Dr. Ida P. Rolf was the founder of Structural Integration. In 1920 she earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. She worked for twelve years at the Rockefeller Institute in the Chemotherapy and Organic Chemistry departments. In 1927 she took a leave of absence from her work to study mathematics and atomic physics at the Swiss Technical University in Zurich. During her scientific research about matter and organized biological units, she discovered that the average physical bodies of flesh and blood are amazingly plastic media. She understood that bringing appropriate relationship among the components of the body could change a structure towards a more systemic and more economical unit in terms of energy. This understanding led her to the creation and development of the method known today as Structural Integration. In the mid 60´s Dr. Rolf was invited from Fritz Pearl, founder of the Gestalt Therapy, to Esalen Institute in California. There she started training practitioners of Structural Integration. In 1967 the first Guild for Structural Integration was loosely formed and eventually headquartered in Boulder (Colorado, US). Until her death in 1979, Ida Rolf was actively teaching advanced training classes, directing her organization, planning research projects, publishing and giving public lectures.
Dr. Ida P. Rolf was the founder of Structural Integration. In 1920 she earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. She worked for twelve years at the Rockefeller Institute in the Chemotherapy and Organic Chemistry departments. In 1927 she took a leave of absence from her work to study mathematics and atomic physics at the Swiss Technical University in Zurich. During her scientific research about matter and organized biological units, she discovered that the average physical bodies of flesh and blood are amazingly plastic media. She understood that bringing appropriate relationship among the components of the body could change a structure towards a more systemic and more economical unit in terms of energy. This understanding led her to the creation and development of the method known today as Structural Integration. In the mid 60´s Dr. Rolf was invited from Fritz Pearl, founder of the Gestalt Therapy, to Esalen Institute in California. There she started training practitioners of Structural Integration. In 1967 the first Guild for Structural Integration was loosely formed and eventually headquartered in Boulder (Colorado, US). Until her death in 1979, Ida Rolf was actively teaching advanced training classes, directing her organization, planning research projects, publishing and giving public lectures.