Rolfing®
Movement Education
The body, mind, spirit, a
nd life are all one thing. We can intervene in our lives through several gates. The body is the most palpable and “solid” of these access routes. We know that the person, as with all earth bound structures, must act in accord with gravity. Gravity can act on us in a way that creates ease and pleasure in our lives, or tears us down to cause pain, disability, and dis-ease as we move through life.
We use techniques of neuromuscular repatterning as handed down through Ida Rolf, Alexander brothers, M. Feldenkreis, and precision movement training in a variety of arts. These studies have led to professional careers in some instances.
Perhaps you could change your structure, mobility, grace in movement, and comfort level yourself, through guided movement and easy exercises. You might be able to learn some of this through the following video clips, though they are really meant as reminders of a learning with your practitioner.
These movements may or may not be appropriate for you. Your best option is to know yourself and your limits, avoid strain or pain, and consult your practitioner when in doubt or to get experienced guidance.
Practitioners may freely link to these exercises on their own website or email a copy to you. I allow these videos to be used freely; credits must remain with the video clips. These exercises should never be used if they cause pain nor for a medical condition that requires a medical doctor.
Videos of Training, Patterning, Strengthening and Mobilizing Movements
These video clips are meant to be used as reminders of processes that are taught in a more formal context-like a Rolfing or PT session. These clips would be an embarrassment if compared to a one on one movement session with a competent practitioner. Until I see the need for restricting the use to practitioners only, these will remain open to the public.
A practitioner can freely copy and paste the name of a process to an email or website for access by clients as reminders of the work done in their session together. Feel free to brows the section you determine relates to you and try the movements.
Rolfing Patterning Section One (Pelvis, sacrum, and back)
Rolfing Pelvic Lift with Lengthening from Head to Hips
Expanding and Lengthening the Back
Rolfing Patterning Section Two (Hips, knees, and Feet)
Rolfing Patterning Section Three (Upper Back, Shoulders and Arms)
Shoulder Rotations with Arm Lift
Rolfing Patterning Section Four (Integrated Body-Sitting)
Exploring Sitting-Pelvic Triangle
Transition to Standing-Part One
Rolfing Patterning Section Five (Integrated Body-Standing)
Transition to Standing-Part Two
Modified Eight Pieces of Silk Brochade Qi Gong
Other Exercises
Seated Movements for Desk Workers
Integration Breath A basic movement to encourage establishment of upright posture and deep breathing while sitting at a desk. An ideal work break exercise to be repeated 3 times per break.
Stretch Up, Twist and Lean is an enhancement of the previous exercise, but requires more breath control, and yields greater returns in mobilization, breath capacity, and energy.
Head Turn w/Eye Movement An easy movement pattern derived from Rolfing and Qi Gong. This movement patterns neck movement with the breath and eye movement.
Water Wheel is a whole body exercise done in a seated position. It is important to take care in not straining. The legs do not have to be kept straight, if it causes strain. Derived from Qi Gong, this movement has been altered to teach ease and slow steady improvement, rather than chance injury and disappointment.
Pelvic Rocking Mobilize a stiff back, and find a comfortable center point for sitting. This exercise is to enhance your experience and results of Rolfing.
Standing Movements
Stretch 2 Hands Up w/Forward Bend An enhanced version of the above that requires more breath control.
Lying Movements
Knee Dip This gentle movement stretches from the knee to mid back and trains breath-movement coordination. Not intended as a stretch as done in most yoga classes.
Hip Opener
Abdominal Crunch Do only 1/2 to 2/3 as many as you can do. You should not feel strain in the neck, but will feel exercise there. You can build up to 3 sets to help train a flatter lower back
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