At the end of March 2025 the Esalen Institute reached into their vaults and shared a rare recording from their historical archive: a 1967 lecture and live demonstration by Dr. Ida Rolf.
This archival gem features Dr. Rolf in her element — lecturing with intellectual precision, delivering her insights with wit and candor, and guiding a live demo with such vivid specificity that, even without visuals, you feel transported into the room beside her. It’s a masterclass in both bodywork and presence.
As a little background, Dr. Rolf first came to Esalen at the invitation of Gestalt therapist Fritz Perls. One of Dr. Rolf’s early students, Dorothy Nolte, had attended a lecture with Perls, noticed he was in obvious pain, and offered to give him a Rolfing session. He experienced significant relief and some weeks later contacted Nolte again requesting more work. She declined feeling she didn’t have enough experience to take on a case as serious as his, and suggested he ask Dr. Rolf to come to California instead. Dr. Rolf accepted the invitation, and set to work on working with Perls.
Perls had a transformative experience working with Rolf, affectionately referring to her as “Mrs. Elbow.” After that, Perls became an ardent supporter of Rolf and her work. Rolfing became closely associated with the Human Potential Movement, and Dr. Rolf returned to the Esalen Institute again and again. Esalen would become the West Coast hub for her method, just as it had for Gestalt therapy.
To honor Dr. Rolf’s legacy and ensure her teachings remain accessible for generations to come, the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute is embarking on a special project. They have uncovered a valuable collection of historical film, video, and photographic materials featuring Dr. Rolf herself – teaching her unique techniques and conducting sessions.
These irreplaceable recordings offer a rare glimpse into the origins and evolution of Rolfing®. However, the physical media is aging and requires professional digitization to prevent loss, and allow for wider sharing and study. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to carefully digitize these materials, making them available for educational purposes and historical preservation.
We invite you to join us in this important endeavor to preserve Dr. Rolf’s legacy. Your generous contribution will directly support the digitization project, ensuring that her wisdom and techniques continues to inspire and educate future Rolfers.
The Dr. Ida Rolf Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and as such your charitable contributions are generally tax-deductible.
