How Does the Body Maintain Its Shape? – Part III
This is the third and final article in a series that answers a questions posed by Rolfers about the scientific basis of Rolfing. This question arose in 1983 correspondence between Steve Bankes and Siana Goodwin. Siana is helping us find productive ways of approaching the scientific literature. She asks, “Can we start our literature search […]
A Conversation with Michael Salveson
Bill: There has been a split among the instructors of the Institute with four instructors leaving, one to start another school. What are the reasons for this split? Are there other than personal reasons? Michael: Yes, I think the instructors reached a stage of development where divergent views of the work resulted in disagreement about […]
Ethics: Defending Our Codes and Practices
For the past three years I have been in the unenviable position of overseeing the ethical considerations of the Rolf Institute. I have read many letters and articles pointing out how ineffective and meaningless our codes and standards are, many stating that if only we were to make the policing of our ethics tighter it […]
For the Public Good
As I said earlier, we consider our first mission is turning our Rolfers who are really qualified to tackle community problems and to move toward their solution. In this area, some of you may remember a session now quite a while ago when I discussed an old yogic idea, essentially an idea that we have […]
Rolfing and the Neuro-Myofascial Net
Leaning with your elbow on a piece of dead chicken wing does not feel like Rolfing. It seems to lack the kind of organic tissue response that seduces Rolfers to mumble things like “YEAH” while leaning with the elbow for a while into a tissue spot. In my experiment of trying to rolf an anesthesized […]
How to Ask About Musculo-Skeletal Pain and When It Is Not Safe to Work with It
Introductory Remarks The underlined words below are used in the traditional medical language and should be used or at least known when we inquire about pain. They are very descriptive even if they are often based on Latin and not used in daily speech. They nonetheless are very clear and every well trained person in […]
The Other Side of Rolfing
Since the early 1970’s I have been enamored with the healing aspect of bodywork. For years I was involved in some very progressive healing communities and practices and look back on that time as when the strongest foundations for my life’s work were laid down. When I came to the Rolf Institute twelve years ago, […]
Multiple Sclerosis
A progressive inflammatory demyelinization of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Presents with multiple and varied neurological symptoms. Usual course is intermittent, progressive, and relapsing. There seems to be a strong genetic component in susceptibility to the disease. Etiology is unknown; theories include autoimmune and/or viral causation. Structural clinical symptoms include: -joint […]
The Teachings of Anne Wilson Schaef and Rolfing
BH: Tell me about your training with Anne Wilson Schaef. How has it affected your approach to Rolfing? Have you started doing counseling during your sessions? SS: One of Anne’s views which I’ve adopted and that I’ve found to really be true, is the belief that the body will innately heal itself. We as therapists, […]
Dissection
Note: I have recreated conversations (written in italics) from memory. These are not direct quotes but an attempt to capture the gist of what transpired during the workshop. My apologies to anyone in the class who feels misrepresented. Hypodermic needles unnerve me. Oh, I don’t mind preparing Vitamin B shots for my wife or, when […]