SI Workshops 2020

Fritz Perls, the originator of Gestalt Therapy, once said, “Lose your mind and come to your senses.”
Working from one’s experience and intuition provides practitioners with an opportunity to be creative within the parameters of releasing a body from its compensatory restrictions and organizing it around the vertical line.
These workshops are opportunities for practitioners to develop and trust their own style while adhering to the basic principles of Dr Rolf’s work.

In Ida Rolf's view the human legs start at the front of the lumbo-dorsal hinge with the interlacing of psoas and crura fibers.

She likened this to "BEING".

Just above the lumbo-dorsal hinge, at the back of the body, the rhomboids control shoulder and arm movements.

She likened this to "DOING".

She postulated a 'KOAN' for one goal of sessions 8 & 9 - to find the best possible balance between:

Psoas and Rhomboids, Lordosis and Kyphosis, Being and Doing.

The workshop will focus on how we can prepare for the investigation of this riddle in sessions 1 -7 and how to the actually work sessions 8 & 9.

Aleš Urbanczik was born on April 22, 1958 in Prague (Czech Republic).

He has lived in the Czech Republic, England, Germany, Switzerland and California, and currently resides in Feldmeilen near Zurich (Switzerland).

Before being trained in Structural Integration by Peter Melchior and Emmett Hutchins, two of Ida Rolf's very first students, he worked as a professional actor for many theaters in Europe and was responsible for the physical training of his colleagues.

The spiritual background he comes from is that of Zen-Buddhism. Aleš received the ordination of a Zen-Boddhisatva in the French Temple of 'La Gendronnière'.

Aleš was one of the founding members of the European Guild for Structural Integration and has the honour of currently being this organisation's president.

He has taught 6 Basic Trainings in the last 8 years and co-taught with Neal Powers the EGSI’s Advanced Training in 2018.

Nilce is based in São Paulo, Brazil where she earned her Degree in Psychology.

She became interested in SI when she saw its remarkable effects on the human psyche. Nilce taught Psychology and Body Awareness for the Rolf Institute (R.I.) following her graduation there in 1983.

As a founding member of the Brazilian Association of Rolfers (Associação Brasileira de Rolfistas (ABR)), Nilce was also instrumental in bringing the Rolf Institute classes to Brazil.

Thereafter, along with some of the R.I.'s senior faculty members, she helped form the Guild for Structural Integration (GSI) in order to preserve the original teachings of Dr. Rolf.

Nilce has worked both individually and alongside Dr. Rolf's chosen teachers in training students to practitioner and advanced practitioner levels in the U.S. and Brazil. Through her workshops, she has traveled the world to enrich the quality of work and depth of understanding of SI practitioners.

Having worked for many years alongside the world's most experienced teachers of SI, Nilce is now recognized as an expert in her own right. She is committed to establishing Dr. Rolf's work internationally, and in strengthening its position in today's marketplace.

Neal is the only person who has had the honour of presiding over both the 'Rolf Institute' and the 'Guild for Structural Integration'.

Neal received his basic training and advanced training with Dr. Rolf starting in 1971 at Esalen.

He became a member of the faculty of the Rolf Institute in 1980, was subsequently the RISI's president for six years and became an Honorary Life Member.

In 1991 Neal left the Rolf Institute along with Peter Melchior, Emmett Hutchins, Stacey Mills and others to found the Guild for Structural Integration.

Until recently he was the Guild's president, and continues to teach both for he Guild in the United States as well as the European Guild for SI.

Neal has a great ability to clearly deliver the principles and theories of the SI work, and with his amazing sense of humor, strong spiritual and family base, he has become a guiding light for many practitioners. He has devoted his life to spreading the theory and practice of Dr. Rolf's work to his many students around the world. He has taught in China, Taiwan, Japan, Israel, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and across the United States and Canada.

Since 1973 Neal has maintained a private practice in San Francisco.

Neal's modesty with respect to our work may have kept him out of the limelight of the SI community - thus few people know that he helped set a world record in 2005. This event raised 50'000 Dollars for the victims of Hurricane Katharina.

About the workshop:

This workshop is designed to give practitioners a working model of the origins of Scoliosis, the kinds, qualities, models and strategies to move your client to greater ease and grace in their body.

David Davis, a founding member of the Guild for Structural Integration, began researching scoliosis more than 25 years ago.

His wife Lorraine developed scoliosis at the age of 11, after being involved in a critical car accident. Her injuries resulted in a disparity in the length of her legs, an uneven base of support in her pelvis and chronic pain. Her discomfort motivated Davis to explore how structural integration (SI) could affect and change a debilitating condition such as scoliosis.

Fr - Sun: 9AM - 5PM

About the workshop:

Anima is a current of air, wind, breath, the vital principle, life or soul.

Fascia is the medium of giving the Vital essence form, Dr. Rolf called it the organ of form in the human body. It is also plastic. It can hold chronically or be fluid, resilient and responsive. I think of fascia as the organ of three dimensionality and the materialization of consciousness.

In this workshop we will work with the anima taking form in the body, as the body. Releasing unconscious chronic holding patterns we uncover the underlying pattern of consciousness animating form.

By expanding the view of core (being) and sleeve (doing) we flesh intention into working the whole being.

Fr - Sun: 9AM - 5PM

About the instructor:

David completed his Basic Training in 1976-77, studying with Emmett Hutchins, Michael Salveson, and Neal Powers. He met Dr. Rolf at her eightieth birthday gala, and was encouraged by her to carry on the Work. David studied with Judith Aston for two years, completing a series of six-day intensives. He received his Advanced Training in 1985 with Emmett Hutchins, who encouraged him to teach.

David was a founding member of the Guild for Structural Integration in 1989, and taught Anatomy and Basic and Advanced Trainings with Emmett Hutchins, Peter Melchior, Stacey Mills, Neal Powers, and Nilce Silveira. David was a partner and protégé of Peter for 12 years, learning how to practice and teach the intricacies of SI.

For over 24 years, David has taught 3-day and 6-day SI workshops internationally. He specialises in teaching embryology, fascial anatomy and working with scoliosis, infusing his classes with wisdom, compassion and humour.

David has been an innovator in SI education, teaching a Basic Training class to medical doctors and physical therapists at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey in 1993, the only SI training to be taught at a major hospital.

He has taught with SI research scientists Dr. James Oschman and Dr. Robert Schleip, integrating the practice of SI with the latest scientific research and information.

David has been in private practice since 1977, completing over 40,000 sessions. Structural Integration is his discipline, practice and service to humanity, as he continues learning with every session.