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BRIEF HISTORY OF ROSEN METHOD BODYWORK & MOVEMENT

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Rosen Method Bodywork and movement was developed by health and wellness pioneer, Marion Rosen, who was also a physical therapist. 

 

In the 1930s, Marion studied breath and relaxation in Munich, Germany with Lucy Heyer, who practiced with her husband, a Jungian analyst. Marion’s early experiences as Jew in Nazi Germany later informed her work. From her experience of not being seen or valued for who she was, she learned firsthand how important “being seen” is for all human beings. 

 

Leaving Germany, Marion studied physical therapy, both in Stockholm, Sweden, and later in the United States at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She developed her work over many years in private practice and was encouraged to teach what she was doing to a small group of students. Those first students opened training centers to spread her work, which is now practiced internationally. She was one of the leaders and originators in the field of body-oriented somatic therapies of our time.

 

Marion died in 2012 at the age of ninety-seven, after a lifetime commitment to curiosity, the human body, and the ways in which a person’s true essence can be reached through touch and their own cultivated inner knowing. 

 

RMPA-NA’s hope is to continue Marion’s work with curiosity, integrity, and kindness, while showing deep gratitude and respect for this work and the many individuals who came before us.

Recent History of the Rosen Method Professional Association of North America (RMPA-NA) (2020-Present)

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The Rosen Method Professional Association of North America (RMPA-NA) is an organization dedicated to supporting and connecting Rosen Method bodywork and movement practitioners across North America. 

 

Since its inception, RMPA-NA has focused on fostering a strong, interconnected community of professionals committed to the principles and practices of Rosen Method, especially during a period marked by significant global challenges and shifts in the professional landscape.

 

2020: Navigating the Pandemic

The year 2020 was a pivotal time for RMPA-NA, as the global COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for bodywork and movement practitioners. With in-person sessions becoming difficult, if not impossible, due to safety concerns, RMPA-NA had to quickly adapt to maintain its community's interconnectedness and the continuity of its practices.

 

RMPA-NA responded by rapidly increasing its online presence. The Association organized a series of interviews with senior teachers, and provided sharing circles and peer support groups to ensure that practitioners could continue their professional development and stay connected despite the physical distancing measures. These online initiatives included:

 

Peer Support Circles: RMPA-NA created spaces for practitioners to share their experiences, challenges, and successes during the pandemic. These circles helped to maintain a sense of community and mutual support during a time of isolation.

 

Below are some of the offerings RMPA-NA undertook during the Covid pandemic:

 

  • Kate O’Shea led the first movement and sharing circle in June 2020;

  • Gail Bourque led a sharing circle; 

  • Jetta van Hemert spoke about the need for mental health/sharing during the pandemic;

  • Paula Kimbro was interviewed by Kate O’Shea; 

  • Karen Roeper offered an Essential Motion class;  

  • Grace Wu and Valerie Luoto shared a presentation about each other’s path towards becoming a practitioner;

  • Grace Wu shared a presentation about what it took to become a movement and bodywork practitioner while living with a disability;

  • Sandra Wooten was interviewed by Rosen practitioner Vylia Tofle; 

  • Mary Kay Wright and Deborah Marks shared a conversation about Rosen Method;  

  • Sara Webb shared a conversation about helping ourselves through the gifts of Rosen Method in times of isolation and extreme stress; and her own Rosen Method journey; 

  • Alan Fogel discussed his new book, Restorative Embodiment and Resilience: A Guide to Disrupt Habits, Create Inner Peace, Deepen Relationships, and Feel Greater Presence; 

  • Miriam Cantor was interviewed by Jeanie C. Williams and Jetta van Hemert and spoke elegantly of her Rosen journey; 

  • Marjorie Huebner discussed the topic of vulnerability in Rose work; 

  • Betty Ross shared the history of the Rosen Method Mentorship Program and how to get involved. 

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