Polyvagal Theory for Rolfers™
It is hard to know what Dr. Rolf would have said about polyvagal theory. I think she would say that Rolfers need to know about this wiring that governs the state regulation of the human animal. As Rolfers, our hands are making contact with the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and our interventions are impacting the […]
Refining Dr. Rolf’s Lateral Line
During Dr. Rolf’s class in 1972 I took careful notes. Having recently learned calligraphy, I wrote my notes in a freshly minted italic hand (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Page 2 from my calligraphed 1972 class notebook. Dr. Rolf was introducing her ideas about plasticity, gravity, and alignment. Rolf’s lectures began with a discussion of […]
The Three-Dimensional Animal
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook […]
The Human Animal
“Karma no!” Carli’s exclamation overlaps the immediate din of cat-dog conflict by the food room’s door. “Bad girl!” Swiftly admonishing the dog and swooping up the cat, Carli seizes control of the situation. She parents and socializes our pets as naturally and spontaneously as any mother would her rather geriatric children. It had to be […]
Beamer: The Chihuahua That Somehow Knew
[:en]I don’t work with animals very often. They just don’t seem to come my way. There was one time, however, that I did work with a small pretty dog, Beamer. This has remained an experience of some wonder for me. About eight years ago, I was staying at the comfortable and artistically nurturing home of […]
Sensory Awareness and Feline Play
A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. Groucho Marx Stinky the Cat As I was stretching on my hardwood floor, I felt whiskers tickle my face. They belonged to my cat, Stinky. I laughed and moved him over to get back to the work of opening up my pelvis […]
Dispatch from the Amazon: Wild Dolphins Volunteer to Help Special Children
Heidi Massa: You’ve made an innovative collaboration with wild river dolphins in your work with disabled children. Where do you do this? Igor Simões Andrade: In a rural area about forty kilometers from Manaus, a Brazilian city founded in the late 1600s in the heart of the Amazon rain forest. HM: Manaus is a fascinating […]
Equine Motor-Control Therapy Using Perceptual and Coordinative Techniques
Introduction Structural work with horses and other animals has been well researched and documented, and is usually performed undertheguidanceofalicensedveterinarian. In addition to the massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture treatments that are well- established in the equestrian community, Rolfing® Structural Integration is now also becoming a more common practice, thanks in large part to our colleagues, Jim […]
Rolfing® SI for the Performance Horse
Introduction My current primary focus is within the showing segment of the hunter/jumper spectrum. My model is based on a five- session series that includes both pre- and post-performance components, as well as pre- and post-shipment care. Many of these horses show throughout the country. Another component of my practice is rehabilitation for the injured […]
Rolfing SI for Horse and Rider
When a horse and rider move in harmony together, it is a spectacular melding of two beings becoming one. There is a balance in the connection that allows them to move effortlessly through space and gravity. The mind-body maps of horse and rider merge, and they become something more than their individual selves. This harmony […]