History of Rosen Method

Origins and development

Rosen Method developed from Marion Rosen's 50 years experience as a physiotherapist and health educator. She has been teaching Rosen Method now for over 25 years. Her unique approach to bodywork and movement has earned her recognition as a leader and originator in the field of body-mind oriented therapies. Marion, a vibrant woman now in her nineties, still travels the world, teaching, practising and promoting her work. Additionally, she continues her private practice in Berkeley, California.
Marion Rosen

In the 1930's, Marion was involved in innovative explorations of breathwork, relaxation and movement in Munich, Germany, working with Lucy Heyer, who had trained with Elsa Gindler, a renowned innovator of body therapies. Qualified in physiotherapy in Stockholm, Sweden and later at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota USA, Marion developed the Rosen Method over the course of many years in private practice. She became convinced about the implications for health and general wellbeing of the connection between mind and body. With this informing her practice, she learnt much from her clients about the ability of the body to heal itself.

Marion Rosen was persuaded by others to share and articulate the work she was doing and this led to the development of Rosen Method Bodywork and a practitioner training program now operating in many countries. The Rosen Institute, holds the "Rosen Method" service or trade mark, licenses new training centres and is responsible for certifying all practitioners internationally, thus protecting the quality of the work.

Rosen Method in Australia

Rosen Method Bodywork was made available in Australia in the early 1990s by Judith Nicholson. Judith was a lecturer and one time Sub-Dean of the Law faculty at the Australian National University in Canberra. Judith undertook Rosen training in Sweden over three years and returned to Australia in 1992 as a certified Rosen Method Bodywork practitioner. She set up private practice both in Canberra and near Tumut, NSW. Her international qualification was recognised in Australia by ANTA (Australian Natural Therapists Association) in the modality of Remedial Therapy.

Judith Nicholson In late 1995 and early 1996, Judith invited senior teachers from Sweden to visit Australia to run the first Rosen Introductory Workshops. These were followed in mid 1996 by the first Intensive, led by Gloria Hessellund, Director of Teaching at the Berkeley Center in California, with which the Australian program is affiliated. In more recent years, Judith continued her support of the workshops and training program and wrote a book, Come Dance With Me about her personal Rosen journey. The Australian and wider global Rosen community was saddened by Judith's passing in July 2004 after a long illness. She left us all the legacy of a vibrant and growing modality which has the potential to help so many Australians.
Judith Nicholson

In the last few years, Rosen has become more widely known and recognized in Australia. There are growing numbers of people making Rosen a more regular part of their health and wellbeing regime through having regular sessions. This is made a little easier and more accessible by the increasing number of practitioners and interns in several locations along the East Coast, from Queensland to Victoria. Many clients have found Rosen to be a beneficial adjunct to other treatments and a fascinating and freeing exploration of the ways in which they have developed habits that limit their physical and emotional range.

People from all over the country and some international visitors now attend short and week-long workshops to experience the benefits of this wonderful modality. We say on fliers that Rosen is about touching the body, contacting the feelings and freeing the spirit. Please read Moving through Fear to find Peace (requires a PDF viewer) for a firsthand description of one person's experience of one of the longer workshops. As a participant she observed that, "For anyone on a journey to find Presence, to find the part of you that Knows balance, relaxation and calm, then Rosen Method Bodywork provides the perfect environment for the journey."