A Structural Approach to Movement
In physics, movement of an object is described by its trajectory: the sequence of its locations in space over time. The movement equation s = f (t) describes the relationship between place and time. When forces that don’t cancel out come into play, “s” is at least a square function of time. They effect an […]
Technical Catalogue – II
The techniques are described outside the context of integrating the whole. They must not be used this way but only if properly indicated by that context. They can otherwise introduce disorder into the structure instead of order. Narrow Shoulder Blades One of several aspects when analyzing the yoke of the shoulder-girdle structurally is the comparison […]
Technical Catalogue – III
The techniques are described outside the context of integrating the whole. They must not be used this way but only if properly indicated by that context. They can otherwise introduce disorder into the structure instead of order. General Lengthening of the Surface of the Back on the Bench To lengthen the back effectively, it must […]
Sitting
Rolfing is “a physical method for producing better human functioning …” (Rolf, p.29). The formulation suggests at the same time that Structural Integration is in the service of “better function” as well as that it is better function which decides whether a structure is integrated or not, and to what degree. Quality of function is […]
The Longer and the Shorter Leg
From the block model it becomes immediately evident why differences in leg length are highly relevant in the field of Structural Integration. The cranial bordering plane of the thigh segment is then not horizontal, and so the pelvic segment which rests on it is not horizontal in the frontal plane either. It will be lower […]
Shortness
Ida Rolf was fond of the saying that “the map is not the territory”. It is probably meant first as a warning not to mistake the map for the territory. A map cannot even be said to represent the territory but only certain aspects of it. This first feature of a map is well known. […]
The Shorter Leg
In the practical work, I often had the impression that the shorter leg was associated with anterior pelvic torsion and knee conflict. I became curious to investigate what seemed to potentially turn out as a meaningful pattern. Curiosity was joined by a need when sometimes unexpectedly the legs shifted their relationship of shorter to longer […]
Technical Catalogue – IV
The techniques are described outside the context of integrating the whole. They must not be used this way but only if properly indicated by that context. They can otherwise introduce disorder into the structure instead of order. Lengthening of the Pectorals With internals the shoulders are anterior and so the pectorals are generally primary short. […]
In Search for Integrity and Lift in the Human Structure or: Tensegrity Revisited
Rolfing – ist is said – attempts to develop integrity. The word is so rich in moral, psychological, social and other meanings that it would be folly to venture a definition other than the obvious one: Integrity is the opposite of falling apart. Therefore, a theoretical model for integrity in the human structure must first […]
Segmental Standard Rotation
In the field of Structural Integration, the term “rotation” is used in two ways. In the broader sense it corresponds to the general definition of a body “turning around an axis” (Webster’s). The axis may have any location and direction, but most important are the three axes of the coordinates of the body derived from […]