Who Was Dr. Ida P. Rolf?
Born in New York City in 1896, Ida P. Rolf earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia University in 1920. She spent over a decade conducting research at the Rockefeller Institute, publishing extensively in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. In 1926, she went to Europe to study mathematics and quantum physics in Zurich, homeopathy in Geneva, and biochemistry at the Pasteur Institute in France.
Rolf collaborated with osteopaths (including Amy Cochran) and was familiar with the work of osteopathy’s founder, Dr. A.T. Still. Her reflections and approach took shape during the turbulent times of World War II.
From a pivotal personal experience, Rolf concluded: if we want to change how a person functions, we must change their brain chemistry—but to change the chemistry, we must start with the physical structure. She believed that when the joints of the body function better, the whole system improves—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The work of her life, Structural Integration, commonly known as Rolfing™, or more precisely, a specific protocol for working with the human body that she called the Recipe, was developed thanks to her scientific background in biochemistry, osteopathy, yoga and the Alexander Technique practice and the philosophies of Alfred Korzybski and George Gurdjieff. She also formed a friendly relationship with Moshe Feldenkrais, with whom she exchanged experiences and ideas.
In the 1960s, Gestalt therapy founder Fritz Perls invited her to teach and conduct research at the Esalen Institute in California—a hub for holistic approaches to human development.
Drawing on her scientific and embodied wisdom, Rolf was among the first to recognize the fascia’s key role in human structure, perceiving the body as an interconnected web of tissues in constant relationship.
Dr. Ida Rolf passed away in 1979 in Pennsylvania.
