ABSTRACT Rolfer™ and author Alan Richardson explores the intersection between the felt sense of being and Rolfing® Structural Integration, where the work of structural integration promotes embodied presence through hands-on manipulation of the body’s structures and integration of the client’s sensory experience. His observations of people over the last few decades have led him to wonder if technology has shifted not only people’s social engagement styles, but also their bodily awareness, leading to a culture where people feel disconnected from both their bodies and their relationships. Western culture has long considered the mind and body separate, with bodily awareness often resulting in a lack of awareness regarding the nuances of pain, the physical experiences associated with emotions, and a missed opportunity to appreciate the joys of pleasant sensations. Richardson discusses three relationships of embodiment: the relationship a person has with their body, their environment, and gravity. A key element in feeling our body in space is sensing our relationship with gravity.
by