European Advanced Rolfing® Training 2022-2023

FIRST PART in Chieming, Germany: Mon. 19.09. - Fri. 30.09.2022

During the first part in Chieming we will explore the field of Structural Integration, asking the following questions:

• What does alignment in the field of gravity mean for the myofascial layers of the container that shapes the body from outside? How do we refine our abilities ‘to see’ structure and how do we combine that with a refined approach of sensitive palpation?
• What does alignment mean for the ‘contents’ found inside the organism? What does it mean for the single units of the core, when we see the core as a permanent motion of spaces and their subdivisions? Where do core and sleeves overlap? And how are we able to localise the areas of this overlapping, the crossroads of myofascial layers and membranous spaces?
• How do ‘container’ and ‘content’ influence each other to constitute the individual shape and the movement pattern of a person? And how are strain patterns of container and contents related to the biomechanics of the articulations of the spinal vertebrae, the junctions of the ribs and the vertebrae and the articulations of the pelvic bones?
• Aside from the examination of significant details we will keep an eye on the individual structure as a whole, rooted in underlying emotional patterns. For this we will do body reading when we look at alignment and its limitations in terms of curvatures, visible at the outside of the body, and cavities ‘seen’ in the inner dimension of a person.

During the first part in Chieming (Bavaria) we will spend a good deal of the time on practicums. We will study:

• Traditional visual analysis and new palpatory modes of evaluation
• Traditional techniques to be applied to the myofascial structures
• Techniques for intermuscular septa within the extremities
• Techniques for interosseous membranes within the extremities
• Techniques for membranes that shape the inner walls of the trunk’s cavities and sub cavities

The study of this technical catalogue will lead to a practical strategy of a post-ten single session, that we practice with each other.

The learning objectives of the three weeks of training are:

• To arrive at a clear system of analysis before starting treatment by using the traditional visual approach of looking at the body – and a step-by-step palpatory evaluation of the different layers of fascia and membranes
• To use the findings of our analysis to make a clear choice about the main restrictions
• To choose from the technical catalogue to be able to release these main restrictions
• To develop communicative skills to work with the client’s capacity for orientation, and coordination for the client’s most important individual movement activities.

SECOND PART in Leipzig: Wed. 19.04. -  Tue. 09.05.2023

While the first part of this class follows a fairly strict schedule, the second part will offer much more time for exploration and improvisation.

We will discuss goals for a series of three Advanced sessions. We will spend some time looking back to the four advanced sessions that Ida originally taught during the 1970s. And we will also pay attention to the series of five advanced sessions that Peter Schwind learned from Emmett Hutchins and Peter Melchior during the early eighties. This course may be characterised by respect for tradition and openness for innovation.

The learning objectives of the second part of the training are:

• To see the goals of the basic ten sessions in a new light and, practically, to do ‘traditional’ Rolfing with less effort
• To recognise clearly the main restrictions within the individual pattern related to all types of fascia
• To do visual analysis and palpatory evaluation in a precise way. That shall guide us to do to a series of three advanced sessions with a model.
• To apply technique in a way that is convincing to the client’s organism, using various modes of touch in a precise and efficient way.