The final day of the second round of Rolf Movement Phase I (held August 31 – September 3) has finished without incident. Over the four days, centering on Rolfing’s sessions 4–7, I have practiced sessions through Embodiment and bodily movement — how to incorporate Rolfing’s “bodily movement” = Rolf Movement into a session.
Following session 4 on August 31 (see “To Encourage Bodily Awareness: Slowly, Carefully, Into Words“)”), session 5 on September 1 (see “Where to Pay Attention in Movement? — Phoric Function and Fixed Point“), and session 6 on September 2 (see “How to Relate the Body’s Movement to Tonic Function?”), on the final day I practiced the approach to session 7 seen from the aspect of “bodily movement.”
This time, based on the guidance of the Rolf Movement Instructor Giovanni Felicioni (hereafter Giovanni), the Embodiment of session 7 was carried out, and — in a way characteristic of Giovanni, freely and expansively — how the shoulders and neck link in movement with the torso and the lower body could be observed through movement.
As for session 7, the content was close to Rolfing’s Basic Training, and I felt nothing new. It was content of developing the body’s sensation further through breath, in the approach to the neck, shoulders, and chest in the sitting and supine positions — unexpectedly simple. That said, I could also feel keenly that, rather than my doing something, a great change occurs by waiting for the other person to change and by prompting the change.
If anything, I also understood this time that Rolf Movement brings out its effect to the fullest by being combined with the approach to the fascia in sessions 4–6; and since what was learned in sessions 4–6 can be put to good use when heading toward the integration sessions (8–10), I’d very much like to try it out after returning home this time.
This time, the workshop was attended by a total of four — the three Rolf Movement Instructors Giovanni, Pierpaola Volpones (hereafter Paola), and Rita Geirola (hereafter Rita) (all Italian), and the assistant Herve Baunard — and a total of 17 students from across Europe.
Throughout the four days of the workshop, when, during practice of the learned Rolf Movement movements, concentration broke and a question arose, Paola, Giovanni, and Rita rushed over right away, and I was able to receive appropriate feedback.
In Japan, it is fairly common to come across workshops where the teacher is exalted and looks down on the students a notch; but the good thing about taking workshops in Europe is that they place importance on the point of how the student can understand easily — which is wonderful.
For example, Paola, when someone is struggling, prepares a space for asking why and about what the question is held; and on that basis, with a smile that seems to say, “let’s find the right answer together! As long as we don’t lose ourselves, a solution will come,” she gives feedback — so it is easy to listen to her.
Rita was the teacher at the time of Phase I of the Basic Training. At that time, she was a hard-to-approach teacher, but having experienced Rolfing for two years and come to understand the Rolfing way of seeing to some degree, this time it was easy to ask her things. In particular, Rita, being also a certified Practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method — how to bring awareness to the body’s movement? Especially, how to heighten awareness of the deep? On that point, I was able to learn several approaches (especially session 6).
Giovanni rushes over to the table at unexpected times and entertains. He was the teacher of Phase II of the Basic Training — a natural-born entertainer. He is a good listener, and I think he observes well what the students are doing.
For example, he comes suddenly, approaching with a smile and asking that what was just being practiced be reproduced. After it is reproduced, then: “As another option, there’s this kind of approach — how about it? Shall we give it a try?”
He sees things differently from Rita and Paola, but since it is content that cannot be fed back without firmly observing what the student is working on, I was impressed — as expected of him.
This time, five men and twelve women — 17 in total. The nationalities, too, were multinational and culturally diverse: one Belgian, seven Germans, two Swiss, one Pole, one Czech, one French, one Dutch, one Russian, and one Swede. There is a convivial, harmonious atmosphere, and I’m enjoying it.
Paola, Giovanni, and Rita are said to take part, the three of them, in the four days of October 19–22 as well. There is much to learn from them, and it seems it can be put to use in Rolfing sessions too. In October, Phase II and Phase III are planned to be held in parallel. Since several Japanese people will also take part, I’d like to look forward to meeting them again.
Finally, I’d like to end by introducing two photos of the meals I had during the lunch breaks over the four days in Munich. I was able to eat mainly Asian food, which was more delicious than expected.
