The Spiritual Initiation of an SI Practitioner

"Inside your body is a priceless treasure,
A gift from the eternally generous One, Look for that gift inside you."
— Jalaluddin Rumi, poet and mystic Sufi Teacher

In the teachings of Ida Rolf, the line belongs to all human beings. It is our divine birthright; a potent metaphor of profound somatic and spiritual truth that our bodies yearn to feel, and the awakening of which is no less than a transcendental initiatory experience. To embody one's Line ultimately unveils one's own unique gifts, and the realization of how to share them in the world.

The Spiritual Initiation of an SI Practitioner

In 1985, when I first began studying Structural Integration, my own spiritual initiation with the Line eluded me until one fortuitous encounter with a true master of Ida Rolf's teachings—one who brought me further into my own Line through the embodiment of his own: Emmett Hutchins.

I vividly recall the night my awareness of Structural Integration was radically altered. I was walking home after class from the Rolf Institute® on Pearl Street on a very cold, clear December night. I had just finished receiving the last of an extraordinary three-session series from Hutchins in a six-day continuing education workshop. That night, I truly experienced the profundity of my Line.

As I walked home, I felt my feet connect not just to the ground, but deeply into the core of the earth in what I can only describe as a tangible, magnetic relationship to the earth's gravitational field, more solid than anything I had ever before imagined. The top of my head felt wide open, energetically expanding upwards towards the sky. In this state, every intention of lengthening upon my Line, even each breath I took, evoked a blissful state of being. Waves of energy washed through me, transcending the physicality of my body, and I perceived in my mind's eye a stream of light vibrating through my being, revealing a new realization of self. I had become the Line.

This sublime state of expanded consciousness reminded me of what the yogis and ancient mystics have spoken about: The Line or Channel within our physical bodies where the currents of our life-force energy flow — the prime circuitry capable of dramatically altering and expanding our consciousness in unfathomable ways.

Needless to say, I was lost in the bliss of the experience and it took me two hours to walk the three blocks home that night. My life would never be the same again.

Structural Integration is clearly a spiritual initiation capable of unlocking our most sacred self. Receiving Structural Integration at its highest form is meant to be an initiatory rite of passage, and I believe that Ida Rolf's recipe was designed as a ritual to create an opportunity for just such an experience to occur. Although Dr. Rolf herself may never have referred to her work as an initiation, I remain certain that many who were touched by her would describe their experiences of coming into their Line, and the opening of their core, as such. For me personally, the experience is a connection to the divine, and I have found that embodying this new, personal perspective of Dr. Rolf's work brings forth an expansive paradigm that allows for radical improvements in both a practitioner's awareness and their results in Structural Integration. This is the inspiration that formed the creation of my own school: The Institute for Structural Integration (ISI).

The Institute for Structural Integration and its Philosophy

After completing my primary training at the Rolf Institute in 1985, I later assisted teaching classes at the Guild for Structural Integration. Twelve years ago, I founded the Institute for Structural Integration (ISI) — a physical manifestation of my path of service and growth. It was not without serious thought and consideration that I undertook this challenge, however, and at the very beginning of my endeavor I felt very alone, vulnerable, and unsupported. Yet I knew even then that there could be no turning back. The difficulties I faced served me by helping me gain a deeper appreciation of Dr. Rolf's work. Because of this, I strive to always keep the integrity of Dr. Rolf's teachings and stay true to my own experience of Structural Integration.

At ISI I have combined the philosophy of Dr. Rolf's original work with my own teaching techniques. In this setting, I emphasize to students the ways by which it is possible to dynamically touch a body directly from the core with power, finesse and ease. As a result of this, I have learned that seeing structural alignment has limited value, unless a practitioner can intend and evoke dynamic changes in the client's structure with their hands.

Proper body mechanics are essential to accomplish this, which brings us to the Line and how we use the Line while we work. Since the inception of ISI, I have developed and refined these body mechanics as an extension of Ida Rolf's principles of alignment and movement, making fascial manipulation much easier and more effective.

My own contribution to the art of Structural Integration is the skill of manipulating fascia effortlessly and with a non-invasive form of work. Our profession is and has been weak in fascial layering for many years. For too long Structural Integration work has been labeled deep, painful, invasive - damaging to our profession's image. On the other end of the touch continuum, many practitioners have too light a touch, which gives minimal effect and produces no lasting changes in the tissue. It's important to understand that learning fascial palpation and manipulation is not a cognitive experience, but rather a developed tactile, kinesthetic awareness. To learn fascial work necessitates instruction from a qualified teacher who is willing to share the intricacies of fascial layering.

Structural Integration: The Journey

Structural Integration is primarily an initiation through touch, a direct transmission of the Rolf Line from the practitioner to their client. We as practitioners can only evoke that Line to the extent that we embody it. To facilitate the Line's activation we must be able to touch another person deeply and dynamically, without fear. This requires a highly skilled and personally evolved practitioner.

To this extent, we must master Dr. Rolf's work, which includes the specific skills of fascial layering, seeing human structural alignment and movement patterns, and understanding all of the concepts, underlying principles and metaphysical considerations of her recipe.

Contrary to the way it has been described by some Rolf practitioners, the Rolf "recipe" does not impose the Line in a person. Nor is it a formulistic protocol lacking clear principles of intervention. It is a living teaching full of somatic wisdom to be discerned through experience by each and every Rolf practitioner. The recipe does not force a structural mold on every body, but rather creates a higher level of structural order around which the body willingly re-forms itself. By creating fascial layering, core/sleeve balance, and structural order of the geometric planes of fascia in the body, the recipe supports the opportunity for the line to emerge of its own accord as our recovered, natural state of being. This is powerful, transformative work.

The recipe's sole intent is to organize a human body around a vertical line in the gravity field. When mechanically performed, the recipe merely shifts blocks or body segments around and within the gravity field. When performed by a gifted artist with the proper power of touch and core intention, the recipe evokes the Line as a natural expression of the beauty of the form. As a timeless invention, the recipe helps keep a practitioner's intention of the Rolf Line clear as they work.

Ida Rolf's most enduring legacy is the special dispensation of the Line she brought forth to us for spiritual growth. It bridges the physical reality of our flesh and bones to the realm of pure energy-light. Initiation opens other worlds, which beautifully describes the transcendent quality of the Line. Other worlds in the case of the Line include vast expansion of consciousness, perception, intuition and self-realization. Like a shaman who recognizes the inner-connectedness of all things, the awakening of the line is our reminder of where we come from and where we're evolving.

The Spiritual Initiation

The concept of spiritual initiation is uncommon in our culture and deserves more explanation. From my own personal experiences, I would describe initiation as an opening to one's self; a spiritual empowerment that changes one's life. It becomes a metaphorical death. Some part of us dies, as in Structural Integration our old character-self is removed, or freed from structure, and what is given up in the release creates the sacred space into which emerges a truer sense of Self — who we are beneath the conditioned and habitual layers of our existence. This death of "self" or the child that was, represents a maturation process. In many indigenous cultures, such rites were part of every young person's process in becoming an adult member of the community.

I feel very blessed to have received many powerful spiritual initiations from many different traditions, all of which have shaped my life's unique perspective. In sharing a few of my experiences, I hope to further define what initiation is and how it relates to the work of Structural Integration — the awakening of the "Body Electric."

The Body Electric

Some of my initiatory experiences originate from ancient Eastern traditions, and came to me through a lineage of teachers. These lineages are unbroken lines of transmission (again, the power of the Line) of esoteric teaching. From one such lineage, through the Indian master Paramahansa Yogananda, I was granted a meditative technique of Kriya Yoga. The technique involves pranayama, a yogic breathing of the life-force currents along a channel just anterior to the spine, precisely where Ida Rolf details the passage of the Rolf Line. My daily practice of Kriya Yoga meditation reinforces the energetic space where my Line resides.

The opening of subtle or energetic pathways coupled with the expansion of consciousness is frequently a necessary theme in our spiritual growth and the methods used to create these openings by evolved spiritual teachers vary greatly.

As an example, I once received a "physical surgery" by the Brazilian saint, John of God, who without using any anesthesia, cut into my body with a scalpel. Without pain, bleeding or infection, he created an opening in my body for divine energy to enter and heal me. The Rolf Line is also an opening through our body through which we may receive profound healing energy.

Another personal initiation came to me through Reiki healing, through a lineage that dates back to the Buddha. The Reiki initiation dramatically affects and opens the seventh chakra at the top of the head, known as the crown chakra. Dr. Rolf described again, the line passing through the top of the head, and insisted that we work in and around the cranium to create just such an energetic opening.

While initiation is often a profoundly personal experience, an initiatory rite of passage almost always involves common characteristics that each individual must encounter. These are the common denominators of spiritual evolution. James Hillman, noted author and psychologist, outlines this view of initiation in his audio cassette, entitled: "Images of Initiation". Here, he describes characteristics of initiation in three distinct stages.

The First Stage of Initiation

In the first stage, or before an initiation, it's common for an individual to feel some event of separation; for example an accident or something that separates you from your family, "tribe" or what is familiar or "safe" to you. This separation evokes initiation by creating a break in "an old way of being." It is the ancient spiritual principle of flash-fire loss creating fertile, ash-laden space from which will spring the greater gain - the gift of Self.

The separation from everything you know or count on can leave you feeling vulnerable, faced with having to accept an unknown outcome. This places us in a position of facing our fear of the unknown. In starting the process of Structural Integration, no client really has any idea of what journey they are embarking upon. The choice to begin is often accompanied by the feelings of excitement and apprehension, but at some intuitive level most people sense an unfolding transition into a new phase of life.

One profound experience leading my life's journey into a new phase of discovery was the traditional sacred Native American vision quest. Alone in nature, I gave myself over to deep prayer and complete fasting for three days. The experience led me to my own personal vision of my life's purpose and the discovering of my inner gifts. Ida Rolf taught that to embody one's Line would ultimately lead to the unveiling of one's own unique gifts and the realization of how to share them with the world.

The Second Stage of Initiation

According to Hillman, the second stage of initiation is during the process of initiation when it is realized that there is no turning back, for you are clearly embarking upon a new journey. You give yourself over to something greater than yourself, the ego submits, often fitfully, and finally lets go. Having personal control is not a viable option here, for the ego, which has always sought control, is that which is being surrendered, alchemized, and changed. As a result, the imagination is fully activated, and the energy of the divine has to come out and be fully expressed. This expression of truth often takes you deeper into your wounds, and yet instead of being lost in your wounds you begin to see yourself with a new clarity and compassion. You learn to navigate those wounds; those spaces within yourself, with an emerging understanding of how to transcend old patterns that no longer serve.

Giving oneself over in initiation is an empowering experience. Participating in a "firewalk ceremony", I walked across a bed of hot coals, barefoot, and did not burn my feet. The sense of empowerment gained in accomplishing this act further opened my core as I surrendered fear and doubt to the fires traversed. Structural Integration, in another parallel, also opens our core in a very physical, visceral way, and further empowers us by teaching us how to keep it open when we become afraid.

The very process of Structural Integration involves letting go on many different levels, and it may also be noted that the degree to which you are able to let go greatly affects the results. There is no doubt that, as a result of this, Structural Integration takes you deeply into your wounds, and so you often get worse before you get better. However, instead of dwelling in the old physical and emotional pain, you are given new options of how to be in your body, with a deeper, more connected sense of self. Often, there is a new found will to improve, evolve and expand ourselves. You are no longer stuck.

This expansion of the self is a process of maturation, a sloughing of the old and a release of what no longer serves you. Several years ago my father passed away, and in the months that followed, I recognized that something indefinable in me had also died. It felt as though that same part of me matured, or "grew up." My character identity changed, similar to what Ida Rolf referred to in Structural Integration as "getting the character out of the structure."

Similarly, my seven-year mentorship with Emmett Hutchins was both an initiation into mastering the art of Structural Integration, and the tale of my own maturing as an adult male under the tutelage of an older male initiator. Robert Bly, noted author and poet who has written extensively about male initiation, describes in his book, Iron John, the developmental stages of bonding and maturation that occur in a mentorship relationship. More than anything else, Emmett instilled in me a reverence for the Rolf line and a devotion to the path of community service with Dr. Rolf's work.

The Final Stage of Initiation

This final stage marks the end of the process, the re-forming of our newer selves. Hillman refers to four significant characteristics that define the completion of an initiation.

1. The first is that something within is changed forever. Amazingly we are never in fact, even at the most basic somatic level, the same after the ten sessions of Structural Integration. We refer to this change as our improved structural alignment, or our new body awareness, and we marvel at our new self.
2. The second characteristic Hillman refers to is a visible "scar" or "mark," which serves as evidence of the change for others to notice. The dramatic changes that occur in our alignment are visible in the "before one and after ten" pictures and serve as the "mark" of evidence of the change for others to notice. They aptly demonstrate for our entire community the new person that we have become. So often people sign on to start Structural Integration once they see what's possible in another person.
3. The third characteristic is that the initiate is more alive and more present in life than ever before. Structural Integration gives us more energy, vitality and inspiration. The newfound ease in our bodies enables us to relax and enjoy life more. We often feel more confident to approach life's challenges and can more readily assert ourselves.
4. The last and most interesting characteristic of the completed initiation is that when in danger we go back to our initiation experience. In other words, the empowerment of the initiation stays deeply embedded within our being, to be called forth at will. With the initiation of Structural Integration we can draw upon our Rolf Line for sustenance. If we are afraid, intending our Line can give us the strength and courage to confront any situation. We come into our personal power each and every time we call upon our Line. As practitioners of Structural Integration we draw upon that power of the Line everyday we work. It becomes our guidepost for self-growth and personal evolution.

Becoming an Initiate

When I teach fascial work at ISI, all of the student's learning is experiential, hands-on instruction. I work with each student, specifically sharing the palpation and manipulation experience, so each person has a kinesthetic reference. Feeling the fascia is a highly refined skill that's learned only through private hands-on instruction. It's imperative for students to receive quality hands-on work, which ensures immediate recognition of the difference between appropriate and inappropriate contact.

Another method I employ is giving the students an opportunity to practice on myself and my assistants. It allows us to monitor their progress and give direct personal feedback. This learning approach gives the student an understanding of the subtle energetic qualities of fascia, helping them to integrate their experience.

The students' relationship to their core, like the embodiment of their own Line, is of paramount importance at the ISI training. A great amount of time and practice is devoted to develop the students' awareness, sensitivity and experience of their core. This is accomplished through the body mechanics, which emphasize the core connected experience, and through feeling the core presence of the instructor's work. In addition, students feel that presence by working "four handed" with the instructor on a client. By feeling that core presence, students receive a powerful transmission of learning beyond verbal instruction.

These methods of teaching help the student see, feel, and understand how to instill the Line in another person and how to initiate the core presence in themselves and others.

Mentorship Programs

Now, after 21 years of Structural Integration work, my teaching has evolved into a mentorship program with a conscious intent for each and every student to experience the initiation into Structural Integration. The mentorship training at ISI with individualized instruction allows students to evolve into Dr. Rolf's work at an accelerated rate. Body mechanics, fascial layering, and core presence are the cornerstones of my teaching. The awakening of the Rolf Line is the sine qua non of Structural Integration. Although I never had the privilege of meeting Dr. Rolf, she revealed her mastery to me through my personal awakening of the Rolf Line. I strive to carry on this spiritual lineage with others, lest it become a lost art. I honor Dr. Rolf as a pioneering master whose original teachings offer us a timeless treasure of spiritual initiation.

References

1. Hillman, James, Images of Initiation, Audio Cassette, Oral Tradition Archives: June 1992.
2. Bly, Robert, Iron John: A Book About Men, Addison: Wesley, 1990.