest shift in the rider’s animals and herd animals, so staying tight, the hamstrings long and tight. You may eyes can change her weight distribution, grounded and being aware of your back see the lumbar spine in a slight lordosis as which cues and/or throws the horse off space will help them feel safe and relax. In the pelvic floor isn’t supporting the spine. balance. This connection of eyes to spinal the herd, some horses act as lookouts while The psoas major and minor are held long movements can work for or against the the others rest or eat. When you work with and tight. The horse’s spine looks short rider. It is important to check if her eye them, you become the lookout, creating through the dorsal line and long through the movements are part of a bigger pattern a safe place. Moreover, gaining rapport ventral line. The rib cage can feel braced as if and, if so, facilitate differentiating the eye is important for when you get to areas in stuck in exhalation. The angle created by the movements to allow for better awareness of their bodies that are more guarded. The scapula and the humerus (scapulohumeral spinal micromovements. horse must learn to trust you and your joint) is closer together than a neutral scapula position; this shortens the triceps, To help the rider access these smaller touch. When you start your session or do and the biceps are long. The dorsal side of movements, work with her in a supported, your initial palpation, keep these concepts the neck is shortened, creating a constricted seated position while her eyes slowly move in mind. This is particularly important nuchal ligament. The horse also tends to be up and down, as well as left and right. Have when you work with horses that are higher restricted on the dorsal side of the atlanto- her notice what happens in her body first. energy, nervous, or have a history of abuse/ occipital joint, which can lead to strain in the If she cannot sense movement in her spine neglect. One way to gain rapport is to make temporomandibular joint. or a shift in her ischial tuberosities as she your initial contact in an area that isn’t of moves her eyes, you will need to help her concern to the horse, so that he may learn Posterior Tilt/Flexion Pattern:These horses feel it. Place your hands on either side of how to feel safe receiving a Rolfing session. look like they need more space in their her thoracic spine while she looks up and Horses are exquisitely sensitive animals. bodies, as if they are wearing too small down. Next, with your hands under her Their skin and superficial layers are so of a blanket. The spine is held slightly in ischial tubersities, have her eyes move left sophisticated that they can sense a fly flexion. The pelvic bones are in a posterior and right. In both cases, there will be a slight landing and twitch the skin in that isolated tilt, which creates long-and-tight quadriceps weight shift. area. Keep this level of sensitivity in mind and short-and-constricted hamstrings. Lengthening the hamstrings will help the Holding her sit bones while she looks up when starting work with the horse. When quadriceps return to a more settled place. and down is also effective to show her working with different spectrums of touch, err on the side of inherent motion or cranial The ischial tuberosities are drawn closer 12 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS together, creating lateral rotation in the ® femurs and bringing the hocks (metatarsals) Rolfing SI for the closer together. The horse is short and tight through psoas major and minor. The rib cage is compressed up and forward. (Working Performance Horse the last rib in a horse is just as important as By Sue Rhynhart, Certified Rolfer™ our twelfth-rib work with human clients.) The angle created by the scapula and the Author’s Note: I have been a Certified Rolfer for fourteen years, and trained with Joseph Freeman at humerus (scapulohumeral joint) is farther his Equine Natural Movement School about nine years ago. My approach to Dr. Ida P. Rolf’s work apart than a neutral scapula position has always been filled with intrigue. My work style is a fusion based on her principles combined allowing for a steeper angle in the scapula. with Freeman’s work. The corresponding techniques and style are based on many years of studying When the shoulder is steep it shortens the conformation: form and function. Additionally, feedback from trainers and riders, particularly horse’s stride through the shoulder. This Tracye Ferguson, trainer at Meridian Riding Club, has shaped my personal interpretation of condenses the biceps and keeps the triceps structural integration (SI) for the performance horse. in a long-and-limited position. The ventral side of the neck is held short and rigid. The nuchal ligament is held long and tight. There Introduction is hypertonicity in the throat, and a need for My current primary focus is within the space around the hyoid bone. showing segment of the hunter/jumper spectrum. My model is based on a five- Final Considerations session series that includes both pre- and Other important factors to take into post-performance components, as well consideration when assisting with the as pre- and post-shipment care. Many of connection between horse and rider are these horses show throughout the country. dentistry [a horse’s teeth erupt (grow) its Another component of my practice is entire life, so must be maintained], saddle rehabilitation for the injured equine athlete. fit, nutrition, foot care, etc. An Equine Five Series Conclusion Horses are prey animals hardwired to Applying Rolfing SI to horses is a specialty hide what is wrong with them: in the wild, Sue Rhynhart with her horse Skye within our field and must be studied and either sickness or visible injury is a sure-fire Traveler, who passed on October 6. “My practiced for refinement and skill. SI for way to get eaten. This changes the session dear friend came to me (starved) at twelve horses does not require more strength protocol significantly – in every session the years old and died at twenty-seven-plus than work for people, because horses are body is covered twice. The first half of the years. We had a good run of it.” so sensitive. It is critical, however, that the session includes the notion of releasing the Rolfer stays on her Line in order to access autonomic nervous system, to soothe and lift allows for greater rib expansion. A release this sensitivity. In service of rapport, the the veil of what the horse has suppressed. of the inner lines of the rear legs into the Rolfer must invest in learning the horse’s The second half involves more accurate pelvic floor also assists in this process. The language. While beyond the scope of this diagnostics and application of a direct line imprint of this first interaction is hopefully article, the horse will let you know in a of correction; this almost always leads to a one of calm and trust, a dialogue of sorts. number of ways whether your touch is deeper dialogue unfolding with the horse. Horses like to be talked to and nurtured; our voice becomes one of our most dynamic welcome or not. If you wish to learn more Session #1 – Trust, about this work, one option is to check tools. The relationship has begun. Respiration, and Rapport out the Equine Natural Movement School Session #2 – Differentiation (http://equinenaturalmovement.com); the When walking into my first hunter/jumper of Shoulder and Pelvic Girdles founder, a Hellerwork® SI practitioner, client’s stall, Phillip Dreissigacker, the developed a five-session series of SI for trainer, noted my lack of fear. I told him, We again work through the body once horses. (I will be one of their teachers starting “Being afraid of horses is a dangerous covering the chest, shoulders, rib cage, in 2016.) enterprise.” Each session requires hips, hind end, the barrel, top line, and mindfulness; it begins by picking up the then into the neck. The primary focus is Lauren Harmon is a Certified Advanced halter and stepping through a portal where freeing both the shoulder and pelvic girdles, Rolfer™ who specializes in working with riders a sacred interaction is about to take place, differentiating neck to shoulders, then rear and horses. Before studying Rolfing SI, she where the practitioner is required to touch, legs to pelvis. The shoulders are freed by received a BS in equine science from Colorado speak, and connect. opening subclavius and unravelling the State University (CSU). Her time at CSU, neck out of the shoulder girdle with detail along with her twenty-plus years in the equine Often, what is recovered in the first to all cervical musculature. Differentiation of industry, have given her the background to help session is respiration. A deeper level of rear legs to pelvic girdle is accomplished by horses and riders through Rolfing SI. In addition, respiration can often occur as relaxation and freeing all the upper rear leg muscle groups: this work has personally helped her recover from a newfound level of trust builds between gluteals to sacrum, hamstrings (often freeing a back injury so that she could literally get ‘back the horse and practitioner. Direct work on entanglements of the hamstrings from the in the saddle’! the external and internal intercostal muscles adductors), quadriceps, and adductors. www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 13 ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS Session #3 – Connection of Barrel ribs). Always listen to the client! I have often balance in the human is the connection of had a hind end pointed my way as a way to man to both heaven and earth; in horses, Often, there are reasons that the horse’s pelvic say, “You’ve missed some pretty important I understand it as being connected to and shoulder girdles are not connected. A stuff here.” This is where organic work is heaven and earth and connecting from front primary cause is a disconnection through fused with the horse’s wisdom; this is often to back and back to front. This is when the the ‘barrel’ (i.e., the thorax), which can make where the level of trust is upgraded! horse has attained physical equilibrium. In a horse seem disconnected emotionally, appearance, the horse stands equally into even dull. A strong connection through Session #5 – Fine-Tuning / all four feet. In movement, there is elasticity the barrel is operative to finding balance. The Performance-Horse Closure in both the shoulder and pelvic girdle; this In this session, the entire body is covered Where Session Five for the performance horse continuity is attained through connection in fifteen steps: differs from other five-series equine work of the barrel (see Session Three). A horse 1. shoulders or the Ten Series in humans is that it is ‘a in movement that has attained dynamic 2. pectorals to sternum closure for now.’ These horses will need balance is true beauty. more sessions: pre- and post-performance, 3. forearms (flexor/extensor compartments) Worldview (my personal interpretation): and then again to relieve the stress of 4. freeing of rib cage via the intercostals What has this horse’s world been like? One transport (pre- and post-shipment). This must consider the breed, the conformation, 5. lower back (lumbodorsal fascia/psoas) session is a refinement of what the horse its job, its past experiences (including region needs specifically in the here and now and, trauma, which often has a human imprint), 6. quadriceps effectively, “See you later!” and especially its personality. The portion of 7. gluteals The horse teaches us self-control, ‘worldview’ that is the personality is golden: 8. hamstrings consistency, and the ability you must find a way into what the horse is; to understand what goes on in often that inroad is the real treatment and 9. adductors the mind and feeling of another the only road to travel. 10. tibial region / ‘gaskin’ creature, qualities that are important Holism: The horse must be treated 11. direct work at girth, fanning out the 1 throughout our lives. as a whole creature. In my template, barrel (latissimus and ventralis) muscles The Principles of holism includes the trainer, the rider, the 12. topline: sacrum to withers Rolfing SI for Horses veterinarian, the farrier, the grooms, proper 13. withers (includes trapezius, rhomboids, nutrition and conditioning, and sometimes and nuchal ligament) My own personal oath that I take every (I thank my lucky stars) the Rolfer. An 14. freeing of the shoulders (subclavius) day is to apply Dr. Rolf’s principles to my often-overlooked component is the horse’s work, combining them with a commitment stabling. Is it stressful? I spend a lot of time 15. detailed work to all cervical musculature. to an active conscience and a duty to lingering in barns; ideally, it is a place where This work takes us deep into the inner line higher learning. spirit and heart meet. of the rear leg. A good session often finds Support: I learned long ago from an Irish Profiles the horse lathering between its legs as it horseman (my mentor), that the hoof is the releases those stiff tendons and the tissue second heart of the horse: care of the legs I wanted to share these profiles to document takes on a plasticity. It is essential to connect and feet are of primary importance. Trainers how the sessions differ with what is at hand. the inner line of leg from pelvic floor into are where I turn for knowledge, as they Each horse receives a session tailored to its the barrel via the obliques, transversus use different veterinarians and farriers. I specific needs. The information provided abdominis, and aponeurosis (a fascial have often worked at re-setting imbalances is taken directly from my session notes. I sling). This session creates support and after these talented forces have come in sometimes take a full page of notes for each connection from the front to the hind end and treated the client. I include deep work session; it serves as a great tracking tool and back to clarify the placement of the four down the legs with the ‘rose breath’.2 and helps to communicate with the client/ legs. Horses often seem more embodied The restoration of proprioception is quite trainer about what was actually done. It is a after this treatment. amazing with this technique; horses will great honor to share these amazing athletes Session #4 – A Refinement reveal the depth of their relief by sighing, with you! licking, and snorting. Old Injury / I often consider sessions four and five in this equine series to be akin to sessions Adaptability (the key): Our work is to alter Recently Gelded Stallion eight and nine of the Ten Series. I ask, structure so performance can be modified. Hornero “What hasn’t come along for the ride?” My interpretation for horses is to establish This is where the conformational eye greater sling support through the shoulder Hornero is an thoroughbred imported from comes into play. I determine how to take girdle and greater impulsion through the Argentina. He is currently showing in meter what is a conformational weakness and rear legs into the pelvic girdle, which often 15 jumpers and 3’6” - 4’ in hunter equitation. creates more suspension and lift, thereby bring it more into a self-correctional place. Old injury right front: medial scarring above increasing the horse’s ability to jump freely Communication by the fourth session is coronet band/below pastern. Displaced and to be organized on its landings. amazing: horses will often point out what sternum left: put sternum back in (direct they need with their noses, or by biting Dynamic Balance: This is often referred work pectorals into rectus abdominis). Sore what is incomplete (e.g., daunting displaced to in Rolfing SI as palintonicity. Dynamic forearms: flexor/extensor compartments.

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Hornero, Age 9 Lyndsay later called me to tell me how great transversus and descending pectorals. Did Junior Rider: Lyndsay Gersoff – 16 years old Hornero felt afterwards, and that he was direct work on sternal attachments. Put Owner: Wellsbridge Farms, Parker, Colorado. showing well. humerus back in on right side (caught to Trainer: Paul Rohrbach rib cage – subscapularis). Ribs displaced The Clean Machine right: did intercostal work. Worked on Argonaut/Argo lumbar region to assist in diaphragmatic function. All of this work is applied to Argonaut/Argo, Age 10 support his shoulder girdle in suspension Breeding: Holsteiner and respiration. Afterwards, he appeared Owner/Rider: Elizabeth Hund – Bridlewood Farms much more comfortable. Trainer: Michael Dennehey Loss 2014 Zone Champion for his division 7th in the country 2014 for Amateur WCHR Keiri Kaneps and Nautilus/Echo (World Champion Hunter Rider) Nautilus/Echo Owner/Rider: Elizabeth Hund – Bridlewood Farms Striation in tissue of right shoulder: worked on breaking down adhesion and creating differentiation. Hornero was only gelded seven months ago and still has stallion tendencies – they often bite and kick, and are just more expressive! Within five minutes of our interaction, Hornero figured out I was going to help him and kindly licked and groomed me throughout the entire session.

Normally, the first-session goal would Argo competes in the amateur/owner be the establishment of respiration and hunter division: 3’3’-3’6”, and he also rapport. When a horse has an evident performs in the hunter derbies. I consider I have included this photograph as it is incongruence, such as an old blunt trauma, I this horse to be a clean machine! He is important to acknowledge that we all will veer off of the model – especially when ‘short-coupled’: each vertebrae is more experience losses in this life. In the horse a horse is extremely athletic, it is kinesthetic dense, so his appearance is that of a world, this can often be even more so. We and catches on rapidly as to how this soft shorter back, though the actual vertebral lost Keiri Kaneps to cancer August 7, 2012. tissue work can re-set and re-organize. column has the same number of vertebrae. She was one of the finest riders and trainers Hornero was gelded late – quite often the This conformation is known for their (Studio Farms) that I have ever known – a appearance is telling: big bodied, large- ability to change direction with agility. great friend to horses and people alike. necked, with a fiery attitude. In this case, he I believe this work has supported his Nautilus/Echo passed on March 17, 2015, a has scar tissue on the inner lines of his rear foreleg scope and increased his flexibility. young horse with problems stemming from legs (adductor to pelvis). The scarring is a We are talking minute particulars here: his dam’s DNA. direct result of being gelded, especially at a this is a horse with beautiful conformation later age. We spent extensive time working – and he also has a great mind and an May we take pause for their brilliance, and on this; scar tissue can often inhibit proper elephant’s memory! how love for them forever marks our hearts. lead changes at the canter or can cause ‘swapping’ (an improper switching of rear Post-performance/post-shipment (returning Soothing the Nervous System to Colorado from the Oaks, a horse show in legs) within the gait of canter. Direct work: Ravissant/Maggie sartorius, gracilis, adductor femoris, vastus California) Wednesday June 17, 2015. medialis. We are breaking down scar tissue; Normally a pattern for horses that travel I worked on Maggie twice during show he is super-responsive to this! long distances when being shipped may season last year. This year, Heather Chenault, include: sore hamstrings and adductors owner of Indeo Acres, has had her worked On the second go-around on Hornero, I on every week. She has had a Five Series, find more injury related to his right front. into the pelvic floor, crimped ribs, and stiff necks. The findings on Argo today are more and is now being treated weekly pre- and He has had blunt trauma to his right rib post-performance. She has muscled up cage with multiple ribs displaced. I put the based on post-performance, e.g., a very athletic performance. immensely – there had been divots in her ribs in by gently working the intercostals, hind end because of a lack of quadriceps passing through the rib cage multiple Wrenched neck toward the right: development, which was actually due to times. He responds by closing his eyes and trapezius, splenius cervicis, sternocephalic, adductor suppression. The inner lines of snorting deeply. At the end of the session brachiocephalic, complexus, longus capitis, her rear legs needed to be freed, and her we de-rotate his sacral and lumbar spine longissimus capitis. Worked both right and quadriceps needed to be turned on as well. (craniosacral technique); the vertebral left sides; especially right. Sternum off to left The dramatic improvement in Maggie is due column was rotated anteriorly to the right. side: worked subclavius, ascendus pectoral, to change in diet and conditioning (training) plus the Rolfing work she has received. www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 15 ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS Ravissant/Maggie, Age 14 Kacy got kicked by another mare and Lymphatic Drainage Breeding: Danish Warmblood fractured her tibia and was taken to Colorado Leased by: Indeo Acres State University’s veterinary equine clinic. Justice Trainer: Phillip Dreissigacker This was in April 2014. She was first treated Justice, Age 12 in the surgery unit, where she was tethered Breeding: Hanoverian to a wire and could not lie down for many Owner: Jenna Thomas – Capricorn Farms months. I had previously worked on Kacy Trainer: Tracye Ferguson quite a bit, both five-session series work and I happened upon this way of working on performance/shipping-related treatments. horses, using lymphatic drainage, when a I had most recently treated her both in horse in Tracye’s Ferguson’s barn contracted Gulfport, Mississippi and after she returned cellulitis (during the last show season). home with Meghan Newton, after they After the infection had passed, she thought placed first out of forty-three in one of their I should work on the horse’s leg, and I was jumper classes. able to reduce the swelling. When Justice I included this profile because the energetic contracted lymphangitis, we thought this component of my work with Kacy provides technique might help. an interesting topic for discussion. I must Justice got a small cut on his rear right leg, The minute particulars of her structural say I had to find my way in this; it involved which blew up overnight and became a issues are located around the sternum: committing at least three hours a week huge infection. His heart rate and body pectoral work, wither (the relationship of (often more!) to a beautiful mare and her temperature were increased to dangerous sternum to wither), aligning them so there family, Sheila and Meghan. Walking into levels, and his leg swelled to elephant-like is no puckering at the wither (softening of a vet school to do Rolfing SI on an injured proportions. He was treated at Littleton the nuchal ligament insertion and trapezius). horse was a very humbling experience. Large Animal Hospital for fifteen days in Direct work on the shoulders: biceps, triceps, Kacy was suffering from depression and January 2015. Afterwards, we waited for deltoid, supra/infraspinatus, serratus, exhaustion, and the trauma to her stifle about two and a half months, and then Katie subscapularis. Stifle region: worked to finely region needed to be addressed. I worked on Thomas, owner of Capricorn Farms, and I tune the quadriceps muscles – they function her loading pattern, right rear to left front decided to give it a try. nearly perfectly. The most amazing change (compensatory for left rear injury). She had is in Maggie’s nervous system. In this mare, also injured her neck in the hospital, when I began working on Justice’s affected leg what is of the most vital importance is that she twice managed to lie down despite the by cupping my hands together above the her nervous system is soothed; ten minutes cable attached to her halter to keep her from hock, and moving my hands downward into the session, she has shut her eyes doing so. I not only did Rolfing SI on her using the ‘rose breath’ to affect the energy. and let her head drop. It is hard to know body, but groomed her, sat in her stall with The initial swelling reduced dramatically, what causes any of us to be high strung; her, and talked to her. I spent time working and we are continuing to work with I think part of it is our makeup, the other with her emotions through voice, touch, Justice on the pockets of the scar tissue portion is our experience(s). Whatever the and presence. I stayed true to Rolf’s work that remain. We are encouraging drainage reason for Maggie having such a sensitive by being devoted, curious, and studious. from above by working further up the rear nervous system, this work speaks to her leg. This remains a work in progress. This Anatomically her right stifle region, left and it soothes her. It is very moving to see a gentle giant humbles me. He stands so shoulder, and the right side of neck became beautiful animal move from fear to trust, and kindly while I am positioned practically acute as well. She was eventually moved to it makes my day every time I get to work on underneath him. Maggie. I am one of her biggest fans! the rehabilitation clinic, where I gained a lot of support and knowledge from the vet Conclusion Rehabilitation Dr. King, who was also concerned about her patterns of compensation. I would first This work continues to develop for me. I am Que Sera/Kacy speak to Dr. King, and then design what I grateful for the people who have come into Que Sera/Kacy thought would best help. my life through this line of work, but I am Owner/Rider: Meghan Newton – Sleepy Hollow especially grateful for the horses. Trainers: Mark Mead, J.J. Atkinson There are other factors not mentioned here, but Kacy is on the mend. She is back Endnotes home at Sleepy Hollow, and her treatments 1. From The Complete Training of Horse and are now scheduled bi-weekly. Once she Rider, by Alois Podhajsky, a former director becomes stronger, I will extend them out of the Spanish Riding School. to once a month. After nine months of working on her weekly, I cannot express 2. The ‘rose breath’ is a deep reoccurring my gratitude for her finding her way back! breath (almost like the sound of the wind) borrowed from Gael (Ohlgren) Rosewood’s teaching, influenced by her Continuum studies.

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strategies from humans to horses. Not only Equine Motor-Control do rods and cones help us differentiate colors from black/white, they help us (and horses) differentiate focal forms from Therapy Using Perceptual peripheral vision. This is how the visual perception strategies play an important part and Coordinative Techniques in our treatments. By Robert Rex, Certified Rolfer™

Introduction Structural work with horses and other animals has been well researched and documented, and is usually performed under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. In addition to the massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture treatments that are well- established in the equestrian community, Rolfing® Structural Integration is now also becoming a more common practice, thanks in large part to our colleagues, Jim Pascucci and others. While the benefits of motor control and proprioceptive rehabilitation have been successfully demonstrated with horses for about twenty-five years, there has recently been a surge in awareness among trainers and veterinarians about the value of coordinative techniques enhanced by tools such as Kinesio® Tape, TheraBands®, and a variety of neuromuscular stretching protocols (see Figures 1 and 2). Figure 1: Horse with a TheraBand. (Paulekas and Haussler 2009) I have found that treatment strategies drawn from work with trauma to humans and their motor cortex are readily applicable to work with horses, whose focused training easily reveals their areas of instability and nervous tension. As a result, adapting coordinative and perceptual tools from Hubert Godard’s theory of tonic function1 to work with horses, as well as psychobiological tools taught by Lael Katherine Keen in her Rolfing SI and Trauma classes, are quite effective and can lead to immediate changes in horse behavior and functioning. While the research on equine brain development and neurophysiology is scant, I was able to determine that equine brain development has similar characteristics to that of humans. While equine brains tend to myelinate more quickly than human brains postnatally, the areas of development are similar. The brain structures relevant for motor-control therapy include the motor cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex, which stores emotion, attention, and working memory. Equine vision also relies on rods and cones, like human vision. This allows us to adapt visual perception Figure 2: Neck stretching exercise. (Paulekas and Haussler 2009) www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 17 ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS Trauma Response in Horses Horses have a unique postural mechanism I suspected this gelding had a core instability called the ‘stay apparatus’ – the mechanism issue and probably a proprioceptive issue Trauma resides in the nervous system and that allows horses to sleep standing as well. I examined his trotting gait from connective tissues, not in the traumatic up. However, having any of the four the front (as opposed to a circular lunge event. In other words, when we meet a tonic-function forces out of balance can line). This revealed a tendency for the challenge that is above our capability to manifest in joint instability, difficulties gelding to cock his head to the right, thereby accommodate, a ‘freeze response’ occurs. protracting/retracting the legs in one shortening his rib cage, spine, and gait on ® Somatic Experiencing practitioners such or more gait speeds, and/or shortening the right side. This confirmed that there as Peter Levine and Keen refer to this through the spine during various gait was a proprioceptive gap in awareness on ability to accommodate as ‘finding resource speeds. Balanced tonic function – between his right side. within’. The response to activation of Hubert Godard’s two movement centers, Using a tonic function concept of orientating the sympathetic nervous system can G and G’, as well as the fascial, neural, and through the eyes, I created an ‘expansive’ play out in one of several ways. Ideally, muscular subsystems in the body – allows blinder that would give him more of an the parasympathetic nervous system lengthening to happen: lengthening in the opportunity to see further back, increasing should activate to help the entire system spine, lengthening through the head, and his peripheral vision out of his right eye. dampen itself down. If this doesn’t happen, connection through the feet. then a ‘freeze response’ occurs and the Immediately, both on a lunge line and from chaos of the traumatic event can result Trauma will usually affect all four of the front observation, three things happened in dissociation. This can manifest as a above forces, creating compensations that simultaneously: 1) his right hindquarter person feeling cold, sleepy, or frightened; impair efficient tonic functioning. Ways of was able to protract fully, 2) his right rear or being distant, and/or not being able to improving tonic function in a system include fetlock had the same springiness as the feel his body. It can be observed as a ‘deer engaging the system’s orienting reflex other fetlock joints, and 3) his ribs and spine in the headlights’ look (where one is stuck through the hands, feet, and eyes. Adding lengthened through the right side. We also or ‘frozen’ in a sympathetic state), or a tonic function tools to trauma-resolution made a sort of proprioceptive anklet (or ‘fet- ‘spacey’ look (where one is stuck or frozen strategies can allow an organism’s own let’) for his right rear fetlock. This enabled in a parasympathetic state). When trauma healing processes to integrate the frozen the horse to begin to feel where his whole is present, the sympathetic nervous system sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous leg really was, and to slowly start correcting can create gaps of awareness around the system responses. The client’s nervous his foot dragging issue. body. This can manifest as ‘blind spots’ in system (human or horse) can settle down, A blinder would best be applied while certain peripheral vectors around the body. slowly resolve the trauma, and finally working/training the horse – on lunge first, realize new options for movement. While horses almost always have a good then perhaps graduating to under-saddle healthy dose of resource in their systems, My Observations work as well. I have not come across a they too can be overwhelmed. When they and Work with Horses situation where more constant use would don’t have sufficient resource, they can end be necessary. up being a predator’s dinner. Alternatively, Godard says that G’ (the upper pole) is our In another case, a mare had been trained they can begin to exhibit familiar signs of ‘relationship center’. It’s how we relate to in the traditional manner of having her trauma: a distant or overly engaged look in others – in nature, at work, with our clients. head pulled down to artificially flex her their eyes, shallow or held breath (which I feel this works in reverse as well – it’s cervical vertebrae while the trainer dug his can manifest physically in their ribs and how the plant, mineral, and animal worlds heels into the sides of her belly. As a result, spine being held up or held too rigidly), relate to us (if we know how to listen, feel, it seemed as if the mare kept expecting and being spooked easily. and observe). Thus, I incorporate elements of Bob Schrei’s and Donna Thompson’s pain every time she began to canter. This Tonic Function in Horses SourcePoint® Therapy2, Godard’s tonic could be seen in the way she wanted to function tools, and Keen’s psychobiological buck her way into a canter. This mare had Balanced tonic function requires four forces tools into my work with horses. clear proprioceptive gaps on her left side, working together: coupled with an intense traumatic freeze In one case, I worked with a gelding who • Structural forces relate to one’s cultural response due to the inappropriate training was dragging his right rear foot, as well and personal beliefs. methods. Creating an ‘expansive’ blinder, as not being able to fully protract his right as with the gelding, for her left eye was • Coordinative forces are about timing – hindquarter during the trot phase. My first not particularly effective during our first what muscles are working, what muscles clue was finding a lack of stability in the session together. It seemed the mare’s are working with or against other right hindquarter when I lifted up his left nervous system needed to be settled and muscles, and when do muscles work? hind leg to test for fetlock flexibility (the the traumas resolved and integrated before fetlocks are the metacarpophalangeal and • Perceptive forces relate to the idea of she could begin to accept new strategies metatarsophalangeal joints in the forelimbs movement, as well as to one’s body map of training. and hindlimbs, respectively). My second and body schema. clue was seeing a rigid right rear fetlock Recalling Levine’s theory on trauma, 3 • Symbolic forces relate to deeper during his trot. All his other fetlock joints Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory , and 4 meanings in one’s psyche – in a sense, had a nice springiness to them, but the right Keen’s ‘coherence touch’ principles, I the introjections (attitudes or ideas rear looked wooden. first utilized principles from SourcePoint subconsciously incorporated into one’s Therapy to create a heart connection with personality) held in one’s core. 18 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS this mare. I was then able to apply coherence Frank, M. 2006. “Hold Your Horses: A Tanji, J. and E. V. Evarts 1976. “Anticipatory touch, or settling, on her croup and pelvic Dynamic Computational Role for the Activity of Motor Cortex Neurons in region (this was especially effective with the Subthalamic Nucleus in Decision Making.” Relation to Direction of an Intended rider on). Slowly, she began to breathe more Neural Network 19(8):1120-1136. Movement.” Journal of Neurophysiology fully, lift her belly and spine, and relax her 39(5):1062-1068. Paulekas, R. and K. Haussler 2009. tail and hamstrings. Then when the rider “Principles and Practice of Therapeutic asked for movement into a canter, there was Exercises for Horses.” Journal of Equine nary a hint of a buck, with the mare moving Veterinary Sciences 29(12):870-893. smoothly into a canter gait. While the results from these interventions were immediate, I suspect that these tools were also the basis of correcting these horses’ ‘worldviews’. As the riders Dispatch from the Amazon: and trainers continued to use these tools as ‘homework’, the traumas/patterns embedded deeply in the horses’ nervous Wild Dolphins Volunteer to systems could be resolved so that new training protocols and behaviors could emerge. In general, I have found that horses Help Special Children (and dogs) integrate such changes into their systems more quickly than humans, An Interview with Igor Simões Andrade and can enjoy freer, stronger movement By Igor Simões Andrade, Certified Rolfer™, Rolf Movement® Practitioner and as a result. Heidi Massa, Certified Advanced Rolfer, Rolf Movement Practitioner Since graduating from the Rolf Institute® in 2005, Robert Rex has studied neural Heidi Massa: You’ve made an innovative ISA: Besides being a Certified Rolfer since mobilization, Rolf Movement®, pain science, and collaboration with wild river dolphins in 2005 and Rolf Movement Practitioner, I’m the affects of trauma. He is currently exploring your work with disabled children. Where a physiotherapist. The dolphins assist me the impact of unresolved primitive reflexes. He do you do this? in both practices. practices in Vermont. Igor Simões Andrade: In a rural area HM: When most of us think of dolphins, Endnotes about forty kilometers from Manaus, a we imagine large ocean mammals. But the Brazilian city founded in the late 1600s in ones you work with are different. Please tell 1. For further reading about Hubert the heart of the Amazon rain forest. us a bit about them. Godard’s theory of tonic function, read HM: Manaus is a fascinating place, isn’t it? ISA: I work with the wild river dolphins any one of Kevin Frank’s articles on tonic of the Amazon. In Portuguese, we call them function found at Resources in Movement ISA: Absolutely! It’s the capital city of boto cor de rosa, or pink dolphin; but their (www.resourcesinmovement.com). the state of Amazonas, and sits at the scientific name isInnia Geofrensis. Botos are confluence of Rio Negro and Rio Solimões, 2. Private conversation with Donna smaller than ocean dolphins, growing to which join to form the Amazon River. Thompson regarding application of about two meters (6.5 feet) in length and It’s about 900 miles inland of the Atlantic Sourcepoint Therapy with horses and 200 kilos (450 pounds). Ocean. Even with about 2 million residents, animals. this most populous city in the Amazon rain HM: Wow – these wild animals just show 3. During her Rolfing SI and Trauma forest is accessed mostly by boat or airplane. up voluntarily to help you treat disabled classes, Keen provided several articles from In the late 1800s, rubber made Manaus the kids? Stephen Porges on Polyvagal Theory. richest city in South America and earned it ISA: Yes – exactly. the nickname, Paris of the Tropics. Many 4. Coherence touch denotes a quality of wealthy European families settled here, HM: What’s their social structure in the touch where the practitioner touches the bringing with them European culture. For wild? client and tracks several different signs example, the 700-seat Amazonas Opera of autonomic nervous system regulation ISA: Their lifestyle is solitary for the most House, established in 1896, was built – heart rate variability, and oscillation of part, although they sometimes form groups with bricks brought from Europe, glass blood pressure and muscle tonus in sync to hunt. from France, and marble from Italy. More with the rhythm of the breathing – in such recently, in 2014, Manaus was one of the HM: YouTube has lots of videos showing a way as to invite the autonomic nervous host cities for the FIFA World Cup. you and the botos working with disabled system to regulate. children.1 Do the botos assist you with other HM: And your work might make Manaus kinds of clients, as well? Bibliography famous for another reason – Bototerapia. Tell Burton, F. 1999. “The Horse’s World,” in us – do your clients come to you only for ISA: Oh, yes. We work together with Ultimate Horse Care, John McEwan, Ed. Rolfing® Structural Integration (SI), or do all types of clients, both children and New York: Howell Book House, 140-162. you have other certifications as well? adults, those with and without physical deficiencies.

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HM: When did you begin working with disabled children? ISA: About twenty years ago, I started treating children with Down’s Syndrome through Capoeira Angola – a Brazilian martial art form.2 Besides improving physical strength and dexterity, capoeira enhances rhythm, coordination, and spatial and social perception. These days, the botos and I work with Down’s Syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and congenital malformations, among other things. HM: Do disabled children constitute a large part of your practice today? ISA: Unfortunately, no. I can make them only a small part because when they are in need, I treat them free of charge. HM: How did you come to involve the botos into your treatment of these children? Figure 1: Igor treating a child on a mat, with mothers and other children gathered ISA: Around 1998, before I changed my around. professional direction and became a Rolfer, I got about halfway through school for HM: Do you use special tools for work in in an aquatic environment has allowed me veterinary medicine, which is where I first the water? to invent, develop, and investigate various learned about equine therapy and dolphin maneuvers that render the scoliotic pattern ISA: Yes. For example, there is a partially therapy. At that time, dolphin-assisted more adaptable. Because the impact of submerged platform with some stairs that a therapy was happening only in other gravity is reduced by the client’s immersion person can sit on. The client’s mother can sit countries with captive animals, so I decided in water, the buoyancy of which provides on the stairs with the client on her lap, front to try it here with the wild river dolphins. flexible support, intervertebral pressure is to the mother and back to me. With the client The children get lots of fun and pleasure reduced. This, in turn, allows space between in this position (see Figure 2), I can work to from the water work. the vertebrae and micromovements align the spine and to address scoliotic among them. It facilitates three-axis spinal HM: When you put a child in the water with curvatures. Treating children with scoliosis the botos, do you have an intention beyond inducing pleasurable sensations? ISA: Several things. First of all, I get the child’s attention to engage him in the treatment. Then, for example, I’m facilitating his finding a relationship with nature; experiencing undulation of the spine; heightening his senses of touch and proprioception; and reducing pressure in the joints. It’s about sensation, relaxation, and play – all at the same time! HM: How do you integrate the water work with the botos into a regular Rolfing session? ISA: Over the past nine years of working in the water with botos, I’ve developed many highly effective techniques. For example, I have ways to manipulate the ribs so as to achieve the First-Hour goal of greater respiratory amplitude. Everything is adapted to the client’s particular pathology – but when clients resonate the sounds of the botos’ breathing and vocalizations, their own respiration deepens. Figure 2: Spinal work on the water platform.

20 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS movement and helps to restore function in the spine as a whole. HM: Does working with the botos enhance the quality of your manual work with connective tissue? ISA: It certainly does! It stimulates and challenges me, letting me be more creative and attentive, as well as more intuitive. I make a point of swimming with them and playing ball with them at the start of my day – in part so that I know which of them is present. As I connect with them, and through them with the natural environment, my own perceptions are heightened. HM: In the YouTube videos, they seem really curious and friendly. Are they typically like that? ISA: For the most part, yes. That’s how they behave when humans are calm and respectful towards them. Figure 3: Igor feeding a fish to a boto.

HM: Do they work well with children in how they’re affected by human activities. Endnotes particular? And of course, I reward them with fish after 1. Among the many videos featuring Igor’s ISA: Though botos work well with all our sessions. work with the botos are: kinds of humans, they seem somehow HM: Are you doing any kind of formal to be especially present with children. research regarding your work with the • Pink River Dolphin Provides Therapy For example, during our sessions, they botos? for Brazilian Boy (in English): are highly attuned to a child’s crying or www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjYFUe4uEic apprehension. ISA: Though I respond to inquiries as best I can, because I have no sponsors at • Bototerapia no tratamento de crianças HM: Do you need to teach individual botos the moment, I lack the resources to launch especiais (Bototherapy in the treatment to interact with the children? a formal research project – or even to of special children): www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YEw3V9ANeiE ISA: In the beginning, I worked with include in this work everyone who asks to them extensively. Before exposing them participate. I am seeking research partners • BOTOTERAPIA Igor Simões Andrade to the first group of children back in 2006, and financial sponsors. Given the current (collection of media coverage, with I logged over 500 hours of diving and political and economic challenges here in commentary on Rolfing SI): www. interacting with them. In the process, I came Brazil, our work is proceeding without the youtube.com/watch?v=FpDDL1snr40 to recognize and really like many of them slightest backing from anyone – and surely • Boto: Da lenda à ciência, o encanto do individually. the botos deserve better than that! príncipe das águas (documentary film HM: These days, do you work with certain HM: Do you have any suggestions concerning research on the river dolphins botos in particular? for readers who are interested in the and featuring Igor’s Rolfing SI): www. possibilities of engaging aquatic mammals youtube.com/watch?v=h84vcArdNLw ISA: I work with several of the wild ones in Rolfing SI? who live near me in the Rio Negro. Each day 2. See Igor playing Capoeira Angola at brings a pleasant surprise – seeing who’s ISA: Next year I will offer a workshop here www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKZdCjc5CYo showing up for duty. in the Amazon for Rolfers who would like to experience working with the botos in To learn more about Bototerapia or to contact Igor HM: Have you given them names? natural surroundings, and to explore the Simões Andrade, visit www.bototerapia.com. ISA: For sure: Menteco, Edna, Panqueca, botos’ therapeutic potential for their clients, Mucuim, Pretim . . . whether disabled or not. I would be pleased to provide more information to anyone who HM: Do you compensate the botos for their is interested. services? ISA: In a sense, yes. I support species conservation in many ways, and have put a great deal of effort into gathering information about them and documenting

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characteristic of perception” (Hurlburt 2011). Sensory Awareness SA can be of great value to bodyworkers and movement specialists personally, and it also can give us vital tools to share with and Feline Play our clients. By Heather L. Corwin, PhD, Certified Rolfer™ So how does SA viscerally impact us? Let’s use the activity of sitting in a chair as an A black cat crossing your path example. The act of sitting would not be signifies that the animal is going SA; rather, it is a skill that you have refined somewhere. regarding your place in space (perception/ proprioception) and an interaction with an Groucho Marx object to complete a task. If, instead, you Stinky the Cat take the time to use the back of your leg to feel the pressure of the chair seat and notice As I was stretching on my hardwood floor, I the temperature of the seat with your leg, felt whiskers tickle my face. They belonged then allow gravity to deepen the pressure to my cat, Stinky. I laughed and moved him of your leg, noticing how your relationship over to get back to the work of opening up to the chair changes as you do so, then you my pelvis through movement. More than are working with SA. This process demands simply stretching, I was trying to deepen slowing life down to observe the layers of my understanding of Sensory Awareness information and to witness the portions and to remain in the moment to investigate of every moment. For bodyworkers, this what helps me become more aware of what distinction can be incredibly helpful to was actually happening in the now. It took refine and deepen experience, personally me a moment, but I came to realize that and with others. In addition, this type of the ‘now’ I was exploring included a furry work can allow a pace to be set by the client being, so resisting the urge to accomplish or rather than by us, which may be more complete an agenda (stretching), I decided effective in producing a richer experience, Stinky (Photo by Heather Corwin.) to see what this detour might bring to me. integration, articulation within moments I closed my eyes and lay supine with my (including when experiencing shifts), and experiences with Stinky. I love this memory a myriad of other benefits. palms up. Stinky returned, curling the top of interacting with my cat and letting of his softball-sized head into my open palm him take the lead in our communication. Learning and Teaching SA that was supported by the floor. I followed We would often have loving and playful Animals are always in the moment, my next impulse to put my face into his satin, collaborations that would heighten my which is why humans tend to find them warm-from-the-sun, earthy-smelling side. sensory awareness, my realization of “the engaging. Humans operate within a He trilled, acknowledging and encouraging capacity to experience fresh for oneself” socially mandated realm where manners my playfulness. He flopped onto his side (Brooks 1986, viii). in almost a somersault, batting at my hand and behaviors – taught as necessary tools with his front paws. I relished the feeling Sensory Awareness to interact successfully in society – are not of his fur, the pads of his feet brushing always in sync with personal impulses. Sensory Awareness (SA) is a discipline my arm. His fur was as soft as down. The Animals understand and operate within or practice that cultivates the capacity to pads of his feet were ever so rough, like a hierarchy not dependent on social remain present, to have patience with what how elephant skin feels. I came up onto conditioning. As providers of food for our is occurring, and to invite all of oneself to all fours feeling the hardness of the wood, pets, humans are usually alpha or the leader take in and name a multitude of sensations. slightly gritty from earth coming in on within a household. If a human is meeting It was pioneered by Elsa Gendler, and later shoes. Stinky rubbed his body against my the needs of the cat, the cat will not retaliate. Charlotte Selver. Selver’s protégé, Judyth O. arms and legs, walking around and under In the case of Stinky, we really enjoyed each Weaver, PhD, was my teacher at the Santa me with his proprietary saunter. The weight other. This mutual affection inspired daily Barbara Graduate Institute, where I earned of him leaning on me and his body heat cuddles and play sessions complete with my PhD in Somatic Psychology.1 combined with the inner vibration from his a chase! Since play was a normal part of purr. Where he touched me, I could feel my Defining SA can be confusing, as it is more a our daily interaction, his engagement with skin tingle and warm with the contact. His process or way of being than a result. We are me while I lay on the ground made perfect tail followed last in its own swirling dance not merely focusing on our senses to give us sense: that position invited him to play. that slithered around my arm and then up information in and of the moment; we are To let your cat deepen your SA, you might my neck or down my body. also seeking the quiet places of who we are make a space that creates encouragement. inside, best found by determining how the Although I was initially exposed to the If you’re able, you might get a newspaper outside impacts our inside. Weaver (2015) practice of Sensory Awareness in graduate and open it in front of you. Any large piece explains, “Sensory Awareness is the practice school and actor training, much of my of paper will do. Notice what the paper’s of coming more in touch with oneself.” deepening with it occurred through my texture feels like between your fingers. It “is a phenomenon of experience, not a

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Close your eyes and move your fingers and on a day that was bright, but temperate freshmen some trust-building exercises notice if you hear any motion of the paper. outside (typical weather for Santa Barbara, during their first semester. Many were What does that evoke in you? This alone California). That day, I could feel sensations fresh from high school, with no experience may be enough of a playground for your tugging at me that signified the beginning in movement training. The students did cat to join your exploration. Place the paper of a migraine. My eyes were getting not know each other and had no sense next to your face. What do you find? Does sensitive to light, my head felt pressed of camaraderie or feeling of “we’re in the paper have a temperature against your in, and the base of my skull felt tight. My this together.” I led a short version of the skin? Does your cat want to bat the paper impulse was to back off and leave for the exercise of leading someone whose eyes from the other side? If you cat surprises you, day. Instead, because the class moved were closed to see what sort of trust they how does your cat do that? What sensations outside, I decided I would try one more could build. The sighted leaders in the are you taking in as your cat is close to you? exercise. We were surrounded with beauty, first group chose to run their partners working in a vibrant green garden with a into walls, chairs, doors, everything. If your cat does not seem to operate with tinkling fountain and damp, cool ground. Suggestions were offered to individuals in as much contact as Stinky preferred, or the The garden was surrounded by a building an attempt to protect the ‘blind’, but little newspaper idea does not work, you might with stone walkways, arches, and columns; changed. Teaching this exercise, I hadn’t find yourself in one of these interactions: sound bounced inwards in this setting, expected to encounter fear! The students your cat’s whiskers brushing up against creating an atmosphere of safety and with closed eyes were afraid to be led even your face . . . your cat walking on your back tranquility. The class was separated into before the exercise began. However, when and sitting on you . . . your cat sitting by two groups, and in my group we all were they switched roles and the ‘led’ were the your head purring just to be near you. See to be blindfolded. Our partners from the leaders, the room became peaceful and a if your interactions make you more aware other group chose us and were to lead us to place of caring. Specifically, the leaders used of your surroundings. Do you feel the areas of the garden that might interest us. a methodical pace that was slow and easy temperature of the room? The temperature Ironically, because I didn’t know who the to follow. Firm but supportive connections of the floor? Does your skin reach out to person was leading me, I didn’t have any were made so that the followers felt secure feel your cat? What does that translate trust issues. The purpose of the exploration in their leaders. The people who had been to in sensation? You might also take the was for the blindfolded partners to go at our run into objects had learned from their opportunity to observe your cat and move own pace and explore what we wanted to experience to care for someone in their like s/he does. How does moving like that explore, being taken care of by others who charge who could not see. Here was the make you more aware of your body and would keep us safe. trust exercise I had been expecting – the how your body makes contact with the learning came in a different way, but was floor, chair, or carpet? I discovered that I like to move at a glacial still based in SA. pace. So much was around me that I did not In a human didactic setting, SA can be feel much need to move or explore, because It was evident how outer life impacted taught in a variety of ways. Weaver I was being recruited by the world to feel inner life: the fear of being run into a chair employed many exercises to formulate, and experience sensations. A fuzzy leaf or walked into a stationary object can make increase, and refine her students’ abilities became extraordinary – how it felt in my students hold back. What’s more, when a with SA, many of which were reminiscent fingers, how it surprised me by its texture, person is trusting another to be one’s eyes, of lessons introduced to me through how I liked simply holding it. I did not experiencing the quick and sharp surprise actor training during my undergraduate have any pressure from outside to move of a chair cutting into one’s calf can either and graduate studies. For instance, in an at any pace, so I remained mostly still or inspire the modeling of careful oversight exercise of walking in trios, we were to act barely moving. when positions are traded, or malicious as one, keeping tempo and feet placement intent. Here, care-taking prevailed as a the same, without a leader. This may sound After about an hour of this type of work, direct result of the follower noticing his or easy, but actually paying enough attention being shielded and protected by seeing her experience and wanting to specifically to continually align impulses with two guardians, we came back together as create an experience for his or her partner other people is quite a challenge. Another a group. I discovered that I no longer that left room for safety within the space exercise took the form of us walking suffered any signs of a migraine coming and exercise. Plus, the students slowed around the room to find a person who on – my first experience ever of heading off down enough to notice more in each seemed to be in sync with you, your tempo a migraine without medication. Suddenly moment. This evolution suggests the and rhythm. This allowed for a natural I had a way to help myself avert the agony powerful need to allow a space for simply progression of discovery rather than forcing of these debilitating headaches – being in noticing what is happening and what is something to happen by choosing partners the moment, doing what I wanted to do. wanted in any given moment, which will as an intellectual or social choice, as often (Though, sadly, I won’t always have the foster SA. happens. I found it interesting that Weaver luxury of a protector.) I began to understand started from more tangible outside work how Weaver (2015) framed this work: “[It] Nature, Animals, and SA (walking with partners) and then reduced is not didactic; it is [a] practice.” the focus to the more quiet and refined My own experience of being blindfolded I took this exercise to Northern work of inner life, which is what we will in nature during an SA exercise showed Illinois University, where I currently look at next. how compelling the natural world can be. teach movement for actor training to Much of Selver’s SA work is done outdoors, My favorite example of working with undergraduate and graduate students. letting the landscape do the awareness Weaver with my inner life took place A colleague invited me to teach the new work for the student. A fuzzy leaf can avert

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 23 ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS a migraine . . . the sound of a fountain movements, and awareness focused in this impromptu SA exploration and ended within an enclosed garden can capture our sessions has the potential to change up on the floor, sidelying, him at my belly. one’s complete attention. Nature has a way behavior. SA remains at the foundation When we consciously inhibit, we of demanding interaction. We don’t have of most movement training in that the create a space in which choice to work to get a response from nature, goal of the work occurs inside the person can operate. because stimuli are constant and through a seeking the training – that is, the growth variety of sources, e.g., wind, water, birds, of his or her inner life engagement. When Glen Park sunlight, shade, insects, temperature. As nurturing awareness, the senses must all Brooks (1986, 137), Selver’s husband and be engaged: with behavior, interactions, A New Teacher partner, asserts of SA, “We are powerfully and consequences of these interactions, SA can be a tool to deepen the bond between aided by the vivid presence of nature.” and responses to architecture/structure us and the animals we encounter in our SA builds consciousness and awareness. including walls, objects, and space (Bogart lives. Stinky was an ideal partner for me Consciousness is noticing and experiencing & Landau 2005; Williamson 2002). Another when exploring SA because he loved to the world around us. Building upon that, way of thinking about growing awareness is feel into the experience of touching, being “awareness is consciousness together with that it involves a person examining habitual touched, and physical connection. Our love a realization of what is happening within responses and ways of being in order to of being near each other resonated in us it or of what is going on within ourselves be free of them, allowing choice in how we when in each other’s proximity. SA gave me while we are conscious” (Feldenkrais 1972, interact in the world. a priceless gift: a rich way for my cat and I 50). So, I can look around a room and see Weaver (2003) writes, “Through practical to connect as beings simply enjoying each all the things in it; this is being conscious. sensing experiences with our everyday other. About six months after our first SA Awareness goes beyond consciousness by activities, we relearn to accept ourselves encounter, Stinky died at the ripe old age being specific about what is in the room and and others, and begin to understand the of eighteen. The gifts of love he left me are how those items affect me. An example of importance of this kind of attention.” We immeasurable, and I still miss him. The the ‘add-on’ that awareness brings could begin to settle more into what is. In SA we depth that SA brought to our interactions be that when I feel into the room again, I focus on noticing rather than judging. This was profound. utilize awareness and specifically observe type of work supports simply being without the cool air at the back of my hands, the judgment, a necessary skill in our work with warmth of the chair supporting my thighs, clients. Practicing SA releases our ideas buttocks, and back, and hear the buzz of the around what should be and brings us into computer and the mumble of voices in the the depth of what is. next room. I note that these things make me feel at home, engaging my inner life. Our animal companions, closer to nature and to the moment, are extraordinary We could postulate that animals are teachers within this realm of work. When embedded in the realm of nature in a way I was playing with my cat, I was initially most humans no longer are. They want more preoccupied with my agenda what they want and live solely in the (subconscious) than having fun with him moment, with acute consciousness and (what I really wanted to do). So much is awareness. Animals take in information programmed into the subconscious that (consciousness), have a reaction (awareness), I was not aware of the choice until my and act upon their next impulse. Our human cat made me aware by not giving up his lives have this potential, but also involve desire to play. Then I recognized that he many levels of abstraction that animals could help me to be in the moment and Learning how to interact with Loki. (Photo don’t engage in (as humorously shown in be with him. When I began to play with by Heather Corwin.) the Groucho Marx quote that opens this him, he expressed his delight through his article). Though finding meaning within behavior – pressing his head into my hand, activities is important to humans and chirping, hugging me around my arm or We now have a new cat, who is almost a society as a whole, having this as a constant leg. I could then deepen my connection year old. Loki is named after the Norse god focus can create anxiety, and that anxiety with him by pressing my face to his furry of mischief, and she lives up to her name. can become debilitating. SA has more to belly, one of my favorite things to do. All Now freshly out of her kitten stage, Loki do with deepening a person’s experience of these connections seemed to take much is very specific about how she prefers to within moments than with assigning longer because I was focusing on SA at the interact. Loki is not the lover of long strokes meaning to a task. Picking up a cell phone time. The sense of duration was important, to her fur that her predecessor Stinky was, becomes an investigation of weight and showing that my awareness weighted but she’s a snuggler. My SA lessons with texture rather than a commentary on cell this interaction as deep and important Loki take the form of her body resting on phones and our relationship to technology. – a lasting and impactful memory. The me with her purr fully engaged. If she is In Rolfing® Structural Integration, or any connection implied hours of play because in the mood, I can scratch her chin and variety of movement training, we help each moment had several layers, even face. If she’s not, I get a nip to remind me the client cultivate awareness. The focus though the clock revealed that only thirty of her boundaries. What I am able to focus is often on impulses and the initiation of minutes had passed. We danced together in on with Loki includes the space between us and the ways we can make physical

24 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org ROLFING SI AND ANIMALS contact. She enjoys running away, inspiring Endnotes Available at www.psychologytoday.com/ a chase, or wrestling with my arm safely in blog/pristine-inner-experience/201110/ 1. Santa Barbara Graduate Institute was a thick sweatshirt. In some ways our ‘work’ sensory-awareness-why-people-including- purchased by The Chicago School of together balances between perception scientists-are-blind-it (retrieved 9/26/2015). Professional Psychology during the middle and awareness. I have found that if I only of my studies. Park, G. 1996. The Art of Changing: A New concentrate on SA with Loki by reveling in Approach to the Alexander Technique. Bath, how soft she is and my sheer enjoyment of Bibliography England: Ashgrove Press. touching her, I have a rude awakening from pleasure to surprise with the sharpness of Bogart A. and T. Landau 2005. The Weaver, J.O. 2015. From http://judythweaver. her teeth, because she is not enjoying the Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to com/my-work/ (retrieved 9/2/2015). interaction like I am. Loki demands that I Viewpoints and Composition. New York: Weaver, J.O. 2003. “More Background remain aware and conscious of her desire Theatre Communications Group. About Sensory Awareness.” Available at for space when physically interacting. Brooks, C.V.W. 1986. Sensory Awareness: http://judythweaver.com/writings/more- Stinky and I lived together and grew up Rediscovery of Experiencing through the background-about-sensory-awareness/ together for eighteen long and delightful Workshops of Charlotte Selver. Great Neck, (retrieved 9/2/2015). years. We knew each other. I am still getting New York: Felix Morrow. Williamson, L. 2002. “The Williamson to know Loki, so we do not have our own Feldenkrais, M. 1972. Awareness through Physical Technique: The Physical Process of understandings and language yet, which Movement. New York: HarperCollins. Acting.” In Movement for Actors, N. Potter, Stinky and I built over a lifetime. As this ed. New York, NY: Allworth Press. richness develops with Loki, it too will Hurlburt, R.T. 2011. “Sensory expand me as a person. With SA, I know Awareness: Why People (Including Loki and I will find our version of fuzzy Scientists) Are Blind to It.” Psychology love through time, listening, and patience. Today weblog, October 31, 2011. After all, a practice takes a lifetime.

I knew that getting up on the dining table Beamer: The Chihuahua was not a usual thing for even the littlest and prettiest dog in her house. Once on the table, Beamer walked over to me. TJ and I That Somehow Knew both shared even larger questioning looks. My left hand was turned up at the time and By Liz Gaggini, MA, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Rolf Movement® Practitioner Beamer headed for that. She turned to face me, and then she backed up and managed I don’t work with animals very often. They for the possibility that they will come my to lay her belly right onto the palm of my just don’t seem to come my way. There way on their own. And so, while getting hand. I didn’t move, and TJ and I said was one time, however, that I did work chummy with the other dogs at the house, nothing; we continued to share various with a small pretty dog, Beamer. This has I just ignored Beamer, and Beamer stayed looks of surprise, expressing in our faces a remained an experience of some wonder for far away from me. little mirth and a little awe. me. About eight years ago, I was staying at On my last day at TJ’s, I was sitting at one the comfortable and artistically nurturing I noticed right away that Beamer’s tummy end of their long dining table across from home of my friend TJ Sebastian in Fort was hot – too hot. I started seeing if I could TJ. We were drinking coffee, and sharing 2 Worth, Texas. I first met TJ on that visit. I find any mid or long tide. I felt some strong how glad we were to have met one another was teaching a class and TJ offered her guest and fast mid-tide motions and pauses and how sad it was to say goodbye. Beamer casita to me for the ten days that the class around the borders of her abdomen that I was safe in TJ’s lap while we talked, only met. She and her husband had several dogs assumed corresponded with the region of occasionally making guarded glances my they had taken in; she told me that ever her colon. As I was sensing, Beamer relaxed way. I tried not to look at her at all. I didn’t since their kids had left home, her husband further down onto my hand, all the while want to alarm Beamer, as I thought it rather had been bringing home stray dogs. looking me in the eye. I got the idea that she exceptional that she would share such close might be constipated. When working with 1 All of the dogs , each in their own ways, proximity with me for such a long period the digestive track, I always like to start at initiated contact, allowing or demanding of time. I had my hands resting on the the expelling end, to free restrictions from some degree of touching, patting, scratching, table, probably tapping and moving my lower to upper. And so, as her expelling and ruffling; the exception was the smallest, hands around a little, as I have a habit of end, so to speak, was near to my fingertips, Beamer, a long-haired Chihuahua. I could doing. The three of us – TJ, Beamer, and I began to palpate her colon from there. see why. Beamer was so pretty and so small I – had been sitting at the table for about Beamer’s response to this was to rest even that I was sure she had been overwhelmed fifteen minutes when Beamer, without further onto my hand and fingertips and by the affection of strangers many – too warning, stood up in TJ’s lap and slowly to keep looking me in the eye. Just a short many – times. I have a strategy with such pulled herself up onto the table. TJ turned distance up through her colon, I found a creatures: give them their space and allow to her while giving a questioning look, so

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 25 THE HUMAN ANIMAL firm impaction. I manipulated this, trying kisses, pats, and cooing ensued. I think I gently to break it apart and send the pieces could have continued to work with Beamer, toward that expelling end. After less than but I had a plane to catch. two minutes, I felt a peristaltic wave start I have not had the good fortune to stay through her colon and the area of heat at TJ’s since then, but I hear from TJ that started to move and to cool. Beamer is still on the planet. TJ sent this I let my hand come to a rest to see if there recent picture of her to me, saying that would be something else to do, but very when I met Beamer she weighed four soon Beamer started to get up. She broke pounds, but now only weighs three. I want eye contact with me and tentatively stood to express my thanks to TJ and Beamer for in the spot over my hand for a few seconds; an experience that continues to teach me she then took a few steps, turned around, many important questions and answers and began to walk carefully down the about the true nature of life, perception, long table. TJ and I resumed looking at and healing. each other, but neither of us said a thing. As Beamer walked this runway, she did a Beamer Endnotes few small stretches, picking up her pace 1. I say “all of the dogs,” but I do remember and circling about a little. She then walked right onto the palm of my hand. Needless that one of the dogs they had brought in straight back toward me, stopped across to say, I found a few things to work with preferred to stay outside on the perimeter from my face, leaned forward, and began to in the hip. The work even involved me of the property, allowing himself to be seen lick my face all over. I, of course, responded wrapping my right hand around her and and fed, but he was unapproachable to all. by putting a big smile on my face. I think eventually holding her up to get the left TJ started crying, and I cooed back some leg straightened. During this entire process, 2. Mid and long tides are used in Sutherland- loving things to Beamer. she responded with full surrender and style cranial work and biodynamic visceral trust. When that work was done, Beamer, work. See my article “Specific Indirect After she had thoroughly covered my face via TJ’s lap, got down from the table and Techniques” on the library page of my with kisses, Beamer went back over to my first walked, then ran, around the table a website www.connectivetissue.com for left hand, which was still where she had left few times before she quickly came back to more information on using the long and it. She made a couple of circles, and with me, asking to get up on my lap where more mid tides for assessment and for treatment. her back turned to me, she laid her left hip

deal with survival threats and mating The Human Animal opportunities, have strategies for making families, have partners and competitors. By Matt Walker, Certified Rolfer™ Even if it doesn’t look the same, we have the same needs. Of course we also deal “Karma no!” makes us similar to or different from the with many of the same forces of nature. As other animal earthlings. earthlings, humans and animals alike share Carli’s exclamation overlaps the immediate constant gravity, twenty-four-hour cycles of din of cat-dog conflict by the food room’s I specialize in humans, but as an light and dark, temperature fluctuations, door. “Bad girl!” Swiftly admonishing opportunistic animal lover and amateur and phenomena of motion, pressure, and the dog and swooping up the cat, Carli animal bodyworker, I have learned scads tension. As physical beings, we all exhibit seizes control of the situation. She parents from working with the other animals who, structure and function, which by design and socializes our pets as naturally and like us, are earthlings. I love it. There’s just have reciprocal consequences on each spontaneously as any mother would her something about working with the other, other. In this way all earthlings navigate rather geriatric children. It had to be done. with the not-quite-self, that brings us into and respond to physical reality. This reality Karma snapped at Finn. She’s getting older, a space of receptivity for revelation about is both constant and constantly changing. lazier, and crankier. Finn, also old, cranky, ourselves. Working with animals informs and not known for manners, still didn’t my perspective about working with, and From a structural perspective, studying deserve the aggressive act. He’s part of being, a human animal. comparative anatomy provides insight the pack, but these altercations had been similar to that gained from studying a While studying physical and cultural happening more often, especially where foreign language to better understand anthropology at the University of Texas, I food was concerned. Regardless, Carli one’s own native tongue. The slings and was struck by the degree to which humans defended the apparent innocent while arrows of semantics and culture all demand share animals’ dilemmas. Our thriving punishing the guilty – but wait, these are certain strategies of expression, from lowly has a lot to do with being social and just animals right? And so are we: the grammar to high art. Similarly the animal manipulating the environment. Our brains human animal. I will use this article to take body is an expression of the earthling body make us special and uniquely human, a look at this creature, and what it is that that must accommodate all this physicality. but ultimately we’re still animals. We all Enter fascia, layers, tensional and pressure

26 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL regimes, and the mechanism of mechanical they share many of our human qualities, after that she stopped snapping at Finn. I input to produce change. including guile, concern, impatience, guess the pain had made her a little ornery. affection, aggression, and whimsy. Watch Like a binocular vision, the twin lenses of Of course it’s not just the raw data of your pets. They get up for no reason and human and animal anatomical study let us our lives here on spaceship Earth that’s go to the other room just to lay down see more clearly the role of fascia, and our interesting. It’s not just our emotional and somewhere else. They tear off running physical reality. Animal connective tissue behavioral commonalties that render an to chase some unseen animal. Haven’t seems to exhibit similar physical properties interesting study of our fellow earthlings you seen this before in humans as well? and behaviors, and performs similarly either. For me it’s our incarnated thrust Okay, well maybe we don’t randomly to human connective tissue. It wraps, toward heart and spiritual evolution that chase squirrels, but a yellow traffic light envelopes, shapes, divides, and connects keeps the plot so interesting. I find my might as well be the same thing. This every muscle, organ, and bone, down to relationship with my animals epitomizes automatic behavior will certainly indicate their individual cells, just as it does our this value within me. I see a progression. I the pathways whereby function becomes own. Similarly, animal fascial structures, don’t suppose we’ll be the last, or highest, structure, and whereby structure may structures like a horse’s ligamentum nuchae expression of life on this planet. There’s represent something deeper, like feeling or or the latissimus on a house cat, describe that more yet to come, a constant invitation for belief. When we’re working with our fellow animal’s motion, even while standing still. Life to fulfill its potential. human animals, maybe it is appropriate Sharing all the same names, but none of the to ask ourselves, “What squirrel has this As I see it, our relationship with animals same proportions, we’re invited to evaluate person been chasing?” deepens and enriches our lives, but more our own morphology objectively. What do importantly it can expose us to a world Today my pets teach me about Rolfing® we do better than anyone? The answer to of inquiry based on what it means to be a Structural Integration, just as they taught this question marches forth from the fossil life form on Earth. We can’t ignore either me about massage, just as they teach me record quite literally in the form of the physics or primal drives, nor should we about being human. For example, when broad pelves and femurs angling midline forget our spirituality. Isn’t this incarnate I work with my pets I can ask myself to the knees that belonged to our first situation so mysterious? We are examples questions about my efficacy as a Rolfer. Did walking ancestors. These details describe of the life force itself moving through some I come on too strong? What intervention the management of the center of gravity of strangely specific forms! As a Rolfer and do these guys need? Was the intervention a bipedal being (Wayman 2012). We were a human being humbly hoping for some I used useful to them? How do they probably walking upright before we were awareness of self, I hold this presentation behave after touch? Feedback seems more smart: the shape and arrangement of our in life as worthy for contemplation. immediate with animals, and more reliable. bones show a propensity for gait though They have no formal means of speech, no Matt Walker lives and practices in Austin, Texas. human brainboxes remained small at first. psychologizing of their experience. They More information can be found at his website, How did this happen? Some mechanism, be may want to please me, sure, but they’re www.walkerrolfing.com. it genetic mutation, tissue yielding from the not going to tell me what I want to hear. I new function of a new structure, or some also don’t have to battle their assumptions Bibliography sheer stubbornness, gave rise to apes that concerning whether what we’re doing is stood up and walked. That’s one option for Cabanac, M. 1999. “Emotion and going to help or not. Finally, I am able to dealing with gravity. Phylogeny.” The Japanese Journal of Physiology see patterns for which I wasn’t trained, but 49(1):1-10 (Feb 1999). Abstract available at Speaking of brains, nature builds upon that I see nonetheless. It’s easier, in a way, www.oxytocin.org/oxy/emotion.html. a theme. One of the first brains was the to see animals move and know something reptilian brain, and we still carry that little isn’t quite right. Wayman, E. 2012. “Becoming Human: guy just under our mammalian brain, The Evolution of Walking Upright.” I remember one day I reached for my cranky, which in turn supports our neocortex. We Smithsonian.com, 8/6/2012. Available shuffling dog’s psoas. Something looked still use all of the faculties of the reptile at www.smithsonianmag.com/science- strange on the surface of her lumbars. brain; flight, fight, and other fearless and nature/becoming-human-the-evolution- They were too far inferior, sagging, and fearful endeavors find function here. We of-walking-upright-13837658/?no-ist the motion was weird. I began to reach first learned social behavior, to cuddle (retrieved 9/28/2015). in. As her eyes grew, I found it somewhat and mean it, as mammals [though there reassuring to see she was human – I mean is evidence that reptiles do experience earthling – enough to show trepidation emotion as measured by heartbeat and over the whole thing. Walleyed as she was, body temperature (Cabanac 1999)]. Our I could tell I was probably on her psoas. In tribe instinct seems to originate from this the end she took it like a champ. I worked mammalian brain, as does our fear of on softening my touch, and I could feel rejection. However, the ability to put a story her psoas soften in kind. Her gaze became on these feelings – which may further twist less concerned, and turned more thankful our fear into anxiety, or turn it into love – is and sleepy. Slowly withdrawing my hands, probably exclusive to people. Karma’s tail began to beat the cushion on Observations made from watching our which she’d been luxuriating. Funny thing, animals interact with one another show that

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 27 THE HUMAN ANIMAL

extra balance. We also had good jumping The Three-Dimensional Animal abilities; but weighing more than a few ounces was impossible. Changing Views of Bipedalism and Its Limitations Then came the revolution. In his wonderful By Michael Boblett, MA, MDiv, DMin, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ book The Ancestor’s Tale, Richard Dawkins (2004) points out that the biomechanics of ‘higher’ primates like lemurs and eventually A human being should be able to change nature won’t fix it. We know that animals monkeys represent a solution to the problem a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a evolve. We pay less attention to the fact that of size. After the mass extinctions that hog, conn a ship, design a building, animals don’t change old structures unless ushered in the Cenozoic Era, most mammals write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a they must. They just stick stuff on. rushed down into newly vacant ecological wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take So my focus here is on biomechanics, old and niches. Primates stayed behind to maximize orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, new. My emphasis is on shifting ecological their greater monopoly over the tree canopy. solve equations, analyze a new problem, strategies: how a long lineage of ancestral They did this with a simple expedient: pitch manure, program a computer, species adapted to new environments and rotation, rotation, rotation. Forelimbs and cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die opportunities. My theme is avoidance of hind limbs elongated. Scapulae and ilia gallantly. Specialization is for insects. overspecialization, since physical generalism differentiated. Heads lifted. Eyes rotated Robert A. Heinlein continues to be one of the strongest forward. Depth perception improved. Hands advantages of our present species. and feet could grasp, pull, and manipulate. Introduction Limbs and spines could rotate in nearly In the case of the human body, we’re looking This article is ultimately about feet. In this limitless combinations of ways. The common at a Swiss Army knife. It has multiple respect, I continue the focus of my other denominator in all this was independent applications reflecting multiple demands. articles for this journal (Boblett 2014, 2015). rotation of cylinders throughout the body. We are generalists, not specialists. This is However, you will rarely encounter direct The result: monkeys could be much bigger because many of the assumptions made references to feet in what follows. In this than tree-shrews, rarely leaving the three- in physical anthropology a generation more general survey, I try to put the three- dimensional world of the tree canopy. ago turn out to be wrong, both with dimensional foot into the context of a three- respect to the ecological demands placed Simply put, our ‘higher’ primate ancestors dimensional body. The human foot only on our ancestors and with respect to our rounded out the shape of what Hubert moves in three dimensions when it expresses changing responses to these demands. This Godard calls the kinesphere, the area into a body moving in all three dimensions. The in turn has implications for our present which we can reach and from which foot expresses – or suppresses – what we biomechanical options. we can pull. Our kinesphere became express or suppress in the rest of the body. more . . . spherical. I repeat: much of this material will seem However, instead of going bone-by-bone old-hat to you. Just be prepared for a But wait a minute! What has this to do and muscle-by-muscle into various possible few surprises. with bipedalism? We no longer live in the distortions of the body superior to the trees, do we? What did we lose when we malleoli, I will take a phylogenetic approach. The Path to Uprightness – left the trees? What compromises did we For readers accustomed to my usual Tiny Quadrupeds have to make? anatomy-geek writing, what follows may appear diffuse and sometimes simplistic, but Once upon a time, our path was a branch. Short answer: we are more like monkeys the material seems to require it. I propose to Please don’t roll your eyes. Yes, I’m going than we may suppose. Most of our monkey- go through a brief survey of the development back to the Mesozoic Era, but I won’t stay like rotational ability is still available to us. of bipedalism, emphasizing old assumptions there for long, I promise. And it is central to our present multiplicity of possible movement. that are contradicted by newer research in As primates and indeed as mammals, we physical anthropology. Much of this will begin with a design that differed little Long answer: there is the revolution in repeat what you learned in school, but from that of most terrestrial quadrupeds: physical anthropology that is changing what you learned in school may have been relatively short limbs supported a what many of us learned in high school. updated – in surprising ways. horizontal spine, usually. The difference The transition to bipedalism was longer and How does this help my work – and perhaps was size. Moving out of horizontality by more complicated than we once thought. yours? Simply put, when a human body climbing or leaping could occur only if Ecologically and biomechanically, we lost loses ranges of motion, I must look for the the overall body remained very small. In less than we once supposed. This includes demands no longer placed on it. To identify the three-dimensional world of the jungle the articulation – and articulateness – of these lost movements, I must ask what this canopy, the ancestors of tigers, whales, our feet. mammoths, and monkeys all had a rat-like human body was originally designed to do. The Path to Uprightness – However, that word ‘originally’ is tricky. form, severely restricted by the weight- Like the human brain with its various bearing abilities of tree branches. We could Climbing and Shuffling scurry along branches on four legs, moving layers, our body is a collection of ad hoc The old story is pretty straightforward. like any other quadruped along our little add-ons, put there somewhat randomly Until about seven million years ago, we tree-trails. Like our close cousins, the in response to changing requirements. lived in trees. Eastern and southern Africa rodents, we had long tails to supply some Nature is parsimonious. If it ain’t broke, were covered with thick forest. Then things

28 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL dried up. Things cooled down. Trees died. There’s no point saying that these animals probably shuffled when they walked Grasslands spread. Our ancestors came were ‘transitional species’. In nature, upright. Compared to monkeys or gibbons, down from the trees and never looked nobody turns to a predator and says, “Slow even the most gracile Australopithecus does back. We became bipeds. Arms shortened. down, man! I’m a transitional species!” not look very agile. Bipedalism doesn’t Legs lengthened. Flexible arches became In fact, these various creatures were still look like a good bet. Then something new rigid. Opposable big toes became merely tree-climbers, improving their ability to shows up. abducted, then lined up with the other avoid capture. The explanation is partly toes. Calcanei no longer supported extreme ecological. Ardipithecus still lived in a The Path to Uprightness – dorsiflexion of the ankle. Hands and feet forested environment. The best explanation Homo specialized for very different tasks. for its occasional bipedalism is an improved With the genus Homo, it’s as if the skeleton ability to carry foodstuffs. In other words, New version: the old jungle canopy of Australopithecus was grabbed at both ends the new adaptation probably had more to fragmented. A mosaic of little ecosystems and pulled like taffy. Everything elongates. do with sexual favors than locomotion. emerged. Moving between these The cranium has a higher dome. Jaws Hence, the smaller canine teeth found ecosystems, our ancestors specialized are narrower. The neck elongates. Down in Ardipithecus males, who apparently in not specializing. They applied their below, legs begin to lengthen relative to preferred bribery to battle. In addition, arboreal three-dimensionality to the new arms, but the real shift is in the middle – a Ardipithecus had a fully opposable big toe, opportunities of their world. We became the waist develops! The rib cage is narrower, indicating great comfort in the trees. ‘obstacle-course animal’, designed to run, as is the pelvis, but they also separate. A jump, swim, climb, crawl, throw things, In contrast, the different species of the longer space develops between the bottom dodge things, and otherwise do whatever genus Australopithecus more strongly of the rib cage and the top of the pelvis. it took to survive in many adjacent little suggest adaptations to fragmentation of the More important, this space moves: it ecological niches. tree canopy. However, they were still not rotates, it sidebends, it bends forward and entirely the savannah chimps of popular backward. This leads to a dramatic increase The result is an animal more like a science. Starting some 3.75 million years in the dynamism of the overall pattern. All jackal than a lion. Physically, we are ago, their diet certainly expanded to include without a single extra vertebra. opportunistic omnivores, not top predators grassland nutrition, but they continued (and top predators are particularly prone In other words, much of the rotational to draw on woodlands for some of their to extinction). We are designed to be ability of monkeys and gibbons came back. diet. This mixture shows clearly in fossil agile, flexible, adaptable, multitalented, Contralateral movement is more efficient. bones in the mixture of carbon isotope data and multidirectional, what Homer calls Bipedalism changes radically. This animal is reflecting consumption of plants following polytropos or ‘many-turning’. We do many a runner! Notice that I use the present tense C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways. C3 things very well rather than one thing now. I am describing . . . you. plants include trees, shrubs, and cool season exceedingly well. Dolphins can’t climb grasses, while C4 plants include warm Even more striking, this change happens trees. Lions don’t have thumbs. season grasses and succulents. It would very quickly. With the exception of the Okay, but how did this happen? I begin be interesting to study different ratios in skull, the skeleton of the genus Homo has with the fact that bipedalism evolved in at different australopithicene species, but I changed very little through various species least two stages, the first of which I address have not found this data. over roughly 2.5 million years. In Africa, in this section. bone-hunters who find anything Homo More tellingly, there has been a paradigm pray fiercely for a skull, since otherwise the First-stage bipedalism seemed designed to shift regarding the biomechanics of species could be anything. It’s as if Mother justify the worst fears of those who wonder Australopithecus. Anthropologists compared Nature said, “Don’t change the body. Just what we lost when we left the trees. Whether australopithicene calcanei to that of unscrew the head and put a new one on. the early biped Ardipithecus ramidus some apes and humans respectively. Since the Repeat the process after a few thousand seven million years ago or the entire genus Australopithecus calcanei more closely generations.” The brain of a Homo habilis Australopithecus up to the emergence of resembled those of Homo, they reasoned, ranges from 500 to 700 cc, compared to 1,200 the genus Homo roughly 2.5 million years they could not allow enough dorsiflexion to 1,500 cc for Homo sapiens. Otherwise, ago, we see an ape-like shortening of legs, for good climbing. Then videos of African apart from a smallish size and arm-to-leg necks, and torsos relative to monkeys and and Indonesian tree-climbers demonstrated ratios well within the range of Homo sapiens the ‘lower’ apes like gibbons. It’s not just that the modern human Achilles tendon is variation (I’m close on both counts), this that the legs were short and stumpy; the capable of far greater lengthening than most creature is . . . you. whole body was short and stumpy. The anatomists previously thought possible. In face was round, dominated by strong jaws Africa, Indonesia, and other parts of the The result is a super-generalist, a jack-of- and thick neck muscles. Shoulders rose till world, humans climb trees by embracing all-trades. This is an animal who can invade they approached ears. The torso was long the trunk and using strong toes and flexible and thrive in different ecosystems. From in relation to the legs, but it was round and Achilles tendons to literally walk up a tree. this you get the animal that leaves Africa relatively immobile. Waistlines expanded, altogether, infiltrating widely different Still, the limitations of australopithicene with conical ribcages and pelvises joining ecosystems across the planet, hot and design are obvious. I go back to my their wide ends to enclose massive guts. On cold, wet and dry. As Ian Tattersall (1993) description of both Ardipithecus and two legs, these animals probably did not so points out in his book The Human Odyssey, Australopithecus: short, stubby, high- much run as shuffle, with a minimum of our success is not a product of superior shouldered, big-bellied creatures who contralateral movement. intelligence alone. The human body had this

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 29 THE HUMAN ANIMAL ability long before anything like the Homo bunions, migraines, tight hips, sore backs, momentary experience of taking the spine sapiens brain evolved. or constricted lungs? More profoundly, out of gravity can work wonders. what has this to do with the emotional, So, until recently, the emergence of Homo A pull-up bar has several advantages over cognitive, and spiritual disconnects of a seemed sudden and seamless. But with the an inversion table (though I use one of wild animal trying to be a domesticated discovery of a possible new species in Homo the latter periodically): the bar is cheaper, one? How do we open this cage? How do naledi, we may be seeing the change in the it takes up less space, it can be installed we rehabilitate this animal and release it? midst of happening. Of course, I am aware or removed quickly, you can get into or that these south African fossils and their Anybody who knows me will say, “OK, out of position quickly – and nobody’s interpretations are new and controversial. I get it. Homo sapiens never entirely came hands get stuck on a pull-up bar. By the Is Homo naledi really a separate species down from the trees.” And I grant you, way, Rolfers and other bodyworkers can from, say, Homo habilis? Is it an ancestor to that’s a large part of my agenda. Children, increase hand-strength by hanging, a lesson Homo sapiens? Or is it a dead end, a kind acrobats, hunter-gatherers, and many yogis I learned from Victor Geberin years ago. I of spinster great-aunt? When did it live? understand implicitly that gravity can pull have narrow little thumbs, but they are far Before H. habilis? Or was naledi, like Homo us from above as well as from below. Sailors from wearing out. floriensis, a survival into recent times of a who work with rigging understand this as I have suggested that hanging can help free radically different lineage withinHomo , our well. So we can mediate gravity through not only a messed-up shoulder, but also eccentric great-aunt or uncle rather than our shoulder girdles as well as through other joints. What about swinging? While our ancestor? our hips . . . and we sometimes must. For humans do not precisely brachiate, I notice both girdles to work freely, scapulae must Whatever H. naledi was, even if we reject that work on monkey bars followed by gait sometimes mediate weight, allowing ilia the name naledi itself as denoting a separate work can open up amazing dimensions and core muscles to help in other ways. species within Homo, the consensus seems in the latter. Scapulae send interesting In turn, this will expand and enrich our to be that here is an example of intense messages to ilia once the scapulae lower-girdle movements in bipedalism. experimentation with physical form and experience the sensation of mediating Try swinging from monkey bars and then movement. Again, the surviving result gravity from above. walking. Different gait, yes? This is what I of this experimentation is . . . you. This is mean by three-dimensionally. More general questions involve the enough for me. After all, we are experiments movement strategies of ‘Internals’ versus as well, are we not? Adding this movement option back into ‘Externals’ (from Jan Sultan’s Internal- the lives of ‘ordinary’ people can produce Homo naledi is of particular interest to External typology). Sultan has pointed profound changes. So yes, I like parkour, me because it involves a surprisingly out that neither type has priority in our hanging yoga, monkey bars, jungle gyms, modern foot attached to archaic features. evolution, physical or cultural. Hunter- climbing ropes, Swedish ladders – and Specifically, the H. naledi skeletons show gatherers, for example, do not tend to actual trees. I’m a bit less fond of wall- a modern hand with a robust thumb and cluster in one group or the other. Photos climbing because it resembles tree-climbing power grip, but long, ape-like fingers still of Native American gatherings clearly rather less than the things I just listed. curved to enable tree-climbing. The foot, show both types within the same tribe (I as far as I have read, shows no variations But there’s a bit more specificity to this. sometimes wonder about the extremely whatever from the modern foot. The As I always do, I will avoid attempting a lordotic !Kung of the Kalahari Desert, but surprise comes between these modern comprehensive list in favor of dropping a that’s another story entirely). hands and feet: the closer we get to the few hints. Here they are. For convenience, I think of the Internal pelvis, the more archaic the body becomes. If Homo sapiens is still partly arboreal, how type as more monkey-like and the External So our feet have changed less than the might that apply to freeing the shoulder type as more ape-like. I like to think that rest of our bodies, even our hands? girdle, the elbows, the wrists, the spine, or these movement strategies reflect a deep William Harcourt-Smith of the American the hips? The trick is getting the client to the ambiguity in our evolution between the Museum of Natural History’s Paleontology point of being able to hang in the first place flexibility of a monkey and the stability Department puts it this way: “Quite without irritating the subacromial bursa or required in the larger body of an ape, obviously, having a very human-like foot the bicipital groove, if either of these is the since we apparently never walked on our was very advantageous to this creature problem area. knuckles. Certainly the acrobatic potential because it was the foot that lost its primitive, of the Internal body can be great, and To most of my clients I recommend a pull- or ape-like, features first” (American Internals are somewhat more likely to have up bar hung in a doorframe. Instead of Museum of Natural History 2015). The idea a high arm-to-leg ratio, though exceptions chin-ups, I simply suggest strengthening intrigues me. I take this as further proof that exist. What innate gifts do Externals bring the hand muscles by pulling up the knees the modern foot can support and express to the three-dimensional world? I sense that and hanging with arms at full length. A many different kinds of movement, not just flexibility versus stability is not the full clock or stopwatch within easy view can just what we are accustomed to doing in story here. help the client time the period of hanging. the modern world. Gradually, it may be possible to lengthen For either type, the prehensile foot is a How Do We Apply All This? the hanging time to several minutes. useful tool; but toe function is not confined Based on this, the client may then be able to picking things up or grasping things Did you enjoy this little journey? Maybe to do some amazing stretches with arms between the big toe and its neighbors. What yes, maybe no. So what has this to do with and shoulders directed upward. Even the role does the arch play when the Achilles

30 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL lengthens enough for a human being to Michael Boblett works in San Diego, California. California. At seminary, he focused on the ‘walk’ up a tree or its equivalent? How He has been a Certified Rolfer since 2003 anthropology of religion, with experiential might reclaiming that ability, if only in part, and a Certified Advanced Rolfer since 2008. training under Michael Harner, author of The change horizontal gait? Michael is a retired Unitarian minister. His Way of the Shaman. Michael runs marathons advanced degrees (MA, MDiv, and DMin) and hikes up mountains wearing Vibram Five These are a few hints. I’m sure you have are from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Fingers. His website is www.rolfer.biz. more. This brings me to my conclusion. The Ball’s in Your Court Many of you have studied anthropology. Some of you have studied primatology. A few of you have peered even further back Refining Dr. Rolf’s Lateral Line into our ancient phylogeny. I do not pretend to have mastered the previous work of A Brief Exercise in Theoretical Morphology writers like Sultan, whose work I mention By Richard F. Wheeler, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Rolf Movement® here, or Kevin Frank, whose work I do not. Practitioner (I owe much to Frank’s movement work for making me conscious of very primal During Dr. Rolf’s class in 1972 I took careful notes. Having recently learned calligraphy, movement patterns.) I wrote my notes in a freshly minted italic hand (see Figure 1). So once again my partial view is an invitation to conversation. What have I written that’s already a cliché? What am I missing? Where am I flat-out wrong? Where am I just one-sided? Are there alternative explanations for what I describe? Are there additional strategies that could come from these explanations? In sum, can our views reflect even more of the multiplicity of our biomechanics? Clearly, one paradigm is not enough. Bibliography American Museum of Natural History 2015. “Foot fossils of human relative illustrate evolutionary ‘messiness’ of bipedal walking: Study of Homo naledi suggests that new species walked upright and also climbed trees.” ScienceDaily. 10/6/ 2015. www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2015/10/151006131938.htm (retrieved 10/22/2015). Boblett, M. 2015 Nov. “The Three- Dimensional Foot Part 2: Evoking Pattern- Consistent Competency.” Structural Integration: The Journal of the Rolf Institute® 43(3):55-57. Boblett, M. 2014 Dec. “The Three- Dimensional Foot: The Role of the Toes and Metatarsals in a Typology of Transverse- Arch Rotations.” Structural Integration: The Journal of the Rolf Institute® 42(2):33-38. Dawkins, R. 2004. The Ancestor’s Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. New Figure 1: Page 2 from my calligraphed 1972 class notebook. Dr. Rolf was introducing York: Houghton Mifflin. her ideas about plasticity, gravity, and alignment.

Tattersall, I. 1993.The Human Odyssey: Four Rolf’s lectures began with a discussion of her proteins. Observing the physical chemistry Million Years of Human Evolution. New York: hypothesis about plasticity: that the basic of these proteins, Rolf asserted that they Prentice Hall. material substances that compose most could undergo a state change, from hard of anatomical structure are collagenous to soft, when simple pressure was applied to regions of hardened tissues. www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 31 THE HUMAN ANIMAL

Rolf went on to demonstrate how body Gravity is not the only force in our structure could be changed by direct environment. There are others – including manipulation. She showed us how to thermal radiation, nutrition, light, sound, make changes that were dramatic and and evolution. Rolf did not address these. immediately positive in nature, resulting In this paper I am looking at evolution in measurable improvements to a person’s as a force with strong thermodynamic breathing, posture, balance, and general and biochemical origins that affects our body functioning. As a biochemist, she physical structure through the mechanism based her investigations on physical of inheritance over deep time. principles of living systems and she argued The human form first evolved its amazing that, due to the existence of plasticity, it is complexity in water. Then we took a possible to create higher degrees of order circuitous evolutionary route through time and physiological functioning in the human spent by our primate ancestors in the trees, structural pattern. until we finally adapted to living on land. It Then she proceeded to discuss how was a long and arduous journey, and along gravity, as a very significant force field the way our ancient ancestors survived all in our environment, deeply influences that nature’s long-term process of natural human structural balance and movement selection could throw at them. (see Figures 2 and 3). From the perspective of deep time, therefore, as structural integration (SI) practitioners, when we touch the human body, we are putting our hands directly on the results of about 4.3 billion years of evolution. In addition to this, we have the far shorter, but still powerful, single lifetime perspective of each person’s individual growth, development, and personal history. The question I am going to explore in this article is, therefore, in the context of both deep time and personal history: what does it mean to say we are going to non- surgically ‘improve’ a person’s form? The Figure 3: This geometrically more explicit view of Rolf’s lateral line again places the idea of modeling or morphing the body majority of body weight behind the tops towards some improved or more ideal form, of the arches in the feet. (From Rolfing state, and function requires having a clear by Ida P. Rolf, PhD. Published by Healing idea of what the end result might look like. Arts Press. Reprinted with permission of Imagining the ideal morphological change publisher.) for any given body might look quite different for any given person. Rolf taught that is in trouble or disordered) and then her students a ‘Recipe’ for applying her watch as a greater level of order emerges ideas; however, it was never her idea that the naturally in the area I’ve just worked and, discipline of SI be defined by the application often, right around that area. As I observe of any specific technique, formula, recipe, or what new forms and functions emerge from algorithm. There are many different ways this intuitive process, I can take things to of creating changes that enable the body to their next level, and the next, and the next . . . . re-integrate and function differently. What Order is disorganized chaos, and as chaos does optimized functional and structural resolves – a consequence of putting energy integration look like? Rolf invoked gravity into an open thermodynamic system – as a framework for evaluating the results higher levels of order appear. I’m trusting Figure 2: In this view, Rolf’s lateral of her manipulative strategies, and she was the body’s ‘innate intelligence’ to reorganize line intersects the tip of the fibula. This very successful in objectively demonstrating itself, rather than attempting to impose my alignment places the majority of the an amazing range of results, both to clients idea of what it should look like. I figure I’m body’s weight behind the tops of the and to her students. not nearly as smart as my client’s own body! arches of the feet. (From Rolfing by In my SI practice, I use a method for Ida P. Rolf, PhD. Published by Healing La Brea Lessons introducing very positive change in form Arts Press, a division of Inner Traditions After completing my advanced training at International, 1989. All rights reserved. and function that works in an experimental the Rolf Institute® in 1980, I knew I was ready www.innertraditions.com. Reprinted with way. Briefly, I deliberately introduce for more anatomical study. But where? What permission of publisher.) ‘disorder’ (by pressing on tissue in an area

32 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL did I most want and need to learn that would One museum lesson that greatly impressed John Lodge, had ‘morphed’ the images so improve the quality of my work? me came from observing the museum staff’s as to emphasize the linear nature of the ability to quickly and accurately identify vertical lateral line. With her characteristic I initially thought that I wanted to learn any bone, or almost any bone fragment. The scientific integrity, Rolf had labeled each more about human osteology and needed staff had developed and refined this ability of these illustrations a ‘schema’ (i.e., a to work with human bones. Then, at a party while looking at, handling, and working in schematic), in order to emphasize that the in Los Angeles, I met an expert in non- the three-million-bones collection. It made images were not to be taken literally. human bones, paleontologist Dr. William sense to me that this sort of knowledge and ‘Bill’ Akersten, from the Page Museum (aka Jefferson’s keen observation raised a huge broadened kinesiological expertise would the ‘La Brea’ Tar Pits). We had a fascinating question in my mind that, for me, demanded lead to discovering new manipulation conversation at the end of which Bill invited an answer. If the shapes of the bones options. And sure enough, the lessons me to come to the museum’s lab for a weren’t ‘right’, then what would happen did translate. The longer I worked in look around. to the placement of the lateral line if the the museum lab and ossuary, the more shapes of the bones were ‘corrected’? All When I went to the lab for a visit, I my hands were intuitively finding new of the ‘Before’ and ‘After’ images from our discovered that I’d stumbled into a major, and interesting solutions to my Rolfing many Rolfing classes clearly show that we world-class fossil repository of more than clients’ issues. SI practitioners are really good at making three million ice-age bones that had been Unlike SI practitioners, paleontologists big visible differences in side views and trapped and perfectly preserved in thick work on non-living subjects. This means I, for one, had taken Rolf’s placement of and sticky liquid asphalt. The size of this they must erect a conceptual frame of the lateral line pretty much for granted immense collection more than doubled reference for the particular subject they’re as a literal frame of reference. Jefferson’s in 2006, with the addition of twenty-three studying, including finding the creature’s comment made me realize that I needed a large container-sized boxes of fossils, still closest living relatives but also giving much better grounding in bone morphology. embedded in asphalt, extracted from a local due consideration to existing research in And so I began a quest to understand more construction site that filled an entire square the fields of functional and theoretical about how the human form fits within the city block near downtown Los Angeles. morphology. Recent advances in all of predominant vertebrate pattern – and over The specimens in the Page Museum these fields have helped paleontologists a far longer period of time. collection represent a cross-section of and artists understand how to more southern California’s ecosystem during the accurately model the way ancient creatures Observations Pleistocene era (10,000-60,000 years ago) with different structures stood, balanced, Where to start? With something large and and include extinct big cats, mammoths, and moved. These advances have helped obvious! While comparing the various side horses, wolves, bison, giant sloths, rodents, transform the venerable T-Rex from a views of a mammoth, bison, wolf, horse, and birds, turtles, and more. tail-dragging giant swamp lizard into a other whole, mounted skeletons, I noticed splendid Jurassic Park jeep-chaser. Wow! that one of the biggest, most immediately At the Page Museum I had a lot of questions. observable, visual differences between Like many boys, I had been deeply into What kinds of morphological changes human bipeds and quadrupedal animals dinosaurs as a kid. I now had an epiphany: need to happen to transform any given are the ‘Z’ shapes of the animals’ legs (see I could be greatly enriched by comparing quadruped into a biped? How are we and Figure 4). The Z is much more explicit in what I knew of humans with other equally the quadrupeds alike and how are we quadrupeds and more implicit in human successful forms of life. After all, the forms dissimilar? What imaginary animal lies 50% bipeds, where it is greatly attenuated but still and functions of other vertebrate species of the way between our species’ patterns? definitely there as a visible design feature are, by definition, equally successful at and structural pattern, as in all vertebrates. living in gravity as humans are. Consider what might be learned by putting one’s hands on the many vertebrate bones This ‘aha! moment’ led to my spending the in a museum ossuary. And it’s not just next eighteen years working part-time at the that bones speak to us: the staff also had Page Museum, first as a research volunteer, more than a few very interesting and then as part-time paid staff, where I was relevant observations. One great example encouraged to pursue and publish original of this is the following story about the Page research on 1,000+ sabertoothed-cat skulls. Museum’s director, Dr. George Jefferson, (It’s astonishing to appreciate the relevance a highly respected paleontologist who of fondling sabertoothed-cat skulls to later became the first Associate State practicing Rolfing® SI on clients.) During Archeologist in Southern California’s Anza this time, I also learned classical scientific Borrego Desert State Park. illustration, was hired as a senior staff excavator, and ran the summer dig at the After a few months of working in the Figure 4: The North American horse has a tar pits for two years. I had a wonderful museum lab, I showed Rolf’s book to Z-shaped set of back legs. adventure learning about wildly different Jefferson. He looked at the illustrations and non-human anatomy and evolution, all of his immediate observation was, “Human The Z is a vertebrate animal’s adaptation which has deeply affected my work today bones aren’t shaped like that.” Startled, I that enables forward motion by functioning as an SI practitioner. realized that he was absolutely right. Rolf’s as a loaded spring. All the legs I found in illustrator, artist and Rolfing practitioner the museum, regardless of species, from

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 33 THE HUMAN ANIMAL mammoth to mouse, had this Z-shape in and massive, a significant structural are the biggest, most straightened-out, their structural pattern. They also exhibit adaptation for carrying weight. In contrast, graviportally adapted animals in the curved, or three-dimensional lengthwise standing human bipeds balance the weight museum, but they still retained a curved, complicated twists in their structure (see of their torso, shoulders, neck, and head structural twist and Z-shaped form in their Figure 5). Both the Z, and the twists, may be over their pelvic girdle and legs. legs. And so do humans. seen as gifts from our evolutionary history. The physical appearance of this unique Rolf did not address these subject areas The structural pattern of our limbs has been arrangement looks strikingly different from in her class. These two observations, the inherited and retained as the cumulative the side view of a quadruped. It is very presence of the Z and of lengthwise twists record of successful combinations of forces tempting for an artist, looking at a standing in all vertebrate leg bones, have led me to that got us here. person’s side view, to draw a pendulum- reformulate and refine Rolf’s model. straight line through the length of both the The human balances over a region of femur and tibia. However, the bones are not support in the arches of the feet. The straight, have no straight lines, flat planes, keystones of these arches, the navicular and right angles, cubes, or perfect spheres: cuboid bones, are located well forward of Euclidian forms are conspicuously absent the talus. The tops of the arches are very in the ossuary’s millions of bones, regardless efficient places to load weight. Evolution of species (Figure 6). has given humans a structural design that Origins of Form is congruent with this idea. However, the lateral line illustrations in Rolf’s book depict During the evolutionary transition from fish something different. to man, the fishes’ fins went through a large number of transitions. In deep time, the Figure 7 shows the illustration drawn by fins flexed, curved, and rotated, becoming Rolf’s illustrator, John Lodge. This image limbs that adapted to contact the ground has a perpendicular, straight line drawn and carry body weight as limbs. When our down through a bony midline in the tibia Figure 5: A symmetrically ‘exact’ pair proto-human ancestors made the transition to connect with the top of the talus, which is of North American horse humeri. No from quadruped to biped, their legs did located behind the top of the arches where Euclidean forms anywhere. (This mirror- straighten, somewhat. A paleontologist the navicular-cuboid bones perform their image pair was computer generated from would say that humans became more keystone function. a traditional pen-and-ink stippled original ‘graviportal’, i.e., adapted for weight illustration by Richard Wheeler.) bearing. Graviportal adaptations tend to straighten, shorten, and thicken the limbs. Also, I noticed that the center of gravity in The term that is the opposite of graviportal Spring quadrupedal animals is over their shoulder is ‘cursorial’, more adapted for running. Action girdle, which is located in front of their Cursorial adaptations tend to curve, extend, of whole pelvic girdle. The bones of the and lighten the limbs. All vertebrate animals Lateral Spring Action quadruped shoulder girdle are thickened are a mix of both characteristics. Mammoths Arch of Medial Arch

Figure 7: Note that the lower portion of the tibia is oriented vertically. This placement transmits body weight from the midline of the tibia to the talus. (From Rolfing by Ida P. Rolf, PhD. Published by Healing Arts Press. Reprinted with permission of publisher.)

This schematic arrangement in Figure 8 emphasizes bony compression in the system as a whole and, functionally speaking, ‘bottoms out’ the ‘springs’. When a spring is bottomed out, it is fully compressed with the coils jammed against each other so that there is no bounce, resilience, give, or springy function left. Imagine, for example, standing with your knees straight and then Figure 6: These sabertoothed-cat humeri all have twists and curves in their contours. having someone drop you from just one Photo by Richard Wheeler. inch above the ground. There would be 34 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL no bounce, no resilience. This shows how important our Z-structure is, despite the fact that this structural pattern is very much less obvious than that of our four-legged relatives. The same bottoming out would happen if human bones were actually lined up the way Rolf’s schemata portray them.

Top of Axis of Top of Lateral Arch Tibia Medial Arch

Figure 8: The dotted lines, copied from Rolf’s schema in Figure 7, trace the Figure 10: The tibia has been inclined weight-bearing paths of the lateral and slightly forward (by about four degrees) medial arches. Note that a vertical tibia and the femur is tipped back accordingly will preferentially feed weight to the back to create a flexed knee. This bony portion of the lateral arch. arrangement presents a normal set of A B osseous contours for attachment and Seen from evolution’s structural context, the relationship to the myofascial web. Rolf ‘Line’ would re-model the body’s whole Figure 9: In image A, we see leg bones front-to-back curve set and straighten it to aligned and subtly re-shaped with standing balance comes from inside an area, the degree that it arguably becomes too reference to a vertical straight line, traced not from any single point or line. Figure 11 straight. There is such a thing as being from Rolf’s Schema 9-1. (From Rolfing shows this area inside the intersection of too upright, too stable in gravity, and it by Ida P. Rolf, PhD. Published by Healing the two big circles. has consequences. Consider the amount Arts Press. Reprinted with permission of of push required to initiate movement publisher.) In image B, we see restored, in a big structure that is very columnar. unmodified bone contours; the bones float in a normal Z-shape within the In a world of Pleistocene creatures that myofascial web, just slightly behind the possess virtually immediate response central gravity line. This is the integrated times, a design with response-time lag alignment suggested by structural design built in seems to be challenged in terms of principles found in all vertebrate anatomy, survivability. Put another way, if you have optimizing balance in gravity. to get off balance before you can really start to move, then you are more likely to Consider the following chain of functional become lunch. logic. The center of gravity in vertebrate So I suggest that a reformulation of Rolf’s animals is in front of their hind legs. Humans frame of reference is in order, one that have inherited the same basic structural takes evolution’s contribution to our body’s pattern as vertebrate animals. Therefore, structural pattern more fully into account humans should have a significant portion (Figures 9 and 10). To do this we need to of their body weight balanced in front of place the Rolf model’s body weight forward, their leg bones. about 1.25” (about 3 cm.) over the top of Normal standing is a dynamic activity with the arches in the feet. A consequence of body weight swaying, drifting around, this is that the joints of the ankle and knee distributing and re-distributing over and are slightly flexed and the vertical line now Figure 11: Note that the navicular, through the tops of the arches. You can cuboid, and cuneiform bones function as passes through the psoas at the top of the observe this simply by slowly swaying in leg. This placement supports weight and keystones of their respective arches. The any direction as you stand. You will find loads the myofascial springs and enables intersection of the two large circles, the that you can be relaxed while standing up central third of the foot, is the area where immediate forward motion, dynamic and sway comfortably over a range of about body weight is best supported. (From action, and responsive movement, all while 1.25” (about 3 centimeters), or more, from Rolfing by Ida P. Rolf, PhD. Published being gravitationally stable and balanced. front to back. You can sway to distribute by Healing Arts Press. Reprinted with Flexed knees and floating bones are a part your relaxed weight over a large number of permission of publisher.) of our inherited structural norm. places in your knees and feet. Support for

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 35 THE HUMAN ANIMAL This re-visioning of the body’s lateral line ™ emphasizes inclusion of the mammalian Polyvagal Theory for Rolfers vertebrate model and offers us a view of anatomical structure that is focused towards The Human Animal Has Dynamic State Regulation understanding curvilinear construction. There is linear order in the body and it By Lina Hack, BSc, BA, Certified Rolfer, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner is curved. It is hard to know what Dr. Rolf would are at risk of dying because their heart This is a different norm, or frame-of- have said about polyvagal theory. I think rates are slowing down too much to reference, for understanding the optimal she would say that Rolfers need to know provide oxygen to the brain (neurogenic orientation of parts and/or the best about this wiring that governs the state bradycardia). relationship of functions when seeking regulation of the human animal. As to evaluate and improve a person’s level Both these things are true about the vagus Rolfers, our hands are making contact of SI. We can take the evolution of other nerve. In one context the vagus neural with the autonomic nervous system (ANS) species’ biomechanics into creative and signal is protective, an indicator of health, and our interventions are impacting pragmatic consideration when designing and in the other context the vagal neural the parasympathetic tone of the vagus and using manipulative protocols in our signal is potentially lethal: this is the vagal nerve. Dr. Stephen Porges has made a practice of SI. I invite our SI community to paradox. The vagus nerve is doing much great contribution to our understanding consider exploring what happens if we use more than ‘rest and digest’. of the human animal. His polyvagal our manipulative skill sets to morph body theory has important insights into how How can high tone in the vagus nerve form and function in the service of revealing we forge therapeutic relationships, how be an indicator of both health and a fatal and clarifying the structural pattern that we listen to client stories, and how to pathway? The answer to the vagal paradox relates most closely to our evolutionary discern the variations within our clients’ lies entirely in the comparison of the human roots in gravity. state regulation when they are receiving animal with other vertebrates and primitive Richard F. Wheeler is a Certified Advanced fascial manipulation. fish. Primitive fish had primitive heart Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner who muscles to circulate oxygen to all the cells The vagus is the tenth cranial nerve. It is a has been practicing since 1972. He had the of the organism. When faced with a survival body-brain connection and it participates privilege of studying with Dr. Rolf and, challenge, these ancient fish had adrenaline- in the organism’s evaluation of safety. over the years, has evolved tools and ideas producing cells that would release this The vagus nerve is the pathway of the to support the Rolf work, making it more arousal hormone to increase their heart parasympathetic nervous system; when the comfortable, efficient, and effective for clients rate. Getting oxygen to the muscles is the vagus is ‘on’, the person has a lower heart and practitioners alike. This article is an edited hallmark of the sympathetic arousal state, rate, a lower breath rate, and a biological excerpt from Richard’s forthcoming book about the physiological preparation for fight and/ focus on nutrient absorption – ‘rest and his career and his life. For more about Richard’s or flight. Yet all animals find this arousal digest’. Textbooks will typically speak of activities, please see www.tarpitboss.com and state very expensive; it uses up energy the parasympathetic state as the opposite www.gardenofparadise.net. reserves and it compromises restoration of the sympathetic nervous system – the processes. The only way primitive fish Author’s note: I would like to thank Norie ‘fight or flight’ response. Porges brings can lower their heart rate is by waiting for Huddle, Anne Hoff, and Max Leyf Treinen for our understanding of the vagus nerve into their cells to break down the adrenaline their exemplary editing skills, feedback, and the twenty-first century. It is out of date to molecule, a slow metabolic process. support in helping me with this article. define these two channels of the ANS as a teeter-totter where if one is ‘on’ then the The human vagus nerve and the reptilian other is ‘off’. The better description is that vagus nerve have solved this problem. The each has gradations on a continuum and, vagus nerve will override the sympathetic yes, the sympathetic nervous system and arousal by quickly slowing down the the parasympathetic nervous system can cardiovascular system and increasing both be ‘on’ at the same time. Let’s discuss digestive processes to replenish what was further why Porges says the human vagus spent by the stress state. Reptiles rely on nerve is not unitary, it is polyvagal. their vagus nerve to slow their heart down after fight-or-flight experiences. Reptiles Here is the paradox that he encountered also apply high vagal tone in response to when investigating the function of the a threat; they exhibit freeze behaviors and vagus nerve as a neurophysiologist: depend on their camouflage, accompanied • Healthy full-term infants have higher by a lower heart rate. Fish exercise their vagal tone (meaning more neural signal vagus nerve during threat by diving deeper traveling along the nerve) than preterm to avoid predators. Fish and reptiles can infants who have been stressed by afford to slow down their metabolism medical interventions. because their oxygen demands are low. • When babies are being born, those Humans, on the other hand, need to keep who have high vagal tone during birth their core at a constant warm temperature,

36 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL and humans also have the demanding task heart rate, low breath rate, and often a Bibliography of pumping 30% of their oxygen uphill to sudden drop in blood pressure. This is their metabolically expensive brains. The the neurology that leads some people to Porges, S.W. 2011. The Polyvagal Theory: human animal has a reptilian vagus: this is faint. Other people will simply be very Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, the dangerous one that can be lethal during still. A defining feature is that the person Attachment, Communication, and Self- birth. It originates in the dorsal aspect of will not exhibit facial gestures, no social Regulation. New York: W.W. Norton & the brainstem. This dorsal vagus leads to engagement will be possible, and the tone Company. an immobility state in humans in response of voice will be monotone – a constellation Porges, S.W. 1995 Jul. “Orienting in a to a threat, immobility with fear. Humans otherwise known as flat affect. Rolfers may Defensive World: Mammalian Modifications also have a second vagus nerve, the encounter clients who dip into and out of of Our Evolutionary Heritage. A Polyvagal mammalian vagus. This branch of the vagus the dorsal-vagal freeze state throughout Theory.” Psychophysiology 32(4):301-318. nerve originates in the ventral aspect of the a session, say while telling a story about brainstem. It is the ventral vagus only that is trauma, or they may be stuck in a dorsal Lina Hack is a Certified Rolfer in Saskatoon, the parasympathetic pathway responsible freeze state as part of their symptomology. Saskatchewan, Canada. She started out as a for the growth and restoration state. The biochemistry researcher before completing her It is the safe therapeutic presence of the ® ventral vagus also leads to immobility of the Rolf Institute training in 2004. Afterwards Rolfer that is the best response for all three human animal, but it is immobility without she was inspired to complete Dr. Peter Levine’s autonomic states. The dorsal-vagal freeze fear, immobility with a sense of safety. Somatic Experiencing training and rounded is delicate: this is an unconscious human that out with a full psychology degree from Rolfers need to be able to differentiate the animal reaction that may be associated the University of Saskatchewan. Along three autonomic states – the sympathetic with a lot of fear and shame. It is important with her Rolfing practice, she lectures about and the two parasympathetic states – to to normalize this response as a natural neuropsychology topics. really understand the client experience. biological state that is temporary. If the Sympathetic arousal is easy to spot: the client exhibits immobility with fear as part muscles of the person are contracted, the of his trauma story, we can let him know breathing rate is rapid, and defensive that his human animal was doing the best behaviors like facial grimaces are visible. it could under the circumstances, and that We may see sympathetic arousal in our freezing is often a good choice for survival. If clients for brief moments, perhaps as the client exhibits an immobility response as they tell their story, or, they may live a reaction to a fascial intervention we have in sympathetic arousal as a part of the made, then we know he will not be able to symptomology they bring to the session. communicate clearly about his personal Ventral-vagal parasympathetic state is also boundaries. Ideally in Rolfing® Structural easy to see in our clients. In the brainstem, Integration sessions, clients will oscillate the ventral-vagal complex is adjacent to the between ventral-vagal and sympathetic neural origins of nerves that govern facial arousal as part of the biological mechanism gestures, sound sensitivity, and prosody integrating the fascial manipulation. A (tone of voice). When the human animal dorsal-vagal state should be considered a is dominated by ventral-vagal neural tone, stop sign to the practitioner, a teachable In Memoriam the face is animated, especially the muscles moment, and a sacred stillness to be Structural Integration: The Journal of around the eyes. This rest-and-digest state honored like a newborn child. the Rolf Institute® notes the passing is synonymous with more melody in tone of During every Rolfing session there are at of the following member of our voice, easy discernment of human voices by least two nervous systems in the room, community: the ear, and the person will exhibit a wide and it is the nervous-system state of the range of social-engagement behaviours to George J. Smyth, practitioner that can lead to the best express himself. Certified Advanced Rolfer™ intervention for the state of the client. It is knowing about the lesser-known We want our ventral vagus to shine for parasympathetic state, the dorsal-vagal our clients: our faces to be animated state described by polyvagal theory, that with emotion and care, our voices to will benefit every Rolfer. The neurology communicate trust and security, and our of the dorsal vagus becomes the dominant heart rhythms to be restful and dynamic. state of the human animal when all other When we make compassionate eye contact autonomic states have failed: social bonds with our clients, we are impacting their did not resolve a threat and fight or flight autonomic nervous system, hopefully did not resolve a threat. The old reptilian inspiring an unconscious state regulation pathway is the last resort and is applied towards rest and digest. When we touch when the individual perceives life threat the fascial system, we are also feeling the of the highest order. The person will intricacies of the polyvagal system. experience an unconscious behavioral freeze state: immobility of the limbs, low

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to explore this.] You don’t have to tell The Reptile and me in inches, but let me know if you feel too long, too short, or just right. Many people will be able to talk about their the Mammal Within perceived felt sense of their trunks, but some people will need more explanation. Imagery for Mindful Breathing Most people overthink this part and look for By Barbara Drummond, Certified Rolfer™ some kind of problem. It’s wonderful if they say with surprise, “My legs feel really far Three and a half billion years ago, life humans include both respiratory systems. away,” or “Wow – there is nothing between began in the oceans. A pond scum called Snakes breathe (and at times digest) with my nipples and my hips” (these are actual cyanobacteria started to capture energy their intercostal muscles – which, like ours, client comments). from the sun and spit out oxygen. Then, are enervated by the individual nerve from I tell them something like: 1.85 billion years ago, oxygen levels that spinal level. In humans, the diaphragm were high enough to cause an increase is our primary muscle of respiration. It People frequently have these types of of several magnitudes of complexity in has two enervations: motor function is sensations, but have never noticed living organisms. Eventually the ‘Cambrian supplied by the phrenic nerve, originating them because nobody has ever asked explosion’ occurred, where oxygen became at C4, and sensory enervation comes from them. Now that you know about these so plentiful it led to the development of fish, cranial nerve 10, our friend the vagus. The sensations, they are easy to feel and to reptiles, birds, amphibians, mammals, and vagus nerve has more than one origin, the change. The only way a body knows how eventually humans. dorsal motor nucleus (the reptile one) and the to move is from the sensory feedback nucleus ambiguous (the mammalian one). it receives from its muscles, tendons, Mammals developed structures to take ligaments, and joints. This type of advantage of the increased oxygen, and What does this mean? If someone breathes unusual sensory information will we can help our clients take advantage of primarily with his intercostals and accessory influence how the body moves, and this those structures. Some researchers believe muscles, he breathes like a snake. Breathing is very likely one cause of your problem that our emotions are a byproduct of all like a snake, you won’t have much energy, at your [insert body part]. the equipment we needed on our journey and you can’t supply your body with the from reptiles to mammals. Our mammalian oxygen needed to move or feel, so emotions Before we go about adjusting these hypothalamus makes a good case for will be blunted Some either binge or forget sensations, let’s look at your depth and that argument. In mammals, it has seven to eat. Breathing like a snake, you will width. Are you too shallow, too deep, functions: emotions, autonomic control, have trouble regulating your temperature. or just right? Are you too wide, too thirst, food, endocrine function, sleep, and Doesn’t this sound like depression? And narrow, or just right? temperature regulation. Reptiles do have a since the mechanism of respiration is one This exploration gets clients really engaged hypothalamus, but it is primarily concerned evolutionary difference between reptiles and curious about perception, and, for most, with mating and territoriality. and mammals, shouldn’t breathing well – it’s a completely new way to pay attention. I in a mammalian way – potentially have a Let’s talk about snakes. Snakes don’t smile. teach pelvic rolls if the client feels he is too beneficial impact on mood? They lay eggs and leave them. They don’t long – that gets proprioception through hunt in packs. They don’t play. They are Towards that end, my First-Hour sessions his hip joints and helps him feel his ‘push’. either binging or starving – one rat and of the Ten Series always include mindfulness If he feels too short, I use SARA (sacral they are good for several weeks. They sleep regarding breath. Recently, I have added ambulatory and respiratory axes; see much of the time. They have no legs (but a piece about our ‘container’, and it goes Drummond 2014). If he feels too narrow or some species do have rudimentary ilia that something like this: too wide, I continue on with my old faithful present as appendages that male snakes use tool from Mary Bond’s book, Balancing Your diaphragm is your primary to grab females during mating). They have Your Body, some variation on the Structural breathing muscle. It attaches at the only one functional lung and no diaphragm. Breathing Awareness script (Bond 1993, 34- back of your body around L1 [I put Snakes are cold-blooded; this means they 36). For someone who feels too wide, I will my hand there for reference] and also are primarily parasympathetic in nature, also stand at the head of the supine client, attaches to the lower ribs. When you slow to move and digest. They have to place one hand on each serratus anterior, breathe, the diaphragm drops, and the disable their parasympathetic nervous and compress during ‘inhale’ and ‘exhale’. rib cage expands three-dimensionally systems and ramp up their sympathetic [with the client supine: head to toe, After applying various tools, we go back systems to hunt and mate. They don’t have ceiling to floor, and wall to wall]. And and see what the client’s perception of as much ‘equipment’ to maintain because the sensation of air in your body goes all his body is like now, and frequently this temperature control is ‘outsourced’ to the the way from your nose to your pelvic has changed. environment. Mammals have ‘insourced’ floor [once again, I use touch to draw temperature control, so they must have To quote Ida Rolf (1989, 27), “We seek to attention towards those places in the insulation and eat regularly, and are capable create a whole that is greater than the sum client’s body]. Can you, with your eyes of massive amounts of metabolic output. of its parts. We are searching for a method closed, feel the distance from your nose to foster the emergence of a man who can Despite the fact that the evolutionary gulf to your pelvic floor? [I give some time enjoy a human use of his human being.” between reptiles and mammals is huge, 38 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL

One of the ways Rolfers can support this in Oak Park, Illinois. She also incorporates Drummond, B. 2014 Jun. “The Center process is to understand the biomechanics, her Hakomi training and an interest in of Rolfing SI.” Structural Integration: The evolution, enervation, and significance of developmental neurology into her work. Journal of the Rolf Institute® 42(1):43-44. diaphragmatic breathing, and tools for Rolf, I. 1989. Rolfing. Rochester, Vermont: its transformation. Bibliography Healing Arts Press. Barbara Drummond is a physical therapist and Bond, M. 1993. Balancing Your Body. a Certified Advanced Rolfer working and living Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press.

body as being continuous with the larger The Long Body environment. It’s an old way to look at the body and it’s also kind of a new way to look An Interview with Frank Forencich at the body.

By Frank Forencich and Brooke Thomas, Certified Rolfer™ BT: Yeah, and you mentioned that our perception of the human body as these Editor’s Note: This interview with Frank Forencich was originally done for one of Brooke Thomas’s isolated units can be a dangerous illusion. Liberated Body (www.liberatedbody.com) podcasts and is shared here with their kind permission. Why dangerous? If you would prefer to listen to this interview, a recording is available at www.liberatedbody.com/ FF: It’s dangerous because it ignores our frank-forencich-lbp-041/. history and it doesn’t take into account the subtleties and the complexities of an Brooke Thomas: Today I am having a organism that’s living in context, in an conversation with Frank Forencich about environment. The science now is starting to the ‘long body’. I’m quoting Frank here: really show us the extent of that continuity. “Our perception of the human body as a To give you the full picture, I want to go singular, isolated unit, strong as it may back a little bit in evolution and the idea be, is actually an illusion and a dangerous that the body has a history and that we co- one at that. In actual fact, we are massively evolve with these habitats over the course interconnected with the biological and of many millions of years. The body would social world around us, and it’s not be adapted and highly tuned to these altogether clear where the human body environments that we live in. One question begins and ends. Thinking of ourselves as that I always pose to audiences, when we’re individuals is a pivotal blunder, a profound talking about these types of themes, is biological and psychosocial misconception” “Why do you have a nervous system? What (Forencich 2015). does your nervous system do?” The short Since this podcast is dedicated to the human Frank Forencich answer that always comes up, is the reason body and, in particular, [looking] through you have a nervous system is so that you a lens of a whole and unified human can regulate your own body. That’s true and body, I was so grateful to talk with Frank that sounds right. It’s fantastically effective about expanding this sense of holism to at doing that, but the nervous system has understanding how we are interconnected other functions as well. They have to do not just within our individual bodies, with learning, and for human beings in but also with our world and with our particular, the purpose of the nervous environment. Thank you so much Frank system is to learn habitat and to learn our for talking with all of us today. social environment as well. Frank Forencich: It’s great to be here. We have this incredible sensitivity to the land, to habitat, to plants, to animals, to BT: You shared with me recently about weather, to natural sensation, and we the ‘long body’ (Forencich 2015). Can you have also this incredible sensitivity to one describe what that means and where it another. In other words, the nervous system comes from? is all about helping us learn our life-support FF: Right. This is kind of a rarely talked Brooke Thomas systems: the ecological ones, and the tribal about Native American term, and my ones. This is why we have a nervous system. understanding of the term is that it refers this seems to be not just a Native American If we ignore the life-support systems of to the individual human body plus the life idea – it seems to come up again and again habitat and tribe, then we look at the body support systems around us. It’s a much in native or indigenous cultures. They don’t in isolation and we miss so much of what bigger conception of the human body than make such a distinction between the body the body is actually doing in the world. we normally have in Western culture, and and the larger environment. They see the That’s why I think it’s a dangerous thing.

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The other way to approach this is that the BB: I was listening to a radio show on I want to walk you through it a little bit. body really is not as singular and unitary Love + Radio (2014) about the first group When we have a face-to-face conversation as it would appear. If you look at evolution of people who are going to go to colonize with somebody, we don’t just hear the and the vast scope of evolution, you start Mars, and in the show they were talking content of their words, we’re continuously to see that evolution adds on component with this woman who is in the running scanning their bodies and their facial parts to organisms. It adds on elements with five hundred other people to train as expressions for emotional content. This is over time, and it starts with simple forms an astronaut and go. It’s a one-way trip. You very subtle and very sophisticated, so when and then creates hybrids of new elements go, you don’t come back. I was preparing for I look at your body and I look at your facial and keeps adding on pieces, which gives the interview and thinking about your work expressions, I’ve a set of mirror neurons it more complex functions. Now you get as I was listening to it. I thought, it’s funny, in my brain that are starting to register these complex organisms that people now because they were talking about what your intent and your movements and your are starting to call ‘kludges’. This is a really they’re going to be facing in a habitat that posture. These mirror neurons have kind of interesting word. It comes from the world of is really completely alien for our species a dual function, because they also respond to technology and engineering and it refers to (gravity forces are completely different other people’s movements and intention. The devices or structures or inventions that have and all that kind of thing), and what you mirror-neuron system allows me to perform components that are added on to [them] to were talking about is that here on Earth, we a simulation in my own mind and my own give new functions. It turns out the body experience plenty of that too – this radically body of what you are experiencing in yours. works that way as well and what we’ve alien environment in the last hundred or It’s not just in the cortex of my brain, because done over the course of millions – tens, so years compared to what our species the mirror-neuron system feeds down into hundreds of millions – of years is add on has been up to most of the time it’s been my limbic system, into the center of my these different components. The body, in kicking around. brain, the emotional centers of my brain, fact, is a kludge. Our goal in health is to and it also goes down into my abdomen FF: Right. The magnitude of that change integrate all those component parts, and via the vagus nerve – down into my guts. – I think a lot of people don’t realize just part of that is to bring in our relationship Now I can have a felt sensation of what you how drastically we’ve changed our living with the natural world and with the tribe. are experiencing in your body. This is what conditions over, say, the last hundred years. Dr. Daniel Siegel (Rose 2010-2011) calls the BT: You wrote (Forencich 2015),“We I read a piece recently in New Scientist ‘resonance circuit’. It’s beautiful because it literally integrate habitat and people magazine where they tabulated the amount means that when we have a conversation, into our brains, and we use terms all the of time people now spend indoors, and they your movements and your emotional state time like ‘toxic people’ or ‘toxic work figured the average human lifespan now give a lot more meaning to the content of environment’ or things like that. These runs something like seventy-eight years our conversation. This is all the nonverbal situations or people can create certain kinds or thereabouts and of that seventy-eight stuff that I pick up, and it’s vital for having of sickness in us too.” years, we supposedly spend some seventy a complete understanding of another person. years indoors. FF: Right. It really helps to appreciate how Now, what we’ve done with our electronic alien the modern environment is to us now. BT: Wow. technology is we basically eliminated the It depends what reference points you want FF: That’s an astonishing number from body from the process; and now, especially to use, but a lot of people say the human my point of view, because that in itself is a with something like texting, all we see are body, in its current form, is roughly six radical divergence from our evolution. Even the fragments of information. These things million years old. That was the last major just knowing that, you would assume that are disembodied, and we eliminate the branching point in evolution where one the nervous system now is reaching out for resonant circuit, we eliminate the mirror- branch went to the chimpanzees and the sensation that it is tuned for – outdoors, neuron system, we eliminate our guts. All bonobos and the other branch went to the natural sensitization. A lot of us appreciate our physicality now is gone, and we use hominids and humans. If our body is six this distinction between indoor and outdoor just a tiny fragment of our capability to million years old, 99.9% of that time has been living, and a lot of people, especially Richard understand the other person. This is why spent in wild outdoor ancestral conditions. Louv (2012), have pointed out that we have these devices are so dangerous. This is why That was our ancestral environment, and ‘nature deficit disorder’ now; we just aren’t we have so many misunderstandings with it makes sense to know that our bodies having enough outdoor time in nature. each other now, and it doesn’t look good. are tuned to those conditions. It’s only The trajectory of this is not good – because in the last few hundred years that we’ve The other part of this picture is the fact it’s safe to assume, as most athletes know, drastically, radically changed the nature of that we’ve radically reworked our social that the body is basically a ‘use it or lose our environment, and it’s true to say that we environment as well. Here you’ve got to it’ [system]. We are very plastic organisms, now live in an alien environment. Some of go back in history to appreciate ancestral and it’s safe to assume that the resonance us manage to adapt pretty well to that alien conditions when people lived in tribes and circuit is also a plastic, or a use-it-or-lose- environment but a lot of us don’t, and this bands and clans, and this was our ancestral it, system. When we use these electronic is something that we have to come to grips social environment and this is the norm. devices compulsively and continuously with now – because our body is not adapted This is the status quo for human beings to throughout the day, the resonance circuit to this alien environment by and large, and live in these small bands or tribes of people. begins to atrophy. what we see with all these lifestyle diseases Our bodies are tuned for this, our social now is a reaction to that predicament of behavior comes from and through the body. Now, it becomes harder and harder to have living in the modern age. Our social behavior is profoundly physical meaningful interactions with other people, and the subtlety here is astonishing.

40 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL and this creates an alien social environment. response in a way that’s not adaptive, it’s culture that make it a short culture versus These two conditions now are really not normal, and it’s not something that the a long culture? catastrophic for human health, because body does very well with. The thing you FF: I’m sure a lot of this came into being we eliminate nature by living indoors and hear all the time is, “I’m pumping cortisol, with the scientific revolution and starting then we eliminate authentic face-to-face I’m pumping adrenaline, and I’m doing it to look at pieces and fragments of different interactions with other people. So now we all the time.” We’ve taken this acute thing phenomena. We found that we could gain are literally out of touch with our two main and turned it into something chronic – and power and control if we looked at one life-support systems. This creates all sorts that, of course, most people now know that thing at a time, studied one object at a time. of potential health problems beginning that’s damaging for tissue throughout the There’s a lot to be said for looking at things with the mind and the spirit, because we body, not just cardiovascular tissue but also in isolation. You can wield power and start to feel this anxiety and this sense of [the] nervous system and, in turn, it changes control, but not everybody does it in this isolation – this sense of disconnect with our our cognition and our relationships with the way, and most obviously Eastern cultures environment. It’s no wonder that we feel so world around us. tend to look at things in a more integrated much stress. It’s no wonder that we feel so BT: Yeah, I remember in college I read that way. There’s a really great example of this much unhappiness. It’s time to take a good book Nisa (Shostak 1981) that was about coming from a book called Crazy Like Us by hard look at what we’re doing in creating the !Kung warrior tribe, one of the last Ethan Watters (2010). What he does is look this alien environment and, in many ways, hunter-gatherer tribes out in the Kalahari at the prevalence of mental illness around making it worse with every passing day and Desert. I don’t know if you’ve ever read the world. One story he tells is about the each new technology that we add to the mix it, but I remember when I picked up the tsunami that happened in Indonesia, 2004 I which further distances us from nature and book, I was like, oh, this is going to be kind believe. Of course many people were killed, from each other. A lot of people are using of depressing. Like I thought it would be a a lot of people were displaced; it was just this this phrase ‘rewilding’ – it’s time really to depressing story about having to hunt and tremendous tragedy. And a lot of Western- take a step back and to really examine what gather for your food and a not particularly trained psychologists and psychotherapists we’re doing and the role of the body and the hospitable environment in the Kalahari. went to Indonesia in the aftermath to help consequences for human health. Because And I finished the book and I was, like, out, to help treat some of these people. This what we’re doing is basically designing our that is a good gig, because it was without was a tremendous culture clash because they bodies into a sense of isolation. chronic stress. So there would be times of went in with this expectation that people BT: When you speak about consequences, hunger and having to dig for roots to get would have PTSD, that they would have a I know you talked about all of these any kind of water and that kind of thing, certain set of symptoms, and that they would dislocating things – that we’re dislocated but it was a lot of making instruments respond to this methodology that focused from nature and our habitat, dislocated from gourds and lots of having sex in the exclusively on individuals. It turned out it from tribe and normal social interactions afternoon and napping. I was, like, I’m into didn’t really work, because people had an – you describe it as a spiritual and health that, that sounds great. unexpected reaction. Instead of talking about catastrophe. Can you talk more about what themselves as individuals with particular FF: It’s easy to romanticize the paleo, and you see are some of the downstream effects symptoms, they talked primarily about webs I don’t want to go too far with that, but a or consequences of that? of social relationships that were disrupted. lot of anthropologists have described that This was a tremendous culture clash. The FF: The most obvious thing is stress. This time. They said these primal people were Western therapy approach to treating a has changed radically since paleo times. the original affluent society because these person with PTSD didn’t really work. That’s If you think about life in an ancestral people didn’t have much in the way of an example where our culture really makes environment, our ancestors did experience possessions or what we would think of a difference, and what works in one place stress and they had a very ancient stress as wealth, but they had a lot of free time. may not work somewhere else. I think, as system in their bodies to help them deal In fact, the very notion of time itself has Westerners, we would do well to keep that with this. Of course, the types of stresses changed. In a paleo environment, time in mind and keep a bigger picture; focus on that they encountered most typically, most was always seen as something circular or the individual isn’t the only way to do it. classically, would be encounters with wild something flowing, something connected to animals. Specifically predators would the seasons and the environment. But now BT: What are some ways that we can maybe attack them from time to time, and their we see time as a resource, a commodity. We practice ‘long’ health and ‘long’ fitness and stresses would have been acute but not take a linear view of time, and that in itself take a different view in our lives? chronic. You’re attacked by a wild animal is a tremendous stressor. Time is always FF: The standard advice here, and we for minutes or maybe hours, but then if getting away from us and, if nothing else, hear it more and more coming from a lot you survive that encounter, you wait it that would be a good place to focus our of different directions, and it’s the simplest out, you go back to camp, and now your attention right now. thing, is to go outside. But more than that, stress response returns to normal. In a BT: Yeah, for sure. You’ve touched on a to slow down in our habitat. We see a paleo environment, your stress response lot of these things, but since you’re talking lot of fitness people now doing outdoor would have been acute but not chronic. about this concept of the long body, you adventurer things and using nature as if What we have in the modern world now is write that we live in a ‘short’ culture and it were a tool for them. That’s all fine and the inverse of this, because now most of us culture is one of those things – it’s really good, but I think we can do better than are facing chronic stress that never really hard to see our own cultural biases. Can you that. We could take more of a John Muir- seems to go away and we’re firing our stress describe some of the other features of our type of experience in the wild, where we

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 41 THE HUMAN ANIMAL actually learn our habitats and put our Shostak, M. 1981. Nisa: The Life and Words of Watters, E. 2010. Crazy Like Us: The bodies in direct communication with them. a !Kung Woman. New York: Vintage Books. Globalization of the American Psyche. New But you’ve got to slow down to make that York: Free Press / Simon & Schuster. happen. The other part of it is paying more attention to face-to-face contact with other people. That’s the gold standard for human relationships. So put down the phone, turn off the phone, turn off the electronics. Those Turning Our Lens Inward are the two most important things that I can say right off. Acknowledging the Animal Under Our Suit

BT: Yeah, that’s beautiful. Really good By Norman Holler, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ advice. Thank you very much. I’m really grateful for your time and for all the work The unexamined life is not Overview that you’re doing worth living. Each of us shows up in the world with two Frank Forencich is an internationally recognized Socrates aspects. Our physical presence, the primate expert on health and human performance. As species Homo sapiens, which we will call an engaging speaker and movement teacher, Introduction our Human Animal, and our non-physical he brings a unique perspective to the human Well, here we are folks, in this crazy little presence in the world that expresses itself predicament and offers practical solutions for thing called Humanity. It could have been through the medium of the Animal that it some of the most pressing problems of our different. The current über species could emerges from. We will, for this argument, call age. He earned his BA at Stanford University have (with a different twist of fate) been that our Human aspect. In this consideration, in human biology and neuroscience and has more reptilian. Yes, 65 million years of our Human aspect and our Human Animal over thirty years teaching experience in health dinosaur evolution could have altered have a common middle ground of the brain/ education and performance training. Frank has the life-scape so much that our particular mind. Neuroscientists might argue that traveled to Africa on several occasions to study primate species might never have had there is no such thing as a mind, and that human origins and the ancestral environment. an opportunity to develop a prehensile consciousness is derived solely from the He is a regular contributor to Paleo Magazine, anything. Those 65 million years leave lots chemical soup of the brain, and that the mind and in 2012 was named by Experience Life of room for innumerable possibilities. We is a creation of fiction. Some philosophers magazine as one of “five visionaries leading the just happen to be the one that is, as opposed will argue that the mind is a non-physical charge to better health, and a healthier world.” to one that isn’t. phenomenon of reason drawn from the He is the author of several books including interconnectivity of recognitions, pattern In the ‘spirit’ (we’ll come back to that term Change Your Body, Change the World; associations, and remembrances of the brain. later) of self-examination, espoused by Stresscraft; and Beautiful Practice. His For this conversation, we will use the brain/ Socrates, it might be wise to engage in a website is www.exuberantanimal.com. mind as our model. practice where we look at ourselves from a Brooke Thomas is a Certified Rolfer in practice big-picture perspective and work our way If we step back from the individual Human, in New Haven, Conneticut. She is also the towards the minutiae. Even though the with its Human Animal as its ‘carrier creator of the Liberated Body Podcast, a show minutiae may appear trivial, they’re not. creature’, we have come to term the collective that interviews somatic thought leaders in of all Humans as Humanity. Humanity’s I encourage this assessment because interdisciplinary conversations about the physical presence could rightly be referred we, as Rolfers, are in a unique position wondrous human body. to as Humanity Animal. Everything that has to literally reshape the physical human been physically made or changed outside Bibliography forms of those who see us for work. This of each individual Human form (through hopefully, translates into the way they Forencich, F. 2015. Personal communication. intention, negligence, or accident), plus the perceive themselves and consciously or ideas, beliefs and customs that we generate, Louv, R. 2012. The Nature Principle: unconsciously take that self-image / sense creates the cultural milieu/map that forms Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age. of self into the larger arena of Humanity. our social worldview. However, while there Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Algonquin Perhaps you hadn’t thought of that. But are obviously not seven billion distinct and Books. if you accept the axiom that everything is autonomous cultural worldviews, there connected to everything, then what we do Love + Radio, 2014. “Hostile Planet,” are many features common to almost all of in our work is worthy of looking at with 5/13/2014. http://loveandradio.org/2014/05/ us. Cultural rituals around death, mating, respect to our potential impact on how hostile-planet/. money, nation states, or even language, etc., Humanity shows up in the world. did not come as part of the Human package Rose, I. 2010-2011. “Resonance Circuits, Speaking of perspectives, it is worth when Homo sapiens broke away from the Mirror Neurons, and Mindfulness.” considering that if you change your common primate tree. They were essentially Available at http://tinyurl.com/otqbgt2. perspective, you have the opportunity to invented, for better or worse, to provide for (retrieved 11/22/2015). change your perception. perceived needs or as strategic social wedges Siegel, D. 2010. Mindsight: The New Science of that offered perceived advantages to some What follows are perceptions that might Personal Transformation. New York: Bantam over others. While we, as Rolfers, may not be held as valid by some and considered Books. be the catalyst for constitutional changes novel by others. 42 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL in Humanity’s way of being that beliefs Human Animal’s mode of communication to be physically configured as we are, around theism or atheism have had, there through its brain/mind matrix and being bipedal, having our large brain, exists a possibility that we can inspire an hormonal influence can be initiated and our skull and face shaped as they are, early pulse wave of awareness around the enhanced. Turning our awareness inwards our species could develop audible forms possibility of a much more cohesive version towards our physiological and animal-trait of communication with others. Perhaps of Humanity based upon a broader spectrum characteristics, supported by public and 100,000 years ago, we developed a nascent of understanding of ourselves. A feature social education, could translate into a form of spoken language. It was a necessary awareness that we can encourage is that positive paradigm shift in the way we relate requirement for Homo sapiens and our close we are always in a flux between our ‘inner’ to and care for ourselves, others, and the genetic cousins to move into new areas and ‘outer’ world perception of experiences. ecosystems that we are part of. of the planet. The (Human) race began in earnest with that adaptation. The Human Animal Consider this: at our roots, our Animal’s objectives are to reproduce and stay alive. We talk, talk, talk. We tell stories. We tell When thinking of our Human Animal, some Because we are a social species, we require informational stories that help us to survive of us might at first have some resistance to some level of community with its sharing and understand, and fictional stories that the description, but tentatively surrender and territorial implications. Reproduction, range from creation myths to fairy tales into saying, “Well, we all walk around in basic life maintenance, and minimal social to rules around global economic systems. one.” That might feel agreeable, but in structure can keep the species going, but Because we talk and (hopefully) listen, the concepts presented here, ‘we’ refers that leaves us with just existing without we invest a lot of our energy resources to the person that we are, the Human promise of flourishing. When the trappings into making sense of the abstractions of aspect, that has no physical presence, but of modern Humans are in jeopardy, be words. Word concepts like, “You are this emerges from the brain/mind matrix of our it personal threat, catastrophic climate kind of person [male, female, LBGTQ, of a Human Animal. Yes, this pluralistic model warming, or the crumbling of civilization certain race, economic status, educational of the Human Being runs counter to the and the technological infrastructures that background, family of origin, politics . . . ]” monistic body-mind-spirit-as-one model support it, our Human Animal will tend tend to become foreground in our that is currently in vogue, but pluralism is to revert towards its default settings and worldview. At least until our personal safety nonetheless valuable for the purposes of jettison parts or all of our ideas of who we or economic wherewithal is threatened. self-examination. are as a person with a name and a story. The above perspectives of our Human There is a long, long story of our genetic Our Human Aspect Animal and our Human (non-physical) evolution that is worthy of study and being aspect hopefully give some measure of knowledgeable about. However, getting a Much can be said about what it means to philosophical credence to the concept of the good grasp of at least the short story of what be human, by much more learned minds dichotomy of our being. Yes we are one and our Human Animal and Human aspects than this scribbler can offer, but I hope my yes we are multidimensional. are, with their potentials and limitations, is, humble offering affords some measure of I hope that you will agree, a fundamental reasonable perspective. Human Spirit, obligation for all Humans to pursue. We come into the world at birth, and almost a Contingent Phenomenon Knowing and understanding the from moment one our Human Animal takes I see the term ‘spirit’, and I find myself physiological and biomechanical needs in sights and sounds, smells and touch, and responding with discomfort. Spirit, like of our Human Animal should, without a tries to make sense of what is going on and ‘love’, is an abstract term. We can’t put doubt, be integrated into the fabric of public how it fits into this new environment. We spirit on a table or hold it in our hands, educational systems and child-rearing have a genetic framework for part of our we can only perceive its product. With practices at a global level. For our part, personality, but we are soon given a name love, the product is care and recognition. we can add important dimensions to our which becomes the overlaid foundation for With Humanity, the product is everything client’s understanding of being more than a us to assume and create our social identity. that has changed the way the world is as a person attached to a body. Actually, the term From moment one, we tend to always look result of our ingenuity, our negligence, our ‘body’ limits our perception of what we are. out into the world of people, see ourselves apathy, and our greed. We have impacted The term body would be better utilized if it as another of the people, and rarely, if ever, the physical world to such an extent that were more confined as a map of our Animal look inward. we are now considered by some to be a systems and components. Body is a static Our Human Animal continually senses theoretical force of nature that is causing term. Animal implies a dynamic relationship. physical and social information, with the negative chemical changes to the air, land, We have two-way relationships with many emphasis being on the social, whether and oceans that support us. If you haven’t domesticated animals, like cats, dogs, horses, it be family or beyond, because there is heard the term before, get ready to become even birds. We perceive/interpret many no survival without social connections familiar with the ‘Anthropocene’ era. of their personalities and characteristics, immediately post-birth and into early and if there is enough familiarity, we The term spirit is often hijacked by those childhood. Meanwhile, in this model, the can develop a level of communication. who want to associate it with something mind (as nebulous as it is) forms its capacity If we turn our attention inward, pay metaphysical. Perhaps there is, or perhaps to reason and understand derived from attention, be patient, it is conceivable that there isn’t, a supernatural force that has the neural capacity of our Animal’s brain/ a nuanced level of communication between an influence on our way of being. The mind matrix to recognize patterns and our reasoning Human mind and our probability of a metaphysical deity being make associations. Because we evolved an invention of thought, more than a

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 43 THE HUMAN ANIMAL comprehensible reality, is more in line with breath is to our body. Most of us, it appears, ourselves resisting saying, or even thinking, our present cognitive abilities. are not seen with deserving depth – not seen those few words. Bringing our Animal into as a whole being with a past, stories, beliefs, our foreground thoughts, consistently, is The words we speak, the work that we do, or the circumstances of our physical being. unfamiliar cultural territory at this time our values, our morals, the way we mate (or One level of this is ‘projection’, which is – even for those of us who interact with don’t, and with whom), and everything else an invalid experience of another, whether bodies, with Animals, all day in our Rolfing® about our expression (spirit) is contingent it’s objectifying a woman as a sex object, Structural Integration practices. When you on a vast array of circumstances. While our dehumanizing a workforce to a commodity, work, do you take time to acknowledge expression of self may not differ radically or looking at another and stopping at the that there’s an Animal under your hands? from one day to the next (for most of us), name, face, and cultural costume – the Do you recognize yourself as an Animal? it can appear differently to some degree Person – giving little thought to how this Besides speaking to your Animal, speak to due to chemical fluctuations related to whole being impacts the physical world, the Animal of the Person you work with, nourishments or intoxicants, interpersonal for better or worse. help your clients to acknowledge that they situations, beliefs that are either supported too emerge from a dynamic Animal instead or challenged, age, past experiences, and Our Person’s very ability and willingness to of an anatomical body. more factors than can be listed. create and consider concepts is dependent on the level of awareness, integration, and Another way to start is, through focused If we were to support a common unifying capacity of the mind-matrix from where awareness, to step into your feet and walk feature in our way of being, could we agree we initially form – this is the realm of our around in your Animal every day. Try it as a that we would consciously strive to nourish Animal, which is the apparatus of our personal practice. Go for a walk. Take your our Animal, work with it to be strong and expression and experience. A truly authentic thoughts for a walk. Take your Animal for a versatile, biochemically well-balanced, self will have an intimate relationship walk. Going for a walk on trails, in nature, cared for, recognized, and understood? with its Human Animal. Our Human on uneven ground, is extra good. Just step From such a healthy and relatively secure aspect expresses everything – from its into your feet, find all the sensations that psycho-bio-physical environment, the politics, philosophy, attitudes, and values – you can find, then walk around, preferably nature of our Humanness would have a through the actions of its Animal. When our outside, and preferably with hills. Talk to greater opportunity to follow its innate Human Animal dies, our Human aspect your Animal, even if it feels like play. Ten desire to understand the nature of all will cease to be. (Actually, our Human or so minutes is a good start. Just stay in things, both physical and conceptual. From aspect might cease to be before death, in your feet, your Animal, breathe, walk with a foundation of understanding, wisdom has that, through disease or trauma, our animal purpose – or just walk, but do walk in your an opportunity to take root and flourish. brain/mind matrix will no longer be able to Animal every day, in your animal feet. The Big Picture support our Human personality. It’s a good Extend that awareness into the whole of practice to look at that reality, often.) your legs. Feel them swing, extend, reach. Change one aspect of a dynamic system, Engaging in physical awareness through consistently, and all the other aspects will Communicating with our senses is common to many personal- have to change. Everything that exists in our our Human Animal growth practices, but is usually framed universe is a possibility that happened as How can we communicate to our Human in the context of getting in touch with our a consequence of preceding circumstances Animal that it is being seen, recognized, and body. The suggestion being offered here is and conditions. This includes universal respected? How do we start? The process to reframe the practice to one that supports physical reality and, more pertinently, can start with conscious care. It could be getting in touch with our Animal. In doing the technology and social structures that said that love cannot travel without care. so, a channel of nuanced communication affect our lives. Every possibility that While love may be an abstraction, care can has an opportunity to flourish. With happens, or does not happen, becomes ® be perceived, understood, and applied. that said, I can see how Rolf Movement a circumstance for all other possibilities. Integration is an ideal medium to introduce Everything from the Big Bang, the Big We could start including our Animal into the concept of acknowledging our Animal. Wheeze, the Big Deal, onward, is related our greater sense of self by addressing it in to everything else in physical presence. It language, calling our Animal by name. We The Client’s Animal could start by waking up in the morning is not so much that a distant star imploding Most humans are woefully unaware of how and saying, “Good morning, Animal, let’s or exploding will affect our life. Or that the Animal functions and its systems, so our go into our day together.” Or we might say, another person experiencing joy or terror, clients will need help here too. Our Animal “My Animal and I are going for a walk,” somewhere in the world, will impact our is tied to a relationship with our physical just as you might say, “My dog and I are life with any significance. It is more that environments, and our genetic makeup will going for a walk.” Most animals have some the circumstances and conditions that have its implications, limiting or expanding identifiable characteristics and traits that brought those possibilities to occurrence our possibilities accordingly. Many times we (generally) acknowledge and hopefully are intertwined with each of our beings . . . you will witness the client’s Human aspect respect. Turning our awareness inward can and everything else. overriding his or her Animal’s reality and reveal our own uniqueness and needs as needs. When one lacks deep understanding Validating and Caring well as those in others. for the Human Animal and awareness, it undermines or limits the Does talking to your Animal, or referring physical viability of his or her Animal and Two-way relationship flourishes when to your physical presence as an animal, thus translates into a limitation of his or her beings are seen. Being seen is to our spirit as make you uncomfortable? We may find Human aspect to have as viable a platform

44 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org THE HUMAN ANIMAL as possible from which to understand I am suggesting here that we broaden our reporting that they have included it, to and express. practice to one that could be described some level, in their lives. While I see value in as ‘somato-psycho-spiritual integration’. having a daily practice of clarity, I recognize As a Rolfer, you can see and validate the Spiritual, in this sense, is the expression of our that I am not ‘there’ yet. However, the Animal in your client. When your out-of- Human aspect, and Humanity as a whole, as weekly practice, regardless of whether it is shape and out-of-alignment client proclaims culture, that includes values and morals, or actual or contemplative, serves as a spiritual she is going to train aggressively to run her lack thereof. Our species has evolved over pulse that nourishes my whole being first-ever marathon in a ridiculously short millions of years through natural selection because of its rhythm. If I miss a weekly time frame, you can ask her, “How does bound by our genetic disposition. Our check-in, the opportunity comes back to your Animal feel about that?” Can we cultural evolution accelerates (or decelerates) me seven days later. It can only be good. help her bring her Human aspect, with its at a level relative to our ability to directly ideals and goals, into communication and communicate interpersonally or through Conclusion alignment with her Animal physicality and so-called social learning. its limitations? While the body of the above essay took While I do not claim to have found the in a rather broad span of concepts and Help your clients to relate to their Animal pathway to bringing Humanity to a state of perceptions, my hope is that the takeaway and you help Humanity relate to accepting peace, I do have a practice that brings me to message is one that inspires you to open and caring for its Humanity Animal. my Animal roots and to my awareness that yourself to the possibility of communicating with, and working with, the Animal that is Clearday – I am a co-creator of how Humanity appears and behaves in the world. under your hands as well as the person who A Practice of Optimization brought him or her to your studio. A Clearday Practice If we can embed into the spirit of Humanity The essay does not presume to be heretical the understanding that our Human aspect The essence of what I call my Clearday Practice in the way that Galileo’s assertion that emerges from our Human Animal, we will has a simple foundation that includes self-care Planet Earth orbited the sun was; however, be better equipped to work cooperatively and nourishment of my Animal, my thoughts, there is a semblance of a corollary that is through the major upheavals ahead for our and my relationship to others and the world worth considering. Galileo was the first society and planet. One of the possibilities that I live in. I have chosen Wednesdays as significant thinker to bring his observational is peace. Another possibility is chaos my Clearday, primarily because it is just a understanding of Earth’s orbit into the with violence. Unfortunately, there are regular life day, generally without religious or (primarily Occidental) public domain. There more pieces in place to support the latter cultural significance. was strong resistance to his claim from the condition. Moving in the direction of peace My practice involves acknowledging my Animal Roman Catholic Church and many of his will require intelligent dismantling of our contemporaries. It could be imagined that the current way of being. How do we raise the and bringing my awareness more acutely to its need for nutrient energy and its need to majority of the (mostly illiterate) population momentum towards that possibility? A followed suit in their worldview. The Earth- consistent practice of self-care, self-respect, move in ways that challenge and strengthen its structural and physiological systems and allow centric model effectively imposed a barrier and a hunger to understand through to understanding the universe, galaxies, knowledge and experience will help. A it to enhance its capacity to take in information through its senses. The practice calls for me to be and solar systems, and to understanding its practice of self-care can allow for a deeper- implications around time, space, and gravity. rooted relationship between our Human consciously aware of what might add chemical aspect and our Human Animal. This, I’m confusion to my Animal’s ability to sync with As Galileo’s understanding started confident, can only be good. my Human aspect. Food, of course will be a to breech the bounds of conventional major feature, but physically challenging my misunderstanding, the Renaissance There are many so-called spiritual practices Animal has to be part of the program. The movement became even more invigorated, that encourage caring for our bodies. Most, Clearday Practice also involves, as I said at the leading to significant social, political, and perhaps all, are based on an alignment of beginning of this essay, taking stock of where philosophical changes that affect global self to a metaphysical force and/or to the and who I am in the world, and peering into my cultures today. Again: Change one aspect in reality of nature. Yet, I must state once perceptions of the state of Humanity. a dynamic system, consistently, and all other again, the term ‘body’ implies a static form, aspects will change. where ‘animal’ speaks of dynamic, ever- In other words, Clearday is my practice of changing qualities. Both terms are labels. ‘checking in’. As with many mere mortals, When your client walks into your studio, The former is a descriptive term, a map. I have a range between actual practice and consider the two aspects in front of you. The latter, to utilize Alfred Korzybski’s contemplating my practice. At least with my First, the person, with his or her story and statement, is the territory. contemplative version, I tend to make more perceived needs, and your response to the conscious choices than I might otherwise person based on your perceptions, biases, Humans, it has often been said, are creatures have. As well, I create opportunities for me to and how you will communicate your of habit. Some are nourishing, others are experience joy, be they in food, being on uneven intentions. But to get ‘stuck’ at the person mal-nourishing. It can also be said that ground, coming to a new understanding, level does, I believe, limit the potential for a we tend to get good at, or at least better at, or experiencing joy by being grateful. (It is deeper level of positive outcome of the work what we practice. We, as Rolfers, engage in impossible to be happy without being grateful.) that you can offer. If you can take a moment a conscious practice when working with to sense your Animal, be grounded in your our clients so that we may move the process I have shared the concept of my practice with others over the years, with some Animal, and look past the person into the towards the goals of structural integration. common-to-all nature of the Animal in front

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 45 PERSPECTIVES of you, you will, I believe, serve both that Human and his or her Human Animal well. An Overview of the While our Human aspect tries to follow an agenda derived from its ‘church of thought’, it should be appreciated that our Human Fourth International Animal has a longer-term agenda that needs to be acknowledged. The two will often Fascia Research Congress be in conflict, leading to social or physical distress and disease, from wars to cancer Reportage from Washington D.C. and a myriad in between. Enhancing our own, and our client’s, intra-being channel By Szaja Gottlieb, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ of communication can only do good. I begin with a disclaimer and an apology. of a fetus’s life, fascia shapes the body’s Ancillary Thoughts Since I did not attend the three previous future internal space for the remainder of We can never know what is on either side congresses, this overview of the Fourth its lifetime – this according to anatomist of life. Is it the Big Black of Nothingness, or International Fascia Research Congress, Jaap van der Wal MD PhD). The Dutch another way of being? If there is some other which I attended on a scholarship from the anatomist, who described himself as a form of existence before conception or after Ida P. Rolf Research Foundation and the Holistic Organicist, expounded this point death, then it probably doesn’t matter what Rolf Institute® Research Committee, lacks of view on the second day of the Congress. we do in our lives, as it will be the same historical perspective. One of the principal The title of his workshop entirely captures for all of us. organizers of the Fascia Research Congress fascia’s transcendent, almost otherworldly (FRC), Certified Advanced Rolfer Dr. Tom quality, “Fasciasophy: Philosophical Our Human Animal has the capacity to Findley, advised me to get the CDs from the Aspects of an Organ of Innerness.” (Please remember. previous congresses and run them at 70% refer to Naomi Wynter-Vincent’s article of their speed to really absorb the themes on page 49 of this issue for a discussion of Our Human Person has the capacity to and trajectory of information since the first this workshop.) dream. Our Animal remembers our dreams. congress in 2007. Having time constraints As a general overview of the FRC, this to complete this article, I apologize to Dr. article serves as a snapshot of the many Our body does not breathe, Our Animal Findley in advance for the inadequacies presentations offered. Even if one tried, the breathes. of my submission. I thus write about this FRC could not be experienced in its entirety congress as a visitor who has dropped in Our body does not learn to explore and be because most of the afternoon presentations midstream. But even for a newcomer such curious, Our Animal learns from its genetic and workshops took place concurrently, as myself, one could not help but feel the roots to explore and be curious. thereby forcing an attendee to pick and energy and commitment that has driven the choose. And one must remember that even Our body does not live and die, Our Animal approximately 3,000 researchers, clinicians, the papers presented were only a smattering lives and dies. and therapists from all over the world who of the total number submitted. Well over have attended and contributed to these Our Spirit cannot die, it can only cease to be. 100 articles and poster presentations were congresses the past eight years. accepted for this FRC in many diverse areas Is it possible that with one little word shift All this over fascia, once a poor and distant relating to fascia, such as Fascia and Cancer, we can open a subtle door to the possibility relation in the anatomical family. The story Fascia and Manual Therapy, Veterinary and of recognizing and deepening a relationship of fascia is like a myth or fairy tale similar Animal Models of Fascia, Tool Assisted between our two beings – our Animal Being to Cinderella or the Ugly Duckling or even Therapy, Fascia in Surgery and Scars, and our Human Being? Superman. Once shunned by the scientific Fluid Dynamics and Fascia, Fascia in Low and medical establishment as incidental Back Pain and Innervation, and more. For Change your perspective and you can and useless, hardly noticed in anatomy those interested, there is a list of accepted change your perception. books, in dissections at medical schools, and submissions at www.fasciacongress.org/ on operating tables, fascia has now, largely abstracts_2015.php. Truly, the fascial due to the efforts of the FRC organizers, universe, to paraphrase an aphorism from What might the cultural/spiritual shift be if taken on an increasingly important status chess, is large enough for a gnat to drink we were to consider all doctors of medicine among scientists, especially those whose and an elephant to bathe. to be veterinarians? research papers now are investigating fascia’s far reaches. Whereas submissions Day 1 Our Person will cease to be. concerning fascia once numbered only In one of the FRC panel discussions, an Our impact on the world in the hundreds on a yearly basis, they audience member, a manual therapist, rose, now number in the thousands. Listening approached the microphone, and began and in the minds of others to some of the presentations during the talking about her experience of “dancing will be our spirit’s remains. three-day congress, fascia took on an almost with fascia.” The ensuing silence was superhuman heroic quality: for example, palpable before one of the panelists politely Carpe diem, memento mori in embryology, when in the third week explained that from a scientific point of

46 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES view he could appreciate that she thought then followed, amplifying on the subject the validity of several of the fascial meridian or felt she was dancing with fascia, but that of sensory aspects of fascia, dividing its lines espoused by Tom Myers in Anatomy her experience could not be scientifically innervation into three types: sympathetic, Trains, in particular the Superficial Back validated. Entering the scientific arena, nociceptive, and proprioceptive. Reminding Line. In their experiments with live the mythos of fascia takes on the Cartesian the audience that the vast amount of nerves subjects they observed that lower extremity demand of quantifiable experience: in other end in the fascial system, he announced stretching induced improvements in words, definition and measurement. At that, at least in his view, the argument cervical range of motion. Their findings the very outset of the conference, Friday between Ida Rolf and Moshe Feldenkrais were confirmed when tracing fascial force morning, the definition of fascia in scientific was seemingly resolved since fascia is transmission lines in cadaver studies. terms was taken up by Dr. Carla Stecco, extraordinarily rich in sensory stimulation. The first day of the Congress ended in the Professor of Anatomy and Movement Simply put, adhesions in the fascial tissue evening with beautiful images of living Sciences at the University of Padua. This affect proprioception while healthy fascia fascia in a lecture by Dr. Jean-Claude problem of nomenclature was initiated in translates into kinetic elegance. Guimberteau entitled “In Search of Our July 2014 in an editorial by Stecco in the Dr. Peter Huijing from Vrije University Interior Architecture.” The presentation Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, in Amsterdam followed up this talk with was a result of the surgeon’s twenty years which received many editorial responses. a discussion of inflammation of fascia of exploration of living fascia using an The problem, as Stecco explained, is that and pain, reinforcing the findings of the endoscope. Guimberteuau’s view represents many terms can indicate the same structure, critical relationship of back pain to the a revolutionary shift in how fascia is and there is a need to find agreement innervation within the TLF, but casting considered from ‘connective’ to what he calls between different terminologies. some uncertainty as to exactly how pain ‘constitutive’ tissue. For Guimberteau, this A meeting had been held among a number was processed through its various layers. fascial interconnectivity extends even to vital of the FRC presenters, and the following organs, indicating not only fascia’s structural The afternoon began with a panel discussion definition had been arrived at: Fascia, a role, but its importance as it ensures mobility with the morning speakers that included sheath, a sheet of any number of other dissectable and elasticity. His endoscopic images questions from the audience, then various aggregations of connective tissue that forms of fascia reveal a world that defies the workshops, each with several speakers, beneath the skin to attach, enclose, separate traditional verbal description of fascia being were held simultaneously. muscles and other internal organs. There were stratified and layered and replaces it with a some murmurings at this announcement, The workshop I attended covered several fibrous, fractal, chaotic world. Much of the and she then calmly explained that a second different subjects. The first speaker, a material presented is in his newly published definition would also be forthcoming which physical therapist from Israel, Natalie book, The Architecture of Human Living Fascia would include fascia as not only tissue Brettler, presented her paper on Achilles by Handspring Press. I am planning on but as a whole interactive system within tendon issues, usually referred to as doing an extensive review of this book in a the body. tendinopathy. The key ingredient, she forthcoming issue. Please visit www.cerap. explained, was not the tendon proper, org/fasciath%C3%A9rapie-mdb/search- The overwhelming emphasis during the but the paratenon, the fascial compartment our-interior-architectures-introdutive- many presentations during the congress surrounding the tendon. Using ultrasound workshop-given-pr-guimberteau, if you was not on definition, however, but measurement, the researchers found a would like a greater exposition of his lecture. function, beginning with the subject of direct correlation between thickening of innervation within fascial tissue. Is cold or the paratenon and Achilles tendon issues, Day 2 heat more beneficial for back pain? This thereby suggesting using ultrasound question was presented by Dr. Siegried There was a great deal of emphasis in this measurement of the paratenon as a method Mense from Heidelberg University in his congress on the role played by the TLF of anticipating and diagnosing Achilles talk “Innervation of Fascia.” He, along in back pain, and the second day was no tendon problems. with several others, including Andreas exception – but the emphasis shifted from Schilder, also from Heidelberg University, Treating scarring and adhesions using pain to how force was transmitted through emphasized the role of the thoracolumbar myofascial techniques to eliminate pain was the fascial layers of the TLF. Dr. Andry fascia (TLF) in relation to back pain. While the subject of the next group of presenters. Vleeming from New England University Mense concluded that there was no obvious One of those was Certified Advanced and Medical University in Ghent described conclusion in terms of recommending Rolfer Sharon Wheeler, who discussed how pelvic stabilization is required in either heat in the form of capsaicin or cold her paper “Integrating Scar Tissue into the order to allow movement through arms in the form of menthol, the researchers Fascial Web.” Her study, using ultrasound and legs. The focus of the lecture was to pointed to the source of lower back pain as measurement, indicated that scars could demonstrate that the effective stability of the thoracolumbar fascia area rather than be reduced in size and be reintegrated the spine depends on the interplay between muscle. Furthermore, experiments indicated as normal tissue by using manual the paraspinals and deep abdominal that while only a local area of the TLF may therapy techniques. muscles through its interrelated myofascial be affected, the influence of the fascia is components, which he referred to as a The last speaker, on the subject of exercise enormous, spreading pain into a much larger sling. His lecture explored the various therapy, Jan Wilke from the Department of area through a few localized neurons. layers of the TLF and their interaction. Sports Medicine at Goethe University in Significantly, Vleeming emphasized the Dr. Robert Schleip from the University Frankfurt, discussed how strain transfer importance of the lateral raphe, a complex of Ulm, and a Certified Advanced Rolfer, experiments in his lab had demonstrated of dense connective tissue parallel to the

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 47 PERSPECTIVES quadratus lumborum, in load transfer and development. While the development of congress was the increasing use of imaging by implication its importance in treatment mesoderm to mesenchyme is common techniques, particularly ultrasound. of lower back dysfunction. knowledge, Scheunke remarked Whereas Day and Fernandez took a micro on the importance of fascia in that it Guimberteau expanded upon the concept of approach to fascial dysfunction, Dr. Serge forms an embryological skeleton that load transfer with a talk about the adaptive Gracovetsky, a physicist from Montreal, took directs organogenesis. quality of fascial fibers. This load-transfer a macro one and was skeptical of the varieties system is dependent on what Gumberteau In the afternoon, after a panel discussion of and different approaches to treatment. has named the Multimicrovacuolar the morning’s speakers with the audience, Referring to the Cochrane collaboration, Collagenic Absorption System (MCAS), there were concurrent workshops, including a global independent network of 37,000 which allows simultaneous sliding and the previously mentioned Fasciasophy researchers, professionals, and patients from force diffusion without damage to fibers. by van der Wal, and several others 130 countries who work together to find While the collagen fibers and fibrils including Veterinary Aspects, Surgery and credible medical methodologies, he asked, provide the frame within the tissue, Faciatherapy, and Research/Animal Studies. “Do we need a plethora of treatments and gel composed of glycosaminoglycans is there a common feature?” Gracovetsky, Besides oral presentations, the FRC included that attract water fill the volume of the however, did emphasize the importance poster presentations. Again, please refer to microvacuoles. Please refer to this video of fascia in its critical role in protecting the www.fasciacongress.org/abstracts_2015. at www.facebook.com/247330191983662/ musculoskeletal system, distributing the php for a list of both oral and poster videos/496035783779767/ for Guimberteau’s stress that gravity incurs. Gracovetsky, as submissions that were accepted at the explanation of the importance of one of the closing speakers in the afternoon, congress. Several of the poster booth the microvacuole. later amplified this idea using the second presentations were recognized at the law of thermodynamics as backdrop. All The next speaker, Dr. Raghavan Preeti awards dinner Saturday night. The three matter, including life forms, moves towards from the New York School of Medicine, winning posters were: “Influence of Manual entropy, and fascia acts and functions as a who is also Director of the Motor Recovery Myofascial Techniques on Normalization significant bulwark by minimizing overall Research Laboratory, continued the of the Voice Organ in Patients with energy usage. discussion concerning the slide and glide Professional Dysphonia,” “Considerations capacity of fascia, particularly her interest for Recommended Treatment Intervals The next speaker, Dr. Geoffrey Bove in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the Following Osteopathic Manipulative from the University of New England, fascia and the potential of hyaluronan to Treatment,” and “Self-help Treatment returned the conversation to localized pain, remedy spasticity after stroke. Hyaloraunic with a Myofascial Manipulation Tool: presenting detailed laboratory results. He acid is a glucosaminoglycans and is A Randomized, Double Controlled, boldly announced, “It’s not the fascia, it’s vital in fascial mobility. In laboratory Standardized, Clinical Study.” At the the interfaces.” Bove, whose expertise is the experiments, Pretti used human awards ceremony Saturday night, several causes and effects of nerve inflammation, recombinant hyaluronidase to reduce individuals, among them Findley, were also pointed to the ‘interfaces’ forming a muscular stiffness, resulting in dramatic given achievement awards. boundary between adjacent areas and improvement of hand and finger movement regions such as muscle to skin, organ to of post-stroke subjects. This journal will Day 3 abdominal wall. The problem is lack of publish more on Pretti’s work in one of our The last day of the FRC began with a glide rather than the fascia tissue itself. His next issues. number of speakers discussing fascial work relates well with the peripheral nerve work that many Rolfers are now practicing The next two speakers took up the subject dysfunction. The first, Julie Day, a physical and exploring. of what happens within fascia when therapist from Australia, extolled the trauma, specifically wound healing, occurs. virtues of the Stecco fascial manual method, Bove was followed by Leon Chaitow, Dr. Boris Hinz of the University of Toronto developed by Luigi Stecco forty years ago, the English osteopath closely associated emphasized the importance of TGF-B1 in treating musculoskeletal issues. In 2011, with Muscle Energy Technique (MET). (transforming grown factor beta 1), a Certified Advanced Rolfer Russell Stolzoff Chaitow covered a variety of topics protein that is stored in the ECM and that wrote a review of Stecco’s work from a including MET, trigger points and their controls many cellular functions, and how structural integration viewpoint that I highly vascular environment, use of ultrasound, it increases after an injury when fibroblasts recommend; it can be found online at the and KT taping. In reference to fascial are transformed into myofibroblasts. Ida P. Rolf Library of Structural Integration loading, Chaitow commented that studies (http://pedroprado.com.br/). Day was showed that 3%-6% loading for manual Dr. Michael Kjaer, a Danish clinician, followed by Dr. Caesar Fernandez from therapists was optimum for results. His revisited the subject of Achilles Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid. He recommendations were to meet tissue tendinopathy, one of the most common reiterated fascia’s contribution to back pain tension, “but as soon as you feel the tension sports injuries, recommending slow and talked about assessment techniques you are probably past it.” resistance training rather than high- such as palpation (adhesive quality) and intensity exercise in treating tendon issues. techniques (cross-hand mobilization) to After the lunch break, Findley gave a comprehensive assessment of the various The morning presentation ended with a improve movement. An important footnote avenues fascia research was taking, of lecture by Dr. Mark Scheunke, an anatomist in both of these presentations was the use which many had been discussed at this from New England University, on the of ultrasound in imaging and assessment. congress. He took this opportunity to relationship of fascia with embryological Indeed, a noticeable theme within this

48 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES present the subject matter of an upcoming place like the anterior talofibular ligament. Raz whispered, “You see, we [structural (November 2015) Fascia Congress Both localized points of impact and pain integrators] do the best work in the world.” taking place in Boston: fascia and cancer pathways are common in ankle sprains. I nodded slightly in agreement. But that was (www.fasciacongress.org/2015/conference/ not the thought on my mind. I was thinking Unquestionably, this work falls into joint-conference-fascia-cancer/). Findley of how, in my fourteen years of practicing what Rolfers would call ‘fix-it’ work. It noted the relationship between fascia Rolfing SI, I had never really thought about is especially attractive for sports injuries and cancer in that a stiffer mechanical the specific distortions of the fascia as FDM where a trainer would need to treat a environment lends itself to metastatic presented them. Suddenly, new images of trauma on an immediate basis. Klaus Eder, a growth. In that sense, commented Findley, fascia appeared – tangled coils of fascia; German physiotherapist who is a trainer for cancer can be considered a disease of the twisted fibers of fascia; stiff fascia; bulging the German national soccer team that won collagen. Stating that resistance training fascia; fascia mashed, folded, or pulled apart. the World Cup last year, has adopted FDM reduces cancer risk, Findley introduced in his work. Schleip bemoaned this publicly An anecdote comes to mind for my closing. the ‘progressive exercise system’ that and with humor, as Eder previously had On the second day of the FRC I met Graham Dr. Thomas DeLorme developed in been for many years a devotee of Rolfing® Scarr, the author of Biotensegrity: The the mid-1940s when he was treating Structural Integration (SI). Structural Basis of Life, a book I had reviewed American servicemen. It is a method for the July 2015 issue of this journal. I could of softening fascia by loading muscles, For a Rolfer the shortcomings of such a not help myself, and made the admission specifically in a shortened position. For system were obvious. Local work without that I had found the book terribly difficult more on this, search for Findley’s profile at global thinking is simply neither holistic nor and understood perhaps only half of it. http://find.rolf.org. effective in the long term, which was brought Scarr’s reply: “That’s okay. When I wrote up in the workshop and acknowledged to Gracovetsky ended the Congress. Saying it, I only understood half of it too. I was some extent by Anker, who was a delightful that tradition slows down progress until just trying to push the limits.” Simply put, and very encouraging teacher. Next to me, future generations, he called for “out of maybe that’s what these FRCs are all about: an Israeli structural integrator named Dror the box” thinking. Humorously, in line just pushing limits. with the French tradition of his ancestry, he suggested revolution: ”When you hit a brick wall – use the guillotine!” Epilogue Integrating the On Monday, the day after the FRC ended, there were many post-conference half-day and full-day workshops. I chose the more Fourth International FRC plebian ankle-sprain workshop, since I am on the basketball court just about every day Reflections on Embryology, and see plenty of ankle sprains that I treat, Relationship, and Rolfing® SI often immediately. Entitled “The Treatment of Acute Ankle Sprains According to the By Naomi Wynter-Vincent, Certified Rolfer™ Fascial Distortion Model™ (FDM)”, the workshop was taught by Stefan Anker, an Earlier this year I had the good fortune to be Day with Jaap van der Wal,” is available at osteopath from Vienna. FDM was created awarded a scholarship from the Ida P. Rolf www.anatomytrains.com/news/2015/09/30/ by an American osteopath, Dr. Stephen Research Foundation and the Rolf Institute® a-day-with-jaap-van-der-wal/), so in what Typaldos, in the early 1990s. I found Research Committee to attend the Fourth follows I will aim to give the briefest flavor the system interesting in two way. First, International Fascia Research Congress of van der Wal’s ideas whilst also seeking fascial ‘distortions’ are broken down into (FRC) in Washington, D.C. I would like to to place them in a more critical context. six different categories: Triggerbands™, start by expressing my gratitude to both I will also briefly introduce the work of Continuum Distortions™, Cylinder organizations for their support. Wilfred Bion, whose elaboration of the idea of the ‘caesura’ can add a note to Rolfing Distortions™, Herniated Distortions™, My report will offer some general thoughts Structural Integration’s ‘embryological Folding Distortions™,and Tectonic about my experience as well as a more turn’ and provide an additional pointer for Fixations™. Triggerbands, for example, detailed focus on the two presentations clinical practice. are twisted bands of fiber that run along given by Dr. Jaap van der Wal. The second a linear pathway. The second interesting and longer of these was a whole-day This question of clinical implication – how aspect of this work is that the practitioner workshop that provided a whistle-stop does this affect me, as a Rolfer? – was my asks the client to show and describe his tour of some highlights from a longer (four- constant companion (along with my jetlag) injury and pain. All depending on the day) course he offers on embryology, Erich throughout my stay in Washington. The client’s gesture, the practitioner makes an Blechschmidt, and a phenomenological FRC is a curious affair, both nourishing and assessment as to probable cause. So, for approach to understanding movement alien, that brings together lab scientists and example, if a client has a Triggerband injury and form. In the meantime, I am aware somatic practitioners in one place (I like at the ankle, he or she might show a pathway that Tom Myers has also written about to think that it was the Rolfers who were of pain as opposed to a Folding Distortion, van der Wal’s presentation (his post, “A slowly migrating to sitting on the floor as where the client might point to a particular

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 49 PERSPECTIVES the conference progressed). Many of the Wal is one of a growing number who philosophical spirituality (Steiner’s school research presentations (focusing on specific have recently drawn our attention to the of thought is known as anthroposophy), in chemical interventions, or discussing the way in which the traditional anatomical combination with the embryological ideas clinical outcomes of, say, applying thirty practice of the dissection of cadavers has of Blechschmidt and the poetry of Goethe. seconds of osteopathic manipulation to a contributed to the neglect of fascia (or Van der Wal is a deeply engaging public lab rat . . .) seemed tangential to my clinical fasciae) as a pervasive and continuous tissue speaker whose rigour, commitment, and practice, to say the least. I am nevertheless system within the body (see, for example, depth of expertise are certainly beyond pleased that this work is being done, and van der Wal 2009). Introducing himself question, and I was happy to join the the nature of the more quantitative end comprehensively as a medical doctor, rest of his audience in contributing to of sports science requires that scientists anatomist, philosopher, embryologist, a standing ovation at the end of his proceed slowly and methodically with organicist, biologist, morphologist, and presentation. Nevertheless, I wondered at their experiments. phenomenologist, he held the floor for the phenomenon of both my own and the ninety minutes to a packed audience willing What was markedly lacking, though, in audience’s enthusiastic captivation by van to be moved by his unarguably romantic much of what I saw, was an awareness of the der Wal’s ideas: an atmosphere of mild account of our human embryological role of relationship (be that the therapeutic rebellion against the prevailing scientific development, in which morphology can be relationship of client to practitioner, or framework of the FRC was discernible, in seen plainly to precede anatomy (we were the relationship of parts of the body to spite of (and perhaps bolstered by) van der treated to wonderful time-lapse videos of each other) in bringing about positive Wal’s impeccable scientific credentials. the embryo and fetus in formation). There clinical outcomes. Serge Gracovetsky, who is, he argues, a ‘pre-physiological exercise’ The relational aspect (here, of the embryo effectively argued for ‘one therapeutic of movements and gesture within the womb to its mother) was again notable by its modality to rule them all’, seemed to that drives the creation of our anatomical absence, despite his rich articulation of provide the most egregious example of parts, and not the other way around. We reach, the potential relational interfaces of the this relational and hermeneutic blind spot, gather, and bend quite prior to having the ecto- and endo-derms. I was reminded of questioning the value in there existing a specific muscles, bones, and joints that the Donald Winnicott’s (1965, 39) contention plethora of differing schools of thought to anatomists would hold responsible for that “There is no such thing as an infant. address, as he saw it, fixed and impersonal those movements post-natally. There is only the infant and its mother.” physical pathologies. There is, of course, In this he draws attention to the absolute enormous potential in joining the dots that According to this view, form comes out of and non-incidental relational dependence lie between different therapeutic schools, motion, and we are not best understood of the infant to its mother: the embryo and in aiming for both greater efficacy and simply as ‘machines’ assembled from is not the ‘dancing homunculus’ sitting efficiency in our interventions. Part of the parts in order to fulfil this or that function. up smartly in the womb as appears strength of the Rolfing community has lain Contradicting the poet Sylvia Plath, love in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century in its marked ability and willingness to does not “set [us] going like a fat gold representations. Moreover, some further absorb the insights of new research (in such watch,” but rather, for van der Wal, we reading about the historical foundations areas as neuroscience) and to extend our are whole humans – wholly human and of anthroposophy drew my attention to interest to neighboring modalities such as individual – almost from the word go. I say less palatable aspects of the worldview that craniosacral therapy and osteopathy. But to ‘almost’ because for van der Wal it is in the accompanied its development. I simply suggest that modalities as diverse as yoga, third week post-conception that we begin do not know enough about this aspect to Rolfing SI, The Feldenkrais® Method, or to grow fascia’s embryological precursor: comment on it here; I mention it simply functional fascial taping might be mined for the mesenchyme, mesoderm, or, simply, to draw our attention collectively to our a common ore along purely physiological meso. He is keen to stress that meso is no responsibility to retain a constructively lines is to return the body to a simplistic -derm (implying a skin or environmental critical attitude to that which inspires and dualistic conception in which mind boundary), but the very fabric of our and fascinates us. (the worlds of meaning, thinking, and capacity for innerness (he also uses the relationship) is somehow quite separate word ‘soul’) as distinct from ectoderm and Notwithstanding this note of caution, from the world of the body. Rolfers and endoderm. Meso is literally a connective van der Wal’s presentation made a other practitioners offer ways of thinking tissue creating links and spaces between the compelling case for the idea that we remain about the body that in themselves do some boundary structures of our outer and inner ‘embryological’ throughout the lifespan, of the work, and yes, there is ‘hard science’ (digestive, assimilative) ‘skins’. with capacities for the creative development to back this up (see, for instance, Haines of our body-mind-selves. We can change, Van der Wal’s reading of the meso lends and Standing 2015): our beliefs about pain, and we can grow. In this connection I was fascia an existential, even spiritual resilience, and the architecture of the body reminded of a well-known quotation from quality derived from a non-religious play a statistically significant role in our another historically controversial figure, perspective, even while his emphasis experience of illness, recovery, and health. Sigmund Freud. In Inhibitions, Symptoms on the mesenchymic ‘ensoulment’ at and Anxiety he wrote, ‘There is much more ‘Fasciasophy: philosophical aspects of three weeks recalls the older, religious continuity between intra-uterine life and an organ of innerness’, van der Wal’s idea of a ‘quickening’ of the babe within the earliest infancy than the impressive presentation, provided a much-needed the womb. As such, his ideas continue caesura of the act of birth allows us to counter to the reductionist approach the work of Rudolf Steiner and others believe’ (Freud 1959, 138). While Freud is that was in evidence elsewhere. Van der who have sought to found a scientific or not focusing on the development of the

50 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES embryo, he is alerting us to the existence Freud: Volume XX (1925-1926). London: Locomotor Apparatus.” International of pre-natal experiences – properly human Hogarth Press. Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork experiences – that have a role in shaping our 2(4):9-23. Haines, S. and Standing, S. 2015. Pain is nervous system and our cues for safety and Really Strange. London: Singing Dragon. Winnicott, D.W. 1990 [1965].The Maturational parasympathetic activation. Processes and the Facilitating Environment: van der Wal, J. 2009. “The Architecture of the Rephrasing Freud to draw attention to Studies in the Theory of Emotional Development. Connective Tissue in the Musculoskeletal our lifelong physical experiences, the London: Karnac. System – An Often Overlooked Functional British analyst Bion (1989) writes that Parameter as to Proprioception in the ‘there is much more continuity between autonomically appropriate quanta and the waves of conscious thought and feeling than the impressive caesura [...] would have us believe’. Like van der Wal, Bion also points to the existence of intelligence Biotensegrity Summit Report in the body that pre-dates the official By Brooke Thomas, Certified Rolfer™ beginnings of our official intelligence and functional systems. He places emphasis On Thursday September 17, 2015 the First academic institutions, “Biology is soft on that little-used word, caesura, as a place Biotensegrity Summit gathered in Reston, matter come alive.”1 where we can productively focus our Virginia. I had the great pleasure to attend Levin has always described the icosahedron attention as therapists: that is to say, on this and the preceding Biotensegrity Interest as the building block of our tensegrity the gaps, hesitations, interruptions, and Group, or BIG, which was celebrating its structures and points out its omnidirectional changes in physical state that we perceive seventh meeting, and out of which the shape – which allows us to be pre-stressed in our clients, and in the moments where Biotensegrity Summit was born. new physical experiences (a fuller breath, and supported from the inside out. In the the sense of groundedness and connection Run jointly by John Sharkey (famed earlier BIG event, Jean-Claude Guimberteau through a limb) give way to new ways of clinical anatomist, exercise physiologist, questioned this when he presented some of talking, thinking, and moving (talking and and neuromuscular therapist) and Joanne his gorgeous video from Strolling Under thinking are also ways of moving). Avison (structural integrator and author of the Skin (captured using an endoscopic the fantastic resource Yoga, Fascia, Anatomy, camera). Guimberteau’s videos showed Bion likens the moment of caesura to and Movement), the event gathered to pay the highly dynamic, constantly shifting layers of onionskin in which something homage to the Stephen Levin Biotensegrity structures that provide our biotensegrity becomes newly available to consciousness. Archives and showcased wisdom from support, and pointed out that he always By paying attention to the moments where clinicians and researchers across a wide saw irregular polyhedron shapes, and had something changes or something new spectrum of backgrounds. never seen an icosahedron. It would be becomes possible, we become integrators interesting to see Guimberteau and Levin The day began with a keynote talk from rather than fixers, helping to establish a have a conversation about the issue. new reality for the client (whether that is Dr. Levin himself, which gave a wonderful improved range of motion at a specific joint, overview of his work in the field for more Following Levin’s talk, there were two pain reduction, or a sense of the body’s than forty years. For those unacquainted, panel discussions. The first was moderated resilience) that was previously only there Levin was an orthopedic surgeon for by John Sharkey and the panel was made in embryo. Integration requires relationship; many years, and so really got to look into up of Debora Chasse, Carol Davis, Niall fixing (though it has its uses) does not. This the living human body and see how we Galloway, Paul Sercu, Ed Stiles, and Mike is a whole-body notion of therapy that does are truly constructed – not like machines, Turvey. All had presented their work more not reduce us to physical machines only in but as living biotensegrity organisms. He extensively during the BIG in the days need of a sufficiently standardized, technical points out that biological systems are non- preceding, and to give you a flavor of how repair kit. linear, global, continuous, omnidirectional, diverse a group biotensegrity is drawing communicative (i.e., they don’t need to rely these days, I’ll give you a brief peek into Naomi Wynter-Vincent is the founder of London totally on the central nervous system), and their work: Rolfing (londonrolfing.com). She trained at independent. He talks about structure as Debora Chasse is a Doctor of Physical the British Academy of Rolfing Structural self-organizing, stable with flexible joints, Therapy who spoke about her tensegrity Integration in London, and is currently and held together with snot (or extracellular manual therapy approach to treating a completing a PhD thesis on Wilfred Bion at the matrix, depending on your preference rare pain condition that originates in the University of Sussex. of term). adipose tissue. Bibliography I really appreciated his emphasis that we Carol Davis is a Doctor of Physical Therapy are all soft matter. As in, this idea of hard Bion, W. 1989. Two Papers: The Grid and who spoke about the J.F. Barnes Myofascial matter (bones) being somehow different Caesura. London: Karnac. Release Approach® and also works with from the fascia, tendons, ligaments, blood, Polestar Pilates Rehabilitation. Freud, S. 1959. The Standard Edition of the etc. is nonsense. Pulling a quote from one Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund of the many soft-matter labs springing Niall Galloway is the Chief of Female up these days at all of the most esteemed Urology at Emory University, and

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 51 PERSPECTIVES he demonstrated the use of applying matter (substitutes for human biology like since that’s the whole point, and so the tensegrity principles to better understand Silly Putty, cornstarch in water, and other research and clinical work there was always pelvic support anatomy and vaginal and ‘goos’ that kids play with these days), and a highly relevant. One could argue that that pelvic organ prolapse. His university’s variety of tensegrity sculptures that people should be the whole point of the FRC as multidisciplinary team is working to could play with to get an idea of their well, but I digress . . . provide minimally invasive pelvic surgeries function in a more hands-on way. If I have a wish for the future of the that reestablish pelvic support by using a Of course, directly following this daylong Biotensegrity Summit, it would be that biotensegrity approach. First Biotensegrity Summit was the Fourth it is approached more like the preceding Paul Sercu, a physiotherapist, discussed International Fascia Research Congress BIG – which was two days where people perceptive psychopedagogy and research (FRC). I found it fascinating to go from a were given ample time to present their into non-specific back complaints and biotensegrity event into the fascia research work, rather than just snippets of insight stress-related pain. event. The prior was entirely dedicated on a panel without an opportunity for a to understanding how we function as a deeper view. E d S t i l e s i s t h e D i r e c t o r o f whole organism, while at the FRC some Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine at Pikeville Considering the exceptional people (but clearly not all) researchers are still Medical Center and teaches osteopaths presenting at the BIG and the wide- approaching it in the ‘old’ parts-based way about taking a tensegrity approach. ranging applications for biotensegrity, I where they are taking some part of fascia have no doubt that the summit will grow Mike Turvey, Professor Emeritus of – i.e., not in a living person – and putting and flourish. Ecological Psychology, discussed haptic it into a highly artificial environment in perception, which spoke more directly to order to determine some insight into how Endnotes how soft matter communicates with itself it functions. and the body’s perceptual systems. 1. www.softbio.ox.ac.uk (retrieved The beauty of the Biotensegrity Summit 10/26/2015). The second panel was specific to functional is that there is no way around wholeness, movement and was moderated by Joanne Avison. The panel was made up of Shari Berkowitz, Leonid Blyum, Sergio Fonseca, Wilbour Kelsick, and Bill Morgan, again a diverse group: Snowflakes Falling Shari Berkowitz is a biomechanist and Pilates teacher of teachers who runs A Personal and Professional Relationship with Gravity the website The Vertical Workshop and By Caryn McHose, Certified Rolfer™ and Rolf Movement® Practitioner advocates for us to apply our theories of biotensegrity to movement. Snowflakes Falling and ‘dark energy’ – that is itself invisible. Leonid Blyum is the creator of Advanced Each One Landing What, then, can we know and what do 1 Biomechanical Rehabilitation, or ABR, No Place Special we sense directly, in our bodies, with the question “What is gravity?” which has demonstrated significant help Snowflakes are light. They float to children with cerebral palsy. unpredictably in the air. They have a We know that when our connection with Sergio Fonseca is a professor in the bit of mass, so they do eventually land, gravity feels lost, someone who has learned department of Physical Therapy of the somewhere. They offer us a chance to gravity’s song can help us find it again. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais imagine the freedom of a body in motion We can restore intimacy with wholeness in Brazil and is the co-author, with and the event of falling and landing. in life, an intimacy continually perceived as receptivity to this force we call gravity. Mike Turvey, of “The Medium of Haptic What Is Gravity? Perception: A Tensegrity Hypothesis,” How might we describe this intimacy in a which was published in the Journal of People often think of gravity as just a force way that will capture people’s imagination? Motor Behavior. that pulls them down. If you ask a physicist What feeling, what vision, motivated Ida P. about gravity, you might hear a lot about Rolf to say that “gravity is the therapist”? Wilbour Kelsick is a sport chiropractor space/time and relativity but probably What makes gravity compelling to you? who works with the Canadian National and not much about personal experience or a For many people, gravity remains elusive, Olympic teams. personal body experience. What if gravity is vague, and seemingly not knowable. Bill Morgan is also a chiropractor and a relationship with the whole in which each Relationship with Gravity – acts as a consultant to the White House, body particle connects with support and the Veterans Administration, the U.S. spaciousness, a quality that feels like grace? Our Development Army, and the U.S. Navy. His interest is in Gravity is invisible. It bends space/time. This article is one person’s experience understanding the ‘four-bar mechanism’ of It is everywhere. It can be observed only of gravity – personally as a mover and the knee (a biotensegrity view) as opposed indirectly, via actions it makes happen. A professionally as a movement teacher, to the traditional lever model. huge piece of the gravity in our universe Rolfer, and Rolf Movement practitioner. At the end of the day there were a number represents stuff – so-called ‘dark matter’ of expo tables filled with a variety of soft 52 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES

For me, gravity is a meditation that began different kinds of support and then gain Folks dancing together ignite the synchrony as a child each summer dancing on an enough adaptability so we can reach of gravity’s body. outdoor studio deck in the mountains beyond our support point. This triggers the Years of Dittmar’s training led me to believe of central Pennsylvania. We were told opposite knee to flex forward. It catches us in this inherent creativity and healing to do things like “explore making two from the tiny bit of falling that occurs by capacity of everyone. When I was sixteen, dimensional shapes with [our] bodies,” reaching out so far. Dittmar directed me to start teaching “explore curvilinear flow represented in As we begin to reach out, we do so with movement. I saw that, through no power Eastern dance forms,” “explore the up and our hands and our chests, but equally of my own, people come alive to the joy down feeling of tree,” or “learn from the importantly we reach out with our minds. of their bodies moving freely and feeling solidity of rock.” After this body research, Reaching out is an evocation of distance, integrated and whole. the work of choreography followed. With a reaching out with imagination toward childlike curiosity and the backdrop of the something that entices us. We fall in our Small Fallings natural world, these initial explorations mind; we land in our mind. The body always astonished me. I felt myself change A dance injury at the age of twenty-one led knows falling, and the falling feeling can as my feet and legs joined the ground or as me to lie down on the floor for long periods be experienced in any direction. We find I gestured and reached up to the sky, the of time – to dance lying down in ever more spaciousness through a sense of location distance thrilling. I was transformed as I internal and tiny ways. It was during this or ‘here-ing’ that is always changing and The Thinking lay on my belly, looking through the cracks time that I was introduced to moving. In other words, there is No Place Body in the deck, seeing the damp, mossy earth by Mabel Todd and to the power of Special – or, each time we fall and land, our and feeling my body get heavy and sink. perception through ideokinesis, ideas put ‘here’ changes yet again. in motion. It was simple stuff, explorations that I liked Then the form called ‘walk’ emerges. We a lot. At the time, I had no words for the I learned to feel each one of the bones in totter and then walk. We feel the thrill of experience except ‘well-being’. The way my body individually and to separate being a tottering biped. I would describe those early experiences them from each other. Some bones were held together strongly! I was surprised at today is ‘connection’ and a feeling of ease SI Qualities and body intelligence awakened. I now what I called ‘small fallings’ – the natural understand this was an exploration of Clients bring us their troubles – interruptions separation of bony parts that, in turn, led gravity. This was a feeling of lengthening to the flow of support, interruptions to push to flow and recalibration of the felt sense. easily in all directions and of stability and and reach and to the rhythms of walking. I was surprised at the amount of effort I strength without effort. These troubles take many forms. How do had been using to hold myself together. I we offer our clients a chance to revive their was surprised at the amount of effort I was Babies Are Held, willingness to fall and land? We start in the using to make the smallest movement! So Rocked, and Carried imagination with tiny places of flow, places I started to allow falling and landing and that allow fall and land to be a restoration. to meet the touch of the ground. Each bone Instinctually, we support, rock, and hold began to land, no place special, abiding in babies. From the world of developmental Support the flow of gravity. movement and infant physiology we I effectively began my practice of SI long understand the importance of vestibular/ Holism before I became a Rolfing® Structural proprioceptive stimulation as well as kind Integration (SI) practitioner, in a dance Any one bone that the body senses as human contact. studio in the winter and a dance camp distinct and individual is often sufficient At a certain developmental stage, children in the summer. I had an unusual teacher, to remind the entire body of elongation. love to fall. They delight in being tossed in Betty Jane Dittmar, who practiced the belief Why is that? Why does the reawakening the air or suspended between two people. that all children are born with inherent of one bone to its separateness, its falling They will take off, fly, and land over and creativity and created a context for us and landing, mobilize a reawakening of the over again. They enjoy rolling down a hill. to discover it. She also believed that the whole body? This is the nature of holism. They imprint to the body sense of ‘here’ experience of wholeness is possible in every One small part speaks to the whole thing. through simple movements in gravity. It moment. I was five when Dittmar became Free Float arouses surprise and delight at any age. my mentor, ostensibly to teach me to dance. When a bone feels its falling and landing Falling and landing tells us, “I am here.” We spent equal time learning technique and and the separateness that feeds and is fed by You feel the bits of yourself in a body form, learning to compose. Our choreography the whole, it offers us the experience of ‘free and the form keeps falling or yielding and was sourced in art styles, other cultures’ float’. In physics, free float is the condition landing in a new form.2 Can you imagine movement forms, and world folk traditions. of a body falling in a frame of space/time. falling and feeling that as joyful ease? I saw how different cultures have a set In a body, each bone is floating within the of traditional dances, and each evokes Crawling begins with practice in pushing. body’s frame of space/time. movement based on the work patterns of We connect with support to push, and that culture. At first these movements are A practitioner offers to unlock a client’s then we reach to something ‘out there’, a means of survival. Then work patterns bone from the captivity of a fixed place. swimming our limbs in different motor become dances of the community members’ She offers this because she feels the falling patterns. When we crawl, we learn about relationship to each other and to nature. and landing inside herself. And her ability to perceive free float in her own body

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / November 2015 53 PERSPECTIVES allows her to offer awareness and touch to of acceleration we know, physiologically, very briefly, that might plant a seed of another’s bone, so it too might wake up to from proprioception – from our vestibular curiosity? What part of “Snowflakes Falling / feel free float. system, our mechanoreceptors, and our Each One Landing / No Place Special” in peripheral gaze. We know it as reaching our experience can be conveyed to another? After lying on the floor and noticing that out into the world on our hands and knees the bones of my body could be perceived What experience of gravity speaks to you or being swung in someone’s arms. When in free float, I started teaching others to in this moment? What part of you is able to we reach out, we accelerate the feeling of feel this, talking them into it, essentially. allow some tiny bit of falling and landing distance in the proprioceptors of our joints, I was speaking from body experience. and enjoying No Place Special right now? muscles, and connective tissue. And then, inevitably, I put my hands on Perhaps you feel the spreading of your them in an eagerness to communicate in Directionality is the sense of falling in a tarsal bones, the weight of your elbows, or another channel, more directly and more direction, even if it’s up. Directionality can the deep relief after a full exhale. Maybe clearly. That led to my being curious about proliferate into omni-directionality, like you feel some elongation and articulation touching others and to see/feel what was a sea urchin’s spines aimed everywhere. of segments of the spine. willing to meet me in conversations with The relevance to SI is the experience of How do you invite another’s attention to bodies in gravity. I got used to asking myself expansion. For instance, the cranium can this simple experience in a way that is not things like: What can land? What is able feel like it separates and becomes bigger. special, in a manner mostly conveyed in to allow free float? What is flowing? My Bones separate. The body and space the way your voice and posture express touch explored these questions in ways interweave. Expansion is a form of falling, falling and landing and free float right now? that enlivened the person’s experience of since we allow it to happen without work How are you ‘here-ing’ now? It’s an inquiry. free float. and we are supported by the embrace of There is no single correct answer, only the gravity. To the observer, it looks like we enduring value of rediscovery. The answer No Place Special have expanded or grown taller, like our that has some aliveness is the answer that What does No Place Special mean? First, movements are not compressed but are soft occurs out of your experience. You watch consider what ‘someplace special’ means. and flowing into the space around. in this moment for the availability of the It means that there’s not enough support! listener, some place in him or her that you In moments of overwhelm, our nervous Rolfing SI and Rolf can imagine falling, landing, or feeling system ‘tunes’ itself. The body reacts to an Movement Practice free float, as you observe and as you interruption of flow. Prolonged or extreme Eventually, I was drawn to the fascial work. empathically feel the places where his or reactivity patterns the motor system to hold The Ten Series ‘Recipe’ was also intriguing. her system is already in wholeness. When a particular position, a ‘special’ position, It reminded me of other sequences of you imagine such a place, you may have a long past the moment of its usefulness. development I had encountered. I found chance to invite that person to notice it too. ‘Someplace special’ becomes a fixation. that working with the fascia helps bones Rolfers learn to unbind the fixed-action notice their landing and falling, just as Endotes patterns that make one place – one choice touching the bones reminds them of their 1. Unattributed verse, based probably – special. How do we unbind the special? capacity to do so. Mobilizing the fascial on the recorded words of a Chinese lay We start by finding available flow in the matrix excites the body to wake up. It Buddhist named Layman P’ang (740–808), system. We find a place that cannot feel its awakens to free float, directionality, and whose words about snowflakes are the potential to fall and land, and we support falling and landing surprisingly quickly. subject of Case #42 in The Blue Cliff Record it in the discovery necessary to fall again, And the Recipe has logic to it. It is about of Zen koans (Cleary 1977). to land again, as one learned to do as an unlocking the obstacles to wholeness. It infant, over and over. offers a set of priorities for leading the 2. ‘Yield’ and ‘yielding’ are terms that Bonnie body back to the place that is not special, Cohen (1993) introduced in the 1970s as Directionality that can respond more fully to whatever part of her work with developmental delays. Cohen’s work, called Body-Mind We build a sense of direction as we build presents itself. Centering, teaches practitioner embodiment the sense of ‘there’. Here and there are The question remains: How do we of foundational developmental and physiological events in the body. I know encourage people to be more awake to their physiological processes for the purpose of ‘here’ because I know the sense of weight ever-present relationship to gravity? How helping children and adult clients to rebuild and landing. I know ‘there’ because I do we assist people in catching a moment missing functions. Carol Agneessens and know the feeling of distance into which I of spacious creativity? How do we point to Hiroyoshi Tahata have written on their have fallen. One can feel a fall up, down, what is invisible? use of yield and yielding, and Tahata’s sideways, any direction at all. Falling is a development of his Art of Yield, as a basis learned feeling that connects us to distance Catching the for Rolf Movement Integration. Their work and spatial volume as much as it does to the Imagination of Another – links to the importance that yielding plays ‘fall down’ feeling. The Mystery of Gravity as babies encounter gravity (Agneessens We know the experience of acceleration. Ida Rolf declared that “gravity is the and Tahata 2012). [Editor’s note: see also It is part of the way any body behaves in therapist.” But what does that mean to the the interview with Tahata in this issue’s Rolf gravity (on this planet at least). Physics average person? Not much. As we speak Movement Faculty Perspectives column on reminds us that we fall 32 feet per second, to a prospective client, or just casually to page 3.] per second (32 ft/sec squared). This rate a friend, what can we say or demonstrate,

54 Structural Integration / November 2015 www.rolf.org PERSPECTIVES Bibliography Agneessens, C. and Tahata, H., 2012 Jun. The Three-Dimensional Foot, “Yielding: Engaging Touch, Presence, and the Physiology of Wholeness.” Structural Part 2 Integration: The Journal of the Rolf Institute® 40(1):10-16. Evoking Pattern-Consistent Competency Cleary, T. and J.C. Cleary, 1977. The Blue By Michael Boblett, MA, MDiv, DMin, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ Cliff Record. Boulder, Colorado and London: Shambala Publications. This is a follow-up to my article “The Three Visually, palpably, and in motion, a foot Cohen, B.B., 1993. Sensing, Feeling, and Dimensional Foot: The Role of the Toes and can present as consistent and even classical Action. Northampton, MA: Contact Metatarsals in a Typology of Transverse- for its type, yet require treatment that Editions. Arch Rotations” (Boblett 2014). I presume seems more appropriate to a different Rolf, I.P., 1977. Rolfing: The Integration of readers will enter this with a knowledge and even opposite type. In fact, I suspect Human Structures. New York: Harper and of the previous article’s contents. Very that this is particularly likely when a foot Row. briefly, I presented five types of foot presents with either of the most common patterns: two presenting in Internal clients, two patterns: Long-arch Internals or Todd, M., 1937. The Thinking Body. New three presenting in External clients. [My Short-arch Externals. York: Dance Horizons. definitions of Internal and External (IE) are those of Jan Sultan, as far as I have How Does This Happen? understood him correctly.] I then presented And What Can We Do? a few strategies for increasing function in Let’s study a single example. Looking at each of the five types of feet. Figure 1, this right foot (shown in stasis) In this article, I respond to a single question. belongs to a strongly Internal client: Several colleagues contacted me to ask: “In pointy occiput, high-amplitude spinal your typology, can a client’s two feet present curves, anterior sacrum, internally rotated two different patterns?” Answer: “I never femurs, strong agility, weak stability. Not saw that, but the difference between two feet surprisingly, this foot in isolation follows often points to a difference in their respective the most common Internal pattern: long levels of competence in their shared pattern.” arch, long Achilles, tight retinaculum, This in turn leads to intervention strategies stuck-up cuboid, strong abductor digiti that seem to contradict what I wrote in my minimi (ADM), and good separation of previous article. metatarsals one and two. In the figure itself, we see healthy separation of the toes.

Figure 1: Left and right feet, stasis.

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But this foot has several symptoms associated with it: pain at the distal Achilles, stress pronation, and combined valgus knee collapse and medial rotation of the right femur. Ouch! This client is a marathon runner and has stressed his tibial collateral ligament and medial meniscus. Sacral tilt differential switches sides periodically due to frequent chiropractic adjustments. So what’s wrong? Well, let’s just compare this foot with its left-side partner. In fact, let’s do this in stasis and then in various motions. Compare the left and right feet in Figure 1. In stasis, the left foot’s metatarsals one and two are more separate. The other metatarsals show a smaller but detectable difference: more spread on the left foot. In palpation, the juncture at the proximal end of metatarsals one and two is more elevated in the right foot. (One cannot see this visually.) In other words, the right foot is still a textbook Long-arch Internal foot, Figure 2: Left and right feet, ADM active. but less so than the left foot. Will this show in motion as well? We’ll pursue three areas of contrast between the feet. First, understandably, the right foot has a strongly enervated ADM. With the right hallux pressed down, the client is able to abduct the remaining four toes (Figure 2). He does this in a way very difficult to teach to anyone without a sophisticated Long-arch Internal foot. But contrast this with the left foot, where the ADM is stronger, with more intra- metatarsal space, especially between the crucial metatarsals one and two. Can we begin to see why the right foot is more apt to pronate under stress, acting a bit more like a brittle arch on a Short-arch External? Next we test not only ADM strength but also its degree of independence. Again, the client presses down the right hallux, but now he tries to abduct the little toe with little abduction of the middle three toes (Figure 3). He does this remarkably well for Figure 3: Left and right feet, ADM isolated. a European-American. But observe the left foot: its little toe abducts further, with less pulling-along of the middle three toes. In other words, this second motion test shows an even more dramatic contrast between the two feet. This has implications for the ability of this left foot to avoid valgus collapse at the knee, which happens under stress on the right. Finally, the client presses down the right little toe and abducts the hallux using the little-used abductor hallucis (Figure 4).

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He can do this, but his foot cramps in the process. Why? Because the little toe must press down strongly to allow the hallux the independence to go its separate way. Hallux abducts further in left foot; and, while the photo cannot show it, there is no cramping. Again, the left foot fits its inherent pattern better. Conclusion: the left foot is more ‘competent’ at its inherent tasks as a Long-arch Internal foot. The right foot is classical for the same type, but less so. So What Do I Do? Controversially, I maintain that there is no hard-and-fast rule governing whether to begin with the symptomatic versus asymptomatic side of an imbalance. Commonly the symptomatic side is the more functional one. It is angry because it is doing the work. So I test for motion. Often the symptomatic side is the mobile Figure 4: Left and right feet, abductor hallucis active. side, with the real problem residing in the immobile side. Work on the asymptomatic to that of the left foot, with relatively little Michael Boblett works in San Diego, California. side often produces the necessary shift. intervention in the left foot. Manually, He has been a Certified Rolfer since 2003 and But in this case, I go back to the question my intervention looks more like what I a Certified Advanced Rolfer since 2008. His of competence. In the model, the left foot presented for a Short-arch External foot in graduate degrees (MA, MDiv, and DMin) are knows its job. The right foot is less certain. my earlier article: separate metatarsals one from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Another distraction may be the desire and two, widen toe box, treat navicular as California. At seminary, his focus was on the to influence the client in the direction of stuck up, treat cuboid as stuck down, and anthropology of religion with experiential neutrality with respect to IE differences lengthen the Achilles. In movement, I treat training under Michael Harner, author of The overall. Certainly this is a better goal than this foot with respect for its Long-arch Way of the Shaman. He does competitive trail chasing symptoms, yes? But here symptoms Internal abilities: I seek to bring them in running and leads hikes in the San Bernardino may point us to a better strategy: help the line with those of the more-competent left Mountains, wearing Vibram Five Fingers for client access the strengths of the IE pattern foot. To accomplish this, I ask the client both sports. inherent in the structure (a Long-arch to do the three exercises outlined above, Internal foot in this case) before introducing teaching him to compare and contrast his Bibliography its opposite. Indeed, I generally go back and lagging right foot with his more competent Boblett, M. 2014 Dec. “The Three forth between the two processes: accessing left one. More generally, I teach the client to Dimensional Foot: The Role of the Toes and the dominant IE pattern, then accessing its use both digiti minimi and hallux abduction Metatarsals in a Typology of Transverse- opposite, etc. Competence in each set of to offset the temptation to pronate. In time, Arch Rotations.” Structural Integration: The tasks increases as competence builds in the this weakens the temptation of the right Journal of the Rolf Institute® 42(2):33-38. opposite tasks. knee to go valgus under stress, reducing stress on the tibial collateral ligament and So over the whole body, I often find it medial meniscus. useful to discern which side of a bilateral structure fits the IE pattern and which side In sum, successful strategies for foot contradicts it. Obviously, it is rarely the typologies depend on asking not just what case that one side remains consistent in this type a client presents, but which side is more respect all the way up the body. However, competent in expressing that type. This will the patterning often remains the same along lead to a review of strategies, sometimes long segments with trouble arising where requiring out-of-pattern strategies for that consistency ends. relatively out-of-pattern feet. Before I turn this right Long-arch Internal As with my previous article, I welcome foot into something different, I find it your feedback. useful to teach it how to be a competent Long-arch Internal foot. So I do my manual and movement work primarily on the right foot, to bring it to competency more equal

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