Dr. Ida Rolf Institute News

The Legacy of Ida Rolf | Founder of Rolfing® Structural Integration

History of Ida Rolf & Rolfing® Structural Integration

The Legacy of Dr. Ida Rolf

Dr. Ida Pauline Rolf was a visionary scientist, healer, and innovator whose work laid the foundation for what we now call Rolfing® Structural Integration. In 1920, she earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia University—a rare achievement for a woman at the time—and went on to conduct cutting-edge research in organic chemistry at the Rockefeller Institute.  Her research focused on lipids, which gave her insight into the fascial organization of the body.

Personal Journey & Foundational Question

Dr. Rolf’s scientific training laid the groundwork—but it was her lifelong curiosity about healing that shaped her greatest contribution. Motivated by personal health challenges and a desire to help others, she explored alternative systems of healing, including homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, and yoga. She recognized a common thread: the connection between structure, function, and well-being.

“What conditions must be fulfilled in order for the human body structure to be organized and integrated in gravity so that the whole person can function in the most optimal and economical way?”
— Dr. Ida P. Rolf

The Development of Rolfing® and the Ten-Series®

That question defined Dr. Rolf’s life’s work. Through decades of exploration, she developed a system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education grounded in fascia science, her understanding of fascia, her work with clients, and observed changes in human alignment. Her approach emphasized that lasting change in the body required restoring its relationship with gravity—not just treating symptoms.

To make her method teachable, she created the Rolfing Ten-Series®: a structured, repeatable series of sessions that guide the body toward balance, efficiency, and integration.

Carrying the Work Forward

Dr. Rolf passed away in 1979 at the age of 83, but her influence continues to shape the fields of fascia research, somatic therapy, and integrative health. The Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® remains the only certifying body for Rolfing® Structural Integration worldwide, training new generations of Certified Rolfers™ and Rolf Movement® Practitioners.

Today, more than 1,950 practitioners across the globe carry forward her vision—helping people realign, reconnect, and rediscover ease and support in their bodies.