table of contents
Structural Integration: Columns The Journal of Ask the Movement Faculty 2 The Rolf Institute® In My Practice 4
March 2008 Rolfing and Osteopathy: History and Context Vol. 36, No. 1 The Relationship of Osteopathy to Rolfing 7 Jim Asher Publisher The Rolf Method of Postural Release and Integration 9 The Rolf Institute® of J.C.P. Proby Structural Integration® The Living Principles of Osteopathy 12 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103 Olixn Adams Boulder, CO 80301 USA Rolfing and Osteopathy: Explorations (303) 449-5903 (303) 449-5978 Fax Osteopathy in a Rolfer’s Practice 14 Pilar Martin and Per Haaland (800) 530-8875 Somatic Explorations 17 Brian T. Shea, D.O. Editorial Board An Exploration of the Connection Between Traditional Eva Bucher Osteopathy and Rolfing 19 Craig Ellis Steven L. Brown Szaja Gottlieb ® Anne F. Hoff, Editor-in-Chief Rolfing Structural Integration in its Relation to Linda Loggins Osteopathy, Especially the Lineage of Visceral Manipulation Heidi Massa Developed by Jean-Pierre Barral 21 Rob McWilliams Christoph Sommer Deanna Melchynuk Peripheral Nerve Work – Compare and Contrast 24 Maggie Ragatz Don Hazen, D.C. Susan Seecof, Managing Editor Dave Sheldon Rolfing and Osteopathy: Study and Resources About the Canadian College of Osteopathy 26 Layout and Anne F. Hoff, Allan Kaplan, Ron Murray Graphic Design Essential Works in Biodynamics 32 Mercedes Hernández Carol Agneesens Viewpoints Articles in Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Institute® represent the What Did Dr. Rolf Want? 35 views and opinions of the authors and Bob Schrei, Ray McCall, Jeff Maitland and Duffy Allen do not necessarily represent the official Plasticity and Flexibility in the Development of Organisms 39 positions or teachings of the Rolf Institute Bruno D’Udine, Ph.D. of Structural Integration. The Rolf Institute reserves the right, in its sole and absolute Book Reviews discretion, to accept or reject any article for Manual Therapy for the Peripheral Nerves 42 publication in Structural Integration: The Reviewed by Christoph Sommer Journal of The Rolf Institute. “Let us go then, you and I”: A Review of Anatomy of Potency 43 Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Reviewed by Raymond J. Bishop, Jr., Ph.D. Institute® (USPS 0005-122, ISSN 1538-3784) Interface: Mechanisms of Spirit in Osteopathy 46 is published quarterly by the Rolf Institute, Reviewed by Ron Murray, D.O. (M.P.) 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, Engaging the Movement of Life 47 CO 80301. Periodicals Postage Paid at Reviewed by Pilar Martin Boulder, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send A Barefoot Doctor’s Guide for Women 48 address changes to Structural Integration: Reviewed by R. Kerrick Murray The Journal of The Rolf Institute®, 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301. Memorial Copyright ©2008 Rolf Institute. All rights R. Louis Schultz 49 reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without written Institute News permission from the publisher. Graduates 51 Rolfing® is a service mark of the Rolf 2008-2009 Schedule 53 Institute of Structural Integration. Contacts 54 ColumnS
Ask the Movement Faculty How to Interest Clients in Movement Work
By Jane Harrington, Rolf Movement Faculty Chair, Rolfing Instructor
I’m having trouble finding ways to include movement in my Rolfing® practice. So many people seem to be so starved for touch that they are not willing to spend much or any of their session time learning about how to help themselves. How do you get clients interested in doing movement work?
o answer, I’d like to begin with functional work is Tmy personal experience of blending through your quality movement into structural sessions. From of touch. By making the very beginning of my journey with contact and then inviting Rolfing, I have worked at the interface of the tissue to open rather structure and function. My initial attraction than always working to Rolfing stemmed from my passionate directly toward your interest in human movement, and I was intentions, you give the trained in the very first Rolf Movement client a fuller felt sense certification in 1979. At that time it was of the work. possible to become a Rolf Movement If you perceive the body Teacher without prior certification as as motion, you can work a Certified Rolfer. The structure of the in a way that makes use training showed me the inherent logic of of and augments the the series from a functional point of view. body’s inherent motion. This blend of the two aspects of our work Varying your touch is where much of my excitement continues quality and pacing also to exist . Just as there is a structural logic to the expectation that they will be learning offers clients new ways of perceiving our work, there is also a functional logic, ways to use that practice to support their themselves. Every time you encourage your and your work with the client will integrate Rolfing changes. Your work will have more client’s awareness during the table work more deeply if you use techniques that value for your clients if you apply it to the while asking for movement, you reinforce engage both aspects of our work. things they are currently doing. If you are a functional experience of the body. In this working with a sedentary person, use your You make a very good observation when way your structural sessions always have best communication skills to suggest that you talk of our clients being ”starved for an educational aspect and this, in turn, self-awareness, self-care and perhaps a ten- touch.” evokes the client’s co-responsibility for your minute daily walk will make the Rolfing work together. Most positively, the movement aspect of process more potent and sustainable. I often our work has a strong touch component. A large part of the functional aspect of our take clients for short walks and we review We contact the clients with a range of work is educational. If you can work with ways to perceive ease in their structures touch techniques as we are working with the client’s daily activities as you give them while in motion. re-training the coordination and perception. new options for sensing and moving, it will In your initial session, find a movement One way to work is to anchor the tissue, deepen the integration of the structural that troubles the client, something – usually creating a fixed point and calling for work. Find out about your clients’ daily something uncomfortable – that will movement. This releases the tissue while activities. Insert into the conversation the motivate him to take responsibility for teaching your client about new sensations idea of relationship between the repetitive changing a habit. This is usually related and new ways to move. motions of their lives and their structural to what brought the client to Rolfing. imbalances. If they’re already involved in a A sure way to combine structural and Sitting – yes, sitting is a movement – is movement discipline such as yoga, establish an obvious choice for so many people.
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Our clients sit while they commute and Your patience is an essential model on sit while at their computers. A good place which the clients can build his own patience to begin work with sitting is while doing with his process. the seated bench work. You reinforce and I hope this has been helpful for you. We add more information each time you do always invite you to consider additional bench work – details about the sensation training and continuing education in the of weight-bearing, about dimension of functional aspects of our work. The past ten breath, about spaciousness of the pelvic years have seen some very exciting changes floor, about support from the floor, about in the movement work at the Rolf Institute lift through the core. This is movement of Structural Integration®. work you can introduce in the first session and carry through the series. Sitting is also Note: The Movement Faculty invites your a productive place to work because it brings questions about the functional aspect of awareness to the relationship between Rolfing®. Please send questions to Sue Seecof, clients’ inner sensation and the ways they Managing Editor at [email protected]. are present in the environment. Comparing and contrasting habitual and new options in movement is essential. Sensing contrast helps clients clearly define the differences for themselves. These are differences within their systems and also in their relationships to the space and the world around them. We can only facilitate changes in function through perception or by changing the coordination of the pattern, so the client’s felt experience is essential . Expanding your own movement repertoire can help you in exploring options for your clients’ activities . Using the principles of support, adaptability and palintonicity, you can improvise a way to coach just about any activity, whether or not you have ever done it yourself. In the past I have coached world- class runners, snowboarders and actors. You’re ahead of the game, though, if you’ve experienced something of your clients’ typical interests – running, yoga, Pilates, martial arts or ballroom dance. Sampling such activities serves the development of your own adaptability in the process. An essential attribute of therapeutic relationship in Rolfing, whether primarily structural or functional in nature, is your sincere curiosity about your clients – about their goals for the work as well as their structure and movement patterns. Your curiosity gives passion to your understanding of efficient function, and guides you in making choices about the focus of a session and the intervention tools you will use. These will be different for different clients because you will always be seeking ways to work with each client’s uniqueness. Movement intervention requires patience – both in allowing time for a client’s awareness to develop during any one session, and throughout your work together.
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was a member of the Rolf Institute group that went to China in 1983, and I traveled to assist Upledger trainings in Australia and South Africa, and taught several osteopathic classes in South Africa (as well as in Kenya). In My Practice Although I travel extensively, I love Editor’s Note: The following contributions mark the start of a new column. Each issue will feature Kenya and keep returning here. It is two practitioners somewhere in our global community. In this issue, we hear from two expatriate an amazingly cosmopolitan place. My Americans, one practicing in Kenya, the other in Germany. The column is meant to be personal. We practice at the moment consists of Russian, encourage pieces that give a sense of the particular Rolfers, their practices, their current obsessions, Spanish, French, Kenyan, English, Scots, and the environments they are embedded in. It will be interesting to see what factors are common or and Armenian clients, and one American. universal among Rolfers, and what experiences are unique to a particular practitioner or locale. If (I have had few American clients over the you would like to contribute or suggest someone for a profile, please contact Sue Seecof, Managing twenty-eight years I have been Rolfing Editor, at [email protected]. here…I’m not sure why.) I do a fair amount of work with staff of the United Nations in Nairobi, which may be why my practice tends to run to diverse cultural groups, as it is all by word of mouth. I usually average An American in Kenya fifteen sessions a week, and often travel By Carol Dunlop, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ (or work) abroad three months of the year. Even with the political and social instability of the past three weeks, people have been braving the streets to come to sessions. and the opposition Each day has been a movable feast, starting has stated they will with confirming sessions at the beginning chain themselves to of the day. the seats. With this as a backdrop, across I tend to get the toughest situations in the river at the end of my practice: people who have tried other my garden I can see methods to find they didn’t get much, if some people of the any, long-lasting relief. For example, I am lesser tribes (Gikuyu working on a young white Kenyan boy of and Luo are usually thirteen who had a kidney transplant in the two contenders the United Kingdom. He has a tremendous in the government) amount of scar tissue in the abdomen, and dancing, working scarring from other ancillary operations. themselves into a The major trouble is that they took out the somewhat hypnotic Carol working on a good friend, a semi-wild cheetah wrong kidney. Now he has a transplanted state. one and the bad one. He is relatively pain-free now, as the scar tissue is not so I came to Kenya in ’ve been trying for some time to write restrictive. He has been back to the U.K. 1970, crossing 2000 miles of the Congo Iabout Rolfing in Africa. I feel that I am for a check-up, and his doctors were very overland on a small motor bike. During a better raconteur than writer, and I have happy with how the work has helped him. the 1970s I co-owned a luxury tented safari twenty-eight years of stories that I could He grew half an inch, after not having company here, and I first learned about tell. As I write this in mid-January, I am in grown for years. Kenya, voluntarily housebound, due to the Rolfing from a Certified Rolfer from Seattle current and unusual backdrop of political who came on safari and helped diagnose the Other clients at present include a young unrest. We have had (not for the first time) trouble I was having with acute headaches. Russian boy whose feet literally turned in fraudulent presidential elections. The I went back to the U.S. for my training, to touch each other (his knees and hips are opposition has been paying the dissident finishing my Rolfing certification in 1979. very involved too, but after three sessions he is walking with much greater ease and youth in the slums to demonstrate, and For more than twenty years I was the only about 45% improvement), the mother of after three weeks of looting, burning and Rolfer in Africa. Aside from a year in Cape former clients of mine, Indian, brought some killing, the situation is still at an Town, South Africa in 2005, and half of out from London late last year to have impasse. What is abundantly clear is that the 1990s in Australia, my base has been the ten sessions of Rolfing (even when the neither of these two men, Kibaki or Odinga, Kenya. Most years I would go abroad to political trouble began, they decided to is fit to govern. Both are holding on to the further my education: advanced trainings postpone her return as she was so happy hope of power, and watching the country in Rolfing, craniosacral and visceral work; with the relief in her back and shoulder falter and its business decline. As I write, trainings in Somato-Emotional Release, - pain caused by being dragged around by a slum not too far from my home is quiet, classes in osteopathic skills, and the like. I but in an hour the false parliament meets, the arm in a robbery some years earlier),
www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 ColumnS and another Russian – a woman working see people I worked on some twenty-five done, and more on the whole outcome. In with refugees coming into Kenya – who had years later, and see that it is true – the work contrast, the Indians and Africans in my been beaten up. lasts, it lasts well, and people seldom get a practice (fewer by far) often want to stop recurrence of the problems they had when when any of the pain is gone. Of course, my practice has the usual they first came in. My French and German “Landrover backs” – safari-wallas who Things are seldom dull here, but not usually clients in particular, and all the Europeans have traveled over pot-holed roads, or this upset. We are all praying that this I have had in my practice, understand the where there are no roads at all, and suffer current politically driven upheaval will holistic emphasis of the work and the fact back troubles as a result. (Walla is a Hindi pass soon and our lives return to normal. that it is ten sessions, a process. I feel that I suffix that designates that one is a doer of As one of my Spanish clients said, when am free to work, without the shroud of legal the preceding word/activity – for example, I was working on the knots in her neck, bodies to deal with, and Europeans are not duka walla is a shopkeeper; the term has “This one is Kibaki, this one is Odinga”. yet in the mind frame of suing someone crept into the vernacular here.) We laughed, for what else is there for us to if all their expectations are not met. There do right now? One wonderful thing about Nairobi is seems less emphasis on getting a checklist that people are well-rooted here. I get to
A Texan Abroad (With Apologies to Sam Clemens) By Emily Dolan Gordon, Certified Rolfer™
he first time my future husband hands wandered into cavities in concrete Tproposed, he said that if I wanted to -- scoring from the 50-caliber machine guns come with him to Germany, we would have of the Allies. It was the first of many deep, to get married. We married on November revelatory shocks, when suddenly things 1, 2001, and arrived in Germany less than that seemed so far away in books took six months later, for his position at U.S. shape for me. Army Europe and NATO’s premier training Am I homesick? Hell yes. Do I love it facility in Grafenwoehr. here? Absolutely. It’s the dichotomy of the In early 2003, I discovered the European expatriate, I suppose. The mind creates a Rolfing Association’s® courses. Soon, south nostalgic vision of home, wherever it might of Munich in tiny Agatharied, an airy training be. I’ve been lucky enough to step out of facility on a sheep ranch, I made my curious the pretty picture frame, into the funhouse entry into Rolfing®. A meter plus of spring mirror of the alternate reality of another snow, a cigarette-stealing donkey, tasty wild culture. This beautiful ammonite was build into the leeks and a delicious dissection marked the crumbling castle wall of the Veldenstein Germans love to talk. They love to think, to three weeks of Spectrum, the European castle just down the road a ways from question, to ponder, to fix, build and tinker. Rolfing Association’s introductory Rolfing us. Our favorite thing to do is hike around They are passionate, hedonistic, religious program. the old fortresses and just kind of poke (and not pushy about it at all!), cynical and around. Now, in early 2008, as our tour in this intellectual. They view most government luxurious land draws to a close, I find with a gimlet-eyed realism, and endure myself with memories more interesting their own bureaucracy with amazing a good book and music, order a bottle of than any trinket. I’ll attempt to paint stoicism. They have survived much, and it Augustiner from the snack cart, and savor vignettes with the help of some diaries shows in a certain determined, prepared, the sweet, soft rolling scenery of Bavaria I kept. The following is a chronological sturdy but not ostentatious persistence. from the comfort of the German train verbal slide-show. system. Initially, I stayed in the spare rooms Chuck has a quote from a German friend of people friendly to Rolfing, and ended My first glimpse of Germany was Frankfurt. of his in the time before the Wall fell, when up meeting the ambassador to Germany I suffered intensely from a combination of jet Chuck was here as a soldier, “Do you know from Brazil, while in my pajamas. Later I lag and historical readjustment. Remnants why there is so little crime in Germany?” stayed in a peculiar, cheap pension with a of the Roman incursions I studied in high “No idea... “ sink, quiet window in the inner yard, and school, the half-timbering my husband a narrow bed. I bathed in an antiquated Chuck had always pointed out to me, my “Because ... [Germans have a unique way tub, buying scented salts and using duct first meal in Germany (yum!), the differing of pausing when speaking English] it is tape for a stopper. I disliked the travel, I rhythm of life and the rocking bustle of foot against the law!” disliked being away from home. I loved the traffic on the Koenigstrasse. I noted deep I studied Rolfing at the Modular Training independence and the adventure. I love the holes in the lower part of a building. My in Munich. I’d stroll to the train, bringing interaction in this culture.
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Day 1, phase 3, modul 2: the remains of a cold, and the guy says, “I as she is quite deaf) about other children forgot, we have to make a picture with the besides her daughter. She teared up and Wow, this is fast. This is keep up, or give up. Burgermeister!” So off we toodle to meet the shook gently, and her daughter explained I had a moment or two of blurriness, but mayor. I survived the nice chat (in German) that she was a Kriegskind born during the I got hooked into what the teacher (Peter with the raconteurish Burgermeister, ended war; that women did not want to have Schwind) was doing, and what I have been up telling tall tales of Texas and drinking a children during that time, and thought to doing was validated. At one point Peter was glass of Grappa at 10:45 in the morning. He wait until after the war. The great majority stumping around with a stick behind his presented me with a bottle of champagne of men fell in the war (I am deliberately back, and I felt a flash of nostalgia for my and many wishes for good luck, and a using German-flavored language) and martial arts training at the dojo, and sharp photo for the local paper. It’s nice to be in there were no children, after, with no men attention. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get a town small enough to merit the Mayor’s to father them. whacked, but you never know. attendance and blessing on my opening, but I was deeply touched. I reached deep into About fifteen minutes into my work, Peter it was also deliriously bizarre! my own center, and changed my work to walked over and put a hand on my arm. Up until this time, I had worked exclusively gently place a tissue in the mother’s hand “You just work, and if you need help, let under contract on the military post, with (“for your eyes”, I said) and held her hand me know”. Um. Ok. Like I’m gonna leave Americans and with Germans who worked for a little moment before moving my hand this guy alone. I want input, I want to there. In 2002, when we arrived, I was to her lumbar spine and supporting her as improve. That’s what I signed up for. I got already a massage therapist, so I started she gently shook with this old, generational assistance about that tricky left costal arch, what I at first called the Massage Program pain. We waited. It doesn’t go away, it got encouraged to do drum technique and for Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation only subsides. It is a moment, one of many back work. on base. Once I had my European Rolfing here, which remains deeply engraved on Peter is tremendously, obsessively precise certification, I felt a certain obligation to my soul. in his work, and yet he is also gregarious serve the German population as well. I had It saddens my heart that our time in and funny and likes to tell stories. Teaching been working to designate the program Germany is most likely at an end. (It’s the class, he flicks through points of interest on the base “Massage and Bodywork”; 95% certain that we will be leaving, unless like a telepath reading a phone book. At however, the point will soon be moot. There hubby gets a job in another German city. the same time, we all want to get things is no Certified Rolfer to take my place. There is a five-year tour limitation for exactly right. My German is slightly better than civilians interfering with our staying here.) Here’s my Texan pizza delivery metaphor rudimentary, as I only took a few classes, in At the time of this writing, my husband for how the instructions we are getting addition to simple learning by contact. I can, is looking for new government or public feel: at this point in time, give simple instructions affairs work in the U.S. or somewhere else (“Kneescheibe hoch” – “Lift your knee up”), in the world. My Rolfing career will need a So anyway, here is Houston, and here are but more advanced visualizations can escape new home, and whatever country we land ten places all over town you have to deliver me. When Samuel Clemens (aka, Mark in, I look forward to meeting colleagues and pizza. These guys drink Pepsi, this guy Twain) wrote his essay about “That Awful learning more. loves anchovies and onions, but don’t give German Language”, he was unfortunately the guy on 62nd Street anchovies or onions correct. That the people are much friendlier or the Mob will slash all our tires again. than the language is a saving grace. Don’t worry about the couple on the east Germans tend to be more interested than side, they shot each other twice last year, most Americans in the health of their bodies, just call 911 and leave the pizza on the and, once interested, more committed. They stoop. Don’t go in the yard on Blueberry are not modest about their bodies, and they Street unless the dog is tied up. are insanely punctual. In fact, for older It’s just bodywork, you know, but here Germans punctuality means being present we have these ten damn things we have a quarter hour before the appointment. to get right and not get the anchovies or This is how I have sometimes come upon onions in the wrong place at the wrong a client, waiting for me in underwear, in time. Our teacher is like Santa, he gets all my office. ten deliveries right before a small child can Recently a lovely lady of eighty-five came peek up the chimney, meanwhile we are to my table. Her daughter, now in her mid- trying to remember whether it was beer or sixties, brought her after finishing her own Pepsi and is the Mob going to slash our tires ten sessions. Both are battling structural and where is that damn dog? problems. The mother has a large degree After completing my training, I opened of kyphosis, which is responding well to my practice in Eschenbach. I worked with almost glacial manipulation of the sternal the local business manager to find a space fascia. and get my website translated into proper It was our second session when I asked Deutsch. I go in rather casually dressed a general question of the mother (loudly, and sort of slitty-eyed and red-nosed from
www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: History and Context
the cervicals and lumbars (tissue and joint relationships). In the 1970s I was invited to Ida’s apartment in New Jersey to help her with several young clients and to discuss some research projects. Dr. Rolf had a huge book collection The Relationship of set up in stacks, just like a classic college library. Her collection had a large section ® on osteopathy, as well as homeopathy and Osteopathy to Rolfing nutrition. Unfortunately a large part of her By Jim Asher, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Rolfing Faculty library was destroyed when her apartment nearly burned down. In Ida’s early classes in England and the steopathy has made a rich contribution Little. Dr. Rolf incorporated the ideas of States there were frequently homeopaths Oto Rolfing structural integration osteopathy to such an extent that it seemed and osteopaths as students who went on since the early years and is now woven like an integral part of Rolfing. to be Certified Rolfers. I was one of the throughout our philosophy and methods. five original teachers trained by Dr. Rolf, In one of my first classes with Dr. Rolf in In the late 1930s, when her two sons and she passed on the job of instructing Florida (1971), she told us that she had were in elementary school, Dr. Rolf spent and selecting future Rolfing instructors taught a class at the Kirksville Osteopathic several years reading and discussing to the five of us. When we had meetings, School in Missouri. After the class she was osteopathic books, journals and theories she always made some reference to an asked to consider staying on as a teacher. with Dr. Morrison, a blind osteopath in osteopathic book or paper. Since that time She told us, “But you see, they had classes her neighborhood. Later, when I was her osteopathy has remained part of the in lots of approaches to manipulation, and assistant in 1973-74, she told the class reference material for our faculty at the Rolf I could see that the approach we were using that Dr. Morrison had assisted her in her Institute® of Structural Integration. to organize the human structure through understanding of fascia. fascia within the field of gravity might get Osteopathic principals are now woven Dr. Rolf told a story of her early years of lost or relegated to a little five- or ten-minute throughout the basic and advanced manipulation. She was asked to work on a ‘tool’. Rolfing structural integration is not Rolfing classes. For example, when doing neighborhood boy by his mother, who had just about working in one area of the body, the “pelvic lift”, the goal is to slot the problems with balance and coordination. but is concerned with the organization of sacrum into a neutral position as well as to As the boy’s body responded to the work, the body through a series of sessions and lengthen and create mobility and motility. the boy’s father, an osteopath, asked if he that creates a greater value; the whole is It is easier to understand the sacrum as could watch a session. He was happy and greater than the sum of the parts.” an energetic and fluid medium when impressed with his son’s visible changes you read Osteopathy in the Cranial Field by Dr. Rolf transformed whatever she learned and asked if a couple of his osteopathic Harold Magoun, D.O. Rolfing students can from osteopathy into her own Rolfing style. colleagues could watch a session. Two of understand this technique mechanically in For example, in head work, she would ask them were enthusiastic, but one said, “I a more precise way after reading Principles her students to visualize the sutures moving don’t think you’re doing anything.” So Ida of Manual Medicine by Phillip Greenman, and the cranium breathing. Even though Ida said to the class “this just pushed me on. D.O., another osteopathic text. took cranial classes, she didn’t feel it was It made me more determined than ever. hers to teach. She passed around her copy of After all, the boy moved and felt better and In the U.S., Rolfing faculty members The Cranial Bowl by William G. Sutherland, his parents could see the changes. I wasn’t Jan Sultan and Michael Salveson have D.O. and asked me to give a presentation going to let a little bump in the road slow sponsored open classes taught by leading on it the following week. She would also me down. And so I went on with my studies osteopaths John Upledger, D.O. and encourage us to seek out an osteopath when and my work and here I am today.” Didier Prat, D.O. In Europe, most Rolfers our children were born and find osteopaths are exposed to classes with Jean-Pierre Dr. Rolf became friends with this boy’s to whom we felt comfortable referring Barral, D.O., Didier Prat, D.O., and Konrad father and he invited her to some of the clients. It is a common practice for Rolfers Obermeier, D.O., Certified Rolfer. osteopathic classes and meetings he was to refer clients to osteopaths. attending. Ida once joked that she was Most of the faculty members at the When I assisted Dr. Rolf in her first Boulder mistaken for his secretary in several of Rolf Institute have studied with Jean- class in 1973, she requested that I bring my these classes, a memory that always gave Pierre Barral, D.O. and Didier Prat, D.O. Beauchene skull (a human skull in which her quite a chuckle, since she had her Ph.D. both French osteopaths. Their work has all the bones are separated by wires, so in Biochemistry. influenced how we look at our methods the articulations are clearly visible) and a and what we’re affecting. For example, In the Bulletin of Structural Integration (our model of the four ventricles and cranial when watching Barral doing a “liver lift”, original publication available to faculty, membranes. In the 7th session, Ida quoted my appreciation for the diaphragm releases students and practitioners starting in 1968), from The Cranial Bowl and referred to the that we teach at the Rolf Institute® was there were always articles by osteopaths 6th and 7th sessions as a balancing of the enhanced and I took on a more combined such as Dr. Isabelle Biddle and Dr. Kenneth sacrum and cranium as well a balancing of approach, creating a shift in the diaphragm
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org Rolfing® and Osteopathy: History and Context as well as the viscera. Our work with the thoracic inlet, typically part of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 9th hours of the original Ten Series, has been greatly enhanced by the osteopathic view of working fascially, energetically and manually with this area of the body. Working at this level of sensitivity is something we still strive for in training our students. We as Certified Rolfers hold osteopathy and osteopaths in high esteem, and acknowledge their contribution to our work, but we are not osteopaths. Rolfing® structural integration is a distinct field of practice incorporating similar principles, goals and values to the benefit of our clients.
www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: History and Context
The Rolf Method of Postural Release and Integration
Editor’s Note: Jocelyn Proby (b. 1900) was educated at Oxford and studied osteopathy at Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery in the U.S. He came into contact with Dr. Rolf and became a “Rolf fan” upon being exposed to her work, as he stated in “An Osteopath Looks at the Rolf Method”. [That articles, first published in the Vol. III No. I of the Bulletin of Structural Integration (the earliest incarnation of this journal) is available on Robert Schleip’s website at the following address: http://www. somatics.de/Proby.htm.] The following article, “The Rolf Method of Postural Release and Integration”, was originally printed in the 1962 issue of Year Book of the Osteopathic Institute of Applied Technique. As it was written for an osteopathic audience, it allows us a unique view into how one osteopath viewed Dr. Rolf’s work. We precede this reprint with an introduction to Jocelyn Proby, D.O. by Tom Myers, Certified Advanced Rolfer™.
Jocelyn Proby, D.O. Jocelyn Proby was a man of letters who was, by his own description, “bitten by the Osteopathic bug” while in Canada early in his life. He dedicated his life to its practice, to exploring its edges and ramifications, and to explaining its principles both within and beyond the profession. Dr Proby studied with Dr. Rolf during the 1950s when she gave classes in England, in conjunction with her yearly visits to J. G. Bennett’s Coombe Springs Institute, which was dedicated to study of the Gurdjieff work. Dr. Proby contacted me shortly after I took up residence as England’s first resident Rolfer – aside, of course, from these osteopaths such as Dr. Proby, Bette Herbert, and Margot Gore, who had studied with Ida Rolf and had added her work, in a variety of ways, to their osteopathic practice. Osteopathy was and is a very lively manipulative science in the U.K., having been held out of the mainstream far longer than in the U.S. With the zeal of a new convert, I spread my name all over town, netting a fascinating practice and a call from Dr. Proby, saying how glad he was that a proponent of Ida Rolf’s methods had shown up in England. He suggested we meet at his club, the Traveler’s Club in Pall Mall, and in its smoky hardwood interior I found an old man in gentle tweeds, very erect until you reached his tall man’s stoop, soft but firm of voice and hand, with a Conan Doyle combination of seriousness and twinkle. We sat side-by-side in voluminous leather chairs while he stared straight ahead and reminded himself of the stories of Ida Rolf’s tempestuous classes. In those days the class was one five-week stint, which mostly consisted of watching Dr. Rolf work and lecture, while you worked on models at home. At the end of the class, you brought your model in, and Dr. Rolf roundly and loudly declared what you had missed. When I began to give short courses in soft-tissue release for the osteopathic profession, Dr. Proby was a great supporter, kindly informing his colleagues of my efforts, and taking the train himself into London from his home near Oxford, participating fully in practice even though he was by then in his eighties, and always with an extra sparkle of gallantry for the ladies. His attitude of exploration, openness, light-hearted seriousness, and enthusiastic calm (“Let us give that some attention...” he would say), have inspired me through the years of my own practice, and I am sure many others as well. We lost touch as I left the U.K. and he became more confined to his home. I am told that this article, originally written to help explain Rolfing® to the osteopathic profession, was “suppressed’ by Dr. Rolf for its mild criticism of certain aspects of Rolfing. When I met Dr. Proby, his only words of criticism were, “In the course of obtaining her marvelous results, she gave her clients more pain than we felt they had any right to expect.” By the time I met Dr. Rolf, her work was substantially less painful, and of course the innovations of the last twenty years have made it even less so. I trust that our newer readers will take Dr. Proby’s gentle chiding in the friendly and truth-seeking spirit in which it was most assuredly offered. Tom Myers (www.AnatomyTrains.com)
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org Rolfing® and Osteopathy: History and Context
The Rolf Method of psychosomatics. Dr. Rolf is very much a lot more liability to strain in living and Postural Release and a believer in this idea and an exponent in using the body, but the body itself will Integration of it, but, in my view, she is something build up new strains and imbalance to more than this, because she has given it compensate for those already in existence ...and the crooked shall be made straight and the a new interpretation and has carried it in its efforts to keep functioning and to rough places plain. forward by evolving a most remarkable retain the erect posture as well as it can. Isaiah XL 4 and effective technique. Thus, though both A reasonable balance and compensation I have been asked, both by the Editor and her theory and her technique have much may be established for a time on a lower by Doctor Ida Rolf herself, to write an article in common with those of Osteopathy, and plane of well being and efficiency, but this for the Year Book on the subject of the Rolf especially, perhaps, of the Osteopathy of Dr. will tend in due course to break down and Method of Postural Release and Integration. Littlejohn and some of the other pioneers, the way will be opened to physiological Though I am glad to make the attempt, I do we have here also something which is new chaos, chronic and organic disease, and so with a certain diffidence both on account both in theory and technique, as well as premature death. differences in emphasis and approach. I of the difficulty of the task and because I feel If we accept this way of looking at things, must, therefore, try to give some indication that my acquaintance with the subject, both the great object of treatment should be of her ideas and method of treatment in so in theory and in practice is still very much to find some way of reversing this trend. far as I understand them at present. in its infancy. I would also like to say at the According to Dr. Rolf, the secret of the beginning that it is almost impossible for It has frequently been pointed out, as is breakdown of posture and mechanics is to anyone to appreciate what the Method is, indeed obvious, that the life of man is to be found mainly in the fasciae and muscles what it seeks to achieve, and what it does some extent a struggle against the law of of the body. In a sound body these are achieve, unless he sees it in action and, gravity, for, unlike most other creatures, elastic and slide smoothly over one another further, actually experiences its effects on he has to live and move and function in the and the tone of opposing muscle groups is his own body. erect posture. Yet, in spite of this, the erect balanced, but when the breakdown begins The first thing to note in connection with the posture is natural to him and he can maintain or has taken place, some muscles become Rolf Method is that it is very firmly based it and function in it without strain or disease hypertonic and contracted while others on physiology rather than on pathology. provided that his structure and mechanics become hypotonic and stretched, the usual The aim is not so much to treat or cure any are kept in a proper state to do so. It is only general tendency being for flexors to win particular disease as to create or promote if structure and mechanics go wrong that over extensors. Sooner or later a definite health. This is, of course, an idea which is irritations are set up, energy wasted and deterioration takes place both in fasciae not new, especially for us Osteopaths but the functioning of vital organs interfered and muscles, which lose their elasticity it is easy to honour it more in theory than with. The secret of good, unstrained and and literally bunch and stick together. This in practice. Dr. Rolf does seem to have relaxed posture, which must be looked condition, which corresponds in any given evolved a system of physical treatment upon as a dynamic rather than a static case to the particular pattern of bad posture which is capable in a very remarkable way, thing, is a proper relationship of the body and mechanics which is present, can be felt and in a very short time, of so changing the and all its parts to the ground and a proper with the hands. relationship of the gross structural parts of condition of the body and increasing its The technique which is employed by Dr. the body, namely head, thorax, pelvis and vitality and power of efficient functioning Rolf follows logically from her theory and limbs, to one another. Where posture is that poor health and specific symptoms and from the clinical picture which she has learnt good and mechanics are sound, the body, diseases disappear and, within reasonable to recognize. By manual work on fasciae when erect, will conform to a plumb-line limits, do not recur. This result is achieved and muscles, particularly at their insertions, of balance which passes from the ear to the by putting the patient through a definite she stretches them, separates them and shoulder, on to the head of the femur and course of treatment, the sequence and moves them in the appropriate manner and thence through the middle of the knee to the pattern of which is the same for everyone, directions, and, in an astonishingly short external malleolus; and when movements although the application of it in detail is time, restore their function, balance and of any kind are taking place, the freedom of necessarily conditioned by the findings and flexibility. As this is done it is literally true to joints and the proper balance and flexibility the state of the tissues in each particular say that the gross shape of the body changes of muscles allow of them being harmonious, case. and can be seen to change in a way which economical of energy and free from strain. anyone can observe. The general scheme of The concept of structural, mechanical and Unfortunately this kind of perfection is all the series of ten treatments or processings postural perfection as being the very basis too rare in our society; trauma, emotional which is commonly given and which is of good health and proper functioning not stress, bad habits, and unhealthy living of generally sufficient to put the person onto only of the body but also to a great extent many kinds, specialized uses of the body a new, satisfactory, and permanent plan of the mind, the emotions and the whole and congenital or hereditary weaknesses of correct posture and functioning, is to personality is familiar to all Osteopaths are some of the factors which militate work from the outside inwards or from the and does not need to be stressed here. against our acquiring or maintaining good superficial to the deeper structures, and to Moreover, it is a concept which is beginning posture and mechanics. It is important to go over every part of the body integrating it to make an impact in other than Osteopathic note that once the perfection of posture with the other parts in a definite sequence, circles, as is evidenced by the development and mechanics has begun to be impaired, which experience has proved to be the and popularity of numerous techniques there is a strong tendency for the evil effects most satisfactory. Dr. Rolf seldom, if ever, of postural reeducation, relaxation and to be cumulative. Not only will there be
10 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: History and Context manipulates joints as such in the direct and failing to achieve what has to be achieved. difficult kind of cases, but I hear that many forceful way, which is generally employed It must also be remembered, by all who others are content to give temporary relief in Osteopathy, though she does do a lot of give physical treatment, that tenderness or amelioration in cases which are really direct work on ligaments and paravertebral of tissues is generally an indication of amenable to general reconstruction and tissues. If I understand it rightly, this is not something wrong with those tissues, and permanent cure. Even those Osteopaths because she does not realize the importance it is often not possible to put things right who do achieve these far-reaching and of the reflex and other effects of spinal without the infliction of some pain. As permanent results appear to me to take lesions, but rather because she is interested against this it is also true that the more far longer to do so than Dr. Rolf habitually more in the positioning of areas of the spine skilful our technique is, the less painful it is takes by her method. Her work would and the gross parts of the body than she apt to be. Pain is one of our most valuable appear to me to be based on a very profound is in individual spinal joints and because clinical guides, which is one of the reasons knowledge of the anatomy of muscles and she regards it as useless or inadvisable to why work with anaesthetics is not always fasciae applied in a very practical way. She mobilize joints until fascia and muscles very satisfactory, but the infliction of pain in is wont to liken the human frame to a series have been successfully normalized and treatment should be avoided as much as is of blocks imposed on one another and the balanced. When this has been done, consistent with doing what has to be done, muscles and fasciae to guy ropes, which the joints do in fact begin to normalize and one of the things which we should provide both motion and support. When themselves spontaneously and the more seek in improving our technique or our the stacking goes wrong, this is caused, or at chronic manifestations of Osteopathic joint application of it is to reduce the pain of it. least accompanied, by the guy ropes being pathology, both local and peripheral, tend wrong, and even if you adjust or move Secondly, I believe that we Osteopaths to disappear, though the time which this individual vertebrae or groups you will not have some very important lessons to learn takes naturally varies in different cases. get a complete or permanent repositioning from Dr. Rolf in the realms of theory and The ideal seems to be to spread the series of which is free from strain unless you free, technique. There is enough of the old treatments over a period of four to six weeks normalise and balance the guy ropes. Adam in me still to feel that there are many but it is possible to lengthen or shorten this This seems to me to be a fruitful concept occasions when it is extremely important period and to vary the intervals between which is worthy of being thought about to move or adjust a particular spinal or treatments. and applied. The practical application of it other joint in a particular way with the would appear to be the main object of the As I have indicated above, it is not possible application of considerable force. This is, Rolf technique. to appreciate or evaluate the Rolf Method perhaps, particularly true of acute cases of unless one has seen it in action and fairly recent traumatic origin or when we experienced it, but a number of us who wish to achieve a particular reflex effect, have watched Dr. Rolf work on a variety but I do feel that modern Osteopaths often of different people and have ourselves concentrate too much on particular spinal gone through her course of treatment can lesions and on the spine in general, and testify to the extraordinary changes which tend to forgot the importance of the fascia she brings about, the good results of which and larger muscles, of the grosser structures appear to be permanent and, indeed, of the taut body and of its mechanics and progressive. Some of us feel that we shall posture as a whole. I do not think that not be content until we have pursued the this was always the case in the past. Some matter further by taking a regular course of the early Osteopaths do seem to have of instruction in her theory and technique. paid a lot of attention to fasciae, muscles I myself, at least, consider that, until I have and ligaments, and also to posture and done this and had some practical experience spinal mechanics, and they used a type in the application of the method, I am not of technique which took account of these in a position entirely to understand or to things and which and often produced criticize it or to see exactly what relationship more permanent and far-reaching results, it bears to conventional Osteopathy as now though it was not, perhaps, so spectacular generally practised and taught. There are, at the time. They seem to have regarded however, certain tentative observations, the freedom and adjustment of joints as the which I would like to make. First, it must final end to be achieved and the sign that the be admitted that some phases of the necessary work had been done, rather than treatment are definitely painful, though I as the principal or only thing to be worked myself did not find that the pain involved for. In particular it may be mentioned that was intolerable or aroused in me any the writings and lectures of Dr. Littlejohn feeling of non co-operation or resentment are a mine of information on these subjects, in any case. I can now say, like the lady in but unfortunately these are mostly being somewhat different circumstances in the kept in cupboards and not studied, if, biblical parable, that I “remember no more indeed, they are not actually being lost. the anguish for joy.” However, I believe There are, of course, still Osteopaths who that Dr. Rolf is always seeking for ways in are working on these lines and they get which the pain could be lessened without outstanding results in the more chronic and
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 11 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: History and Context
I have said that one of the most basic principles to osteopathy is the use of one’s hands to diagnose and treat. There is something even more basic that should be understood, embraced and lived in order to truly understand osteopathy. In order to The Living Principles follow Dr. Still and realize his vision and his gift to humanity, the osteopath must come to realize that osteopathy is first and foremost of Osteopathy a service to humanity. To be an osteopath By Olixn Adams, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, OMSIV, is to be of service. Service to another asks Candidate for the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy us to move outside of our own ideas about what our patient or our neighbor needs from us. We are asked to move into a larger fulcrum and into a midline that includes our n the late 1800s Andrew Taylor Still M.D. At the most basic level, an osteopath is community. From this place, our observer is presented a unique and visionary form of trained to feel physiology: first normal I free to be shifted from its self-limited view medicine known today as Osteopathy. It is physiology, then as it presents in pathology; to a view that begins to approach something easy to underestimate the tremendous gift he is taught to discern sympathetic tone, much greater and wiser than our own ideas. and insight Dr. Still brought to humanity. barrier and non-barrier in tissue and fluid. From this new place we can actually begin His gift was the result of profound suffering The perceptual and palpatory skills of a the long journey of learning how to be of and grieving, having lost several children well-trained osteopath defy reason and service, and how to practice osteopathy. in succession to the likes of cholera logic: blood sugars, electrolyte imbalances, and smallpox. For a physician to watch psychological disorders, and many other We may find that what is asked of us when helplessly as his children died must have nuances in the patient and the natural we come to a place of true service and created unimaginable suffering, and world can all potentially be felt both a broader perspective is not so alluring. disenchantment with medicine as it was diagnostically and therapeutically by an Human nature is such that we often like practiced at the time. osteopathic physician. the idea of service so long as it gratifies the ego in some manner; however, true I love my patients, I see God in their faces Seek health; anyone can find disease. service will often require or even impose and their form. A.T. Still, M.D. great humility. A.T. Still, M.D. What was Dr. Still referring to when he I think if we are really honest with ourselves Dr. Still was a deeply spiritual man – what encouraged his students to find thehealth ? and look deeply, most of us could admit that arose through his grief, his suffering and a Was he speaking in metaphor? Osteopathy we don’t truly understand what it means long period of deep contemplation is the is based upon perceptual experience to be of service. Through no fault of our art and science of osteopathic medicine. through our senses and our hands. We know own, we are truly limited in our capacity to To truly appreciate the immensity of what through the oral teachings and the writings respond in the moment to another person’s osteopathy has to offer, it is important that when an osteopath puts a name to a need in such a way as to move him towards to realize that osteopathy was originally phenomenon, he has felt it in his hands wholeness, while creating no perceptual created and intended to give the physician and his senses on repeated occasions, he tension in ourselves or the other. To help the skills and tools necessary to meet the has cultivated a relationship and the name another move towards wholeness without wide range of illness, pathology, suffering has been given to him. This is consistent creating perceptual tension would be a and human circumstance encountered in a through out the writings of Dr. Sutherland great service, a service that I imagine any general-practice setting, including surgery and Dr. Still. We must therefore assume one of us would be grateful to receive, and and obstetrics. To consider osteopathy to that Dr. Still had a perceptual experience truly blessed to be able to offer. only be neuromuscular medicine is severely and relationship with something he came limiting; such perceptual boundaries to call health, that he was not speaking of The realization that our capacity to serve will never allow us to experience the theory or in metaphor. He was pointing us may not be fully developed should support unimaginable beauty Dr. Still wanted his towards a direct perceptual experience with us to take stock of our ability to understand students and his patients to see and feel. something much greater than our ordinary osteopathy. Our capacity to understand perceptions. He was pointing us towards Dr. Still, Dr. Sutherland, Dr. Becker, Dr. In Osteopathy our hands are our primary one of the highest and essential principles Jealous and Biodynamics is truly limited. tools for diagnosis and treatment. of osteopathy. If it is true that osteopathy at a basic level anonymous is about service to our fellow man, and yet Health is the blueprint breathed into it by One of the most basic principles of we don’t fully understand what it means the Breath of Life; it is perfect. osteopathy is the use of the physician’s to be of service, then our capacity to truly James S. Jealous, D.O. hands for diagnosis and treatment. Well- understand osteopathy and Dr. Still is trained osteopaths may spend most of Health is the reference point for the healing limited. their professional lives cultivating and process, our home base. nurturing perceptual and palpatory skills. James S. Jealous, D.O.
12 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: History and Context
You can’t just schedule surrender asked of us is to watch for the opportunities James S. Jealous, D.O. in the little places. The ability to serve in a way that is dictated These opportunities to serve in a small but by the moment and through the health of significant way have a particular quality the patient comes not through our own will to them. Making a study of the qualities and idea of what is right, but through the inherent to these moments will help practice of surrender. When my own will us to orientate our senses to an elusive yields for a moment, there is the possibility osteopathic principle known as “the of seeing and being moved by the health in Health”, which is an indwelling natural part my patient, and for a brief moment I may of us all. I really don’t think we can learn to be of service. The difficulty here is I cannot see, sense and respond to the health in our simply decide to surrender. Deciding is patients by reading books or taking a series an act of will – an act that prevents true of weekend workshops in cranial sacral relinquishment. Allowing this simple therapy. What is required is a reorientation truth to sink deeply into our consciousness of our senses; the difficulty is that the very may be a first step towards our goal. effort of reorienting on our own part seems This of course presumes a common goal to further blind us. We must be reoriented of reaching a deeper understanding of by that which we hope to see. We must be osteopathy through a commitment to moved by the health towards the health. service to our patients and our neighbors. One of the greatest lessons osteopathy has to This also presumes that one wishes to offer us is the nature of service. Osteopathy have a deeper relationship with health and was conceived out of a deep desire to primary respiration. serve humanity. It is only natural that an In Osteopathy the little things are the orientation to service will facilitate the big things. practice and understanding of osteopathic William Sutherland, D.O. medicine: its many nuances, insights and gifts will all be better understood if we Dr. Sutherland encouraged his students to understand in ourselves what it means to be humble and to look for the little things be of service. in osteopathy, for the little things often prove to be the big things when it comes I offer this with deep gratitude and the hope to our patients’ well-being. Interestingly, that this little writing will inspire you to take it is the little things that will teach us joy in helping and serving your patients, humility, surrender, service and – ultimately clients and neighbors. I hope that through – osteopathy. If we truly desire to learn how little moments of service, and by noticing to serve through the spirit of osteopathy, the qualities of these moments, you will we will be given the lessons by looking for gain greater insight into what osteopathy the smallest opportunities to be of service. has to offer us – a greater connection with We will be given little opportunities to our own health. help another often at very unexpected and Olixn Adams is a Certified Advanced RolferTM inconvenient moments. and candidate for the degree of Doctor of These little opportunities are available to Osteopathic Medicine. He will begin residency everyone, every day. They are expressions in June specializing in family medicine and of the health and they give us a tremendous high-risk obstetrics. He hopes to eventually opportunity. The smaller and more vexing open a full-spectrum family medicine clinic the task, the greater is the potential to shift with an emphasis on integrative medicine and us towards a perceptual experience with hands-on osteopathic medicine. Throughout our own health. By taking advantage of medical school he has greatly enjoyed bringing these opportunities and serving another osteopathic medicine to the medically under- with joy, our observer begins to be shifted. served, as well as hospice patients, and oncology We are shifted by the health towards the and palliative care. health; we begin to surrender without effort to a deeper wisdom, and love. Our orientation begins to include a different kind of midline, and our perceptual fulcrum deepens well beyond the mid tide or the Long Tide. All of this occurs without the use of our own willpower. All that has been
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 13 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS
osteopathic concept of a “chain of lesion” can be put to use by a practitioner of structural integration. PM: Imagine a person with an infected appendix that needs an emergency Osteopathy in a Rolfer’s Practice surgery. The surgeon is focused on saving the Pilar Martin in conversation with Per Haaland patient’s life, and may not have time to suture membrane by membrane. The tissues are infected, so infiltrated with Per Haaland: With your background as force coming from the right foot, trying to pus that, as the area heals, the colon forms a nurse/midwife, you are known to some brake, hits the right kidney, impacting it adhesions and becomes restricted in its of us in the Rolfing® structural integration against the liver. The seat belt, holding the movement with the peritoneum. As a result, world as a practitioner highly skilled in left shoulder, makes the right shoulder turn the peritoneum now glides poorly with the the visceral manipulation work of Jean- diagonally against the left lower abdomen. lower right abdominal wall. The pulling Pierre Barral. Tell us a little bit about how Additionally, the head whips back and forces travel through the peritoneum, to broader osteopathic concepts, and the forth against the headrest. There you have a the diaphragm, and, via the pericardium, visceral approach in particular, have been typical chain of lesion for a whiplash injury to the front of the thoracic inlet. You now integrated into your Rolfing practice. in a driver’s position. have a client that comes to you with neck and shoulder pain, and limited range of Pilar Martin : In a human body, membranes A practitioner may try working with this motion of the right shoulder. of connective tissue surround everything, person by releasing the cervical area, the from the individual cell to a group of cells, myofascial structures around the shoulders, The organs in the abdominal cavity are forming an organ, a muscle, a bone, an etc. It is very probable that our client will constantly in motion. They are being moved artery, etc. This is what gives us shape; feel worse. Why? Because by manipulating by the breath; by the peristaltic movement; without these membranes, a person would the myofascial tissues directly, we are by the flow of blood. Just imagine: the liver be reduced to a pool of fluid. Speaking taking away the compensatory mechanisms filters a liter and a half of blood per minute metaphorically, life shapes itself as a of defense against impacted organs and and the diaphragm moves two inches each container of “bubbles inside bubbles”. overstretched pleural attachments, and breath. The organs are moving with us, as sometimes micro-tears in the dural we walk, run, turn or do headstands. Any These membranes are continuously membrane. An understanding of the significant restriction in the visceral space gliding, the fluids inside and outside visceral and craniosacral structures and will have enormous repercussions in the constantly moving, responding to metabolic how to work with them is obviously musculoskeletal system. gradients, currents and flows, and our necessary. PH own mobility in space. Various causes, like : You had a career as a nurse/midwife. infections, adhesions, physical or emotional PH: So in this case, the “chain of lesion” What led you to become a Certified traumas, repetitive motions, etc, can restrict stretches all the way from the head and Rolfer™? membranes. When the “bubbles” get glued neck to the right foot, and involves several PM: I became a nurse and a midwife in to each other, they create complicated components along the way, visceral, cranial my early twenties and quickly became patterns of transmission of forces; this and musculoskeletal. I understand you to disenchanted by the allopathic approach is what the osteopaths call ‘the chain of say that we have to be careful not to “chase” to health. We were taught that the origin lesion’. the loudest symptoms. Then how do we of most illness is idiopathic, that means proceed? The concept of a “chain of lesion” is an “of unknown origin”. I realized that our important one. As an example, let’s look PM: We start by “listening” to the organism medical establishment is mainly interested at a whiplash accident. Your client arrives and identifying the “chain of lesion”. in the treatment of the symptoms, not in the after an apparently minor car accident. In our example with the whiplash, we cause of imbalance. Midwifery offered me He/she was stopped at a traffic light when may need to continue by releasing the a close view of the origins of life. another vehicle, unable to brake in time, hit interosseous membrane of the right lower Still, in institutionalized medicine, him/her from behind. Nothing was broken, leg, restore normal mobility of the impacted the routines of everyday life are very nothing was bleeding, but your client felt organs, and help re-establish good gliding much oriented toward the politics of disoriented and bruised. As the days pass, capacities of the internal membranes, etc. By the administration, the protocols, and he/she is feeling worse, the symptoms are continuing our listening, the organism will the hierarchical relationships. I felt that aggravated; more headaches, more neck let us know when we are done, what is next, too much of my energy went into those pain, more stiffness in the upper thoracic and what was a compensatory adaptation demands, rather than into what was area, etc. Usually anti-inflammatory drugs and doesn’t need to be treated. Later, we important to me: life, death, healing…and are prescribed, but the symptoms keep need to balance the subtle rhythms that our relationship to these phenomena. getting worse. osteopathy has taught us about; the motility There I was, in my late twenties. I could of the organs, the craniosacral pulse… Imagine our “bubble” model and you can imagine myself becoming a bitter old lady guess what is happening. The vector of PH: Give me another example of how the fighting the system, or I could choose to
14 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS do something else. I didn’t know what that from a place where I wanted to be and that in the organ itself, but cause torsions, twists, something else was. these people were my tribe. strain and restriction in musculoskeletal structures far away from the origin of the It came through a friend, an architect, tall Peter Schwind was my next big inspiration. lesion. Scoliotic patterns, we were taught, and thin. He was always saying that his I had just finished my basic training. I are in many cases held primarily in the lumbar problems were gravitational issues, had reservations about the necessity of a viscera; any attempt to resolve them solely due to his head leaning forward, etc. Of “recipe” and about the emphasis on the through direct spinal manipulation might course nobody around understood what he musculoskeletal system. Somehow, the actually worsen the situation. Tell us about was talking about. We went together to see idea of pushing tissues around didn’t your understanding of this. the orthopedic doctor at the hospital where I resonate with me. When I met Peter, with worked. I remember the words of the doctor his personal approach to Rolfing and his PM: A scoliosis can be seen as a “chain very clearly: “We have to wait until you get analogies with music composition, I was of lesion”. Our internal membranes, worse before we can help you”. Somehow fascinated. I joined a study group that he the “bubbles” inside us, always take up that sentence was the last straw. led. It was Peter who encouraged us to maximum space; in the case of a growing learn from the French osteopath Jean-Pierre child, if his inner membranes are restricted, Afterwards, I went to the bookstore, looking Barral. And I’m still learning from Barral, they will not allow this being to expand in for alternative literature on back pain, and this is now sixteen years later. space freely. The spine is going to rotate saw the logo for Rolfing on the jacket of and counter-rotate in order to adapt to the Peter Schwind’s book, Alles im Lot. The logo Jean-Pierre Barral and later Didier Prat, restriction, creating a spiral, a scoliosis. was telling me what my friend was talking another French osteopath, gave me a new A similar phenomenon will occur in an about, gravity and its relationship to the perspective on the internal organs, which adult. human body. I knew so well as a nurse and midwife. They showed me how the organs relate to Not all scoliosis has a visceral component. My friend realized that he needed to and influence the musculoskeletal system. Some may originate after a trauma on the experience this method, so we went to They introduced me to the visceral and growing plate of a bone, or an infection inside Barcelona, to the only Certified Rolfer in the craniosacral space, and helped shape the spine, or they may be compensation to Spain at that time. I was present during my understanding of my role as a Rolfer. a perceptual imbalance. Hubert Godard the first session. When the Rolfer was Through their work I learned to listen to is doing a lot of work around what he working on his chest, my friend started to the client as he/she expresses himself in names “laterality”, where the person has a cry. I inquired into the reason for his crying, this unique moment. “blind” or unknown area of his/her field was it painful? He said no. The Rolfer of perception due to trauma or emotional responded: “These are the emotions inside In the past six years, Hubert Godard, confusion. In this case, it is the imbalance in the body, the chest holds all these emotions Certified Advanced Rolfer and movement the perceptual space that starts the scoliotic from the past”. Emotions? I asked myself, analyst, has been a great inspiration. With spiral, then the body follows it. what does he mean? There’s just tissues, him, I have learned to “see” the action lungs, heart etc, what emotions? of human movement and to appreciate To treat scoliosis successfully, we need to be movement quality and coordination. able to listen to the client and, like a somatic This experience opened a window for me; Furthermore, he has taught me about the detective, go looking for the origin of it. another way of relating to the body. I got enormous significance of perception and Obviously the organs must be considered, so curious. I knew Rolfing was something the perceptual field. I have gained a new as well as the craniosacral system and the I wanted to learn. understanding of the relationship between locomotor system. We also have to consider PH: Who have been your most important the inner landscape of the body and the the client’s perceptual field and their teachers? Can you tell us a little bit how greater environment in which it exists: “potential of action”. each of them has inspired you and how they the relationship to Earth, to gravity and to PH: You said earlier that you had have contributed to your understanding of Space. This has broadened my spectrum reservations about the “recipe” at a very your work? of possibilities as a Certified Rolfer, my early stage in your Rolfing career. To me, ability to guide others. There are so many PM: My first Rolfing teacher was Peter the questioning and re-evaluation of the wonderful teachers that have inspired me, Melchior. I was so fascinated by him and recipe happened later, four or five years too many to name. by how he was in the world. I will never into my Rolfing practice. In an advanced forget the first image from the slideshow he PH: You mentioned Peter Schwind. I Rolfing training with Instructors Jeff presented on the first day of class. It was the remember studying with him in the mid Maitland and Jan Sultan in 1994, we were one of the Buddha saying, “Do not believe 90s, being so fascinated by the notion encouraged to “let go” of the recipe as a in anything merely because it is said, nor of organs and their fascial membranes formulistic protocol. Our teachers suggested in the mere authority of our teachers and influencing structure. To me, up to that to us that we view it as a pedagogical tool, masters, believe when the writing, doctrine, point, Rolfing was all about affecting an inspiration, a kind of language that or saying is corroborated by reason and the muskuloskeletal system directly by structural integration practitioners share. consciousness”. It is on the first page of Ida stretching and releasing the myofascial The recipe was not meant to be followed Rolf’s book Rolfing: The Integration of Human tissue, tendons and ligaments. It was so slavishly, or even viewed as a sequential Structures. That was such a completely intriguing, this idea that restrictions and order of events. Jeff and Jan proposed different paradigm of what education could adhesions in the organ’s fascial “envelopes” certain decision-making strategies and be; I knew that these people were moving could impede mobility and motility not only diagnostic tools as an alternative to the
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 15 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS recipe, some of these clearly inspired by of the human body are able to express their osteopathic thinking and practice. Then, freedom of movement. This freedom of in visceral manipulation classes, I was movement is expressed not only inside the introduced to the osteopathic concept of human body boundaries, it applies to how general and local “listening”. When letting this being relates to the gravitational field go of the recipe, we need to establish and to the field of perception. This spatial alternative decision-making processes that organization is what the recipe is pointing help us navigate through a session, in order to. We as Certified Rolfers recognize its to diagnose and make choices about what importance, and name it by its different to treat, and in what order. “Listening” has manifestations, like “the Line”, “lateral become an invaluable tool for me, and I line”, “medial line”, “core”, etc. know that it is central in your work. Tell us PH: What are some of the most important about how you evaluate, how you arrive at skills insights and inspirations that a diagnosis, how the concept and practice of osteopathy has to offer to the field of “listening” shows up in your work. structural integration? PM: “Listening” is essential. The first thing PM: The founder of osteopathy, Andrew I do as I greet my clients is to listen to T. Still, stated that, in addition to manual their words, the intonation of their voices, manipulation of the bones and the “listen” to the way they move in space, the soft tissues, the fluids could be treated way they sit or walk. Later, I “listen” with separately from the organs, structures, and my hands to their organism, in standing and spaces that contain them. Blood, lymph, lying down. I “listen” to the biomechanical cerebrospinal fluid, and all other fluids forces and how the different membranes are in the body are involved in the dynamic gliding or not, where they are restricted, movements that allow the potent life force how these restrictions travel, and where. to express its full potential. Based in this Again: the “chain of lesion”. I arrive at my understanding, osteopathy has brought us conclusion of how the different forces are the art of listening, the concept of mobility affecting this organism in this particular and motility, sophisticated palpatory skills, moment. From that moment on, I follow and a respect for the organism’s inherent where my “listening” takes me. It could be ability to heal itself. These are wonderful inside the abdominal cavity, to an organ, to inspirations to all somatic practitioners. a bone; it could be a cranial issue, maybe a gait issue. PH: What does the field of structural integration have to offer osteopathy? There is information arriving as we “listen”. The organism tells us where it is “stuck”, PM: We can inspire and support osteopathy where it is not flowing; at the same time it by opening portals for them on how the is informing us of all that is flowing, vital, organism relates to the gravitational and healthy. Then we treat, or, better said, field. Gravity is rarely addressed in the the treatment happens. As osteopaths say: world of osteopathy. This relationship, “we bring the whole to the part”. the relationship between the human organism and the gravitational field, is our PH: Would you say that general and inheritance, our uniqueness, and our gift. local listening to some extent replaces the concept of “recipe” for you? Our work is very beautiful, a mystery to explore, never boring, never the same. Let’s PM: I have come to use the recipe as a continue to develop it, with intelligence, bigger frame, a context within which the respect and sophistication. listening is happening. I don’t view it as a map or a sequence of necessary steps. Pilar Martin and Per Haaland are both Certified Advanced Rolfers™. Are the feet “feeding” the spine? Is there enough support from the ground? What is the relationship of the different centers of gravity in the body with each other? How does this client relate to the space around her/him? These questions create the context in which the general and local listening of the organism happens. There is a distinctive spatial organization occurring when all the different components
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etc. I always, however, finish the session with systemic and structural reads from the cranial biodynamic model. That is my bias. A short note on this type of cranial work. The head, or cranium, is overemphasized Somatic Explorations in cranial sacral work. Since the phenomena By Brian T. Shea, D.O. that one is tracking in the system is everywhere in that system, any part of the body can be used as an entry point. As a matter of fact, half of the time most of the have been doing hands-on structural which lasted approximately twenty significant changes that take place come Iwork for twenty-five years now, first as minutes. At completion of each treatment, from the extremities, usually the upper a Rolfer and currently as an osteopathic his appearance was very different. He was extremities. The second item of note in doing physician. This journey would not be bigger, longer, and broader. He looked this type of work is relaxing the emphasis complete without acknowledging three much more balanced and happier. Again, on sensing inside the body boundaries people who guided me along the way. the mystery. from the skin in. There is an awful lot of The first is my brother Michael Shea, One thing led to another in the late 1980s information that is available for use in who introduced me to Rolfing®; then, and I ultimately enrolled in the University the treatment outside the skin boundary Peter Melchior, who was my mentor par of New England College of Osteopathic layer of the client and in the treatment excellence for Rolfing: and finally Keith Medicine in 1990. The weekly osteopathic room itself. If that seems odd, consider the Swan. D.O., who showed me the power of courses were very basic biomechanical- following biodynamic koan, “Feel the thing osteopathic treatments. I thank these three model techniques. They were used in that passes through your hands and the as well as many unnamed others who have treating spinal and soft-tissue complaints. patient’s body and is undiminished.” That been a part of my education. Most of it I already had learned from my comes from Elliot Blackman, D.O. and is Like most Rolfing students, I was drawn to Rolfing education. Advanced studies a description of Primary Respiration and Rolfing because of the effects I experienced included forty-hour cranial courses, the level of sensitivity that one needs to from the basic Ten Series and the post-ten which did not differ significantly from the get to in order for any of this type of work advanced work. I felt better and moved Upledger courses that I took while I was to make sense. easier, especially when combined with Rolfing. Rolfing and osteopathic work have a lot in the Rolfing movement work. After having My learning curve with cranial work took common. There is a lot of overlap in the way become a Rolfer, I practiced in Boulder for off dramatically with my studies with they affect structure. At the same time, the nine years. It was during this time that James Jealous, D.O. and his biodynamic treatment emphasis is somewhat different several events happened that stimulated model of cranial work. This started so they have a different effect on the muscle- my interest in osteopathy. about 2002. At first I took the tenets of skeletal system. Their effectiveness usually First were the treatments I received from Dr. this type of treatment approach on faith depends on the time a practitioner has been Keith Swan, which served as a milestone in because, frankly, I couldn’t feel most of the practicing and one’s individual sensitivities my development. About two minutes into things they were talking about and could or talents that have been developed over the the cranial session, it felt like the right side barely conceptualize it. Active reception, years. Also, the particular needs of a client of my head moved away from the left side midline, Breath of Life, fluid body, Primary or patient may vary on any given day. A of my head. There was a core depth twist Respiration, ignition, the void, dynamic particular modality that works this week that rotated 90 degrees extending from stillness, etc. However, with treating lots may be completely useless the following the torso into my right leg. A lot of change of people, each one of these things showed week. waiting to happen with such a light touch. up in my practice. As it turned out, the The human organism is daily saturated I thought, what’s that all about? metaphors were actually quite descriptive with stimulus unless one lives in isolation and accurate of the phenomena that they are Second was the experience I had as a Rolfer. in a cave. Look around – it’s a crazy, almost named for. These things are always present I would pause, leaving my hands on a client insane culture, in which we live and work. both within our bodies and in the general wondering what my next move was. Then For most patients the first five to ten minutes environment outside of us. It seems to be there would suddenly be a systemic, non- of each session is just settling their system just a matter of slowing our minds enough autonomic unwinding that would run its down. The sympathetic overload and to perceive them and their effects on our course in about one minute. These events deregulation exacts an increasing price on systems. Biodynamics is sometimes referred had a mind of their own in their reordering all the tissues of the body. And, this is before to as a right-brained cranial work. of structure. But their sudden appearance any considerations are given to injuries, out of the blue was a complete mystery. I Currently, the biodynamic model is my abuse, embryologic and developmental had no reference point to compare them primary treatment modality. I start and issue, just to name a few. It ain’t easy being to. finish each session in this mode. The middle human. We are all a work in progress. of each session can either be a pure cranial Finally, there were the osteopathic One of the interesting overlaps I have treatment or I can use spinal manipulation, treatments my eight-day old son received, noticed between osteopathic treatment medical acupuncture, myofascial release,
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 17 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS
I give and Rolfing® methodology is that spend our entire life without knowing many times when I am in the midst of of their existence, but apply the requisite doing an osteopathic session, I notice third-, stimulus and they are in their fullness. eighth-, and ninth-hour session themes and Whatever of their meaning, they prohibit ideals show up. This is quite remarkable. I our premature closing or our account of don’t have any profound explanation why reality.” this is so, other than, I presume, these hours Requisite stimulus, indeed. The exploration or templates in the structure are important. of structural work continues. I have found Thank you, Ida Rolf, for pointing this out out some of the answers. However, more to us! questions have arisen as a result. Working In the biodynamic model that I use daily, with embryologic fields and complexes is I key mostly off of what is called the one area of study. The discursive mind and fluid body. This is a nebulous but distinct psyche and their permeable interaction bioplasma field that permeates the body. It with structure is another. Essentially, it’s took me years to feel it with any certainty a study without end. Time to roll up my and even longer to get a sense of how to sleeves and get to work again. affect it. Using it has given me the best clinical results I have had of any tool I have used in my twenty-five years of experience. Having said that, it is not a one- size-fits-all solution. Often, the fluid body can be lesioned by trauma and too much intrusion. It locks the structure and nervous system into a stuck place that can’t regulate properly. Until released, very little change can be had regardless of the approach. Once restored, all the mother modalities get much more mileage for one’s effort. The perceptual doors that the fluid body allows me to view are startlingly different from the mechanical model I am familiar with. It’s like viewing the December 16, 2007 image on the Astronomy Picture of the Day website (http://antwrp.gsfc. nasa.gov/apod/ap071216.html). On that particular day, there was a holographic picture with its two-dimensional color and dots. In viewing the picture, you have to wait and let your visual perception relax and shift. You will see a totally different picture emerge in 3D. In the case of biodynamics, the landscape is also alive, aware, and responsive. The advanced training for this work is essentially “wait more and do less”. The body intelligence is millions of years old. Once you connect with it at this level, it’s best to get out of its way and just witness. The various non-autonomic connections that are highlighted are mind-boggling and almost counterintuitive. The endpoint of treatment produces a relaxation response in the various tissues of the body allowing more access towards a more balanced structure. As a quote from William James says, “Our normal waking consciousness is but one type of consciousness, while all about it, parted by the flimsiest of screens, there lie other consciousnesses. We may
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are a movement something, not a static something.” In differentiating and integrating the fascial system, we certainly are having an effect on blood, the nervous system, lymph (to name a few elements) An Exploration of the Connection vis-à-vis the interconnectedness of the fascial system enveloping every blood vessel, every organ, nerves, bones, etc. Between Traditional Osteopathy This quality of fascia being everywhere in the body is why Certified Advanced Rolfer and Rolfing Louis Schultz called it “the endless web.” By Steven L. Brown, Certified Rolfer™ Due to this, we could speculate that fascial work, both osteopathic and Rolfing, has an effect on all systems of the body. Still would like to use this article to discuss When you deal with the fascia you went so far as to say “The soul of man with Iparallels between the philosophies of deal and do business with the branch all the streams of pure living water seems traditional osteopathy and Rolfing®, and offices of the brain, and under the to dwell in the fascia of the body.” How how in my studies and practice they have general corporation law, the same as far does our touch reach? I don’t know. influenced and informed each other. the brain itself, and why not treat it I do believe, however, in the importance with the same degree of respect? The following well-known statements of informed listening. To me, Rolfing is by Andrew Taylor Still, the creator of I naturally wonder what A.T. Still would all about relationships. I’m aware that osteopathy, show fascia to be the basis of (or have thought of the philosophy of Ida P. when, for example, I’m working on the one of the most important components in) Rolf, for not only do they both emphasize psoas, there is a close relationship to the of osteopathy, giving it a common ground the importance of fascia, there are other abdominal aorta, so I wonder how my with Rolfing: similarities in their thinking. For example, work might indirectly effect the flow of consider these two statements: blood. Or, if I work on the diaphragm, how I know of no part of the body that might that effect respiration? I’m sure there equals the fascia as a hunting ground. Rolf said, “The human being is an are any number of systems that our work I believe that more rich golden energy pattern. A set of waves, a set could influence through fascial structures, thought will appear to the mind’s of energy fields, which is the basic although this has not been part of the formal eye as the study of fascia is pursued energy of the universe. Disease comes Rolfing inquiry. than any other division of the body. when the body’s energy patterns One part is just as great and useful as go astray. Your job as a Rolfer is to Still says, “The Osteopath if he reasons any other in its place. No part can be understand which pattern gives good at all finds that order and health are dispensed with. But the fascia is the function.” inseparable.” He goes on to say, “My father ground in which all causes of death was a progressive farmer and was always Still said, “The Osteopath removes do the destruction of life. ready to lay aside an old plow if he could obstruction, lets the life giving current replace it with a better one constructed for As this philosophy [osteopathy] has have full play, and the man is restored his work. All through life I have been ever chosen the fascia as a foundation on to good health.” ready to buy a better plow.” which to stand, we hope the reader It seems to me that Rolfing and traditional will chain his patience for a few I think Still would have seen Rolf’s work osteopathy share some of the same goals, minutes on the subject of fascia, and in ordering the fascial system, while although their primary objectives may its relation to vitality. It stands before accounting for movement (on all levels) and differ. The primary objective of osteopathy the philosopher as one of, if not the the awareness of our relationship in gravity, seems to be to remove obstructions so that deepest living problems ever brought as “a better plow.” Certainly Rolf derived all fluids of the body can move and all before the mind of man. some of her inspiration from osteopathy, a channels are open to facilitate homeostasis. field that considers the role of alignment and Still had other interesting comments on It is of prime importance that there should gravity. Perhaps part of Rolf’s genius was fascia – its universality in the body, and its be no restrictions on the movement of the formulation of the Rolfing Ten Series relationship to function: blood, the nervous system, lymphatic fluids as a physical reorganization experienced and fascia. Rolfing also accomplishes many We write much of the universality in the gravity field. This was not only of these primary osteopathic goals, albeit of the fascia to impress the reader revolutionary, but for the recipient an sometimes as a secondary effect or perhaps with the idea that this connecting experience that has the potential to be even unintentionally (as we do not profess substance must be free at all parts to evolutionary. As Rolfing Instructor Jan to diagnose or treat pathologies, per se). receive and discharge all fluids. Thus Sultan said, in Rolfing “we are dealing with a knowledge of the universal extent Rolfing’s primary objective is to order the ancestral matrix” – creating potential for of the fascia is almost imperative, the body around a vertical line with the human transformation. and is one of the greatest aids to awareness of that body’s functionality Learning more about osteopathy has been the person who seeks the cause of in the gravity field. As Rolf said, “We a worthy endeavor for me, deepening disease.
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 19 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS my understanding and adding valuable and what does that mean?” Sometimes big REFERENCES elements to my Rolfing practice. For truths come in small sentences. example, I recently received a treatment Rolf, Ida P., lecture to advanced class 1974, Rosemary further brought her point home from an osteopath, and the majority of day 3. Audio recording. when she told me that after the six years what he did after diagnosing various that it took her to become an osteopath, she Sultan, Jan, video of the Ten Series at the dysfunctions was basically two techniques, reached the conclusion that what works is Rolf Institute of Structural Integration®. Muscle Energy (ME) and Facilitated the Ten Series. She then smiled at me and Positional Release (FPR). Proficiency in Still, A.T., The Philosophy of Osteopathy, 1899 said, “and that’s what I do.” Since that those techniques requires (to start with) (available as a free download at http:// moment I have been redoubling my efforts knowing the action of every muscle and books.google.com/). and thought into the question of what is the knowing joint mechanics, most importantly Ten Series? What is under my hands? And spinal mechanics. With that basis, ME and how can I do the best Rolfing possible in FPR can be applied almost anywhere in the context of the Ten Series? the body. After receiving the Ten Series, this particular osteopath, Dr. Chmielewski, I also asked Rosemary whom she considered invited me to join his practice, because he to be a good osteopath in the area. She said sees osteopathy and Rolfing as natural she knew a great one and gave me his phone partners. Incidentally, he doesn’t like the number. I arranged an appointment with name “osteopathy” because that connotes Dr. Burruano and proceeded to have not pathology of the bones. He prefers a term only an amazing treatment, but also one of he coined, “Lever-opathy”, meaning that the most valuable learning experiences I he uses the bones as levers to facilitate have ever had. His touch was light, but his structural change. intention deep. Wherever he put his hands I could “feel” he was seeing deeply into All the while I gather various resources and my cells. I perceived this osteopath’s vast information, I remember that it is important knowledge and experience to be focused on to be aware that the way in which we have whatever he was treating at that moment. been conditioned to learn is not always This informed listening, attention, and applicable to the experience of Rolfing. intention made all the difference. It made Rolf would try to break the conditioning me think, how deeply could I listen with my of academic abstraction by saying, ”The hands, and what must I know to develop map does not necessarily describe the that skill? I think of that session every time territory. In Rolfing we are dealing with I have someone on my table. the experience of the body, not the way you think the body should be.” So while I am now beginning to understand in I try to learn all that I can, I want to never my Rolfing® practice how the structure forget that the experience (of Rolfing) is of the Ten Series provides the vehicle for what matters. Ultimately, it is not a book exploration, creativity, and freedom. This is that teaches us, it is through experience exactly what I strive for when I play music that we learn and grow. In this I relate my – freedom through form. experience with Rolfing to my experience The scope and goals of traditional being a jazz pianist. I learn all the theory I osteopathy are vast and complex, and I can when I’m practicing, I learned all my have great admiration for Still’s wisdom chords and scales, but I’m not thinking and consider myself a student of his about theory when I sit down and play, teachings. Concerning Still and Rolf and that’s the time to create in the moment. many of our teachers, truly we are blessed Recently I had a conversation over lunch to be standing on the shoulders of giants! with one our most esteemed veteran The great jazz musician J.R. Montrose once Rolfers, Rosemary Feitis, who is also an said to me, “Complexities are nothing but osteopath. As we sat in a New York City a series of simplicities.” When you break it diner, I began to tell her of my admiration down, the Rolfing Ten Series is simple, yet for osteopathy, and about various methods put all together it is a complex orchestral and techniques that I was beginning to composition with beauty and wonder. learn. She let me go on and on and finally Steven L. Brown is a Certified Rolfer™, an said, “I’ve heard you tell me how you love advanced practitioner of Somatic Experiencing, this and that technique, but you haven’t and a jazz pianist. said that you love the Ten Series.” It was like she dropped a ton of bricks in my lap. At that moment I said to myself, “She’s right,
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osteopathic students in the 1960s, engaged with the zeitgeist of the “human potential movement”. She lived and taught in the context of the Esalen Institute, the Gestalt ® therapy founded by Fritz Perls, and searched Rolfing Structural Integration in its for an answer to what it takes to help the evolution of individual organisms to be Relation to Osteopathy, Especially better supported by gravity and to interact more easily and more expressively with the the Lineage of Visceral Manipulation environment. In my understanding, she believed that there is a balance from within Developed by Jean-Pierre Barral, D.O. the body affecting the world outside, and By Christoph Sommer, Certified Advanced RolferTM the world outside reflects into our organism and structure. In the meantime – almost thirty years n osteopathy the main aim is to find a motion restriction of the kidney and then after her death – our understanding of the Iand release the “primary lesion” within affects the other systems. pioneering work she and the osteopaths an organism. This primary lesion is have done has matured: Arteries and veins are affected by any determined by the practitioner using a tension/lesion in the body. Therefore Figure 1 illustrates the tonic function series of diagnostic tools with the aim of any tension or lesion may influence the concept, where there are four domains getting as specific as possible. Some of trophism of all tissues. of structure that influence each other to these diagnostic methods are: arcing, local regulate tonic function. “Pre-movement” listening, general listening and Manual This list of structural, physiological and our gravity organization rule human Thermal Diagnosis followed by mobility and “electrical” relationships, while not expression and behavior. In structural and motility tests in the local structures. complete, nevertheless clearly shows the integration/Rolfing we choose to enter this Once the primary lesion is found by the specificity and distinctions that osteopathy system via the Physical Structure, aiming practitioner it will be treated manually to has taken since its beginning. As a system it for perceivable results in that area as well resolve the “chain of lesions” found. is relating to the body/soma itself. as looking for results from our input in the Historically (Still and Sutherland), the Now let me highlight the template that we other three structures, which determine the osteopathic concept began by observing as structural integrators work from. The interrelationship with the outside world. that: main and essential difference is that we All this said, for me the daily practical take gravity – an external factor – into our question when I have clients walking into Structure has an effect on structure. A tibio- consideration. We manipulate soft tissues to my office stays the same: How can I interact talar joint in lesion will have an effect on the integrate a human structure into a greater with another intelligent system in the most sacroiliac joint, which will affect the dorsal field, the gravitational field. Dr. Rolf used efficient way? vertebrae, the atlanto-occipital balance and a “myofascial” terminology to verbalize the cranial sutures. First: it is clear that if we interact with the her/our system. Myofascial freedom and Physical Structure domain (which I do in Then Jean Pierre Barral D.O. and others organization allow for better integration my practice), we cannot reduce this to its started to inquire deeper into the following into the context of the gravitational field. myofascial anatomy alone. In examining the relations: The original Ten Series was designed to myofascial layers containing the trunk, you systematically restructure the human body Structure has an effect on viscera and vice see in Figure 2 that the viscera with their to align better with gravity. versa. A liver in a motion restriction will supporting connective tissue structures take result in a lesion of the vertebral spine Dr. Rolf, after she disengaged from the up more than 80% of the space. (T8/9) and then have its effect on other
structures as described above; and a fixated T8/9 may create a lesion in the liver. fg Psycho-emotional / Perceptive Structure Viscera have an effect on emotion and vice Meaning Structurefg fg versa. Unexpressed anger may “download” fg into the liver as congestion, leading to a fg motion restriction of the liver, leading to a fixation of the spine. Or a motion restriction TONIC FUNCTION of the liver (i.e., after hepatitis) may lead to
a lack of energy and a choleric behavior. fg fg fg Peripheral nerves and cranial nerves have Coordinative Structure Physical Structure an effect on the autonomic nervous system, the organs and structure itself. Compression Figure 1: Tonic function showing the interrelationship of different of the lumbar plexus may result in tension structural domains. From the work of Hubert Godard. and lesions in the knee joint, which leads to
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 21 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS
In the third hour we structurally aim to In this hour we start to enter the “inner Liver differentiate: lining” of the cavities; the renal fascia and the pleura approximate closely to the 12th Stomach • the thorax from the shoulder girdle rib. and the arm • the pelvis from the lumbar spine In the fourth hour our intervention would (abdominal cavity) include the “bindegewebslager” – the • the pelvis from femur/ leg itself. connective tissue and fat tissue surrounding • The pelvis from the 12th rib and supporting the bladder, uterus/ prostate and the rectum. In addition, Functionally we relate: we would consider all other abdominal • front to back depth structures that “hang” from the lumbar • the shoulder and pelvic girdle in spine such as the mesenteric roots, Toldt’s contralateral movement membrane, and the suspensory ligament of
Figure 2: Transverse cut at the level of T10, showing the myofascial frame versus the visceral content. From Peter Schwind’s book Fascial and Membrane Technique (2006); reprinted with permission from the author and Elsevier Urban & Fischer, Germany.
In our Rolfing “recipe”, we spend the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th sessions differentiating the myofacial layers surrounding the thoracic content, and if we include the 2nd, 4th and 6th sessions we also differentiate the posterior myofascial components of the spine. Myofascia, as we know, is made up Figure 3: Median cut through male pelvis, showing the content of the pelvis and its of collagen, elastin fibers and ground relevance for sessions 4 & 5 of the Rolfing Ten Series. From Peter Schwind’s book substance, therefore it has elastic and plastic Fascial and Membrane Technique (2006); reprinted with permission from the author properties. If you take the membranes and Elsevier Urban & Fischer, Germany. lining and supporting the thoracic cavity, there are less elastic fibers and the mobility of the layers in relationship to each other is maintained by the serous fluids in between the layers. Any lack of fluidity will have an effect on the resilience of the mobility and also on the musculoskeletal frame. Second: If we improve our technical manual skills to include the membranous components of the “content”, our effectiveness in the Physical Structure will heighten the “interoception” of our client and affect tonic function and the other structures mentioned, possibly leading to a changed “exteroception” that creates better proprioception and therefore changes not only physiological function but also expressive behavior. Imagine if we improved our concept and skills to include the viscera (and other somatic systems) to do an inclusive Ten Figure 4: The brachial plexus with the upper limb and connection/influence from limb Series. Let’s say that we keep the first three to neck. From Jean-PierreBarral and Alain Crobier’s Manipulation peripherer Nerven sessions as a preparation mainly of the (2005); reprinted with permission from Elsevier Urban & Fischer, Germany. myofascial planes.
22 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS the duodenal-juojenal junction (Muscle of Treitz); see Figure 3. In the fifth hour, our interventions could include the pleura and the pleural dome, the mediastinum, and all visceral (peritoneal) attachments of the diaphragm from below: the coronary ligament, left/right triangular hepatic ligaments, the phrenico-gastric ligament, etc. In the sixth hour our additional focus could become the sciatic nerve with the sacral plexus or the median nerve and the brachial plexus (see Figure 4), just to name two options. The seventh hour could include specifically the visceral compartments of the neck, larynx and pharynx, and the tensions inside the cranial cavity as given by the cranial and spinal dura mater. The above mentioned connections are meant to be a possible outlook into an inclusive recipe, not a checklist to be accomplished in these sessions. The precision we can learn from the osteopathic world can make our work more efficient and lasting. Relating these “visceral inner bridges” into the “inner shapes” as they relate to the Physical Structure (see Peter Schwind’s book Fascial and Membrane Technique) is one of the avenues for continued exploration. To follow the path of changes that show up via tonic function on the levels of meaning, perception and coordination – and by this I mean to enhance the life quality and expressive freedom of each client in gravity – is the advantage we inherited from Dr. Rolf. Our challenge will be to learn how to maintain the integrity of our own system of structural integration and its values without neglecting developments in the field of manual medicine. To retreat into myofascial orthodoxy is a lazy escape. I image that Dr. Rolf herself would have developed the work. Now it is up to us to continue down that path. Christoph Sommer is a Certified Advanced RolferTM and a member of the European Rolfing faculty and the Barral Institute faculty.
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 23 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS
which is frequently just proximal to the joint in question. I discovered another assessment tool quite by accident. Researchers refer to “arborization” of nerve tissues – which is the tendency of the nerve to grow longer Peripheral Nerve Work when it is inflamed or when it has inflamed surrounding tissue. The inflammatory chemicals trigger the release of a substance – Compare and Contrast called “nerve growth factor” (NGF) from By Don Hazen, D.C., CertifiedA dvanced Rolfer ™ local immune cells. Affected nerves not only grow, they can often double in length (at least insofar as I am accurate in my assessments capabilities). Shortly after attended Dr. Jean-Pierre Barral’s class on restrictions were often mechanically, as well reading about it, I began to find nerves that Iperipheral and cranial nerves in 2005. as neurologically, responsible for postural had grown into areas where there are no At that time I’d been Rolfing® twenty- limitations. nerve trunks, and in doing so had become seven years. The discovery that nerves While Barral’s work concentrated on rooted, as it were, in their new home. This were 1) palpable, 2) manipulable, and 3) lesions and restrictions close to the spine limits glide and is an important source of the source of many skeletal distortions, and cranium, I began to explore the other pain. made a sudden and profound impact on end, the restrictions at the distal end the way I interacted with tissue. Christoph of the extremities. This was a domain I Sommer has written an excellent review Techniques understood and where the effects of nerve of Jean-Pierre Barral’s Manual Therapy lesions offered limitless possibilities for Much of Barral’s focus is on the neural for the Peripheral Nerves (see page 42). I study. For those who follow the footsteps “buds” – restrictions close to the spine and want to second his recommendation, as I of Dr. Ida Rolf, proper function of the at places where the nerves penetrate the find the book rich in detail and a thorough joints of the feet and knees, for example, is fascia. The technique has profound effects presentation of both the physiology and essential to stability in the pelvis and spine. both downstream and upstream – in the anatomy of the nervous system. There are, Proper functioning of distal joints is directly central nervous system. For my purposes, however, a few places of confusion which related to the ability of the nerves that serve freeing restrictions close to the spine was I suspect may be due to translation, and I’d them to stretch and to glide within their sometimes less effective than finding the advise having an anatomy text handy as the surrounding tissues. tethered places at the distal joints. As my descriptions will occasionally go beyond work developed, I found I could accomplish his diagrams (even if you think you know In contrast, in my approach to the nerves, more from a structural perspective by first your anatomy). my immediate goal is less global than relieving tethered nerves and reducing Barral’s. It is to free the nerves to free the After taking the class with Barral, I began the inflammatory cycle distally, and later joints to allow the body to move to neutral. an intensive literature search to find out relieving the midline structures as the noise The fact that freeing nervous tissue is also a why what I was finding was happening. of the peripheral inflammation subsided. great way to relieve pain is not lost here. This included the medical literature The “inflammatory cycle” I mentioned on neurogenic inflammation and some Assessment could be better explained. Prolonged pioneering work by a group of Australian pain causes a response in the spinal cord physical therapists. I’ve made some Barral presents a wide range of assessment which triggers the release of inflammatory adaptations that, I think, make the work techniques, probably the most famous of chemicals in peripheral tissues – and more applicable to structural integrators, which is “local listening”. I use listening typically within the nerve bundle itself. and I’ve borrowed some techniques from techniques in my practice, and talk in Inflammation in the enclosed space of the other sources. With this overall affirmation my classes in a less technical sense about nerve bundle causes nerve cells to fire from of Barral’s work in mind, there are areas of “listening to the tissue”. However, I began to the middle of the axon (not from the ends of distinction and contrast with my approach search for ways to more rapidly determine the fibers as they do normally). If the cells that I’ll discuss below. These involve goals, what functions were compromised, and I are motor neurons, it causes muscle spasm. assessment, and technique. found that it was often at the distal joints If they are nociceptors (pain fibers), the that compensation began. firing (typically) causes increased pain. The Goals pain causes more inflammatory chemicals I borrowed a tool from the Australian to be expressed. So a cycle of pain and Barral’s goals appear unchanged from the physical therapists, who assess glide directly inflammation is created, which must be first class I took with him twenty years ago by flexing joints at the ends of a nerve and interrupted. – to make the most precise intervention following the resultant movement of the possible to accomplish the most general nerve affected by the joint movement as it change or, as he once put it, to find the passed through the tissue. I was able to pare Conclusion least secondary cause. As I began to work down their techniques to help me rapidly Nothing in what I’ve said should be taken with what I’d learned, I found that neural find where a nerve is limiting joint motion, as a criticism of Barral’s work. (I am critical,
24 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: EXPLORATIONS only in certain spots, of his translator.) He has initiated a practice that will have far-reaching effects as we learn more how to therapeutically engage this particular organism we’ve chosen to study. I’ve been using this approach for three years. Now my structural work centers around changes in neural tissue. The result, both for myself and for many of my students, has simplified and eased the job of changing structure. In the introductory class I teach I am able to work with newer Rolfers to integrate the neural perspective into the ten-session format. Don Hazen was certified as a Rolfer™ in 1978 and received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1994. He teaches a two-level course entitled The Neurology of Posture. More information can be found at his website at: dhazen.com/neuropages/ neurology.html.
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 25 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: Study and Resources
mechanics of the body and gravity. Those “lines of gravity” are where his followers feel Ida Rolf got her inspiration, or a big chunk of her inspiration. Pretty much all of the osteopathy in Europe spread from him. And now, more recently, it’s coming About the Canadian back across the water, to North America. So the school does not train “osteopathic physicians” [like the U.S. schools], it trains College of Osteopathy European-style osteopaths. An Interview with Ron Murray, DOMP, Certified Advanced AH: You say it’s part-time, what’s the structure of the program like for the five Rolfer™, and Allan Kaplan, Certified Advanced Rolfer years, and what type of people attend By Anne F. Hoff, Certified Advanced Rolfer besides some Certified Rolfers? RM: It’s six or seven five-day classes a year. It’s based on the traditional European model where students were already A small number of Certified Rolfers have enrolled who started the school, considers classical physiotherapists, and so this would be a in the Canadian College of Osteopathy (CCO), osteopathy. It’s pretty much based on the post-grad program, for somebody who a five-year program in traditional osteopathy French school of osteopathy, There were already has a physio title. Students include with campuses in Toronto, Vancouver, and some Brits who studied with A.T. Still, a whole lot of physiotherapists, athletic Halifax. Here, we interview two graduates of who was the founder of osteopathy in therapists, massage therapists [a much more the program to learn more about the school, the early 1900s, and they went back to rigorous program in Canada – 3000 hours its curriculum, and its relevance to a Rolfing® England and started schools there. Some training in British Columbia, for example], practice. of the French ended up going to those some chiropractors, acupuncturists, and schools and bringing it back to France, and then a smattering of other titles. ABOUT THE PROGRAM when the French were originally trained as osteopaths, they would get some training in AK: Actually some M.D.s and some Anne Hoff : Let’s start with an overview France, but they would also have to go to American-trained osteopaths have gone of when you each did your training, and a Britain and get their degrees from one of the through the program. bit about the program. British schools. At least I know that’s how AH: How do the U.S. osteopathic physicians Ron Murray some of the French osteopaths I know have : I graduated in 2003. The that you’ve met feel about the Canadian done it. Since then I think they’ve got their program was five years part-time, and school? then after the program you have a couple own schools set up. Druelle, who is a French of years or more if you choose to write a osteopath, came over to Montreal, and RM: [laughter] Most of them don’t like thesis. After you write the thesis, you get started his school based on that model. It’s it. There are a few that support it, but it’s the full title – in the Province of Quebec different from the American model – which a real political issue, as you’ve probably they just give the title D.O.; in the other is essentially like M.D. schooling – doing seen on the Rolfing Forum, as well as [in provinces you get the title Doctorate in surgery, prescribing drugs – although this journal]. With osteopathic physicians Osteopathic Manual Practice (D.O.M.P.). theoretically from the perspective of who do osteopathic-based stuff and also When I did the training there was only the being a holistic approach to the body; but happen to be Rolfers, some of them don’t Toronto school. not necessarily concentrating on manual like it. They feel that if we live in the U.S. we therapy. This school has followed the should go to osteopathic medical school. Allan Kaplan : I’m a graduate of the French schools and is pretty much based on AH program. I finished the coursework in April manipulation: fascial manipulation, bony : Was that an option that either of you or May of 2007, and I did mine in Vancouver. manipulation, visceral manipulation and considered? When I started out I was in the second class cranial manipulation. So that’s the thrust RM: I considered it, but I didn’t want to year in Vancouver, but there was enough of it, so to speak. spend that amount of time and money for attrition that they combined the first two something that I would not be using all that years together, so I was actually in the first RM: No pun intended. [general laughter] much. So this manual-based program fit in class to finish, even though I started in AH: Do you want to add to that, Ron? with what I was already doing as a Rolfer, the second class. I have not started on my and as a Berry Method practitioner. thesis yet, and I’m in flux as to whether I’ll RM: Yeah, osteopathy left the U.S. In go through with it right now, although I’ve 1917 John Martin Littlejohn took it back AK: That’s exactly my perspective as finished all the course work. to England. He trained with A.T. Still; well. I didn’t have any inclination to be a he’s the guy known for bringing a lot doctor. I wanted the manual information AH: What’s the mission of the school? more physiology to osteopathy, and is and that’s what I was going to get up in AK: I’d say the mission of the school the one who detailed incredible amounts Canada. is really to teach osteopathy, classical of information about what he called the AH: What’s your sense of how the Canadian osteopathy, what Philippe Druelle, D.O., “lines of gravity” – a lot of details about the program compares to the manual therapy
26 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: Study and Resources portion of U.S. osteopathic training? close to the source as I could. I also had been more the longitudinal structures. trained in the bonesetter lineage, Loren RM: That’s the only legitimate way to AK: Right. I would see cross-sections Berry’s work, and that has an old history compare them. Canada has way more hours in books and they would really get my that is somewhat related to osteopathy, of manual training. I think it’s around 1500 attention, and when I would be doing and of course, now we know that Ida Rolf hours of manual. analysis of a person at the beginning of had a heavy influence from American and a session, I would think, “The strains are AK: I know that in the States, they don’t European osteopaths. going to go through the body, and not just have a requirement to do that much AK: As for me, soon after I started my around the outside, and I need to know manual therapy. I’ve met osteopaths who practice [I’ve been practicing for about what structures there are through there are just doctors; they took maybe one basic twenty years] I just started coming up that are going to be affecting all this.” That osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) with questions, and when I couldn’t get was definitely something that the [Rolfing] class, and they haven’t touched a body in answers, I took a training. So I did an training didn’t really have. You’ve got that way in years. So it’s really an elective advanced [Rolfing] training, and a post- to hand it to Dr. Rolf, she came up with course to follow. advanced [Rolfing] training, and I sat in something really inspirational. Who knows, RM: I’ve got these statistics: there’s 65,000 on more stuff, and eventually I found that given the time, whether she would have osteopathic physicians in the U.S., give or I was doing things in my practice and they incorporated these types of things into it or take a few, and out of those 65,000 there’s seemed to work, but I didn’t really have any not. Maybe she wanted to keep Rolfing as about 3,000 that do OMT. acknowledgement of what I was doing. I it is taught, or if she had more time, maybe had touched on cranial work and visceral she would have said, “Ok, now we’re doing AK: So that’s like 5% that’s manipulative work briefly in a class here, a class there, visceral, we’re adding more territories to therapy. So those that do cranial or visceral and teachers had talked about it, and one the map” – or more maps to the territory, manipulation, it’s a fraction of that. day I decided to go do classes with Didier depending on how you want to approach RM: There are twenty-one osteopathic Prat, D.O. from France, who was teaching Korzybski. medical schools in the U.S. right now. I was a lot of visceral work to Rolfers. I started AH: You mentioned Littlejohn and his lines told they each have between 150 and 350 finding answers to a lot of questions. of gravity. How that is similar or different to hours of manual training. So some of them Rolfing as it was taught by the teachers what Ida Rolf put out into the world? get a fair amount… that I had and in the classes that I had seemed to dwell more on the outer shell, RM: It’s similar and it’s different. We see AK: It depends on the school. I know a and nothing seemed to address the real core various forms of that in Hubert Godard’s lot of Rolfers who have gone to the school of the person. You could get at it from the writings and Kevin Frank’s and others’ – T4 up in Maine, and they’ve found that it’s outside, but you weren’t dealing directly is G prime and G is down by the L3 area. pretty good that way, but then Rosemary with the core structures, in my mind, and And we see echoes in the physical therapy Feitis, who went through the program, so there was a lot of fascia, a lot of stuff that world, there’s a thing called “T4 syndrome”. told me they only mentioned fascia on wasn’t getting addressed. Visceral work Littlejohn’s line of gravity intersect right in three separate occasions. I was absolutely and cranial work were avenues to really front of T4, and also right in front of L3, so mortified, because our program is all go at those structures directly, or more there are correlates there, but Littlejohn’s based on fascia – we studied fascia, we did directly. And so, I started in with visceral stuff was way more complex. techniques for fascia, that was the basis for work and got very inspired, and then I did AH: Is there a reference where people can what they talked about, and when you’re some cranial trainings but wasn’t really read his work? doing osseous adjustments, you’re looking satisfied. Then Ron mentioned to me one for resistance in the fascia. day that the CCO had started a program RM: There are articles, but they’re not in Vancouver and that was very close for ® readily available, you’ve got to search for ROLFING AND OSTEOPATHY me, so I decided to go for it, to learn more them. AH about cranial and visceral. That’s really : So why did each of you choose to do AH: Why don’t you tell us a bit about what what I cared about, and it turned out to be this program? you know about Ida Rolf’s background. considerably more than that of course. But RM I think most people have heard the story : Well, I did because every other word that was my motivation, to see what I could about her studying with Amy Cochrane, out of Rolfing instructors’ mouths was learn about addressing the entire person, a U.S. osteopath, but then here’s this piece “fascia”, when I trained, and then about and not just the outer aspects of the body. every second or third paragraph was the by Jocelyn Proby, which we are publishing RM word “osteopathy”, or “osteopathic”, or : I like that, Allan. The way I say it in this issue, and he obviously had some “osteopathic-based.” I didn’t really feel I is that “Rolfing taught me great work for connection with Ida Rolf, but I don’t think learned fascial anatomy from the Rolfing what I call the ‘meat suit’” – that’s the the community in general knows what it is, training, and I kept hearing about this term I use. and who else she may have studied with or been influenced by. osteopathy stuff. And I noticed that all the AK: “Meat Suit!” [chuckles] Yeah, that’s teachers would go out and take osteopathic- great. RM: Now, John Wernham just died at based courses and then come back and age 100 last fall. He trained directly with RM: Osteopaths would say the osteopathic put their interpretation on what they had John Martin Littlejohn. Wernham has anatomy is cross-sectional anatomy. And learned, and pass that information on, many books and charts describing what so much of the anatomy I had studied had or some of it. I decided I needed to go as he learned from Littlejohn about gravity
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 27 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: Study and Resources lines, and some of these are available. It teaching her own pure inspiration. gleaning pieces from the program and is pretty funny, cause Jocelyn Proby was putting it into what I already had instead of RM: I was going through some old issues a colleague of Wernham, and Wernham compartmentalizing what I already had and of the Journal of the American Osteopathic loved Proby – except for Proby promoting really looking at being an osteopath purely. Association, and I came across an article Rolfing [laughter]. Mr. Wernham – they I’m still kind of dealing with that. that Ida Rolf co-authored with two or lovingly call him Mr. Wernham instead of three American osteopaths, and it was all RM: Most of the teachers are from Canada. Dr. Wernham – and now those he trained, on biochemistry and I believe colloids. The official numbers are supposed to be teach at the classical osteopathic school in Obviously there are others who know one teacher for every twenty-five or thirty Maidstone, England. They maintain that more, these are some little pieces. I can students, but the classes in Vancouver tend it’s the work that Wernham felt that Ida tell you what Fred Mitchell told me, that to be a little smaller. Some of the classes in Rolf – how can I say it gently? – kind of she did a special course, I believe it was Toronto were quite large and then they bring borrowed information from Mr. Wernham at the Kansas City osteopathic school. She in several assistants. It’s mostly lecture, and John Martin Littlejohn and watered taught the Ten Series there, and this one demo, practice all day long. Technique after it down a little bit, to make it simpler. Mr. doctor started experimenting with having technique, all hands on. There were some Wernham felt that Dr. Rolf took a piece patients hold their breath, to induce more courses that were theory only, but mostly of osteopathy but kind of imposed it in a of an acidosis state in the body, and they it was hands-on. [For each segment] there non-physiologic way on the body. So they felt they were able to get quicker changes were usually four days of class and then a felt strongly, they loved Proby but they in fascia by inducing that state than by the fifth day, a clinical day, at the end. could not get behind Proby’s support of traditional way they were taught. But he the work [Rolfing®]. Now they maintain AK: The curriculum was quite intensive. I said it was really tough, having people that Ida Rolf trained with John Wernham didn’t know quite what to expect when I hold their breath for long periods of time. around 1950-ish but I’m not positive about went in. I guess I was thinking “oh yeah, it’s [laughter] the exact dates. going to be a great series of continuing ed workshops, and then at the end I’ll have the Part of the reason I pursued this path is WHAT IT’S LIKE certificate.” I was somewhat mistaken – it because so much information comes from TO STUDY AT CCO was much more intensive than I expected osteopathy: Ida Rolf’s work, Ida Rolf’s AH initially. Long days, tons of information, movement work, cranial sacral, visceral, : Let’s go back to your experience of the lots of physiology, neurology, mechanics, muscle energy, strain/counterstrain… It CCO program. kinesiology… And you are really learning seems like we’re all running on A.T. Still’s RM : Going through the program as a a very rounded amount of information original inspiration. Dr. Rolf even refers to Rolfer, I found that the first year was a little about the body and how it relates to all him in the same terms a lot of those early tough for me. I had been warned about this, the systems and how the systems impact osteopaths used – they called him “The but I still found it hard to put aside what structure. Each course, whether it was on Old Doctor.” So I view osteopathy as a I thought I knew as a Rolfer about bodies the thoracics, or the lumbars, or gynecology, much larger body of knowledge. I view and gravity, and look with new eyes about or the kidneys, or whatever, you would Rolfing Structural Integration as a subset of what they were teaching me. I found that not just learn a bunch of techniques. You something much larger, and I also believe real challenging, but eventually I was able learned the physiology of the organs, you that Rolfing has its own strengths that are to get over myself. learned the neurology of the organs, you unique, just like all those other systems that AH learned the mechanics of the bones, you are offshoots of osteopathy. : Was it a receptive environment to you coming in with your own viewpoint? learned the relationships through the body, AK: Well, Dr. Rolf studied with osteopaths and then you learned some techniques on R M in the States. Ron, you mentioned to me : They don’t care about other how to deal with it: assessment methods, that Fred Mitchell Jr. [founder of Muscle viewpoints. If students are there to learn, whatever. It was a ton of information. I Energy technique] knew her, and she talks they want them to learn. They’re not hostile ended up spending a lot more time with it a lot about osteopathy. This came up on the to other viewpoints, but… than I had anticipated. Rolfing Forum one time when someone was AH : It could get in your way. RM: After a student takes a class in the saying something to the effect of “…oh well, CCO program, they can forever come in and Dr. Rolf never talks about osteopathy,” or RM: Yeah, it certainly could. repeat that class for free. That is a nice option “osteopathy doesn’t really have anything AK: I had a hard time suppressing my as it is such a huge amount of information. to do with Rolfing…” I pulled out my copy Rolfing® self; it wasn’t that they were I look at the volume of it, and think I really of Ida Rolf Talks About Rolfing and Physical adverse to any experience that I had at all, need to go back and retake some classes Reality and copied down all the mentions of it was just that it was difficult for me to start ‘cause there’s just so much. Five days was osteopathy, and there were a lot. She really out fresh and not rely on the techniques spent just on the kidney. Also, the program spoke about it quite a bit, not only Amy that I already knew. I almost wish that I gave me access to this much bigger body Cochrane but just in general. I remember had been a clean slate and started from of knowledge so to speak, it opened doors when I trained with Peter [Melchior] and scratch without my Rolfing background, to other courses that would have been Emmett [Hutchins], they would do things just so I would have been possibly more closed to me as a Rolfer. For example, that were clearly from osteopathy, and open to what they were giving me and I every June in Montreal they have this large they would talk about it, so it’s there, even could really devote 100% to that paradigm osteopathic symposium, they will have a though people tend to think that Dr. Rolf is and that approach. I found myself more day of lectures and they’ll bring in six to
28 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: Study and Resources eight very famous osteopaths from all over If they do that they’re fine. There would be and defend it. If you get through that, then the world, and they’ll give courses, and you several weeks between classes. you get the sheepskin so. Ron has done it, pick whose four-day course you’re going so he knows what it’s like. AK: When I’d get back from school, if I to take. What’s been nice about it is certain hadn’t started typing up my notes already, RM: If I had any more hair to lose, it would American osteopathic physicians that teach I would spend as much time as possible have fallen out! manual therapy they will go up there and doing that. I’d have anywhere from ten teach a seminar and I can take that, but to twenty-five pages of scrawled notes, that same seminar would be closed to me EFFECT ON THEIR WORK and I’d transcribe them into a form that in the U.S. AH would make some sense, and I’d have also : How has having done this training AH: What about between the different shot pictures of techniques and charts, so I affected your practice? Has it changed how modules of the training? Did you have would put those in my notes as well. So as you practice? things you had to do? far as having a life, it was curtailed to some RM: Well, Allan and I have had this extent. For me – and I don’t think everyone RM: [chuckling] Well, students are discussion, and it’s the ongoing discussion did this – but when it was approaching supposed to do a lot of homework – they that comes in the Zen koan of “What the hell exam time I really did put my head in the ® expect a lot, but they don’t assign a lot. is Rolfing ?” I had classmates in Canada that books and did cut back on my practice a ® People are really expected to know their would ask me “Do you still do Rolfing ?”, bit, because I needed to review everything anatomy and biomechanics and neurology, and I will say for me, they are one and and make sure that I walked in to the exams and if students are weak in those areas, they the same thing. Rolfers may articulate feeling relatively settled. are expected to bone up. certain goals, but to me the principles stay RM: I want to say something about the pretty much the same. It’s the tools and AK: [groaning] The other thing is that for thesis at the end of the program. It’s techniques that we use to get there that the first three years there were exams – something that you [can choose to] do may be different. Do I occasionally get out when you came back for the next class, there after the five-year academic portion, and it the elbow? Absolutely. But, I have a lot of was a two-hour exam on the previous class, really does complete the program. There’s other tools in the toolbox, because they and you needed to perform adequately. two different ways of doing the thesis: the teach how to work with not just the tissues And then at the end of the year you did have quantitative, which is treat X amount of on the tissue level, but to work with the to do a paper and give a presentation and people and measure something before fluid levels as well as the field levels of the also take a final exam for the year. At third and after, and work on the concept of body. There’s the classic Rolfing question year you had a cumulative exam for the hypothesis. A whole other type of thesis “If you took everything from the body, first three years, both written and practical, is the qualitative thesis, of which there what’s the body mostly made of?” – and and then the fourth year I think it was just are various forms, and that one’s more we answer “fascia”. Well, the reality is, the a written exam, and the fifth year was a literature-based research, or surveys, or answer is water. So there’s a way of looking barrage – we’re talking a full day here – of interviews, that sort of thing. It’s usually at the body from the fluid perspective, and written, and also practical exams. If you a topic somebody has a lot of passion or that was a big tool that they added that was didn’t keep up with what was going on, interest in, so they really go into depth different than Rolfing training. you might not proceed to the next year, so in that particular area of osteopathy, and AK it was not a given that you were going to : Again, I came into the program just perhaps discover some new information move onward. following the path of figuring out what or reveal some old information that might was going on in the deeper dimensions RM: I do want to put a little plug in here have been forgotten about. It tends to be of the body, if I can call it that. These days for Allan. I was on the jury for his third-year an integrator at the end of the program for I’ve got a little bit broader perspective of practical exam, and he did the best of all people’s experience. what’s going on when someone walks in his classmates. The other teacher running it AK: One of the reasons why I am still on and a different array of tools. And like was the most impressed with Allan’s skills, the fence as to whether I’m going to do my Ron, I can work at a deep level doing but what she was especially impressed thesis or not is that as a person from the visceral and cranial or whatever, and get a with was the way he handled the patient U.S., the certification that I would get in lot of work done, and other times I break on the table. I think that a lot of those skills Canada doesn’t have any reciprocity. So in out my elbow. For example, I had a guy came from his background as a Certified a sense doing the thesis would be for my come in the other day who first received Advanced RolferTM. own edification and to have a credential Rolfing at Esalen with some of the real AK: Yeah, I think that we deal with people for Canada, but it doesn’t do me any good old-timers, some of the first people Dr. all the time, and the level at which we deal down here in the States. So I would end Rolf trained. I’ve worked with him on and with them was certainly different than the up putting another two years plus into off over the years, so when he called up physios up there do. my studies for the program that I would (it’s been about three years since I’d seen certainly feel rewarded with at the end, but him) he says “So, you still remember that AH: Did you find that to keep up with it really wouldn’t make any difference as far old Rolfing stuff?”, and I said “Yeah sure, I the program you had to cut back on your as any professional standing that I could can sharpen up my elbow and bring it out practice or other things in life? use. That said, the thesis is a very rigorous if we need to”. So he was really up for that, but when he came in and I looked at him I RM: Well generally it’s expected that people piece of work, and you are expected to do thought “Well, I can sit here and do some should spend an hour a day studying, the research, do the academics, and then good old-fashioned stuff, but what does he minimum, depending on their study skills. present the thesis to an international board
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 29 Rolfing® and Osteopathy: Study and Resources really need?” He was complaining that he obviously I’m prejudiced by my Rolfing one session, what’s the best way for it to had a frozen shoulder that had more or less background, given that I did that first. But deal with the information. So on paper all come back, and I remembered that he had as an osteopath, ultimately for me there’s those things are virtually identical to the had open heart surgery maybe five or eight only two things I’m thinking of when ideas that we’re talking about in Rolfing® years ago, and in my assessment I found I’m meeting somebody: What is their and the principles. But it’s a little bit of that he had not only heart restrictions but relationship to the field of gravity, and do a different language, and it’s different lung restrictions. His pericardium was not they have circulation in all of its forms? So, techniques that they deal with. moving as it should, it was actually adhered at its simplest, those are the two questions RM: The only thing I’d add is about Dr. to his right lung and pleura, and that I think I’m always answering, and then of course, Rolf’s concept of “Put it in place and was pulling into the shoulder. So I could supplying principles and techniques to call for motion” or normal function. [In have reefed on his shoulder and ribcage deal with that. Similar to Rolfing would osteopathy] you want to establish normal all I wanted to and it would not get to the of course be the relationship to the field of in the body. Detailed biomechanics – and I problem. I had to get his heart moving gravity. As an osteopath what’s added for mean infinitesimal detail – is taught so that again on its axis, I had to separate it from me is the idea of circulation of fluids in all we know relatively what is normal. With his lung and get that moving again, and their forms, not just blood but lymph and my Rolfing toolbox I was not taught when I did this his shoulder was moving a the trophism within the nerves and so on. enough about biomechanics. [Rolfers] are lot better. Some of it was subtle, and some AK: Sometimes I wonder how much of my taught to assess and say “Can you see of it I was leaning on him pretty good. He work is working like an osteopath and how how motion is moving through that area has done tons and tons of Continuum, and much of it is working like a Rolfer. Some in the body,” but not the specifics of how was really happy with how I was affecting days I’ll go “That was a really osteopathic you get the biomechanics to transmit that into his body and doing some movement session,” and then I’ll go “Yeah but, it was motion. So on one level you have to know on his own. He was impressed with how just a straight-ahead Rolfing session.” I the biomechanics in exquisite detail. I think much easier it was to move deeply inside remember an annual meeting probably in the training is a wonderful thing, but I think himself from having these adhesions the late 80s or early 90s, where Jan Sultan it’s far too short of a program to approach released. That’s stuff that just doesn’t come gave the opening address. It was a big it at that level. out in a traditional Rolfing® sense. So it’s period when many Rolfers were not happy broadened my ability to address what’s AK: When you say “Put it in place and with people doing visceral work or cranial going on – immeasurably. call for motion,” Dr. Rolf wasn’t the first work, venturing outside of what Ida taught. person to do that either, at least from what AH: This might be a good point to ask about I remember Jan at one point in the address I saw. We learned different techniques scope of practice in the U.S. Obviously, you said, “I am orthodox!” and he was coming for working with the body that were cannot be an osteopathic physician. Can from the perspective of “If I am holding attributed to Sutherland and these are you practice most of what you learned? the line as sacrosanct, then I am Rolfing.” [just like] tracking. You put the body into a That’s kind of what I keep coming back RM: Of course you can practice what you particular posture, you call for motion and to about my own practice. Certainly the learned. You have to hang the training get the body to rearrange itself around that CCO curriculum is all about gravity – what on whatever previous title or license you motion and get that motion to flow around do we do to bring a person into a better have. So – high velocity adjustments, the body and it repatterns the muscles, it relationship with gravity, [finding] what’s obviously we don’t do those. The internal changes the orientation of the body. When holding them back from that, strategizing work, gynecology, not unless we have I first saw them showing these techniques, the session so that we can bring the body a license to do that. I would say for I was knocked on my butt, because it was more into integration. The school talks a me that 95% of what I learned I can do tracking. A lot of the ideas that we attribute lot about integration; you have to integrate within my scope pf practice as a Certified to Dr. Rolf, certainly she expressed them in your client at the end of every session. Advanced RolferTM. When people truly her own way, but I have found many, many need adjustments or other interventions, AH: When you say that the CCO is also times that these were going on back in the I have a network of people that I can refer using the idea of gravity, how are they 40s, back in the early 50s, and I can’t help them to. assessing alignment in gravity? but think that maybe she picked them up. Maybe she came up with them at the same AK: I’m also in Washington state, where AK: Yeah, a person stands up in from time, synchronistically, but it’s fascinating Rolfers are licensed as massage practitioners, of you, you have them perhaps stand to see how Rolfing seems to be more and so we can’t do internal work, and we can’t in different ways to see how their body more derived from osteopathic work in a do thrust adjustments, but everything else, responds and goes in and out of balance lot of respects. it’s not a problem. with the gravitational line. You assess it from the front, back, side to side, have them RM: There’s an American osteopath AH: I’m curious how much this program walk. They have some different cues that Conrad Speece who does some very direct and the way you work coming out of it they look at [that Rolfers might not], but it’s techniques with soft tissue that some people dovetails with Rolfing theory and practice. very similar. And then they go from there claim is just like Rolfing. His lineage is If you had not gone into the program as and do assessment through the body to see just one person removed from A.T. Still, Certified Rolfers, how much of what you where the stuck places are and then decide and he’s claiming that these techniques came out of it doing would look like Rolfing which stuck places are the most important were directly from Still. We jokingly call it or mesh with Rolfing? ones to take care of today, which ones we “redneck osteopathy”. RM: That’s hard to answer because can do next, what can the body absorb in
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AK: [laughing] He’s a Texan. and there’s the people that follow the AK: It’s like any school. Some of the faculty biodynamic perspective. At CCO, all are really great, and some aren’t so good. RM: But certain techniques from Conrad of that is taught, but it’s a spectrum of The information itself, which is what I was I use daily. meeting the person in front of you – again looking for, was really, really good, but AK: Well, he studied with Becker, who principle-based rather than being wedded sometimes when I had questions I couldn’t studied with Sutherland and Still, yeah? to a specific philosophy. get decent answers, and that drives me crazy. Also I felt that the organization of RM: Well, Rollin and Alan Becker the two AK: The cranial work that we learned is the CCO was somewhat lacking in some brothers, they trained with Sutherland. very clearly dealing with lesions. We’re respects. It’s like any organization of this Rollin and Alan Becker’s dad trained assessing the person, we’re finding the type, it’s got its really strong points and then directly with Still. So, a very direct lineage restrictions – whether it’s at a suture it doesn’t quite come through sometimes, so there. I have a comment about osteopaths or within a particular bone, or a within it was a love/hate relationship for me. in general. They tend to be just like Rolfers membrane within the cranium, or coming – they can have large opinions about many from another part of the body – and we’re AH: My last question is what kind of Rolfer things, and there can be a large spectrum following that and releasing it, and we’re would be interested in the program, or of how they treat – it very much becomes being pretty specific in that respect. I was would fit it well? an art. There’s a wide range of how various told is it’s Sutherland’s cranial work, but RM: People who feel that they don’t have ones treat. not having known Sutherland I can’t really enough information. One Rolfer who was in comment on that. the program years ago (I believe he dropped THE PHILOSOPHY RM: I would just expand on that a out), he worded it very succinctly – he said OF OSTEOPATHY little. Where Allan said we would follow that he wanted greater access to the body ® AH: I’ve heard both of you use the word it and release it – that would be on the than he got in his Rolfing training, because “technique” quite a lot, but it also seems tissue level. Of course, [we do] the same the fascial paradigm or viewpoint is just one like you’re speaking of an overarching thing on the fluid level, there’s assessing viewpoint. You could just as easily look at philosophy or view of the body that this and treating at the fluid level; that’s where the neurological way of viewing the body program gave you. Would you say it’s a they would use the term “biodynamic”. and see how that changes it in gravity, or third paradigm viewpoint they’re giving Now, biodynamic as is kind of a charged how fluid pressures, how the fascia, nerves you, with many techniques too, within word, there’s been debate in [this journal] and fluids all interact to hold the body up that? about this. It really comes from one source – so it gives a better access to the body. originally, Jim Jealous of the American RM AK: I would echo Ron. If you’re interested : There are principles that osteopathy osteopathic physician world. But then in a much more in-depth view of how the is based on that come directly from A.T. people like Franklin Sills and Michael Shea body works and how to affect it, then this Still. Theoretically any time an osteopath are using it in the cranial sacral world, so is a good way to go, because there’s a ton of is working with somebody, they are there are two tracks of training out there visceral work, there’s a ton of physiology, being guided by those principles, and – there’s one in the osteopathic world, and and biomechanics, cranial work… But the techniques are simply that: just one in the cranial sacral world. The CCO don’t think that it’s just a waltz in the park, techniques. Still pretty much refused to program kind of straddles that fence. teach his students “techniques”. He wanted just a bunch of weekend workshops or them to know the anatomy in infinitesimal Another thing that occurs to me about something. It really demands a lot of time, detail, and then apply the principles with the CCO program is they’re really you have to put your time in to be able to reasoned thinking to problem solve. That’s heavy on embryology up there. Most get through it, so I wouldn’t recommend how we are taught to think, and techniques of the movements, especially the subtle it for someone who isn’t going to devote are simply that – just techniques. It’s how movements we feel in the tissues and fluids the amount of time that is necessary. It can you apply them to deal with what’s in front of the body, are echoes of the embryologic be a chore but it’s rewarding. It definitely of you. journeys of the tissues. So they would is time-consuming, and I didn’t quite say that the better one understands the realize to what extent it would take up AK : The truth of the matter is, when you embryology of something, the better they’ll my time. You have to really be able to come across some sort of restriction in the understand motion in the body. accommodate it with your life. body, it’s never going to be the same from AH: Well, congratulations are due to both person to person or for that person from one CONCLUSION day to another, so you are always adapting of you for having gone through the program what you’re doing to be able to address AH: A couple of closing questions. Do you and all the work involved. have any criticisms of the program? So what’s presented. RM: For me, I have absolutely no regrets. people have a balance point of view… AH: Where does this program fit on It was the direction I was always headed, the whole biomechanical / biodynamic RM: [Laughter] Well I have to disclose up even though I didn’t have a name for that. spectrum, or does it not use those terms? front that I am a teacher at the school now, So I have no regrets absolutely about doing so I would say there’s always room for the program. RM : It definitely uses those terms, but the improvement, like most schools. Over time Ron Murray is a Certified Advanced Rolfer™ spectrum out there in the cranial sacral they have gotten better but they do have a and a licensed Berry Method Practitioner/ world tends to be this either/or: there’s ways to go in certain organizational areas. the people that treat biomechanically, Teacher. He holds a Doctorate in Osteopathic
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cultivating an instinctual reverence for the self-correcting system of his patients. He felt that one-thousandth of an inch was vital in treatment. This book also contains the “Tour of the Minnow,” the classic meditation that furthered Sutherland’s embodied Essential Works in understanding of cranial dynamics. The following is an example of a sensory Biodynamics: Researching and metaphor, which Sutherland used to cultivate within himself and within his students the lived experience of cranial Reaching into the Depths sacral function. By Carol Agneesens, RCTS®, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ ...The neural tube as a whole is like a house in an ocean, and there are open doorways between the rooms My belief is in the blood and flesh as being wiser than the intellect. The body unconscious of the house. This ocean is a constant is where life bubbles up in us. It is how we know that we are alive, alive to the depths of body of fluid contained within the our souls and in touch somewhere with the vivid reaches of the cosmos. arachnoid membrane and within the D.H. Lawrence neural tube. The movement of the fluid within its natural cavity is a tidal 1 his quote from D.H. Lawrence could ongoing delight to be able to dive deeply movement, a fluctuation. Thave been written about the study of into this subject as I embody this unique The Biodynamics of Osteopathy in the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BDCST). approach. Cranial Field, CD lecture series. For me, BDCST is as much a training in perception As I peruse my library, immediately I pull Rolfing® is an oral tradition, one that as it is a therapeutic process. BDCST has from my shelves William Sutherland’s is transmitted through an instructor’s given me the opportunity to immerse Contributions of Thought, my iPod containing voice and presence. Similarly, BDCST is myself in a field ripe for impassioned study. many of the CD lectures by Dr. James an oral tradition. The CD lecture series Recently, I was asked to review some of my Jealous, and Michael Shea’s Biodynamic by Dr. James Jealous is a way to broaden personal and valued references for a study Craniosacral Therapy, Volume One. In addition your understanding of this work. It is not of craniosacral therapy from a biodynamic I would pack Erich Blechschmidt’s The just the timbre of Jealous’s voice, but the perspective. I asked myself the question, Beginnings of Human Life, Tuchmann- pauses and spacing between his words and what books have not only informed this Duplessis’s Illustrated Human Embryology, phrases. It is the clarity and originality of study but have also helped to inflame Johannes Rohen’s Functional Morphology: thought that jolts my reality and slowly my desire to learn this approach? What The Dynamic Wholeness of the Human stretches my perceptual knowing. What books have fueled an embodied sense Structure, Laurens Van Der Post’s The Lost I enjoy doing is taking long walks in the of the perceptual underpinnings of this World of the Kalahari, and David Abram’s forest or by the ocean or just lying in bed work? Embodiment is a critical aspect of The Spell of the Sensuous. in a semi-meditative stillness, listening to biodynamic craniosacral therapy; otherwise various lectures and allowing the material the practice can be driven by concepts Now I’ll discuss some titles in more detail, to wash through me. rather than a visceral experience. looking first to osteopathy and BDCST. Although I have listened to some of the In writing this book review, I resorted to Contributions of Thought: The Collected CDs, three or four or more times over, the age-old metaphor, if I were stranded Writings of William Sutherland, D.O. This there is something that I hear anew each on a desert isle what books, tapes or CDs book contains lectures, correspondence, and time I listen, or another aspect of his lecture would I want to have with me to continue personal inquiry covering the years 1914- captures my attention and fascination. nourishing this inquiry? With this as the 1954. Like Dr. Rolf, William Sutherland context, I am citing my favorites. was a pioneer. He actively explored the far A few of my favorites in the series are: reaches of osteopathic theory and practice “The Embryonic Mind”, “The Patient’s It was a difficult choice. There are a growing well into his late seventies. Guided by both Neutral”, “Rebalancing and Side Effects”, number of resources available, and this field inspiration and instinct and grounded “Lateral Fluctuations No. 1 and No. 2”, seems to be naturally expanding to fill the through physiology and anatomy, he “Our Hands”, “Perceptual Studies No. 3”, space. In addition, there are many aspects developed the cranial concept. This book and “Dural Sacs”. to this study, encompassing a full spectrum follows his exploration and details the steps from biodynamic theory to embryology, The following is quote from “Perceptual leading to the insight that cerebrospinal cranial anatomy to cultivating perceptual Studies No. 3”, which speaks to an fluid is one of the highest elements known acuity. Absorbing the nuances of this work experiential shift that is essential for an to man, as well as the therapeutic emergence is akin to traversing a spiral. Learning embodied experience of BDCST: of a force he called the Breath of Life. progresses, then circles back to a familiar Sutherland developed a gentle approach Let’s take a minute and look toward beginning, which now includes greater to cranial sacral therapy. At seventy-eight the horizon. Let your eyes relax, let depth and understanding. It has been an years of age he continued seeing patients, your observer relax. Stop holding
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onto knowing. Let’s just drop our emerging into form can be touched. It is at by – without even being aware that we are IQs down for a little bit here. Look this interface that healing can occur. operating outside our natural rhythms. towards the horizon. Cast your eyes Through Laurens Van Der Post’s writing, We experience the whole as we upon the hills or the horizon. Even if I was introduced to the vast perceptual touch the patient and engage the you can’t see it, our organism senses field of the heart. The African Bushmen of holographic connective tissue and it. It knows. It’s relating to it every his stories sense their relations traveling movement that plies it. Underlying all time you move your head. We’re the Kalahari, even at vast distances. we do is the emergence of Health…4 going to let our eyes just relax a little These writings, as well as The Spell of the bit. We’re going to let our attention For the study of embryology I recommend Sensuous by David Abram, cultivate a lived- exhale from our eyes, just like you the following titles: experience of what it is like for an individual were breathing out air from your to be immersed in the environment in which The Beginnings of Human Life. Erich lungs. Take your possessiveness off they live, as well as being touched by their Blechscmidt (1902-1992) emphasized that your attention. Let it exhale, and environment – seeing and being seen by the the embryo is not only alive, it is fully let it go away from you like a cloud natural world that surrounds them. functional at every stage of its development. leaving your eyes. Let it drift by itself He identified metabolic motions that I felt that the encounter had for a without your direction. Let it go, and directed the development of the embryo. moment made me immediate, and notice where it goes….2 Osteopaths propose that these forces of had, all too briefly, closed a dark Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Volume embryological development are the same time gap in myself. With our 20th One: I appreciate the scope that Michael forces of healing in the adult. Jealous, who century selves we have forgotten Shea, Ph.D. covers in this first volume. was deeply influenced by Blechschmidt’s the importance of being truly and With attention to important detail and work, honored him by coining the term openly primitive. We have forgotten description, he includes: a historical “biodynamic osteopathy in the cranial field” the art of our legitimate beginnings. overview, an in-depth understanding of (BOCF). 5 We no longer know how to close the biodynamic theory and principles, and gap between the far past and the A study of BDCST cultivates the perception the significance of embryological study, immediate present in ourselves. We of these metabolic motions that sustain, including a discourse on metabolic fields. need primitive nature, the first man maintain and heal. His directed meditations facilitate a shift in ourselves, it seems, as the lungs in the practitioner’s perceptual orientation. Illustrated Human Embryology. This three- need air and the body food and These shifts are essential for sensing the volume series is clear and has colorful water; yet we can only achieve it by therapeutic forces that are ever-present and illustrations. The books provide a clearly a slinking, often shameful back door available to deepen an individual’s healing illustrated timeline for understanding entrance. I thought finally, that of all process. In addition, biodynamic theory is stages of embryological development: the nostalgias that haunt the human presented within the context of creation Volume 1: Embryogenisis; Volume 2: heart the greatest of them all, for me, mythology. Organogenisis; and Volume 3: Nervous is an everlasting longing to bring System and Endocrine Glands. what is youngest home to what is Healing is not about fixing, but about oldest, in us all.6 reconnecting an individual with their Functional Morphology: The Dynamic creation story and origins.3 Wholeness of the Human Structure. This is The works which will alter your perceptual the English translation of Johannes Rohen’s frame (cited above), the writings of The thorough glossary in the appendix Morphologie des Menschlichen Organismus. For Sutherland, Shea, and Lee, and the lecture provides a background for the terms and Rolfers and structural integrators, this book series of Jealous, support an ongoing study language unique to this body of work. offers a goldmine of information relating to and exploration of biodynamic practice and Dr. Shea’s second book is Biodynamic the origins of physical structure. It includes theory. The science underlying BDCST is Craniosacral Therapy: Volume 2. This volume, illustrations as well as a thorough inquiry supplemented by the dynamic embryology currently in press (due in August 2008 into organ systems, which are “studied of Blechschmidt and Rohen. The practice from North Atlantic) contains significant within the context of the dynamic whole.” of Rolfing / structural integration, as contributions from Raymond Gasser, Ph.D., Rohen’s book significantly supplements well as my inquiry into and practice of who was Erich Blechschmidt’s colleague and expands the concepts of general BDCST encourages a continual weaving of and co-author. anatomy, in addition to exploring significant science and art, stretching the horizons of Interface: Mechanisms of Spirit in embryological and evolutionary aspects of perception and thought. Allow these works Osteopathy. In this engaging book, the human organism. It is worth its weight, to captivate and whisk you away on a novel Paul Lee, D.O. blends the philosophy of and includes a thorough investigation of the and enriching exploration for your heart, osteopathy, as envisioned by its founder major systems of the body. mind and senses. Andrew Taylor Still, with current scientific There are a number of books that I value Carol Agneessens, MSc. is an active member understandings from quantum physics, for the perceptual horizons they open. of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration® research on biological fluid rhythms, and Native cultures have always captivated my faculty teaching both manipulation and connective tissue dynamics. Through his curiosity through their unique relation to movement. She is also a certified instructor integration of osteopathic philosophy nature, space and time. It is very different of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, in and contemporary science, Lee supports frame of reference and relationship than association with the International Affiliation of his argument that the essence of spirit the clockwork tempo most of us are run
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Biodynamic Trainings, and the author of The Embryology, Vol. 1. New York: Springer- Fabric of Wholeness (Quantum Institute Verlag, 1972. (Translated by Lucille Surley, Press, Santa Cruz, 2001). Ph.D.) Van Der Post, Laurens, The Lost World of NOTES the Kalahari. New York: William Morrow 1 Sutherland, Adah S. and Anne Wales, D,O. and Co., 1958. (eds.), Contributions of Thought: The Collected Writings of William Garner Sutherland, D.O., 2nd edition. Fort Worth: The Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation, 1998, pp. 345-346. 2 Jealous, Jim, D.O., “Perceptual Studies, No. 3”, The Biodynamics of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field, CD lecture series. 3 Shea, Michael, Ph.D., personal correspondence. 2008. 4 Lee, Paul R., D.O., Interface: Mechanisms of Spirit in Osteopathy. Stillness Press. 2005, pg. 252. 5 McPartland, John, D.O. and Evelyn Skinner, D.O., “The Meaning of the Midline in Osteopathy”, Morphodynamik in der Osteopathie. Hippokrates Verlag, p. 315. 6 Vander Post, Laurens, The Lost World of the Kalahari. New York: Morrow, 1958.
BIBLIOGRAPHY Abram, David, The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than- Human World. New York: Vintage, 1997. Blechschmidt, Erich, The Beginnings of Human Life. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1997. Jealous, Jim, D.O., The Biodynamics of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field, CD lecture series. Available through http://www. biodo.com/lectureseriesbydrjealous.html Lee, R. Paul, D.O., Interface: Mechanisms of Spirit in Osteopathy. Portland: Stillness Press, 2005. Rohen, Johannes, Functional Morphology: The Dynamic Wholeness of the Human Structure. Hillsdale, NY: Adonis Press, 2007. Shea, Michael, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Volume One. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 2007. Sutherland, Adah S. and Anne Wales, D,O. (eds.), Contributions of Thought: The Collected Writings of William Garner Sutherland, D.O., 2nd edition. Fort Worth: The Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation, 1998. Tuchmann-Duplessis,M.D., David, M.D., and Haegel,M.D., Illustrated Human
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and seeing auras.1 With this in mind, we’d like to share our viewpoints. Bob: Ray, what was your motivation in offering this workshop? What Did Dr. Rolf Want? Ray: After taking the Level One and Level An Exchange Between Certified Advanced Rolfers™ Two SourcePoint workshops with you, Bob Schrei, Ray McCall, Jeff Maitland and Duffy Allen and then working with this modality of Regarding the Energetic Aspect of Rolfing® Structural Integration intervention in my own practice for two years, the results sufficiently impressed me n the summer of 2007, an announcement they get more vertical, whether that I wanted to further explore SourcePoint Iappeared in Fascial Flashes concerning they get more confused. I want to within the context of a Rolfing continuing a workshop entitled “An Energetic see whether fields interdigitate, etc. education class. Specifically, I wanted to Foundation for Rolfing” offered by Bob These are all directions in which we see what kind of structural and functional Schrei and Ray McCall and based on should and must go if we are to fulfill changes would be produced by a group Schrei’s SourcePoint Therapy system. what I envision as our destiny. of Rolfers who employed an energetic Within a short time, a heated discussion approach to the classical goals and methods To go on this trip you need to had appeared on the Rolf Forum and emails of Rolfing. stretch your imagination. This is were sent to the Board of Directors of the Bob an important prerequisite. There is : And what was the outcome of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration® no limit to the infinite territory into CE class? (RISI) decrying the appropriateness of the which this leads. Most important to Ray RISI sponsoring an “energetic” workshop. : First, let me say that I believe us as individuals and Rolfers is the In light of the objections, the course contralateral movement is a primary exploration of what changes occur was voluntarily resubmitted before the indicator of integration, so with this in in us as human beings coincident Continuing Education Committee, where mind, I was amazed at the consistency of with these modifications in energy it was approved for a second time. Despite what I saw in the post SourcePoint session. fields. What is the difference in our or perhaps because of this controversy, Independently of whether the practitioner behavior? interest in the class was so great that extra had years of experience or was newly seats were added and additional teaching …We have now come to the certified, when the “client” got up off the assistants hired. When the dust has settled, point in the history of structural table and walked, the manifestation of “An Energetic Foundation for Rolfing” integration where we have to make a contralaterality in their movement was was the first completely full continuing comprehensible connection between equal to or greater than what I would education (CE) class offered through the the real world and the world of ideas; anticipate from a traditional Rolfing RISI in several years. a real world in which a 28 year old session. woman sits in a wheelchair, never Bob At the heart of the debate surrounding this : So why not just do a traditional having been really mobile, and in class were the fundamental questions: What Rolfing session. What is gained by adding a week gets out of that wheelchair did Dr. Rolf want? In what direction should an energetic perspective? and starts to walk. That real world Rolfing proceed? What is the appropriate Ray must be related to the world of : When working as Rolfers, we are scope of training and practice for Rolfers? ideas concerning magnetic fields always faced with three questions: Where And, is there a place for an energetic – life fields without and within and do we start, what do we do next, and when taxonomy in both the Rolfing education through an individual. are we finished? By doing a manual scan of system and private practice? the energy field of the client, as is done in …Today I hope that among you We would like to begin by letting Dr. Rolf the SourcePoint methodology, not only can there are the kind of fish that will address these questions with excerpts from we determine the location of primary blocks go out and bring in another school her address to members at a RISI annual or discontinuities, but more importantly, of fish…not to get their aches and meeting in 1974: we can determine where the client’s body pains taken out, not to have their wants us to start. When this starting place is People so often come to you and ask, symptoms removed, but that they honored, I consistently find that the session “What does Dr. Rolf want?” Here is may contribute to the understanding is more effective. This is true whether I am the answer. With this map in front of of energy in the human universe. working in the context of a basic Ten Series you, you tell them what I want. I want …You, as Rolfers, are dealing not or doing non-formulaic advanced work. to see what happens to the energy only with the physical levels, the Ray fields in and around an individual as : Bob, I am curious to know how flesh, but with the finer energy levels you order his structure and what is the SourcePoint evolved and also how you use – the psychic, perhaps the spiritual (I change in his behavior that parallels it within your Rolfing practice? do not consider myself to be an expert this change in energy. I want to see Bob in differentiating these latter two). : When I did my Advanced Training whether those fields get broader, many years ago with Michael Salveson whether they get brighter, whether ….And may we end by all going out and Jeffrey Maitland, one of the ongoing
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 35 Viewpoints conversations in the class was how Rolfers Bob: Energetic approaches to healing have organization and function than simply tend to use other energetic systems to been a long-term interest in my life over working with fascia and connective frame their Rolfing® work, whether the past forty years. One of the common tissue? it be acupuncture, chi gung, chakras, elements in many forms of energetic healing Ray: Currently, Rolfers are taught to biodynamics, whatever, and how grabbing is the notion of a “blueprint” or template evoke order in structure through the at a dozen different energetic approaches as an organizing reality for the physical lenses or perspective of the taxonomies: doesn’t really serve our work as Rolfers. form. Dr. Rolf had an abiding interest in the structural/geometric, functional, energetic, That led to a conversation about how energetic nature of our work. In her book, psychobiological. However, there has never Rolfing needed an energetic foundation, Structural Integration, she states in the very before been a coherent, accessible, effective or energetic taxonomy, which was unique beginning that “A joyous radiance of health way of teaching how to work with the unto itself, in order for Rolfing to truly be is attained only as the body conforms more energetic phenomena that we experience a third-paradigm (holistic) approach. This nearly to its inherent pattern. This pattern, during our Rolfing. The SourcePoint became part of my challenge and inquiry this form, this Platonic Idea, is the blueprint approach addresses this need. over the years. for structure.”2 As I have already stated, one thing that Ray: Do you feel that SourcePoint makes There it is, right there, from the very impressed me during the recent six-day traditional Rolfing unnecessary? beginning, the notion of an energetic class “An Energetic Foundation for Rolfing” pattern or Platonic Blueprint that activates Bob: Not at all. My own work on a daily was the contralateral movement expressed structure. A good case could be made that basis still primarily employs hands-on by clients. One important contribution the book is simply a presentation of Dr. manipulation of connective tissue in order to this expression of integration was Rolf’s view of what that pattern looked to evoke change in structure and function. the ease in which the SourcePoint work like in the flesh and that the Ten Series is But this is done within an energetic context. allowed all students to accomplish an nothing more than a brilliant approach to In order for an intervention to be truly energetic assessment and then use that achieve resonance between the body and integrative, it has to include or address information to strategize and effectively that blueprint for structure and function. the energetic reality of the individual. do a non-formulaic three-series. Thanks Later in the book, Dr. Rolf states it even It’s a common misconception that an to the information made accessible by more clearly: “…Is “balancing” actually the energetic approach means extremely light SourcePoint, students reported that they placing of the body of flesh upon an energy or off-body contact. I am always looking were working more deeply and more pattern that activates it? The pattern of this at what level of touch is required to evoke effectively in the physical body than they fine energy would not be as easily disrupted the necessary change. That may be light had anticipated, and the client’s expression and might well survive, relatively intact, or extremely deep. SourcePoint gives the of contralateral movement supported the traumatic episodes that distort the flesh.”3 practitioner a tool to evaluate whether or practitioner’s sentiments. not the intervention has been successful and With SourcePoint, we are working directly Bob: Why do you think that happened? whether or not s/he has been working at with this pattern and are also identifying the most appropriate level to bring about a and releasing blockages that inhibit the Ray: Because including the information higher level of order. body from being congruent with this found in the energetic aspect enables the pattern. work to be truly holistic. We are relating The structural and movement analysis we the body to order and health rather than are trained to use as Rolfers do not always Ray: How does SourcePoint allow or trying to make better relationships between give us the most reliable information. enable one to interact at the level of this symptoms. Remember, from the viewpoint of energetic pattern or “blueprint”? medicine, energy always precedes structure Bob: Some people object to an energetic Bob: At its simplest level SourcePoint and function. An energetic blockage in the approach because it is not scientifically acknowledges that this “blueprint” exists interosseous membrane of the forearm may verifiable. What is your response to this and is the primary organizing reality. As very well be responsible for the movement view? Jim Oschman said in his address to the pattern we see in the foot and lower leg or International Association of Structural Ray: There are many forms of research. the scoliotic pattern we are witnessing in Integrators conference two years ago, we A phenomenological approach is to have the spine and ribcage or the inhibition of know the “blueprint” exists, we just don’t a skilled group of practitioners explore kidney function. It could be argued that know where it is located. SourcePoint works phenomena and report the results of their the structural, functional, and physiological with the premise that this information experience. This is what we did in the six- patterns that we see are simply symptomatic can be accessed through points in the day and the results were overwhelmingly responses of the organism to energetic energetic field surrounding the body. Then consistent and positive. phenomena. Acupuncturists and other the question becomes what keeps this healing traditions have known this for What I saw was that no matter who was information from manifesting as order in several thousand years. SourcePoint is a using the methodology, the findings were the physical form, which brings us back simple effective means to gather similar similar. If a student did an assessment and to the basic question of how we can most information. To use SourcePoint is to truly then had the instructor independently effectively evoke a higher level of order and understand what it means “to work where perform the assessment, they both came up function in the physical body. it isn’t”. with the same findings. This points back to Bob: Ray, how do you perceive working the idea that the SourcePoint methodology Ray: Can you briefly describe what at the level of the blueprint evokes greater has a high index of inter-observer reliability. SourcePoint actually is?
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This is a term that comes from research that is relevant to this discussion: “The unpredictable. That is certainly a significant methodology and is simply a measure human being in himself, when he makes piece of what keeps me interested in of how consistent observations are from use of his healthy senses, is the greatest this remarkable work. Every session is observer to observer. This is an important and most precise physical instrument that entirely unique and unpredictable. What is element of building any kind of research can exist…”4 Wilhelm Reich said essentially predictable is that when working from the design to test whatever aspect of a treatment the same thing. It’s too bad that those who standpoint of the energetic taxonomy, you intervention. object to energy work don’t know a little will be able to more effectively tailor each more about phenomenology. session to achieve the goals and principles Ray: Lets hear from Jeff Maitland about of Rolfing with the unique individual this issue. One of the things about energy work that before you. “Fix-it” work also becomes interests me a great deal is the way it teaches Jeff: Isn’t it ironic that the people who much more effective, as does one’s ability to you to listen to the body. Although it’s won’t accept energy work until it is work more precisely across all of the other an exaggeration to say that perception is “scientifically verifiable” go about their taxonomies. The reason we were able to everything, it’s not much of an exaggeration. life accepting all kinds of odd phenomena achieve contralateral movement so readily Energy work sharpens your perceptions. As that they cannot verify scientifically? from this perspective is that the primary most Rolfers know, the better your ability I’m thinking of Jung’s archetypes or his thwart to movement is often neither to evaluate your client’s needs, the more concept of synchronicity, for example. fascial, bio-mechanical or neurological, but effective your work becomes. As it turns There are Jungian therapists who insist on energetic. out, a thwart in any assessment taxonomy scientific verifiability for energy work, but will show up as a thwart in all. That means Your response also brings up another psychologically assess their clients through that your work will be less effective to the interesting question which relates to the the interpretive lens of an archetype without extent you cannot read or manage your inquiry that is at the forefront of our giving a thought to whether archetypes can client in each of the taxonomies (structural/ community right now: “What is our be scientifically verified. It seems to be geometric, functional, energetic, and scope of practice?” You mention doing an assumed that everyone knows just exactly psychobiological orientation). Energy work hour’s worth of energy work without ever what scientific verifiability is, and once is a fabulous way to train and enhance your touching someone and achieving the goals you claim that a phenomenon needs to be perceptual vitality. It also sometimes has of Rolfing. There are two implications. One, verified scientifically, there is no need for tremendous results. I have done an entire that Rolfing is not just a biomechanical, further discussion. I wonder how many hour’s worth of energy work without ever myofascial or manual therapy approach Certified RolfersTM there would be today touching my client once and have been to the body, and two, that it is the goals if everyone had waited to become a Rolfer amazed to see how well the goals of Rolfing and principles or our work that define until Rolfing® was scientifically verifiable. had been achieved. Of course, not every who we are as Rolfers and not how we There needs to be a clear conversation about energy session is spectacular, just as not touch someone, nor whether the goals are different ways of knowing, the nature of every Rolfing session is spectacular. But accomplished through hands-on myofascial science, and the concept of verifiability. what you can count on is enhancing both work, a laser or percussor, a particular One thing that should be pointed out here your perceptual skills and your Rolfing technique, or working in the field around is that if a phenomenon is perceivable, then ability. Plus, it’s downright mind-boggling the body. it is open to scientific scrutiny. The energy fun to work at this level, because as your work we are talking about here is, in fact, Jeff: I couldn’t agree more. It’s not our client’s being opens, so too does yours. perceivable, and people can be trained to techniques that define our practice; it’s perceive it. As a result, it can be investigated Bob: Jeff, I agree that one of the most the goals and principles that do. Do you scientifically. In point of fact, it has been important aspects of working in this manner remember that story about Dr. Rolf being and is being investigated scientifically. And is that you learn to listen to your client at asked whether it was still Rolfing if a let’s not forget about Valerie Hunt’s and Dr. a much deeper level. That alone in our practitioner did the work from across the Rolf’s research on energy and auras. culture has a profound therapeutic value. room and achieved the goals of Rolfing The body responds with much greater without ever touching the client? She replied As Ray pointed out, if you have a group attention when it realizes, for instance, yes, it was still Rolfing as long as you didn’t of well-trained practitioners who are in that you are listening to where it wants leave gravity out of the picture. agreement as to what they perceive, this you to begin the dialogue of a session, is a kind of verifiability worth having. In Ray: When individuals were objecting whereas what we normally do is impose the fact, this kind of agreement is just what to the workshop being sponsored and rules of a belief system when strategizing you find when you dialogue with and given continuing education credit by the where and how to make first contact. The check your perceptions against a group Rolf Institute of Structural Integration®, importance of listening is nothing new, the of well-trained practitioners. Just as you they said that their concern was that musician/composer Pauline Oliveros has need to be trained to see the organisms that Rolfing would be discredited and therefore for many years been teaching retreats in are revealed by a microscope, you need to dismissed by the scientific community. In “Deep Listening.” An energetic perspective be trained to perceive energy. You can’t order to be accepted by the scientific and facilitates a much deeper listening to the scientifically verify the dry fruity taste of a medical community, osteopaths disowned body/mind of the person you are working fine wine. But this limitation does not mean the energetic, spiritual aspect of their with. The session opens up before you in that wine tasters with exquisite palates heritage. Many of them think that it was unexpected ways. can’t find agreement in their perceptions. an unwise, limiting decision. I don’t see I am reminded of something Goethe said I would also say that every session is entirely it as an either/or. I think that those in our
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 37 Viewpoints community who want to do “hard science” that when I approached a student session called for us to be a new kind of therapist, research can and should. It is important. with this in mind, the level of overwhelm saying “One of the things that you as It is equally important to acknowledge, experienced by the practitioner (and myself) Rolfers must always emphasize is that you explore and research the energetic reality of was reduced. I did not explicitly teach any are not practitioners curing disease: you are our work. To not do so would be to disown of the elements of SourcePoint Therapy; I practitioners invoking health. Invocation is a rich and essential aspect of Rolfing®, relied on the underlying common tenet, that possible by an understanding of what the and without the energetic, it would not an energetic template for humans exists, is pattern is…This is what makes a Rolfer a matter whether we were accepted by the readily accessible, and includes the goals new kind of therapist…”5 collective or not – we would no longer and principles of Rolfing. be practicing the holistic art of Rolfing; I would love to see a faculty-wide Cast of Characters we would have reduced it to yet another conversation about this level of our (in alphabetical order) mode of manual medicine. Our culture is pedagogy take place. As each of you have primarily materialistically oriented. I think Duffy Allen, M.S., is a Certified Advanced mentioned, the paramount features of that part of our responsibility as Certified Rolfer trained in 1995. She became a Rolfing are the principles and the goals of Rolfers is to educate our clients and the member of the Basic Training faculty at the sessions. Therefore, I step out of my ® public to a larger perspective. There will the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration private practice and enter the classroom always be a tension between the material in 2006. with great care to pay attention to the and the transcendent – each informs and particular biases I and my students may Jeff Maitland, Ph.D., is a Certified Advanced balances the other. We have the challenge bring, thus helping to ensure no principles Rolfer trained in 1979. He became a member and responsibility to not try and eliminate or goals are corrupted. of the Basic Training faculty at RISI in one or the other, but to hold the tension of 1988 and the Advanced Training faculty both so that what is next can emerge. In my private practice, I find that the in 1993. SourcePoint energetic framework allows Bob: Duffy, not only do you use SourcePoint me to work within the principles and Ray McCall, M.A., is a Certified Advanced in your Rolfing practice, you are a faculty toward the goals of each session more Rolfer trained in 1978. He became a member member of the RISI and also served as efficaciously. SourcePoint can be easily used of the Basic Training faculty at RISI in an assistant instructor during the recent in accordance with the construct of the Ten 1997 and the Advanced Training faculty “An Energetic Foundation for Rolfing” Series or during non-formulistic advanced in 2006. workshop. This puts you in a very unique work. In fact, the practical perceptual skills position. Do you have anything to add? Bob Schrei, B. Arch., MFA, is a Certified required for SourcePoint could be laid Advanced Rolfer trained in 1985. He Duffy : Yes, jumping from the SourcePoint down and reinforced during basic Rolf has been approved by the Continuing workshop into a basic Rolfing classroom training. These energetic skills would be Education Committee of the Rolf Institute in less than forty-eight hours was an an asset for students as they work their faculty to provide continuing education interesting transition. During the workshop, way through school and eventually head classes for manipulation and elective credit. I was astounded by the high perceptual into private practice. SourcePoint has equal He is the founder of an energetic healing capacity the students, all trained Rolfers, or perhaps more relevance for Advanced system, SourcePoint Therapy. brought to the table. With these skills, trainings, and especially so for those who the workshop participants were able to might be fortunate enough to have been Note: The details and dates of the next perceive and interact with the SourcePoint exposed to the work early in their Rolfing SourcePoint workshop can be found in Fascial material immediately. I noticed how you, education. Flashes and on the continuing education section in particular, Bob, held the container for of the Rolf Institute website at www.rolf.org. Bob: Thanks, Duffy, Jeff and Ray. I deeply the workshop with the expectation that appreciate all of your input and hope that every person is capable of working with NOTES future conversations about the energetic these energetic constructs. What I then saw taxonomy can and do take place. I agree 1 Rolf, Ida P., “Address to the Rolf Institute was a roomful of practitioners immediately completely with Jeff, that a thwart in of Structural Integration® Annual Meeting, using SourcePoint with both precision and one taxonomy shows up as a thwart in 1974”, Structural Integration: The Journal of decisiveness. the others. Years ago, when ignoring the the Rolf Institute, June 2003, Vol. 31, No. 2, I took this concept into the basic Rolf energetic taxonomy, I missed a significant p. 15. training I taught immediately following. causative factor of my clients’ structural and 2 Rolf, Ida P., Rolfing: The Integration of I found that by acknowledging that entry- functional disorders. Human Structures. Dennis-Landman, 1977. level students are hardwired to recognize Ray: It’s an honor and privilege to be patterns of order, we were able to work from 3 Ibid. participating in this exploration. I look a principles and goals orientation and apply forward to more. 4 Naydler, Jeremy, Goethe on Science: An it to the Ten Series quite quickly. Anthology of Goethe›s Scientific Writings. Bob: In closing, I would like to remind all What I often hear from students is that they Edinburgh: Floris Books, 1996, p. 29. of us that Dr. Rolf stated very clearly that “don’t see.” My contention is that students there was an energetic basis to our work and 5 Feitis, Rosemary (ed.), Ida Rolf Talks About do see – they see a lot, they just need to refine that as Rolfers we were much more than just Rolfing and Physical Reality. Boulder: Rolf their perception to the specific principles manual therapists or bio-mechanics. She Institute of Structural Integration, 1978. and goals of any given session. I found
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In the 1970s and 1980s plasticity and its associated research once again attracted renewed interest. This time, however, it was not confined to infancy, but expanded to include gerontological psychology, as science was beginning to understand that Plasticity and Flexibility in the ageing is not a fixed general process of decline and that even older organisms still Development of Organisms have considerable potential for change. By Bruno D’Udine, Ph.D. There are many ways of interpreting why this constantly changing theme of plasticity attracts so much interest from so many Introduction by Advanced Rolfing Instructor Jeff Maitland: I first met Professor Bruno different sources. In his book, On the Nature D’Udine almost two decades ago when Jan Sultan and I were teaching an advanced Rolfing® class of Human Plasticity (1984) Richard Lerner in Seattle. His wife, Carla van Vlaanderen, was taking the class, and he had accompanied her for claims that this is the direct expression of the first week. During that time, Bruno engaged Jan and me in some rather exciting discussions certain underlying tensions inherent in the about biology and Rolfing. He mentioned that he had written a paper on plasticity. Recognizing disciplines that concern developmental the value of Bruno’s explorations and research to Rolfing, we immediately asked him if he would processes. read it to the class. We found his work relevant and exciting. Bruno has continued to be a great fan From a certain point of view, the study of the and supporter of Rolfing as well as a gracious source of information on biological research relevant development of plasticity is characterized to Rolfing. I have been blessed by Bruno’s generosity and intellect and am profoundly grateful for by research into universal processes and the what I’ve learned from him. In “Plasticity and Flexibility in the Development of Organisms,” he mechanisms of ontogenetic change. On the favors us again with his fascinating and important research on plasticity. It should be obvious to other hand, as soon as scientists claim to every Certified Rolfer™ that the phenomenon of biological plasticity is at the very heart of our have developed clearly defined processes work. In his book, On the Nature of Human Plasticity, Richard M. Lerner says, “if the plasticity that are acceptable to all, there is a counter of humans is the hallmark of the species...then interventions aimed at enhancing plasticity are argument that challenges the idea of this of paramount importance.” Regardless of whether he knows about Rolfing or not, is Lerner not universality. talking about our profession? Once we come to terms with the concept that hat exactly is our true plasticity contribute to other correlated processes. as soon as developmental mechanisms are Wand flexibility within the physical Therefore, even though the potential identified and understood, there is a gradual and cultural environments into which for plasticity seems to be present almost perception that the conditions controlling we are born and in which we develop? everywhere, it has certain limits, and the these mechanisms involve an increasing Scientists from such diverse disciplines various different structures and functions spiral of complex actions and reactions. as molecular genetics, evolutionary and in which it manifests itself become more Therefore, knowledge of developmental developmental biology, anthropology, restricted with age. processes and mechanisms also provide us neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, with information about their alterations and Historically speaking, developmental comparative developmental psychology, changes. The new systematic approaches studies gave rise to many diverse concepts and sociology have for some time now to the network/systems of life now offer of plasticity during the last century. In the been focusing their attention on this specific us a very stimulating perspective towards 1901 Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology subject. understanding or possibly even creating a (edited by James Marc Baldwin), plasticity new interactive holographic model of living The question they all pose is this: To what is defined as “…that property of living systems that takes into account their almost extent are organisms, in general, and substances or of an organism whereby it infinite modulations and interactions. human beings, in particular, able to adapt alters its form under changed conditions and possibly change their physical and of life.” Perhaps the most important reason why behavioral characteristics during their the field of plasticity is attracting such great At the turn of the 20th century, Darwin’s lifespan? The processes studied by each of interest is that behavioral development theory was still a recent phenomenon the above disciplines concern all elements of is intrinsically of great practical value. and as a result plasticity focused mainly plasticity and flexibility. Indeed, systematic The study of developmental processes is on the implication of this new theory, changes have been recorded in the structure therefore not limited only to the descriptions specifically, how organisms change as a and/or in the function of organisms over and explanations of observed phenomena, result of evolution. During the 1930s and the course of time. but also investigates modification and 1940s, plasticity or flexibility/modifiability optimization of evolutionary processes of This multi-disciplinary research gives rise research once more took center stage. This organisms in general, and in particular, to important implications for possible was due to Karl Lashley’s concept of cerebral those processes that concern the human corrective intervention aimed at improving plasticity and his study of the negative species. human health during the course of various effects of environmental deprivation in phases of the dynamic process of life. It early infancy and the possible benefits As a result, many researchers do not restrict has also been recognized that changes in derived from compensating programs of their work to the simple study of how one developmental process stem from and recovery. developmental processes arise, where they
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 39 Viewpoints originate or where they are going. They also organisms can express specific adaptive phenotype may often be different from one try to indicate what might happen if and responses to their environments. Such expressed under optimal conditions and not when developmental conditions are varied responses include immediate, short-term so well-adapted to adult life as would have in ways that are more or less predictable. changes in physiology and behavior. been expected. In mice, for example, food In this multi-faceted context, research into Significantly, responses to the environment restrictions can slow ageing by enhancing real or potential plasticity of organisms may be expressed in the offspring, rather cellular maintenance and repair processes represents a landmark in the quest for than in the parents. while reducing or shutting down fertility. a deeper knowledge of developmental The freshwater crustacean Daphnia yields The varied developmental pathways processes. a classic example. Offspring whose mother triggered by environmental events may Leaving this historical-theoretical aspect had been exposed to the chemical traces of a be induced during “sensitive“, often aside, I would now like to focus on a predator are born with a defensive “helmet” brief periods in development. Outside research project in which I was involved that protects them against predators. This these sensitive periods an environmental together with colleagues of various structure, however, can be a liability in influence that sets the characteristics of an disciplines. Some years ago we set up a a predator-free environment, where its individual may have little or no effect. The study group to look into ontogenetics and construction cost reduces competitive reasons for plasticity being restricted to a plasticity, concentrating mainly on the success relative to no-helmeted individuals. particular period of life may be ascribed to health of human beings. Some theoretical- Such phenotypic mismatches between the difficulties of reversing developmental experimental findings of the group were the offspring’s phenotype and its current processes, the costs in terms of survival published in an article that appeared in the environment can be costly in terms of both or reproductive success of changing the July 2005 issue of Nature. Here I will discuss survival and reproductive success. characteristics of the adult organism. some of the key points from that article. Female birds, for example, are able to The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) alter many aspects of egg composition, We have known for some time that provides another well-known example including nutrients, hormones, antioxidants, many plants and animals are capable of of developmental plasticity. Under low- immuno-globulins, and even embryo sex, developing in various ways, adopting density conditions, the locust is cryptic, in response to food availability, levels of characteristics that are best adapted to suit shy, nocturnal, and sedentary. Under sibling competition and the quality of their an environment in which they live. For crowded conditions, the individual becomes mates. example, it has been discovered that small increasingly conspicuous, gregarious, and size and slow metabolism can facilitate diurnal over several generations and then Such maternal effects can result from the survival in adverse circumstances, while migrates in enormous swarms. influence of a single specific environmental faster metabolism and larger size will factor that the female has experienced and Both of these examples demonstrate how the benefit reproduction in times of abundant which therefore also affects phenotypic impact of the environment experienced by resources. These characteristics are often development. This effect may persist over one generation can shape the development instilled at the birth of the organism or even a number of generations even if the factors and behavior of the next. Therefore, as determined by environmental signals to have changed or disappeared. For example, previously mentioned, depending on the which their parents or predecessors have mammalian mothers who experience poor stimulation and environmental changes been exposed. nutrition as fetuses often produce relatively to which a genotype is subjected, it can, in light offspring during their breeding life The individuals that have, in the course of the course of its development, give rise to spans. their development, adapted to a specific different phenotypes, thus demonstrating environment might, however, be at risk a high level of responsive plasticity and These broad considerations from many fields when they are exposed to a different context flexibility. of biology are relevant to understanding or when, later in life, they encounter the some of the critical variations in humans. However, not all of the effects of the inevitable processes of ageing. This is why The human baby responds to under- environment are adaptive, i.e. increasing biological evidence and scientific knowledge nutrition, placental dysfunction and the fitness of the organism. Variations of these processes are extremely relevant in other adverse influences by changing within a species may be affected negatively understanding human development and the trajectory of his or her development by temperature, acidity, nutrients, water also its predisposition to certain diseases. and slowing growth. Although the fetus availability, population density, the presence was thought to be well-buffered against Striking evidence from a number of of pathogens, predators, and exposure to fluctuations in its mother’s conditions, a disciplines has focused attention on toxins. Different phenotypes may reflect growing body of evidence suggests that the the interplay between the developing inevitable physical or chemical constraints. morphology and physiology of the human organism and the metabolic-environmental For example, reduced metabolic rates baby is affected by the nutritional state of circumstances in which it finds itself. Fields caused by low temperatures will influence the mother. of research as diverse as evolutionary growth rate and body size. ecology, behavioral development, life- It is possible therefore that human Environmental events may also history theory, molecular biology, and development may involve induction of disrupt developmental processes and medical epidemiology have converged on particular patterns of development by cues lead to abnormalities. If conditions for the key finding that a given genotype can that prepare the developing individual development are not optimal, individuals give rise to different phenotypes, depending for the type of environment in which he may still be able to cope, but at a cost to their on its conditions during ontogenesis. Many or she is likely to live. Individuals may be future reproductive success. The mature
40 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Viewpoints adversely affected if the environmental that India will soon have some 57 million predictions provided by the mother and diabetics! the conditions of early infancy prove to Bruno D’Udine, graduated in Pharmacology, be incorrect. Mothers who live in habitual and worked for many years for the Italian conditions of food scarcity, for example, National Research Council at the Institute of produce much smaller fetuses enclosed Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology in in a more abundant placenta, as if the Rome, where his main interest in research was fetus is trying to compensate for such the ontogeny of behavior. For extensive periods malnourishment by absorbing as many he worked at the University of Cambridge, nutrients as possible from the mother. the University of Edinburgh and the Pavlov Extensive epidemiological studies carried Institute in Leningrad. At the moment he is out for the most part in India have revealed Visiting Professor at the Scuola Superiore di that people whose birth weights approached Antropologia Culturale e Epistemologia della the lower end of the minimum range, Complessità, University of Bergamo, Italy. yet who grow up with high levels of In 1997 he gave the keynote address at the Rolf nutrition due to increased affluence, run Institute of Structural Integration’s® annual a high risk of developing coronary heart meeting in Denver. His address was published disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and in Rolf Lines as “An Evolutionary Perspective forms of premature obesity. Those born as on the Body-Mind Relationship”, April 1988. heavier babies and brought up in affluent In October1994 Rolf Lines published his environments are much less likely to article “Trends in Darwinian Medicine”. He contract the above diseases. Although rapid also addressedCertified Rolfers in 1986 at the improvements in nutrition and other social European annual meeting, with a talk entitled conditions appear to be beneficial to the life “Biological Considerations on Rolfing”, which of the growing organism in the short term, he prepared together with his Rolfer wife Carla it can have a damaging effect, as it does not van Vlaanderen. follow the “environmental prediction” that the mother had programmed for it. At this point we are looking at the field of diseases caused by civilization and the recent developments of Darwinian medicine that focus on the history of our species in a hunter-gatherer environment and the onset of agriculture some 10,000 years ago, when we evolved and thus definitively adapted to a new way of life. Cultural development followed rapidly over a short period of time and did not necessarily follow the same rules of biological evolution of organisms, which actually date back to the “dawn of time”, thousands of millions of years ago when our planet was formed and life first appeared. Plasticity of organisms is therefore undoubtedly a powerful, but not all-powerful mechanism, especially in the short term. I would like to conclude by citing a concrete example, which is supported by sound epidemiological data. The emergence of a new middle class in the Indian sub-continent has rapidly changed the traditionally poor diets of about 250 million Indians with a much more substantial nutritional intake. This new, improved regime may be too rich for those organisms that had historically evolved in the context of a low nutritional environment. One of the possible side effects and costs of this rapid mutation in life style is the dramatic prediction
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 41 Book Reviews
of very direct force transmission, reaching further than the “regular” myofascial CT tension distribution and then possibly affecting the anterior or posterior horn of the spinal cord. Thereby any mechanical Manual Therapy for the Peripheral Nerves traumas will also be stored in the peripheral nerves themselves and will need to be by Jean Pierre Barral, D.O. and Alain Croibier, D.O. released with a “nerve specific touch”, respecting the tissue quality and the turgor And a Preview of Cranial Nerve Manipulation effect involved. by Jean Pierre Barral, D.O. and Alain Croibier, D.O. Manual Therapy for the Peripheral Nerves By Christoph Sommer, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ lays the anatomical groundwork for the manual resolution of these tensions and their muscular compensations, and shows the relationships between the nce again Jean-Pierre various nerve plexuses and possible OBarral, D.O. and Alain nerve-based pathologies in the limbs Croibier, D.O. have followed and the related spinal restrictions. the original idea of Barral’s Once again Barral and Croibier prove thinking and practical that soft tissue components are often experience: that the content is primary to structural spinal fixations. more essential to the organism It is a worthwhile practical book for than the container. In line practitioners to read and use as a with this general thought, the dictionary. As would be expected, central and peripheral nervous initiation into “nerve touch” is best systems (CNS and PNS) have learned in a course taught by someone been the focus of explorations experienced and approved by Barral over the past eight years. himself; the learning then happens in The fruit of this work is now one’s own practice. becoming available in English- language editions, already The book Cranial Nerve Manipulation An example of the excellent with the publication of Manual graphics in this book. is already available in French Therapy for the Peripheral Nerves Reprinted with permission. (Manipulation des nerfs crâniens; Elsevier, (Churchill Livingstone) in 2007, and with 2006). It elucidates the next step on the forthcoming Cranial Nerve Manipulation CNS with its dural complex and continuous this “nervous journey”: the diagnosis (Churchill Livingstone, due in autumn of PNS. The spinal dura mater lengthens in and manipulation of the cranial nerves 2008). flexion (forward bending of the spine) about as they innervate the cranium and face, the meninges, the throat and the whole The anatomy and function of the peripheral 3 inches (7 cm) and shortens in extension body via the vagus nerve are excellently nerves – a network of about 60,000 miles (backward bending of the spine) about 1 described. The book contains the best (100,000 km) in length, with their own inch (2.5 cm); the embedded spinal cord has illustrations I have ever seen so far, giving neurovascular support systems, internal to do almost the same excursion. a clear three-dimensional view of where in pressure (turgor effect), and their global Nerves themselves are made up of their space you will find the structures described. ruling influence on the human structure – own vascularization (vasa nervorum) and The cranial nerves themselves require seem obvious after the excellent description their own enervation (nervi nervorum) highly sensitive manual perception skills on in Manual Therapy for the Peripheral Nerves. embedded in various layers of connective the part of the practitioner. Due to their very That nerves themselves have a supreme tissues (epineurium and perineurium). central effect on the whole human system function and will protect themselves when Peripheral nerves consist of from 50 to 90 via the most “noble human part” – the brain necessary is experientially obvious to percent connective tissue (CT), depending itself – it is important knowledge for any anyone that has had an irritated cervical on their function. The CT protects nerves advanced practitioner to acquire. nerve and a “stiff neck” – muscle spasms in general from too much extension; the protect the irritated nerve from further vascular turgor effect protects them from The book itself will enhance your knowl- injury. compression. As we know, tensions and edge of the cranium’s content and open the door to enhance your perceptual skills and In our structural integration practice we injuries do show up in the connective tissue help with lasting results on cranial lesions see the spine functioning primarily as a and will impinge the vascularisation of and many more structural problems you spacer, distributing weight and supporting a nerve and create a feedback loop to the may encounter in your practice. However, gravitational alignment; or functionally brain via the nervi nervorum. Thus, local, even for experienced cranial practitioners, as a spinal engine, inducing contralateral protective muscle spasms may have their it is recommended to participate in a course movement. What is often forgotten is the origin in the nerve tissue itself. by Barral-approved faculty to enter the foremost important function of the spine: In addition, as highlighted by Peter Hujing realm of the brain in a safe and specific to protect the CNS and to support the at last year’s Fascia Research Congress, the way. unobstructed gliding extensibility of the neurovascular bundle itself is a highway
42 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Book Reviews
energy. He hoped thereby to satisfactorily explain how this external force affects the PRM and more specifically his clients. Handoll subsequently backtracks through some general information on Andrew Taylor “Let us go then, you and I”: A Review of Still and then looks again at Sutherland’s work and its impact on the evolving science Anatomy of Potency by Nicholas Handoll of osteopathy. He does this time and topic By Raymond J. Bishop, Jr., Ph.D., Certified Advanced Rolfer™ shift several times in these opening chapters and the effect is a bit jumbled. Handoll next discusses the embryology of the developing osseous and tissue structures and how this his is a most curious will for most readers move development affects the physical properties Tbook, a personal rather too briskly and may that are fundamental to Sutherland’s theory. journey of discovery therefore frustrate those who So much detail is presented so quickly that rather than a theoretical have not previously read a I marveled at Handoll’s clear explanations treatise. We might more fair amount on these topics of such difficult material. properly say that we for their own edification have here a most curious or amusement. That being I particularly enjoyed his discussions of the pair of essays that the said, let us look in more movements of the major osseous structures author sutures together detail at this brief but far as well as his summary of the nature rather loosely and with from concise volume. and properties of th cerebrospinal fluid inexplicable haste. In (CSF). The fluid as described by Handoll After laying out some Anatomy of Potency has a number of important properties: basic assumptions about (Stillness Press, 2000), among them are its apparent swelling and his readership, Handoll author Nicholas Handoll receding; its gelatinous movement which quickly presents a history covers considerable we encounter in the face and extremities; of Sutherland’s work and ground as he moves and its inherent desire to express motion. his notion of the Primary from his early student Handoll later suggests that as osteopaths Respiratory Mechanism days through his arduous explorations of track these subtle fluctuations, they attempt (PRM). We soon learn that the author’s the worlds of contemporary physics and to activate the striving potency of the fluid sense of this mechanism is that it is passive cosmology. The inspiration and reasons that has been locked down or restricted by rather than active. Handoll takes this for this journey he identifies early. Yet, the some disturbance from within or without. a step further by arguing that despite path on which he leads us occupies most Sutherland’s belief that the source of this What I found particularly interesting was of the book and our willingness to follow innate movement is internal, he experiences the fact that ultimately Handoll ends up him requires some patience and a level of the source as external, a force of potency arguing that it does not matter if the bones technical understanding that will challenge that seems to pass through the system actually move, what matters is that it feels to yet delight many readers. rather than originating from within. the osteopath as if they move. The interaction Before I comment further on this work, a Handoll also humorously reports going to with the client and the relationship between brief explanatory note. Handoll states in the minimalist, Rollin Becker, with these the practitioner’s hands and the bones, this his preface that he intends his book for concerns and receiving this typically laconic is what is central, this is where accessing the osteopaths and those who already have reply: “Read quantum mechanics.” This health really occurs, the correctness of any a level of understanding of osteopathy cryptic suggestion acts as a catalyst for given theory of origin, notwithstanding. comparable to that found in Sutherland’s the journey of discovery that the author Yet, despite this wonderful insight, Handoll two main collections of essays: Contributions recounts in a humble yet breathtaking proceeds to discuss numerous theories on to Thought and Teachings in the Science of manner. the internal mechanisms of the PRM, rejects Osteopathy. Some familiarity with the them, and takes us on his wildly hairy We also learn about an odd experience mechanical aspects of Sutherland’s model journey in search of an alternate quantum that altered Handoll’s experience of time as presented in The Cranial Bowl and theory that matches his experience. I found and space. In this vividly recounted Magoun’s more comprehensive Osteopathy this very curious while the author seems event, he describes a sudden sense of his in the Cranial Field, while not overtly stated, untroubled by this implicit breach of logic environment as suddenly not solid, a sense are I feel essential for a comfortable reading as he bracingly races along. of energy passing through and around him, of this book. The author’s explanations a sense that he was rather like a jellyfish Before sharing the results of his “readings of the complex movements of the bones floating in a powerful ocean of energy, the in quantum mechanics,” Handoll ends the of the skull and face provided in the text force and dimension of which exceeded book’s first section with a short discussion will require multiple readings for most anything that he had ever perceived. of strain patterns, also offering a series of of us. Additionally, the pace with which This profound yet ephemeral perceptual appendices to supplement this tantalizingly he covers such topics as embryology, expansion precipitated his drive to better brief chapter. One of the many curiosities The General Theory of Relativity, recent understand the source and nature of this of this book is the subsequent intercalated theories of particle physics and astrophysics
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 43 Book Reviews chapter on diagnosis and treatment. Why author, I would like to look at a few aspects of waiting, perceiving, and sensing, in order this section is not simply included in of Handoll’s conclusions and tie them to that we may allow the healing intelligence the appendices and why he gives such those central tenets of recent physics that of the potency (the health) within our clients short shrift to these fundamental topics, he explores. The world Handoll offers is to emerge and manifest. I cannot say. These decisions are among a world that explains what Newtonian the many mysteries of this very peculiar physics cannot. It is a place without an A final consideration work. However, after completing the book, absolute vantage point, a space-time I suspected that this intercalation was a relativistic milieu where we influence our In light of recent discussions about the sort of afterthought, a necessary yet odd environment and it commingles with us in osteopathic tides, I wish to briefly consider disruption to this dazzling tour de force. gloriously non-ordinary ways. The non- Handoll’s external potency theory as it local locale we call our place in the universe relates to this matter. Handoll mentions the While contemplating the discussion that is a complex environment of events that tides only once in a rather cursory manner, follows, I kept hearing the engaging opening defy our limited perceptions at both a not unexpectedly, stating that the experience line of T.S. Eliot’s poem of alienation, “The macro- and micro-level. At a micro-level, of the movements of the CSF has a quality Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, which we find that our sense of solid matter is that resembles the tides, not that these reads “Let us go then, you and I.” Why an illusion. What we experience as solid movements are actual tides in any familiar did this line of a favorite poem haunt me matter is highly permeable and mostly sense. Again here, the point is not whether and why did I later decide to introduce space, a result of repulsive forces that create what we perceive is an actual tide per se, but it as a hook for my review? For reasons a fuzzy barrier, an illusory border mimicked rather that this notion of tide is merely one beyond rational understanding, random in an increasingly indistinct sequence of way that practitioners who interact with associations gradually took shape and ever-smaller holographic images. At a the fluids experience them. Descriptions assumed a life of their own. I came to macro-level, we and all other solid objects of the tides by a few fellow practitioners feel that both Handoll and Eliot’s anti- are constantly bombarded by a number who do what we normally call fluid work hero take us on revelatory journeys and of invisible particles, some of which pass suggested to me a correlation between the invite us into their odd subjective worlds. through us, others pass deeper than the notion of the long tide as having an external However, unlike the tentative Prufrock, surface but are deflected, and yet others, source and Handoll’s model for the PRM Handoll launches into densely worded such as protons, are repelled. We and all as externally activated. Although Handoll considerations of challenging ideas with other crystalline objects that have matter, as never explicitly states this, there are enough courage and supreme confidence. He moves we understand it, represent a small fraction similarities between his language and that fast, packing his discussions with incredible of what constitutes our universe. Whether of other teaching craniosacral therapists detail, a bolus of detail that I had trouble we call the remaining substance beyond and osteopaths such as Sills and Jealous digesting and that left me with a feeling of our perception dark matter, antimatter, or that we might convincingly argue a linkage exhaustion once it had passed through me. manifestations of the vacuum density, as we between the two. Why so many facts when so few become come to embrace this dynamic notion of the key connections for Handoll’s argument? What occurred to me also was the notion universe, we ultimately see ourselves as a I could not answer this question and was that the mid tide has an internal source of disturbance in a homogenous yet seething left feeling therefore oddly dissatisfied activation, and that this perhaps relates to flux of energy. as I sat for weeks trying to feel my way the various theories proffered (including through his tangled labyrinth of intriguing This energy is a cauldron of activity, those of Sutherland) which attempt to speculation. one where particles flash in and out of explain the source of the potency as existence at mind boggling speeds, an an internal mechanism. I fear that this My sense of unease was compounded energy that defies all conventional notions explanation may be far from unanimously when I saw that he leaves himself a mere of relational space, a force that flits between accepted and therefore merely offer this eleven pages to show us how his disjunct multiple universes, moving through as a reasonable deduction based on the peroration through space-time relates multiple time-frames, a magical universe material available to me as I write this to the notion of the PRM as externally where incomprehensibly large distances review. Precisely how Handoll’s model activated. As I reflected further, I sensed are traversed instantaneously, one where fits into current osteopathic thinking is that, for Handoll, the journey was more particles think and know. What an amazing unclear to me, although we can certainly important than the destination, a very Zen place this is and how liberating to feel our state that he rejects any internal activation way of thinking to be sure. Yet, overall, place in it. model. Therefore, much as I wish I could this obliqueness simply failed to satisfy present a coherent explanation that would my love of proportion and balance. I could Handoll’s expansive vision of our holoverse satisfy both Handoll and more traditional not help but feel that much opportunity for frees the practitioner and opens him to a osteopaths, I cannot envision what such a developing clear connections for the wealth broader perceptual field. It is this world that unified theory might look like. of ideas Handoll presents so brilliantly and he works with and lives in as often as he is with such masterful control is inexplicably able to free himself from the limits of his The journey we take with Handoll, while discarded. This deficit both frustrated and normal perceptions. It is this extraordinary interesting and marvelously expansive, intrigued me, particularly when considering world that he accesses when he works. We takes us so far afield that we are left Handoll’s exceptional intuitive insight and come to see that it is his most ardent hope meandering in the cosmos. My sense of intellectual acumen. that we too may free ourselves of the need this wonderfully adventurous book is that to do, and rather, learn the meditative arts it raises many questions that it does not Taking an opposite tack from that of the answer very well, introducing difficult
44 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Book Reviews ideas at a breakneck pace, and failing to tie many of them together in his all-too- brief conclusion. The abrupt and choppy movements that this book stirred in me as I struggled to navigate Handoll’s vast oceans of metaphor caused me considerable consternation. Yet, I mostly found the experience of floating in the hyperactive space of Handoll’s world wonderfully disorienting fun. However, I found the permeable world Handoll strives so valiantly to create oddly impermeable, too heavy in detail that fails to coalesce. This is an ultimate irony that may perhaps be shared by others who link hands with Handoll on his very un-Prufrockian wanderings.
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 45 Book Reviews
Interface: Mechanisms of Spirit in Osteopathy by R. Paul Lee, D.O. By Ron Murray, D.O.(MP), Certified Advanced Rolfer™
nterface: Mechanisms of Spirit in Osteopathy that has been proposed to help explain I(Stillness Press, 2005) by R. Paul Lee, tissue change. D.O. is an excellent presentation of the Since so much in the field of structural philosophical underpinnings of osteopathy. integration is borrowed from the osteopathic Lee states that one of his intentions profession, Lee’s book provides a useful throughout the book is to “enhance and bridge for the student who is studying broaden our comprehension of the wisdom the cranial concepts, and more specifically of Dr. Still’s philosophy” (p. 169). This is for those interested in the Biodynamic the primary theme of Chapters 1 and 2, approach. He draws on a wide background introducing the philosophy of osteopathy to help explain his ideas while still keeping and discussing A.T. Still and his thinking the material digestible for nonscientific at length and through comparisons with readers. He also presents a model to help other scientists and thinkers, both scientific one understand the tidal motions that and spiritual. Chapter 3 looks to the idea of practitioners perceive with their hands. the life force, key to both Still and William In the Appendix Lee gives us some gems Garner Sutherland’s thinking, including to contemplate in his offering of a new a discussion of “spirit” in osteopathy and understanding of Still’s philosophy. This treatment. reviewer feels Lee’s book is a must-read for Chapters 4 and 5 offer Lee’s “new view” those who are not content in their search for and a paradigm of spirit interfacing with knowledge of the body and want a deeper matter. Lee discusses water and connective understanding of health and wholeness. tissue as representatives of spirit and matter, respectively. Interestingly, he states that “connective tissue is ‘osteopathic tissue’...[expressing] the precepts of the osteopathic philosophy by demonstrating unity of function, a structure-function interrelationship, and the elements necessary for its maintenance and healing. If we treat the connective tissue, we treat osteopathically” (pp. 171-172). He also offers some insights into the gel/sol theory
46 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Book Reviews
connective tissue, which gives shape to all components of our body. It is from the mesoderm that the structure of our body is formed. This continuum of the connective tissue, this communication matrix, is one of Engaging the Movement of Life: the vehicles that we as somatic practitioners Exploring Health and Embodiment influence in our daily practices. Gintis invites us to expand our understanding Through Osteopathy and Continuum of movement and our participation with health: our own health and the health of By Bonnie Gintis, D.O. our clients. Opening portals into a different way of experiencing the human body, she Reviewed by Pilar Martin, Certified Advance Rolfer™ takes us deeply into the phenomenology of embodiment. She states:
onnie Gintis is an in the same way that Both Continuum and Osteopathy Bosteopathic physician Osteopathy is not a ask us to be in relationship, to be a n d a C o n t i n u u m treatment technique; engaged with both the physical body movement teacher who both are approaches to and the non-material vitality of life. teaches and lectures a practice based on a The gross physical and the energetic worldwide. I have had philosophy, a deep respect non-material are ends of the spectrum the opportunity to study for and trust in our self- of one unity. Vitality is a characteristic with her, as well as to correcting capability, a of the potent life force. It is not a enjoy her as a Continuum way of considering and substance; it is not material. We cannot playmate. Both have appreciating life…” image or measure this force. We can, been a pleasure and an however, detect and experience the Engaging the Movement enriching experience. effect of its presence, as it is manifest of Life: Exploring Health in physical movement and form. Continuum Movement, and Embodiment Through originated by Emilie Osteopathy and Continuum Gintis has done a wonderful job of defining Conrad, is a somatic (North Atlantic, 2007) the physical aspect of our humanity, then p r a c t i c e e x p l o r i n g is Gintis’s first book. In showing how we are infused with the movement, sound and it, she invites us into an “breath of life”, the non-material part of our breath. It is characterized by an emphasis exploration of embodiment, through the vitality. She puts concepts that are complex on inherent micromovements and wave- insights that these two approaches have and immeasurable into very understandable like motions and encourages creative provided. She starts by exploring the flow words. We are not always able to name or exploration of our inner life and healing of attention, ranging from the most analytic, explain these things, but we do know what potential. scientific aspect of attention to the broad she is talking about. It is something we all open-ended type that in Continuum is know through our hands. Osteopathy is a system of health care called “open attention”. first developed by Andrew T. Still, in the This book is a very valuable tool to share American frontier of the 1890s. Still saw She considers the nature of water, its with our clients as well as with other the importance of facilitating the freedom unique qualities, and the way it shapes health professionals, as a means to transmit of movement of all aspects of the human our organisms as it moves through us. the mysterious and delicate world of body, in order to increase the expression The similarities between the body and the somatics. of the relationship between structure and Earth, which are both 70% water, point to You can read more about Bonnie Gintis and see function. He recognized that if the body the possibility that the living human body her workshop schedule at www.bonniegintis. were free to move in all ways, healing, is a vehicle for the movement of water on com. Her upcoming workshop in Munich, adaptation, and improved function would land. in April 2008, is open to Certified Rolfing® result. He discovered that in addition to From the fluid motions of water, she brings practitioners. manual manipulation of the bones and the us to the embryonic field, the formative soft tissues of the human body, the fluids movements, the way metabolic gradients could be treated separately from the organs, shape the embryo, and how these forces structures, and spaces that contain them. continue to guide the unfolding of our Blood, lymph, extracellular fluid, mucus, lives. The influence of the embryonic field cerebrospinal fluid, and all other fluids in is never-ending. By considering the embryo, the body are all involved in the dynamic we arrive at the layer of the mesoderm. movements that allow the life force to Looking at the specific properties of its express its full potential. unique cellular development, plasticity, As described in Gintis’s own words, adaptability, and mutability, we can see “Continuum is not an exercise technique, how this layer subsequently develops into
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 47 Book Reviews
A Barefoot Doctor’s Guide for Women By Georgette Maria Delvaux, D.C., Certified Advanced Rolfer Reviewed by R. Kerrick Murray, Certified Advanced RolferTM
ur colleague Georgette Delvaux has with premenstrual syndrome) are accessible Owritten A Barefoot Doctor’s Guide for and understandable, and in the back of the Women (North Atlantic Books, 2007), a book she provides thoughtful sections of candid survey of women’s health issues that notes and resources for follow-up by the will likely prove to be a welcome addition reader. to our clinical and personal libraries. Years ago, I witnessed Georgette literally Covering a wide range of topics such as leap onto a Rolfing® table (barefoot, of menstruation, nutrition, insomnia, anxiety, course), furiously filing her fingernails, in fluid retention, osteoporosis, thermography, passionate pursuit of an optimal position menopause, proprioception, and therapeutic to do some back work on a student’s client. relationships, Georgette writes from her She brings that same sparkle and liveliness perspective as a chiropractor, Certified to her writing. Initially, I had reservations Advanced RolferTM, and “patient” of about how her style might come across to allopathic treatments. a conservative Western reader. However, With an easily read, conversational style, in her closing chapter titled “The Pesky the chapters of A Barefoot Doctor’s Guide for ‘Why’ Question”, she shares her reasons for Women remind me of listening to a learned writing the book and her hopes for whom it friend over a series of casual, sumptuous will reach and help. I recommend reading meals. It is not written just for women; if I that first. were going to re-title the book, I’d name it In my opinion, this book is a useful resource Concerning the Many Mysteries of Women and to manual practitioners and clients alike, Our Uncomfortable Fears about the Female Body. and I intend to have several copies that I She offers numerous anecdotal stories from can loan out. her personal life and practice that illustrate her perspectives of women’s health care and her observations and zesty opinions regarding the relevance and importance of our “alternative” manual practices with the various fields of specialized allopathic medicine. Her qualified speculations on numerous topics (such as the relationship of proteins with osteoporosis and parabens
48 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Memorial
held his hands, ever watchful of his dreamy demeanor and tired eyes. Sometimes he spoke of how fulfilling his life was, or we’d reminisce of funny moments and stories, affirming our mutual love. And sometimes we simply enjoyed the companionable R. Louis Schultz silence. When we first met in 1993, I was a young 1927-2007 professional dancer searching to expand my self-expression and trying to find a balance in my life that I felt was lacking. n On December 1st, a of connective tissue in the Louis introduced me to the first ten couple of weeks after often surprising changes Rolfing sessions, and I found that the work his eightieth birthday, brought about by Rolfing. transcended my mere physicality. I had no my friend and colleague There were cognitive and way of knowing it then, but that would Louis Schultz died. He emotional changes that mark the beginning of our relationship as had been in failing health apparently were based in student and teacher. We eventually became for some time – lung memories lodged in tissue. business partners, and for the rest of his life, problems from years As the tissue changed, the he was my mentor and close friend. of smoking as well as memories emerged into Louis possessed a profound knowledge of problems connected to consciousness and often the human body and its development. He his neck, which resulted dissipated. In addition, was a teacher of biology, endocrinology, in weakness in his legs. Louis saw that there were physiology, anatomy, and of course Rolfing. He was strong - good ways in which the body Our sessions inspired me to a life change, I Norwegian (maybe re-sculpted itself, creating was hooked, and I wanted to know all that Viking?) stock, but eventually there were too bands like buttresses in response to stress he knew. It was decided that Louis would be many burdens. He lived his life on his own and misalignment. These bands were my teacher. He would train me to become terms, going forward, not complaining or described in the book. The drawings and a practitioner of structural integration. His repining. I miss him; many of us in the photographs documenting the bands are lessons were our daily project; the daily Rolfing® community will miss him. still startling, still new. project became our way of living. I felt Louis had a greater intellectual influence Out in the Open was written out of Louis’ honored, humbled, and so fortunate for on Rolfing and the functioning of the Rolf abiding interest in all aspects of human the opportunity to learn from one of Ida Institute® than perhaps even he realized. function and out of his feeling that no part Rolf’s first generation of teachers. Louis’ He was an embryologist by training – a of human experience should be shunned. dedication towards my schooling was researcher and teacher. He brought that The book brought him a population of extraordinary. rigorous mode of thinking to Rolfing, clients who often felt there was no other Louis generously embraced me into his specifically to the teaching of anatomy for place to take their difficulties. New York City family, a very special Certified RolfersTM. In his later years, Louis continued to teach network of Rolfing peers and companions Ida Rolf knew a good thing when she saw in the U.S. and overseas. He liked meeting who, to this day, I have the privilege of it. She asked Louis to create an anatomy and talking with each new generation of calling my friends and loved ones. training appropriate for new Rolfers and Rolfers, offering them his point of view In 1997, Louis needed an operation for he did so. He emphasized the role of and discussing their problems and insights. a lifelong spinal birth defect, in hopes connective tissue in the physical changes He was a natural teacher, easygoing yet to prevent a multiplegic condition. The of Rolfing. He was adamant that “muscle precise about what he wanted to convey. success was limited, and Rolfing helped anatomy” was not an accurate picture of He inspired affection and loyalty. As I said, him maintain some mobility for a few more the body that Rolfers were working with. I’ll miss him – his sly sense of humor, his years. Miraculously, he continued to work Bone and muscle anatomy were useful offbeat slant on things, his good heart. and we formed a working partnership, as landmarks but they did not give the Rosemary Feitis Village Rolfing, where, working side by most precise picture. It was a new view of Certified Advanced Rolfer™ side, I continued to learn from him. anatomy, and Louis taught it to all in that “first generation” of Rolfers. And then he His ability to teach and understand the trained some of them to understand and fascial network’s effect on every aspect of a n teach what he was teaching – the first December 1, 2007. It is a sunny day; person’s life was a true blessing. His unique generation of Rolfing anatomy teachers. the winds are very strong and cold. style of Rolfing, crossing joints with long That was in the 1970s. Louis Schultz left his physical body early strokes, his fascial anatomical precision, this morning. and his expertise of the pelvic region were Our book, The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy remarkable. I will always remember his and Physical Reality, was born out of For the last three days his cousin Tom words; “You need to learn the anatomy of Louis’ ever-expanding insight into the role Groenfeldt and I stayed by his side and
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 49 Memorial the human body, in order to forget it” and, practices. Though anatomy is an efficient lasting help of those fine books he and “Trust your hands, and you will know language for helping students map some Rosemary Feitis wrote. I recommend them where to go.” of the territory of Rolfing, Ida Rolf and to you. Louis continually reminded us: “The map Together we ran our practice, taught Nicholas French is not the territory.” Louis prodded us to workshops in Europe and throughout the Certified Advanced Rolfer™ look beyond the incompleteness of classical U.S., gave lectures in community centers, anatomy and work toward knowledge of did volunteer work (Louis’ actions after the complexity of living anatomy, especially 9/11 were tireless), and attended countless n the continuity of the connective tissues that In my mind, Louis still sits in his peer meetings and conferences. Louis was contain and relate muscles, bones, organs apartment on 11th Street in his beloved a sincere bon vivant. He enjoyed good and nerves. Happily, he saw his ideas Greenwich Village. I’ve just finished a great conversation (what an amazing listener he affirmed at last October’s Fascia Research mystery that I want to share with him, and was!), a glass of wine in Greenwich Village Congress. I know he has several to trade with me, so with a friend, the arts, and people watching a dinner is in order; maybe a short walk to wherever he traveled. With a deft combination of expertise and the Elephant and Castle, a light dinner, a playfulness, Louis drew on his research in He was as strong-willed as he was wise. In glass of wine, and always a shared dessert, embryology to help us recognize the fascial all of our travels together he never allowed and maybe just a touch of gossip. elements that are the medium of our art, his physical impairments or ailments to showing us a body that was warm and I look at him and admire him for the way stop him, rarely complaining about the pain flexible, quite different from the vacant, cold he gets through the rough twists and turns that he clearly endured on a daily basis. cadavers of our anatomy books. He brought of his physical life. He never complains, I will miss him. For the last fifteen into focus a body that was continually always seems to enjoy himself, always years he has served as my mentor, my life responding to the impetus of emotional works things out, and always looks forward anchor, and my most beloved friend. I will and existential events as well as to physical to the next interesting event. He has miss his companionship, his encouragement, forces. One very striking suggestion he gathered around himself people who care his respect, and his constant care. offered was that just as we develop in utero about him and care for him. as embryos, when we’re born we simply But for now in my mind, I will stay with Good job, Louis. Good life, well lived. Now, move our continuing development out into the image of Louis floating on the Atlantic about that last mystery you gave me . . . a much vaster container, the wide world. Ocean in Rio de Janeiro – holding him in These ideas, coupled with Ida Rolf’s advice, Dorothy Hunter my arms, because his own legs could no “If you really want to understand this work, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ longer carry him…a modest token of my every time you work with a person, ask thanks for all he had given me, this was a yourself how he or she got this way,” have moment I could give back to him…tears of been immensely influential in my work to n I went to New York City in November to happiness, laughter, and a smile lighting understand Rolfing. attend Louis’ and Rosemary Feitis’ birthday his face. This is a joyous memory. party. That morning Louis had just returned Years later, during Rolfing classes in Marcelo Coutinho from the hospital with pneumonia. He Boulder, Munich and Adelaide, Australia, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ was on oxygen from his emphysema and I saw a lot more of Louis’ students light up it was difficult for him to put on a happy with that “Aha!” that made the work so face to hide his struggle. Louis spoke of much more accessible. I also enjoyed getting n his compassion for Dr. Rolf’s struggle in Louis Schultz was a very bright man, an to know him much better as a colleague her eighties. He talked about his lifestyle independent thinker whose mischievous and friend. My late wife Janie and I loved choices of smoking and diet with no (and occasionally wicked) sense of humor having the opportunity to explore new regret. blended well with his kindness and innately territories together and it was immediately gentle nature. His contributions to our work obvious that Louis was eager to join us, so I worked on him for hours that weekend over the past decades are more important when the three of us had the luck to be sent talking, sharing, crying, and got a and enduring than is generally known. to teach the anatomy (Louis), movement wonderful opportunity to say “thank you” He was the Rolf Institute of Structural (Janie) and manipulative (me) portions of for everything, and or making my journey Integration’s™ first instructor of anatomy, the same classes, we sought out the best easier, wiser and a whole new depth. Louis which is how I first encountered him. museums, hiking trails, shops, beaches and gave me confidence after he watched me The lead-in class he taught was relaxed wineries we could find. Just as in his classes, struggle teaching my first anatomy class. but thorough, and he helped us find the there was never a lack of highly animated He was always my mentor. The hundreds of knowledge we sorely needed as we prepared conversation or of laughter. hours we spent together in classes, with five years of dissections, have immeasurably to do the hands-on work we’d previously Rolfing® was as much a part of Louis as shaped my life. It seemed appropriate only observed. Even more important, his bones. He was always ready to help, that his battle with his health had come though it was years before I realized it, he whether students, colleagues or exhausted to an end. He will be missed, but never offered us an intellectual context to use in emergency providers between shifts at forgotten. ordering and appreciating the world of “ground zero” right after 9/11. Fortunately, experiences we would encounter in our though he’ll be missed, we still have the Ron Thompson Certified Advanced Rolfer™
50 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Institute News
Graduates
Unit III, January 8, 2008, Brazil Left to Right: Liliane de Abreu, Nailê Braga, Eliana Grotti, Eloisa Mara, Cristina Ibiapina, Marcela Moraes, Lucila Brandão, Monica Caspari (Instructor), Marcia Cintra (Assistant Instructor), Adriana Raucci, Rosângela Baía, Carolina Conrad, Ana Cristina Guida, Mônica Epperlein, Beatriz Vasconcellos. Unit III, December 14, 2007, Boulder, Colorado Front Row, Left to Right: Rosalie Reymond, Debra Duquette, Karen Ginger. Back Row: Anthony Cuneo, Patty Murphy, Sabrina Motta, Matthew Berean, Heather Wright, Bella Cohen, Danielle Martin, Jon Martine (Instructor), Brett Sanoval, Robert Cumming, Dave Sheldon (Assistant Instructor)
Unit II, November 15, 2007, Boulder, Colorado Front Row, Left to Right: Jenn Soon, Penny Dalfrey, Andrea Rivera. Back Row: Kevin McCoy (Instructor), Sean Dunaway, Jessica McKinley, Adam Oostema, Jennifer Erickson, Hiroki Sato, Ann Shankle, Josh Malpas, Marty Morales, Kima Kraimer Phase II, Nov 28, 2007, Munich, Germany (Assistant Instructor). Front Row, Left to Right: Kalen Hsu, Margarete Blankartz, Bärbel Dubler, Ferran Moreno, Joachim Dietiker, Martin Wirth, Michelle Marsidi, Theres Grau, Amy Tan, Catherine Fong. Back Row: Raymond Smith, Mike Schmelzle, Gerhard Hesse (Assistant Instructor), John Bowley, Christina Ziembinski, Pierpaola Volpones (Instructor), Samuele Serreli, Sonja Yount, Anise Smith, Patrick Ward
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 51 Institute News
Graduates
Rolfing Movement Certification, November 29, 2007, Unit III, December 6th, 2007, Brazil Florianopolis, Brazil Front Row, Left to Right: Tessa Pulaski, Maria Cecilia Front Row, Left to Right: Rebecca Hammer, Birget Frank Dithurbide, Lu Mueller-Kaul. Middle Row: Paula Matolli Middle Row: Ellen Presnell (Auditor), Kelly Stoll, Lael Keen (Instructor) Elizabeth Cristiano (Lissa), Yosef Murphy. (Instructor). Back Row: Kevin Frank (Instructor) Marielle Back Row: Kelsey Kosick, Pedro Prado (Instructor), Rainer Kemna, Michael Kallina, Isabel Brand, Loreni Marcom Ackermann, Alan Mann, Derek Gill, Phoenix J. A. Deleon, Keiji Takada, Kelsey Cusack, Cornelia Rossi (Instructor).
52 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 Institute News
2008-2009 Class Schedule
BOULDER, COLORADO CHARLES TOWN, WV SPAIN Unit I: Foundations of Rolfing® Advanced Training Rolfing Movement Training Structural Integration/ FORSI (Extended Format) November 21 – November 30 2008 August 25 – October 6, 2008 September 12, 13, 14 2008 May 21 – May 31 2009 Coordinator: Suzanne Picard October 10, 11, 12 2008 Instructors: Rita Geirola and France Hatt- November 21, 22, 23 2008 Arnold Unit I: Advanced Foundations of January 9, 10, 11 2009 Rolfing Structural Integration/ February 6, 7, 8 2009 Melbourne, Australia AFORSI March 6 , 7, 8 2009 April 3, 4, 5 2009 Unit II: Embodiment of Rolfing July 13 – July 26, 2008 May 1, 2, 3 2009 Instructor: Suzanne Picard Instructor: Tessy Brungardt and Rolf Movement Integration October 26 – November 8, 2008 Co-instructor: Jane Harrington September - October 2008 Instructor: Juan David Velez Instructor: TBA Assistant: TBA Unit II: Embodiment of Rolfing & GERMANY/ MUNICH Intensive Training 2008 / 2009 Rolf Movement Integration Sydney, Australia October 13 – December 11, 2008 Unit I: Rolf Movement Certification Instructor: Jon Martine Principles Instructor: Carol Agneessens Movement Week November 10 – 28, 2008 Instructors: Monica Caspari & Ashuan Seow Unit III: Clinical Application August 04 – August 8, 2008 of Rolfing Theory Instructor: Pierpaola Volpones KANSAI REGION, JAPAN August 18 – October 10, 2008 Anatomy Week Instructor: Jane Harrington Unit II: Embodiment of Rolfing & August 11 – August 15, 2008 Anatomy Instructor: Juan David Velez Instructor: Conrad Obermeier Rolf Movement Integration October 13 – December 12, 2008 Touch Week January – March, 2009 Instructor: Ray McCall Instructor: Jim Asher Anatomy Instructor: John Schewe August 18 – August 23, 2008 Unit III: Clinical Application Rolfing Movement Training Instructor: Harvey Burns of Rolfing Theory August 4 – August 14, 2008 – Phase 1 Unit II: September – October, 2009 October 14 – October 24, 2008 – Phase 2 October 06 – November 28, 2008 Instructor: TBA Instructors: Jane Harrington, Rebecca Carli- Instructor: Harvey Burns Mills and Kevin Frank Unit III: BRAZIL BERKELEY, CA February 02 - March 25, 2009 Rolf Movement Certification Instructor: Monica Caspari Advanced Training November 3 – November 27, 2008 (Extended Format) Instructor: Lael Katharine Keen Italy/Germany Assistant Instuctor: Kevin McCoy Phase I: April 21 – May 5, 2008 Phase II: September 1 – September 12, 2008 Advanced Training 2008-2009 Instructor: Michael Salveson September 28 – October 10, 2008 Co-instructor: Carol Agneessens in Bologna, Italy April 20 – May 06, 2009 in Munich, Germany Instructor: Peter Schwind Assistant Instructor: Pierpaola Volpones
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 53 CONTACTS
Officers & Board of European Officers & Northeastern/N. America Directors Board of Directors Dameron Midgette, Chair Bill Short, Sec’y Valerie Berg (Faculty/Board Chair) Nathan Ingvalson (Chair) 3751 Manchester Dr. NW Andrea Clusen Red River/USA Albuquerque, NM 87107 Mattheus ElsAnnika Sundell Sam Johnson (505) 341-1167 Nathan Ingvalson [email protected] Mountain/USA Bryan Devine, Chair Peter Bolhuis (At-large/CFO) Australian Officers & 14130 Whitney Circle Committee Heartland/USA Broomfield, CO 80020 Dan Somers (303) 449-2800 John Smith, President [email protected] Chris Howe, Treasurer Southwestern/USA Meran Cassidy, Secretary Bill LeGrave Duffy Allen (Faculty) Su Tindall, Committee 1360 Toedtli Dr. Colin Rossie, Committee N. California/USA Boulder, CO 80305 Marnie Fitzpatrick, Committee Douw Smith (303) 919-6690 [email protected] Cascades/N. America Japanese Officers & Vacant Laura J. Curry (Eastern USA/Board Secretary) Board of Directors The Rolfing® Studio Alaska/USA 22 Woburn St. #26 Yoshitaka Koda, President Ed Toal, Chair Reading, MA 01867 Tsuguo Hirata, Vice President (781) 492-ROLF Kunikazu Miyazawa, Inspector Hawaii/USA [email protected] Madoka Ikeda, Director of Membership Vacant Takayuki Watanabe, Membership Services Benjamin Eichenauer (At-large) Assistant ANISHA - A Center for Holistic Health Eiko Mizobe, Director of Education European Regional 4031 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Yoshiko Ikejima, Foreign Liaison Portland, OR 97214 Contacts Kazunori Kawakami, Shinnosuke Nakamura, (503) 280-5665 Meeting Coordinator Austria [email protected] Takayo Miyamoto, Director of Website Jasmin Mirfakhrai Gale Loveitt (Central USA) Scandinavia 40545 Sloop Circle Canadian Officers & Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 Hans Gramstrup (970) 870-2888 Directors France [email protected] Kaj Devai Hubert Godard Jeff W. Ryder (Western USA) Tara Detwiler 4004 S.W. Kelly, #201 Jennifer Hayes Italy Portland, OR 97239 Monica Marinelli (503) 250-3209 Standing Board [email protected] Spain Committees Traugott Wahl Maria Helena Orlando (International /CID) Academic Affairs R. Itapeaçu, 108 - Sao Paulo - SP Switzerland Brazil - Zip Code 05670-020 Tina Collenberg 5511 3819.0153 Europe-Brazil and [email protected] Countries in Development United Kingdom, Ireland Keith Graham Christoph Sommer (Europe) Finance In Motion, Praxisgemeinschaft Friedrichstr. 20 Membership Education Executive D-80801 München Germany Public Relations Committee +49-89-330 79 664 Jonathan Martine, Chair [email protected] Law & Legislation Valerie Berg Michael Wm. Murphy Libby Eason Executive Committee Sally Klemm Research Jim Jones* Peter Bolhuis Tom Findley, M.D. Russell Stolzoff Gale Loveitt Maya J. Gammon* Laura J. Curry G. Thomas Manzione, Ph.D.* Officers of Brazilian officers & Board of Directors Meeting Regions Rolfing Instructors Maria Helena Orlando, President Southeastern/USA Carol Agneessens Marcia Cintra, Vice President Duffy Allen Vacant Alfeu Ruggi, Secretary Valerie Berg Maria da Conceição da Costa, Director Mid-Atlantic/USA Harvey Burns Monica Caspari, Educational Director Monica Caspari Bill Morrow, Chair Sybille Cavalcanti, Executive Director Libby Eason Candace Frye, Sec’y-Treas. Patrick Ellinwood
54 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008 CONTACTS
Ellen Freed Foundations of ROLFING European Admissions Jane Harrington Committeee Lael Katharine Keen STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION Anna Neil-Raduner, Chair Sally Klemm Faculty Hans Gramstrup Jonathan Martine Michael Polon, Co-Chair Isolde Specka Paula Mattoli Suzanne Picard, Co-Chair Ray McCall Til Luchau Kevin McCoy Jonathan Martine Rolf Institute Staff Jose Augusto Menegatti John Schewe G. Thomas Manzione, Ph.D., Executive Michael Wm. Murphy Marius Strydom Director Pedro Prado, Ph.D. Juan David Velez Heidi Hauge, Membership Services Cornelia Rossi Faculty Committees Coordinator Robert Schleip, Ph.D. Jim Jones, Director of Education Peter Schwind, Ph.D. Faculty Development Michele Willingham, Admissions Counselor Ashuan Seow Maya J. Gammon, Faculty Liaison Michael Stanborough and Review Board Emily Thayer, Student Services Coordinator Russell Stolzoff Jeff Maitland, Chair Trace Scheidt, Office Manager Marius Strydom Maya J. Gammon* Gena Rauschke, Accountant Pierpaola Volpones Jim Jones* Susan Seecof, Publicist Thomas Walker Ray McCall Pedro Prado Pierpaola Volpones The Rolf Institute® Advanced Rolfing Tom Wing, Membership Rep. 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103 Instructors Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 449-5903 Jim D. Asher Student Evaluation Tessy Brungardt (800) 530-8875 Jeffrey Maitland, Ph.D. Faculty (303) 449-5978 fax [email protected] Ray McCall North America Pedro Prado, Ph.D. www.rolf.org Michael Salveson Suzanne Picard, Chair Office Hours Peter Schwind, Ph.D. Duffy Allen Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Jan Henry Sultan Larry Koliha Michael Polon Jim Jones* Australian Rolfing Teachers-In-Training Association Karen Lackritz (Rolfing) Marnie Fitzpatrick, Administrator Continuing Education Suite 15, 3 Richmond Avenue Committee Sylvania Waters NSW 2224 Movement Instructors Lael Keen, Chair +61-2-9522 6770 Jane Harrington, Chair Kevin McCoy +61-2-9522 6756 fax Carol Agneessens Thomas Walker www.rolfing.org.au Mary Bond Maya J. Gammon* [email protected] Rebecca Carli-Mills Monica Caspari Hubert Godard Teacher-in-Training Brazilian Rolfing France Hatt-Arnold Committee Association Vivian Jaye Sally Klemm, Chair Sybille Cavalcanti, Executive Director Lael Katherine Keen Duffy Allen R. Cel. Arthur de Godoy, 83 Paula Mattoli Ellen Freed Vila Mariana Jose Augusto Menegatti Maya J. Gammon* 04018-050-São Paulo-SP Pedro Prado, Ph.D. Ashuan Seow Brazil Pierpaola Volpones Michael Stanborough (11) 5574-5827 (11) 5539-8075 Fascial Anatomy [email protected] Curriculum Committee www.rolfing.com.br Instructors Thomas Walker, Chair Office Hours John Schewe, Chair Jane Harrington Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Luiz Fernando Bertolucci Ray McCall Paul Gordon Maya J. Gammon* Jonathan Martine European Rolfing Michael Wm. Murphy Europe Association e.V. Cornelia Rossi Markus Stettner, Executive Director Robert Schleip, Ph.D. European Executive Committee Angelika Simon (on maternal leave until Sept. Louis Schultz, Ph.D., Emeritus Pierpaola Volpones, Chair 08) Juan David Velez Giovanni Felicioni Martina Berger, Training Coordinator Nathan Ingvalson Monika Lambacher, Sales and PR Markus Stettner Nymphenburgerstr. 86 D-80636 München European FDRB (RFOC) Germany Susanne Eichler, Chair +49-89 54 37 09 40 Pierpaola Volpones +49-89 54 37 09 42 fax France Hatt-Arnold www.rolfing.org [email protected]
Structural Integration / March 2008 www.rolf.org 55 CONTACTS
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 www.rolfing.or.jp
Canadian Rolfing Association c/o Kai Devai 615 - 50 Governor’s Rd. Dundas, ONT L9H 5M3, Canada www.rolfingcanada.org [email protected]
*Staff Representative
56 www.rolf.org Structural Integration / March 2008