This woman had a remarkable journey. In 1920, she obtained a PhD in biochemistry and then worked for a decade in the chemotherapy department at the Rockefeller Institute. In 1927, she studied atomic physics and mathematics in Zurich and homeopathic medicine in Geneva.
In 1930, she went back in New York. She sought out solutions for personal and family health issues (hyper-lordosis, pre-diabetic symptoms, hyperkinesis). Not finding answers from allopathic medicine, she studied osteopathy, chiropractic with Dr.
Arthur Nilson, Alexander technique (the source of « The Line »), Amy Cochran’s physiosynthesis exercises, Pierre Bernard’s Tantric Yoga, and Korzbski’s General Semantic.
Maturing through her studies of different approaches, Ida developed her own concept – first named structural dynamics, then structural integration, before finally creating the term Rolfing. She was a pioneer in thinking of the crucial role of the fascia to balance one’s structure and homeostasis.