BIO

Bruce Schonfeld is a Certified Advanced Rolfer & Certified Rolfing Movement Integration Teacher. He has taught Structural Integration (SI) since 1996.

In addition to diverse Continuing Education (CE) studies through the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, Bruce has trained extensively with two of Ida Rolf’s senior instructors, Jan Sultan & Michael Salveson, including four different Advanced Rolfing Trainings (1997, 1998, 2001, 2011)in varying capacities.

Bruce has studied Visceral Manipulation (VM) since 1997 with the Barral Institute team including Jean-Pierre Barral D.O., Alain Croibier D.O., A.J. de Koning D.O., Gail Wetzler P.T. and Dee Ahern P.T.. He has assisted VM classes extensively with Gail Wetzler P.T. and since the year 2000, Bruce has over 300 hours of study directly with Jean-Pierre Barral D.O.. Bruce has additionally studied Visceral Manipulation and Visceral Mobilization with Didier Prat D.O., Alain Gehin D.O. and Claudia Kohn D.O..

Bruce is the modality developer of FASCIAL INTEGRATION: Structural-Visceral Approaches. His approach draws from his dual roots in Structural Integration and Visceral Manipulation. Bruce has studied Craniosacral Therapy since 1994 with the Upledger, Milne and Colorado Craniosacral Institutes.

Bruce’s background also includes a highly kinesthetic approach to studying anatomy including over 600 combined hours of sculpting anatomy in clay and gross anatomy dissection.

Clinically, Bruce is a generalist. Practicing holism, he contextualizes “local issues” within the whole body. Bruce also specializes in Structural-Visceral issues, orthopedics, local biomechanics, pain management and scar tissue.

Bruce’s functional and movement background includes an athletic childhood, Continuum Movement, 5-Rhythms Dance, Contact-Improv Dance and his original ‘Movement Carnival’ class emphasizing inversion and anti-gravity workouts. Bruce customizes strength training and flexibility workouts for clients to empower them to change their structure and posture by working out ‘in the direction of anatomical balance.

In line with Ida Rolf’s original vision he practices both Fascial Manipulation based therapy and body-based client education. On the mind-body side of the health equation, Bruce spent considerable time with the founder of Somatic Experiencing (SE), Peter Levine, both academically and as a body-based client in the early nineties. Bruce has also completed the first years training in Boidynamics Developmental Somatic Psychology.

Identifying our physical fascia as the common denominator amongst the different manual therapy modalities he practices, Bruce has developed a “systems anatomy” approach.

Philosophically Bruce’s intention is to meet the body on its own terms.