AFORSI

Regional Basic Rolfing® Structural Integration Certification

REGISTER FOR CLASSES VIEW UPCOMING CLASSES

Regional Basic Rolfing Certification Program Description

This unaccredited program is offered regionally around the United States.

Note: This program is NOT included in COMTA accreditation and is NOT ELIGIBLE for Federal Student Aid.

600-Hour training is comprised of three phases, online courses and self-study. You will learn:

  • Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology from the distinct perspective of Rolfing® Structural Integration
  • The ability to differentiate through touch
  • The principles of Rolfing Structural Integration
  • How to recognize structural and functional patterns
  • The demonstrated ability to conduct a complete Rolfing Ten-Series and Rolf Movement® sessions
  • Practice building techniques
  • Professional ethics

Before You Apply, You Need

  • A High School diploma or recognized equivalent.
  • One of the following:
  1. An official academic transcript, equivalent to an AA degree or occupational certificate, showing at least 60 credit hours at an institution of adult or higher education.
    OR
  2. Documentation of a minimum of four years of equivalent career experiences and professional accomplishment.
  • A federal- or state-issued ID and passport-sized solo headshot photograph (for identification purposes).
  • A resume of professional experience.
  • Three professional reference letters (1-2 pages maximum length).
  • Completion of a minimum 250-hour bodywork program. Students must
    submit an official transcript that shows at least 47 hours of Anatomy, 21 hours of Physiology, 45 hours of Massage or other approved touch training, and 15 hours of Therapeutic Relationship.
  • 50 documented hours of post-graduate massage practice experience or comparable clinical experience.

International Students: Please indicate the need for an I-20/M-1 Visa and submit your completed application, including a copy of your passport ID page and official TOEFL scores, no later than 60 days prior to class start date.

Admission Requirements

  • Non-refundable $50 Enrollment Application fee. (Fee will be refunded if student is not admitted or has not signed an enrollment agreement.)
  • Verification of having received a complete Rolfing Ten-Series from a Certified Rolfer. RISI reserves the right to require a physician's release for any student.
  • Three Rolf Movement® sessions, from a Certified Rolf Movement Practitioner, must be received prior to the start of Phase II of the training.
    • For a complete list of Rolf Movement Instructors, please contact the Director of Admissions at 303-449-5903, ext 106, or admissions@rolf.org.
  • Approval of an application and required enrollment forms.
  • A written 2-3 page personal life experience essay.

Written assignments are due 3 weeks before Basic training begins. All submissions are made through the Online Admissions Application Process.

Please Note: An interview may be required to complete some applications.

* Students with an existing medical condition, after consulting with their physician, may want to consider completing the Ten Series prerequisite, required to start the training, 2-3 months prior to the start of Phase II, where they will receive another Ten Series as part of the class. RISI reserves the right to require a physician's release for any student.

    Program Description

    Designed for career professionals who are licensed or have extensive training in complementary therapies, this training program allows established practitioners to expand their practice while learning about leading-edge research on the fascial system and how it affects the structure and movement of the body. An informative review of Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology is included in preparation for The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration's Life Sciences Exam.

    Students learn the skills required to recognize simple structural patterns, to see structure in relation to gravity, and to develop a working knowledge of the basics of Rolfing Structural Integration & Rolf Movement® Integration principles and theories. Training then focuses on each student's personal embodiment and understanding of the Principles of Rolfing SI as they are experienced in Rolf Movement Integration.

    The next weeks of instruction provide the student with the skills to recognize simple structural patterns in the body's form and in its function, to see structure in relation to gravity, and to achieve a working knowledge of the basic principles and theories of Rolfing SI and Rolf Movement Integration. In the final weeks, students work on actual clients under instructor supervision.

    Through lectures, demonstrations, experiential exercises, online modules, and supervised practice, students learn new key concepts related to the mastery of the principles and procedures. Students are introduced to Rolf Movement Integration and trained in Skillful Touch, The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration's proprietary clinical practice form.

    Upon successful completion and payment of all tuition and fees, students have completed The Rolf Institute's Basic Rolfing Certification Program.

    Course Objectives

    Students will develop:

    • A basic knowledge of the science, history and development of Rolfing® Structural Integration and of Dr. Rolf.
    • An understanding of the Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology necessary to communicate a basic understanding of the body structure and function.
    • The ability to differentiate, through touch, the qualities of bone, muscle and connective tissues in the body, as well as a sense of myofascial layers, “layer of availability” of the tissues, the quality of responsiveness of the connective tissue to their intervention, and how to adapt their touch in response to the particular qualities of each client.
    • The ability to use their bodies efficiently when performing a Skillful Touch session.
    • An ability to maintain a similar level of awareness of their own and their client’s body as they perform a Skillful Touch session.
    • An understanding of the differences between a therapeutic and a personal relationship and how to behave appropriately in the context of the therapeutic relationship based on ethics and other professional considerations.
    • A basic understanding of the principles and philosophy supporting the practice of Rolfing Structural Integration.
    • The ability to manifest, in their own bodies, a higher level of structural integration in order to express movement in all planes of motion in an economical, palintonic and contralaterally balanced manner as pursued though Rolf Movement® Integration.

    Students will be introduced to:

    • The foundational paradigms and principles of Rolfing® Structural Integration and Rolf Movement® Integration.
    • A beginning level of understanding of the dimensions of the training: theoretical, practical, and exploratory.
    • A different paradigm of learning, where it is understood at the cognitive level but also experienced and somatically enhanced.
    • The differences between a process oriented therapy and a goal oriented therapy.
    • The importance of creating a safe learning environment facilitated through the cultivation of the coming together of class members in a mature and relational manner.
    • Their own movement patterns and embodiment.
    • How to evaluate their ability to work with a quality of "touch" using both physical contact and language intervention.
    • The ability to identify the various bodily systems through touch, including the differentiation of muscles, bone, nerves, organs and fascia and an understanding of proper function vs. dysfunction, as applicable to Rolfing Structural Integration and Rolf Movement Integration.

    Students will gain:

    • An understanding of the theoretical/ practical basis of Rolfing® Structural Integration and Rolf Movement® Integration.
    • A deepened understanding of how a pattern – structural and functional – develops, as well as the ability to explore these patterns from different perspectives.
    • The opportunity to utilize the paradigms and principles of Rolfing Structural Integration and Rolf Movement Integration through clinical practice with clients from the community.
    • The ability, with instructor assistance, to elicit the goals of Rolfing SI as a practitioner through the performance of a series of sessions with a client under instructor supervision.
    • The ability to learn how to refine the application of Rolfing clinical work under instructor supervision.
    • A demonstrated capability to take responsibility for their actions and accept and integrate feedback from instructors and other students.
    • The experience of participation in a class environment that requires cooperation by all students and instructors to establish the class rules and expectations for the group and for creating a safe space and environment for learning.
    • The ability to conduct a complete Rolfing 10-Series and Rolf Movement sessions.
    • The ability to identify any contraindications or pathologies within the various bodily systems as applicable to Rolfing Structural Integration when working on actual clients from a diverse population.
    Format & Methods

    This regional program is taught in-person and online through modules which vary per offering. Please check the online calendar for the dates of each individual
    regional training.

    This program is designed to tap into the foundation skills students already have, while simultaneously preparing students to transition their current touch and palpation skills to Rolfing SI. Taught through online instructional tools, well-illustrated lectures, experiential exercises and guided palpation, classes are designed to provide the optimal learning experience. The Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration instructors emphasize individual learning by providing each student with support for his/her specific learning needs. Students are challenged to explore and learn about Rolfing-specific features and requirements of touch and palpation, including how it will expand and diversify their existing skill set and professional practice.

    Students will integrate structural and functional approaches to Rolfing SI, learning how to determine when each kind of session is appropriate. The subjects of fascial anatomy, efficient body use, client/practitioner communication, and structural analysis are critical to this phase of the program.

    The class is designed to provide a safe container for students to learn all aspects of Rolfing Structural Integration & Rolf Movement Integration. This includes learning to manage their own emotions, while attending to the needs of their classmate client as students may be put in touch with mental, physical and emotional states which may be challenging.

    A good deal of class time is devoted to pattern recognition. Students will observe one another and instructor models in order to facilitate perceptual skills. Learning to identify structural and functional patterns and effectively addressing them in the context of Rolfing Structural Integration & Rolf Movement Integration is a strong focus. Another significant part of learning the sessions is the experience of receiving the work from a classmate. Students are uniquely qualified to give feedback to their classmate/practitioner, facilitating learning for both.

    Students are encouraged to bring a spirit of exploration and open-mindedness to the Embodiment of Rolfing SI & Rolf Movement Integration class. They will discover much about the Rolfing process, and about themselves, during this course. They will also forge lifetime associations with classmates and future colleagues as they prepare for the completion of their basic training, the clinical phase, in Clinical Application of Rolfing Theory.

    In the final phase of training, students apply the knowledge and techniques learned previously to clinical and practical situations.
    Each student will perform the Rolfing Ten-Series on clients from the community, in the classroom, under instructor supervision.  In addition, students will give Post-10 and Rolf Movement Integration sessions to clients, further preparing them for the diverse needs of a "real world" clientele.

    Ongoing attention will be given to students developing efficient body-use and self-care while working, as well as improving client-practitioner relationship skills, quality of touch, and body-reading. Professional ethics, business and practice building skills are also taught in this class, along with public education practices, which help prepare students to develop independent Rolfing practices.

    Throughout the clinical phase of training, students will deepen their understanding of the Ten-Series and Rolf Movement sessions by practicing under instructor supervision on various clients. The educational focus shifts from the student's personal process and experience to the client’s process as they experience Rolfing Structural Integration and Rolf Movement sessions. Students will learn to assess and strategize using the principles of Rolfing SI, while developing various skills required for attending to clients, including attention to seeing, discussion, touch and technique. Therapeutic relationship will be a large part of the learning process as well. By the  end of the final week, students should be able  to perform the Ten-Series and basic Rolf Movement sessions competently
    with confidence.

    PLEASE NOTE: Students who graduate from The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration’s Rolfing Program receive a certificate. By affiliating with Membership Services you become a Certified Rolfer.

    Costs

    Please see Tuition and Costs

      State Approval

      RISI is approved by the State of Colorado, Department of Education, Division of Private Occupational Schools, as well as the regional states where the program is taught.

      This Regional Basic Rolfing Certification Program is not accredited.