Gravity

Dr. Rolf stated that ‘Gravity is the teacher’.  This means that we are all under the force of gravity all the time, but we never normally notice it.  Gravity affects everything we do and Dr. Rolf raised the question of how best to live within a world where we are constantly subject to downward pressure.

From this perspective, the body can be viewed as an architectural structure that needs to be designed so as to best withstand the effects of gravity with a minimum of compression on the joints.  Our bodies do this best when they are aligned for optimum support, but many of us develop patterns that are not really optimal, such as holding our heads too far forward, rather than directly on top of the spine causing neck and shoulder pain.

A lot of older people lose height and develop rounded and hunched postures as they begin to lose the fight against gravity.  In contrast, babies learn to walk within gravity.

Gravity is ever present and we have to content with it throughout our lives, so our relationship with gravity is a reference point and a constant that requires our response.  Lying flat is a response to gravity, but learning to crawl assumes a halfway position, but has its limitations.  Can we learn to walk with our head held high?

Next: Dr. Ida Rolf