Introduction
Hello, I’m Hidefumi Otsuka, offering Rolfing sessions in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Rolfing and coaching (specifically, CTI’s Co-Active Coaching) may appear to be entirely different disciplines. The former works through the body, while the latter works through language. Yet at their core, both approaches share a fundamental question:
“How can we support the process of human transformation?”
In this series comparing Rolfing and coaching, I’ll explore the following seven themes:
- Part 1: Neutrality and Presence
- Part 2: The Four Cornerstones
- Part 3: The Three Principles and the Rolfing Ten Series
- Part 4: Supporting the Process Between Sessions
- Part 5: Quality of Relationship (Designed Alliance / Right Relationship)
- Part 6: Skill Comparison (CTI’s 5 Skills and Rolfing Techniques)
- Part 7: Summary and Integration
This second installment focuses on the Four Cornerstones—the core philosophical foundations of CTI—and explores how they correspond with the human view underlying Rolfing.
Supporting the Field of Transformation: The Four Cornerstones
In Co-Active Coaching (4th ed.), four foundational “cornerstones” are defined as the bedrock of the coaching relationship (pp. 8–13):
- People are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole.
- Coaching addresses the whole person.
- Co-Active coaching is a collaborative process.
- People’s lives are naturally dynamic.
Surprisingly, these principles are not only central to the conversational model of coaching but resonate deeply with the perspective that underpins transformation through the body in Rolfing.
People are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole
1. People are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole
CTI’s View
Clients already possess the internal resources necessary to transform their lives. The coach’s role is not to fix but to draw out what is already within. Coaching is fundamentally an act of trust, not correction.
For example, when a client struggling with a career said, “I can’t do this anymore, I’ve hit my limit,” rather than offer advice, I asked, “If there’s wisdom beyond that ‘limitation,’ what might it be?” The client replied, “Actually, there’s a field I’ve always wanted to challenge myself in.” In that moment, the answer emerged from within.
Rolfing’s View
A Rolfer does not see the body as a collection of distortions or problems, but as a self-organizing system moving toward order. The practitioner’s role is to unravel what blocks that process and support the client’s return to internal coherence.
“The body is not a machine. It is a self-organizing, meaning-making field.”
— Jeff Maitland, Embodied Being, p. 91
I once had a client with chronic shoulder tension. Initially, I thought of working directly on the shoulders, but I realized that wouldn’t create lasting change. Instead, I touched into the areas connecting the chest to the pelvis, inviting awareness to the entire supporting structure. As the body found its own balance, the shoulder tension eased naturally. This was not a result of “fixing,” but of supporting what was ready to emerge.
2. Coaching addresses the whole person
CTI’s View
Coaching is not just about solving problems—it is an involvement towards the whole person. Language, thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and values—all are part of the coaching field.
In one session, a client was torn about whether to change jobs. As we explored, I noticed that his body seemed to shrink despite his words expressing confidence. I asked, “How does your body feel as you say that?” He responded, “It feels like my chest is tightening.” By working with both his language and physical sensations, we accessed deeper awareness.
Rolfing’s View
Though Rolfing appears to focus on the body, it integrates emotion, cognition, movement, breath, and spatial awareness as embodied experiences. The work is not just about manipulating fascia but about engaging with the entire field of the person.
In one session, a client had intense shoulder tension. The root, however, lay in his lack of grounding through the feet. Once we addressed the connection to the ground, the tension in his shoulders dissolved. This affirmed again that we do not exist in parts—we exist as fields.
3. Co-Active coaching is a collaborative process
CTI’s View
The coach is not a guide or expert, but a co-creator. Within a “Designed Alliance,” the coach and client engage in an improvised, mutual process.
In one session, a client kept searching for “the right answer” to a question. I shifted the focus and said, “Instead of looking for the right answer, shall we explore what meaning this question holds for you?” The session transformed from rigid planning to spontaneous co-creation.
Rolfing’s View
Rolfing has a clear structure—the Ten Series—but the “body of the day” is the true guide. The practitioner does not force a plan but listens to the body’s responses and co-creates the session accordingly.
“The practitioner’s job is not to cause change, but to hold the space in which change can happen.”
— Embodied Being, p. 145
Once, I intended to work on a client’s chest, but a light touch in the area unexpectedly triggered tears. The session flowed in a new direction, leading to deeper insight and integration. Improvisation and co-creation are keys to transformation.
4. People’s lives are naturally dynamic
CTI’s View
Life is always in motion. Coaching doesn’t offer stability, but helps clients find awareness within the change and flux.
When a client said, “I’m back to struggling again,” I asked, “What if this current struggle also has meaning?” They replied, “I guess I don’t have to fight it—I can just feel it.” This shift in attitude opened the door to transformation.
Rolfing’s View
The body is also not a fixed ideal—it is constantly evolving. Sessions do not impose perfect form but enhance the body’s capacity to integrate and adapt.
“Health is not a fixed state, but a flexible capacity for integration.”
— Embodied Being, p. 110
One client with chronic shoulder stiffness wasn’t seeking perfect posture. Instead, I focused on cultivating freedom of movement. After the session, they said, “My shoulder’s still a bit heavy, but I feel light and easy when I walk.” Transformation is not static—it is a dynamic process.
The Four CTI Cornerstones × Rolfing’s View
| CTI Cornerstone | Rolfing Parallel | Shared Principle |
|---|---|---|
| People are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole | The body is self-organizing and capable of transcending limitations | Trust in the client’s inner power |
| Coaching addresses the whole person | Working with not just the body but also emotions, cognition, and space | Whole-person / Whole-being approach |
| Co-Active coaching is a collaborative process | Dialogue-based, improvisational, co-creative touch | The art of relationship |
| People’s lives are naturally dynamic | The body is fluid and integration means enduring flexibility | Change is constant and natural |
Beyond the Boundaries Between Bodywork and Coaching
Rolfing and Co-Active Coaching use different tools but share a deep foundation: belief in the client’s own transformative capacity, and a relationally grounded process of co-creation.
Rolfing is a dialogue through the body.
Coaching is a way of accessing the body through words.
Both begin with the same trust:
“Change is not imposed—it arises.”
Coming Up Next
In Part 3, I’ll explore the correspondence between CTI’s three principles (Fulfillment, Balance, and Process) and the three phases of the Rolfing Ten Series (Sleeve, Core, and Integration). While this will be my personal hypothesis, I believe it will offer valuable insight.
References
- Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandahl, & Laura Whitworth (2018).
Co-Active Coaching: The Proven Framework for Transformative Conversations at Work and in Life (4th ed.). Nicholas Brealey Publishing. - Jeff Maitland (2017). Embodied Being: The Philosophy and Practice of Manual Therapy. North Atlantic Books.