About Ida Rolf

In 1920 Ida P. Rolf earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. For twelve years she worked at the Rockefeller Institute in the Chemotherapy and Organic Chemistry Departments.

In the 1930's, challenged by a friends disabilities and dissatisfied with the available medical treatment, Dr. Rolf explored Osteopathy, chiropractic medicine, yoga, the Alexander Technique, Homeopathic medicine and Korzybski's work on states of consciousness.

By the 1940's she had developed and experienced many breakthroughs with the work she did on chronically disabled persons unable to find help elsewhere. During her scientific research, she made a fundamental discovery about the body; the same network of connective tissue which contains and links the muscle system when its healthy can be used to reshape it when it's been pulled out of proper order.

Dr. Rolf refined her technique and developed a training program to insure that this important work would continue. Practitioners are required to have extensive knowledge in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, body awareness and mature sensitivity to psychological mediation.

Structural Integration is also known as Rolfing®. Dr. Rolf called her system of bodywork Structural Integration, a name which is descriptive of the process, Rolfing® was a nickname, first coined in the 1960's at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur.