A warm and wise self-portrait of the woman who originated the therapy that bears her name. Here, Ida Rolf tells about her life, about the wonder of the human body, about life in general, and about Rolfing in particular, explaining her technique of manipulating muscle tissue to allow the body to come into its correct alignment. After Rolfing, your body has been encouraged to do what it wants to do--you move with ease, your lungs take in more air, and you are taller (and therefore, slimmer).
An illustrated guide to the myofascial system—how it works, how it supports the body, and its importance to any bodywork practice The result of more than two decades of research and practice, The Endless Web presents in clear, readable language a comprehensive guide to understanding and working effectively with the myofascial system, the 'packing material' of the body. Myofascia is a flexible network of tissue that surrounds, cushions, and supports muscles, bones, and organs. It also acts as a riverbed containing the flow of interstitial fluid, and is a critical influence on the immune and hormonal systems. In daily life, this connective tissue is an underlying determinant of movement quality, mood, alertness, and general well-being. The Endless Web is a fully illustrated guide to understanding how myofascia works, its supportive role within the body's anatomy, and how gentle manipulation of the myofascial tissue is central to lasting therapeutic intervention and how it can be integrated into any bodywork practice.
Forty-three contributors, former colleagues and students, discuss the life and teachings of the world-famous bodywork pioneer Ida P. Rolf. Ranging from short anecdotes to longer stories and tributes, they begin in the 1950s, when Rolf first began teaching, and continue through the 1970s, to the foundation of the Rolf Institute, and Rolf's death in 1979. Together, they vividly capture the pioneering early days of the Human Potential Movement at the Esalen Institute and elsewhere. This affectionate portrait of a charismatic, challenging and brilliant healer celebrates the centenary of her birth.
Written for bodywork and manual therapy practitioners from a wide variety of disciplines, as well as other healers who want to expand their skills, this generously illustrated book explains how and where emotions and static energy are held in the body, and how they can be released and rebalanced in therapies that challenge bodymindcore awareness
This is everything you ever wanted to know about the pelvis but were afraid to ask. Louis Schultz examines the male pelvis under the dual lens of culture and science. North American culture prizes male strength, upper-body bulk, and muscularity, but ignores male genitalia for anything other than sexual function. The author strives to increase knowledge of this body region with a guide to male pelvic anatomy and a discussion of male sexual pleasure and emotions.
In Spacious Body, Jeffrey Maitland brings his knowledge and personal experience of Buddhism, phenomenology, alchemy, psychoanalysis, and the bodywork system of Rolfing to bear in forging concepts adequate to an understanding of embodied experience.
Ancient Buddhist meditations and modern Western somatic therapy are united in this fascinating book. Both philosophies — and their healing capabilities — recognize that a structurally balanced human body is the key to a mentally and emotionally balanced human mind. This book explains the beautiful simplicity of these healing techniques and how to make them part of your life. Following its path, you’ll learn how to attain the spiritual and physical balance needed to create your own optimum environment through: -Understanding the experience of balance -Balancing time, present time and change -Balancing sound, vision and the components of reality -Balancing your heart and breath -Balancing “luminous vision” and the “luminous world” -Understanding suffering and its causes -Understanding your heart and breath and how they work together to help create balance What readers are saying about this book: “This book signals a new and sorely needed vitality in a field which, even though it is about life, so often seems to bring out the gray and pedantic in its champions.” — Peter Melchior, senior faculty member, the Guild for Structural Integration
The acclaimed author of Carved in Sand—a veteran investigative journalist who endured persistent back pain for decades—delivers the definitive book on the subject: an essential examination of all facets of the back pain industry, exploring what works, what doesn't, what may cause harm, and how to get on the road to recovery. In her effort to manage her chronic back pain, investigative reporter Cathryn Jakobson Ramin spent years and a small fortune on a panoply of treatments. But her discomfort only intensified, leaving her feeling frustrated and perplexed. As she searched for better solutions, she exposed a much bigger problem. Costing roughly $100 billion a year, spine medicine—often ineffective and sometimes harmful —exemplified the worst aspects of the U.S. health care system. The result of six years of intensive investigation, Crooked offers a startling look at the poorly identified risks of spine medicine, and provides practical advice and solutions. Ramin interviewed scores of spine surgeons, pain management doctors, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, chiropractors, specialized bodywork practitioners. She met with many patients whose pain and desperation led them to make life-altering decisions, and with others who triumphed over their limitations. The result is a brilliant and comprehensive book that is not only important but essential to millions of back pain sufferers, and all types of health care professionals. Ramin shatters assumptions about surgery, chiropractic methods, physical therapy, spinal injections and painkillers, and addresses evidence-based rehabilitation options—showing, in detail, how to avoid therapeutic dead ends, while saving money, time, and considerable anguish. With Crooked, she reveals what it takes to outwit the back pain industry and get on the road to recovery.
An illustrated guide to the Structural Integration bodywork process and the relationship between body alignment and energy flow • Details each of the 10 sessions in the Structural Integration bodywork series, explaining what to expect and how to maximize the benefits • Explores the relationship between the energetics of the body and its alignment, including a scientific understanding of how gravity affects body alignment • Explains how to incorporate essential oils and other holistic support tools as well as the psycho-emotional Hellerwork themes When the body’s structure is optimally aligned, not only does it eliminate pain, reduce inflammation, and stop the degeneration of joints and discs, it also enhances the flow of energy in the body and awakens us to greater mental clarity. In this illustrated guide to Dr. Ida P. Rolf’s Structural Integration process, Jean Louise Green introduces the principles of Structural Integration and details each of the 10 sessions in the Structural Integration bodywork series, explaining what to expect and how to maximize the benefits. She explores the relationship between the energetics of the body and its alignment, including an advanced scientific understanding of how gravity can become a beneficial force when the body is properly aligned. She provides clear, accessible descriptions of core concepts such as the Rolf Line and the torus, including a detailed explanation of how to access the energetics of the Rolf Line. She illustrates the rotation patterns of the body and explains how they contribute to pain and how correcting them may minimize the need for hip and knee replacements. She provides movement exercises and support tools for self-care and maintenance between sessions and explains optimal body mechanics for moving, sitting, and standing as well as how to avoid putting stress and strain back into the body. This book is an excellent resource guide to accompany a person through their Structural Integration series. The author also explores how to incorporate Joseph Heller’s psycho-emotional Hellerwork themes in the Structural Integration process and looks at holistic support tools such as electromagnetic resonancing, far-infrared saunas, essential oils, gratitude practices, meditation, and the Five Tibetan yogic exercises. Offering an energy medicine approach to bodywork, this guide provides both practitioners and laypeople with the necessary tools to dramatically increase the efficiency of the body, release chronic pain, improve mental function, and free energy flow.
