𝐃𝐫. 𝐈𝐝𝐚 𝐏. 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ... 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬

Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration

... Inside of the Inside of its Classic Ten Lessons 

My profession is Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration; certified as a Rolfer in 1981. I am as enthusiastic now as ever over the potential for Humans to learn to live consciously growing in alignment with the Force of Gravity ... for optimal health, peak performance, and full creative expressiveness. Enjoying being really alive!

This is written to specifically lay out the themes and goals. And in particular, what it is in terms of it’s being a received experience. Literally, a "body" of knowledge. Not book learning; but a realized, tangible take away. You feel it. “The proof in the pudding” kind of thing.

For a comprehensive presentation of what goes into this peerless and definitive body of work here is a link to the Standards of Practice which lays out all the many particulars in detail.

Traditional Classic Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration is formatted in a ten session series. There is informed touch and guided movement. There are distinct themes and hallmark goals for each session in the series.

Dr. Ida P. Rolf originated this approach toward the evolution of full human potential. She named it “Structural Integration”. Practitioners of this approach use manual touch and guided movement, working in partnership with their clients addressing areas of the body related to each session’s theme and goal[s].

This method is not a therapy. It is a training, with lessons; there’s homework. Living in balanced alignment with the Gravitational Force of the Earth is the essential goal ... “Gravity is the tool. Gravity is the therapist” [IPR]. But this is not a didactic, intellectual exercise ... it’s experiential; there’s a takeaway, ownership. The creative potential of standing in your own right, on your own two feet. As a whole Human Being. Free from outdated and unneccesary conditioning(s). It is “somatic” and “wholistic”. Somatic in the sense that the whole Human being is engaged, but at the somatic/tactile body level. Wholistic in that all levels are affected ... body, mind, psyche, spirit.

Dr. Rolf practiced and taught in the mid-late 20th Century. The work was called “Rolfing”; and practitioners, “Rolfers”. Her original school was the Rolf Institute for Structural Integration; now as the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute. Graduates of that school are certified to practice under the registered name as “Rolfers”; and as members they are entitled to call the work “Rolfing”. Since the Institute’s founding in 1971 several other schools have branched out internationally, each under different identity names. Schools which practice in line with Dr. Rolf teachings are recognized by the International Association of Structural Integration.

This lays out the inner side of the work. Think of each of the elements as embodied understandings, not just concepts. Practical and recognizable “percepts”.

INSIDE THE TEN [10] SESSIONS ... 

OUTCOMES/OWNERSHIP

1-2-3 SURFACE SET

1. “BREATH” — There’s breath. I’m alive! Breath moves my body ... everywhere.

2. “BASE” — I can sit ... just sit. I can stand ... just stand. My feet are my foundation. The Earth is my place. Right here. Right now.

3. “SPACE” — My body has dimension. It has orientation and direction ... front/back, side to side, up and down.

4-5-6-7 CORE SET

4. “ENTER” — My body has a center. Inside. It goes up.

5. “EXPAND” —Moving upward. Expanding inward.

6. “LEVEL”— Horizontality. Feels even.

7. “TOP” — My head goes on top. Squarely.

8-9-10 “INTEGRATION/COMPLETION SET

8. “ADJUST LOWER HALF” — From waist down. Fine tune. Detailing. Connecting.

9. “ADJUST UPPER HALF” — From waist up. Fine tune. Detailing. Connecting.

10. “STACKED” — Together. A whole. Complete.

THE TAKE AWAY


Things feel symmetrical side to side. Horizontal/even. Connected. Uplifted. “Oh! That’s integrity”. Autonomy. Net, net ... “10 toes in front of two feet”. Simple, like “Chop wood.” “I’m alive!” "WOW!"