I would like to take a moment to address the topic of meditation, as awareness is key to the transformative effects of Rolfing for both the practitioner and the client. It is by no means necessary that the Rolfer or client take up a meditation practice for success with the process, but it is very helpful in fostering and new and deeper awareness with the body, with movement and even with perception. Many people are drawn to meditation for it's benefits, stress reduction, clarity of mind, becoming more focused and productive in daily life and at work, but all of these reasons are secondary to what meditative traditions evolved to cultivate, which is the complete the transformation of the individual. That being said, what ever leads an individual to meditation can help open up this pathway, be it pain or stress management, but try to consider this idea- the primary benefit of meditation should be meditation itself and all other things gained from it are secondary. There are two overall approaches taken to meditative traditions I am aware of: that of Focused attention and that of Non-Focused attention or what I like to call Peripheral attention.
Focused Attention
One of the goals of meditation is to strengthen the attention. While studying at University, my History of Hinduism professor said that the yoga we see in gyms and yoga studios here is not yoga. Being able to stare at a dot until every one of our senses withdraw into each other to the point where the dot is the only thing that exists in the universe, THAT is yoga. So what were these people in gyms and yoga studios doing? I think it is the inner attention and experience that makes for yoga, rather than the exterior exercises. Which brings up the idea that meditation can be both still, seated and quite, or moving dynamic and audible. With the last idea in mind, let's start with mantra.
Mantra
A mantra is word or phrase that is repeated audibly or internally that gives the mind something to focus on. This phrase will usually have some meaning, either esoteric or exoteric. It may be an appeal to higher forces for help, it may be a wish for healing or peace, it could even be a spell for prosperity or a curse on one's enemy, depending on what sort of tradition one is in. It could be an idea or an ideal one is striving for. A mantra is essentially a prayer, and every prayer is a mantra. Keeping one's attention on the unity of the repetition of a phrase or word can not only strengthen the attention but allow one freedom from the thoughts and emotions that constantly run through the mind, causing agitation. In this way, chanting mantra can help one deal with stress in a healthy manor and refresh the mind again.
Yantra
A yantra is a geometric diagram meditated on in Tantric Hinduism, but I here use this term very loosely as any visual object or drawing meditated on. As in the previous explanation, a yogi may concentrate their attention on a single dot. Meditation on the breath through breathing exercises (pranayama) and simply keeping the attention on the breath without altering it (anapana breathing) are also exercises in focused attention, the latter being used more often in Buddhism. One may meditate on the image of a deity (taking Darshan in Hinduism) or simply on a letter, as is common in Tibetan Buddhism where it is a basic focused meditation exercise to hold the attention on the letter A- which also has esoteric significance. Keeping the attention focused on an object or illustration allows unity of mind, less intrusion of thought, and may even allow one to reduce unnecessary muscle tension. The same is true for focusing on the breath.
Sensation
Meditation on the sensation in the body is probably the most relevant practice for Rolfing. In drawing attention to sensation in the body one increases the mental map of the the body and proprioception, the feeling of where we are in space, both moving and being still increases. This can help develop a new sense of self in life, and a deeper sense of one's own being over time. Focusing on breath is perhaps better mentioned under this category than the last, but here we are referring to meditating primarily on the sensation of breath. Some traditional lineages of southeast Asian Buddhism give great importance to scanning thoroughly through the body taking in finer and finer sensations, traditions such as Vipassana. The sitting meditation practice in G.I. Gurdjeff's lineage is also similar.
The nature of focused meditation is that the mind is given something to be directed to, so that every thing else can either be filtered out or given less importance to. This is sometimes referred to as seeded meditation. Generally speaking, seeded meditation is easier to begin with. It is not easy for anyone to muster up the attention it requires but the struggle is more overt and easy to approach. Seedless meditation, on the other hand, is more esoteric and harder to grasp, probably because it can not be grasped, it has to be let go of.
Peripheral Attention
When we consider peripheral attention we are speaking of a free attention that has no direct focus, we are practicing being present without a goal, or an anchor. This does not mean spacing out and allowing the mind to wander, nor does it mean forcefully directing the attention. This is the practice of allowing all impressions and thoughts to come in, but trying not to allow any of them to hook the attention and drag it away. Three aspects of this approach are seedless meditation, spaciousness, and once again sensation.
Seedless
Seedless meditation is very difficult for beginners and I view it as being an advanced form of meditation, though people in traditions that practice seedless meditation start with it right away. It is referred to as seedless because we are given nothing to focus on, but rather try to keep the attention open and allow all things to come in. The thoughts will pass through the mind, but we try not to allow them to take our attention away, when they do we simply try to let go. This type of meditation is central to Zen and it is usually practiced with the eyes open, so this also means taking in all the senses but not allowing them to distract us. Beginners usually practice facing a wall so their visual field does not distract them too much. The Buddha is often depicted meditating with eyes just slightly open.
Spacious
The concept of spaciousness is important to many traditions. Rather than tightening up the attention to focus on something, it is a widening of the attention to allow all things in without preference. The concept of spacious attention is important in Tibetan Buddhism, where a practitioner may go to a high place like a mountain and meditate on the sky. The concept of spaciousness and allowing impressions in comes into Rolfing, where we try to encourage a spacious experience of the body, one that is expansive rather than constrictive, one that has to do with extension into space rather than unnecessary muscle tension leading to being stuck in flexion. With the experience of the spacious body comes a different relationship with pain. Not allowing oneself to be taken entirely by pain gives one some freedom from it, remembering that there is a whole realm of experience in the body that is not just the area one is experiencing pain around. Also allowing for a relaxed and freer movement when walking, rather than moving with force, is a way of working with spaciousness.
Sensation
And now we are back to sensation again. A person can work with a focused attention on sensation. This can help us divide our attention between what is going on outside and feeling of inner sensation. That can add another dimension to conscious awareness. Gurdjieff would often give exercise like this to practice while out in daily life, something like sense your right hand every time you walk through a door. An exercise like this is only good for a little while and then becomes automatic and a new exercise must be tried. Also other examples of working with sensation while not seated are practices like Tai Chi. This is a slow martial art and moving meditation that is probably best done with a light peripheral sense of the whole body. Likewise in Buddhism there is walking meditation. These examples are good because they show how meditation can be done in other ways than still and seated and are good training on how to be mindful in life while moving about, but I will stress the importance of seated meditation too.
In Tibetan Buddhism the concept taking three magic pills to restore equanimity is often referred to. These pills are like medicine for the mind, they are: Stillness, Silence, and Spaciousness. They allow us to go deep within. As one focuses attention gently to the sensations of the body, the power of perception becomes finer, and softer quieter sensations become apparent. It is important to try to relax unnecessary muscle tension when meditating, otherwise all one will sense is tension. Training yourself to become still, relaxed and quite is an opportunity to go deep within, when the attention is available. The thoughts do not usually stop, but we can practice allowing them to pass by, and when we are snagged by a thought we can gently let go and come back to being present again. Here we are coming into contact with different states of mind. What the thoughts are that pass through the mind do not matter, it is the state that matters. It is, in my opinion, the failure of western psychology that more importance is placed on the contents of the mind rather than the state of mind, but traditionally psychology has not even really recognized higher states of mind. With the current interest in eastern psychology, this is slowly changing though.
As Rolfers we are encouraged to be present and mindful while working. The client's body and nervous system responds to this, if only subconsciously. If the client is able to relax, feels safe and can be open, more can be done. Rolfing not only depends on what is done in the session but where the client is at presently. Practicing meditation, coming into sensation throughout the day, and trying to be present will help facilitate the changes the Rolfer is trying to bring out, changes that are already inherent in the client and waiting for encouragement. When both the Rolfer and the client are in a state of calm presence, there can be a resonance, like two strings of the same tuning, octaves apart. None of these practices are necessary for a successful Rolfing session or series but those who practice mindfulness and sensation may benefit even more from Rolfing, so I encourage anyone who is interested to explore the great traditions that have been kept alive for so long.