Structure, Function, Integration – June 2025 / Vol. 53, No. 1

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 In this conversation, Rolfer™ Dorothy Miller asks author and Rolf Movement® instructor Mary Bond about how she teaches the idea of balance. Bond’s thoughts about her body mandala books, fascia, and biotensegrity are explored.

ABSTRACT Rolfer™, podcaster, and author Andrew Rosenstock continues his exploration into philosophy and touch by contrasting phenomenology and somatic bodywork. The body is not merely a biomechanical structure, but an active medium shaping our lived experience. Through touch, movement, and guided inquiry, practitioners help clients develop embodied awareness, shifting from seeing their body as an object to experiencing it as an integrated whole.

ABSTRACT Anatomist Gil Hedley recently finished his Nerve Tour lecture series, over the course of a year and a half, offering over a hundred dates where he described the whole human nervous system in a five-and-a-half-hour presentation. This article is a conversation between Hedley and Certified Advanced Rolfer™ Lina Amy Hack, who attended the North American Zoom presentation. They explore the nervous system as a “nerve tree,” and the interconnectedness of humans with nature. Hedley shares about the life of the donor for the whole-body nerve dissection, and the importance of honoring the donor’s gift while learning these profound anatomy lessons. He contrasts regional anatomy with his wholistic, integral anatomy model. The conversation highlights Hedley’s unique approach to anatomy education that emphasizes the living, interconnected nature of the human form.

ABSTRACT This article discusses dural tube adhesions, their causes, and a manual therapy point of view for their release. Author, Certified Advanced Rolfer™, and continuing education instructor Jeffrey Burch explores how adhesions form due to trauma (for example, whiplash) or infection (for example, meningitis), and how they may restrict spinal movement, leading to discomfort. Burch describes a manual intervention method that involves palpating vertebrae to assess the dural tube restrictions and then applying specific techniques to restore glide within the dural tube. He emphasizes precision and caution when working with the dural tube of your client.

ABSTRACT In this edition of Meet My Rolfer™, Mandy Cheek explores Kathy Rooney’s journey into the Rolfing® Structural Integration (SI) profession. She shares a few experiences from the many continuing education courses she has taken along the way, as well as her contributions to her Rolfing business in North Carolina. The conversation highlights Rooney’s dedication to advancing the profession by mentoring new Rolfers and adapting her work to her clients’ needs.

ABSTRACT In this rich conversation between Rolfer Lorraine Fauve and interstitium researcher Dr. Neil D. Theise, they focus on the discovery of the body-wide human interstitium – a fluid-filled connective tissue network – and its relationship to fascia, complexity theory, and holistic health traditions.