Structural Integration: Columns The Journal of Ask the Advanced Faculty 2 The Rolf Institute® Ask the Movement Faculty 4 December 2007 Vol. 35, No. 4 Commemorative Speeches A Brief Talk About Ida Rolf 5 Publisher Alan Demmerle The Rolf Institute® of ® Memories of an Exceptional Pioneer 7 Structural Integration Richard Demmerle 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103 Boulder, CO 80301 USA Thoughts on Movement (303) 449-5903 The Tao of Exercise and Self-care 9 (303) 449-5978 Fax Gael Ohlgren (800) 530-8875 The Pelvic Lift: Theme and Variations 13 Mary Bond Editorial Board Eva Bucher Finding the Pelvic Floor 17 Craig Ellis Pauline Kidd Szaja Gottlieb The Swingwalkers of Zambia 20 Anne F. Hoff, Editor-in-Chief Adjo Zorn Linda Loggins Heidi Massa Rob McWilliams Research from Brazil Deanna Melchynuk The Making of a Science of Rolfing: From an Individual Path Maggie Ragatz to a Collective Activity 22 Susan Seecof, Managing Editor Pedro Prado Dave Sheldon Profiles and Evaluations of Rolfing Clients Process Layout and in NAPER Brazil 26 Yeda Bocaletto Graphic Design Mercedes Hernández Further Perspectives

Articles in Structural Integration: The Healing the Horse 33 Journal of The Rolf Institute® represent the Suzanna Baxter views and opinions of the authors and The Shumann Syndrome 38 do not necessarily represent the official Ray Bishop positions or teachings of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. The Rolf Institute reserves the right, in its sole and absolute Book Reviews discretion, to accept or reject any article for Yoga for the Core: Finding Stability in an Unstable Environment publication in Structural Integration: The and Anatomy and Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries 42 Journal of The Rolf Institute. Reviewed by Mary Kimberlin Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Life on Land 43 Institute® (USPS 0005-122, ISSN 1538-3784) Reviewed by Gael Ohlgren is published quarterly by the Rolf Institute, 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, Memorial CO 80301. Periodicals Postage Paid at Boulder, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send Jeff Galper 45 address changes to Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Institute®, 5055 Institute News Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301. Graduates 47 Copyright ©2007 Rolf Institute. All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part 2008-2009 Schedule 48 in any form is prohibited without written Contacts 49 permission from the publisher.

Rolfing® is a service mark of the Rolf Cover Photo Credit: iStockPhoto Institute of Structural Integration. ColumnS

posterior ribs suggests that perhaps G´ is posterior to G, which would compromise the dynamic line. From the psychobiological perspective, the question presents the hypothesis that the client has assumed an attitude of guarding the heart area, repre- Ask the Advanced Faculty senting a held emotion. Rolfing Strategy: Not Where, What, or When, But How A pattern both manifests and can be approached in various aspects of the being. By Pedro Prado, Ph.D., CertifiedA dvanced Rolfer™ Currently, the assessment taxonomies we teach may be classified as physical (com- Many of my Ten-Series clients exhibit a particular quality of emotional prising the structural/biomechanical and Qtension and holding that is evident in their structure and movement pat- functional) and psychobiological (com- terns. This pattern involves the shoulders rolled forward and contracted toward prising the emotional, energetic, cultural and existential/spiritual). These categories the front, the head pulled forward and down into the cervicals, and the posterior reflect the holistic nature of our being and ribs hardened – all seemingly in an effort to protect the heart. In the first session have implications in how we understand of the Ten Series, when rapport is just starting to be established and we are still the client’s presenting goals. Therefore, they largely strangers, we begin opening this closely guarded and emotionally charged inform the design of strategies, the choice area. My question is, with clients holding their main event in this area, is it a of techniques, and the management of the therapeutic relationship. good idea to start here in the first session? It seems that in some cases it might be better to wait until the client has developed a level of trust, a few sessions down How a personal pattern is either established or changed depends on the subjective the road. Would you comment on this? meaning the client attributes to both the experiences that generated the pattern and At first glance, this is a strategic ques- The Recipe vs. a the experience of addressing the patterns Ation: where should we touch in a first Non-formulistic Approach through the Rolfing process. We now have session; when should we contact a highly abundant theoretical support for the propo- Ida Rolf’s Recipe has always been a reliable charged area; how should we approach this sition that subjective experience shapes per- formula for bringing the client to a higher client; and how do we best start the process. ception of both internal and external events level of integration. However, the Principles To me, the key concern is not where or when and conditions, and that it plays a defining of Integration (adaptability, support, palin- – but how. role in how we adapt to gravity. tonicity and closure) indicate that strategies This inquiry brings in many of the layers can be developed according to a client’s and dimensions of our work, and provides specific needs. In formulating any strategy, The Therapeutic an opportunity to explore the complexity the Principles must be observed on each of Relationship of their relationships. It also raises matters the physical, functional and psychobiologi- The therapeutic relationship is the fourth that our profession has been wrestling cal levels, and balance must be maintained dimension, ever present in any therapeutic with during the past thirty to forty years: among these levels. The strategy must allow event. It arises between two persons – prac- The Ten-Series protocol (or ”Recipe”) ver- for integration within each level, among the titioner and client. As a result, the impact sus a non-formulistic approach (whether levels, and with gravity. Just how flexible of the event goes beyond the effects on first-hour territory should necessarily be individual Rolfers can be with respect to the spatial arrangement of body parts and addressed in the first session delivered to designing efficient and effective strategies their movements in space and time; this the client); the fact that a pattern must be for particular clients depends on their abil- fourth dimension brings in the relationship understood on several layers – as a physical ity, experience and training; but all of us can between human beings. It gives meaning configuration (shoulders rolled forward), as improve our work by adjusting the Recipe to the event relative to the environment; a functional aspect (holding, clearly present in degrees appropriate to our expertise. in the case of Rolfing, it brings it back to in movement patterns), and an emotional gravity and affects perception, feelings, dimension (an effort to protect the heart); Pattern Identification and function in gravity. The outcome of the nature of the therapeutic relationship each Rolfer/client encounter is unique, and how important it is to the success of our The question describes the pattern structur- and synchronic in time – a moment in the work (rapport is just starting to be estab- ally, functionally and psychobiologically. personal processes of each participant that lished and we are still largely strangers). The structural analysis was perhaps based will change the course of all their relation- on the line (not vertical), the blocks (head ships going forward, including the ripples These issues are all implicated in a single held forward and down into cervicals, it will produce in their interpersonal rela- event – a Rolfing® series– and we need to front compressed) and the five elements tionships. address all of them to answer the question taxonomy (the shoulders rolled forward properly. and contracted toward the front, head for- Tracking the therapeutic relationship is es- ward and jamming into the cervical spine). sential for the success of any strategy, any In functional terms, the hardening of the technique, any session – and, ultimately,

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 ColumnS the entire process. Because the charac- we can work consciously: the client knows Examples of teristics of each participant influence the what is being addressed; understands the First-Hour Strategies process, practitioners must monitor their meaning of the pattern and the challenges own characteristics, as well as those of the that changing it will bring. Here, the client You might begin by exploring the meaning client. This includes the practitioner’s body is engaged in conscious exploration. the pattern has for the client. Just asking use and posture, the feelings the practitio- “What’s your take on this?” or “How do The Recipe, with its sequence of structural ner has when touching the client, how the you account for this pattern?” or “What and functional goals, represents a gradual practitioner conceptualizes the situation, does this pattern mean to you?” might be approach to a client’s pattern. First, we etc. Over the years, the Rolf Institute of sufficient impetus for the pattern to begin release the more superficial tissue to open Structural Integration® has devoted more to unfold and make room for the integra- the territory, which allows the breath to and more curriculum hours and assigned tion of the physical changes from the tissue respond. In functional terms, you may en- greater importance to the therapeutic re- manipulation to follow. courage the client to notice the breathing as lationship; and it is now addressed in all it is, to let go of holding patterns and allow Or, you might begin by developing the training units. the breathing to respond, or to explore new client’s functional resources – perhaps by Now, enough of history and theory and breathing possibilities. In connection with increasing support with more functional back to your question. Once again, the key any of these, the client may begin to find leg hinges and feet, as well as a better concern is not where or when, but how. ground and space, to trust the exhale and connection of the feet through pelvis to There is a big difference between working expand in the inhale, or to explore flexion the front of the spine. Then the client has on someone’s anatomical structure, on and extension and find the sagittal axis of a physical place or function to relate to the one hand, and working with someone motion. Psychobiologically, these events when you do approach the delicate area or through the anatomical structure, the func- have meaning and will produce meaning. pattern. Maybe with more functional feet tional pattern or a set of meaning patterns, Conversely, the client’s perception of a and legs, the client can afford to feel the on the other hand. For the latter, building pattern’s subjective meaning may initiate chest and the emotions within. From the the container, and understanding the goals the release of the holding patterns. classical Recipe perspective, in a first hour and patterns from both your own perspec- you would emphasize release of the hip The Recipe is not about touching here or tive and the client’s are the essential first joint and the extensor group; this would be ® there to produce a specific result. The whole steps for Rolfing . Then, and only then, can preparatory to slowly deepening shoulder being is in process from the very first mo- you design effective strategies. girdle and upper chest work in the third ment. Honoring the holistic principle and and fifth sessions. In framing your question, you state your recognizing the continuity of the fascial initial impression that the pattern might web, we would expect that intervention Or, you could stay with the traditional Reci- be primarily emotional, with physical and at a particular place in the body will affect pe territory by touching lightly on the chest functional manifestations. Establishing the entire system, with changes manifest itself, observing the response of the breath- the therapeutic relationship and building in locations very distant from the point ing, allowing the client to occupy the inner trust allows you and the client to address of entry. space and to recognize it proprioceptively. the pattern at whatever level is available Then, through exploration of the breathing, With this in mind, everything becomes at a particular time. However, you must be you could encourage the client to better relative. A touch to the legs – part of the clear about how ready you are to deal with perceive the environment and observe the traditional first-hour territory – might well whatever you believe is happening and to effect this has on his/her posture. be as disruptive or invasive as a touch to the participate in the client’s journey. It is also chest too abrupt, too deep or too soon. But, The three strategies described above are important to assess the degree to which the a touch to the chest that allows the client primarily psychobiological, functional and client is engaged – or present – in the pro- to feel and own the experience – a touch structural, respectively. Each is in keeping cess, whether consciously or unconsciously. through which the therapist respects and with the Principles of Intervention, and It is this engagement that allows the client stays firm with the client as the two of them each aims both to change the body’s orga- to both explore and release patterns, as well contact whatever is held in the region – will nization in gravity and to engage the client as to own the changes. produce a significant result right there in enough to let the client own the changes. There are levels of consciousness, from tis- the first hour. Designing and executing our strategies with sue responsiveness to reflexive mind. All In short, it’s not the location, but the atti- various methods appropriate to the mul- levels continuously feed back upon each tude. The Recipe does not describe locations tiple layers of a pattern does give us more other, creating the internal environment to be touched, but goals to be approached. flexibility in our work. But, if our strategies for change to manifest in gravity. The tissue It suggests particular territory as a means or choices of methods are random or merely may respond to adequate touch even if the to achieve the goals – not vice versa. To intuitive, the work loses form and structure. client’s mind is not present. In such a case, achieve the goals, it might be necessary to Until one has the skills and experience to the practitioner needs to pay particular start in different territory; this would not feel comfortable with non-formulistic work, attention to how the client assimilates the be departing from the Recipe, but rather one can stay within the Recipe and still changes, and to follow the adaptation of the honoring it. In that sense, we can design prepare to address emotional content by es- whole being in gravity. Sometimes it is easy: non-formulistic strategies and use whatever tablishing a proper therapeutic relationship, the client is happy to let go of an old pattern, techniques are appropriate to our strategic continually attending to the context, and and doing so poses no particular challenge. perspective. modulating touch so that you’re working Finally, if the client is sufficiently engaged, with the client, not on the client.

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org ColumnS

Ask the Movement Faculty By Mary Bond, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Rolf Movement Instructor

Introducing a Column Devoted to Discussion of Rolf Movement Theory and Practice

da Rolf was well aware that recipients of The scope of Rolfing continues to expand as IRolfing® Structural Integration needed we discover ever-more-effective means of movement education in order to fully interacting with structure. The collective en- embody the process. I remember lying on deavor has been enormous. The structural the floor of someone’s living room while faculty no sooner developed a principles- she talked us through the classic arm rota- based theory of the work than they began to tion patterns that we now call “Rolf yoga.” see how understanding articular mechan- She knew that her standard injunctions ics and inherent motion could further the – “Top of the head up!” and “Waistline process even more. In tandem with these back!” – were not sufficient to make the developments, the movement faculty’s work sustainable. But her hands were full, understanding of human movement has launching the structural aspect of her work. become ever more sophisticated. By the time I met her in 1969, Dr. Rolf had Achieving the profound results possible assigned Dorothy Nolte and Judith Aston through functional intervention is an art the task of creating the functional work and science in its own right. Mastering the that would accompany the structural work subtleties of touch and communication of Rolfing. involved is not feasible within the time From that time forward there have been frame of our basic training. It is during the many more contributors to the development movement certification training that Rolf- of Rolf Movement Integration®. Thanks ers finally have an opportunity to immerse to the dedicated and passionate work of themselves in functional education. people too numerous to name here, we now The movement faculty would like to open have a comprehensive movement theory a community dialogue about the functional and curriculum that includes client-active aspect of Rolfing, especially for those who table work, practical ergonomic advice, have not yet taken the movement certifica- and in-depth neurological and perceptual tion training. We’d like to talk about quan- re-patterning. The Brazilian basic Rolfing daries you may have about incorporating training includes so much functional work movement education into your interactions that practitioners are dual-certified in struc- with clients. Ask us simple questions, like tural and movement work. The U.S. basic “How do you incite a client’s interest in training now includes three movement self-care?” Or questions that have more sessions, although how those sessions are complicated answers, like “How do you presented has only recently been standard- teach movement to clients who seem to ized. The Australian and Japanese trainings have no body awareness?” each incorporate movement in different ways. In Europe, a modular training in- Please submit your questions for the Rolf corporates both structural and functional Movement Integration Faculty to Sue modalities so that students understand all Seecof, Managing Editor, at seecof@aol. sessions in terms of functional as well as com. We promise engaging and moving structural goals. responses.

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Commemorative Speeches

Ida Rolf’s Sons Speak About Dr. Rolf and Her Work

Ida P. Rolf’s two sons both spoke at the First Annual Fascia Research Congress, held in Boston in October 2007. The following articles are their prepared talks, which they have graciously shared with us. From them, we learn more about Ida P. Rolf as a person, how she came to create the work we know as Rolfing®, and what it was like to grow up under her tutelage.

A Brief Talk About Ida Rolf By Alan Demmerle

da Rolf often said she would rather be home, moved there, and started a family. cian, Dr. Morrison, who lived and worked Iremembered for her work than for her My brother Richard was born in 1932 and in Port Jefferson (about ten miles east of life story. Consequently there is little writ- became a Chiropractor and Rolfer. I was Stony Brook), and for several hours per ten biographic material about her. Let me born in 1933 and became an electrical en- day, once per week for several years, she offer you a brief picture of who she was, gineer and researcher. would read and discuss scientific journals as painted by myself, her non-Rolfer son. and texts with him. He was one of the very Dr. Rolf was insatiably inquisitive. She Her view that the only thing that mattered early osteopaths; I would guess he was ardently studied aspects of anatomy, physi- was what she did had a few disadvantages. born around 1870. Indeed, he had lived and ology, psychology, philosophy, religion, Nature abhors a vacuum, and thus people worked in San Francisco during the famous yoga, general semantics, homeopathy, and sometimes create stories or embellish tidbits earthquake and fire of 1906. even astrology. She slept relatively little, of data that are known about her. I want to and my childhood recollections include In 1939, Ida Rolf and family moved to take this opportunity to sketch parts of her her invariably reading some serious subject Manhasset, Long Island, about twenty life, as I knew her, to put to rest some of the matter (never a novel) when I went to bed miles east of New York City. This move was incorrect stories about her. at night. She was invariably up before me motivated by the fact that my father, Walter She was born in May 1896, an only child, every morning. She was first and foremost Demmerle, who worked as a consulting and lived her early life in the Bronx, New a curious and imaginative intellectual, with engineer from his office on Wall Street, in York. Her father was a civil engineer who a passion to understand the world around New York City, had become weary of the made his living building docks and piers her. She told me that my father once had two-hour commute from Stony Brook. In on the East Coast. Her mother was one fallen from a horse while they were on a addition, it was reported that the Manhas- of six sisters, all of whom lived in New honeymoon camping trip in the Canadian set public schools were superior to the ones York City. Ida Rolf was educated in New Rockies, and she then began wondering serving Stony Brook, and my brother and I York public schools, received a Bachelor’s about the nature of sprained ankles and were of school age. I would guess, though degree from Barnard College and earned how to facilitate their healing. Perhaps this it was never said, that she felt the value of a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia event stimulated her interest in the human moving to a town of professionals and in- University. At the age of twenty-five she body. It is my observation that she uncovered tellectuals in closer proximity to New York married Walter Demmerle, a childhood and the principles and techniques of structural in- City, a place she always loved. family friend. He was an electrical engineer tegration as a result of an intellectual passion It was about that time, she was in her late who had graduated from Cooper Union in driven by curiosity and manifested by long forties, that her work toward the develop- New York City. She kept her maiden name hours of study and hard work. Whenever she ment of structural integration got a sharper since she already had a Ph.D. with the encountered a problem with herself or her focus. My brother and I were in school, and name Rolf on it and had begun her career family, it was her nature to seek a solution. she had more opportunity to pursue her as a researcher at the Rockefeller Institute She was always open to new ideas and other interests. (now called The Rockefeller University). was willing to try new methods on herself Organizations such as Johns Hopkins and or her family. In the spring of 1947, my father died of the Rockefeller Institute were leading the heart disease; my mother was fifty years She quit her job at the Rockefeller Institute way in the developing field of medical re- old and he was fifty-three. My brother and and was a stay-at-home mom when my search. At this time, she lived in Greenwich I were fourteen and thirteen. She had no brother and I were born. She may have Village, New York. When her parents died significant inheritance and little in the way found living in Stony Brook — a bucolic, in 1928, they left her waterfront property of family support. She developed a clien- very small town at that time, which is fifty in Stony Brook, Long Island, New York on tele and continued to develop her work. miles east of New York City — a bit isolated which was a small summerhouse. She and In the meantime, she was as attentive and for someone with her intellectual interests. her husband winterized and added to this supportive as any parent could be of her She befriended a blind osteopathic physi-

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org Commemorative Speeches two teenage boys. She helped us identify middle of the house and onto our heads. given out. We waited for John to finish his an appropriate career path and gave each These storms, in addition to the very high unsuccessful tempting of the fish and get to of us a college education. My mother was winds and rain, usually bring exceptionally where we waited. Together we would de- supportive, caring, loving, encouraging, high tides. In this case, the full-moon tide cide what to do if time alone could not cure unemotional, and nonjudgmental. She was (spring tide), the diurnal tide, and the storm the collapse of Ida Rolf’s legs. John kneeled there when we needed her and not there surge caused by the exceptionally low baro- on those sharp stones of that crumbling when we didn’t need her. metric pressure all coincided, prompting path, worked on my mother’s legs and back an uncommonly high tide in Long Island for fifteen or twenty minutes and produced Dr. Rolf had a few expressions that I es- Sound. Boats broke away from their moor- a miracle as Rolfers sometimes do. Ida Rolf pecially remember her for. 1) “If you have ings consequent to these enormous tides gathered herself up and plodded up the rest nothing to say, say nothing,” with its corol- and wind. My father’s boat was moored of the path to the house. She had done what lary “If you have nothing good to say, say in the harbor in front of the house when she wanted to do; she had gotten down to nothing.” She lived by this idea. Small talk this tide and wind conspired to transport the edge of the sea and returned. It was I was not her forte, and most importantly, this small cabin cruiser into the old town who had suffered the anxiety and trepida- she was not critical of others and she never of Stony Brook. The boat was smashing in tion of that dangerous assent. Her outlook maligned anyone. This is not to say that she store windows when a resident near these on the dangers of that trip seemed to me was retiring. In fact, she was demanding of stores telephoned my mother with this cavalier. In retrospect, however, I see her at- herself, her colleagues, and her students. 2) news. In the height of this viscous wind and titude as just her desire to live in such a way She often said that her accomplishments, rainstorm, she went to the town, boarded as to get the most out of life. The risks those whatever they were, came from “10% in- the boat, started the engine (a major job circumstances presented were worth it. It spiration and 90% perspiration.” Indeed she under the circumstances) and piloted the was a demonstration of her appreciation of was a hard and tireless worker driven by boat back down the main street to the har- the adventure of living to the fullest. curiosity and a dedication to understanding bor. Courage, conviction and fortitude were the human body. It has been my pleasure giving you this very elements of Ida Rolf’s constitution. brief sketch of Ida Rolf. I would recommend Circa 1959, Dr. Rolf sold her two houses, one The second event that I would like to use two other sources of reflections about Dr in Stony Brook and one in Manhasset, and to demonstrate Ida Rolf’s character took Rolf. Certified Advanced Rolfer™ Sam moved to an apartment at Riverside Drive place when she was seventy-six years old, Johnson in the IASI Yearbook 2007 wrote a and 74th street New York City. She lived on and living in a house on the edge of a cliff stimulating and well-documented article the 14th floor on the west side of the build- bordering the sea in Big Sur, California. “Ida Rolf and the Two Paradigms”, which ing with a spectacular view of the Hudson Those of you who have been to Big Sur documents some of her history and devel- River and the sunsets over New Jersey. She can readily appreciate the steepness and ops some ideas as to her journey and the had a special attachment to sunlight, which general character of these cliffs. In front of evolution of structural integration. I have flooded that apartment, and she enjoyed this house was the top of a switchback path found the Johnson article well worth read- that living arrangement for about ten years. leading down to the ocean’s edge, a path ing.1 2) There is a book, edited by Rosemary She then moved to Blackwood, a New Jer- that would intimidate a mountain goat, Feitis and Louis Schultz and put together by sey suburb of Philadelphia, to live in the and even myself, a healthy, sure-footed the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration® vicinity of my older brother Richard and his thirty-nine-year-old at the time. However, called Remembering Ida Rolf. It is comprised family. During these years she traveled a lot it did not faze Ida Rolf, despite the fact that of stories and anecdotes about Dr. Rolf. If and spent considerable time in Europe and she was suffering some mobility limitations you have an interest in some of the experi- California, forever seeking development of due to old age. A senior Rolfer and friend ences of many of the early Rolfers with Dr. her work and teaching others the principles of hers, John Lodge, and she decided it Rolf, I recommend you look at this book.2 and techniques of structural integration. would be interesting to go down the path She died in the spring of 1979, at the age of Perhaps someday someone will compile to the surf — John to fish and she to cheer eighty-two, working to the very end. Her more complete biographical material about him on. I was visiting my mother for the remains rest in the family plot in Woodlawn Ida Rolf. I imagine it will be a difficult job weekend and was unwittingly recruited to Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. because the people who knew her are get- accompany her down the cliff. My opposi- ting old, some are dead, and notes and let- I would like to relate two events that dem- tion made no dent in her determination. My ters concerning her personal life are scarce. onstrate Ida Rolf’s pluck and grit. The first worries about her slipping off the trail on Even so, documenting what she did will be event took place when she was forty-two the loose crumbling rocks didn’t deter her. the easy part. To report how she did it, and years old and the hurricane of 1938 de- She declared she had lived a good life and what motivated her is bound to be the prod- scended upon New England doing major if she slipped and fell it would be a worthy uct of the reporter’s imagination. Myths are damage to Long Island, Connecticut and end. I was tuned into the problem that if abundant, but they are a tricky foundation Rhode Island. The September storm struck she fell, there was no way to get her back from which to build biography. with no warning; long-range weather fore- up to the house. The path was unsuitable to casts, satellite imagery and television were carry someone. The trip down fortunately technologies that were still undeveloped. was without incident. When the time came Editor’s Notes My father was at work in New York City to go back up all went well, though slow, 1. This article was reprinted in the June 2007 as my mother, my brother, and I marveled for a while. About 80% of the way up, she issue of Structural Integration. at the fierceness of the storm, expecting declared she couldn’t go on any further, and 2. Published in 1996 by the Rolf Institute the next falling tree to crash through the had to sit down. Her legs, she declared, had

www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Commemorative Speeches

Memories of an Exceptional Pioneer By Richard Demmerle Ph.D., D.C., D.N.

efore I begin this trip down memory This was evidenced in gymnastics in el- Structural Dynamics, later changed to Blane, it is important to note that Ida ementary school. I avoided such activities Structural Integration, and which under- Pauline Rolf was born in Bronx, New York simply because I felt extremely ungainly, went a further metamorphosis to be known on May 19, 1896. She attended public school uncoordinated and very unsafe. I was often now as “Rolfing”®. in New York. She was an exceptional stu- singled out, becoming the recipient of very Of course back in the 40s and 50s, it was dent, being accepted by Barnard College for painful jesting and ridicule. known as Structural Dynamics. My tutelage Women in her late teens. My mother, Ida Rolf, took me here and continued all through high school. I gradu- After she graduated Cum Laude with a there searching for a resolution to this ated and then I took an extensive massage Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1921, she accepted most unpleasant burden. She investigated course, lasting one year. After my military a position with the Rockefeller Institute for many approaches, the manipulative form of service I entered the Los Angeles College Biological Research, working herself up to osteopathy, nutrition, exercise systems, etc. of Chiropractic (LACC). the position of assistant. She also undertook However their promises were not fulfilled. Dr. Rolf stood behind the idea of my being studies at the Eidgenossiches Technical It is certain that she spent many a sleepless a healer, and naturally, she was hoping that Hochschule in Zürich, Switzerland, and night over my condition. I am almost cer- I would be accepted into medical school. I studied homeopathy in Geneva. She contin- tain that this was the motivation to look to was absolutely convinced that the manipu- ued studies at the University of Heidelberg creating some form of treatment which was lative profession was for me. I chose freely in Germany, and also the Pasteur Institute in up to then unavailable. to enter chiropractic school. I obtained my Paris, The main thrust of her research was In her quest, her attention was focused degree from LACC, as well as a degree in in the field of polysaccharides and proteins. on the subtle movements of the body. the field of natural medicine from Sierra This covers her academic studies. What could be the disturbing factor? This States University in Los Angeles. I am sure Many people have asked me just how I be- situation dragged on for years, until I was that she had a hard time coming to terms came involved with the healing profession. fourteen or so. We traveled to California for with the fact that her son was a chiropractor, I seriously doubt if they can understand a year, so that she could study with Amy and not a D.O. or M.D. my answer. I was literally hand-picked and Cochran, who had a system called “Physio- I accompanied her on many of her teach- groomed for it. I had other yearnings, how- synthesis”. This was a system of exercises. ing trips. The first class that I attended ever, and these were not taken seriously, While here, we went on weekend excur- was while I was stationed in Los Angeles hence they were not fulfilled. sions to the mountains, and the canyons, in 1953. I was called on numerous times to the shore, and of course the desert. It was As a child I was exposed to a highly intui- show the physicians what she perceived. I an exciting time. She spent days under the tive osteopathic healer. He was blind; there- felt very awkward, for here I was, with only tutelage of this white-haired woman, and fore his touch was exceptionally sensitive. a massage diploma, showing these highly evenings she went to The Los Angeles Chi- During my formative years, I was never ex- trained physicians how to “see”, as well as ropractic School, studying anatomy with a posed to the orthodox medical profession. get in manually to get the job done. It was very astute teacher Dr. Arthur Nilson. It is For Ida Rolf, it was clear that homeopathy an interesting time. amusing that I studied under him also in was the approach of choice, so this was the late 1950s. One of the instances which convinced me what I have been raised on. of the manipulative profession of Rolfing® We returned East in 1944. She had at this It seems as I look back, I was somehow cho- was the case of a man who had plummeted time begun to work with clients at home. I sen to bring a certain “incurable” situation ten stories down an elevator shaft, coming can almost hear her now, the voice which into the world. Now the term “incurable”, away with only compressed joints. He could not be ignored. I was usually busy is the word I use, to designate the fact that walked away from his treatments able to with school work. The command was very it could not be fully understood by the then resume his profession as a steelworker. This direct: “Come, I need your help!” I was to “medical world”. They were quick to give it was an eye opener to all the physicians in offer her my strength in order to complete a label called “hyperkinesis”. This describes the class. I recall a case of an elderly man, the necessary work on her client. the fact that all activities that require fine whose hobby was trap shooting. The results balance tend to be avoided or ruled out. And so began my tutelage in the field of of the recoil of the shotgun were hard to

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org Commemorative Speeches miss. His chest was caved in, resulting in the underlying principles of Rolfing then, the appearance of a man considerably older. and even though I am no longer in active He walked out much more erect, and need- practice, my belief is still as strong, if not less to say his structure was more capable stronger. I conducted two projects, which of supporting him. served to validate these principles, one was with a group of Brain Injured Children1, and I had just graduated from LACC, when I the second was with an industrial manage- received a call from New York, telling me ment group. The results were astounding to I should return, to manage her practice those participating, however not to me, so while she was away. So, her obedient son strong was my conviction of the premises. returned, and remained on the East Coast I thank my mother, for being who she was, until 1979. and – in spite of some inner resistance on I attended many classes as co-instructor, my part – for grooming me for her work, the first being in London in 1957. Our even though it was incredibly taxing at teaching methods differed, and she found times. She was one of those people who it difficult to understand my approach. I would not accept “it can’t be done”, she also conducted classes on the East Coast, always found a way. This characteristic is New Jersey, Florida, as well as in Big Sur, one which I still truly appreciate. California and Boulder, Colorado. Both my brother Alan and I feel honored to As I have said, she made many trips, be participating in this Fascial Congress. It throughout the U.S. and regularly to Eng- truly is a milestone for understanding sci- land during the hot summer months. She entifically the basis for the technique known had a very difficult time dealing with the as Rolfing. This symposium is the epitome, sweltering streets of New York. Her unsung in my mind, as far as official recognition of saving grace was minding her practice. At Ida Rolf’s work is concerned. her request, I was called upon to restore balance to her physical system, which had Notes been sacrificed during her classes. She was teaching classes in Kansas City, Nebraska, 1. Project Breakthrough. Foundation for when an architect visited her with a specific Brain Injured Children, NYC, 1963. problem with walking. He followed her around the country, to each city where she conducted classes. He wrote a testimonial in which he stated, “It is odd that a man of fifty years should have to learn to walk all over again!” Ida Rolf spent an incredible number of hours reading journals, books and all sorts of unorthodox material concerning healing. She had memberships with many fringe groups, i.e. psychic organizations, etc. There are two very special events to which I owe her my sincere gratitude. I attended a seminar at Columbia University given by a Dr. Myers, a neurologist and semanticist. He was able to clear some of the confusion in my mind remaining from my chiropractic training. The second seminar was given by the General Semantics Society, having to do with the basics of communication. All was not easy with this demanding genius, searching for recognition. I pleaded with her many times to let me take over some of her pet research projects in California. I was flatly turned down, with the excuse I had a small family to raise, and this hit me very hard. However, I was a staunch supporter of

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it may first appear, within their parameters, rigidity is predictable. Strength-building machines accelerate results and most 21st century workouts are at least semi-reli- ant upon them. Continually and rapidly The Tao of Exercise and Self-Care repeated, this limits an infinite number of possibilities for our well-being physically, By Gael Ohlgren, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ emotionally and perceptually, while actual rolf Movement Practitioner™ health involves a balance of the three.

All beings, grass and trees, when alive, are soft and bending Speed When dead they are dry and brittle. Therefore the hard and unyielding are companions of death, The idea that speed benefits a workout The soft and yielding are companions of life. is based on the assumption that velocity Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water. enhances cardiovascular health and/or Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better; makes up for the stagnation of a sedentary It has no equal. lifestyle. What we often don’t realize is that The weak can overcome the strong; during fast repetitive movement a numbing The supple can overcome the stiff. dissociation occurs, and that speed actually Lao Tzu1 diminishes sensation. No longer are our senses enlisted to keep muscles and nerves attuned to subtler nuances of balance here was once an efficiency expert who current status quo for adult exercise. When and harmony. Frequently we forget that Tvisited a chocolate factory and watched targeting specific muscle groups, length- speed and pushing through are designed the women hand-dipping chocolates. Their ening occurs with the body positioned in for survival and single-focused efficiency. gestures always included various spirals such a way as to lever a specific muscle in Although we need those responses in an and twirls in order to prevent drips as two directions. If you were to take a rubber emergency, most of us have plenty of stress they lifted the chocolate from the vat to tube and pull it in two directions, it would and speed in our daily lives. The biochem- the paper. This was considered a loss of lengthen and it would also narrow. In our istry produced by speed and stress are not time and efficiency, and the women were human bodies, if the force of these positions beneficial for our health as a steady norm. taught to make more direct in, out, over, were increased enough, our joints would and down pathways. Within a week they tear apart. Vigorous stretching forces liga- Robert Litman, of Asthma Free Arizona were complaining of carpal tunnel symp- ments (whose job it is to hold joints togeth- & The Breathable Body, LLC, elaborates toms. Having fallen out of interplay with er) to go into overdrive and their fatigue is on our bodies’ physical response to rapid their core creativity, the small, ingenious a threat to the joints. Going back and forth movement and breath: variations within each repetitive task were between shortening tissue for more tone We need to realize that our autonomic eliminated, and the women became prone and then stretching for flexibility creates a nervous system is regulated by the to fatigue and damage. subtle contradiction in the body. way we ingest breath. When our In Taoism, the closest thing in nature to Most athletic approaches make a trade-off speed outstrips our nervous system’s pure effectiveness is water. Water is the between strength and flexibility. The best ability to handle the input, we switch communicator, the informer and the trans- results for creating muscle bulk seem to be from nose breathing to mouth breath- porter all in one. By embracing a view of the produced by repetitive linear action and ing. In a regulated system the sym- body which is consistent with the ancient pushing a muscle’s capacity past its limit. pathetic and the parasympathetic concept of the Tao, we have the potential to This creates micro tears in the tissue and it branches of the autonomic nervous truly revolutionize the process of staying is this scarring over time that creates bulk. system are balanced. Neither over- fit and vital. While this hard tone is much sought after, powers the other. Using the mouth denser tissue, like any scar tissue, loses flex- for breathing triggers an escalation The Standard in ibility. Science is now finding that the lactic in our sympathetic nervous system’s responses, in lay terms called the Contemporary Exercise acid produced after this type of exercise is the body’s attempt to dissolve hardening “fight or flight” response. Breath- The capacity to stay healthy and release of the tissue. Why? Because the movement ing tempos increase. This causes a stress while feeling and looking youthful is of nutrients, fluids and neural information shift in the body’s physiology which desired at every level of our society. We seek requires sufficient suppleness in human triggers a cascade of internal events. the optimum exercise routine in pursuit of tissue. It’s not just that we feel stiff, our The blood is diverted to the muscles health, understandably grabbing the most passageways are actually impaired. and away from the organs, while the convenient workout option that promises mind becomes highly alert. Digestion definite results while causing the least intru- If we look at the body’s truth, the body is not slows and the sphincter muscles in sion into an already hectic schedule. designed for rigidity, though the movement the bowel and bladder close. The patterns we practice tend to encourage just blood thickens to increase clotting A linear approach to working and stretch- that. Looking at mainstream approaches to ability and to reduce bleeding in ing isolated muscle groups linearly is the modern exercise, we discover that subtle as case of injury. Airways widen to let

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org Thoughts on Movement

in more air and sweating increases to nose breath. (at the simplest level) of oxygen and cool down the body. The liver releases sugar, when there is a decrease in Right above the mouth we have the sugar to provide instant energy and the flow of oxygen then there is a nose which is the preferred orifice muscles tense in readiness for action. decrease in the amount of energy pro- for breathing. Even during extreme Our immune response decreases to duced by our cells; hence fatigue and levels of effort the body can be allow massive preparation for im- the breakdown of other systems. As trained to continue to use the nose mediate threat. a result it can take longer to recover for breathing. The nose, unlike the from exercise. Recovery means that Now, while these responses are part mouth, is able to filter, moisturize breath and heart rate can return to of the normal activity of the body for and warm the air and air passages. normal and we can ‘rest and settle’ dealing with a short-term situation, One of the balancing advantages of within seconds or minutes. a long-term activation of the sympa- nose breathing is that the oxygen is thetic nervous system will cause it delivered to all five lobes of the lungs. The feeling that you must open your to become overworked, leading to While we might feel as if we are tak- mouth in order to get enough air is a adrenal fatigue and a breakdown of ing in more oxygen with our mouths clear sign that you are moving faster the systems involved in preparing open, actually we are only using the than your body’s ability to maintain for the threat. top two lobes for breathing. A good internal balance. This is o.k. on a deal of our capacity to take in more short-term basis but not as a long- Over time, the immune system air is dependent upon a flexibility term, everyday habit. In other words, declines, making one susceptible to of the diaphragm and rib basket. A you are moving too fast for your body colds, allergies and asthma. Con- relaxed respiratory process that is to catch up in a healthy way. While stantly tight muscles will begin to fostered by breathing through the discipline and will are excellent traits, show wear and tear not only within nose has a better chance of increasing if they override the natural rhythms themselves but also on the bones and chest mobility. of our body, we are in trouble.2 joints that support them. Incessant tension can lead to chronic fatigue The biggest problem in developing a We can begin to set ourselves free from the and fibromyalgia. Since the bowel habit of mouth breathing is that our potential risk of this struggle and effort by and bladder are compromised in their respiratory gases become unbalanced shedding light on the little-explored fact function, chronic tension and system and oxygen delivery becomes com- that our tissues have the ability to relax, alert can result in poor digestion promised. The two main gas compo- open and lengthen of their own accord. and elimination as well as long term nents of respiration are oxygen and This expansion is not so much the two-way mal-absorption of nutrients. With the carbon dioxide (CO2). Unfortunately, stretching of a rope as it is the loosening of brain always on alert, it can be hard to carbon dioxide has been misnamed the strands of a braid in all directions. For get a good night’s rest. Insomnia and as a waste gas, so we think of it as this type of tissue opening to occur, the restlessness result. The high demand something of which we need to rid body needs to be deeply relaxed while in of this type of activation can cause ourselves. The truth is that we need movement. By bringing the inner alertness the heart rate to elevate. Should it a certain amount of CO2 to keep our of meditation and mindfulness to bear on become erratic or pound while at body healthy. It makes sense that this free-flowing movement, the tissue opens rest, anxiety tends to mount, perhaps would be true, the body always has to of its own accord. The body receives intel- leading to panic attacks. Smooth have balance. At the most basic level ligence and responds through sensation. muscles of the organs remain tight the CO2 that our bodies produce is That we can change the quality of our tissue which can increase blood pressure. a byproduct of cellular respiration by changing the context of our engagement And constant thickening of the blood occurring in the mitochondria of is an extra-ordinary reality. We maximize sets the body up for possible strokes. our cells and necessary for keeping the exchange of information between cells The list goes on to include forgetful- our blood pH normal. This in turn as we reduce the speed of our movements, ness, skin ailments, and chest pains regulates the release of oxygen from and the quality of our tissue changes simul- that are not related to heart problems. the hemoglobin in the red blood cells taneously. If you sit on a log, the ant parade In short, the body is being suffocated in order to feed the rest of the cells of appears. Just as one notices more details – isolated from life-giving informa- the body. There is not enough CO2 in in nature when walking a path rather tion and nutrients. our atmosphere to accomplish this; than driving a car, sensation increases as we must make our own and retain it If mouth breathing becomes a chronic movement slows. Slowing down – slower for proper respiratory function. condition, a tendency will develop than the pace of walking, slower than the for dry air passages, nose conges- If we have a habit of mouth breath- pace of machines – allows another world tion, and feelings of restriction and ing or of over-breathing (breathing of information to make itself known. This air hunger in the upper chest. The too fast for the body’s needs) then framework is the key to allowing the braid point is that pushing oneself in the we give off too much CO2. This of the tissue fibers to unravel and lengthen name of cardiovascular health may imbalance of our respiratory gases in their own way, and for nutrients to pass backfire without a pacing that allows results in a decrease in the efficiency unencumbered. the nervous system to stay balanced. of oxygen delivery to the cells. Since After an exertion that involves pushing the In order to know that pace, we need the production of energy in our body limit, fatigue or lassitude ensue. As Lao Tzu, to follow the cues of our breath, our in the form of ATP is a metabolism

10 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Thoughts on Movement the father of Taoism, said, “Force is followed slow down enough to ask, what “the dance water principle, Continuum explores the by loss of strength.” In the intensity of our of the nature of water” is, and its impact harmonies between human beings, move- lives, many of us welcome the release of in terms of exercise, physical strength and ment and the Tao. This truly can regenerate tension that occurs with this fatigue phase. toning? In the Tao of well-being, practicing vitality without depletion. But are our bodies being nourished or worn the nature of water may not only lead to a Imagine an organism relaxed, in spontane- out? Is the chosen method counterproduc- less strained and fatiguing form of exercise, ous play. Minute sensations spread and am- tive? it also may be the key to the kind of deep plify as we attend to them. Wave motions cellular health and strength that persists With machines, even at a slow pace, the bring the body away from a segmented into old age. mechanical rhythm of a stair machine, awareness. At times the body suspends treadmill or other apparatus creates move- We cannot assume that movement without with a sense of lightness that seems to ment without organic variation. Entropy, a pleasure adds up to the same life-force en- defy gravity. The whole organism begins slide into wearing down, is the only option hancement. Just as stress creates an internal to move as one coordinated whole. This is for a machine. When we follow the lead of biochemistry, pleasure creates a very differ- the context that allows tissue to open of its a machine, our parts have a greater pos- ent body chemistry. Our cultural tendency own accord, restoring suppleness. For the sibility of wearing out as well. Set routines is to derive pleasure from achieving goals, participant, the sensation is to be on the lack creative variations. The women of the making progress, and getting things done. cusp of becoming without a goal of arriv- chocolate factory were naturally creative But the power of sensual pleasure as a ing or staying. The next impulse can arrive in their motions – they intuitively trusted nutrient for vitality and regeneration has from any vector or angle of the body taking their inner wisdom. not been adequately explored. All manner it again as a whole into a new configuration. of poor self-image, neurosis, and personal It is hard to describe the pleasure of these It’s easy to mistakenly assume that all bod- discomfort can be ameliorated simply by slow transformations in which the dissolv- ies have the same needs and even that one’s feeling good inside. Conversely, the more ing of one form is the same as the creation of body has the same needs day to day. When we live apart from our own physical expe- another. It is a deep peace of being exactly experimentation is traded for constant cer- rience, the more prone we are to anxiety, in the moment and richly informed without titude, the body loses its ability to respond cravings, and someone else’s authority. a need to know what comes next or what to the immediate. Our bodies need change. it all means. Without it we become rigid and bored. Like Creativity in movement explorations as- the rhythm of a metronome, a machine is sures presence with the moment. Explo- We often associate this sense of stillness constant and inorganic. The bio-circuitry ration without set expectations requires with meditation, the polar opposite of ac- of our system is ever so different, slower experiencing the moment. This fluid state tion. For this state to emerge, the directing, and varied. of being brings us home to our bodies. goal-driven mind must take the back seat. Because the neocortex is not directing the Our bodies seek attunement with the Aspects of this fluid state of body/mind process of this movement, there is a sense of rhythms of the biosphere in order to heal are often exquisitely captured by profes- participating in the unfolding of a mystery. and regenerate. We are so much more than sional athletes who learn to trust their Honoring the wisdom of the body’s cellular static entities to endlessly be run through bodies. Referred to as “being in the zone,” intelligence, we reawaken humanity’s link the same routine, in the hopes that we will the body intuitively knows where to go to the ancient dance of life. not slide into decrepitude while we aren’t of its own accord in seemingly effortless, looking. effective action. Mastery in sports requires Most adult exercise is upright, organized presence, spontaneity, fluidity, trust, and a around an up/down midline and primarily The inner listening that adds up to kin- willingness to be present with the unknown focused on forward thrust. This, and our esthetic intelligence, intuition or personal right now. Contained dignity is never called “adult” tendency to segment between the wisdom is such an important life skill. for. Unpredictability is the norm. Seeing limbs and torso, leads to excessive stabili- Courting well-being by surrendering to the power of the water principle in sports, zation over time. For a fresh perspective the pace of the creative intelligence of the a form of self-care fitness that incorporates on the human body, it is good to begin body is at the heart of the most advanced these attributes becomes highly attractive. by remembering our ancient, biomorphic ancient and ageless health philosophies. At lineage. We have more in common with the this time, in our culture, we could use some earthworm than with any exercise machine, remembering and reminding. Continuum yet moving in play as an octopus or a snake Revolutionary on the fitness scale, Continu- simply isn’t protocol in the gym atmo- The Dance um, a movement form developed by Emilie sphere. Nor is hanging at upside-down or of the Nature of Water Conrad, takes the healing power of move- sideways angles to gravity. Though enor- ment to a higher octave. Continuum is a call In the accelerated pace of our nanosecond mously invigorating and strengthening, in to life that honors the creative language of adult public exercise venues these unusual world, we must be mindful not to lose the body. The human body and spirit are the fluid, water-like language of the body. positions and co-ordinations are definitely designed for the act of regeneration. This not visible. Recognizing our “species-inclu- When we think of the water element in does not require intervention. The cells movement terms, we think of a fluid qual- sive body” would immediately give access of the body already know. In Continuum, to new movement possibilities, allowing an ity of smooth, effortless motion. Infinitely people find a safe space of surrender that adaptable to all manner of circumstances, adaptability that rarely gets touched past allows the intelligence that goes beyond childhood. water sees no duality between strong and thought to be received. Embodying the supple. It is the description of grace. Can we

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It is after one of these explorations that one helps us to feel from the inside out as a sort Again, to quote Smith, “Infinitely supple, often recognizes the wisdom of the choices of biofeedback to the system. We can feel yet incomparably strong -- these virtues of that are made by the organism when it is the vibration of sound as it literally com- water are precisely those of wu wei as well. freed from linear, problem-solving modes municates through bone and tissue. When The person who embodies this condition... of assessing. Without having any destina- we become interested in the sensations acts without strain.”4 tion, the body seems to know exactly how it and movement of sound, it has a way of When our bodies need energy, whether needs to go in order to open more space and organically opening and slowing breathing. it’s physical or emotional, a workout that volume and to release tensions. Given half a As it goes with breath, so it goes with the enhances awareness and sensation is what chance, it will rebalance at a higher level of nervous system. inspires. Aligned with the same principles order. This becomes evident as one notices that revitalize water when it can flow freely, an increase of circulation, more relaxation, Wu Wei: Where Movement it can access spontaneity, freedom, and pleasurable sensations, and an opening and Non-Movement Meet an agility that is completely unexpected. of breath. Usually one feels invigorated, Self-care and healing are most effective refreshed, and freer. In Taoism, the term wu wei, also referred to as “the action of non-action”, sums up when in harmony and resonance with the Within the current perspective, if one has these principles. Huston Smith, author of biosphere. the misfortune to have a “bad” hip, back, The World’s Religions, calls wu wei, “pure or any type of physical challenge, she/he is effectiveness” or “creative quietude”: Notes indoctrinated to believe that exercise is sud- denly off limits or greatly curtailed. Since Creative quietude combines within 1. Tzu, Lao. Tao Te Ching. Translated by Ste- the body is movement, we always have the a single individual two seemingly phen Mitchell. New York: Harpers, 1988. incompatible conditions – supreme ability to move. Fluid movement can be 2. Robert Litman, Certified Practitioner of activity and supreme relaxation. present throughout life. Continuum brings the Buteyko Institute Method of Breathing The seeming incompatibles can co- together the super athlete, the dancer, and Retraining, Authorized Continuum Move- exist because human beings are not the physically impaired. This is particularly ment Teacher, Advanced Practitioner of the self-enclosed entities. They ride an meaningful for someone who has lost the Duggan/French Approach to Somatic Pat- unbounded sea of Tao that sustains ability to pursue a beloved activity. Once tern Recognition. Robert’s website is www. them, as we would say, through their again, a duality crumbles. It turns out that thebreathablebody.com. He can be contact- subliminal minds... level of fitness has nothing to do with one’s ed by email at Robert@thebreathablebody. ability to participate with movement in a One way to create is through follow- com or by phone at 520-326-9775. creative and enlivening fashion. Organic ing the calculated directives of the 3. Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions New explorations which follow natural impulses conscious mind. The results of this York: HarperCollins, 1991. take the body into a plentitude of varied mode of action, however, are seldom relationships with gravity, far from our impressive; they tend to smack more 4. Ibid. usual center-line equilibrium. Since many of sorting and arranging than of Gael Ohlgren’s website is www.gaelohlgren. injuries, such as sprains and tears, occur inspiration. with sudden divergences from the mid-line, com. She can be contacted by email at gael@ the ability to holistically coordinate and Genuine creation, as every artist gaelohlgren.com or by phone at 303-530-2992. sustain in unusual positions that are far knows, comes when the more abun- from equilibrium is a key to building both dant resources of the subliminal self strength and adaptability. are somehow tapped. But for this to happen a certain disassociation Even for those who recognize the realm from the surface self is needed. The just described, it is a leap to imagine that conscious mind must relax, stop this form would ever produce strength. Of standing in its own light, and let go. course, it could never replace the training Only so is it possible to break through required to run a marathon, or any other the law of reversed effort in which specialized performance. Specific skills the more we try the more our efforts need practice. But then, the Tao of self-care boomerang.3 is just as crucial. Renewal after specialized or extreme activities is essential for the This is the inner context that changes ev- longevity of our capacities. To refresh the erything. It requires a state change from world of possibilities after any repetitive our everyday action mode in which we are use will restore balance to the whole. getting things done to what Aldous Huxley called “dynamic relaxation.” When this Sound has been used in many meditations state is courted during moving explora- over the centuries because it is one of the tions, the body seems to guide while the fastest ways to enrich an inner state of dy- mind appreciates the unfolding. Pleasur- namic relaxation. In Continuum, sound is able movement could be seen as a nutrient employed as another form of movement. It that is vital for our organism’s harmony.

12 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Thoughts on Movement

girdle and completing the correction of a swayback.”5 To those of us who learned “Rolf yoga” directly from Ida Rolf, the instructions in Thomas’s book have a familiar feel. Her first direction is to “move your waistline The Pelvic Lift to the floor while curling your spine upward at its ends, like a canoe”. This is to Theme and Variations be accomplished by tilting the pubic bone By Mary Bond, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ upward and rolling the waistline back rolf Movement Practitioner™ without lifting the pelvis off the floor. The back wall of the abdomen should ease Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the IASI Yearbook 2007. backward and the abdominals should remain soft. The purpose of the next stage of da Rolf’s pelvic lift is familiar to all 1940s. Cochran had developed a system of the exercise is to match the strength of the IStructural Integration (SI) practitioners exercises using the floor as a reference for muscles in the front and back of the spine. as a primary integrative tool of our work. training upright posture, an innovative idea After repeating the initial tilt, one should This article will discuss the history and at the time. What she initially explored as press downward with the balls of the big purpose of this intervention and explore an adjunct to osteopathy developed into a toes and then lift the pelvis off the floor some alternative ways of teaching it for system for reconstructing physical structure while leading upward with the pubic bone. client self-help. through precisely controlled movements. Once the “inner muscles” (by this Cochran In the early 1930s Cochran had traveled means the psoas) have “taken hold”, one What’s In a Name? through Europe sharing her findings with should be able lift the pelvis high enough professionals in various fields of medicine that the thoracic spine clears the floor, but If you ask someone outside our commu- whom she impressed with the implica- without any arching of the spine. This last nity to perform the movement of a pelvic tions of spinal posture on the endocrine detail is what distinguishes Cochran’s exer- lift, what you will see is a strong upward and nervous systems.2 Cochran’s exercises cise from the familiar lift as taught in gyms thrust of the pelvis and active engagement were intended to develop what she called and yoga studios. To lift the spine without of thigh, buttocks and abdominal muscles. the “Central Line of Power”, which was arching it is more difficult than it sounds. A Google search for “pelvic lift” yields represented as the intersection of the frontal In the final stage, after tucking in the chin a half million entries. The first webpage and sagittal planes of the body. The “inner to fix the cervical region, the spine should listed suggests that a pelvic lift is “the most core of support” involved the function of be slowly lowered one bone at a time. The efficient route to tighter abs” according to the muscles nearest the bony structure as a 2001 report of The American Council of contrasted to longer muscles near the body Exercise Fitness. On the next page, a yoga surface. (Here, surely, is the genesis of Rolf’s version of the pelvic lift called bridge pose is concept of “core” and “sleeve”.) Cochran’s meant to “loosen frozen shoulders, build up technique involved rehabilitating support your quadriceps and develop that famous of ligamentous and deep muscular systems ‘yoga butt’”. Sandwiched between these by releasing tension in some muscles and pages and the “The Bootie Lifter” is John increasing it in others.3 Cottingham’s research, first published in the Journal of the American Physical Therapy Cochran’s work failed to develop and Association: “Effects of Soft Tissue Mobiliza- spread as Rolfing did. Physio-Synthesis is tion (Rolfing® Pelvic Lift) on Parasympa- currently taught in a fitness center in Texas, thetic Tone in Two Age Groups”.1 While and by a teacher in California, Ida Thomas, the Rolf pelvic lift has the distinction of a student of one of Cochran’s protégés. being entry number five among 500,000, Thomas wrote a training manual on the the mass market definition of “pelvic lift” Physio-Synthesis technique that she pub- 4 may indicate that the SI community might lished in 1998. Her presentation conveys well consider new terminology for this the sense that she has faithfully adhered to intervention. Cochran’s original teachings. In it one can find descriptions of the pelvic lift as Rolf must have learned it. Amy Cochran Figure 1. Both Rolf and Cochran stressed and Physio-Synthesis Here are Cochran’s words expressing the the diaphragm relationship as well as the importance of balance between the What many Rolfing Practitioners have come purpose of the pelvic lift: “Now tilt and psoas and rectus abdominis. Illustration to call “Rolf Yoga” (This includes arm rota- make a pelvic lift. That’s the way we begin by Stephen P. Miller. Reprinted with tions, leg hinges and the pelvic lift.) was to take the sway out of the lower back. permission from The New Rules of adapted by Ida Rolf from exercises she When you return from the neck down and retard the descent of the pelvis, you Posture by Mary Bond (Rochester, VT: learned from osteopath Amy Cochran in the Healing Arts Press, 2007). are developing the inside of the pelvic

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 13 Thoughts on Movement rectus abdominis muscles remain soft. The ing. Positioning and intent are more sophis- clients for self-help. I’d like to share some teacher slides one hand under the student’s ticated than they were in the days when observations that can clarify the process sacrum as far up the spine as possible and our only goal was to get the waistline to and also offer an innovation that turns our then moves the hand down the spine, paus- fall back. Through Jan Sultan’s External/ time-honored maneuver to an additional ing to let each vertebra sink into her fingers. Internal model we’ve learned to imbue our purpose. The practitioner’s second hand presses touch with varying intention depending on My first step is to make clear to a client back into the abdomen to encourage the the angle of pelvic inclination and degree how the movements I’m teaching are dif- spine to “sag”. of lumbar lordosis. For clients who exhibit ferent in purpose and execution from yoga posterior pelvic tilt with a flattened lumbar or Pilates exercises they may have already curve it no longer makes sense to encour- Just Lift learned. I like to explain why mobilizing the age the lumbar area posteriorly. With such spine in this particular manner is essential My exposure to the ideas of Physio-Synthe- clients we may address the lumbars with to the goals of structural integration, and sis inspired me to re-read my notes from a tonifying rather than soothing intention, how it is applicable to their particular case. classes with Rolf in 1969 and 1970. Rolf and may find it beneficial to work with This helps clients value the exercise and presented the pelvic lift both as a manual the hips extended rather than with knees avoid a tendency to think the movements intervention and as an exercise for clients bent. We’ve also become more informed are too subtle to accomplish anything. I to practice at home, although she did not about vertebral rotations than we were in frequently ask a client to notice how her teach us the shoulder-high lift described Rolf’s time. in Thomas’s book. As a manual interven- usual version of a pelvic lift compresses tion the maneuver was intended to relax Yet while our understanding of structure the lumbar area. has evolved, the basic pelvic intervention the lumbosacral fascia so that the lumbars I prefer to invoke the pelvic action from the has changed little from Cochran’s time. A could “fall back”. It was also intended to feet rather than from the pelvis as Cochran fine description of the myofascial technique sedate the nervous system. “A pelvic lift is and Rolf did. This approach helps clients is to be found in Michael Stanborough’s always in order in an emergency,” Rolf said, connect the motion through the legs right text, Direct Release Myofascial Technique.8 The and of course, Cottingham’s 1988 research, away and lets the pelvic movement emerge intervention differs only in the explicitness mentioned earlier, bore her out. Over and as a sensory experience rather than as a “do- 6 of the instructions from the technique as over my notes mention the Ganglion Impar ing”. By going slowly and adding sensory taught by Rolf. Stanborough’s term for this in connection with pelvic lifts. That Rolf details in pace with a client’s evolving pro- intervention is “pelvic roll with lumbosa- thought this bit of anatomy had more im- prioception, I avoid the confusion and even cral traction”. This change in terminology pact on function than was then recognized crises that can occur when a client practices clarifies the intent of our intervention and was a mark of her genius in recognizing this powerful exercise in the wrong way. the importance of pelvic-floor balance to distinguishes it from the objectives of other whole-body integration. pelvic lift entries on the Google list. We Begin with the client lying supine, knees might also consider the words “lumbosacral bent and feet flat on the floor or table. Rolf was emphatic about the specific lan- decompression” to describe an indirect ap- Depending on the client’s adaptability, guage to use in evoking the pelvic lift. You proach in which the practitioner waits pas- heels and knees should be in line with the had to teach it just so. Here, as I remember sively for tissue to soften. For teaching the hip joints. If the hips are stiff, the feet can it, is the litany: movements as client homework, we might be wider apart. If a client has an inflex- “Just turn your tail under.” Once the client simply call it “low back decompression.” ible thoracic kyphosis, her head and neck had achieved this, you said, “Good.” should be supported with a prop. The first Client Homework instruction is to push the feet evenly into “Now, just lift.” You put your hands on the the floor. Sometimes I say, “deepen your client’s knees and instructed her to move As a Rolf Movement teacher, I’ve spent footprint into the table” or a similar phrase the knees forward toward the feet to enable many years teaching Rolf’s exercise to the lift. The emphasis on “just” was delib- erate. This was how you made the client understand what very little effort was appropriate. At this point you slid your hand under the sacrum and lumbars to work the tissue and help the client succeed in following the remaining instructions. “Now, just bring your waistline back.” “And now, just let your tail go.” “Good!”7

Modern Versions These days, versions of the Rolfing® pelvic lift run a gamut from direct release of Figure 2. Client position for initiating a pelvic lift. Illustration by Stephen P. Miller. lumbosacral tissue and easing of vertebral Reprinted with permission from The New Rules of Posture by Mary Bond (Rochester, rotations to indirect craniosacral unwind- VT: Healing Arts Press, 2007).

14 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Thoughts on Movement that evokes a sensory response. At this which immediately blocks connection to everyday actions should look or feel. Rolf point I have my hands placed very lightly the feet.9 stated often that balanced orientation of against the client’s tibial tuberosities and verticals and horizontals in the body was Now comes the meat of the exercise, the I comment, “notice how the pressure of what produced the arcing of movement that lengthening contraction of the iliopsoas. your feet causes your legs to move forward was a hallmark of an integrated structure. A lengthening or eccentric contraction is a into my hands.” For many clients, that is And yet her instruction for “rolfed” walk- gradual relaxation of a concentric contrac- enough to attend to on the first round of ing consisted primarily of “Bring the top of tion. In this case the client has contracted instruction. After a moment’s rest we begin your head up. Waistline back!” along with the psoas in lifting the pelvis, and now, by again: “this time, as you simultaneously what she called “the magic sit” (bending asking her to lower the spine sequentially, press down into your feet and reach your the knees and straightening) to align the you are demanding a lengthening contrac- shins forward into my hands, notice that hinges of the legs and feet. She thought of tion of the psoas. Rather than returning it to your sacrum rocks back a little.” Once the walking in terms of the sagittal plane and its normal resting state — too short in most client has felt the sacrum roll posteriorly, I did not seem to have been interested in the people — the procedure is meant to achieve ask her to lower the sacrum to the starting details of contralateral motion. a new and longer resting state. position without additional instruction. For What we now understand through the many clients, that much is all I offer for a I use whatever words produce a slow research of biomedical engineer, Serge first lesson to take home and practice. All sequential lowering of the spine, such as: Gracovetsky10, and the work of Certified they’re asked to do is to sense and value “maintaining the slight reach of your shins, Advanced Rolfers Gael Ohlgren and David the connection between feet and sacrum. begin to lower your spine one vertebra at Clark, is that efficient human gait requires To add the lifting and lowering movements a time.” The first time a client attempts motion in the horizontal and frontal as well too soon tempts people to engage already the lowering movement it is usually jerky, as sagittal planes. According to Ohlgren and overused muscles of the thighs and abdo- especially as she approaches the distal end Clark, walking is a complex global motion men. In so doing they overpower the subtle of the psoas. It is helpful to point this out of counter-rotating helices.11 Essential to this sensations involved in mobilizing the deep to clients — they won’t think it’s important process is the anterior/posterior rotation of structures of the pelvis. At this point, if I otherwise — and comment that the jerky the innominate bones at the sacroiliac joints decide to intervene manually, I instruct the phenomenon is due to their brain being in sync with the reciprocal movements of client to exaggerate the forward reach of unused to coordinating the muscle in this the sacrum. her shins enough for me to slide my hand way. By refining this movement they are under the sacrum for myofascial work or teaching the psoas, and therefore the lum- What follows is a combination assessment for indirect listening and balancing. bar area, to become more resilient, adapt- tool, manual intervention and movement able and supportive. On the next attempt at re-education process that I stumbled upon I’ve found that calling attention to the lowering the spine, invite the client to slow in trying to help my clients develop the shins as distinct from the knees produces down when she approaches the sacrum, movements of the pelvis necessary for some important effects. If you say “knees”, picturing it as if made of rubber, or flexible integrated contralateral walking. For this clients engage the thigh muscles more like a dolphin’s tail. purpose I found Rolf’s pelvic lift essential than necessary. In contrast, “shins” evokes but insufficient. To address motion at the a more balanced use of the thigh and hip It is common to forget about the shins and sacroiliac joints I’ve modified the first part musculature and psoas. It also creates a feet as the client focuses on evoking the of the intervention. I’m sure I’m not alone in better connection through to the feet. The subtle movement of the spine. I find it help- having experimented with this, but I have combination of pushing into the full surface ful to keep my hands on the client’s shins not seen it described anywhere. of the feet and reaching through the shins and to suggest that the shins are magnets invites decompression at the ankle that gently drawing the thighs forward. This allows for talar glide. I’ve found it is also action establishes fixed points at the distal Alternating important to monitor how a client pushes attachments of the psoas muscles, which Sacroiliac Rocking her feet into the floor. If the feet are resting facilitates maximum coordination of the Having taught the basic motion of reach- mostly on the lateral arches, the movement psoas in lengthening. ing through the upper shins, I then ask the cannot be coordinated through the inner client to repeat the movement with one leg line of the leg. It is important to see that Sacroiliac Mobilization only. Standing beside the client I have my weight is distributed through the medial for Walking right hand lightly on her left shin, and my arches and that the distal phalanx of the left hand resting within the right side of the The pelvic lift as Cochran and Rolf taught big toe is grounded. pelvic basin. As she pushes into the left foot it evokes only anterior/posterior motion I encourage her to let the movement trans- For a second lesson in developing the spinal of the hips and spine. Physio-Synthesis late diagonally upward so that her weight decompression exercise, I repeat (and, if exercises consist almost entirely of move- settles into the right sacroiliac area. After necessary, correct) the previous movements ments in the sagittal plane. Cochran seems the initial experiment we repeat the action and then add: “lift only so far as you can to have assumed that if the core of the on the same side with the intent to feel without clenching your buttocks or closing body were brought into balance, then ap- the movement travel upward through the your pelvic floor.” Because of prior fitness propriate movement would naturally occur. pelvic floor and across the pelvis. We then training, clients tend to lift the pelvis high Thomas’s book nowhere discusses human try the movement in the opposite direction, off the table. This involves tightening the movement apart from performance of the right foot to left ilium. It can help for the muscles around the back of the pelvic floor, exercises. There is no description of how client to picture the movement as a shal-

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 15 Thoughts on Movement

As Ohlgren and Clark have described walk- 6. Ganglion Impar is the fused terminus of ing, each innominate bone rotates anteriorly the sympathetic chain located at the level as the ipsilateral foot and thigh swings back of the sacrococcygeal junction. into toe-off. Another way of saying this is 7. My thanks to Rose Sher who confirmed that when the hip is extended and the toes my memory of this wording with her notes are pushing off, the innominate on that side from a class with Dorothy Nolte, to whom goes into anterior tilt. When the knee comes Rolf assigned the task of teaching her move- forward into the next step, the pelvis goes ment work. into posterior tilt. The sacrum and lumbar spine should be able to respond to the rotary 8. Stanborough, Michael, 2004, Direct Release motions of pelvis and legs. With every step Myofascial Technique, London: Churchill each femur rotates very slightly internally Livingstone, pp. 84-85. with weight-bearing and push-off and ex- 9. For more on this topic see: Bond, Mary, ternally when that leg swings forward. If 2006, “Posture and the Perineum”, Mas- the hip joint is balanced and adaptable, the sage and Bodywork Magazine, Vol. XXI, No. rotary actions of the femur do not interrupt 5, Evergreen, CO: Associated Bodywork & the forward direction of the knee because Massage Professionals.. Figure 3. Hand positions for assisting a of the way the femur is offset in the hip client with alternating sacroiliac rocking. joint. The alternating rotation of the femurs 10. Gracovetsky, Serge, 1988, The Spinal results in a clockwise and counterclockwise Engine, New York: Springer-Verlag; and rotation of the pelvis as a whole at the same Newton, Aline, 2003, “Gracovetsky on low “X” between each foot and its opposite time that the innominates are swiveling Walking”, Structural Integration, Vol. 31, No. sacroiliac joint. If the client is unfamiliar forward and back. In the feet there is a 1, Boulder, CO, pp. 4-8. with the location of the sacroiliac joint, I tell subtle pronation to supination action in the her to aim for the dimples at the top of her 11. Ohlgren, Gayle and Clark, David, 1995, tarsals as each foot moves from heel plant buttocks. If she rocks too far laterally she “Natural Walking”, Rolf Lines, Vol. 23, No to push-off. During hip extension there is will feel activity in the hip joint but will not 1, pp 21-29. a subtle screw-home motion at the knee. mobilize the sacroiliac joint. Above, the thoracic spine rotates in tandem 12. Ibid., and also Bond, Mary, 2007, The As we work, my hand placement is global with the motions of the lumbar spine and New Rules of Posture, Rochester, VT: Healing enough to notice my client’s tendency sacrum.12 Needless to say, “alternating sac- Arts Press, Chapter 9. to tighten the abs or overly engage hip roiliac rocking” is but a single puzzle piece muscles. I can also monitor the relationship within the spiraling jigsaw of walking. But between the feet and pelvic floor and sa- for some clients it can be the key to activat- crum. Both of us will notice that the move- ing integrated contralateral motion. ment flows more readily in one direction Despite my years of familiarity with the than in the other. The client’s coordination Rolfing® pelvic lift, writing this article has reflects imbalance in her pelvis and hips put me in touch with how much I had taken and, more than likely, global imbalances as it for granted. It has been useful to me to well. Depending on what I feel, I may then review my roots. I hope others will have intervene myofascially in the deep rota- found the journey useful as well. tors, adductors, psoas, iliacus, quadratus lumborum, lumbar fascia, or up or down the line as necessary. When we reassess Notes the motion it should be in better balance. 1. Cottingham, John T. et al, 1988, “Effects The alternating sacroiliac rocking can also of Soft Tissue Mobilization (Rolfing Pelvic be used to evoke balance between the two Lift) on Parasympathetic Tone in Two Age sides of the pelvis prior to intervening with Groups”, Journal of the American Physical a bilateral pelvic lift. Therapy Association, Vol. 68, No. 3. Alternating sacroiliac rocking evokes the 2. Cochran also met with psychologist Ro- natural walking movements of the innomi- berto Assagioli, founder of Psychosynthe- nate bones and sacrum. Once learned, a cli- sis, who suggested the name for Cochran’s ent can practice sacroiliac rocking as part of work. a whole program for evoking contralateral 3. Thomas, Ida M., 1998, Physio-Synthesis: gait. It is important for her to understand, Inner Muscle Balancing, Verdugo City, CA: however, that while this movement in the Thomas Publishing, p. 17. supine position mobilizes a specific set of joints, it does not precisely mirror all the 4. Ibid. The book is out of print. Thanks to movements of the hips and legs in walk- Scott Pyeatt for lending me his copy. ing. 5. Ibid., p. 98.

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terns: i.e., your brain is more connected to some muscles than others and will try to recruit them first no matter what you are trying to do.)

STRUCTURE AND Finding the Pelvic Floor COMMUNICATION CUES By Pauline Kidd, Certified Rolfer™ My job is to use whatever language tools and STOTT Certified Pilates Instructor and cues I can to get clients to feel what is actually going on and then give them art of this work first appeared on misfiring and connection has been lost, the the cues to help them describe what they Pthe Rolf Forum when I responded to brain has to work cognitively to reconnect are feeling. It is then I can start to figure a topic on “Finding the pelvic floor and that firing pattern until function is regained. out what it is that is firing and talk them Stress-Related Urinary Incontinence”. Since Anti–gravity muscles work from a place of through the process of switching one brain- the majority of my initial work with Pilates opposing stretch. To allow an anti-gravity muscle connection to another. It’s not rocket clients revolves around these issues, I de- muscle to fire, gravity has to be allowed to science – just subtle. Mostly smaller than cided to share in a more formal article the take place first so the anti-gravity idea can what they were looking for in the first place. techniques I am playing with. As the work then be (re)installed. Definitely a case of less is more. centers on the use of language to connect The main problem that I’ve found is that On a structural front, I have noticed that the brain to the body, I am unsure how it what women think is the pelvic floor isnot ; any shifts from neutral in any of the pelvic will come across in print – bear with me as and while they are happily pinging away bones prevents part or all of the pelvic floor our perceptions of the same words might on their kegels, the pelvic floor is still lan- connecting. Most of my work is hands-off be further apart than the ocean between guishing in the dark. They, however, are here so just cuing a client in the right way our continents. strengthening whichever muscle pattern can give results. their brains think is the pelvic floor. MY BACKGROUND It’s difficult to write down definitive cues as there really are different words appropri- ® This pelvic floor work for pelvic hyper- I came into Rolfing from a background of mobility using Pilates equipment is really, ate to each person. I think it ties in with the British human massage, American equine really simple stuff that gets the client’s earth/sky, reach/pull work from Rolfing® massage, and then Canadian Pilates train- brain connected to her pelvis and what it movement (the tiny bit I know). I use In- ing – with a dysfunctional pelvic floor is doing in movement. Once we are aware sights Communication work to recognize throughout the whole lot. It still has a mind of something, we can start to do something personality types and tap into their commu- of its own! about it. I use the same movement work nication style; i.e., do they need hard science My movement training with STOTT Pilates with my equestrian clients for performance or flowery images, tactile proprioceptive and cognitive language work has evolved enhancement – to get them to self support biofeedback or a mere concept and time to into an easy way of getting women back in in gravity while they are riding. play with it? touch with their pelvic floor. Most of my Most of my male Pilates clients are referred For those women suffering from SRUI, it Pilates clients are referred directly from with back/hip/pelvic pain and are unable takes a massive amount of courage to talk chiropractors and osteopaths and are work- to move freely. Using the same work with about it in the first place. Then, to explore ing through degrees of pelvic instability or them seems to get them to stretch out their internally something they may have been hypermobility (their words not mine). A thoracolumbar fascia from the inside out. hiding from the rest of the world for some side effect I noticed in many of the female Results vary from discs going back in to a time is just plain brave. I tell them I salute clients was mild to severe stress-related lessening of symptoms and pain reduction. and applaud them. One woman, who had urinary incontinence (SRUI). It’s all the same work for different issues. gone to the chiropractor with back pain, We change this in one hour. Well, in severe The overall result is the client’s taking was referred to me. Twenty minutes into cases, we at least start the process and ownership of his or her own pelvis and the initial session, she shyly mentioned minimize the flow/problem. balancing any imbalances or patterns of her urinary incontinence. When I asked her strain from the inside to the outside. how long this had been happening, she said since her last baby. I asked her how old the THE PELVIC FLOOR We are dealing with muscle recruitment baby was and am still shocked at her reply I describe the pelvic floor as the most cun- patterns and the human habits of doing – thirty-six(!). ning “animal” on the planet – any excuse what people find first or easiest or the -as I use a really encouraging, excited style and and it switches off and flies out the window! sumption that if a little is good then a whole make it a bit of an adventure as we go off You need to use your mind to switch it back lot more must be a whole lot better. I talk to on our quest. (I’ve tried to play it calm and on again. Of course, no two pelvic floors are clients about patterns and how we are all sensible but I get too excited when it starts the same and no two minds are the same. made up of our own individual patterns in structure, muscle strength patterns, injury to work.) I tell clients that it took me ten The pelvic floor is one of our core stability patterns, work and postural patterns and years to find my pelvic floor, and I refuse to (group of) muscles – one of the anti-grav- how that builds up muscle dominance pat- have anyone else wait that long. When they ity muscles. If the instinctive function is find it, I always give a big cheer and jump

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 17 Thoughts on Movement up and down – it truly is an amazing mo- the calcaneus, in line with the middle of outside of the body – you might have to do ment every time. It brings tears to my eyes patella, in line with the sit bone… or as close one body part at a time]”. and a smile to my heart. One hour and a few as their comfort zone will allow). “If you can’t feel what I am seeing, put your words and finally a light bulb is connected “Your sit bones are about as wide as your facial hands on your [what is tight].” to the light switch. Here in the northeast of cheekbones by the way. Place your feet sit-bone Scotland, we mostly adhere to the curtains “Feel the tone before you make the pelvic-floor distance apart and observe.” school of emotions and healthcare (PULL connection. Now feel the tone during the pelvic- YOURSELF TOGETHER WOMAN and As you tell them about the cheekbones/sit floor connection.” get on with it!) You can imagine that this bones relationship, watch most women shift Place a couple of yoga blocks on the floor discovery of pelvic floor is a rather empow- their feet even wider. Self-perception eh? touching the top of the client’s shoulders so ering moment. Gently place the feet sit-bone distance apart he/she can feel them. and watch the brain reorganize. “Feel the blocks on the top of your shoulders. SO HOW DO YOU “WHERE do you feel the weight on your feet? What happens to that feeling when you breathe GO ABOUT FINDING THIS “Can you put the same amount of weight on the in and out? Can you keep the feeling from the ELUSIVE PELVIC FLOOR? inside and outside of both feet This will affect in-breath the same as the out-breath? Can you the head of femur, therefore, the acetabulum, and Some people find it better in sitting, some stay relaxed? Try not to tighten your hip flexors. the pelvic floor!” lying down; try both. Having clients feel What happens to the weight of your feet on the their own body with their own hands gives “Is it possible to have the same weight in each floor as you breathe out? Can you continue to them control and a brain connection to what hip and allow your hips to be soft and relaxed? keep the weight even on both feet?” is going on. A huge paradigm shift is to tell Can you allow the head of the femur to drop into I do an educational piece here on what them at the beginning “There is no such the acetabulum?” thing as perfect” and, more importantly, and where the pelvic floor is. If need be, “There is no ‘wrong’”. Once you can see If the client is happy with touch, place a I will have the client touch his/her own what your words mean to their body, you hand underneath the acetabulum and ask pubic bone, tailbone and sit bones and then can start to change the process. What’s that him or her to invite/allow the weight of the describe the sling of muscles in between. line about you have to make the mistake thigh bone to drop into your hand. Generally the client has no idea it is that far down or that deep. His/her touching to learn? If the shoulders are tight, have the client also connects the brain directly to where we rest the hands on top of the abdomen. This Choose a warm, safe place with no inter- are focusing our attention and also pushes allows the shoulders to release tension but ruptions so you can take time to guide your the client, even forces him/her to finally it is also a safe, protective place for the client client to let go inside and feel what is going accept or take ownership of that part of as the hands are covering their “emotional on inside his or her body. I use “how” and their body. Huge! “what” questions. Then I offer alternatives radio” (as I call it). “Now put your thumbs on your ASIS/hip bones and invite the client to explore. “Take a huge breath in, allow a really big breath and allow your other fingertips to splay across out. Use the exhale to let go of tension, let go An example of a dialogue might be: “Where your abdomen (not down lower than the ASIS). of the day, let all the bones of the body give in do you feel the weight on your feet on the ground Connect your pelvic floor. You may - OR MAY to gravity.” as you are lying there?” Then I pause and wait NOT - feel muscles tightening under your fin- for exploration and perhaps a response, per- (There’s that gravity thing again). gertips. Remember, there is no wrong!” haps not. The next question might be: “Can you place the same weight on the inside and the You might have to cue the client to do this “Imagine a big balloon of water with a tiny outside of your feet?” Or I might say: “When a few times. opening with a string around it. The first bit of a pelvic floor connection is like the string to you connect what you think is the pelvic floor, “Let the body have weight. Allow the floor to seal up the very end of the balloon. What people does the weight on your feet change? If it does, support you. (“…You’re in the Caribbean lying describe to me as kegels sounds like the whole can you resist that shift in weight?” in the sand… what shape would your body make balloon tightening. . . but the string at the end in the sand?)” Speak whatever word/image In print, the following dialogue comes is loose so the water still gets out.” across as rather bossy and direct (which or language works for your client. “If you feel muscles tightening underneath is me!), but it seems to lose some of the “Connect/tighten/engage what you sense is the your fingertips, try and let go of your connec- flavor of discovery on the part of the client. pelvic floor.” Therefore, imagine the appropriate pauses tion, FRACTION BY FRACTION until you and intonation that would bring about cli- Encourage the acceptance that there is no no longer feel it tightening under your finger ent exploration as you read the following wrong concept. Observe. tips; but you still have a whisper of something suggested dialogue (in italics). going on. Keep that – that’s it! Let go and find You might feel yourself or see them do any- again. Play with it. Keep it for three seconds “Lie on your back. Put this small pillow under thing from visibly tilt the pelvis, tighten the and let go. Keep it for ten seconds and let go. your head so your cervical spine is relaxed. glutes, crunch the hip flexors, draw in the Have fun with it!” Bend your knees, feet on the floor. Feet and legs internal obliques, depress their scapulae (oh in neutral alignment with pelvis.” (Note: As yes, really), furrow their eyebrows, clench I remind clients that the mistake we make is a Rolfing practitioner you are aligning the their teeth, etc. that we think if a little of something is good then a whole lot more must be a whole lot client so that the second toe is in line with “Let go of [all that you saw tighten on the better and we go right on up to the obliques.

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Wrong! Less is more. Take days or weeks to can you make them move closer together? Do gets to feel it. Ask the client to connect to play with this initiation of connection. Then you feel something faint/strange/weird going on the pelvic floor and feel any weight shift start to build upon this for SRUI control. I way down deep in the depths of the pelvis?” through his/her feet. Then have the client think one of the more common problems do a relaxed knee bend and straighten back Works well for men that one. A professional is that this initiation is lost as the client up. He/she should feel for weight shift. soccer player doing Pilates instructor train- progresses to stronger connections as the Look for area of greatest instability – pelvis, ing here, said finding the pelvic floor was obliques feel stronger. knee, and ankle. Give clues for where to go “thinking about walking into the North next. Do all the Rolfing standing tracking If the client doesn’t feel anything at all (and Sea.” (Bear in mind men wearing survival work here – whatever works to find that with clients sometimes I can see things hap- suits against the cold are only a few miles balance of earth and sky that allows the pening when they can’t feel it), or if I can offshore.) body to self-support in gravity. see what I want and know the right things TESTS to play with gravity and pelvic are happening, but I sense that for whatever Ah - gravity! instability: reason (emotionally, personally, neuromus- cularly) he/she is not ready, I will say: A. Have the client stand on a bosu and Author’s Note ask him/her to connect the pelvic floor. “I can see things connecting. I know you are I’m not sure any of this work is original to me If he/she wobbles or falls off ,that’s not doing it right, but for whatever reason you can’t and I give thanks to the wonderful teachers I the pelvic floor. Note the direction of the feel it. No big deal, we are working with adapt- have been fortunate to learn from: Suzanne wobble/fall. Ask the client to balance and ability – what is available for change TODAY. Picard in the first Advanced Unit One who resist that wobble. Ask him/her to let the Go home and play with what you have just taught me how to sit without pain; Michael outside of the body relax, find a place of learned. When you can feel it, call me and we Stanborough in Unit Two who took us through stillness and without losing that, connect will do more work.” an exquisite movement piece on the pelvic floor the pelvic floor. Ask the client to find earth that moved me to tears; Daniella Mallach at This period can sometimes it takes weeks. and sky at the same time – i.e., get the STOTT Pilates in Tel Aviv who is a constant Sometimes I get a call as they start up their thoracolumbar fascia to relax and let go its inspiration for femoral stability. My cognitive car in the lot outside! pinch on the sacrum. languaging work started with my supervisor If things are not connecting, do this: To help: place your hands either side of the helping me learn how to communicate out loud pelvis and ask the client to allow his/her and with a company called Insights (www. “What do you do feel and where? Think of the spine to grow up out of your hands and insights.com), which is used by oil companies bottom of the pelvis as a bony shaped diamond then allow the pelvis to let go like a pen- (and our family!) for quick, easy, effective staff — imagine it separated into triangles. Which dulum from the end of the spine. Now ask communication offshore. My clients teach me part are you feeling?” the client to keep that sense as they find something new every day. The part the client is feeling might corre- the pelvic floor. Do the same thing from the I offer two-hour workshops on finding the pelvic spond to the structural imbalances. ribcage or forehead and occipital ridge. floor for interested practitioners and clients in “Use YOUR mind to move around what is firing B. Have them sit on a bosu on a box, or beautiful Royal Deeside, Scotland every two to (what you are feeling). The power of the mighty on a physio (exercise) ball and do same three months. A pelvic floor safari… mind is an amazing thing,” as above. I would like to thank Deanna Melnychuk for her Some clients need to do this lying down as C. My favorite tool is a rotational disc (ask assistance in “translating” this article from the they cannot self support in gravity or cannot your nearest Pilates instructor how to get original Scots. sit, think and feel all at the same time. (Most one). It’s a nice hard piece of wood sand- of my clients are engineers and can do one wiched with another either 10 or 12 inches task to infinite detail but are overwhelmed in diameter with a layer of ball bearings with two in the beginning.) between to allow them to freely rotate. It really lets your brain feel what is moving in If things are not connecting – especially in your pelvis. Remember, once you are aware the more cerebral client who just can’t get of what is happening, you can change it. his or her brain that far down in to their body – guide the client to do the follow- Put the disc under the client’s pelvis as you ing: do all the supine techniques given above. Ask if he/she can feel weight shifts and “Sit on the bench (or hard surface) in relaxed rotations. This is great for leg slides, knee (Rolfing®) sitting posture. Can you feel those drops and leg lifts for the hypermobile two lumpy bones you are sitting on?” femur. You may have to educate through the range D. Have the client sit on a disc and do the of the front/back of the sit bones until same as above. he/she can find ON/HOME on the bones and be relaxed in gravity with the spine E. Have the client stand on two discs and self-supporting. talk him/her through releasing tension. You can see the femur rotations right in front “Without changing the weight on your sit bones, of your eyes. More important – the client

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 19 Thoughts on Movement

The Swingwalkers of Zambia By Adjo Zorn, Ph.D., Certified Advanced Rolfer™

ver twenty years ago, Heglund ob- girdles, we hypothesized that it might be there to observe. We were almost out of cash Oserved (Maloiy 1986) that East African well capable of storing and releasing suf- before we realized that the women whose women carry loads of up to 20% of their ficient energy. Our model predicts increased movements we were recording were all body weights on their heads without tiring shoulder rotation and/or arm swing with members of the chieftan’s family; naturally, or even breathing more deeply. Appar- increasing head load, without any addi- they had the privilege of being closest to all ently, they carry these heavy loads with tional muscular effort. (We presented our sources of water and money alike. little additional energy expenditure. The model at the recent European Conference Still, we did get some good data – but explanation for these women’s abilities is On Movement Science in Amsterdam and not enough of it for scientific purposes. still the subject of considerable discussion. at the Fascia Research Congress in Boston. Although our analysis is incomplete, we In human walking, the body mass rises and To see a visual rendering of our model, visit already see that both the arm swing and falls with each step. Although the fall hap- www.fasciaresearch.de/swingwalker.) the hip rotation of our Zambian models are pens by gravity, the rise requires energy to To test our prediction, we went to a small significantly greater than that of the aver- overcome gravity. Do African women have village in southern Zambia where residents age European. If our data corroborate the a special trick for storing the energy of the carry containers of water from the public swingwalker model, we are determined to fall to use for the rise that follows? well on their heads. Our tools were a laptop make another expedition – this time avoid- Heglund and Cavagna suggested a theory computer, a stereo camera (for 3D analysis) ing chieftains’ families. regarding the standing leg as an inverted and many black-&-white adhesive markers. Acknowledgement: A special thank-you to the pendulum (Heglund 1995, Cavagna 2002), (Photos of our work are on the facing page.) Evangelical Lutheran Church in Otjiwarongo, but this is unconvincing: an inverted pen- Unfortunately when two fair-complected Namibia. dulum simply cannot transfer the increased aliens with Gigabit-LAN cameras appear kinetic energy during the fall into an in- in a remote African village lacking even crease of potential energy during the rise. a water-pipe system, a modicum of social References (This is why an inverted pendulum cannot strain is inevitable. Naturally, we had to pay • G. A. Cavagna, P. A. Willems, M. A. Le- do what a pendulum is supposed to do: some money for each walking model. At gramandi, and N. C. Heglund, “Pendular swing. You can easily make the experiment first, we wondered why all the models were Energy Transduction within the Step in Hu- for yourself.) disappointingly unskilled in what we were man Walking”, J.Exp.Biol. 205 (Pt 21):3413- Surprisingly, as far as we know, no one has 3422, 2002. yet considered either that the movement • N. C. Heglund, P. A. Willems, M. Penta, of the upper body or the elasticity of the and G. A. Cavagna, “Energy-Saving Gait connective tissue might play a role. Mechanics with Head-Supported Loads”, At the European Fascia Research Project at Nature 375 (6526):52-54, 1995. the University of Ulm, our own research • G. M. Maloiy, N. C. Heglund, L. M. Prager, of the biomechanical function of the lum- G. A. Cavagna, and C. R. Taylor, “Ener- bodorsal fascia in human gait suggests getic Cost of Carrying Loads: Have African that these might be the answer. If the fascia Women Discovered an Economic Way?”, stretches during the fall (loading it with Nature 319 (6055):668-669, 1986. potential energy) and recoils during the rise (releasing the energy), it might well convert the inverted pendulum into a real swinging pendulum. Participants in the European Fascia Re- search Project developed a model with shoulders, pelvis, legs, arms and lumbodorsal fascia (see Figure 1). We applied to this model a precise mathematical analysis called Lagrangian formalism, incorporating actual anthropometric data. Because the Figure 1 The swingwalker model, with the lumbodorsal fascia acts as a spring con- springs representing the most posterior necting the upper and lower appendicular sheet of the lumbodorsal fascia. The laptop operator behind the camera.

20 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Thoughts on Movement

Laptop operator, model with markers, observers. One of our models, together with the upper eye of the stereo camera.

The stereo camera and model in start position, The same model, seen from both eyes with a full container of water. of the stereo camera.

Observers. The author gives it a try

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 21 Research from Brazil

the biomechanical organization of the human body. Gaiarsa presented studies that set forth the role of gravity in the maintenance of ® postural balance and the coordination of The Making of a Science of Rolfing movements, as well as its relationship to the From an Individual Path to a Collective Activity emotional dimension. He emphasized the role of proprioception for the maintenance By Pedro Prado, Ph.D., CertifiedA dvanced Rolfer™ of bodily balance and the concomitant correlation of this experience with emotional balance. He thus expanded the notion of The text presented below is the introduction to my doctoral thesis, entitled “Exploratory Study of the psychotherapy to include a prophylactic Psychobiological Dimension of the Rolfing Structural Integration Method: Creation, Development perspective: that one could prevent psy- and Evaluation of Questionnaires”. It describes how my individual path has been intertwined with chological disturbances by addressing the the collective path, showing how these two roads have converged: personal concerns and desires musculoskeletal system, the posture, and evolved as a result of finding resonance with those of others, and in this collective manner were the coordination of movements. According converted to objects of investigation and study. to his studies, free flow of emotions coin- In terms of the evolving science and practice of Rolfing, we can only progress by transforming our cides with the absence of muscular armor- individual inquiries into collective ones. This text, therefore, is intended as a stimulus and impetus ing on the one hand, and with the ability for others interested in the psychobiological question and many other personal concerns to combine to perceive the environment and oneself in their efforts toward the continued development of Rolfing as a multifaceted art and science. simultaneous and continuous relationship, on the other hand. Therefore, by acquiring possibilities of more and better movement received my bachelor’s degree in psy- and sensation, a person might both improve Ichology in 1971 from the Pontifica Uni- his body image and build a more adaptable versidade Catolica de Sao Paulo (PUC-SP). ego structure. And all of this takes place in In 1973, I completed PUC-SP’s professional the context of gravity. degree program in psychology. Right after During this period, I continued to be that, I began working in my own clinic, puzzled by psychotherapy’s emphasis on and also teaching introductory classes in interpretation. The postulated unity of psychology for the university’s basic cur- the “mind-body” led me to believe that riculum. In 1974, I began teaching subjects with the transformation of one of these related to psycho-diagnostics in the profes- dimensions, the other would necessarily sional degree program for the Department be affected because they were aspects of a of Methods and Techniques. In those years, single phenomenon. However, I observed clinical psychology was rapidly evolving. that in actual practice, even though body- Wilhelm Reich’s ideas had brought the oriented psychotherapy addressed the body-oriented approach to psychotherapy; somatic dimension (transforming character some of the classical paradigms were being armor, softening physical tensions) – typi- challenged; and an important discussion cal clinical practice hardly even took the was taking place concerning the “mind- physical results into account. Instead, it body connection”. A holistic paradigm continued to fall back on verbal and cogni- of health emerged, which attracted my tive interpretations. attention. integration of Jung and Reich, and were This discrepancy really bothered me. I was Meanwhile, we were all in the midst of going far beyond that to develop their own trying to identify that which was hidden the larger counterculture movement; and approaches. and unconscious, trying to interpret hidden personally, I was seeking an opening for Gaiarsa posited that Reich, with the defini- conflicts and repressed emotions, and want- new experiences. I wanted to free myself tion of muscular “character armor”, had ing to make sense of them in the context of of repressed feelings, and to make room for transformed the idea of the unconscious the organization of the body. This whole my emergent self. I was immersed in matters into something concrete – translated it to the panorama led me to explore different roads of the body and soul in this context – ex- body, and turned it into something visible that did not always converge; I felt lost, perimenting and reflecting upon my experi- and palpable. With this, Reich brought to exploring the human phenomenon through ences, while at the same time going through light a possibility that fascinated me: one both somatic and symbolic avenues, but profound personal transformations. might lay hands on the unconscious if one without any organizing framework. Professionally, I was working with a “neo- could touch upon psychological attitudes Then, in 1979, Gaiarisa invited Jim Hriskos Jungian” and “neo-Reichian” approach. I through the character armor. With Gaiarsa, – a professional structural integrator who had important mentors like Maria Isabella I began to experiment with my own emo- specialized in the Rolfing method – to work de Sanctis, Petho Sandor and Jose Angelo tional organization by way of the somatic with this approach in Brazil for a small Gaiarsa. All of them were exploring the dimension; and I also began to learn about

22 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Research from Brazil group of us. I went through the experience and expansion. in Brazil, in which I assisted RISI faculty and really appreciated how liberating it member Stacey Mills. Then, in 1988, we Upon my return to Brazil, the task was to felt – on the emotional level as much as on founded the Associaçao Brasileira do Rolf- introduce this viewpoint and make it pub- the physical level. I intuited that it was not ing (ABR) as a non-profit organization with licly known. There were references in the just an improvement, for example, in my the mission to foster public awareness of, press and other public media, and in the athletic performance or the pleasure I expe- instruction in, and research about Rolfing scientific community. At this point, in 1982, rienced in my own movement – yet I did not here in Brazil. The ABR established a formal I prepared my master’s dissertation at the have the words or language to describe the affiliation with the RISI. University of Sao Paulo (USP), in which I entirety of the experience. It was something explored as theoretically as possible in “As- Of course, it was clear from the beginning unconscious, transformative. sessment of Ida P. Rolf’s Contributions to a that we had to grow our numbers and still I directed my attention to this method – Postural Approach in Psychology”. maintain the quality of the practitioners. We which seemed to me to be a systematic theo- had to go beyond the individual realm and In the same period, I left PUC-SP where, retical proposition with a well-organized into the collective realm, with all the chal- after having taught techniques of psycho- practical method – and decided to take the lenges this represented. It was important diagnostics, I had directed my attention to Rolfing® training. For one year I prepared to honor our own work; reflect upon it to forming the “Nucleus 28” – a special cur- myself; and in January of 1981, I began the continually refine our conception of it; and riculum for senior psychology students, first of two phases of training that, in those develop scientific modes of thinking and the purpose of which was to explore a days, was offered only at the Rolf Institute practice in respect to this new method. But body-oriented approach to psychotherapy. of Structural Integration® (RISI) in Boulder, for our own work to become a contribution Thereafter, I devoted myself to clinical prac- Colorado, in the United States. to a larger process, our group had to main- tice using Rolfing with my psychotherapy tain its position as part of the international There, as to the work itself, I encountered clients – first in a combined approach, and Rolfing community. something different from what I had been then gradually moving toward Rolfing expecting. I had been seeking an organized exclusively. I headed the ABR in its first years, and I technical system that would assist me in my still participate in its continuing develop- At that moment, the general socio-political psychotherapy practice. What I found was ment. But it was always clear to me that a and cultural atmosphere in Brazil was one a theory and method more comprehensive process of such importance was inherently of openness to new ideas; and before long, than a merely psychological approach. collective, and that the end result had to be several of my former clients followed my I encountered a paradigm that treated a inclusive – not just a manifestation of my footsteps and trained as Rolfers. This led to person as one with his entire context – a own will or perspective. And to launch a the formation of a group of professionals theory completely open in respect to human collective effort of this magnitude, a critical with similar goals and problems: the intro- expression and manifestation. No interpre- mass of practitioners had to combine their duction of a new concept of how to work tations or expectations – only observation strength. with the human being; and the creation of of manifestation. This was in keeping with robust institutions that could contain, or- With this mindset, I began my career as a my own ontological perspective, and I felt ganize and foster our efforts – propagating faculty member of the RISI as an assistant good about it. and teaching the ideas, as well as continu- teacher in international classes. In 1991 I Rolfing speaks of the integration of the ally re-examining our own work. first taught my own class, which the ABR human structure in the environment and had organized in Brazil; and from then on, In Brazil, distant from the wellspring of the in the context of gravity. It is a somatic I taught in many other countries as well. As founder’s first insights, as well as from the approach that capitalizes on the plasticity an international instructor, I would also par- Institute that was the trustee of her legacy available to the human structure through ticipate in RISI faculty meetings. The faculty and institutional foundation of the work the myofascial tissues; this plasticity yields as a group had goals and priorities: we were (the Rolf Institute Structural Integration, a structural arrangement that, because of its developing the educational curriculum and or RISI, in the United States), we needed adaptability, is also transformable. The pro- the structure of the school on all levels (se- to maintain a connection to the RISI and, cess of structural reorganization coincides lection of candidates; organization of evalu- at the same time, to develop the thinking with the process of human transformation. ation systems; appointment, training and and approach to Rolf’s theories within our These principles were congruent with what evaluation of the teaching staff). In short, particular cultural circumstances. we had been exploring when I was studying we were designing the entire educational Reich-Gaiarsa, but they appeared to me to With that in mind, we undertook an enor- structure. The RISI centralized this process. represent a more organized method. mous project together, inviting foreign Courses were given internationally by the instructors to give workshops here in RISI faculty, and faculty meetings were I was the first Brazilian to complete the Brazil, attending to our own professional held at the RISI’s headquarters in Boulder, Rolfing training, and along with that I was evolution, and working toward becoming a Colorado. part of the first “institutional” relations and “proto-institution” to shepherd Rolfing can- all their idiosyncrasies: different cultures, I was the first faculty member from Brazil. didates through their processes and select other parameters, etc. On the one hand, Gradually, other colleagues trained as fac- those who would study outside Brazil. And the young Rolf Institute that sheltered a ulty, and eventually we became a working we were also promoting public awareness pioneering viewpoint; on the other hand, team, the members each covering differ- of the work. for me, beginning a new kind of work in ent topics of the curriculum. We put the Brazil and participating in its introduction In 1987, we organized the first Rolfing class Brazilian Education Project together, and

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 23 Research from Brazil in this context, we were the first to explore To meet the need to organize the clinical scientific research and self-examination of and develop certain cutting-edge teach- data, we produced a data bank, the contents one’s processes and outcomes. The idea ing ideas. Some of the most important of of which serve both NAPER and the school, was that the process would enhance the these were (1) teaching both structural and and support research efforts. The project therapeutic relationship; further the de- movement work through the Principles has shown itself to be very much alive as velopment of a common language among of Rolfing® Strategy; and (2) teaching the a vehicle of improved understanding, in practitioners; and yield a sound method structural and movement components of furtherance of the evolution of the science to document and evaluate the results of the work together. Both of these themes of Rolfing. our work. In 2003, the questionnaires were are elaborated in detail [in the body of my translated into English; and for the first time As both the clinical process and the science dissertation]. outside Brazil, I had students use them to of Rolfing are still in their infancy, the school document the processes of their classroom Throughout these past twenty-five years curriculum does not yet include a system clients as part of their professional training, – from 1981 to the present – our local pro- for recording and studying data. Thus, we with both the pedagogical and research fessional community, with its first-rate and are still a long way from having systematic objectives described above. The results up-to-date education, has been delivering ways to track the processes and evaluate the were interesting: a documentation system our pioneering work to more and more results of our work. Although the training had been established and firmed up; and people. courses have a common basic curriculum, by using the system, the students’ evalua- each instructor may have a different way to In 1998, a few young Rolfing professionals tion and understanding of what they were follow the clinical processes; therefore, as a from Sao Paulo decided to get together and doing became much more mature. Finally, collective body, Rolfing lacks any uniform work as a group – seeing clients, studying, the students’ use of the questionnaires also and systematic method for documenting and exchanging information – while at the oriented them toward research. Soon other clinical outcomes. This hinders research. same time performing a public service by faculty members also began using the ques- It also limits our ability, within the profes- offering Rolfing at fees far below the nor- tionnaires in different countries. sional community, to examine and share mal going rate. Their having contacted the our experiences with the work. The very process of questionnaire devel- ABR school through me, we began a clinical opment in the context of NAPER and the case supervision program, which was the So, recognizing the need for standardiza- schools (in Brazil and elsewhere) actually starting point for integration between the tion in the institutional context of the clinic, constitutes a practice-driven recursive re- school and the recently formed Nucleo de and also as part of our ongoing search for an search activity sometimes called “action Atendimento, Pesquisa e Estudo em Rolfing aid to our own understanding of our work, research”. Those who participated in it (NAPER). NAPER’s potential is suggested we designed the NAPER questionnaires. recognized its value: the activity of refor- in the name, which translates into English This was an iterative process that allowed mulating and refining the objectives of the as Center for the Delivery, Research and us to continually re-evaluate and refine questionnaires and their technical appli- Study of Rolfing). our thinking. And, having uniform clinical cation yielded better understanding and records made it possible for us, as a group, Now we had a triad: the ABR, providing assessment of the results of the work, as to study our processes and outcomes. Along institutional support and credibility in the well as improvements in the practice. More- with the compilation of the data bank to eyes of the public, along with administra- over, this activity allowed us to integrate facilitate administration, education and tive services; the school, which offered instruction, clinical practice, practitioner research came a way to facilitate group continuing education in a real clinical self-assessment and research. At this stage reflection on what we were doing. context; and NAPER, which provided a of the scientific development of Rolfing, public service. That we were working from a holistic per- the creation and ongoing elaboration of the spective was a given. How could this be questionnaires is a research-based means In the training courses, different instructors reflected in the questionnaires? How were for continuing the theoretical evolution of emphasized different aspects of the work, we to understand our clients’ objectives? the work itself. which gave rise to a degree of content Would all of us be talking about the same variability from one class to the next. In In the process of carrying forward the in- thing? How would we evaluate our own this respect, we saw that NAPER had the quiry that Ida P. Rolf initiated, those of us work? What techniques would be suitable potential to become a locus of information here in Brazil expanded the scope of our for which objectives? What was it that we exchange that brought coherence to the activities over time. From our beginnings as had all been doing? A healthy orientation education that the students had received. a small group of pioneering practitioners, toward research was already in place. Every In fact, this is what has happened. we gradually developed the ABR as both year, we have re-assessed the adequacy of a school and a research center. It has also Along with a more institutional focus to the the questionnaires, and revised and refined become an organizing container for various delivery of the work arose the need to orga- them. inter-related segments of our professional nize clinical data coherently and uniformly. As we increasingly perceived the validity, community (the cooperative clinics, the The client would have to be assigned to necessity and utility of the questionnaires, school, and individual clinical practices), work with a particular practitioner; but at the project was expanded to include using through which all can participate according the same time, he was a client of NAPER. them in the school. There, the question- to the particular role of each, and by means The need for clear communication in rela- naires might serve to put us all on the same of which the contributions of each can be tion to the work is implicit in this clinical system; and to instill in our graduates at- fed back to the others. At this juncture, the context. titudes conducive to good clinical work, process of questionnaire development, as

24 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Research from Brazil described above, has proven itself to be an Author’s Note essential methodological link in the evolution of our science. Translated from the Portuguese by Heidi Massa Rolfing is a holistic proposition, the purpose and outcome of which, theoretically, affect one’s entire being. Affecting all dimensions of the being through Rolfing depends on the practitioners’ intention and conscious observation. Unless we have a conscious and collective standard methodology to govern the practice of Rolfing, its impact can be no more than individual – dependent upon each Rolfer and a bit compartmental- ized – with little space in which to advance the science as a collective product. Twenty-five years ago, I started my search for a way to address the psychobiological dimension of being through a somatic approach. Through Rolfing, I perceived – in both the theory and the practice – something that conceptually embraced this idea, and also a somatic method designed for this practice. Personally, as both a teacher and as a clini- cian, the focus of my interest has always been on Rolfing as a process of personal evolution. My vision of the person and the paradigm inherent in Dr. Rolf’s theory are congruent. My clinical work has yielded empirical evidence that this method influences the psychological dimensions. Perhaps, through further conceptual evolution of this work along the lines I have presented here, we will eventually perceive clearly the integration of the psychobiological dimension – i.e., the subjective, or psychological, dimension – with the current somatic/biological perspective. Then, giving the psychobiological dimension adequate attention will bring greater possibilities not only to the practice of Rolfing, but also to the larger field of somatic psychology. I believe that to really change the paradigm we work with, we need time, as well as deep personal and collective transformations – especially when the work involves new approaches that bring a contemporary psy- chosomatic lens through which to explore the nature and the unity of mind-body dimensions. I propose, therefore, to advance the inquiry undertaken by Dr. Rolf and her followers with: “Exploratory Study of the Psychobio- logical Dimension of the Rolfing Structural Integration Method: Creation, Development and Evaluation of Questionnaires.”

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 25 Research from Brazil

Núcleo De Atendimento, Pesquisa e Edu- cação em Rolfing® (NAPER), which translates into English as Center for Treatment, Education and Research in Rolfing, and is a ® name that better describes its purpose. (For Profiles and Evaluations of Rolfing the rest of this article, I will use the name NAPER to refer to the project throughout Clients in the Núcleo De Atendimento, its entire history.) This once informal and independent group is now an official orga- ® Pesquisa e Educação em Rolfing nization within the ABR; it is recognized in the bylaws of ABR, as well as having its (NAPER) Brazil own bylaws. By Yeda Bocaletto, Certified Rolfer™ In 2004, of the eighty-eight Certified Rolfers rolf Movement Practitioner, Research Coordinator of NAPER present in our community in Brazil, twenty- eight had worked at NAPER. This shows Editor’s Note: This article is a translation of “Perfis e Avaliações dos Clientes do NAPER – Núcleo that a significant portion of the community de Atendimento, Pesquisa e Educação em Rolfing” published in Rolfing Brasil, ano VII, numero of Rolfing professionals had already been involved. And if we take into consideration that of the eighty-eight Certified Rolfers in his article presents and analyzes re- shared treatment, as is done in our Rolf- Brazil, the number working in the state of Tsults from the database of information ing trainings. The setting was that Certi- São Paulo was around forty, then we see about Rolfing clients treated at Núcleo De fied Rolfers would work on clients at the that a majority of the Certified Rolfers in the Atendimento, Pesquisa e Educação em Rolf- same time, allowing the exchange of ideas state and city of São Paulo had participated. ing® (NAPER), which is the research and concerning body reading, techniques and These twenty-eight Rolfers had seen 653 education center of the Brazilian Rolfing® process flow. The sessions would be at a clients in six years and four months. Association (ABR). I will present a brief reduced fee, enabling people who do not history of the creation and development have the means to pay for a session in a Client Treatment of NAPER. I will also describe the creation private practice the opportunity to receive Protocol Documents and development of the instruments and Rolfing. The client cases would be docu- for Client Processes protocol used to document client processes, mented, shared and discussed, not only as well as the format and development of with the objective of achieving professional Since its inception, there were concerns re- the database. improvement, but also to generate knowl- garding communication between Certified edge about Rolfing. Rolfers concerning each client’s process, particularly when it came to continuity Short History of NAPER, Since its inception, the objectives of The Pro- (maintenance sessions/post-ten work). formerly Called “Projeto jeto Ambulatorio de Rolfing have been: There were also issues of which terminol- Ambulatorio de Rolfing” ogy and which instruments would be used 1- Educational: professional development for recording and communicating clients’ The Projeto Ambulatorio de Rolfing, today for Rolfers through the exchange of ex- processes. called NAPER, was created in September perience during sessions, discussion of 1998 by a group of independent Certified cases, supervision from more advanced In the beginning, NAPER used the same Rolfers unrelated to the administration of Certified Rolfers, workshops, etc. questionnaire that ABR used for clients ABR. During that year’s annual meeting interested in becoming models for Rolf- 2- Social: sessions at a lower cost. these Certified Rolfers discussed: ing® trainings. It was a simple form that • The high fee for Rolfing sessions, which 3- Research: to generate knowledge about asked for demographic information, main denied many potential clients access to the Rolfing through the vast number of health conditions, and goals for the Rolfing process. clients treated within The Project, who process. would give us permission to use the in- Over time, the group noticed more and • The solitary work of treating clients one-on- formation concerning their processes. one in a private practice, which generates more the importance of organizing, ho- repetitive patterns of treatment. Those pat- In 1998, 1999 and 2000, the office hours of mogenizing and standardizing a common terns limit our personal type of body reading, The Project were restricted to only one or way of obtaining important information style of work, preferences, etc. two days per week, with few scheduled ap- to enable the managing, reflection on and pointments. Not until 2001 did the financial recording of the client’s process. There • The scarce production of knowledge and and administrative organization become was tremendous research potential given research within Rolfing. more structured, making it possible to rent the number of clients who received Rolf- With these concerns in mind, they designed our own space with four tables. This also ing each year. This led us to develop more and created The Projeto Ambulatorio de allowed us to schedule clients five days a sophisticated questionnaires. week, six hours per day. Rolfing (hereafter, The Project). Today, the Client Treatment Protocol Docu- The idea implemented was collective and In 2002, the Project changed its name to ments at NAPER are comprised of the fol-

26 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Research from Brazil lowing: Initial Interview, Sessions Report, Development ments, which over the years were becom- Client’s Report, Rolfer’s Report, Client Con- of the Database ing more and more sophisticated with the tract, and “before” and “after” photos. passing of time. I personally came to NAPER in 2000 as In the Initial Interview, in addition to the first official Research Coordinator. My In 2004, Pedro Prado, who has always creating rapport with the client, we collect vision was to organize the data collection supported NAPER, took over the database information about the reason for seeking protocol, improve communication among project. His work with the database is part ® Rolfing ; complaints in regard to pain; Certified Rolfers about our clients, and col- of his doctoral degree dissertation. somatic, emotional and health histories; lect information about the Rolfing process In 2004-2005, I reorganized the guidelines physical habits; how the client heard about and its benefits. for the tabulation of results of NAPER’s both Rolfing and NAPER; age; profession; Client Treatment Protocol Documents and level of education; address, telephone and The work of conceptualizing and building tabulated the files of the 653 clients who had e-mail contact information. the database was possible, in part, due to significant prior experience in two fields: already passed through NAPER through The Sessions Report is base on the “SOAP Prior to becoming a Certified Rolfer I re- December 2004. notes” model, taught in Rolfing trainings ceived degrees in Sociology and Anthropol- The structure for organizing and receiving and used by North American professionals ogy from the University of Campinas; and information has already been formatted. for the reimbursement of sessions by health then for ten years I owned a market research The data of clients treated through 2004 plans. In this document the Rolfer records company. In this way, I linked my previous has been tabulated and entered and the first every session: feedback from the client; experience and education with the needs results completed. body reading observations; the objective and research possibilities of NAPER, bring- and the techniques used in the session; the ing in technical elements that were largely Now, each year, we enter information from results obtained, and suggestions and plans foreign to the Rolfing community so that the new clients seen during that period, as for future sessions. the design of the database was done with well as track clients who return for post-ten sessions. In the Client’s Report, at the end of the pertinence and precision, and thus able to series, the client evaluates his or her own contribute to the development of Rolfing process: the intensity and frequency of pain, research in Brazil. Organization and Construction how he or she perceives the changes (physi- At the end of 2000 I presented the first cal, functional, emotional, etc.) in both his or (manual) tabulation of a sample of the of the Database her body and life. In addition to evaluating database, including basic demographic For the construction of the database, I used the efficiency of Rolfing, clients evaluate the information such as gender, age, profes- the four instruments from NAPER’s Client treatment setting of NAPER and the Certi- sion, etc. at NAPER’s Annual Evaluation Treatment Protocol: Initial Interview, the fied Rolfer who treated them. Meeting. The report included everyone Rolfer’s Report, the Client’s Report and the The Rolfer’s Report, contains a final re- treated to date. Sessions Report. I then selected the impor- port of the client’s process, dealing with: The second (manual) tabulation was re- tant questions and information that would the client’s objectives at the start of the ported using the entire database in 2002. be used to build two tabulation guidelines: process; the Certified Rolfer’s evaluation Paula Mattoli and I coordinated all the one for the quantitative (closed-ended) of the structure, function, emotional status questions and another for the qualitative Certified Rolfers involved to organize the and history of the client; description of information from the four Client Treatment (open) questions. the objective(s); description of the strate- Documents from 1998-2002. These results This selection of information resulted in gies and techniques used to achieve the were first presented at the ABR Annual two products: objective(s); the results obtained; and rec- Meeting of 2003 and subsequently pub- ommendations given to the client regarding lished in Rolfing Brasil(ano VII, número 19, 1) A quantitative database, which contains post-series activities. Março 2006). the results of the closed, objective and quantifiable questions. The Client Contract is an explanation of The results of this development phase of NAPER’s objectives and the treatment the database still did not allow for any 2) A qualitative database, which contains rules: collective treatment (more than one cross-referencing of information, something the transcription of the open, subjective client per scheduled appointment), Certi- that would enable a more consistent and so- and qualitative answers of the clients (I fied Rolfers discussing the case, sharing phisticated analysis of the data. I started to will not present those results here). of information on the client’s process, the envision the construction of a computerized The quantitative database gave us five dif- importance of showing up for scheduled database, a task that would require more ferent categories of information: sessions, session cancellation policy, pay- work and – most challenging – money, since ment conditions, etc. If the client agrees we would have to hire workers specialized 1) Demographic information, which allows with these rules, he or she signs the contract. in computation and statistics. us to identify what type of client seeks In every client’s file are before and after out Rolfing®. It includes information photos and, in some cases, intermediate As part of the second phase, a large portion such as: gender, sex, age, profession, photos as needed. of the development was the engineering of level of education, place of residence. the questions. The most difficult task was establishing parameters for the questions 2) Data on why clients sought out Rolfing, of the four client treatment protocol docu- complaints with regard to pain/dis-

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 27 Research from Brazil

comfort (the location, intensity and reality of a Certified Rolfer’s private prac- Note: For this report, I did not make a com- frequency of the pain), type of pathology tice, just as it does with that of other holistic parison of age distribution in the Brazilian they present, etc. complementary therapies, psychotherapies population, especially in the age groups and massage therapy. over sixty, which would given greater depth 3) Data which supplies us with a somatic, to the analysis. emotional, health and habit history of the clients, (information on the basis of CLIENT AGE CLIENT MARTIAL STATUS which we, during the process, develop See Figure 3. the client’s treatment plan). This data See Figure 4. permits us, at the end of the process, to The majority of NAPER’s clients are adults evaluate and compare the results and who are economically active (see also the The predominant marital status of NAPER’s the efficiency of Rolfing at various levels: table of professions). We have few children clients is single - 50%. This fact needs to be in relation to the structure and function and adolescent clients, as well as few senior cross-referenced with other factors to be of the complaints of the client; to the citizens. Although children and adolescents better understood, something that will be pathologies which he/she presents; to have fewer structural and functional prob- considered in the future. the emotional and/or cultural situation lems, the exact opposite is true of senior in which he/she finds him/herself, etc. citizens. Those over sixty years of age have CLIENT EDUCATIONAL a higher probability of suffering from struc- BACKGROUND 4) Information on how the client learned tural and functional problems, and yet they of Rolfing and how he/she came to do not constitute a significant percentage of See Figure 5. NAPER. NAPER’s clients. NAPER’s clients have a high level of 5) Data regarding the client’s satisfaction of results with NAPER, which includes an evaluation of the Certified Rolfer, and specific information about the efficacy of Rolfing presented through the evaluation of the intensity and frequency of the pain/discomfort after the process. Not all of the collected data will be presented in this article. Let’s go on to the presentation of the first results, which come from the years 1998-2004, followed by com- mentary and interpretation. Figure 1

NUMBER OF CLIENTS TREATED PER YEAR See Figure 1. The number of clients treated at NAPER varied during these six years of existence, depending on the circumstances. In 1998, 1999 and 2000, it was only possible to see clients a few hours per day, two days a week. In 2001, we started to schedule clients during a six-hour period daily, Monday Figure 2 through Friday. This may explain the 45% increase in clients from 2001 to 2002. The number of clients treated also varied in ac- cordance with the number of Certified Rolf- ers working at NAPER. Additional factors that contributed to the increase or decrease in the number of clients were such things as NAPER moving its office, a decrease or increase in marketing dollars spent, etc.

CLIENT GENDER See Figure 2. The majority of clients treated at NAPER are Figure 3 women. This fact seems to correlate with the

28 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Research from Brazil education: 80% of them have an incomplete university education or higher level of education. Rolfing® is a new and relatively unknown therapy in Brazil, and our potential clients have good access to information. NAPER clients, specifically, do not have a high economic standard, but they have a high cultural standard. The majority of them come from the middle class in terms Figure 4 of salary groups, but have a high standard of cultural and information consumption. In Brazil, these two standards hold very different meanings. “Economic standard” is defined in terms of earnings while “cultural standard” is defined in terms of access to information (cable TV, internet, newspapers, books, magazines, music, theatre, etc.). Unfortunately, clients with lower incomes do not reach NAPER, which seems to be due more to limited access of information than to the prices of our sessions, which Figure 5 are significantly lower than the market average.

CLIENT PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND See Figure 6. The majority of NAPER’s clients are economically active, with a slight prevalence for self-employment over employment by others.

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ROLFING? See Figure 7 (this question allowed multiple answers; consequently, the total sum is not 100%). We asked NAPER clients how they learned about Rolfing. We discovered that many learned from other clients who had received Figure 6 Rolfing, whether at NAPER or in a private-practice setting. I concluded, through careful analysis of the Rolfer´s reports, the category of “unidentified person” is completely comprised of clients who already have been through the Rolfing process. As a result, 54% of NAPER’s clients learned of Rolfing through clients who had already received Rolfing. On the other hand, we have only a small percentage of clients who learned about Rolfing from the recommendation of other professionals (doctors, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, etc): only 12%, which reveals our low level of penetration in these professional markets. Figure 7

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If we take into consideration that we have that we use in Rolfing and divided the cat- DID YOU COMPLETE THE a low visibility in the media – newspapers, egories into structural, functional, emotional, ROLFING PROCESS? magazines, radio and TV – we can say that energetic, spiritual and cultural. In addition these means of communication are efficient we also saw responses for maintenance and See Figure 11. in educating the public. A percentage of 9 interest in the technique (becoming a Certified We found that 83% of the clients who went (seen in the chart) may seem low in compar- Rolfer). through the Rolfing process at NAPER com- ison with other categories; however, in six We found that the majority of the clients, pleted their processes. The other 17% aban- years of NAPER, the few times the media 96%, seek Rolfing treatment for structural doned the process at some point. I think this covered Rolfing it generated a significant reasons – bad posture, chronic pain, sco- rate of abandonment is high compared to a number of clients. liosis, spine deformity, etc. Following that, Certified Rolfer´s private practice; however, the second-largest group seeking Rolfing the conditions under which the sessions are Who referred you were those with functional problems: 37%. offered at NAPER are quite specific and to NAPER? In third place we find problems of an emo- not always easily accepted by some clients: collective sessions, with many clients and See Figure 8 (this question allowed multiple tional/psychological nature, with 18%. many Certified Rolfers; a body reading in answers; consequently, the total sum is not Rolfing, in terms of the technique, directly which several Rolfers analyze every client; 100%). addresses the body, the integration of the a not very flexible schedule; etc. The majority of NAPER clients come to us somatic structure, so it should not come as from clients who went through the Rolfing a surprise that the highest percentage of NUMBER OF SESSIONS process at NAPER: 43%. If we add to this people who seek Rolfing treatment have PER CLIENT the 10% of clients who come to us from structural problems. However, the 18% of individuals who received Rolfing in private clients who seek Rolfing because of emo- See Figure 12. tional problems is noticeable. practice, we have 53% of our clients coming Of the processes carried out at NAPER, 38% from former Rolfing clients. This confirms We know, in practice and in theory, that are comprised of ten sessions, with Certified what we already know in the Rolfing com- reorganizing, balancing and integrating Rolfers following the classic Rolfing “Ten- munity – that clients generate clients. We the physical structures also affects other Series” protocol. also find a good percentage of Rolfing col- aspects of being (emotional, intellectual, Another 40% of the processes are comprised leagues recommending NAPER. In Brazil cultural and spiritual) in the same way. In of more than ten sessions. Clarification the session price is often negotiated, and if these results we have direct recognition, should be made that the processes with an agreement cannot be reached the client from the party mostly affected by our work nine sessions or less not only correspond to is often referred to NAPER. – the client – that this is true, since we find the clients who abandoned their processes, clients seeking Rolfing treatment to deal ††Note: the percentages of recommenda- but also include clients who returned for with emotional issues. tion of NAPER by other professionals and “post-ten” work, as well as those who make through the media are almost identical to specific agreements for fewer than the clas- the percentages of how the clients learned COMPLAINTS IN sic ten sessions. about Rolfing. Undoubtedly, if we had RELATION TO PAIN more penetration in the media and a greater See Figure 10. NUMBER OF CLIENTS visibility and credibility with other profes- WHO RETURN FOR sionals, we would have two other important We asked clients if they had any problems MAINTENANCE SESSIONS client-generating channels acting in our in relation to pain or physical discomfort favor. This is easy to say yet difficult to for which they sought out Rolfing. We dis- See Figure 13. implement. But we could investing in more covered that 75% of NAPER’s clients seek Unfortunately, the number of clients who efficient and global ways of generating Rolfing to alleviate pain. clients, as well as, in more objective forms do not return for sessions of maintenance/ Even though Rolfing was not originally of promoting Rolfing and its benefits, and post-ten work is quite high. This, undoubt- designed to be a “second-paradigm” tech- depend less on the generation of clients edly, is an area to be explored by NAPER. nique (that is, work done to cure symptoms, through clients – which is a slower, more or “fix-it work”), but rather a “third-para- personal process. DEGREE OF CLIENT digm” method (that is, one that is based SATISFACTION WITH on integration and holism), we know, as THE PROCESS THE REASON do our clients, the great capacity of Rolf- ® Did you achieve your objectives? FOR SEEKING ROLFING ing to alleviate pain. When reorganizing See Figure 9 (this question allowed multiple the myofascial structures and promoting a See Figure 14. change in the movement patterns harmful answers; consequently, the total sum is not For the clients who completed their pro- to the equilibrium and body fluency in the 100%). cesses, the degree of satisfaction is very gravitational field, chronic pain and injuries high. Of the clients who went through the We asked clients the reason why they resulting from repetitive movements dimin- Rolfing process at NAPER, 91% say they sought out Rolfing. The answers were open ish and disappear. and subjective in character. We transformed achieved their objectives completely and these open-ended answers into categories 9% say they more or less achieved them. No client said he or she had not achieved

30 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Research from Brazil

his/her objectives at all. It should be taken into consideration that the opinions of the clients who did not complete the process are not included in these statistics.

DEGREE OF CLIENT SATISFACTION WITH THE CERTIFIED ROLFER™ How was your experience with your Figure 8 Certified Rolfer? See Figure 15. The Certified Rolfers have a 100% ap- proval rating from their clients. All clients who conclude the process say it has been fantastic to work with their Certified Rolfers. Again, it should be stressed that clients who stopped the process for any reason do not complete the Client’s Re- port, which contains this question.

DO YOU THINK THAT ROLFING HELPED YOU IN OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR BEING? Figure 9 (Emotional, Sociocultural, Spiritual, etc.) See Figure 16. At the end of the process, we ask clients if they perceived any changes in other aspects of their lives due to Rolfing®. This question is directed to our holistic conceptualization of Rolfing. We know that the body is the channel we work with, and we know that if the body organizes itself, that reflects in the other areas of a being – the emotional, spiritual, intellectual and cultural. As a result, we see that 83% of the clients recognize that Rolfing had influenced them in other aspects of their lives.

Figure 10

Complete Figure 11 Incomplete

Figure 12

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 31 Research from Brazil

IntensiTY OF PAIN AFTER THE RolfING PROCESS See Figure 17. We ask clients about the intensity of pain or discomfort they might be feeling, both before the process, (in the Initial Interview), and after the process (in the Client’s Re- port). We cross-referenced this information and found that 76% of NAPER clients noted Never Returned a decrease in the intensity of pain for which Figure 13 they sought Rolfing. Another 18% stated that the pain/discomfort disappeared. Only 6% stated that the intensity of their pain/discomfort remained the same after finishing the process. This data is quite significant. We have quite a low failure rate - 6% - within the perspective of the second paradigm (curing symptoms).

PERSPECTIVE

This is only a partial analysis of the infor- Figure 14 mation available in this database. There is much more information in it and an even greater possibility of cross-referencing data. We also have information from the qualitative database that has yet to be analyzed. Moving forward we will continue to update the database with new client information, allowing us to become more consistent and efficient with this information. Figure 15

CONCLUSION As advice to NAPER from this analysis, we have two main items. (1) work more on following up with clients so they will return for post-ten work. This could create a nice flow of clients to NAPER and would allow for some valuable follow-up on the efficacy of Rolfing. (2) Work on the marketing of Rolfing and NAPER in the media, so that more people can be exposed to it, learn about it, talk about it, and eventually become clients. Figure 16

No longer have pain Figure 17

32 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Further Perspectives

cation. In addition to incredibly refined musculoskeletal control, horses have finely tuned sensory perception and use this to gauge their environment. A horse will react to the weight of a tiny fly on his loin with a swish of the tail. My own mare knows Healing the Horse the sound of my car and my footsteps; she knickers at me as I enter the barn, before Notes on the Application of Structural I ever say a word. This perceptual level serves a bodywork practitioner in that the Integration to the Equine Performance Athlete horse is acutely aware of and responsive to By Susanna Baxter, Certified Rolfer™, LMP, LAMP the work being done; however, he is also susceptible to jumpiness if the environment is at all chaotic or unfamiliar. performance challenges. Structural integra- Introduction A horse is a prey animal, which largely tion work optimizes horse’s economy of determines his reactions in life. While Many horses are more than just pets. They movement and enables the strength and most horses that a structural integration are competitive athletes, performing at lev- flexibility necessary to comfortably sup- practitioner works with will (hopefully) be els akin to that of Olympic athletes. Endur- port a rider. ance events require horses to demonstrate well trained and quiet, it’s helpful to know incredible stamina and cardiovascular If a practitioner is comfortable working with what motivates a horse to move and how health as they traverse distances of fifty horses, the principles of structural integra- he will react to the presence of your body. to one hundred miles over hazardous ter- tion normally applied to human clients can Because a horse’s eyes are set on the sides rain. Other equestrians compete in events be easily adapted to the equine structure. of his head, he has nearly 360-degree sight, placing high levels of stress on the joints of Equine anatomy bears some resemblance to allowing him to see a predator advancing the fore and hind limbs. In some jumping human anatomy in that many of the bones from almost any angle. Unfortunately, events, such as the “puissance”, walls can and muscles have similar names. There are you, the practitioner, may be perceived as reach over seven feet tall, putting tremen- some significant differences, however. For a threat for any number of reasons. You dous pressure on the horse’s entire struc- example, horses have no clavicle, so the will be standing quite close to the body of ture. Western riding competitions require scapula is entirely supported by a sling the horse, so he may defend himself with a a horse to be light on his feet, performing of muscles. In addition, horses have three swift kick. Many people will tell you never sudden stops and turns to demonstrate his mechanisms that allow them to stand on to stand behind the horse as this is the ability to herd cattle. “Reining” is a unique their feet for long periods of time: the stay “kicking zone” (and this is good advice), discipline that, among other maneuvers, apparatus, the locking mechanism of the but horses are unbelievably flexible. Even asks the horse to complete a sliding stop stifle, and the reciprocal mechanism. Thus, if you are standing as far forward as the where it “sits” on his haunches while walk- horses have the ability to sleep on their feet shoulder, the horse will be able to reach you ing with its forelimbs. Slides can go as far as but take off at a moment’s notice should a with a hind foot, not to mention teeth. This thirty feet! In all of these competitive riding predator arrive. These animals are highly being the case, knowing and understand- events, the horse performs incredible feats adapted to the threats of their environment, ing warning signs that precede that kick or of strength and flexibility while balancing and it is the responsibility of the practitioner bite – and the triggers that could alarm the the weight of a rider and saddle. It’s no to not only understand the horse’s reaction, horse in the first place – are vital to keeping wonder that such horses need special- but to be so aware of the surroundings as yourself safe while working. to be able to preempt it. ized care to keep their bodies functioning Ear signals are the clearest form of commu- optimally. nication that horses use. If a horse has his Building Rapport Horses are not designed to carry the weight ears pinned back against his neck, he feels of a rider. Their structure naturally puts The horse is a creature of movement. either threatened or angry and is liable to sixty percent of their bodyweight on the Whether systematically grazing from one strike in some way. Ears pricked forward forelimbs with the remaining forty percent grassy field to the next or utilizing its means that he is alert and paying attention. on the hindquarters. Thus, a riding horse highly developed musculoskeletal system Of course, you should ascertain whether must learn to lift up off the shoulder and for inter-herd communication, a horse is his focus is on you or something in the withers area and engage the hindquarter to continuously using movement as a means surrounding environment. If you observe propel his body forward in order to avoid of survival. A horse must remain light on an ear-forward expression and think that damage to his back and the joints in his his feet and ready to move at any moment. the horse is listening to you, but he is really lower leg. While horses are typically bred In a herd, there is always a dominant mare hearing the hay truck coming or a rowdy for optimal conformation, no individual is that is responsible for dictating the actions group of children barreling down the aisle, perfect; they must work around any struc- of the entire group. She uses a highly so- you could be in for a spook (sudden jump tural limitations to achieve these extreme phisticated yet practical body language that may be accompanied by panic and bolt- levels of finesse. Damage caused to the body that serves to send clear messages to other ing). A horse that has his ears lazily flopped through trauma from birth, injury, illness, members of the herd without making noises to the side is relaxed and comfortable. Of or negligence present the horse with unique that could alert a predator as to their lo- course, there can be mixtures of these three

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 33 Further Perspectives states; a horse may have one ear twitched gently back, “listening” to you, while the other ear is forward as he monitors the actions of another person in the barn. You, as the practitioner, have to shift your thinking from that of a predator to that of a prey animal and become acutely aware not only of your client but also of every detail in your surroundings. This is essential to creating a safe container in which the work can be done. While you will probably not be asked to “lunge” or “chase” a horse, learning these skills is useful as they demonstrate how a horse responds to the presence of your body in relation to his. Lunging a horse involves attaching a long lead to the halter and asking the horse to walk, jog, and canter around you. You then ask him to reverse and perform the same gaits going the opposite direction. Because the horse The author and her horse Belle. is on such a long lead, you actually have very little physical control over him and must use body language to communicate. me by surprise, I react instinctively and in- a rider and saddle, the horse must develop In general, to propel the horse forward, stantly regain control of the situation. This is the strength to lift up off his front end and you position your body behind his hip and all born of many hours spent in the presence utilize the hindquarter to initiate forward move toward him, facing the full front of of horses. Within thirty seconds of meeting momentum as well as launch himself over your body at the horse. To stop the horse a new horse, I know if he has good ground jumps. A horse with any conformation and reverse, you position yourself at or in manners and is prepared to respect me. The challenges will have to work around these front of his shoulder. When you face the best metaphor I can use to describe my ease limitations to properly collect his body, and full front of your body at the horse and around horses is that it is like driving is for some horses have difficulty rounding the look directly at him, you are mimicking the most people: completely subconscious, but back up at all. Add to these impediments body language of a horse that is driving out you still have to pay attention and be aware such factors as ill-fitting saddles and imbal- a member of the herd; he will always move of where everyone else is on the road. I’ll anced riders and it’s easy to understand away from you. If you turn your back on bet you’re a much better driver now than why many horses exhibit soundness issues the horse, you are inviting him back into you were at sixteen; working with horses in the shoulder and forelimb. the herd, and he will come toward you. (I also gets better with time. From the perspective of the structural don’t recommend turning your back unless integration practitioner, we have a bit of a you are very comfortable with the horse In addition to facilitating proper com- conundrum. It seems that releasing restric- or under the supervision of an instructor, munication between the horse and the tions in and around the shoulder girdle because if you have not adequately estab- practitioner, there are some basic safety would allow the horse greater freedom to lished dominance, there is a slight chance considerations that will help the session lift his weight off the front end and thus you could be putting yourself in danger.) go smoothly. First, check your equipment. more efficiently carry the rider – a distinct Learning how to maneuver a horse’s body Likely, you will just be working with the advantage in equine competition. However, will help you maintain control during a ses- horse in a halter and lead rope, but you may if we first lift the horse from the front end sion. I have had horses enjoy the work so have him cross-tied (secured with ties that but do not free the hind end so that the much that they flattened me up against the attach on either side of the halter) or tied to horse can properly engage it, the horse is wall trying to get me to go deeper. In that a post. In any case, you should always make left no further option but to fall back down situation, it helps to know how to tell the sure that all buckles, snaps, and clips are in upon the shoulder to support his weight. horse you need some breathing room. working order. Check with the owner to see how best to work with the horse as some Thus, I generally begin with the hind end To truly understand equine communica- do not tie safely or are frightened of narrow to develop proper support for future work tion, you must spend hundreds of hours spaces such as grooming bays. to be done in the shoulder girdle. around horses. I have been around horses In assessing the hind end, it’s useful to for almost twenty years, which gives me Session 1: The Hindquarter evaluate the horse both moving and stand- distinct advantages. I know before a horse ing. Ideally, the practitioner should watch spooks that he will do it and am able to calm As was previously mentioned, horses carry the horse move freely in an arena or round him down in advance, using the influence a slightly greater percentage of their body- pen, but this is not always possible as not of being the dominant one in our tiny herd weight on the forehand. In order to effi- every barn has these facilities available or of two. If, for some reason, a horse catches ciently and comfortably carry the weight of they may be occupied during your ses-

34 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Further Perspectives sion. In this case, ask the handler to walk als have become increasingly savvy about tions in the shoulder girdle and forelimb. the horse in a straight line away from and supplements containing glucosamine, We’ve previously noted that this region is then toward you. Look for balance and chondroitin, MSM, and yucca, all designed particularly prone to strain. Poor saddle fit symmetry in the pelvis as far as movement. to inhibit joint deterioration and inflamma- is a common cause of impingement around For example, observe the point of the hip as tion. Many riders have their veterinarian the scapula. Just as different clothes fit dif- the horse’s hooves strike the ground. Both perform periodic intravenous injections ferent human body types, no one saddle the right and the left sides should shift equi- of hyaluronic acid (a natural component will fit every horse. There are hundreds laterally. If there is limited or no movement of synovial joint fluid) and intramuscular of saddle pads, flexible tree saddles, and side to side, this indicates a severe restric- injections of polysulfated glycosamino- other gimmicks to help riders relieve strain tion in the hips and lumbar spine. After glycans (comprised mostly of chondroitin on the withers and lumbars. The majority observing the pelvic movement, check for sulfate and a normal constituent of articular of riders, especially those that compete in balance in standing. Ask the horse to square cartilage) in order to prevent inflammation high-level shows, are aware of the impor- up (stand with all four feet lined up in a and boost a horse’s performance and lon- tance of saddle fit; however, if the horse perfect square – or reasonably close) and gevity. Structural integration is essential in exhibits signs that indicate he might not be place one hand on each of the hips. (You maintaining proper alignment, which in most comfortable with his tack, it doesn’t will have to stand directly behind the horse turn aids in the preservation of a healthy hurt to ask a few questions. The most glar- to do this, and if you are not comfortable joint. When evaluating the hock for move- ing indicator of improper tack are open doing so, you may want to take an assessment, look to see if the horse is bending sores or white scars along the withers (the ment from further away.) Check the height fully through the joint. Some horses will lift spinous processes of the first few thoracic of your hands. One side will most likely be the leg from the hip to avoid flexing a sore vertebra), which indicate that the saddle is higher than the other. This is a common fac- hock. Next, feel the joint. Is there fluid built rubbing inappropriately. First, ask the rider tor in lumbar pain, or what riders call “cold up or is the tissue tough and dehydrated? if they’ve checked the fit of their saddle. backed.” While you may think to go directly Are there “guitar strings” running through This sounds rather basic, but you might to the sacrum to address this imbalance, it the soft tissue? Ideally, compare the joints of be surprised how many people have never is more often attributable to a tear or strain horses of different ages. The hock of a foal even thought that the trusted saddle they in the adductor region. feels much different than that of a twenty- used on their last three horses might not fit year-old retired jumper; understanding the newest one. If they say that they have, Next, watch the hind hooves as the horse the various levels of tension and how they ask if the saddle leaves an even sweat pat- travels away. Do they land and take off in affect range of motion available will aid in tern when they remove it after riding. If so, a straight line? Does one side spiral as the your evaluations. the saddle may not be the issue, but if you horse pushes off from that leg? How much still suspect improper tack as an ongoing space does the horse have between his legs Finally, I evaluate the lumbar spine to see cause of soreness in the horse, recommend compared with the width of his pelvis? how any and all misalignments in the pelvis that the rider consult with a professional Many horses have a narrow base of support are affecting this vulnerable area. Because saddle fitter. that makes it difficult to fully engage the there are no ribs to support this region powerful gluteal and quadriceps muscles. of the spine, it is most prone to extreme Again, ask to see the horse walk. The first Another great indicator of balance through compression or twisting. Often you will pattern to observe is movement of the the hind limbs is the hoof. Commonly see what is referred to as “hunter’s bump” scapula. Does the superior aspect rotate considered a rock-solid structure akin to a or “roached back.” In this case, the lumbar backwards as the horse lifts his leg? Does natural steel-toed boot, the hooves are actu- spine has shifted upward, causing a lumpy it move at all? The scapula should slide ally extremely elastic and change rapidly in appearance. This always corresponds to along the thorax the way a fan blade or response to the stresses placed upon them. a downward shift elsewhere in the spine. pinwheel rotates, as though it were an- Any misalignment in the leg will reflect in The opposite case is a dropped lumbar chored about in the center. Also, observe an asymmetrical hoof. You can also pick region (swayback). Of course this always the horse walking directly toward you. up the hoof (with caution) and examine the corresponds to an upward shift elsewhere, How much space does he have between the sole. If the horse is shod, look at the wear often – but not always – in the sacrum. If scapulae? (for now, disregard the placement pattern along the edge of the shoe. Does the pelvis is rotated (the first item on the of the hooves). Look at the width of his rib the horse take off straight across the toe evaluation checklist), there is generally a cage in comparison with the width of his or is most of the pressure along the lateral corresponding rotation in the lumbar spine. shoulders. It’s not uncommon for one side edge? Working with a good farrier will help This may straighten out somewhat as you to be extremely narrow and for the other a practitioner learn to “read” the hoof. release the pelvic twist. Gentle work along to have hypertrophy in the trapezius and the lumbar fascia will also help decrease deltoid muscles. If this is the case, the horse One of the most common complaints you compensations in the spine. This is similar is unable to engage the narrow shoulder; it’s will hear from riders and trainers is, “My to releasing the quadratus lumborum in glued to the thorax, and the other shoulder horse is sore in the hocks.” The hock joint in session three of the Rolfing® series. is compensating. Remember, horses have the horse is similar to the ankle in humans. no clavicle, so their shoulders are entirely A terrific amount of stress is placed upon supported in a sling of soft tissue. Thus, this joint in equestrian sports, and any Session 2: they cannot rely on a bony attachment for misalignment will contribute to the dete- The Shoulder and Forelimb support should one shoulder be weaker or rioration of the synovial fluid and articular In my second session with the horse, I’m injured in any way. cartilage. In recent years, equine profession- now able to effectively address compensa-

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Next, let your eyes travel downward to the three places I never fail to touch on during Because the horse’s spinal vertebra are so carpus, often referred to as the “knee”. This this session: the canon bone and surround- large and located deep within the massive joint is actually equivalent to the human ing tissue, the axilla and serratus muscle, paraspinal muscles, it is far easier to ef- wrist. Its double row of hinges allows tre- and the upper trapezius. All of these areas fect changes to them by using the ribs as mendous flexibility so that the horse is able are fairly consistently restricted in every a handle. Saddles balance on the rib cage to lift his leg off the ground while running riding horse. I then release additional re- (well-fitted saddles, that is), so imbalances or fold it under himself when sleeping. The strictions per my earlier findings, keeping in the rider’s own body often show up here, strong ligaments supporting the bones con- the goals in mind. and horse ribs are just as tender as humans’. tribute to the joint’s stability while running, Releasing the ribs at their angle, about eight as it must be able to carry the weight of the Session 3: Connection to ten inches lateral to the spine, is a good entire body at one point during the stride. Through the Thorax place to start. Then check the horse’s costal The long bone of the horse’s lower leg, just arch and sternum. These areas can be dif- distal to the carpus, is the canon bone, or The third session focuses mainly on the ficult to reach and require sufficient hand third metacarpal. Look at the relationship thorax, drawing a connection between work strength to access completely, but they’re between the carpus and the canon bone. you have done on the hind end and the often overlooked. Hernia surgeries are Does the knee point straight ahead? Is there balancing you did in the shoulder girdle. commonplace on foals, so be sure to check a rotation and counter-rotation between Imbalances in the rib cage present them- the abdominal wall for scars. If it is bad the joint and the bone? Generally, if there selves more subtly than pelvic or shoulder enough, scar tissue around the surgery site is a restriction above, the fascial wrapping misalignments, and the best assessment is will torque the rib cage. Colic surgery scars, along the bone (the periosteum) carries the completed while the horse is moving. though perhaps less common, have an im- compensation all the way down to the hoof. It is ideal to observe a horse moving freely mense impact on the horse’s thorax and Gently unwinding these twists before be- to see how the thorax and spine relate to viscera, and the horse receives great benefit ginning work on the scapula will help any the pelvis and shoulder girdle as this area from work on the surrounding fascia. work you do above to hold longer. acts like a “shock absorber,” transmitting I realize that I have made little reference As in the hindquarter, the front hooves movement from the limbs through the body. to the neck and head. It is not to say that can be a tremendous source of information Two signs of disintegration of the thorax are I do not work on these; however, the first about how the horse is traveling. Look to excessive movement or a complete lack of three sessions I complete with a horse are see if the hooves are flared to one side or movement (i.e. stillness or bracing) through devoted to releasing the main inhibitors another. Does the weight of the horse fall the ribs and spine. Both signs present best at of movement. Often, once the body is down the midline of the hoof? Check the the jog or trot. Watch the horse move freely. balanced, strain in the neck and head is bottom of the hoof or shoe. Does he toe If you are not able to utilize a round pen for greatly reduced or changed. I more specifi- off from the center? Laterally? Medially? your observations, have the handler walk cally address any remaining issues in these Now would also be the time to watch how the horse in a straight line away from you. structures in later sessions. the horse sets his hooves down when he You should be looking at the rib cage to see is walking. Do the hooves swing straight if it swings equidistantly from side to side. Processing – If the thorax moves more to the right or to forward? Does he walk like a supermodel, The Healing Process the left, it may be rotated. Check the horse placing one hoof in front of another? Do his Belongs to the Horse toes or his heels land first? Also, check the in standing to confirm that this is the case. horse’s standing pattern. Can he set up his Additionally, if the ribs are rotated and the Our human clients are fortunate in that feet with the toes pointing straight ahead in horse has difficulty bending to one side or they have the volition to engage in self-care line with his knees? If not, this is a serious the other (you can ask the rider or trainer for after their sessions. Horses do not have the twist that is causing undue strain above. this information), it may indicate that there same option as they are at the mercy of Although I recommend assessing the horse is a slight side-bend through the spine. their owners and trainers. Some are on a rigorous conditioning schedule and their from the top of the shoulder down, I also Since the goal of this third session is to relate caretakers are loath to sacrifice even a day recommend beginning the work from the the thorax to the shoulders and hips, you for rest. Thus, it’s vital to educate a horse’s bottom up. Looking at how the horse places should assess the effects of any rotations owner and handler on the purpose of rest his feet on the ground and working from on these structures. If there is a side-bend post-session. Once understanding has been there will give you much more information present, it may be directly related to a pelvic reached, the owner can then make choices about his neuromuscular patterns above, rotation. Thus, working around the sacrum that will balance the needs of the horse but it helps to have a vague notion of what’s and sacroiliac joints prior to balancing the with performance goals. I generally recom- going on further up in the shoulder before ribs will encourage the work to hold. Simi- mend a minimum of two to three days rest you begin to unwind the tissue. larly, shoulder immobility can be related to post-session. This allows the horse to move thoracic rotations. Now that you’ve peeled After completing your assessment, keep in about naturally and ingrain the new neuro- the scapula away from the ribs, there is mind that your main goal for session two is muscular patterns in his body without the freedom for the thorax to change. Keep in to release the shoulder girdle in such a way influence of a rider on his back. that the horse has both flexibility to move mind also that the thorax needs to be mobile his scapulae and strength to shift his weight enough to “round” up and collect when the In addition to the need for physical rest, backward into the hindquarter. Regardless horse is under saddle. As you work, try to horses need time to process their sessions of the findings of my assessment, there are feel for fascial adhesions that would prevent mentally and emotionally, especially when this sort of mobility and release them.

36 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Further Perspectives a significant trauma has been released such as abuse or debilitating injury. Each horse processes at his own speed, and sometimes this does not match the desires of the owner. It’s easy to generalize that most horses take about three or four or five sessions to resolve a particular issue; however, just as some people have difficulty letting go of their trauma, some horses just don’t seem to want to heal. There are any number of factors affecting this. For example, perhaps the horse doesn’t feel safe in his current home. He may be highly stressed by a demanding show schedule. Do not dismiss the idea that the horse may be taking on stress from the rider; there is often a direct correlation between the physical habits of a horse’s owner and those of the horse. In any case, the equine structural integration practitioner must walk the fine line between facilitating a horse’s healing process and molding the horse to the rider’s performance goals.

Conclusion Because of the incredible athletic endeavors that performance horses are asked to complete in today’s equestrian events, they are subject to physical deterioration, injury, and trauma, just as human athletes would be. Myriad therapies exist within conventional and alternative veterinary medicine for the treatment of dis-ease in the performance horse, from nutritional supplements to ap- plications of lasers and ultrasound devices for tendon recovery. With the sensitive application of structural integration, Certified Rolfers and other structural integration practitioners will be of tremendous benefit in increasing the longevity of a horse’s performance career as well as his overall health. In three basic sessions, we can effectively address the overarching issues present in most riding horses, freeing the horse from intense physical pain and emotional stress. Additional treatments can be applied to issues specific to each horse and on a tune-up basis to combat the physical and mental stress of a demanding show schedule. However, it is vital to emphasize that the horse is not a tool, nor a machine, but a sentient creature. Learning and understanding his thought patterns and world view are just as important to creating a therapeutic environment in the barn as they are in creating a container for our human clientele. Maintaining this perspective reminds the practitioner to value the horse’s individual process while also considering the rider’s goals.

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glorious piano quartet and the exquisite Fantasie, is that he represents what is best in the world of the creative – an artist of influence and exceptional talent who devoted much of his career to promoting the ideals of Romanticism as well as the compositions The Schumann Syndrome of others, in language both beautiful and A Consideration of the Artist and the Critic in Rolfing potent. He was a true artist- critic, one who used his fame and considerable reputation By Ray Bishop, Ph.D., Certified Advanced Rolfer™ to educate and assist, not attack and dis- parage. He epitomizes to me the antidote For my friend and colleague Peter Schwind to those who excoriate the critic and rally behind the victimized artist. He also offers am not sure when I first told my friend the expense of their hapless and more-or- a model that can be generalized to our field I Hal about a favorite musical quote, but less defenseless victims; (since) they know with surprising ease. I suspect it was several decades ago. This that responding in print to a negative Curiously, why I like the Schumann ex- lifelong friend is an exceptional jazz musi- review, except to correct factual errors, is ample is as much for its aptness as for its cian and teacher who unapologetically almost always a no-win proposition.”3 In (and the artist’s) limitations. Our Schumann detests all critics as talentless parasites. other words, all artists find this brandish- metaphor applies to a number of current Therefore, he had wanted to use this infa- ing of vitriolic brilliance at their expense and former authors and practitioners in- mous vulgarism in his recent jazz book as exasperatingly despicable. The fact that cluding Dr. Rolf because their successful a condemnation of such a slimy subspecies these critics generate reviews whose point marriage of creative work and critical com- of homunculus detestus. Since I erroneously seems to have little to do with the work be- mentary have enriched both our body of attributed the quote to Brahms and was ing lampooned adds additional unwelcome literature as well as the bodies with whom later (erroneously also) informed that its salt to the wound. Therefore, those attacked they interacted. This metaphor also works source was Beethoven, tracking it down justifiably despise any critic’s inexhaustible because many artist-critics (Ida Rolf being proved a bit harder than anticipated. What capacity for incendiary flights of literary our most beloved artist qua iconoclast) in I was sure of was that it lay concealed in a fancy particularly since such writing acts our field open themselves up to criticism wickedly humorous collection of negative as a mere pretext for cruel humor. by advancing their ideas: ideas at variance music reviews by the prolific musicologist, There is, however, a less polarizing aspect with the conventional wisdom, ideas that Nicolas Slonimsky – his Lexicon of Musical of this rather ribaldly presaged discus- have taken the work in new directions, Invective: Critical Assaults on Composers Since sion that will serve as the underpinning directions resisted both by traditionalists Beethoven’s Time. After some additional of our rather different musical metaphor. and those who fail to grasp the underlying research, the proper author of the passage Where we choose to go is the realm of the beauty of seemingly unfamiliar aesthet- was finally located. composer-critic, showing the value of this ics. Schumann himself was not afraid of In any case, here is this gem correctly attrib- individual not only for the creative arts advancing progressive ideas and writing uted to a lesser known late Romantic Ger- but also the art form we call “structural highly idiosyncratic and personal music. man composer, Max Reger (1873-1916), who integration” (SI). Sidestepping the issue of He too was often criticized, yet it seemed is described in one resource as “myopic, fat, Rolfing® as science, a difficult notion that not to deter him from his personal mission blubber-lipped, rumpled, foulmouthed, ag- has generated much debate, I choose, as I so one iota. gressive, neurotic, and alcoholic.”1 What a often do, a softer more literary approach to Another reason I chose this particular tribute. The passage in question is actually my argument and leave scientific discourse composer-critic is somewhat surprising: it a scatological note written by Reger to the to the scientists.4 is precisely because I am not a fan of all of critic Rudolf Louis in 1906. “I am sitting in Not surprisingly, this course will involve Schumann’s compositions, any more than the smallest room of my house. I have your a more elaborate metaphor, the one to I love every session I’ve seen or SI-related review before me. In a moment it will be 2 which our ambiguous title alludes. The article I’ve read. Few would argue that behind me.” I know many fellow musicians Schumann to whom I refer is the brilliant Schumann represents the apogee of his and creative individuals who not only share and ultimately insane composer who, un- era, but most would agree that he was an Reger’s sentiments but would also heartily like the critic Rudolf Louis, dedicated much important voice during a fascinating time wish to come up with this pithy retort. of his career to promoting contemporary in cultural and intellectual history. While I infer that the reason my friend wished to artists including the young Brahms whom his symphonic music may sometimes fail employ this quote in his jazz improvisation he “adopted” and nurtured for several to “sing,” his best compositions scintillate book is a symptom of the general contempt years before Schumann’s premature death with emotional depth, searing passion, and that the creatives have for critics and, by in a mental hospital. The syndrome is in exquisite lyricism. It is the very uneven- extension, academics. What artists find par- truth no syndrome per se but rather a ness of his opera omnia (collected complete ticularly objectionable are those “commen- subversive construct that adds a decep- works) that intrigues me. His work’s blatant tators who have no respect for the object of tive patina of medical seriousness to this inconsistencies remind me of the uneven- their comments; (who) feel no compunction divertissement. ness of the ideas we encounter and find about showing off their incendiary wit at ourselves having to clarify and even defend What I love about Schumann, besides his

38 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Further Perspectives in our discussions with new and prospec- arts and history more accurately reflects occurred to me. This insight came quite tive clients as well as others in related fields the realities of what students of history unexpectedly during the revision process (even with other members of our diverse SI see. It contradicts the more prevalent linear of this essay. When working on a particular community). evolutionary model that eschews rhythmic idea such as this one, serendipitous events dilations and contractions in the name of often appear that serve to strengthen evolv- The works of Schumann, like those of all some misguided perception of the inexo- ing arguments or (less often) open another composers of his era, are a mix of tradi- rable progress of man and his creations, like door through which new ideas magically tional form (the Beethoven symphony as the naïve distortions that have occurred in pass. Such a one occurred this past week structural paradigm) and progressive ex- discussions of social Darwinism. as I was listening to a local classical radio perimentation (the tone poems of Berlioz station. A musician who was planning a and Liszt). Similarly, our art form in its In our discipline, we see both explanations lecture and performance on the works of current incarnation represents at its best of the new and an expanded vision of the Schumann was talking about “Schumann’s a sincerely reverential reconfiguration of work and an equally vocal defense of the old love letters,” a code phrase he employed Rolf’s work and the desire of her progeny as if each represented polar opposites. Such for selected works he would perform and to explore alternative formal and technical views, whether progressive or reactionary, discuss. The artist’s perspective was that languages in order to enrich the moveable tell us as much about their proponents as no music was as charged with passion and feast that is structural integration. Whatever the work they do; they make, I believe, too explicit sexuality as that of Schumann. The our thoughts about the current direction of much of our differences. When in the midst literature is in fact ripe with not only the our work, we can no more halt its progress of a transition, as our work certainly is, you passionate love letters Schumann wrote to than we can recompose Liszt’s piano sonata cannot possibly see what will endure and his beloved Clara, the greatest female piano in the hope that it might somehow sound what will fall by the wayside any more than virtuoso of her era, but also considerations like one by Haydn or Clemente. Some may 20th century critics could predict whose art of the numerous references to her in his dismiss the whole purist vs. progressive and music will emerge as the enduring occasionally subtly programmatic piano (read classicist vs. romanticist) dialectic as masterpieces of the past century. This begs works and lieder. I was frankly entranced nothing more than new bottles for old wine, the question, why choose one course over by this idea, which certainly matched my while others might arrogantly argue that the other since Romantic and Classical ap- understanding of Schumann the man and they have reinvented the entire fermenta- proaches need not be mutually exclusive? Schumann the artist. tion process. Who is right, who is wrong? While I know that passionate attachment No matter. I do not think that such a personal art to tradition has great appeal for many, we should be dismissed as an aberration of Here is another important notion that have so often seen how in other disciplines an obsessive psyche, particularly when deepens our metaphor. All students of art elaborately defended neo-classical reviv- mediated through the genius of a creative history know that there are regular and als have proven no more durable than mind such as Schumann’s. I feel such predictable cycles of romantic expansion Romantic reactions. It is as if we had to works might more accurately be viewed as and counteracting movements of return to choose whether Brahms is a more impor- a highly embodied art form, compositions “classical purity.” However, since we are tant composer than Wagner or whether the where musical motifs and harmonies serve such a new discipline, applying this broad exquisitely refined portraiture of Ingres is as evocations of the powerful emotions of cyclic historical model to our current state eclipsed by the drama of Delacroix. While a complex artist who worked out many of of flux seems a bit premature; but, should such discussions appeal to absolutists and his personal demons and wide-ranging we endure, our future patterns of growth academics whose careers are based on carv- passions in his rich body of work. The nu- and contraction may well fall within this ing out and defending narrow territories, ances of Schumann’s emotional fragility pattern. Yet, were we to speculate, we we need not fall prey to the same kinds of and the incongruities between his best art might say that we have moved from a pe- separatist thinking. A willingness to see the and his increasingly destabilizing grasp of riod of classical purity, if such a thing ever larger picture, to appreciate the elegant sim- reality serve, I believe, as both cautionary existed (and we can certainly debate that plicity as well as the technical complexity tale and useful somatic metaphor. But, how one for many unhappy hours), to a state of of varying approaches to the work (as long does this all tie together in a useful and fragmentation and growth matched by a as they represent a logical extension consis- instructive way? strong simultaneous reactionary desire to tent with Rolf’s fundamental integrative return to pure form. Wherever we actually thought) has a potentially liberating effect Here is my current best answer. What we are in the early stages of a transitional cycle, on the practitioner. Intellectual curiosity, might say about our work is that at its best we certainly cannot predict where we will an interest in alternate ways of thinking, it transcends structure and embraces emo- emerge, nor should we fixate on this. a capacity to entertain an aesthetic view tion. Certainly not the idealized or frenetic at variance with our own, these are keys kaleidoscopes of Romantic excess, but a Broad cyclical oscillations between com- to appreciating the full range of great art well-modulated embodied movement ca- plexity and simplicity are always accom- and evolving a richer understanding of pable of expressing a full range of feeling. panied by a wealth of tracts espousing seemingly contradictory aesthetics. Such What we wish to consider here is titrated elaborate rationales for the return to a things are found in the works and writings emotion, integrated yet responsive. Such simpler style, attacks on more complex of Schumann (and of course Rolf), which is emotional resiliency is only possible in a forms, or countering polemical rejoinders again why we have selected dear Schumann healthy adaptable system, and helping cre- that erupt with fantastical praise for much- as the cornerstone of our argument. ate such a system remains for many of us needed innovative richness, complexity, one of the most potent of our goals. and experimentation. Such a view of the Yet, there is more to this than initially

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An embodied and adaptable system is one so as much for the internal experience that of ink; how we combine and reorganize that experiences mutable psychic states, such meditative work creates in them as them, that is where things become really one that has an over-arching meta-order their desire to communicate their skill with interesting. that prevents the individual from becoming others. To offer another analogy, that the fixated on any discrete moment. It is also compositions of Schumann or the interpre- Notes one that has the skills to navigate new situ- tation of them by say a Horowitz or Kempf ations with clarity and curiosity.5 Whether move us is, I think, totally independent of 1. Greene, David Mason, Greene’s Biographi- we see emotion as primary or secondary the internal experience of the composer cal Encyclopedia of Composers, “Reger, Max” in our work, we cannot but concede that or the artist interpreting them.6 I believe (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1985), pp. it so totally permeates all we do that we that Horowitz’s subjective experience (for 924-925. have little choice but to surrender to its instance) of playing a given composition 2. Slonimsky, Nicolas, Lexicon of Musical inevitability. Ideally, we will become more as he carefully communicates the printed Invective: Critical Assaults on Composers mindful of emotional nuance in propor- page to us has much in common with how Since Beethoven’s Time (New York: Norton, tion to our improving ability to sense and we bring the abstract basic series to life as 2000). Originally published 1953 by Ross- direct a system’s fascial reconfigurations. we play it with and on our clients, even if Coleman, p. 139. “Ich sitze in dem kleinsten Just as we may well enjoy the music of our selfish internal reality is concealed from Zimmer in meinen Hause. Ich habe Ihre 7 Schumann without the emotional subtext, others for obvious reasons. Kritik vor mir. Im nächsten Augenblick so we can certainly work in a satisfactory The inner world of SI from the perspec- wird sie hinter mir sein.” Translation by way by focusing on memorized protocols tive of the practitioner is rarely explored, Slonimsky. and a clearly defined list of objective goals. largely I suspect because it is easier to look Yet, we soon realize that such mechanistic 3. Schickele, Peter, “If You Can’t Think of externally than to dissect and verbalize the thinking misses too much of the experience Something Nice to Say, Come Sit Next to complex internal experiences of sophisti- in the moment, the richness of the under- Me”, his forward to Nicolas Slonimsky’s cated practitioners of this discipline. Also, lying pulsations and messages hidden Lexicon of Musical Invective; (New York: Nor- admitting that there exists a large selfish yet calling to us as we work. Whether we ton, 2000), x. Some minor editorial changes component to what we do hardly resonates embrace neoclassical purity or Romantic were made to this wonderful quote to ac- with the humanitarian and lofty goals most experimentation, subtlety of structure and commodate the surrounding grammatical of us espouse. This conflict is a subtle real- implicit meaning readily offer themselves structures. ity for many, yet I must admit I have never for our consideration, if only we learn to heard anyone describe exactly what I am 4. A friend of mine, Judith Roberts, once fully attend to them. ® suggesting here. said to me: “Raymond, Rolfing isn’t sci- I have often heard it argued that such an ence it’s art”. I fear that if I wholeheartedly How well I have succeeded in convincing approach as the one I take here makes embrace her impassioned and very appeal- others of my message must be, if I have any too much of the work, superimposing on ing view, I run the risk of offending those hope of consistency, of less concern to me it a level of complexity that offers little in our community who study the scientific than the process I have followed to explore to the quotidian realities of a functioning underpinnings of our work. The academic my themes. Otherwise, external concerns practice. I reply, “point well taken.” How- in me rebels against repudiating interesting distract from the creative process itself. ever, I for one find that seeking unusual research, and I wish to make it clear that I Yet, just as any good artist reveals cohesion relationships and metaphors enhances my wholeheartedly support and am engaged and unity through structural devices, so I normal experience of the work and helps me by their potentially very valuable studies. must do the same both in my writing and “grow the work as I grow myself.” I enjoy Therefore, I live to deepen my ability to in my sessions. An interesting conundrum, the introspective opportunities provided work more intuitively in the artistic realm as to say the least. by my “routine experiences” with all my I simultaneously enrich my understanding diverse sessions. I also relish the opportu- However, the variety of means employed of anatomy and science. Here is an interest- nities of playing with the written word, as by us to accomplish these goals is part of ing contradiction that may confuse many this exercise helps me construct and refine what makes the work so interesting, our but which is essential to my approach to arguments and concepts, the application of subjective choices of said tools predispos- the work and this essay. which may seem abstruse to many. Since I ing each of us to choose for a time a given 5. I wish to acknowledge that this and other consciously choose to be more concerned permutation of this creative process, be it references to state come both from lectures about the ideas than reactions to them, classical, romantic, or aleatoric (random). by Jan Sultan and ideas that have their this difficulty causes me less concern over Unlike Schumann and his best interpret- origin with Bill Smythe. time. I adapt here the implicit position of ers, we can simply write or play the notes my friend Schumann. competently. Or, we may bravely choose 6. I choose these two performers deliber- to seek deeper connections and willingly ately because Horowitz is mostly known Our work is in many ways a very internal go within in order to aid others in their as a consummate virtuoso in the grand and perhaps even selfish act. The same I personal journeys. I choose the latter route Romantic tradition while Kempf is loved for believe holds true for the experience of all and enjoy observing how others define their his restrained and elegant interpretations. great art. Deep explorations with clients own aesthetic: following widely divergent That I prefer Kempf to Horowitz belies may lead to intense engagement with other; paths, or stopping along the way so they my closeted love for the daring Romantic a creating that is ostensibly about them more can fully enjoy their very different vantage excesses of highly individual and creative than us. Yet, most who “live the work” do points. All this is, after all, nothing but blobs artists who are willing to sacrifice clarity

40 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Further Perspectives and precision for dazzling brilliance or overarching dramatic effect. I love both for very different reasons, and it is this fundamental contradiction in my taste that drives much of this paper, and helps explain my curious marriage of art and science. 7. Although I have told this story elsewhere, it bears repeating. This notion of “playing” my clients as an instrument came from my gifted movement teacher Vivian Jaye, who used this image to help me settle into the work during a very difficult period in my training. It is a wonderful idea and proved transformative in my ability to sense others and myself more fully as I worked.

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 41 Book Reviews

Yoga for the Core: Finding Stability in an Unstable Environment by Suzette O’Byrne Anatomy and Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries by Susi Hately Aldous reviewed by Mary Kimberlin, Certified Advanced RolferTM

Environment (Eastland 7) Be generous with yourself (stay out of Press, 2007), by Suzette painful range of motion); and O’Byrne BSc Kinesiol- 8) Less is more. ogy and registered yoga instructor. Yoga for the I enjoyed reading this book and feel Core reads like a user- that it could be very helpful to Rolfers, friendly CliffsNotes of particularly to understand the physical Richardson’s book, with therapy/pilates/yoga definition of “core”. an emphasis on bringing It could also be helpful to clients who are this knowledge into the over-straining to “work their core” or need yoga and pilates communities. The book simple exercises to learn to feel their core. has several beginning (truly beginning) ex- There’s also another word we could adopt ercises to help in feeling these muscles fire, more from the physical therapy community: he word “core” is controversial in the and from there slowly makes the exercises “stability”. We don’t tend to say things like TRolfing® community, and a word not more difficult. My favorite quote from this “He’s totally stabilizing from his erector much used in the yoga community. I have book is “Adopt Relaxed Resilience” mean- spinae and nothing else, no wonder his back heard it defined variously in our commu- ing that rigidity is not what you are going always hurts”, but perhaps we could find nity, in explanations ranging from the inner for. By beginning with the breath and then benefit from such lines of thought. muscles, to visceral space, intrinsic move- teaching how to turn off “outer core help- Another new book from Eastland Press is ment, etc. This imprecision of definition is ers”, I think O’Byrne does a great job of Anatomy and Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries not the case in the physical therapy com- getting the reader to feel his “core” in a way (2007) by Susi Hately Aldous, who is also a munity, thanks to the groundbreaking work most Rolfers would agree with. of Carolyn Richardson, PT from Australia. yoga instructor with a Bachelor of Science The book gives eight principles of move- The exercises from her book Therapeutic in Kinesiology. This book is a primer for ment: Exercise for Lumbopelvic Stabilization: A Mo- yoga students who have not had much anatomy. Is it useful for Rolfers? Well, it tor Control Approach for the Treatment and 1) Nourish relaxation (with the breath and could be if your interested in finding out Prevention of Low Back Pain (2004, Churchill fascial release); Livingstone) have been used extensively about specific poses and how to do them, 2) Initiate movement, beginning with the by the physical therapists to strengthen or if you have clients who study yoga and spine; the transverse abdominus, pelvic floor, and you feel they need some help in doing poses more correctly. I tend to think that actually multifidus muscles for help in stabilizing 3) Connect spinal movement with the taking yoga class or private yoga lessons is the low back. movement at the largest joints first; a preferable way to learn this information, Whether the reader agrees or disagrees with 4) Move joints in their optimum range of but many yoga teachers do not know much the physical therapy definition of “core”, it motion; about anatomy, and these days there is can be useful to understand (and by “un- almost a “puppy mill” of yoga teachers on 5) As you boost your core stability remem- derstanding” I mean feel) what physical the market. So if you don’t practice yoga but ber to breathe; therapists are talking about. Richardson’s would like to be able to have a conversation book can be rather dry reading, so I wel- 6) Adopt relaxed resilience (effortless ef- with your clients who do, to discuss what come the first book under review here,Yoga fort); they are doing to themselves, this could be for the Core: Finding Stability in an Unstable a worthwhile book for you.

42 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Book Reviews

Life on Land: The Story of Continuum, The World-Renowned Method of Self-Discovery and Movement by Emilie Conrad reviewed by Gael Ohlgren, Certified Advanced Rolfer™

milie Conrad has been my teacher withhold the trans-rational influences in Efor over thirty years. When I first met our life for fear of ridicule. Perhaps Carl her, I recognized that she was pointing to Jung in Memories, Dreams, Reflections was a truth that was not so complicated, yet one of the first to acknowledge that the was obscured as a blind spot in our current movement of his inner life informed his culture. Her vision, for me, picked up where path in the world. But it is yet again more Ida P. Rolf’s left off. I saw movement com- risky to acknowledge the trans-rational municate through connective tissue rather experiences that occur while awake and than muscles and joints. I saw coherency conscious. and grace. And I saw that order without Emilie says that the difference between a fluidity is still limited. Conrad points to the madman (or madwoman) and a visionary habits of fragmentation in our society that is the capacity to be relevant to his time, to allow us to fall into illusions of separate- convey logical meaning to others. This is the ness. Whether it is the specialization within next stage of her book. As she moves into professions that hold one system of the the principles of Continuum, she speaks body isolated from another, or the tendency eloquently of the challenges of our time. to see the body, psyche, and soul as barely Never have humans faced such a bom- related, we can not help but be diminished bardment of information, pollutants, and by this reductionism. other modern demands on our systems. Emilie’s book, Life on Land: The Story of The transition from the machine age to the Continuum, The World-Renowned Method of electronic age has stepped up the speed of Self-Discovery and Movement (North Atlantic communication and is also changing the Books, 2007), like her vision, takes a daring of these rituals continues to inform some electromagnetic field around us. It is not so leap in style from the usual thesis of a life’s part of her understanding of the process of easy to identify with the biological rhythms work. Rather than the typical acknowledge- restoring health through stepping outside that nourish our organism. These rhythms ment of pivotal influences, teachers, and of a personal and cultural identity. Links are slower by multiples of 10 and 100 to the epiphanies, Emilie shares the suffering of to ancient archetypical energies as well as speed of electronic equipment. her family and her childhood that became ancient wisdom for restoring wellness are Continuum has been developed to meet the compelling drive behind her search for woven into her teachings. These threads the challenges of our time. It is teaching the health and wholeness. Her descriptions are can be Greek, Hindu, Christian as well as art form of shifting state from the cultural raw and compelling. Some readers might Haitian. And yet, her experience in Haiti rhythms and concerns of today to a more feel as if they are being shown too much taught her that total identification and im- ancient aspect of ourselves, which is usually of the back rooms of life. But I appreciated mersion with any culture or any time in his- below our awareness. It is a foreground/ the lack of whitewash and pretty wrap- tory creates limitations for our possibilities background shift that puts us back in touch pings. Her very humanness translates later to perceive and to evolve. with the bio-intelligence of our organism. to equal compassion and empathy for the suffering of others: situations like paralyses She takes another unconventional risk Quoting Emilie: “If one were to boil down in which most of us would prefer to look when she moves to the spontaneous initia- to a brief description the purpose of Con- away. tion processes that compelled her to take tinuum, one could say that it is a way of re- her personal inquiry to the public. There storing personal access to billions of years of We are taken into her time in Haiti as if we she shares spontaneous journey experi- intelligence that is spiraled into the swirl of could see, hear, and smell the infusion of ences that stretch the credibility of anyone our embryonic coil. Continuum maintains this culture and its enlivening affect on her. attached to literal, rational explanations. that we are part of an unfolding process Although she does not go into great detail She is not offering a cosmology to explain that remains intact within us. Whether we about the traditional ceremonies of Haiti, these experiences, but simply sharing the wish to call this process God, or higher it is still possible to feel how the power unfolding of her inquiry. All too often we intelligence, or some other title, the point

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 43 Book Reviews is that we are not separate from the awe of ing viewpoint that is likely to inform your primary existence.” (pg. xxix) inquiry into connective tissue, pathology, and inhibitions. Just as Ida Rolf had a vision for human potential that went beyond the scope of science and culture in understanding of the body, Emilie’s perceptions, though full of common sense, seem radical. In Rolf’s day, connective tissue was considered the throw-away wrapping surrounding the substance of the body. Rolf’s idea that it is an intelligent organ of shape and connection was nowhere to be seen in the common or scientific world. Now Emilie is pointing to the intelligence of water; not blood, not lymph, not cerebrospinal fluid. The basic inquiry of Continuum is based upon the theory that the fluid within our bodies, planet, and galaxy functions as a “resonant organ of intelligence.” How to create one’s own connection to this resonant field is the work and art form of Continuum. As Hubert Godard has been indicating with his work, Emilie says that the scope of fluid variability within connective tissue is primarily governed by the quality of our consciousness that includes our sense of identity. Continuum teaches through movement explorations that are non-patterned and unfold differently for each individual that it is possible to shift from the movements of basic survival and identification with “I-ness” or “me-ness,” to movements that bring a sense of “we-ness.” From this state, one relates to all species and all life without hierarchy. As one starts to feel the innate intelligence of one’s own organism, the sense of belonging to the whole of the matrix of life brings about a state of “one- ness” with the field. This capacity to shift identity from “I” to “we” to “one” is what Emilie calls a healthy plasticity of identity, which creates a body that is an open system. It is from this state that the possibilities are available for the body to reorganize and renew at a higher level. Since I have personally witnessed in Em- ilie’s classes the innovation of new neural pathways and movement that is considered medically impossible for spinal cord injuries, I know that she is on to something – and not just for extreme injuries. Her method empowers all of us to participate in our own healing and evolving whether our wounds are in the social, physical, or spiritual realm. Even if movement isn’t “your thing” or you already have a personal practice that you love, I recommend Life on Land for a refresh-

44 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Memorial

Jeffry Galper

n Jeffry Galper, Ph.D., Advanced Certified would miss the mark. Jeff helped me to TM Rolfer , died peacefully on August 22nd, examine how I was creating my own dis- 2007 from complications of an aortic an- appointment and how taking and savoring eurysm. He was surrounded by his family smaller bites really helped me to enjoy the and close friends. Jeff was well-loved in process. In many ways I learned to stop the Rolfing(r) community, and received so “pushing the river” and to trust that it’s all many thoughts and prayers through the (and I mean all) going along just fine. As my Rolf-forum during his illness. practice has had its dips and rises over the When I moved to Vermont, Jeff was the first years, the trust that was developed early on, Rolfer I met. His presence was warm and with Jeff’s help, has really served me well. welcoming, and I felt happy and honored to I’m forever grateful. be a part of the Vermont Rolfing community Dan Somers Jeff pioneered. Jeff also counseled me about Certified Advanced Rolfer my practice (as he did with countless other Rolfers), offering suggestions of how to build my practice – much of which became n I never actually met Jeff. clearer to me after he passed away. When I was a young Rolfer, Jeff often Jeff’s love of Rolfing and for his clients has published articles in Rolf Lines that would also become beautifully clear to me, as I generously give us all advice on how to have had the privilege of working with build a successful practice. I remember in many of his clients since his passing. Jeff’s drifting in the fears and desires about rais- a series of articles he included actual ads he clients display a keen love for him, and a ing my rates, Jeff helped me jump to a new placed in local newspapers. I cut out those deep ease with their bodies that will be way of thinking. “What do you say when ads and saved his articles and used them to Jeff’s lasting legacy. You changed many someone asks you why you charge what help build my first practice. I knew nothing lives, Jeff, and we are grateful for the trails you charge”? I asked. His response to my about building a practice and his generosity you blazed. We will miss you. question had a “Jedi mind trick” quality with his experience and knowledge was to it. “That is my rate”. “That is what I enormously helpful to me. Robert Rex tell people”. Jeff responded with absolute Certified Rolfer authority and confidence. No defending it. Jeff also had a wonderful clarity in writing No comparisons. By example he taught me about Rolfing. He wrote an article titled simply “Rolfing” a very long time ago . . . n that the value of my work is something that I feel blessed to have known and learned I decide on. Up to our last conversation he so long that I don’t remember when I first from Jeff. Six years ago as I set off as a new was still pushing me to raise my rates yet ran across it. In the article he first briefly Certified Rolfer I enlisted his support as a again. I know he is right. describes Rolfing and then examines some practice-building consultant. We spoke a assumptions and beliefs that are made few times a month for the first year of my He patiently walked with me in the tender about human bodies. It is such a wonder- practice and the occasionally for years after. moments of beginning a practice and his ful, simple, clear discussion of what we do The no-nonsense and compassionate ap- love of our work, good humor, ferocity, and that I still give a copy of that article to most proach that he brought to this work makes open heart lit the way. I miss his presence in of my new and prospective clients. I have this time some of the most meaningful I this manifest realm. Thanks for everything a stack of copies of his article in my office have spent, not just in the context of our my friend. Blessings to you. even as I write this. Jeff’s energy and pres- work, but also in the larger context of life. Adam Mentzell ence has been in my office and practice for Jeff left a lasting impression on me, and his Certified Advanced Rolfer many years. I feel a real sense of loss from sage advice on matters of running the busi- our Rolfing family. ness of our work continues to inform and So I want his family and friends to know guide me. He deeply respected the work n Jeff was really helpful to me as a new that even though I never had the privilege we do and had a passion for furthering it Rolfer back in the early nineties. I remember of meeting this man in this life, he helped in the world. insisting on what turned out to be overly me greatly and influenced the success of ambitious practice-building goals and then At a time early in my practice when I was my own practice. I want them to know repeatedly feeling disappointed when I

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 45 Memorial that each time I give his article to someone of a butterfly on his ankle and often still he continues to influence and help people. smelled of chlorine when he came for sessions. Jeff had very strong opinions, which Thanks Jeff and good journey he would share freely, whether you wanted Shonnie Carson to hear them, or not. He was kind to me and Certified Advanced Rolfer always precluded his opinion with, “I’m going to tell you what I think and you can do with it what you will, but if I were you I n Jeff and I first met in the mid-80s, when would...” I’ve thought about him more since we were both serving on what then was his sudden illness and passing than I ever still called the Selection (later, Admissions) did before. We weren’t close, but I saw him Committee. Although he didn’t have the on a regular basis, last client of the day and clipped accent of a hard-rock Vermonter, he he liked to be “ROLFED”. A few of Jeff’s had much of their directness and economy clients have been trickling into my practice; of speech. Even more important to me, he they feel as though they have lost a great had a good, dry sense of humor. At times, friend who made them more comfortable and in regard to certain points, he displayed and functional in their bodies. Jeff was their the meticulous, determined focus of the Rolfer and he is and will be missed. typical CPA or appeals lawyer. One after- Diane Rodgers noon, a member of the committee tossed out a somewhat chiding, if playful, comment Certified Advanced Rolfer about the time Jeff was taking to “obsess” about what she obviously considered a minor issue. Jeff lifted his head and smiled at her, responding, “What looks like obses- sion could also be careful consideration. One doesn’t earn a graduate degree without being able to obsess.” I don’t remember how she reacted. I thought it was not only funny, but also a much gentler riposte than she could have expected from other members, and I liked him immediately. We got to know each other a bit better over the years while serving on the Board of Directors. His intelligence always demon- strated a perspective that made his points with clarity, but without self-importance – not always easy for all of us to do. I was impressed by the time and energy he devoted over many years to coaching newer Rolfers in how to develop their practices. He had the generosity of a good, natural teacher. All in all, I wish I had known Jeff better – and for years longer. My thoughts are with his family now. Nicholas French Certified Advanced Rolfer n Jeff Galper was a colleague as well as a client for the past seven years. He was a hardworking, determined and intense man who found great joy in his life with his wife and daughter and relaxation from maintaining the gardens, lawns and forest comprising his property. He did everything for his family. Jeff was a master’s swimmer and could be found in the pool early most weekday mornings, doing his preferred stroke, the butterfly. He even had a tattoo

46 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 Institute News

Graduates

Modular Training, Oct 7, 2007, Munich, Germany Front Row: Thomas Josef Beulich Middle Row, Left to Right: Paola Mazzoni, Ingrid Buk, Kathrin Grobelnik, Gabriela Arnaud, Sigrid Doberenz, Eva-Maria Kasperl, Anna Paola Bacalov Back Row: Peter Legård Nielsen; Dorit Schatz (Instructor), Gerhard Hesse (Instructor), Claudia Kroczek, Sabine Schumann, Hervé Baunard, Marielle Kemna Toledo

Unit 3, October 12, 2007, Boulder, CO Front Row, Left to Right: Liz Krull (Assistant Instructor) Crystal Oostema, Rosalynde Smith, Bess Coble Back row: Russell Stolzoff (Instructor) Rob McWilliams, Eric Gordon, Andrew Ybarra, Albert Fielder, James McMahon, Chris Hodel, Will Schilling

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 47 Institute News Unit II: Embodiment of Rolfing and Rolf Movement Integration Sep-Oct 2008 Instructor: TBA Assistant: TBA

2008-2009 Class Schedule Sydney, Australia Unit III: Clinical Application of Rolfing Theory BOULDER, COLORADO Rolfing Movement Training March 24 – May 15, 2008 August 4 – August 14, 2008 – Phase 1 Unit I: Foundations of Rolfing® Instructor: Micheal Stanborough October 14 – October 24, 2008 – Phase 2 Structural Integration/ FORSI Assistant Instructor: John Smith Instructors: Jane Harrington and January 28 – March 7, 2008 Rebecca Carli-Mills Advanced Unit I Coordinator: Juan David Velez July 2008 June 2 – July 14, 2008 BERKELEY, CA The Rolfing Touch - Coordinator: Michael Polon Advanced Training Myofascial Approaches August 25 – October 6, 2008 July 5, 6 Coordinator: Suzanne Picard (Extended Format) Fascial Perspectives - Phase I: April 21 – May 5, 2008 Unit I: Advanced Foundations of Understanding Structure Phase II: September 1 – September 12, 2008 July 12, 13 Rolfing Structural Integration/ Instructors: Michael Salveson AFORSI Co-instructor: Carol Agneessens Authentic Presence - March 16 – March 29, 2008 Therapeutic Contact July 19, 20 Coordinator: Jon Martine / John Schewe GERMANY Instructors: John Smith, Ashuan Seow March 16 – March 29, 2008 Phase III: Clinical Application Instructor: Jon Martine / John Schewe Unit III: Clinical Application of Rolfing Theory July 13 – July 26, 2008 of Rolfing Theory January 28 – March 21, 2008 Instructor: Suzanne Picard March 2 – April 24 2009 Instructor: Ray McCall October 26 – November 8, 2008 Instructor: Ray McCall Instructor: Juan David Velez Assistant: John Smith Germany/Italy Unit II: Embodiment of Rolfing & Rolf Movement Certification Advanced Training 2008-2009 Rolf Movement Integration November 10 – 28, 2008 January 7 – February 28, 2008 September 28 – October 10, 2008 in Instructors: Monica Caspari & Ashuan Seow Bologna, Italy Instructor: Valerie Berg Principles Instructor: Lael Keen April 20 – May 06, 2009 in Munich, Germany KYOTO, JAPAN March 31 – May 22, 2008 Instructor: Peter Schwind Instructor: Thomas Walker Assistant Instructor: Pierpaola Volpones Unit I: Foundations of Rolfing® Principles Instructor: Mary Bond Structural Integration/ FORSI June 2 – July 24, 2008 SPAIN May – June, 2008 Instructor: Libby Eason Instructor: Mauris Strydom Principles Instructor: Jane Harrington Rolfing Movement Training November 21 – November 30 2008 October 13 – December 11, 2008 KANSAI REGION, JAPAN Instructor: Jon Martine May 21 – May 31 2009 Principles Instructor: Carol Agneessens Instructors: Rita Geirola and France Hatt Unit II: Embodiment of Rolfing & Unit III: Clinical Application Rolf Movement Integration of Rolfing Theory Melbourne, Australia January – March, 2009 Instructor: Jim Asher March 3 – April 25, 2008 Advanced Unit I Instructor: Ashuan Seow February 2008 Unit III: Clinical Application Anatomy Instructor: Michael Murphy of Rolfing Theory June 2 – July 25, 2008 The Rolfing Touch - Myofascial Approaches September – October, 2009 Instructor: Michael Stanborough Feb 2 – 3, 2008 Instructor: TBA Anatomy Instructor: Jon Martine August 18 – October 10, 2008 Fascial Perspectives - Understanding Instructor: Jane Harrington Structure Anatomy Instructor: Juan David Velez Feb 9 – 10, 2008 October 13 – December 12, 2008 Authentic Presence - Therapeutic Instructor: Ray McCall Contact Anatomy Instructor: John Schewe Feb 16 – 17, 2008 Instructors: Michael Stanborough, John Smith, Ashuan Seow

48 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 CONTACTS

Officers & Brazilian officers Officers of Board of Directors & Board of Directors Meeting Regions Valerie Berg (Faculty��/Board Chair�) Maria Helena Orlando, President Southeastern/USA 3751 Manchester Dr. NW Marcia Cintra, Vice President Vacant Albuquerque, NM 87107 Alfeu Ruggi, Secretary Mid-Atlantic/USA (505) 341-1167 Maria da Conceição da Costa, Director Bill Morrow, Chair [email protected] Monica Caspari, Educational Director Candace Frye, Sec’y-Treas. Sybille Cavalcanti, Executive Director Peter Bolhuis (At-large/CFO) Northeastern/N. America 14130 Whitney Circle Dameron Midgette, Chair Broomfield, CO 80020 European Officers Bill Short, Sec’y (303) 449-2800 & Board of Directors Red River/USA [email protected] Keith Graham (Chair) Sam Johnson Duffy Allen (Faculty) Andrea Clusen Mountain/USA Mattheus ElsAnnika Sundell 1360 Toedtli Dr. Bryan Devine, Chair Nathan Ingvalson Boulder, CO 80305 Heartland/USA (303) 919-6690 Dan Somers [email protected] Australian Officers & Committee Southwestern/USA Laura J. Curry (Eastern USA/Board Secretary) Bill LeGrave The Rolfing® Studio John Smith, President N. California/USA 22 Woburn St. #26 Chris Howe, Treasurer Reading, MA 01867 Meran Cassidy, Secretary Douw Smith (781) 492-ROLF Su Tindall, Committee Cascades/N. America [email protected] Colin Rossie, Committee Vacant Marnie Fitzpatrick, Committee Benjamin Eichenauer (At-large) Alaska/USA ANISHA - A Center for Holistic Health Ed Toal, Chair Japanese Officers 4031 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Hawaii/USA & Board of Directors Portland, OR 97214 Vacant (503) 280-5665 Yoshitaka Koda, President [email protected] Tsuguo Hirata, Vice President European Kunikazu Miyazawa, Inspector Gale Loveitt (Central USA) Regional Contacts Atsuko Hoshino, Kei Shiokawa (Secretary) 40545 Sloop Circle Austria Madoka Ikeda, Director of Membership Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 Jasmin Mirfakhrai Takayuki Watanabe (Membership Services (970) 870-2888 Scandinavia Assistant) [email protected] Hans Gramstrup Eiko Mizobe, Director of Education France Jeff W. Ryder (Western USA) Yoshiko Ikejima, Foreign Liaison Hubert Godard 4004 S.W. Kelly, #201 Kazunori Kawakami, Shinnosuke Nakamura Italy Portland, OR 97239 (Meeting Coordinator) Monica Marinelli (503) 250-3209 Takayo Miyamoto (Director of Website) [email protected] Spain Traugott Wahl Maria Helena Orlando (International /CID) Standing Board Switzerland R. Itapeaçu, 108 - Sao Paulo - SP Committees Tina Collenberg Brazil - Zip Code 05670-020 Academic Affairs United Kingdom, Ireland 5511 3819.0153 Europe-Brazil and Keith Graham [email protected] Countries in Development Christoph Sommer (Europe) Finance Education In Motion, Praxisgemeinschaft Membership Executive Committee Friedrichstr. 20 Jonathan Martine, Chair Public Relations D-80801 München Valerie Berg Germany Law & Legislation Libby Eason +49-89-330 79 664 Michael Wm. Murphy Sally Klemm [email protected] Research Jim Jones* Tom Findley, M.D. Russell Stolzoff Executive Committee Maya J. Gammon* Peter Bolhuis Gale Loveitt Laura J. Curry G. Thomas Manzione, Ph.D.*

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 49 CONTACTS

Rolfing Instructors Fascial Anatomy Europe Carol Agneessens Instructors European Executive Committee Duffy Allen John Schewe, Chair Pierpaola Volpones, Chair Valerie Berg Luiz Fernando Bertolucci Giovanni Felicioni Harvey Burns Paul Gordon, M.A. Nathan Ingvalson Monica Caspari Jonathan Martine Markus Stettner Libby Eason Michael Wm. Murphy Patrick Ellinwood Cornelia Rossi European FDRB (RFOC) Ellen Freed Robert Schleip, Ph.D. Susanne Eichler, Chair Jane Harrington Louis Schultz, Ph.D., Emeritus Pierpaola Volpones Lael Katharine Keen Juan David Velez France Hatt-Arnold Sally Klemm European Admissions Jonathan Martine Foundations of ROLFING Paula Mattoli STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION Committeee Ray McCall Faculty Anna Neil-Raduner, Chair Kevin McCoy Michael Polon, Co-Chair Hans Gramstrup Jose Augusto Menegatti Suzanne Picard, Co-Chair Isolde Specka Michael Wm. Murphy Til Luchau Pedro Prado, Ph.D. Jonathan Martine Rolf Institute Staff Cornelia Rossi John Schewe G. Thomas Manzione, Ph.D., Robert Schleip, Ph.D. Marius Strydom Executive Director Peter Schwind, Ph.D. Juan David Velez Brigitte Lause, Membership Services Ashuan Seow Coordinator Michael Stanborough Faculty Committees Jim Jones, Director of Education Russell Stolzoff Faculty Development Michele Willingham, Admissions Counselor Marius Strydom and Review Board Maya J. Gammon, Faculty Liaison Pierpaola Volpones Jeff Maitland, Chair Emily Thayer, Student Services Coordinator Thomas Walker Maya J. Gammon* Heidi Hauge, Office Manager Jim Jones* Gena Rauschke, Accountant Advanced Rolfing Ray McCall Susan Seecof, Publicist, Instructors Pedro Prado SI Journal Managing Editor Jim D. Asher Pierpaola Volpones The Rolf Institute® Tessy Brungardt Tom Wing, Membership Rep. 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103 Jeffrey Maitland, Ph.D. Boulder, CO 80301 Ray McCall Student Evaluation Faculty (303) 449-5903 Pedro Prado, Ph.D. North America (800) 530-8875 Michael Salveson Suzanne Picard, Chair (303) 449-5978 fax Peter Schwind, Ph.D. Duffy Allen [email protected] Jan Henry Sultan Larry Koliha www.rolf.org Michael Polon Office Hours: Teachers-In-Training Jim Jones* Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Karen Lackritz (Rolfing) Continuing Education Committee Australian Rolfing Association Lael Keen, Chair Marnie Fitzpatrick, Administrator Movement Instructors Kevin McCoy Jane Harrington, Chair Suite 15, 3 Richmond Avenue Thomas Walker Carol Agneessens Sylvania Waters NSW 2224 Maya J. Gammon* Mary Bond +61-2-9522 6770 Rebecca Carli-Mills Teacher-in-Training Committee +61-2-9522 6756 fax Monica Caspari Sally Klemm, Chair www.rolfing.org.au Hubert Godard Duffy Allen [email protected] France Hatt-Arnold Ellen Freed Vivian Jaye Maya J. Gammon* Lael Katherine Keen Ashuan Seow Paula Mattoli Michael Stanborough Jose Augusto Menegatti Curriculum Committee Pedro Prado, Ph.D. Pierpaola Volpones Thomas Walker, Chair Jane Harrington Ray McCall Maya J. Gammon* *Staff Representative

50 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / December 2007 CONTACTS Brazilian Rolfing Association Sybille Cavalcanti, Executive Director R. Cel. Arthur de Godoy, 83 Vila Mariana 04018-050-São Paulo-SP Brazil (11) 5574-5827 (11) 5539-8075 [email protected], www.rolfing.com.br Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. European Rolfing Association e.V. Markus Stettner, Executive Director Angelika Simon (on maternal leave until Sept. 08) Martina Berger, Training Coordinator Monika Lambacher, Sales and PR Nymphenburgerstr. ��86 D-80636 München Germany +49-89 54 37 09 40 +49-89 54 37 09 42 fax www.rolfing.org [email protected] Japanese Rolfing Association Sugimoto Bldg. 3rd Floor 3-3-11 Nishi-Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023 Japan Yoshiko Ikejima: [email protected] +81-3-5339-7285 fax Website: rolf.cute-site.org

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation

Publication Title: Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Institute® Publication Number: 1538-3784 Filing Date: 9-12-2007 Issue Frequency: Quarterly Number of Issues Published Annually: 4 Annual Subscription Price: $24.99 Mailing Address of Office of Publication: 5055 Chaparral Ct, Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301 Contact person: Brigitte Lause, Phone: 303-449-5903 x103 Publisher: The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, 5055 Chaparral Ct, Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301 Editor: Anne Hoff, The Rolf Institute, 5055 Chaparral Ct, Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301 Managing Editor: Sue Seecof, The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, 5055 Chaparral Ct, Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301 Owner: The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, 5055 Chaparral Ct, Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301

Average No. Copies Each Issue No. Copies of Single Issue During Preceding 12 Month Published Nearest to Filing Date Total Number of Copies 1650 1650 Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscription 1480 936 Paid In-County Subscriptions 65 62 Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation 1545 1611

Structural Integration / December 2007 www.rolf.org 51

Table of Contents