A Doula’s View of Rolf Movement® Integration in Pregnancy
Monica Caspari Heidi Massa: Monica, before you became a Rolfer you worked as a doula for nineteen years. How did you get into that? Monica Caspari: Though my academic training had been in nutrition, when I was about twenty-five years old, my nineteen-year-old brother was dying of cancer in excruciating pain. You know, back […]
Changing the Trajectory of Life, Part 2
Editor’s note: Part 1 of this article, concerning Rolfing® Structural Integration (SI) for children, was published in the September 2017 issue of this Journal. Introduction My exploration into working with pregnant women came about as a direct result of the admonition that Ida Rolf put in the first edition of her book. This was […]
Fascia: Exquisite Medium of Human Expression
A rigid person is a disciple of death. The soft, supple, and delicate are the lovers of life. -Tao Te Ching A hundred years ago, a chiropractor named Andrew T. Still sat with paper with pen, composing his thoughts about fascia—and as he wrote, he breathed in awe of it. Reverence, utter fascination, and an […]
Rolfing® SI After Cesarean Section
Introduction All over the world, the legal and traditional regulations around pregnancy, birthing, and postnatal care are changing. I live and work in Germany, where, both by tradition but also by law since the 1930s, a midwife must be present at every delivery. Only in emergency cases are doctors alone allowed to help. Even in […]
Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Rolfing® SI
Shonnie Carson: Would you discuss your thoughts on when and how it is appropriate to do Rolfing Structural Integration (SI) for a client who is pregnant, what work is appropriate and what is not, and what things practitioners should be cautious about? Pilar Martin: I think of Rolfing SI with adults as more of a […]
Concerns and Considerations for Rolfing® SI During Pregnancy
The dictum Primum non nocere or “First, Do No Harm” is often attributed to the Greek physician Hippocrates. While Hippocrates made statements similar to this, the exact phrase is attributed to French physician Auguste François Chomel (1788–1858; Wikipedia: “Primum non nocere”). While originally written for medicine, the rule to do no harm applies to our […]
Pregnancy and Postpartum
Q: Women can come to us with unique circumstances when pregnant or postpartum. Can you share something from your understanding or experience related to working at these times? A: To say that a pregnant woman is a body in motion (to borrow from Emily Conrad) is the least of it. Not only is she changing […]
The Professionalization of Structural Integration
The Professionalization of Structural Integration This paper explores current challenges in the professionalization of Structural Integration (SI) and advocates for the adoption of clear, relatable, client-centered standards to guide our presentation of the work. Client expectations place SI in the realm of healthcare, and mainstream healthcare standards include public accountability for any claims we make. […]
The Mystery of Consciousness Is the Mystery of the Body
Anne Hoff: Let’s get some background first, Jeff. What brought you to Rolfing Structural Integration (SI)? How many years have you been doing it, and what made you become a Rolfer in the first place? Jeffrey Maitland: I was certified in 1979, so I’ve been here a long time. What got me into Rolfing SI […]
A Compilation of Practitioner Stories on Working with Children
Three Stories on Rolfing® SI for Babies and Children By Deanna Melnychuk, Certified Advanced Rolfer I waited in vain for my very pregnant client to show up. She regularly came for Rolfing Structural Integration (SI) as it helped ease her back. I called; no answer. Eleven days later, my client comes in carrying a baby […]