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
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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. 2 www.rolf.org STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION / MARCH 2008 COLUMNS 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.