"Nobody can prove what I am about to say, but I think it is so: every energy in which we live is nourishment to us. It is something which is literally contributing food to the individual. If you are living within a field of sound, the same is true of your ears. 

Now it would be absolutely ridiculous if we lived in a field of Gravity and it had no effect on us, yet down through the ages this has been our assumption, that it didn’t make any difference. This assumption is still held among a lot of people. They think it doesn’t make any difference how you carry yourself because you are a spirit, an immortal and superior something, and it’s the superior something which is in charge of the situation. 

Well, a spirit is in charge of the situation, but not in the way many think. The spirit is in charge to tell the individual that he can so organize his body that he is now in line with a supporting force [Gravity]. He cannot just go on indefinitely striking out indiscriminately against this force that’s tearing him down, yet this is what he tries to do. 

You know average posture: the head way forward, the back way back, the chest almost lacking, the ribs down, no air coming in, etc., etc. His spirit will carry him through? It is an assumption that no longer works; it is the relic of an idea which was universal a hundred years ago."

— Ida P. Rolf

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

Featured 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 

𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Author: David D. Wronski

Abstract ...

Fascia “informs” ... Gravity “justifies”

 

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

There’s an inextricable relationship between Gravity and Fascia. This is overlooked. [Interesting, remember how Fascia itself had been overlooked?]

Gravity should be included as a prime factor in understanding Human health and well being. Make it an integral consideration in Fascia science, research studies, and clinical practices.

Simply put, Fascia wouldn’t behave as it does without Gravity.

BACKGROUND

The Fascia Research Congress was started by Tom Findley MD, PhD and Robert Schleip PhD — both practitioners of Structural Integration, the method originated by Ida P. Rolf PhD. She is acknowledged as the “Mother of Fascia”.

Knowing the ideas which underpin Dr. Rolf’s approach will clarify the significance and utility of working with an included view of the integral relationship of the form that is Fascia with the force that is Gravity. And, hopefully recontextualize the subject to open for new creative ideas on approaches for the bench and for the office.

DISCUSSION

Key points on the Fascia-Gravity connection ...

Gravity is an essential reference. Balance in the architectural arrangement of the whole body is healthy, normal. The standard for bodily balance is the same as for all structures on Earth: balance in respect to the three cardinal planes. The Fascial system is the “Organ of Structure”. It is the bodywide, three dimensional fabric [“matrix”] of support and organization. Seeing its globally interconnected tensionality we now model the body as a tensegrity structure; i.e., true balance maintained in the equipoise span of the connective tissues. Imbalances in the Fascial web are contributive in symptoms of chronic pain and stress. Imbalances in the fascial web have accompanying compensations. Fascia is plastic, adaptive. Myofascial anatomy is a clinical map. Integration of the body structure with Gravity is wholistic, somatic: that is, we access the whole Human being at the concrete, hands-on body level. Upright verticality in the Human body structure is in the definition of normal. It is the direction of Human physical evolution.

CONCLUSION/SUGGESTIONS

The Human body design calls for balance with the force of Gravity. Imbalances contribute to dis-ease.

That the Human body can transform to such a level of structural integration is still to be seen as a realizable possibility. Much less a value in itself. Including this can open new areas for research study as well as clinical diagnosis and applications.

PROPOSED RESEARCH

Compile an image record of pre/post Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration processing enlisting models in training classes in schools accredited by the International Association of Structural Integrators. Images to include strictly comparable photographic imaging/analysis, and other innovative measurement devices; e.g., on site foot pressure plate mapping, gait analysis; selected digital pattern overlays in system with analysis of spatial and morphological variances.

 

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 ... 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Straight Talk About Gravity ...

Everything you should want to know, 

but may not have been asking

This is a long read. So, let's cut to the chase so you can have an idea of where we're going.

About Gravity. There's an aspect to that Universal force which is unrecognized and underappreciated. Specifically, Gravity can easily be enlisted on an individual Human level as a ready at hand, ever present, and sustainable resource for health, well being, top performance, full creativity, and healing. "Healing", being not just about clearing up an owie, but in the larger sense of getting right with things, with reality. Gravity as a guide in this is reliably real. And we now know how to enlist and utilize Gravity for, as Dr. Ida P. Rolf said it, "for a more Human use of our Human being".

[Speculating that perhaps how come it hasn't been promoted widely already is that there's no money in Gravity. It's for free! Like Chris Rock said, "There's no money in the cure. The money's in the drugs."]

If that preamble rings your chimes, read on. If not, read on. For sure. Maybe also in that latter case, read it twice.

Now for that straight talk about Gravity ...

First thing. Gravity scribes a straight line. It goes vertical. Well yah! Who doesn't know that? You drop a ball and it goes straight down. Everybody knows that! As children on a preverbal level we get how Gravity works when we're playing at stacking blocks. 

The interesting thing though it's everywhere. It goes straight vertical here, there, there, and there. Missoula to Moscow. Dubuque to Djibouti. Consistent. Reliable. True. At least true enough for whatever you have a mind to do.

And, so ... ?

But, it is also said there are no straight lines in Nature. So, what is this “line” of Gravity? And, saying that it’s a straight vertical line? Can we see it from both sides? Of course you can. Stay with.

Let’s discuss ...

When we trace the action of Gravity we see it goes from being anchored at the center of planet Earth and extends out to the center of the Universe. [Of course, not just Earth; this is true for any rock you may find yourself on in God’s Great Creation. Elon Musk, take that to Mars with you!] Gravity as Mr. Einstein has pointed out has all to do with the attraction of mass. Like a lot of things, the bigger they are the more attractive. To the eye anyway. To me they're all lovely. But, did I just digress? Oh, yes, Gravity. And, then it comes back again. From the center of Creation back to wherever you may be standing right now. Gravity, that is, does that. Mr. Musk too, we pray will come back. If he ever gets there in the first place anyway.

Gravity doesn’t really travel; we speak of it that way for explanation purposes. You can’t see Gravity. Just its effects. But, you can put your finger on it. We’ll get to that a bit later. It's about a firm grasp of the obvious. Hint: your felt sense is a kind of seeing.

Gravity is really a cyclic constant. That would seem to make it a circle, right. Conceptually, maybe even actually so. Regarding the latter, it does have a sustaining quality; like how it tends to keep things together. On this circle concept, it helps us to understand how it keeps recycling so to speak. Keeps things rolling. 

But let’s augment that and add that the active path of Gravity is indeed a straight line, whether from the center of the Earth to the center of your body, or to the center of the Universe. You can hold two differing ideas in mind at the same time? The world is a duality, why waste your time fighting and promoting just one view. I was once on an airplane flight at sunset time traveling south from New York City. On one side of the plane out the window it was a stunning solid block of azure blue; on the other side, a brilliant glowing orange. Both. Get it? Give the devil his due. In my book that bugger represents the full-on down side of things. Just about stuff. No heart and soul. But, when you think about it, maybe letting that devil do what he do, maybe that’s a necessary part of getting behind the Pearly Gates. Just sayin’. Like no soul got to Heaven still grappling with that unrelentingly persuing and never-giving-in trickster. But, I digress. [The devil made me do it.]

Dig this. Quoting Scott Russell Sanders from his novel The Paradise of Bombs ...

“There is a mystical virtue in right angles. There is an unspoken morality in seeking the level and the plumb. A house will stand, a table will bear weight, the sides of a box will hold together only if the joints are square and the members upright. When the bubble is lined up between two marks etched in the glass tube of the level, you have aligned yourself with the forces that hold the universe together."

Net, net, for all practical purposes, on Terra Firma Gravity’s a line straight enough to call it vertical. This way of modeling our understanding of Gravity is important, and useful. In more that a few ways. Read on. And, that no-straight-lines-in-nature quip while it is true to a point, consider how it's on account of that straight vertical line that we appreciate nature's beauty.

There’s some really good news in that for all us God’s Children.

Let’s explain ...

That line of Gravity isn’t just a marked static line, like one drawn on a piece of paper. Or even that chalk line snapped on the wall with a weighted string to keep wallpaper going on straight. It’s dynamic. It’s alive really.

As a line, looked at on Earth there are two actions. The one pulling down/inward; i.e., centripetal. The other pushing upward/outward; i.e., centrifugal. So what, you may ask. The thing is we all get the pulling down part. Like when you drop Auntie’s fine bone china handed-down-the-generations Rosenthal tea cup and it falls and cracks into a million pieces to the floor breaking what otherwise was a proper afternoon tea time. And, smart-ass that you are you offer her the excuse that it was Gravity what done it.

The underappreciated aspect of Gravity is how it exerts that upward lifting action. I know, like nobody’s let go the ball and it goes up. Not without a push anyway. So how do we grok this upward thing?

We need to talk centrifugal some more. Okay?

My professional interest is in the process of balancing of the Human body with the Gravitational field of the Earth. Dr. Ida P. Rolf’s brilliant observation is that, “When the body gets working appropriately, the force of Gravity can flow through”. She goes on to say, “Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself.” If that is a new idea to you, pause and give it a thought. That’s for real, for real! The approach she developed and handed down is called Structural Integration. Some may be familiar with the nickname “Rolfing”.* There are other brand flavors also. The one common factor is that balancing the body in respect to the demands of Gravity is the main goal.

The core idea with that definitive and peerless approach is in how we already know the body is designed to be arranged in an architectural balance. This is well known science. Both Anatomy and Physics. Architects and builders know this as a central point. In architectural terms the body is just like any other physical structure on Earth. And, since imbalances can creep in and — importantly — since the body is plastic, individuals can learn this simple, basic normal balance and/or be restored to such a healthy balance. 

The standard of balance? Not some smarty-pants cooked up notion. No. You probably know the answer: Verticality. "Balanced" in the Structural Integration view is with the centers of Gravity lined up along the body’s central vertical line; with corresponding symmetries/side to side and everything level/on the horizontal front to back.

So now we have a Human being with a body in balance to match the vertical action line of Gravity. That result is structural integration. The vision and goal of the Rolf process called Structrural Integration.

What then?

Let’s get back to “centrifugal”. Just like a tree, roots go down and the branches go up. Humans too. We don’t have physical roots, but the pull of Gravity confirms our rootedness. We feel that. Especially after a long day of work. Or, that triathalon. Or, a pub crawl. You know what I'm talking about. Right?

As for the up — the centrifugal action of Gravity — some good news! But you gotta be in balance to appreciate that. Some semblance of balance anyway. Otherwise, out of balance, Gravity is entropic; it pulls you down, tears you apart. We live in default of having chronic aches and pains and stress for not recognizing that body imbalances as such are the culprit, in whole or in part. And, that those imbalances exacerbate other health problems. And, we take it for granted that there's nothing to do about it but to take pills. Or, get all cut away or propped and stoked up with some fancy procedure. 

Balancing the body is the natural way. So get in balance!

Here’s the benefit. Here we introduce The Line. Not the line of Gravity, or the center line of the body. When we refer to "The Line" we’re talking about the congruence of those two lines. And, not just as an idea, but as a lived experience. It’s a sound scientifically-based concept. And, it's a sound percept. An unambiguous experience. You feel it. Plain as day.

Gravity, however, is so there there we don’t give it much attention. We do things that involve learning to keep balance, of course. 

But, as an ongoing daily inner event, and how the body stacks up, Gravity is mostly ignored as significant. And, it takes some doing to get into that. That may be why I'm writing going on and on like this. It's a new idea really. And, new ideas don't just get saluted just because you hoist them up the flag pole. And, especially new ideas that involve some real change, and skin in the game. Like becoming sane in an insane world. Takes some courage. Like taking the Red Pill. Pilgrim, Gravity is the Red Pill.

To be clear, it's a non-doing really. It’s subtle, so you have to give it some quiet attention to notice what’s going on. That's all the doing necessary. Believe me, once you get a taste of that elixer, you’ll make a habit of taking your medicine regularly, daily. I know. I do.

When you are living The Line you get the benefit of that other side of Gravity. Centrifugal. It’s uplifting, energizing, supportive, nurturing. It feels good. It feels really alive. It’s not just a concept. It’s alive. You feel it. Unambiguously. It feels right. Right at home.

You can even say that the direction of Human evolution has that vertical component to it. Elon Musk is a smart one for sure. Smart. And his rockets go straight up on a vertical path. There’s a "rocket" in a body in balance tangibly working and connected to one’s very sense of being embodied. It's also smart alright, but it is also in the province of wisdom. And, Lord knows, we can use a good dose of that in our times. In balance you can simply be. And, out of that simple sense of simply being, wisdom arises. Yes? Yes! 

As an inner event within your own experience you will see Gravity also goes up straight on the vertical. How far up it goes, that’s for you to find out. And, where you will go. The self-guided approach to life has it's finality; a dead end. Living connected to the "forces that hold the Universe together", that's really living.

In other words “The Line” is dynamic. Alive. Life. Not just a concept, but a percept. It’s way subtle, but way powerful. Like Gravity, it’s so there there and always and everywhere we’re inured to it. Subtle. Yet, it holds the Universe together. Powerful. What, Pilgrim, are you trying to hold together? Maybe Gravity can give you a hand? A lift? Word!

To recap ... when you’re out of structural body balance Gravity is a downer. In balance, now you’re ALIVE.

Dr. Rolf also observed: “Some individuals may perceive their losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in their back, others as the unflattering contour of their body, others as constant fatigue, yet others as an unrelentingly threatening environment. Those over forty may call it old age. And yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with Gravity.”

Now you get it that out of balance, it’s only a downer. A lot of what ails us is due to imbalances in the makeup of our body. These have been accrued inadvertently over time. Like the Grand Canyon. Years upon years of slow erosion of flowing water. If you’ve ever been there and taken in the Grand Canyon you’ll know the awe inspiring presence of something so vast and ancient. Profound. You might not be ancient, but being out of bodily balance sure feels that way. Causative factors: repeated bad habits, unresolved accidents and traumas, inadequate or improper training, modeling significant others who themselves may not have been good examples of correct balance.

With the method of Structural Integration the whole thing is about establishing the center line of the body and integrating it into closer alignment with the line of Gravity. This is understood scientifically about the design of the body, both Anatomically and in Physics in respect to the demands of Gravity. Balance. Balance in the three planes. Vertical, level, symmetrical.

That we can learn such balance is due to the natural plasticity of the body. We are shaped by our experience. Some of it misshaped. At any age and with any life experience one can learn the simple balance of the body in respect to the dictates of the force of Gravity. And, undo imbalances accumulated over time due to those contributing factors. Here again, the culprits: bad habits, unresolved accidents and traumas, insufficient or improper training, modeling significant others who themselves may not have been good examples of such bodily balance.

DISCLAIMER: Understand, professionally I practice Structural Integration. Personally, I practice structural integration. My purpose is first to get you engaged with the idea that balance of the body is a good thing. And to engage you in the prospect that this is something you want for yourself. As for getting professional assistance, that's available. But, you can simply start doing things that contribute to a more balanced stance on your own. The choice in the first place is to decide to get things in order. Step by step. And, to get started doing it. Okay?

As my Go-To Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj succinctly puts it, "The entire purpose of a clean and well-ordered life is to liberate man from the thralldom of chaos and the burden of sorrow."

Understand the line of Gravity is not just a scribed line. Like in the building trades using a string and a weighted-mass plumb bob to confirm the vertical. That’s an applied, static method. There’s another method that individuals can take advantage of in their own life. In their own time. Balancing the body with the Gravitational field of the Earth. Be an "Easy Rider", doin' your own thing, in you're own time.

Consider the designers’ and builders’ use of the plumb line. Three things. 1.The plumb bob itself — that weighted-mass which Gravity pulls down. 2.The string. 3.The hand — what holds it in place, and what holds it up, and what decides where to put it to begin with. Notice that it’s the string that connects the two. That string is under tension. That’s dynamic. Same with the weighted mass of the body. It’s like a plumb bob. Gravity wants to pull down on it. Normally we struggle to keep up. That downward pull is a good thing. Metaphysically you can say it is literally pulling down and away what you don't have in the first place. Karma, baby.

But, in balance, the “up” is automatic, built into the systematic reciprocal relationship with Gravity and the living organism. Centered on The Line. In the building trades that line has the intention of making sure things are plumb and square. As regards the Human being, The Line also has a healthy intention. If you look it's there. You feel it. What it's like. Sit down and look within. What you are feeling, that's it. Any imbalances in the body will show themselves. At first discomforting maybe. And, early in this practice with a bunch also of discomforting thoughts. Stick with it! Sit in what J. Krishnamurti advises: "Choiceless awareness". Or, as the Buddhist Masters put it: "Presence Awareness". The thing about doing that in a good balanced posture is that things clear up naturally, spontaneously. Like Dr. Rolf said, "Spontaneously the body heals itself". Let the grass grow by itself. You'll see.

It’s a big subject. Intention. In terms of daily living on Earth let’s understand that The Line has two intentions. One is horizontal. In other words, daily living on planet Earth. Doing this and that, going here and there, getting what have you ... like that. Even Elon Musk and his sending rockets up, that’s really in the domain of the horizontal physical reality. Doing stuff.

The other intention is vertical. In one way, moving down. Oriented, if you will, grounded to the Earth. And ... and, moving up, up toward the Center of the Universe. Which, we might want to refer to as Source, the Creator. It’s that upward movement of the force of Gravity that has the intention to keep you centered and in the moment. Keeping it Real. Connected for life ...

Perhaps with the talking about spiritual matters you're getting that The Line is not just about a better body. We talk about the body because we can get our hands on it. The entire enterprise is what's called "somatic". Entering within yourself at the felt sense bodily level, but understanding that it's a wholistic event. Body, mind, psychology, soul, spirit. We separate these for speaking purposes only. Words will do that. The reality is that it's a unity. In other words, you can think of The Line as the Shepherd's Staff. Guiding a good life. What's a "good life"? Well, having a sense of simple basic bodily balance is a help. You do you. But, be righteous. Righteous? Now with all these words surely you have a sense that it involves simple geometry. As for ultimate matters, when the student is ready the Teacher will appear. Gravity is a teacher. In the Teacher's Hand.

You could say that the thrust of Human evolution is in living in an equipoise balance between those two movements. Up and down. The breath and its action is a good metaphor for that same dynamic. In and out if you're into that tantric Yin Yang thing. 

In other words Gravity has its material side, and its metaphysical side. In the world, but not of the world. Just like it has its downside [centripetal] and its upside [centrifugal]. Yin and Yang if you want to get all Eastern with it.

So, what do we want to take away from all these words. This: Gravity is a sustainable and most readily available resource for living well. For health, performance, creativity.

Get with it!

* "Rolfing" and "Rolfer" are service marks of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.

𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 ...

Memories of my Rolfing Teacher Stacey Mills ...

Some background ...

In 1981 I changed careers. From a 12 year stint as an Ad Biggie on Mad Ave to Certified Rolfer; within a year's time. Quite a change, no? 

From a white collar field centered on visual and verbal parameters, to one based on manual labor. And, most certainly, way more soul. In Rolfing the manual labor is used to help move the Human body from a place of random imbalance to one of balance in alignment with the force of Gravity. Literally, like sculpting living clay. Hands on.

Interesting that from a career in marketing communications I go into a brand new, widely unknown career path with the built in challenge to communicate its benefits. It's one thing to introduce a new shampoo, or a new food product; quite another to birth the never before heard of; not just the identity "Rolfing", but the idea upon which it is based.

It's a clear moment when you realize your daily career activity will be putting your hands directly on people. As I said, especially when the previous career was all mental. But, with some nice lunches thrown in I will admit.

It did help that I had graduated with a bachelor's in Human Biology. My first academic love. 

At the time my career in advertising ended — I had a moment of honesty with myself and admitted that I didn't want to be that Can't Miss Top 10 World Class Mad Ave Ad Biggie no more. Everything changed around that one simple, clear admission; and fast — it seemed that the Universe had conspired to take me from a work centered on getting people to part with their cash to one of service and personal growth. "Rolfing!"

My Teacher Stacey Mills ...

Let me tell you about my Teacher, Stacey Mills. At the time she was the Grande Dame and Doyenne of the Rolfing community. A senior teacher at the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration which was headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. That's the school founded by the originator of Structural Integration, Dr. Ida P. Rolf. Now you know where "Rolfing" comes from.

Stacey was a Lady. Hair neatly coiffed close to the head. Just enough makeup; nails perfectly polished. Silk blouses. Simple, comfortable slacks. Precise, knowing, gentle touch. A cool, cool Scorpio. With a presence emanating depth and understanding. Very self contained, private. That's Scorpio. Funny, my ex-wife is a Scorpio and all the teachers in my training led by Stacey were also Scorpios. Kismet? Better behave around Scorpios ... stingers.

She was held in a kind of ga-ga high esteem in the Rolf community. It seemed a bit much, and that made me question it. My comment, "But, can she get down on all fours and bark like a dog?". I hope she could. But, the Lady was dignified and serious always. Wouldn't dare say that to her face.

Meeting Stacey ...

On the very first day of class in New York City I met Stacey Mills for the first time and presented her with a highly shined red Apple. She accepted it from me, without any trace of affect. Like you handed a mechanic a wrench needed for the job; or, a surgeon a scalpel. Whether my attempt at being endearing with my gesture of clever irony registered with her, who knows. I enjoyed it. It was a nice Apple. And, the class was in the Big Apple. 

Dancing with Stacey ...

Some of us called her "Spacey Stacey". Though she didn't talk about it, she was definitely one of those rare "psychic ladies". You know the kind who could read you deep into your karmic roots, with a library of study at her fingertips in the arcane; such as astrology, metaphysics, and other esoteric subjects. She had a knowing way. What she knew, who knows. 

About in the middle of the multi-week class schedule we all went to the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan for an evening of dancing. I danced with Stacey. It was probably some bouncy pop tune and she was grooving to the vibes. Eyes closed, hands waving in the air; off in her own reverie. Like, we weren't grooving together. Just her. Perhaps in her own experince she was dancing with me, but it didn't seem that way to me. I stopped dancing ... cold. She opened her eyes and stopped too. It was abrupt. But, I too have dance in me. Not always groovy, but always in the groove. If you know what I mean. What do I mean? Believe me, I sure don't know. Who knows, I might have brought her back and saved her from floating off into the ethers.

Stacey's lecture assignments to the class ...

The Rolf Structural Integration format is taught as a 10 session process. Typically, a client comes once a week. I was given the class assignment to give a talk on the 6th session. I didn't know at the time what I knew. The 6th session I would characterize as having the theme, "Level". Remember, the main goal of the work is to balance the body — the whole Human being actually; but, you can get your hands on that body as a grounded surety — in respect to the dictates of Gravity. That means the segments of the body are stacked up easy on a simple vertical line. For that, things need to be symmetrical and level. It's at the point of the 6th session that things need to get level. The next session focuses on the upper head area, so you want to be sure there's a place to put a level head. Kapische?

My talk featured emphasis on "vectors". Tensional imbalances in the fabric of the body that pull away from the central vertical. It's a whole thing to discuss what that's about; suffice to say that we accumulate the slings and arrows of living and store them in the body. Insufficient learning, bad habits, accidents, traumas, modelling after our significant others; like that.

After I gave my talk I saw Stacey raise her eyebrows. Maybe with some eyes, like you make when you have a reaction to something. What her reaction was, who knows. Inscrutable as she was. I don't think it was a response to my brilliance. After several decades in this craft I look back and in fact see the truth of it. But then, I was stabbing a bit in the dark with my concept. My take at the time was her response had something to do with how full of shit I was. Or, maybe — mirabile dictu — it was over her head? Our teachers sometimes can seem to be as gods. But, like any good teacher knows, your students teach you too. Maybe she was amazed at my brilliance after all?

If that transaction left me with anything, it was what Stacey would say to me at the end of my training. In essence, some things are better left unanswered. So, I'll let go wondering about how she took it. Like I said, those Scorpios don't seem to show their cards much. 

Graduation dinner ...

At the successful end of the training the students and the teachers got together for a dinner party. At the assistant teacher Rosemary Feitis' sprawling Upper West Side West End Avenue apartment. 

Stacey prepared the meal. Braised Pig Feet. A kulinary koan if ever there was one. Pig's feet? Huh? Truth be told, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. What, if anything the others at the table thought of it, I don't know. We didn't gossip about things after the fact. But, as you would think, a celebratory dinner with Pig's feet? Not exactly the first thing that comes to mind planning for such an event. As was usual for me, it did cause me to wonder whether there was some message buried in that stew. And, back to the main lesson. Let the question go. I didn't have a sense of relationship enough with Stacey to ask her what she was thinking. Simply remember a delicious dish.

The class party ...

We had the class party at Anatomy Teacher Louis Schulz's apartment in the Village. Teachers, students, class models, friends and family. 

Stacey gifted the newly certified Rolfers T-shirts with

tiger and zebra stripes printed on the full fronts. I imagined the image could be interpreted as a finger print. The hand of God? Maybe. Who knows.

At the time somehow I was taken with making jewelry with brass safety pins. There were six students in the class. I affixed six small pins to one larger and made it into a decoration you could wear as jewelry. I told Stacey it was a puzzle [six students, one teacher]. She replied, "Some puzzles aren't meant to be solved". Another teaching moment, for sure. Swaha! Let it go!

As I said, Stacey dressed well. Stylish, but not too showy; quality choices. At the party she wore a black velvet cat suit, with large red roses dotting here and there. On her backside a very large full bloom red rose covered the entirety. Not to be missed. What that was all about, again, who knows. Stacey at the time was a woman of a certain age. I think she still had it going on. But, I wasn't inclined to open that trick box. My own psychic chops hadn't yet been cooked enough to suss that puzzlement. To this day, can't say.

My cry for help ...

Early in my Rolfing career it wasn't going swimmingly. All my own bridges were burned, and the friends and colleagues from my previous life weren't exactly the sort that would embrace something as radically new as Rolfing. So much for creativity in the so-called creative world of Advertising. Geez! Much less, that all of them didn't embrace me much to begin with. Not much fertile soil in my section of the farm. Mostly rocks to be cleared. Like I said, this career has a lot to do with personal development. When life gives you karmic rocks you learn to rock your karma. I'm still at it. Thankfully, now. Back then, it was a difficult challenge.

I called Stacey on the telephone to make contact. Not sure what I wanted, or how to even express it. When she answered and I identified myself she asked, "What can I do for you?". A little stunned at the directness and flatness of how she put it, I said, "I just wanted to tell you I love you". I don't recall what, if any, response she had to that. It did seem to soften my sense of relationship with her, however.

A Rolf Institute annual meeting ...

A few years into my career as a Rolfer I attended a workshop at the school in Boulder, Colorado. Followed by a big party at the conclusion of the membership annual meeting. Afterward Stacey thanked me "for sharing myself". 

Lovely acknowledgment. Thank you. And bless you.

Our last time together, planetary-wise ...

In her last years Stacey Mills lived in an assisted living community in New Jersey. She probably would have been medically diagnosed with dementia. We visited. I was eager to show her the piece I had written for prospective clients. No purchase on that. She seemed to be on some other plane. "Spacey Stacey." We took a walk together around the sprawling facility. At one point we got lost. She said "You are going to embarrass yourself", going off like we were in the wrong direction in the maze of corridors at the facility. I said nothing. Knowing that just being there was all there was ... and, being there with her. 

Concluding thoughts ...

Sometimes I can see Stacey looking through my eyes. I hope she enjoys the view. Who knows. Not for me to concern about her experience. But, my own. Knowing and trusting that that will please my Teacher.

PS There emerged in this recollection a theme. Not knowing. There was so much about Stacey Mills which to me was inscrutable. As I have matured it is dawning on me that not knowing is the true condition. That we confuse and complicate in our quest for so-called understanding. Yet, in not knowing, we can look at a situation in the present moment with fresh, unfiltered eyes. And trust in our ability to respond appropriately and effectively. To be responsible. That's what the field of Rolf Structural Integration is all about. Learning to live in a healthy balance, a balance based on the universal principal of the Law of Gravity. Appropriate. Responsible ... able to respond.

Some Teacher, huh?

𝐈𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥?

 

Good question. And, perfectly understandable. A lot of people have the same concern. Even some who have been "Rolfed" say it's painful. What they don't usually mention is that the experience is about pain leaving. Or, that there can be occasional intensity, but not something hurtful. But, as a client you are in charge. Everything proceeds with your permission and acceptance. That's the plain fact. 

Have you ever had an experience of pain leaving? Or, moving into a place of discomfort and discovering just out of being willing to go there it transforms from pain to pleasure? Try it, you'll like it.

This will answer the big question to your complete satisfaction. You don't want to miss choosing to do something good for youself out of a simple misunderstanding. Wrong information. Do you?

Okay? Let's unpack the question ...

But it does depend on three things: 

What do you mean by is? 

What do you mean by Rolfing? 

And, what do you mean by painful?

That may sound like a smart-ass answer, but a few things need to be cleared up and given the necessary context. That understanding will settle the question. Promise.

"Is"

What is the "is" in question? What's the "is-sue"? 

Your body. Every Human body. Any Human body.

We're talking about the individual Human being and their condition in simple, basic bodily terms. In this case, it's about its condition in respect to how it stacks architecturally. What it takes for that arrangement to live in a normal healthy relationship to the constant and ever present force of Gravity. It's that simple. 

Let's take a look. There's  balance, and there's out of balance? Frankly, usually a mix of both. Typical patterns: head forward ... one shoulder higher ... ministry of funny walks.  Those imbalances, though ... ouch! They can be painful. Not to mention the compensations necessary to keep everything together.

How do we look at the body as a structure? What do we look for? 

The body has an anatomical design, its natural and healthy architectural arrangment. There is a set of definite relationships of the many segmented parts; that is ... feet, legs, hips, belly, chest, shoulders, hands, arms, neck, head. This arrangment as a whole stacks up and operates under the influence of Gravity. Just like any physical structure on Earth. We know the rules of Gravity for our buildings. Same for the Human body. Vertical, symmetrical, even. Bada bing!

Imbalances often occur. Bad habits, unresolved accidents and traumas, lack of training, no training — we're self-taught mostly [who taught you how to stand, to sit, to walk?] — modelling significant others who may not have been themselves good examples of balance in the makeup of their own bodies. 

These arrangements accumulate over time, and unless resolved or corrected, they get set into the fabric of the flesh. Such imbalances report themselves as chronic pains and stress. Limited range, sub-par performance, lack of creativity. 

This is what the orginator, Dr. Ida P. Rolf said about that: "Some individuals may perceive their losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in their back, others as the unflattering contour of their body, others as constant fatigue, yet others as an unrelentingly threatening environment. Those over forty may call it old age. And yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with Gravity."

It's plain to see looking at any individual's body in terms of how well it stacks up along the straight line vertical; also looking for necessary symmetries, and levels-evenness front to back.  

In summary, the "is" in Rolfing is your body and it's alignment in respect to the dictates of Gravity. 

"Rolfing"

Rolfing is a legal service mark name held by the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute. It's one of the schools in the field known as Structural Integration. While the question was put regarding "Rolfing" this answers for the entire field of Structural Integration.

Structural Integration is a definitive and peerless approach to Human balance. Unique in that its main goal is to balance the body with the Gravitational field of the Earth. As such. Sure, anything you do that's good for you contributes to balance. But, bodily balance as such, that's the whole Enchilada in Structural Integration. While we have the innate ability to heal and become whole, other than Structural Integration there is no other formal method designed to address whole body balance along the lines of the demands of Gravity. Repeating ... as such. 

Dr. Rolf, put it this way: "This is the gospel of Rolfing^®: When the body gets working appropriately, the force of Gravity can flow through. Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself." 

As is well known, the Human body takes its shape over time through lived experience. On average it's a random bag. We arrive at adulthood with a mix of balance and imbalance fixed into our flesh. 

Balance is normal and healthy. Imbalances require compensations. "Dis-ease." These, unless resolved, set in and we find ourselves living in patterns which are inefficient, limiting performance and creativity, and sapping vital energy to maintain. Ouch! That's painful! Yet, we can be seduced to accepting this as "Just the way I am". That there is no alternative. 

Well ...

Good News! The Human body has a plastic quality. It has taken the shape you're in, and it can be reshaped.

You may be wondering if that's the "painful" part. The reshaping. Stay tuned. No problemo. 

Structural Integration offers individualized assistance to bring the body to a naturally effortless, graceful upright stance; with ease, flexibility, and fluidity. As Dr. Rolf put it, "So you should be easy in your harness".

So much more could be said, but this should suffice. When you decide to do something constructive to bring this kind of balance into your life, all your other questions can be answered. You can add a comment/question below this post.

So now, let's talk about the Elephant in the room.

"Painful"

"Just what do I have to do today to get you into a balanced body?"

Most people look at things like Structural Integration as a therapy. I got a problem; I need it fixed. I've tried everything, maybe this'll do it? With medical attention and therapies typically something is done to you. You're a passive recipient. You take your medicine. You take the shot. Get a procedure done to you. Go under the knife.

Strutural Integration is a system using manual touch and guided self-movement. Rather than "fixing" a symptom, chronic problems get resolved out of fostering that head to toe balance in the whole body.  And, the big difference is that in terms of dealing with "painful" in Structural Integration you are in control*. 

If at any time the contact in a session of Structural Integration is unacceptable, for any reason — whether it be the manual touch itself or the movement instruction —  the process works best when you speak up for yourself. Then the practitioner can change the pace, ease up, slow down, or stop. Net, net ... you are in control. It's your body after all. Your limits are always respected.

That should settle the question on "painful".

But maybe a little more about what is pain. It's a big subject.

We all know pain. It can vary in intensity. An itch, temporary annoyance, a twinge, a chonic persistent ache, to a stop-the-world-I-want-to-get-off 10 on a 10 point scale.

Pain is first a physical sensation. Yet, we give it meaning, have pictures for it. Have stories that tell how it got there. Have situations, places and people who trigger painful feelings. In other words, pain comes packaged. There's the physical felt sense, and the psychological/mental and emotional components too. Getting rid of pain sometimes depends on where to open that package.

This is important to mention since Structural Integration is what's called a "somatic" method. As such, it addresses the whole Human being, but grounded in Anatomy and Physics. There may be a psychological/emotional component but we can get our hands on the body. Knock on wood. Balance the body, balance the mind. The body/mind apparatus is a unity; it all goes together.

*Structural Integration is taught in schools recognized by the International Association of Structural Integrators. An important distinction about this approach is that it is not a therapy. That said, yes, bringing a higher order of balance into the makeup of the Human body may have therapeutic effects. But, the work is a teaching. A training, to learn to live in balance in tangible, and noticeable ways. This is something you take away from the process. As an experience. It's not just intellectual, conceptual. It's perceptual. You own it much in the same way you own how to ride a bike, swim, juggle. Or anything else you've learned to do, and now it's set in muscle memory. 

And, since the method is instructional, you participate. You learn. You put in effort. That's very different from many of the things you can do for yourself therapeutically. 

It takes doing. An effort on your part.

So, what are you waiting for?

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 "𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐞" 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Following are the verbatim exchanges after me "trolling" a Facebook post on the breaking news that "Scientists have received an “extremely exciting” gravitational-wave signal from the distant universe.

The story is about gravitational waves so I figured there was an opening for your "Gravity Ace" to add some pertinent information.

And, so it went. Listen ... 

["Gravity Ace" and various interlocutors]

"Gravity Ace": "I work professionally in a field which fosters Human living in respect to the force of Gravity; that is according to the design of Anatomy and the laws of Physics in how the human body structure is designed. The average individual is off kilter from that basic well known standard. Yet, it's still news that has yet to be delivered. Perhaps the scientists could take their eye off the microscope and the telescope and look for something closer to home, and plainly obvious?"

"What??"

"You could explain what your job actually is in plain English for a start, because frankly as it reads it seems you need experts in ergonomics or furniture design rather than scientists. And I’m not sure how it’s relevant to the story anyway." 

"GA": "The relevance for me is in how we're off looking telescopically far away and microscopically way in, but we're also needing to look into things right in front of our nose. Or, in technology, sending rockets on a project to get to Mars, when we have some work to do here which is slightly more at hand. And, necessary.

"Also ... in terms of describing what it is that I'm presenting, let me rephrase: We know scientifically the Human body is designed for an arrangement that is stacked up easy and simple, with things even and level. In the trades all structures at their center must obey "Plumb & Square". As I said, the Human body structure exists in the same situation as any building. If you care to take a look around from the point of view of that particular standard, you'll see for yourself the situation. My point is that is something so obvious, yet overlooked.

" –Ida P. Rolf, PhD:

'Some individuals may perceive their losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in their back, others as the unflattering contour of their body, others as constant fatigue, yet others as an unrelentingly threatening environment. Those over forty may call it old age. And yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with gravity.' "

"A wizard did it?"

"GA": "Did it ... did what? Please."

Response:



"Cool story, my bro. Why'd you make it up?"

"GA": "I made it up to share some good news."

"I've rarely seen anyone so desperate to sound knowledgeable and enlightened, whilst spewing a ludicrous drool of nonsensical gibberish. I should have guessed you were a Rolfer, before you dropped the quote."

"GA": "What is it about living in balance with the natural fact of Gravity that is gibberish? Out of balance, that's some real desperation. For balance, you don't need a Rolfer. But there is something to it about getting engaged with learning the basic skill of living adapted to the demands of Gravity."

"What's "about" it is the ludicrous pseudo-science that's inspired you to put together string after string of words that really don't mean anything at all. Much like your "profession" of providing the gullible and desperate with nothing whatsoever of any worth."

"GA": "I appreciate your candor. And your perseverance being in discussion with me. I am in the process of learning how to get my idea(s) across. Thank you for giving me a opportunity to make myself clear. Understand, I leave it to you whether you agree or not, and respect whatever is your choice.

"Admitting that not everyone is my customer, let me say this: Besides offering individualized training to transform the arrangement of the body to it's design potential for verticality, symmetry, and level front/back; the message of Dr. Ida P. Rolf is as simple as a mud fence: Scientifically we understand that Human bodies are designed for architectural balance [as described previously]. We grow bigger and stronger as we mature; structure is to a great extent developmental. We are shaped by our experience. Literally, both body and mind.

"Most come to maturity with a random mix of imbalances fixed into the fabric of the flesh. Since the body is plastic — it takes shape — it restores itself with a little attention toward the normal pattern [as described]. Forget Rolfing. [BTW "Rolfing" is a nickname for Dr. "Rolf". The actual name of the field she originated is "Structural Integration".]

"Forget Structural Integration as something I do that you have to pay me for. As I attempted to make clear is there’s the simple choice to engage in the process of growing to live adapted to the dictates of Gravity.

"This is a new idea in the culture. Works for me. Disagree or not. The fact of the constant and ever presence of Gravity is well known in science. Common sense, really. And, it’s action. You've heard of that falling Apple? What’s not so much in the discussion is the question of how we Humans are in the makeup of our bodies dealing with that. Gravity has a program. The message is ... "Get with it". "

Afterthought:

Admittedly, no one has asked a question, yet I offered an answer attempting to elicit a question. Every one is at a different place on the Path, and different level of understanding. Your "Gravity Ace" is in a project to not only get across that balance in respect to Gravity is a good thing, and possible; he's also learning in that process just what the fuck it takes to get something so plainly obvious across to the average Joe and Jane. It does seem that the first task is to open minds. It's not just a question — even though the name on the jacket is "Gravity Ace" — a question of Gravity, but also of what else may be so obvious it escapes our distracted notice. Meanwhile the best you "Gravity Ace" can do is continue to engage in the process of consigning the body to Gravity himself. As an exemplar, that may be the most telling. And, yet, he do like to mince the words. Light a candle. [Which, come to think of it, has to be straight and true to burn long and bright.]

Substituting "King" in Robert Frost's brilliant poem : How hard it is to keep from being "Gravity Ace" when it's in you and in the situation.