Have you ever told someone that you were seeing a Rolfer and then had to try explaining what it is? Let's face it, that's not easy even for a Rolfer. Because the process is complex and people don't really understand it, all Rolfers must become educators.
There are a few books out there detailing what Rolfing is, and a couple of them are for the general public. Owen Marcus' book- The Power of Rolfing is one of those. Practicing Rolfing for many years alongside naturopaths in a wellness clinic, as well as holding meditation classes for stress reduction and working with professional runners, Marcus has some good insight about Rolfing, what it is and how to apply it to various individuals.
Owen Marcus has been a Rolfer since 1980, and spent time running a wholistic medical clinic. He worked with professional athletes, especially runners. This has given him a good perspective on the proper mechanics of the body when running and even walking. Realizing that the biggest pathology in our culture is stress, he also held meditation classes regularly. I personally believe that Rolfing and meditation go hand in hand, an highly recommend finding some sort of meditative practice, weather sitting meditation or moving meditation like Tai Chi.
In addition to explaining some of the ins and outs of how Rolfing works, Owen also addresses some of the history of Rolfing and how it has changed. Some schools of structural integration, the original term for Rolfing, try to adhere to a rigid model of what Ida Rolf left behind, but the Rolf Institute believes that Rolf left behind a developing path and not a religion to be preserved and unchanged. Owen discusses some of the different ideas and divergences that have developed over time and how Rolfing has changed with scientific research.
This book not only addressed how Rolfing can help with the structural organization of the body, but also with personal health in general. He talks about how Rolfing can help with issues like TMJ or plantar fascitus, but also with metabolism, insomnia and over all stress management. If you are looking for a good introduction to Rolfing, the Power of Rolfing by Owen Marcus is a great place to start. And a nice plus is it's on audible as well!
Audible gives you a free 30 day trial and one audio book for free, which you can keep and continue to listen to even if you halt your membership. Both the paper copy and the audio book can be found at the link below. Enjoy!