STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION / JUNE 2007 www.rolf.org 51 TABLE OF CONTENTS STRuCTuRAL InTegration: COLUMN The JOuRnAL OF Ask the Advanced Faculty 2 The ROLF InSTITuTe® September 2007 IN THE MEDIA Vol. 35, No. 3 Rolfing® Structural Integration on Oprah 3 Anne Hoff PubLISheR The Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration CONSIDERATIONS IN THE FIELD OF 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103 STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION Boulder, CO 80301 USA Distinctions in Structural Integration 5 (303) 449-5903 Deborah Weidhaas (303) 449-5978 Fax Rolfing Structural Integration: A Distinct Profession 13 (800) 530-8875 Valerie Berg Editorial bOARD On the Ground 15 Libby Eason Eva Bucher Craig Ellis Position Statement on Rolfing Regulation 17 Anne F. Hoff, Editor-in-Chief RISI Board of Directors Linda Loggins A Motive for Rolfing, A Motive for Writing 18 Heidi Massa Ray Bishop, Ph.D. Deanna Melchynuk Susan Seecof, Managing Editor Dave Sheldon PERSPECTIVES LAyOuT AnD Rolfing and the Conquest of the Ground 22 GRAPhIC DeSIGn Lúcia Merlino Mercedes Hernández Principles of Treatment in Practice 27 Peter Schwind Structural Integration: The Articles in RESEARCH Journal of The Rolf Institute® represent the views and opinions of the authors and Fascia Is Able to Contract in a Smooth-Muscle-Like Manner do not necessarily represent the official and Thereby Influence Musculoskeletal Mechanics 30 positions or teachings of the Rolf Institute Robert Schleip of Structural Integration. The Rolf Institute reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to accept or reject any article for MEMORIAL publication in Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Institute. Gio Aguilera 32 Structural Integration: The Journal of The Rolf Institute® (USPS 0005-122, ISSN 1538-3784) INSTITUTE NEWS is published quarterly by the Rolf Institute, 5055 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, Research Foundation Announcement 34 CO 80301. Periodicals Postage Paid at Graduates 35 Boulder, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Structural Integration: 2007-2008 Schedule 36 The Journal of The Rolf Institute®, 5055 Contacts 37 Chaparral Ct., Ste. 103, Boulder, CO 80301. Copyright ©2007 Rolf Institute. All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Rolfing® is a service mark of the Rolf Cover image of Certified Advanced Rolfer Peter Schwind and client from his book Institute of Structural Integration. Fascial and Membrane Technique, copyright Churchill Livingstone Elsevier 2006, used with permission. COLUMN rotation (out-flare). I frequently begin by rocking the posterior ilium into neutral position. 6. Check the long posterior interosseous ligaments (part of the sacroiliac ligament complex) as they can compress the sacro- Ask the Advanced Faculty coccygeal nerve plexus. Sometimes the Jim Asher, Advanced Rolfing Instructor problem begins in this area, and clients may need to ice this area after treatment. 7. Balance the thoracic curve. One quality I consistently notice in clients with low back and sciatic pain Qis compression between the ribs and pelvis, as indicated by hypertonic 8. Put client in seated or standing posi- tion, reestablish lumbar curve and length in spinal erector and quadratus lumborum muscles. My understanding is that the lumbars using Warrior I yoga posture with erectors should ideally be quiet in standing. What causes the hypertonicity and stretching and upward movements. Many compression in the first place, and what is the process by which the erectors and more excellent and effective movement quadratus can let go and the entire lumbar area decompress? stretches and exercises can be found in the book How Life Moves by Caryn McHose and The cause of hypertonicity and com- First, each specific person must be assessed Certified Advanced Rolfer Kevin Frank, or Apression typically comes from poor in terms of the myofascial shortening, spe- work and books by Certified Advanced sitting and habitual dysfunctional move- cific mechanical dysfunctions, and related Rolfer Hubert Godard. ment. The crux issue is not allowing the neurological components while the person 9. Check the walking gait: the typical core to move in contralateral motion while is standing, seated, and walking. This is a person has forward flexion of the torso, walking, sitting (even sitting should allow cumulative problem. These three elements a failure of the ilia to extend, poor hinge contralateral motion), running, or any form create a synergistic relationship, and each mechanics of the feet, and one or both exercising. Contralateral motion through must essentially be addressed through spe- femurs stuck in what usually manifests as our core space – which includes the spine cific steps. Here’s a thorough sequence that external rotation. This gait causes psoas – will rehydrate and decompress our discs I find useful for most people with chronic overuse which leads back to all the other and keep our facets fluid and able to main- conditions: problems. For a good review on gait read tain movement through neutral space. This 1. Lengthen sidebent lumbar vertebrae, Certified Advanced Rolfer Aline Newton’s is the ideal healthy state in which you can derotate individual vertebrae, and normal- “Gracovetsky and Walking” in the Journal ‘feel your boogie’ or inner monkey – or ize lumbar curve. Remember that L5 may of Structural Integration, February 2003, or fish-like motion. Once we lose contralateral rotate with the sacrum or opposite the Dr. Philip Greenman’s article on gait in the movement, we begin to shorten and com- sacrum. It is almost always compressed. book Low Back Pain and Its Relation to the press the structure throughout. Ultimately The lumbars act like a long screwdriver Sacroiliac Joint. both the cause and the outcome are due to affecting the sacrum. habitual dysfunctional movement or inju- 10. Use post-Rolfing® movement sessions ries like whiplash, bicycle accidents, specific 2. Lengthen the psoas at both ends. This specifically to teach functional movement. traumas to the body, and repetitive motion can be done without venturing too close This is the key component in maintaining syndrome of the spine. to the organs. Also, reestablish normal the work and healing, and without which lumbar curve, and lengthen the quadratus people return to old patterns that are both An example of one of the most common lumborum. These first two steps unload the the cause and the result of the condition. problems walking into my office would be lumbars from the sacrum Movement sessions typically include: a person with a long lumbar sidebend with individual vertebrae rotated right and left, 3. Balance the pubic bones – superior or a. working with gait. posterior tilted pelvis when sitting, lower inferior. b. sitting properly. lumbar curve in extension, posterior ilium, L5 compressed and FRS (flexed, rotated, 4. Work with sacroiliac dysfunctions: bi- c. specific yoga postures, stretching, and sidebent) or ERS (extended, rotated, lateral anterior nutation (flexion), bilateral and dancing using contralateral and sidebent), psoas and iliacus extremely posterior nutation (extension), unilateral motion from the core for self-main- tight on one side, imbalance in multifidus anterior nutation, unilateral posterior nuta- tenance. tone, tension in sacroiliac ligament due to tion, anterior torsion (L on L or R on R), and 11. People need a Rolfing series to address pulling from poor gait mechanics, short- posterior torsion (R on L or L on R). This other underlying compensatory holding ened thoracolumbar fascia, and tension at can be addressed by rocking the sacrum patterns. hamstring origins. Typically a shortened into a neutral position and balancing the psoas can hold the lumbars in sidebend piriformis muscles. Special thanks to Anna Neil-Raduner and with various rotations and in flexion and/or 5. Correct any iliosacral dysfunctions: Elmar Abram for creative inspiration. extension. This is one of the keys to unlock- anterior rotation, posterior rotation, su- Credit to my teachers: Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D., ing the problems. perior (cephalic) shear, inferior (caudad) Philip Greenman, D.O., Serge Gracovetsky, shear, medial rotation (in-flare) and lateral and Hubert Godard. 2 www.rolf.org STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION / SEPTEMBER 2007 IN THE MEDIA SI: Jon, first, thanks for doing such a great job representing Rolfing. You seemed quite calm and collected on the show. What were you feeling inside? ® Jon Martine: I felt tired and a bit rushed since I had arrived at the hotel after mid- Rolfing Structural night and then had a bite to eat and got some sleep. My biggest concern was getting a coherent message across in such a short Integration on Oprah amount of time. I was in a limo by 7:00 am, and when I arrived at the studio we did a An Interview with Jon Martine and Sue Seecof quick rehearsal before the show. I paced By Anne Hoff, Certified Advanced Rolfer™ around the “Green Room” and talked to Amanda to settle down. Once I got going with the demo on Dr. Oz during the taping, it felt quite familiar and I was able to relax. On April 26, 2007, The Oprah Winfrey Show aired an episode entitled “Ask Dr. Oz”, which included I am used to working with clients and an- a segment on Rolfing® Structural Integration, featuring a demonstration by Certified Advanced swering questions in class, so this oriented Rolfer and Rolfing faculty member Jon Martine. The format of the show had Dr. Mehmet Oz – a and grounded me. cardiothoracic surgeon, author of health books, and frequent Oprah guest – fielding taped questions from viewers on various health and medical issues. The Rolfing piece aired first and lasted about SI: I heard that a lot of footage was filmed, six or seven minutes. Dr. Oz spoke quite favorably on Rolfing, and Oprah effectively endorsed it then the producers edited it down to the by saying, “I want to get Rolfed... this looks good to me” as she watched Jon work. final segment. How you feel about the end result that was aired? What were you most This was quite a PR coup, as it brought awareness of our work to a large viewing audience.