The ‘Recipe’ in History and Considerations for the Future
Introduction In the Rolfing® Structural Integration (SI) community the place of the ‘Recipe” in Dr. Rolf’s vision of her work is a long-standing and frequently heated controversy. Some practitioners learned in their Basic Training that Rolf intended the Ten Series as a central guiding principle in her work, something for each practitioner to use […]
The Superficial Layer as Sensory Envelope
ABSTRACT The author continues to develop his body of work with the Art of Yield (Tahata and Agneesens 2012) and the role of ma (Tahata 2018), bringing in cell science to understand at a deeper level the impact of tension in the superficial layer, the role of yielding and ma in the ‘superficial’ sessions […]
Rolf’s Ten Series Conceived as Steps Towards Normalized Motor Patterns and Stability
ABSTRACT Kevin Frank and Caryn McHose, both Rolfers® and Rolf Movement® practitioners, explore the Ten Series from the perspective of normalized motor patterns and stability in both an overall discussion and a session-by-session analysis. What Is Integration and How Does It Happen? Caryn McHose: Kevin, where do you see us starting in this wonderful topic […]
The Ten Series: A Phylogenetic Approach
ABSTRACT Author Michael Boblett draws on his background in anthropology to examine the Ten Series and the work of each session in terms of phylogeny and regaining aspects of our evolution that have become ‘lost’ to us. Michael Boblett There was a time when you were not a slave, remember that. You walked alone, […]
Fascia Insights – How Does Rolfing® SI Produce Its Effects? A Review of Hypotheses and Evidence, Part 1
ABSTRACT There are numerous theories that attempt to explain how Rolfing Structural Integration (SI) works, but little evidence or research backing any of them. In this first of a series of columns reviewing these theories, Eric Jacobson discusses hypothesized mechanisms for Rolfing SI that are biomechanical. A future column will consider other possible mechanisms. Investigations […]
Rolfing® SI and Sports
ABSTRACT Russell Stolzoff talks with Joshua Malpass, Rolfer and endurance athlete, about his sports, his Rolfing Structural Integration (SI) journey, and his practice.. Russell Stolzoff: Thanks for taking the time to do this. To start I’d like to ask you to talk about your background and how you got into Rolfing Structural Integration. Joshua Malpass: […]
‘Homework’: Why and How?
Rita Geirola Introduction As Rolfers®, we all have had the opportunity to witness how our work improves our clients’ lives, whether their physical structures or, sometimes, deeper, more all-encompassing transformations. When clients experience the benefits of the changes that have happened, they wonder how to ‘keep’ the new, pleasurable organization and often ask for advice. […]
Bringing Other Modalities into Our Work
ABSTRACT Many Rolfers study and include other modalities in their practices, following the lead of Ida Rolf, who was deeply influenced by osteopathy and pointed some of her early students and teachers toward explorations of the cranial system. Here faculty of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® discuss adding other modalities to our work. Q: […]
Ninja Movement Exercises and Vertical Bone Alignment
ABSTRACT The author, Tsuguo Hirata, studies ninja movement arts from a teacher of that form who also exemplifies in his movement the goals of Rolfing® Structural Integration (SI). He shares with us the importance of proper alignment of vertical bones, which allows gravity to transmitting through the bones, which in turn allows soft-tissue tensions to […]
Deviating from the ‘Recipe’
ABSTRACT Dr. Rolf’s ‘Recipe’ gives us a proven and intelligent way to work with body and ‘being’ to achieve structural change. The author shares her personal experience, both as client and practitioner, on the need for learning to trust yourself to ‘deviate’ from the Recipe. In addition to her experience, the author believes the Recipe […]