Bodies and the Moral Life
One of the most remarkable things I learned during long years of graduate studies was that the moral life, which the ethicist presumes to study, is lived with bodies. I learned this quite by accident. In my naive attempt to actually read everything which was required in my course of studies, I developed butt aches, […]
An Organic Critique of Natural Walking
There was no exaggeration, to my mind, when Gael Ohlgren’s and David Clark’s article “Natural Walking” was called important and original in several corners of the world of Rolfian studies. I believe it is important, important enough to deserve a considered critique. The start of the paper strikes me as crucial: Namely, a step-by-step critique […]
Rolfing Movement Integration
Two aspects of this un usual book help to make it one of the most interesting and useful self help books available. First, it de-emphasizes the role of the body worker while emphasizing the role of the client. This gives the book a populist tone, while empowering the client to be more informed when she […]
Bodies, Health, and Consciousness
True healing, as many of us who are professionally involved in the many different forms of hands-on work are increasingly coming to recognize, is a multi-faceted undertaking. While the individual body worker technique in which a practitioner has received his or her primary training may work extremely well with a great many of the clients […]
In Profile… An Interview with Will Johnson
Self-effacing, tall and sinewy, innocent, just slightly but pleasantly in your face, 48 year old Rolfer, Will Johnson, originally from Minnesota, was trained in 1976. He and his wife Lyn have founded The Institute for Embodiment Training in Cobble Hill, British Columbia, 3 hours ferry and car north of Vancouver. He has sons six and […]
How to Recognize Symptoms and Signs of Heart Disease in a Client Who is Unaware of the Problem
Depending on the severity of the problem heart disease can be a relative or an absolute contra-indication to Rolfing. Suspected heart disease is however always an absolute reason for referral before starting our work. Symptoms (what the client may tell you, if you ask) The symptoms of cardiac disease are weakness, fatigue, palpitations, light headedness, […]
Acupuncture Points, Meridians and Stripes
I continue in my process of doing the 10 sessions with an awareness of the locationof acupuncture points, meridians and stripes. This approach continues to yield new insights into human structure and opens new ways of effectively reaching the goals of the individual sessions. Before examining the inner arch of the foot in the second […]
Natural Walking
Over the years the Rolfing° community has discovered many pearls of wisdom dealing with what elegant and economical walking looks like and how to evoke it. Yet these pearls have been loosely held within the context of the standard kinesiological model. We have never put together a model of walking that makes structural sense and […]
Tonic Function: A Gravity Response Model for Rolfing Structural and Movement Integration
A Spectrum of Gravity Issues The founder of Structural Integration, Ida Rolf, emphasized the importance of gravity in considering the evolution of human potential. She implied that the importance of understanding gravity was missing in the osteopathic approach 2. Throughout their respective histories, the martial arts, tai chi, yoga, dance theory, and other schools of […]
The Other Side of Rolfing
Since the early 1970’s I have been enamored with the healing aspect of bodywork. For years I was involved in some very progressive healing communities and practices and look back on that time as when the strongest foundations for my life’s work were laid down. When I came to the Rolf Institute twelve years ago, […]