An Interview with Åsa Åhman and Louise Almgren, Certified Advanced Rolfers® from Stockholm, Sweden
Discover Rolfing® Structural Integration through the eyes of two dedicated practitioners, Åsa Åhman and Louise Almgren. As passionate advocates of holistic health, they have made it their mission to bring more Certified Rolfers® to Sweden.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Level 1 of the Rolfing training in Stockholm, starting in October 2024, Åsa and Louise share their insights on the benefits of Rolfing, the impact it has had on their lives, and why you should consider this unique path for personal and professional growth.
Who are you and why are you doing this interview?
Åsa: I am Åsa Åhman, a Rolfer® in Stockholm since 2015 and a yoga teacher since 2006. In Sweden, we are only six Rolfers, and we need more colleagues. Sweden needs more Rolfers! Our goal with this interview is to raise awareness about the upcoming Level 1 training in October 2024 in Stockholm. We hope to inspire more people to explore this holistic approach to bodywork and ultimately become Certified Rolfers®.
Louise: My name is Louise Almgren, and I have been practicing Rolfing for 33 years. Five years ago, I returned to Sweden after 36 years in the US, with a vision to expand the community of Rolfers here. Currently, all Swedish Rolfers are based in Stockholm. I have clients coming from all over Sweden which is not ideal given the scope of our work. We want and need trained Rolfers in other parts of the country as well as more people in Stockholm.
The intention with having the Level 1 - Myofascial Foundation in Stockholm was first of all to make it easily accessible for potential Rolfers as it is the pre-requisite course for further Rolfing training. These courses are valuable for anyone interested in understanding the Myofascial system, whether for personal growth or professional development.
Can you provide us with a brief overview of what Rolfing® Structural Integration is?
Louise: Rolfing® Structural Integration is a method primarily for people with chronic conditions who have not found relief through other therapies. Rolfing works by balancing the entire body, regardless of the symptoms. When the physical body balances, so does the emotional and the mental body, as traumas accumulated throughout one’s life are released and reintegrated. One ends up feeling lighter, pain-free, more resilient in how we act and respond to ourselves and the world around us. We need that on a personal level, as well as on a societal level. It is as relevant today as ever.
Åsa: I find that Rolfing can be a way of regaining physical trust. Instead of holding on, we can once again rely on what is outside and trust gravity to flow through us so that we stand on our feet, but also relate to the space around us in a more trusting way. Rolfing also adds to the details of your body map, increases proprioception, so the body knows itself better. This allows the body to take care of itself and heal better.
Why should someone consider becoming a Rolfer®?
Åsa: This training is beneficial for anyone interested in holistic health, especially those already working in massage, physiotherapy, osteopathy, – or naprapats which is very common in Sweden. But also if you are working with movement, as a yoga teacher, pilates teacher, dancer or personal trainer. Even if you're from a different background, like I was with a master’s in computer science and engineering, and you just want a change, you can still make a significant career shift towards Rolfing.
Louise: People from diverse backgrounds choose to become Rolfers because they have been deeply affected by Rolfing and experienced profound personal healing. For example, I had severe back pain from a sports injury, and after trying numerous therapies (chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage etc.), Rolfing provided relief. Within 15 min of the first session, I knew this was to be my work. It took 12 sessions before I was back in balance.
As I have recovered from many other traumas (car accidents, ski accident, stomach pumped as a 2-year-old, c-section, many stitches from another birth, mastectomy with chemo and radiation, etc.), I am now so grateful to be able to say that at the age of 61, I have never felt so resilient, flexible and light ever before. The ability to help others achieve similar transformations is incredibly rewarding.
What do you love about being a Rolfer®?
Louise: Rolfing has become a way of life; evolving, understanding, and learning are thankfully endless. I personally love the way this work restores hope and quality of life in such a profound way. Working with clients on their healing journey, sharing their life stories, as one layer after another integrates. It is a great responsibility and privilege to be able to share my knowledge and together uncover the path back to balance, integration, and trust.
Åsa: Rolfing has changed everything in me and my life, and all for the better. I feel very privileged that I can continue to learn and stay curious every day in my practice! People often ask me if I don't miss having colleagues, like in an office. But I feel that the connection I have with my clients supersedes anything you could get in an office environment. When you work the way we do, we get to the important stuff right away, and over time, as the relationship between us grows, an even deeper connection emerges, as deeper levels are revealed in my client’s body.
What can students expect to gain from participating in the Level 1 of the Rolfing® training, both professionally and personally?
Åsa: Completing the Level 1 courses earns you a diploma in Myofascial Foundation. You'll learn about Movement, Anatomy, and Touch from a holistic perspective. Rolfing is not just a set of techniques; it’s a way of viewing the whole person and finding ways to make that person freer. You may think you are only interested in Touch as you may already be working with massage, but Rolfing knowledge is not just about the way we touch. You also need to understand Anatomy in a more integrative way and know how the body moves when aligned, what to look for, etc. All three parts are necessary to understand the complexity of how to help a person transform and change. And of course, if you intend to become a Certified Rolfer, you need all three parts to move up to Level 2.
It is in Level 2 where you start learning and exploring the ‘Ten Series’ of Rolfing sessions. After finishing Level 2 and then Level 3, you become a Certified Rolfer and have one fulfilling new profession!
Louise: Åsa explained it perfectly. The training is multifaceted, incorporating lectures, demonstrations, embodiment practices, and hands-on practice on each other. You will discuss what you have learnt in smaller groups and, of course, ask questions and discuss the current topic together in the group. The teachers are also there to talk to you personally about your questions if you wish. The international faculty is excellent, providing a rich learning experience.
How can someone participate at Level 1 Rolfing® training in Scandinavia?
Louise: To participate, visit rolfing.org for detailed information about the Level 1 Rolfing class in Stockholm. The training is open to everyone, from anywhere, regardless of experience, as long as you have a strong interest in learning about the fascia as the ‘Organ of Structure’ in the body. Learning about this subject from Rolfers brings with it 100 years’ experience of working with the fascia, as Dr. Ida Rolf started her discovery, inquiry and research in the 1920.
The training spans three parts: October 3-13, 2024, February 12-23, 2025, and April 24-May 4, 2025. Each part includes nine days of education with breaks in between. The first part can be booked as a taster course so that you can decide whether you want to continue.
Personally, choosing Rolfing as my work has been the right decision for me. It brings creativity, discovery, learning to listen deeper, see better, understand my own and others’ unwinding of past traumas, how to support and give tools to my clients in their journeys back to balance so they can respond, instead of reacting, to the environment they live in. Not to mention returning to a life free of chronic pain and the energy my clients free up due to that to enjoy life rather than struggle through each day."
Åsa: The teachings are done in English, but Louise and I will be there, happy to assist if anything needs translating. Don’t let the language be the thing that stops you from the training.
If you have any questions, contact Andrea Nossem at the office of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® Europe - she will help you with any questions.
Learning Rolfing means engaging in a process and learning something about yourself in the process. If you are ready for a change, both in your way of working, perhaps even in your career, as well as in your personal development, then please sign up for the training!"
Interviewees: Louise Almgren and Åsa Åhman, Certified Advanced Rolfers® - Stockholm, Sweden
Interviewer and editor: Sabine Becker
Photos: © Private Images supplied by Åsa Åhman and Louise Almgren
More on Louise Almgren
Visit Louise Almgren’s website
Louise Almgren’s social channels: Facebook & LinkedIn
More on Åsa Åhman
Visit Åsa Åhman’s website
Åsa Åhman’s social channels: Instagram & Facebook
Register now for our Level 1 training starting 3rd October 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden!
More information on Level 1 Rolfing training
More information on how to become a Certified Rolfer®
Studying at the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® Europe
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