Textbooks

Below you will find the required and recommended textbooks and references for students studying Rolfing® Structural Integration at the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.

Tip: Most books can be purchased on Amazon, Books of Discovery, or other online bookstores. If any books are out of print, we recommend you check sites such as AbeBooks, Alibris, Powell’s Books, or Half.com. Prices vary by seller. Compare different options and search for used copies to find a lower price. You can also check out our online store - we offer a discount for members.

Click below to see the recommended textbooks for each phase of your Rolfing® Structural Integration training.

Phase I Textbooks

Required Textbooks for Phase I of Rolfing® SI Program

The following textbooks will be provided by the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute on your first day of Phase I - there is no need to purchase these prior to your first class:

The Rolfing® Skillful Touch Handbook
— Anderson, Ward & Mueller-Kaul (2022)
ISBN: 9781733283885

Atlas of Anatomy (5th ed.)
—MacPherson & Wikenheiser (2025)
ISBN: 9781684206681

“The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers” must be purchased by students:

The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers (5th ed.)
— McIntosh & Allen (2017)
ISBN: 9781496347312

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Recommended Textbooks for Phase I of Rolfing® SI Program

These books are not mandatory but are highly recommended to deepen your understanding of anatomy, kinesiology, and therapeutic practice:

General Bodywork and Rolfing® Textbooks:

Mindful Motion: Rolfing® Movement Integration Techniques —Caspari
Currently out of print; PDF available through the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.
Job's Body: A Handbook for Bodywork — Juhan (2003)
One of the best books ever written on anatomy and physiology for bodyworkers.

Anatomy & Physiology Guidebooks:

Anatomy and Physiology the Easy Way — Alcamo & Krumhardt
(2004)
ISBN: 9780764119798
The Anatomy Coloring Book — Pearson (2013)
ISBN: 9780321832016
Color Atlas of Anatomy — Rohen, Yokochi & Lutjen-Drecoll (2011)
ISBN: 9781582558561
Trail Guide to the Body — Biel (2015)
ISBN: 9780982978658
When you purchase from Books of Discovery, get 15% off with code
STU15 at checkout.
Anatomy of Movement — Calais-Germain (2008)
ISBN: 9780939616572

Kinesiology Atlases:

An Illustrated Atlas of the Skeletal Muscles — Bowden, Bowden &
Firth (2015)
ISBN: 9781617311727
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System — Neumann (2017)
ISBN: 9780323287531
Atlas of Skeletal Muscles — Stone & Stone (2012)
ISBN: 9780073378169

Phase II & III Textbooks

Required Textbooks for Phase II & III of Rolfing® SI Program

Rolfing®: Reestablishing the Natural
Alignmentâ¦
- Rolf, Lodge & Thompson (1989)
ISBN: 9780892813353

Ida Rolf Talks About Rolfing® and
Physical Reality
- Rolf & Feitis (1979)
ISBN: 9780060906658

Recommended Textbooks for Phase II & III of Rolfing® SI Program

Anatomy & Kinesiology:

The Body Moveable — Gorman (2016)
ISBN: 9781927437018
The Physiology of the Joints (Upper Limb, Lower Limb, Spine & Pelvis)
— Kapandji series (2019)
ISBNs: Vol . 1: 9781912085590 | Vol . 2: 9781912085606 |
Vol . 3: 9781912085613
The Ciba Collection of Medical Illustrations — Netter et al.