exploring the rolfing ten series through movement

This course is a movement journey that explores the themes of each session in the Rolfing 10 Series, offering an insightful window into what this transformative process is about. It serves as an introduction to the potential of the body and its relationship to gravity, structure, and movement. The 10 Series works with gravity as a guiding force, helping the body organize itself around a central, vertical axis—what Dr. Rolf referred to as the "Line." This "Line" represents not just alignment, but a dynamic relationship between the body and its environment, offering a path to move with greater ease, efficiency, and balance.

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Meet your instructor

✳

Meet your instructor ✳

NIKKI OLSEN

I am a Certified Advanced Rolfer® and Movement Practitioner dedicated to helping people embody the innate wisdom and authority of their bodies through the transformative practice of structural integration.

Over the last two decades,I’ve carefully selected tools and techniques that have supported my Rolfing clients in their journey toward greater structural integration and movement efficiency. In fact, this course was created with the encouragement of my clients, many of whom forget how to do their "homework." So here, I’ve made it easy to revisit these powerful tools anytime you need them!

What you’ll learn

  • Dr. Ida P. Rolf (1896–1979) was a visionary scientist, educator, and innovator whose work laid

    the foundation for what is now known as Rolfing® Structural Integration. During an era when

    most women were expected to take on traditional roles or work in factories, Dr. Rolf defied

    societal norms, earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Rockefeller Institute in 1920. She was a

    brilliant researcher with expertise in organic chemistry and physiology, yet her true legacy would

    emerge from her exploration of the human body’s structure and function. Throughout her life, Dr.

    Rolf sought answers to deeper questions of health, posture, and well-being. She studied

    osteopathy, the Alexander Technique, and homeopathy and other related feilds. Influenced by

    these disciplines and her own scientific background, she developed a method of working with the

    body’s connective tissue, fascia, to bring about structural change and balance.

    Dr. Rolf recognized that the body’s relationship with gravity played a crucial role in movement

    efficiency, posture, and overall well-being. She observed that chronic tension and misalignment

    in the myofascial system could create pain, dysfunction, and a sense of imbalance. Over time,

    she refined a hands-on method designed to realign the body within gravity by systematically

    addressing fascial restrictions. Rolfing® Structural Integration became a systematic approach to

    influencing the body’s connective tissue matrix to promote balance and efficient movement.

    Dr. Rolf developed the Ten Series, a progressive sequence of ten sessions, each with a distinct

    focus, to systematically organize and align the body’s structure. The sessions progress in a

    specific order with defined themes. Each session builds upon the last, facilitating a progressive

    shift toward optimal function and fluid movement.

    Rolfing found its place in the 1960s and 70s during the rise of the Human Potential Movement, a

    cultural shift that emphasized personal growth, body awareness, and expanded consciousness.

    Dr. Rolf’s work resonated deeply with the philosophies of the Esalen Institute and pioneers in

    somatic psychology. Many individuals exploring meditation, breathwork, and psychotherapy

    found that Rolfing provided a profound shift in their physical being, reinforcing the connection

    between body and mind.

    Dr. Rolf often emphasized that a well-aligned body moves efficiently through gravity. She

    referred to this alignment as "The Line"—a vertical axis running from the feet through the crown

    of the head. When the body is structured around this line, movement requires less effort, and the

    nervous system can operate in a state of ease rather than stress. This shift not only enhances

    posture and movement efficiency but also supports a balanced emotional and mental state.

    Misalignment can create compensatory movement patterns, leading to chronic tension, fatigue,

    and stress. Conversely, when the body is properly aligned in gravity, individuals often report

    increased energy, mental clarity, and an overall sense of well-being. This reflects the profound

    relationship between structure, function, and psychological state.

     Intentional exercise—movement guided by inner awareness—helps integrate and sustain

    structural shifts. Dr. Rolf emphasized that structure is not static; it adapts and responds to daily

    movement and life experiences. Conscious movement allows individuals to refine their

    alignment, maintain ease in motion, and cultivate resilience against future strain. By combining

    hands-on work with somatic movement, clients can embody structural integrity long after

    completing Rolfing sessions 

    Dr. Ida Rolf’s pioneering work continues to influence movement and bodywork practitioners

    worldwide. Rolfing® Structural Integration is not just about posture; it is a holistic approach to

    aligning the body within gravity, enhancing movement efficiency, and fostering a profound sense

    of balance in both body and mind.

  • The term biotensegrity was coined by Dr. Stephen Levin, an orthopedic surgeon influenced by

    Buckminster Fuller's concept of tensegrity—structures stabilized by a balance of continuous

    tension and discontinuous compression. Levin recognized that this principle applied not just to

    architecture but also to the human body, from the cellular level to the entire musculoskeletal

    system. The biotensegrity model offers a sophisticated lens for understanding the human body as

    an integrated, dynamic system rather than a collection of isolated parts. This model views the

    body as a tensegrity structure—where bones act as compression elements suspended within a

    continuous tension network of fascia, ligaments, and muscles. This perspective challenges the

    traditional view of the body as a rigid, stacked structure, instead emphasizing how tension and

    compression interact dynamically to create stability and adaptability.

    The stretch and shorten cycle—fundamental to efficient human movement—is deeply connected

    to biotensegrity. Rather than relying solely on muscular contraction for movement, the body

    stores and releases elastic energy through the fascial network, much like a tensegrity structure

    absorbing and redistributing force. When the body moves efficiently, fascia and other connective

    tissues act as spring-like elements, stretching to absorb mechanical energy and recoiling to

    release it. This interplay enhances movement efficiency, reduces muscular strain, and contributes

    to resilience and adaptability. While fascia plays a crucial role in this system, biotensegrity is

    also evident in bones, which are not merely load-bearing but function as part of a suspended

    network, and even in cells, where the cytoskeleton distributes mechanical forces efficiently.

    This perspective aligns with Rolfing® Structural Integration, which seeks to restore balance by

    working with the body's interconnected tension network rather than isolating individual parts. By

    understanding movement through a biotensegrity lens, Rolfing practitioners help clients cultivate

    resilience, adaptability, and ease, reinforcing that structural change is not about fixing individual

    segments but about optimizing the entire fascial and skeletal matrix for more efficient function.

    By enhancing the stretch and shorten cycle through myofascial work and movement education,

    Rolfing helps clients move with greater ease, efficiency, and longevity.

  • Movement, at its simplest, is a change in position—a shift from one place to another. But through a somatic lens, movement is more than just a mechanical action; it is a shift in our internal experience, a way we sense and relate to ourselves and the world around us. In a modern world that often encourages stillness—hours spent at desks, in cars, or staring at screens—movement becomes essential not just for physical health but for our overall well-being. It reconnects us to sensation, breath, and presence. Traditional exercise, like weightlifting or swinging a kettlebell, can be done with this same somatic awareness, exploring how effort, tension, and release feel in the body rather than just chasing numbers or external goals. Just as there is diversity in the human race, movement is diverse because being human is diverse—different movement styles resonate with each person’s innate wisdom. Some may find joy in fluid, spiraling motions, while others feel at home in structured, powerful lifts. What matters most isn’t the type of movement but the experience of it—how it brings us into relationship with ourselves and enhances our ability to move through life with ease and vitality. When individuals become more integrated—more attuned to their own structure, sensation, and adaptability—they contribute to more integrated communities. A well-balanced, self-aware human can move through the world with greater resilience, compassion, and presence, influencing those around them. Just as movement supports the body’s ability to adapt and thrive, well-integrated individuals support communities that are more connected, responsive, and capable of reaching their full potential.

Course FAQ

  • Unlike conventional stretching or fitness exercises, these movements are designed with fascia in mind. Rather than isolating muscles, they engage whole-body patterns to support structural integration and movement efficiency. They also incorporate mindful awareness and intentional mechanical stressors to encourage fascia to adapt dynamically, helping distribute forces more effectively throughout the body.

  • It is encouraged to progress through the sessions in order to fully integrate each theme and cultivate awareness of how the sessions are interconnected. However, if curiosity leads you to explore movements out of sequence, that’s okay too! The goal is to engage with the material in a way that best supports your learning and embodiment.

  • Everyone’s experience is unique, but many people feel shifts in their posture, movement ease, or overall body awareness after just a few sessions. Because fascia is highly adaptive, consistent practice can lead to longer-lasting changes, helping you refine movement patterns and support structural integration over time.

  • While these movements are generally safe for most people, they are not medically approved or intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Each individual is unique, so it’s always best to consult with a medical professional to determine what is safe and appropriate for you.