About ERA

The European Rolfing® Association e.V. (ERA) is a non-profit organisation with headquarters in Munich, Germany. Founded in 1991 for the benefit of all Certified Rolfers® practising in Europe, we are responsible for representing the profession to the European community and supporting our present members. A Rolfer must be a member of our association in order to be certified to practice Rolfing in Europe. Our school, Dr Ida Rolf Institute® Europe is responsible for the formation of new practitioners and continuing education.

There are three strategic pillars underlying our organisation:

  • Development of our Method — Brand and method awareness and recognition by the general public, healthcare organisations and government agencies.
  • Formation in our Method — Three distinct Certification programs for people interested in Rolfing as a career, as well as further development of our members.
  • Membership Service & Support — Support services and guidance for all members, common European marketing programs, affiliate network of Regional Rolfing Associations, and Continuing Education for the life-long development of our members.

What we do

We market ourselves to the widest possible European audience and are presently engaged in the following…

  • We actively maintain development, training and scientific co-operation with the Dr. Ida Rolf Rolf Institute (DIRI) and its affiliate organisations.
  • We hold Biennial Meetings for our membership with conferences and workshops. 
    • Read the review of our 2022 meeting on "Encounters - New Realities & Perspectives in Rolfing".
    • Our 2024 Biennial Meeting was on "Resilient Through Rolfing".
    • The next Biennial Meeting will take place 23-29 September 2026 in Innsbruck, Austria.
  • We actively work with our network of Regional Associations to:
    • promote the formal recognition of our method – Structural Integration in individual countries,
    • develop marketing and communication programs that position Rolfing Structural Integration as a valuable Complementary Discipline within the holistic, preventative and complementary health-fields.
    • deliver materials that can be of direct services to our members throughout Europe.
  • We seek to deliver and maintain the highest quality standards in our education programs and are supported by our multi-lingual European Faculty who continuously enrich their own education so that we can offer the most up to date content available. We also offer training in multiple locations and we teach in local languages.
  • We operate for the benefit of our members offering guidance, continuing professional development, common standards of practice and practical advice. The establishment of networking, mentoring and supervision systems to support our members, are measures help us maintain and meet the high standards expected of Rolfing Structural Integration practitioners by clients worldwide.

Our Vision, Mission & Values

VISION

We envision a world in which the benefits of Rolfing® Structural Integration and Rolf Movement™ are available to as many people as possible.

MISSION

Our mission is

  • To offer initial and advanced training in Rolfing® and Rolf Movement™, as well as continued professional development.  
  • To increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of Rolfing® and Rolf Movement™, chiefly with a Europe-wide focus, among  
    • the general public  
    • practitioners of alternative and complementary health (including mental health) therapies and other wellness communities (e.g. yoga, massage, Feldenkrais, Pilates, Alexander Technique, Tai-Chi, martial arts, coaching, Somatic Experiencing)
    • general and specialised medical and other healthcare practitioners (e.g. doctors, midwives, orthopaedic doctors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, psychotherapists)  
    • specific groups of people at different ages and stages of life (e.g.   adolescence, pregnancy, menopause, older age) 
    • allied interest communities (e.g. communities of sports, music, dance,  acting) 
    • relevant scientific research communities (e.g. fascial research, touch research, embodiment research)  
  • To support students and Certified Rolfers® and Rolf Movement™ practitioners to develop sustainable and successful careers within Rolfing® and Rolf Movement™.
VALUES
  • We are committed to the Rolfing® principle of adaptability, learning from our own and others’ experience, and from new research and other therapies, in line with Dr Ida Rolf’s vision for the future of Rolfing®.
  • We work to create a safe environment for our clients and other visitors, students and members, faculty and visiting faculty, staff and contractors.
  • We value care for others, self-care, fairness, transparency, and mutual respect.  
  • We are committed to transparency in our business practices and prioritise consultation and collaboration wherever possible. 
  • We commit to safeguarding best practices in respect of children and young adults, care leavers, and other vulnerable or at-risk groups. 
  • We value diversity and inclusion: of people and opinion, and among our staff and contractors, students and members, faculty and visiting teachers, and clients; where irreconcilable differences exist, we acknowledge plural viewpoints and seek resolution through transparent means. 
  • We recognise the limits of our expertise within a broader ecology of medical practice and complementary therapies and encourage referrals as appropriate to other practitioners. 
  • We uphold the equality and dignity of all people, regardless of race or ethnicity, socio-economic background, religious belief (or belief about religion), sex, sexuality, gender identity, age, neurodiversity, HIV or other medical status, or disability.  
  • We embrace physical diversity and stand against body-shaming.
  • We affirm the urgency and severity of human-driven climate crisis, and take steps to prioritise ecologically sustainable business practice, minimising or eliminating harmful environmental impacts.  
  • We oppose modern slavery and take steps to ensure that this is not a part of our supply chain. 

Latest News

Please visit our Blog section for our latest news.