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As the oldest male in our small family constellation I will be continually communicating my
insights and realizations about life to my children. I view that as part of my genealogical
responsibility. What is the point of 70 years of life without telling you about what I have learned.
So, regarding the issue of Rolfing, when I look at my mother I see the inevitable very human
path that she is living into, gravity is being allowed to win. She knows nothing about this issue.
All she has observed is that I seem to be getting taller. We all have a choice regarding the
relentless pull of gravity. We either yield to its pull and allow ourselves to yield or we find
something that will assist us in resisting the fate that my mother is experiencing.
There is in anthropology, the concept that our advance from walking on all fours can be charted
in the gradual move from dragging our knuckles along the ground to finally standing vertically.
That vertical stance appears to have been useful to support our large brain, larger than any of the
other 15 other bi-peds that were on the planet 200,000 years ago. By 30,000 years ago we were
the only bi-ped alive. I connect all of these things and want to give my children, not only this
information but also the actual benefit that is available from the experience of Rolfing which
gently breaks up adhesions in the fascia layer that surrounds and keeps all of our muscles in
place. When these adhesions are released, our inherited postural pre-disposition is disappeared
and we are then able to cause our own vertical posture.
What is so great about this you ask? Well my inquiry into the Eastern view of existence suggests
that there is Chi always flowing through our bodies, some from the outer Cosmos and some from
the Earth. Being able to self create our vertical posture promotes the flow of those energies
through our bodies, promoting our health and well being. The eastern model also suggests that
all our sickness, both mental and physical, are the result of blocked Chi. One of the physical
aspects of blocked Chi is collapsing or crooked posture.
This is the thinking and personal involvement behind my relationship with Toporeck. He learned
from the originator of this type of massage and is a master. He has Rolfed thousands of people
and hundreds of babies. I have complete faith and trust in his intentions and skill and would
never have introduced him to my family 8 years ago if I did not believe and trust in what Rolfing
could do.
It never the less remains as a choice for you to make or to not make. I really am OK with
whatever you chose. Till nowI have been remiss in not clarifying why I think that Rolfing is so
valuable. I have now done that. This is not something that is required to live out a full and
complete life, my mother is doing that andshe has never had any body work.
The offer of Rolfing is made out of my love for you all and to share some of what I have come to
understand about what there is that may support my children and grandchildren in having a long,
prosperous and healthy life.
Please take a look at the enclosed CD.
Much Love
Dear Friends, Over four years ago, I discovered the wonders of One-Brain. I was in college at the time, bouncing between two majors, trying to decide what to do with my life. As you may recall, my brain-injured child led me to Pat Baumgardner and your One-Brain defusions. To work with my son, Jeff, Pat suggested I have a few sessions so I could serve as a surrogate for him. I did! Wow, was I surprised by my results and fascinated by the process. Interestingly, when I decided to use One-Brain to defuse my confusion about my major, to my surprise, I didn't want either—I wanted to learn and work with body energy. Since then, I have pursued this path, and it has worked well for me and my son. It has helped me find several other interesting avenues, one of which I would like to share with you for your information, for you to do with as you see fit. It is called Rolfing, an extension of Dr. Ida Rolf's work in "structural integration." And the effects of gravity on the body. I am enclosing an informational brochure and two pictures, including one showing four generations. The role genetics plays in posture, as well as a photo of my son and me showing the before and after changes in a severely brain-damaged child's posture, whose genetic structure was exaggerated by trauma at birth (10 minutes without oxygen). Mr. Toporek believes muscles learn to operate through an inherent pattern, and on top of that, there is the trauma. Rolfing first works to interrupt the intrinsic pattern of how muscles operate, then establishes a new pattern that, in turn, works with a particular trauma a person has suffered. When I started Rolfing, I hoped to relax Jeff's spastic muscles somewhat. Something I couldn't seem to accomplish, no matter how many One-Brain defusions I did on him -- I couldn't change his posture. Within just two or three Rolfing sessions, I noticed a change. But what I discovered was that the process is so similar to One-Brain - sort of in reverse; it deals directly with the individual muscles to stretch and manipulate one muscle at a time to teach the body how each muscle may be used and that they may work independently and not as a unit of muscles as programmed by genetics, stress, and trauma. This process, in turn, relays the information to the brain, which also repatterns it. As you will see in the brochure, Mr. Toporek correlates each session's work with a particular area of the body to a specific emotional reaction or personality change. In other words, how our body's posture impacts our lives and how our lives' postures impact our bodies. As you can see from Jeff's picture, it has made a considerable difference in his posture and relaxation, which has affected his sleeping habits and his ability to tolerate an extensive physical therapy/educational program. Mr. Toporek's extensive videotaped documentation has piqued doctors' interest in research using scientific measurements to quantify changes in the bodies of children with Cerebral Palsy across different phases and integration periods. I am compelled to pass this information on to the Three In One, just in case you see some benefit from this knowledge. Please feel free to contact Mr. Robert Toporek if you wish. He would welcome your interest.
Respectfully, Cindy
My name is Jonathan Pierce. I am a Structural Integrator. I help people make friends with gravity. It
feels like magic. There is something special about this process that has people transform so much
more than just the way their bodies move and feel.
When my son, Ernest, was born, he had a bit of a traumatic entrance into the world. He had
complications that prevented him from taking his first breath for several minutes. He was then put into
a cooling table treatment and kept in hypothermic temperatures for 72 hours to mitigate or reverse the
potential damage created by such a long period of hypoxia. It was a scary time full of unknowns.
After he was warmed back to a normal temperature, we kept getting good news every day. He had
an EEG test that showed no signs of seizures and a brain MRI that showed no evidence of injury or
damage, and after 9 days in the NICU, he was able to come home with a clean bill of health! He was
also born with contractures in his wrists and hands. The doctors call it arthrogryposis, a Greek term
meaning bent joint.
It feels somewhat serendipitous to be a structural integrator and have a child who needs special
attention paid to his neuromuscular development. His hands were swollen and rigid, his elbows didn't
look like they had ever been bent. Upon learning that arthrogryposis is non-progressive and primarily
affects soft tissue, I knew I had to use my skills to help him get the best start possible, but I work with
adults. I had never done any bodywork with children, much less a newborn.
So, I contacted Robert Toporek, and he graciously spent time and energy on coaching me in bringing
Ernie through the Rolfing series through Zoom sessions
According to my quick research, a couple of the markers of arthrogryposis include internally rotated
shoulders, elbows locked and unable to bend, and bent wrists and fingers with a very limited range of
motion. When he was born, he seemed to have all of these, and in the first few days, he did not move
his arms at all. After a little palpation of his shoulders and arms, his arms started to wake up.
Throughout the series, his hands and arms have improved markedly. His tight hamstrings relaxed,
and his shoulders and chest became more open. Some of the things I was surprised by were his
alert, cheery demeanor. He started smiling at 4 weeks old and hasn’t stopped since. He has frequent
appointments with occupational therapists, and they have commented that he is the most alert and
happy baby they have ever seen. I’m also surprised by the rapid evolution of my touch and approach
to working with adults. I have learned so much and become a much better practitioner throughout this
process. We are so excited to see how he will continue to develop and grow.
We are so grateful to Mr. Toporek for his time and expertise in helping us set up Ernie to reach his
highest potential.
Here’s a link to a Google Drive folder with each of the recordings inside.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/116do1VTj7Vcjy5XXQulOGYTWRWooPSbN
Thanks again for all of your help. You have been kind and generous. I hope we can meet you
someday soon and give you a hug!
Jonathan Pierce BCSI
Thank you Robert, and thank you for your contribution.
You’re being in our life at the right time and place made a huge
difference in the direction of wellness with Harmony.
The Rolfing was a gift to our whole family and seeing Harmony walk
for the first time sooner than we had anticipated was a miracle.
The scope of what we learned at the Institutes in Philadelphia, PA,
altered our thought process with respect to what’s truly possible for
our daughter and all kiddos with special needs, and all kiddos who
have no special needs.
We were able to responsibly diagnose her and understand what we
do to develop her brain, and development thru these teachings. The
Brill Kids is an amazing program and brilliant.
You make a profound difference for children and what is possible for
their futures beyond the normal predictions of what Western
medicine/teaching say.
Wendy
Dear Robert, I am writing to share my heartfelt gratitude and to provide a detailed account of the remarkable
difference Rolfing has made in my son’s life. As a parent of an autistic child, I have always sought therapies that
could help him find calm and a stronger connection with his body. After completing 10 Rolfing sessions at your
practice, I have witnessed a transformation that has not only eased his daily struggles but has also brought
about a significant improvement in his overall well-being.
Before beginning Rolfing, my son frequently experienced overwhelming tantrums and moments of sensory
overload. He often seemed disconnected from his body, which contributed to his bouts of agitation. However,
throughout his sessions, I observed him slowly becoming more grounded and present. Each session provided
him with a gentle yet effective approach to releasing tension and restoring balance in his body.
The physical work, combined with your thoughtful care, has enabled him to regulate
his emotions much more effectively. His tantrums have diminished noticeably, and
he now exhibits a rare sense of calm.
What has been most inspiring is the way Rolfing has helped him become more aware
of his body. This increased body awareness has empowered him to better
understand and express his needs, ultimately leading to a more harmonious daily
routine. I firmly believe that Rolfing offers an amazing complementary therapy for
children with autism. I am deeply grateful for the care, expertise, and compassion
shown by you and your team throughout our journey.
My son’s improved quality of life is a testament to the effectiveness of Rolfing for
children on the autism spectrum, and I feel compelled to share our success story
with other families who may be seeking alternative therapies. Your work has been
life-changing for us, and I sincerely hope that more families will have the opportunity
to experience these benefits. Thank you once again for everything you do. I look forward to sharing our
ongoing progress and am excited about the potential benefits Rolfing offers children like my son. With warm
regards, Devori St
Autism