Level 1 - Myofascial Foundation

Level 1 – Myofascial Foundation
Level 1 serves as an introduction to the world of bodywork from a Rolfing® perspective.

Course Structure:
Level 1 consists of nine 3-day workshops.

• Movement: Courses should be taken in the order 1–2–3 or 2–1–3

• Anatomy: Can be taken in any order

• Touch: Must be taken in the order 1–2–3

The first three courses—Movement 1, Anatomy 1, and Touch 1—can also be taken individually as introductory or "taster" courses.

Completion of all nine Level 1 courses is required to 

• receive the Myofascial Foundation Certificate 

• proceed to Level 2 of the Rolfing® Training.

We also recommend that you receive one to three sessions from the Rolfing 'Ten Series' before beginning Level 1.
This personal experience of the Rolfing 'Ten Series' is a key part of the training and helps deepen your understanding of the principles and techniques you'll be learning.

By the end of Level 1, you will have a solid foundation in myofascial bodywork and movement education from a Rolfing perspective.

Workshops are grouped into three topics:

Movement

These are the topics of the Movement workshops:

Movement workshop 1: The dynamics of Posture
Movement workshop 2: The dynamics of Breathing
Movement workshop 3: The dynamics of Walking

Movement workshop 1: The dynamics of Posture 

The upright posture is a dynamic action. 
The movement capacities of feet and legs, as well as the sense of balance and support throughout the body, are the main focus of this workshop.

• Introduction of tonic Function, pre-movement, central gravity centre (G) & upper body gravity centre (G' prime), muscle spindles (phasic /tonic muscle activity)
• Triangle of Gravity orientation (postural triangle)
• Orientation up-down (intro of phoric function)
• Sense of weight, sense of space
• Body use: embodiment of tonic function with the pre-movement up / down
• Touch: Balance of space and ground orientation
• Model used: 3 curves (neck-lumbar-knees)

Movement workshop 2: The dynamics of Breathing

Breathing is the primary requirement for life. The chest but also the rest of the body participates in the movement initiated by and responding to breathing.

• The perception of inner volume of the thorax, of the abdomen and of the pelvis, as a potential of action
• Balance of the autonomous nervous system
• Orientation front-back (intro of haptic function and backing)
• Balance of inner and outer space
• Body use: embodiment of tonic function with the pre-movement, front / back space (backing when touching/interacting)
• Touch: Balance of impression /expression (rhythm)
• Model used: The pulleys (pelvis-chest-head)

Movement workshop 3: The dynamics of Walking

In this workshop, we look at and experience a variety of prerequisites and ways of walking. We explore how all parts of your body work together to create stability and mobility.

• Dynamic of locomotion – interacting with the other & walking
• Orientation right left (haptic and phoric)
• Stabilization for walking and interacting
• Contralateral movement in walking
• Balance of core-line space and outer space
• Body use: embodiment of tonic function with pre-movement in the 3 planes of movement
• Touch: balance of receiving- listening- entering when having an intentional touch & asymmetry of right-left hand, thorax and feet
• Models used: the 5 curves (lordosis & contralateral movement).

You’ll learn about:

• posture as a dynamic process in gravity
• how breathing involves the whole body and what could inhibit a free-flowing breath
• the dynamics of walking and how all parts of your body work together to create stability and mobility

• perceiving spaciousness within your body 

• exploring your body’s relationship with the outside world

• contralateral walking (moving the opposite arm and leg) and how it promotes balance and lift in the body

Anatomy

These are the topics of the Anatomy workshops:

Anatomy workshop 1: Anatomy of Stability: support from foot to pelvis
Anatomy workshop 2: Anatomy of Expression: through shoulder girdle, hands and face
Anatomy workshop 3: Anatomy of the Core: sensing from the core

Anatomy workshop 1: Anatomy of Stability

Landmarks and other anatomical structures from foot to pelvis in terminology, theory, modelling with clay, and hands-on experience in partner exercises.

In Anatomy 1 you explore the feet and legs and pelvic girdle.

Anatomy workshop 2: Anatomy of Expression

Landmarks and other anatomical structures through shoulder girdle, hands and face in terminology, theory, modelling with clay, and hands-on experience in partner exercises.

In this workshop you focus on the hand, shoulder, neck and face, and the mandible.

Anatomy workshop 3: Anatomy of the Core

Landmarks and other anatomical structures around the trunk, ribcage, diaphragm, spine head and neck in terminology, theory, and hands-on experience in partner exercises.

In Anatomy 3 you work with the spine, pelvis, abdomen + chest, cranium, visceral neck and diaphragms.

The Anatomy workshops are great to: 

• find out if myofascial bodywork is right for you
• expand your professional skills if you’re a manual therapist, osteopath, or pilates or yoga instructor
• gain the skills and collect the credits you need to continue training for a career in Rolfing

You’ll learn about:

• the basics of human anatomy terminology, from cells to tissue
• the basics of palpation and palpatory certainty
• Anatomy at our institut is taught in a very lively manner

Touch

These are the topics of the Touch workshops:

Touch workshop 1: Discovering the fascial net of the lower body
Touch workshop 2: Exploring the fascial net of the upper body
Touch workshop 3: Interacting with the fascial net of the trunk

Touch workshop 1: Discover the fascial net of the lower body

Introduction of a variety of tools (Fingers, knuckles, palm, soft fist, elbow, forearm) in relation to the anatomical structures we want to address in the most efficient way. We are not only focusing on the hands alone, but we also pay attention to the practitioner's body use, meaning using their own posture, weight directed in a meaningful vector and quality and quantity of touch in an appropriate way.

Territory: lower extremities and pelvic girdle 

Enter / open:

• Touch – contact – doing
• Observing
• Disengage
• Leave / closure

Tools:

• Fingers, knuckles, palm, soft fist, elbow, forearm
• Body use
• Body reading: lateral view, hinges of legs and feet

Touch workshop 2: Exploring the fascial net of the upper body

In this workshop, we continue the exploration of tissue qualities and manual skills in the upper body including the neck and face. Hands also become a diagnostic tool, are able to listen and follow and both hands work together in a three-dimensional way.

Positions: standing, sitting, supine, side, Bench work

Touch:

• Distinguish different parts of the hands used in different ways (listening + doing / containing + orienting…)

• Direct / indirect – light / firm

• Both hands working at the same time, also independently

• 3 D touch

Territory:

• Thorax

• Upper Girdle

Body reading: 

Seeing + palpation (sensing), Touch, breathing, ROM shoulder-girdle

Touch workshop 3: Interacting with the fascial net of the trunk

In the last part, we review the tools, refine the body use, and deepen the skills to distinguish and differentiate different types of tissue. Here we focus on the trunk in terms of bony as well as soft tissue. We address layers of the back, Diaphragms (e.g. Respiratory Diaphragm, Pelvic floor, Thoracic inlet,) Abdominal balloon, head and neck.

In this final workshop of Level 1 you focus on the following positions: supine, side, sitting, standing

The tools:

Review of all tools+body use

Quality of touch:

• Feeling through the continuum of the fascial net

• Local <>global

• Reach / push while touching

Territory:

• Spine

• Neck

• Head, including the senses

Diaphragms:

• Respiratory Diaphragm

• Floor of the mouth (outside)

• Thoracic inlet

• Abdominal balloon

• Review legs, pelvis and chest- as preparation for session Exchange

Body reading:

• The 3 sides

• pelvis tilt and shift

• Curves of spine

• How is the head supported and oriented

• Walking/ contra lateral

• Orientation in gravity/ midline

The Touch workshops are great to: 

• find out if myofascial bodywork is right for you
• expand your professional skills if you’re a manual therapist, osteopath, or pilates or yoga instructor
• gain the skills and collect the credits you need to continue training for a career in Rolfing

You’ll learn about:

• the body’s fascial connective tissue system 
• using your fingers and hands to explore the body through touch (also called ‘palpation’)
• feeling different layers of the body, like the skin, fascia, muscles and bones
• understanding movement patterns and posture

What to expect in class

During the Workshops

• You'll learn through a mix of theory and hands-on practice.

• Work takes place in pairs or small groups.

• With max. 18 students and 1 teacher per 11 participants, you'll get plenty of support.

• All teachers are faculty members of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute Europe.

• There is some preparatory reading before each course.

Note: 
Some materials are in English, as many original Rolfing® texts come from the USA and are not available in translation.

Locations and languages

Actually we offer Level 1 courses in 

• Munich (English or German)

• Amsterdam (English)

• Stockholm (English)

• Italy (Italian)

You can switch between countries offered if you keep the given order.

Please check out here.

For courses in Italy, please check out the website of the Formazione Rolfing.

Meet your teachers

The faculty of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute Europe consists of experienced Advanced Rolfers® with many years of international practice.
All instructors have completed the certified teacher training program of the European Rolfing® Association e.V.
They provide individual feedback and support you in understanding key concepts and developing new skills.

Costs

The cost per workshop depends on country and year started.