Blog

Gravity is a constant force that affects every aspect of our lives, from the way we stand to how we move.  Despite its significance, its impact on our physical health is often overlooked. Rolfing® Structural Integration uniquely addresses the relationship between the human body and gravity,…

by Cirsten Verleger, MD, Certified Advanced Rolfer® and Rolf Movement™ Practitioner Regain your natural capacity to effortlessly sit upright and prevent neck and back pain Too good to be true? Walking through life effortlessly and sitting upright and relaxed is our inborn nature. Why many people…

Increasing numbers of children and adolescents are using smartphones and other mobile devices. Their often significantly tilted posture during use can lead to serious postural damage, particularly during crucial growth phases. This article explores the risks of smartphone use for the development of…

With the new school year starting, children will once again have to carry heavy school bags. Teenagers increasingly tend to carry their bags or backpacks slung over one shoulder.  However, this habit can lead to back pain and other significant health problems, including postural issues, especially…

By Neal Anderson The Request In March of 2023, I was asked if I was interested in travelling to Munich to present at the 2024 ERA biennial membership conference and to teach a workshop afterwards. Several people were involved in asking me: Christina Howe, executive director at DIRI; Libby Eason,…

Learning the Magic of the 10-Series Recipe or How to Make Yourself Comfortable in Uncertainty  By Certified Rolfer® Stephanie Aimée Poole - Austria   Things are about to get real! Entering level 2 of the Rolfing® Structural Integration training was like giving a commitment to myself. Unlike in…

Tennis, Padel, or Squash can be incredibly enjoyable, but they come with the risk of developing health problems or sustaining injuries. One common issue is tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis.  This painful condition occurs when the tendons in the elbow are overloaded, usually by…

By Lucia Merlino, Certified Rolf Movement™ Instructor, Certified Rolfing® Instructor Metaphors have long been integral to human culture, serving therapeutic, mnemonic, and spiritual purposes across various domains. From the rituals of shamanism to the structured practices of modern psychotherapy…

Rolfing® Structural Integration is a bodywork technique developed by Dr. Ida Rolf in the mid-20th century. Despite its growing popularity as a method for relieving pain, improving posture and mobility, as well as enhancing general well-being, there is still a misunderstanding about the degree of…

When faced with physical discomfort, individuals often encounter various approaches. Two distinct methods, Rolfing® Structural Integration and Physiotherapy, stand out for their unique approaches to promoting health.  In this article we look at the differences between these two practices as…

By Certified Advanced Rolfer® and Rolf Movement™ Practitioner, Åsa Åhman, Stockholm, SwedenTwo decades ago, my journey into the realms of yoga commenced with reluctance. As a fervent fitness enthusiast and part-time aerobics instructor, the slow pace of yoga initially seemed incongruous with my…

In a recent interview with the German SZ-Magazin, renowned elite sports physiotherapist Klaus Eder emphasised the significance of the hip flexor for our bodies and how certain habits can harm this crucial muscle. Eder, who supported the German national soccer team for over 30 years, explained that…

By Certified Rolfer® and Rolf Movement™ Practitioner, Åsa Åhman, Stockholm, SwedenIn the world of anatomy and bodywork, understanding the human body is a dynamic process. From classical approaches that look at bones and muscles to more intricate models delving into connections within muscles and…

By Certified Rolfer® and Massage Therapist Jérôme Klingler, Paris, FranceRolfing® Structural Integration and massage are two widely recognised forms of bodywork, each with its unique approach, philosophy, techniques, and impact on the body. While they may seem similar on the surface and both aim to…

There is a deep connection between the breath and the heart in the areas of the mediastinum and diaphragm. Rolfing® Structural Integration, a method of bodywork, explores the interwoven dynamics of these inner structures and creates space for the heart to beat freely and the breath to flow…

By Certified Rolf Movement™ Instructor Pierpaola VolponesIn the midst of our fast-paced, modern lives, it's easy to overlook the intricate symphony of movements that our bodies perform each day. Rolf Movement™ is a method that awakens your body's natural alignment and movement patterns. It invites…

Athletes tend to use the same muscles over and over. They get tighter and tighter, and this has an effect on the muscles. We can stretch but not reach everything. Rolfing helps me reach areas like the ribs, abdominals, upper body, and hips that are hard to get."- Olympic skier, Mickey EganNot only…

In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards embracing natural movement and healthier postural habits. One practice gaining significant popularity is wearing barefoot shoes or minimalist footwear. These shoes are designed to mimic the feeling of walking barefoot while providing…

By Stephanie Aimée Poole  Can you remember that feeling of excitement when you were a kid, and you were about to visit a new playground? A playground that maybe your friends or your parents already told you a little bit about and that sounded just too good to be true? A playground that, so they…

By Certified Rolf Movement™ Instructor France Hatt-Arnold    In a world where the force of gravity accompanies every move, Ida P. Rolf has reminded us that the connection between movement and gravity is inescapable:   You have to get a new pattern that is appropriate dynamically to movement of…

By Tobias Elliot-Walter  I was working in London at a very exclusive membership club as Operations Director when the COVID pandemic started. London was one of many cities that was hit hard. I was infected with COVID early in that first wave. Even after three months I was still feeling weak and not…

Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, can significantly impact a person's ability to move and maintain a good quality of life. While medical treatments like L-Dopa and surgical interventions offer relief, there are complementary approaches that can play a crucial role in managing the…

In Rolfing® Structural Integration, the feet play a central role in harmonising the structure and function of the body. By treating the feet, mobilising their structures, and restoring their natural arch support, Rolfers lay the foundation for improved stability, enhanced movement and a more…

The start of a new school year brings excitement and anticipation for children and parents alike. However, one aspect that often goes unnoticed is the impact of heavy school bags on our little ones. Overloaded school bags can lead to fatigue, muscle tension, and back pain. Furthermore, they can…

By professional dancer and Certified Advanced Rolfer® Miquel De Jong     When I embarked on my career as a dancer, becoming a Rolfer® was the furthest thing from my mind. Life, however, has a way of leading us down unexpected paths, and that's precisely what happened to me. While dedicating many…

Running or sprinting puts a significant amount of strain on the body, especially on a runner's muscular and skeletal systems. Good posture and efficient movement patterns are therefore essential for runners.  Athletes can use the bodywork method of Rolfing® Structural Integration to achieve…

By Camilla Zacho, Clinical Psychologist & Certified Rolfer®   From Clinical Psychologist to Rolfer® Before I became a Rolfer, I was educated as a Clinical Psychologist. I studied at The University of Copenhagen for 5 years and then I had 2 years of clinical practise which in Denmark…

The Tensegrity Model of the pelvis is a concept used in Rolfing® Structural Integration to describe the complex structure and function of the human pelvis. It is based on the idea of tensegrity, which states that structures are stable when maintained by a balance of tension and compression forces…

By John van Roosmalen  I am a massage therapist. I did my training at the Akademie voor Massage en Beweging in Amsterdam. It is a four-year course, including Western Medicine Fundamentals. I am a career changer, Massage Therapy and Rolfing is my second career. I have been a scientist, a chemist,…

By Kostas Stavridis Having moved from Greece to the Netherlands as a chef in a high-end restaurant, I have always been interested in making people happy and meeting their needs. At one point, I realized that the healing properties of food and helping people were more in my focus than the actual…

By Rolfing® client Rinke My name is Rinke and I have just finished the ten Rolfing sessions. The main reason for starting Rolfing was to get more in touch with my body, as a support to healing from a complicated birth of my being. While I gained more awareness of my body, directly, through…

By Eileen McEwan I first heard about Rolfing through my sister who had been advised to go for Rolfing sessions to help her with her recovery from a complicated fracture in her leg. Something in the way she described what happened in these sessions triggered me to want to experience it for myself,…

By Dr. Alexandra Haugg Actually, Rolfing® Structual Integration is already my third career step, if I consider well; it is nothing less than a logical step following my former activities – even if they might look pretty heterogeneous. What was your original career before Rolfing? I started very…

By professional dancer Jennifer-Lynn Crawford I started 'late' for my initial dance-passion, which was classical ballet - I began at a professional school when I was 16, which, for women in that part of the dance world, is fairly ancient. Most of my peers were apprenticing at companies when I was…

By professional dancer Judit Ruiz Onandi Fascia treatment It actually took me quite some time to discover Rolfing Structural Integration. I followed anatomy of movement workshops, and it was through them that I discovered about fascia. The teacher explained that it is an organ that both connects…

My name is Romana Netzberger, I am a Rolfer, a biologist, a yoga teacher, and I work and live on a small farm in the beautiful Mostviertel in Austria. What was your original career before Rolfing®? Already as a child I was very interested in natural sciences I always loved to be outdoors. After…

By Stefan Kirn, Certified Rolfer® When I graduated from dental medicine and began to practice, the feeling that something still was missing appeared soon. I wanted to pay a more comprehensive attention to people and therefore I explored the edges of dentistry: Acupuncture, medical hypnosis,…

By Lea Kabirschke, Certified Rolfer® Osteopathy A colleague of mine who works both as an osteopath and as a Rolfer® illustrates the comparison between Rolfing® and osteopathy with the tracks of a railway. The long rails are like Rolfing and the cross-ties like osteopathy. Osteopathy and Rolfing…

When I was 6 months pregnant with my son Ian, I started Phase 3 of the Rolfing® training. Although I had doubts that the intensive training might be a little too much for me and the baby, it turned out to be the perfect container, in which I felt safe at any given moment. I was supported by my…

Scars are the result of accidental or intentional openings of skin and deeper tissues, that usually would not have been exposed to the outside world. The remaining lines we see after wound healing on the skin is not the whole story, often far from it. In the attempt to not only seal the unwanted…

Already as a child I was confronted with the topic of chronic pain. When I was about 11 years old, both of my Achilles tendons became inflamed. Over the following years, the pain spread to my entire feet and lower legs. I slipped from one relieving posture to the next and before long my knees,…

Our culture teaches us that good or optimal posture is achieved by lifting the chin, throwing the shoulders back, bracing the back and tucking in the gut. It is interesting to note that the body shape, our culture adopts as ideal, is practically a prescription for creating and/or strengthening the…

As a former university physical education teacher, why did you decide to become a Rolfer®?Hello everybody, I’m Markus Roßmann. So, after studying sport, I really wanted to learn something to treat and to touch people and I really didn’t want to become a physiotherapist. I am not sure why, but I was…

As a Sport scientist, why did you choose to become a Rolfer®? When I started my studies in Sport Science at the Technical University Munich, some of the work, the ideas, and concepts of Rolfing® were somewhat already familiar to me. I had finished my first Ten Series just before my first semester…

Musical instrumental training is based on three foundations: technical training / posture and practice structure musical expression / emotionality, sensations and their realisation historical background and analysis of works. As a main subject teacher for the viola, in my daily teaching work I…

For many years, it has always been a special pleasure for me to work with musicians. As a member of a vocal ensemble, my professional interest in the specific challenges of the musical profession is combined with my personal joy in making music. Together with my wife, Bettina Löns (PT and dancer)…

Just before the pandemic hit, I finished a 8 year long tour with a small band of classical and jazz musicians. We had sung in concert halls, theaters and festivals and usually I would stumble off stage in my high heels with excruciating back pain. I blamed my heels every single time but it didn't…

As a Dancer, why did you choose to become a Rolfer®? It was more a series of happenings in my life. If I look at these happenings with the clarity of hindsight what I see is that it was part of my journey in striking the balance between stability and flow. And of course, as someone who had already…

What are the benefits of Rolf Movement™? One of the many genius aspects of Dr Ida Rolf’s legacy is the ‘recipe’; ten sessions that not only ‘resets’ the connective tissue through better organisation and relationship, but also that re-educates the client into understanding their patterns and how to…

As a Rolfer®, why did you choose to do the Rolf Movement™ course? The Rolf Movement™ training for me has been a treasure of tools and ways of working that I could immediately apply in my Rolfing® practice. But I have also seen this wealth of knowledge grow and become deeper over time, even for…

As a Rolfer®, why did you choose to do the Rolf Movement™ course? When I first studied Rolfing® I was so fascinated by how my teachers talked about movement and how they themselves moved. But at that time, I never thought that I would become a Rolf Movement™ practitioner as I was not ready to show…

As someone who practices Yoga, why did you choose to become a Rolfer®? Yoga and Rolfing® go very much hand in hand. They are my two sources of inspiration and support in life.  I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to learn the skills needed to be a Rolfer, and to be able to help people in…

As someone who practices Yoga, why did you choose to become a Rolfer®? Back problems led me to yoga, knee pain to Rolfing. The mobility of my spine was severely limited and my doctor recommended starting yoga. I did this and quickly noticed that my mobility and flexibility improved significantly. I…

The use of smartphones and tablets is contributing to a significant rise in postural complaints in children and teenagers, and our members report increasing demand from parents for Rolfing® Structural Integration. In support of this, the European Rolfing® Association has launched a dedicated ‘Heads…

Une remise d’aplomb de l’organisme par la manipulation du fascia 'A restoration of the organism through the manipulation of the fascia system, A journey into the heart of gravitational intimacy'. by France Hatt-Arnold, is the latest addition to the variety of specialized books about Rolfing®.…

The new e-book “Meet Rolfing®, meet yourself” by certified Rolfing® Instructor, Pierpaola Volpones, takes you on a journey to explore how Rolfing can help you to meet yourself. Read more. Learn more about Rolfing. Find a Rolfer near you. Train to become a Certified Rolfer®.

“We do workshops, and I’ve been thinking about the name for one of our new courses. I like ‘Echoes from your Core.’”  Says Schmitz. “You see, that’s what Rolfing® gives you. You may not immediately get into it but you do suddenly get the echo of something deeper. Maybe you are just happy with the…