Rolfing^® Structural Integration 
In Brief 

Rolfing Structural Integration, is a holistic system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education which releases chronic stress/tension patterns and restores the body to its healthiest and most efficient alignment. By lengthening and repositioning the connective tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc.), Rolfing works to establish changes in the body's overall structure and restore the body to a more balanced state.

It was developed by Dr. Ida Rolf, a biochemist, in the 1940's. Dr. Rolf, who studied osteopathy, chiropractic and yoga while developing Rolfing, discovered that organization of the main segments of the body (head, shoulders, thorax, pelvis and legs) is a function of balanced tension in the connective tissues of the body. She also learned that connective tissue, especially fascia, is a plastic and moldable substance that is capable of significant change through sensitive manipulation.

Important:

I want to clarify something about this work 

•  Rolfing has the reputation for being painful, formulistic, and disregarding of emotional and energetic factors. Much of this reputation is based on the earlier days of Rolfing .

• Rolfing has significantly evolved over the last 40 years. 

• Please read the quotes below and see that Rolfing is not deep work, not myofascial release, not the 10 series recipe, and not any particular way of touching, stroking, or connecting with a person. 

• The application of Rolfing is an open and flexible approach, guided by what will work with a particular client at a particular time. 

• In an over all sense it is guided by the principals stated on this page and informed by the inspired and profound contributions of Ida and several generations of amazing and devoted Rolf practitioners.

"Man is an event on a line connecting heaven and earth. Rolfing Organizes man around that line so that he can be a more fully functioning human being." - Ida Rolf

"Rolfing^® is a school of inquiry into the optimal structure and function of the human being." - Ida Rolf

 "Posture is the potential for action. As Rolfers we are after grace, pleasure, aliveness, and coherence of the body in motion." 
Monica Caspari, Advanced Rolfer^® & Rolf Educator.

So, in my work I apply what I have learned in Rolfing, as well as my many other endeavors, to seek to release, evoke, educate, my clients to become more fully and happily embodied as their unique individuality. I, often, do not do the deep stroking motion that is inappropriately associated with painful Rolfing technique. For example, if I sense a holding pattern I will gently touch and move into that pattern and hold it and follow it as long as it take for the person to release. I am sensitive to the energetic and emotional factors that inhibit my client from having an easy relationship with sensation, emotion, self, energy, ground, sky, and movement. We work with whatever comes up in a way to facilitate release and integration myofascially, energetically, and emotionally.  I work with breath, attention, sound, visualization, and any number of massage, myofascial release, osteopathic, and chiropractic, techniques.

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