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Humbly Courageous
Hi, I’m Amy. I live life with a condition called Bethlem Myopathy which is a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. I like to help others by showing how I live well with a debilitating condition. I was born with this disease, so it’s the only way I know life. I continue to work on embracing myself and using that to help others.

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Alternative Therapy

Hello and welcome to a new week at Humbly Courageous. If you are a new reader, I'm glad you stopped by!

I've mentioned in past blog posts, that several years ago, I started to seek out alternative types of therapies that could possibly be helpful for my disability. One of those therapies is called Rolfing. Rolfing, according to the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, is a form of bodywork that reorganizes the connective tissues, called fascia, that permeate the entire body. 

I first learned about rolfing when I lived in Memphis, TN, when a good friend of mine introduced me to this therapy. That was over 20 years ago, and I still receive this therapy here in Indiana. In the article, linked at the end, I was interviewed by my current practitioner, whom I have been working with for nearly 20 years since moving back to Indiana. In the interview, I tell a touching story about how one person's generosity changed my life. I am forever grateful for the work done by my first rolfer, and now the work that my current rolfer continues to provide. 

While doctors can certainly be helpful when dealing with a disability, when living with an incurable disease where no medical treatments are available, it is sometimes imperative that you think outside of the box. You have to search for different types of therapies that could possibly provide some relief and help. Taking your health into your own hands is a very important part of medically advocating for your own needs. I have tried MANY different things throughout my lifetime to try and gain some improvement or functionality of my body. Rolfing has been very successful for me, and quite frankly changed the way my body looks and functions. 

Rolfing helped to straighten me out a lot!

My appearance changed drastically after my first ten series, which is a common term in the rolfing world. The first 10 sessions are usually done close together. Mine were completed over the course of a few months. In the beginning, it was intense. It's definitely not a relaxing massage type of therapy. You have to work through some pain to get to the good results. Also, if you've never had bodywork done, you may not know that our tissues hold memories. I was told that before I started, and I first thought, that sounded pretty far fetched. It's still often debated in the medical world to the truth of this, but I can tell you from my experience, it is most certainly true.

All the work I have done has helped me so much. It’s worth it!

As I worked through the first 10 sessions, I had a lot of emotions that I had to work through. I was able to release a lot of childhood trauma that I was holding onto in my body. My first 10 series was done in conjunction with a therapist, so I felt safe while releasing some of that trauma my body was holding onto. Needless to say, it was also mentally very helpful to me, which surprised me. Physically speaking, I used to have more of an unbalanced and bent over look. Now, I am much more aligned and straight. The fact that the results have lasted all this time is a true testament to rolfing.


It takes humble courage to seek out and try alternative therapies. I have tried many that were complete fails. It can be a lot of time and money wasted to wade through different options. It is a lot of trial and error, and it can be very daunting. I'm glad to be able to share one of those that has worked out for me. Also, keep in mind that what works for one person doesn’t necessarily always work for another. It’s a very personal preference. Do your research before you try something. There are a lot of good people out there who are willing to help. I'm blessed to have found so many in my lifetime. Huge thanks to my rolfer Dan for all your help these last several years, and for this great interview!

Below is the link to my interview I did last year that was published in the Structure, Function, Integration Journal. If you want to learn more, I encourage you to check it out!💚

https://www.rolf.org/docs/SFI_Article_If_I_Only_Knew_11.2023.pdf








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