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.

ABSTRACT Author and clinical psychologist Heather L. Corwin explores the concept of witnessing as a crucial skill that she applied in her former career as a Rolfer™, in her current clinical work, and in her personal relationships. Healthcare providers in particular benefit from developing witnessing as a skill, which involves observing, acknowledging, and giving meaning to experiences. Witnessing fosters self-awareness, emotional regulation, and deeper connections with others. Corwin discusses the role of mindfulness, presence, and intention in witnessing, highlighting their significance in therapeutic relationships in particular.

ABSTRACT Delve into the nature of pain through the lens of Certified Advanced Rolfer™ and Rolf Movement® Practitioner Alan Richardson. In this article, Richardson distinguishes between acute pain and chronic pain, and highlights how modern understandings of pain have evolved from a purely biomedical model to a biopsychosocial perspective. The role of Rolfing Structural Integration with clients who are experiencing chronic pain include: validation and safety, pain education, body map refinement, graded exposure, and counterirritation. By leveraging the body’s natural capacity for neuroplastic change, Rolfers and structural integration practitioners can enhance recovery from chronic pain.

ABSTRACT Holism and reductionism both play a role in the philosophical origins of healthcare. In this article, Rolfer® Alan Richardson compares the holistic nature of Dr. Ida Rolf’s work and philosophies with the reductionist methodologies of allopathic medicine.

ABSTRACT Alan Richardson uses lockdown time in the pandemic to reflect on his training and career in Rolfing® Structural Integration and the value of our community