Rolf
(rɒlf)
Also rolf.
The name of Ida P. Rolf (1897–1979), U.S. physiotherapist, used attrib. to designate her technique of deep massage (also known as ‘structural integration’) aimed at reducing muscular, and consequently psychic, tension. Hence as v. trans. Also Rolfed (rɒlft) ppl. a.; ˈRolfer, a practitioner of this technique; ˈRolfing vbl. n., the Rolf technique.
| 1958 D. Lawson-Wood Psycho-Logics & Posture 11 The author is a fully qualified and registered masseur and physiotherapist, and is engaged..in further intensive study and research in the Rolf Technique. 1970 Psychol. Today IV. 58/1 Rolf and the older rolf practitioners recognize the importance of this emotional component. Ibid. 88/3 In the case of the rolfed subjects there was no training. 1971 W. C. Schutz Here comes Everybody 176 One man has been Rolfed many times and one area of difficulty is a rounded back. 1972 G. Downing Massage Bk. 155 The pain..stops immediately when the Rolfer's hand is taken away. 1972 New Yorker 21 Oct. 34/2 Everyone under twenty-five discussed Rolfing... Rolfing is a system of deep massage that stretches and rearranges the tissue surrounding the muscles. 1977 N.Y. Times (City ed.) 15 July c. 22/2 We already spend far too much time practicing artificial modes of sociability, such as group encounters, sensitivity training, ‘T’ groups, Rolfing and the like. 1979 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 24 Mar. 796/2 There are also those..who heal with rolfing, shiatsu, polarity treatment, aeriontherapy, or psionic medicine. |