Gravity as the Organizing Principle

Rolfing is frequently referred to as Myofascial work, involving muscles and connective tissues, to align the body with gravity. This practice aims not only to alleviate strain but also to expose the body to a greater organizing force, which the body's own intelligence can engage with and structure around. While this concept may seem quite esoteric, it's important to note that all creatures have evolved and adapted to their environments over tens of thousands of years to achieve their current levels of function and fitness. For humans, this adaptation is most certainly reflected in our upright posture. Many assume that Stone Age individuals or cavemen walked hunched over like apes. This assumption likely stems from the belief that there was a transition phase from apes to humans. However, computer models of even the earliest human ancestors indicate that their pelvises were designed for upright walking, unlike the apes from which we evolved and alongside whom we developed.

Apes are Quadrupeds Humans are Bipeds

While apes and monkeys can stand on their hind legs, the angle of their hip sockets indicates that they are truly quadrupeds. Their legs are designed to extend straight out from their sockets, whereas ours extend at an angle that allows us to stand upright with ease. Humans are not born with a hip socket; instead, one develops as we crawl, with the head of the femur carving out a socket that is further refined when we begin walking. Other primates become fatigued when standing on two legs for extended periods because it is not their natural mode of movement; they are more accustomed to walking on four legs or brachiating, swinging from tree branches. Humans are essentially the only upright bipedal animals besides birds. This uprightness, reminiscent of trees reaching for the sky, perhaps explains why the Swedish and the Norse believed that humans were made from trees, as it evokes a distinctly human quality.

Apes Are Quadrupeds

The Intelligence of the Body

As previously noted, we are not born with a hip socket, but learning to crawl and walk is part of our inherent design, just like learning to talk. Although walking and talking may not develop correctly without exposure at the appropriate time in a child's development, as seen in cases of feral children, they are like seeds awaiting the right conditions to grow. There is an inherent intelligence that unfolds under suitable conditions, and humans, being social creatures, rely on imitation for proper development, similar to many mammals. Once we stand upright, we are influenced by the physics of being vertical, and our bodies begin to organize around this vertical principle. Ida Rolf referred to it as gravity, while many mystical religions speak of a descending Ray from the heavens, with humans reaching out, like trees stretching towards the sky, sending back an ascending Ray. These are sometimes described as evolutionary and involutionary forces. Regardless of the perspective, there is a noticeable force of gravity that we may perceive as a downward pull, and there is also a noticeable force of uprightness that a person experiences when properly aligned in gravity.

Everything is in Motion

The idea that nothing remains static was embraced by many ancient cultures long before science confirmed it. We consist of rapidly vibrating particles that appear and disappear millions of times in an instant. This insight was recognized by the Buddha 2,500 years ago, even before physicists made it a revelation, and he likely wasn't the first to have this insight. Despite our constant coming and going, there is an organizing principle that maintains our cohesion. Cells continuously divide, multiply, and die, being replaced regularly; muscles heal themselves; our bodies combat viruses and ideally restore equilibrium. If a problem like shoulder pain arises, the body typically resolves it. If it doesn't, something is preventing the body's intelligence from achieving balance. Our interaction with gravity and our upright posture should support the body's intelligence in restoring balance, as this is how we evolved.

The Buddha Realized that we are an Accumulation of Rapidly Vibrating Particles

Not Obeying Gravity is Unhealthy

We might be inclined to view human life as a battle against gravity that we eventually begin to lose. However, I urge you to consider that all creatures have evolved to thrive amidst the challenges of life in their natural environment, and for any creature, these challenges are a natural part of their system achieving balance. For example, wild animals do not develop PTSD; even a gazelle will flee from a lion, and if it escapes, it will literally shake it off. Domestic animals, including humans, as well as cattle and pets, do develop PTSD. Additionally, domestication reduces brain size; indeed, Neanderthals had larger brains than we do. The point here is that we evolved to handle a certain level of struggle, and for bipeds, that struggle involves being upright. The issue arises when we are only sort of upright, and gravity starts to cause harm rather than healing.

Humans do not fare well without gravity, as any astronaut can attest. Muscle and bone density decrease, and heart issues arise. Similarly, bedridden individuals face numerous health challenges that must be addressed. In this context, those not properly aligned in gravity are not benefiting from the healing forces that gravity and our evolution towards an upright posture provide. It's said that the head can weigh up to 40 lbs in gravity when not adequately supported by the shoulders. Consider the strain your neck and shoulders experience in such a scenario. If your shoulder isn't supported by your rib cage, it endures constant strain, explaining persistent shoulder pain. Our muscles, both large and small, evolved to work with gravity's downward force to provide lift and uprightness, thriving when used for their intended purpose. Instead of viewing gravity as a force to battle, it should be seen as the organizing principle around which we grow, something that elevates us rather than weighs us down, allowing us to find balance—a healing force. As Ida Rolf succinctly put it, "Gravity is the Therapist."