Benjamin Shield, Ph.D.

Certified Advanced Rolfing

I am proud to be a Certified Advanced Rolfer. I have been in love with this work since 1971 and have had an active Rolfing practice since 1982. During this time, I have continued to develop my knowledge and clinical expertise as a Rolfer.

Rolfing, also known as The Rolf System of Structural Integration, is a unique system of aligning the body with a focus on treating the soft tissue. Soft tissue includes the body’s muscles, fascia, tendons, and ligaments. Treatment is performed manually and in the least intrusive manner possible. The unique aspect of Rolfing is its ability to align the body by organizing the soft tissue, thereby positively influencing the skeletal system. This approach has been successful in addressing chronic pain, improving posture, enhancing athletic performance, and promoting greater ease, comfort, and movement.

I am proud of the reputation Rolfing has in the fields of structural manipulation and personal growth. I have been a privileged witness of Rolfing being the basis of many bodywork systems that followed and the way that Rolfing has served to elevate the entire field of bodywork. I have deep respect for my Rolfing colleagues, both current and past, and for their accomplishments within Rolfing and in the world.

As with anything of profound significance, it has been important to me to take the best of what Rolfing has to offer and, like other practitioners, make it my own. I am not a traditional Rolfer who strictly incorporates the 10-session series. My passion and focus have been more clinically oriented to treating the specific conditions that the client brings into the session. I seek out the most effective ways to get clients out of pain and support the work throughout the structure to keep them out of pain.

As a ‘minimalist’, my goal is to treat with the fewest sessions possible, respecting the uniqueness of each client’s structure and condition. Each session is individualized, building on what has been achieved in the prior sessions, to ensure that each client feels valued and understood.

My journey with Rolfing began at the age of 19 when I experienced its transformative effects firsthand. Inspired by my own results, I chose to become a Rolfer and dedicate myself to sharing this life-changing experience with others. Rolfing has not only changed my life but continues to do so, and it brings me great joy to share this work with others, inspiring hope and transformation.