About

OWEN MARCUS M.A.
Certified Advanced Rolfer

assume if you are at this page, you want to learn something about me. When I am reading about something new, I want to get a good sense of who is doing it.

Background

In 1975, I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Plattsburgh State University of New York. Later, I earned a master’s in health education from the Professional Studies Institute of Arizona.

I began studying Rolfing and holistic health in the mid-1970s while living in Boulder, Colorado. In 1980, I began creating a holistic clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, employing and mentoring other Rolfers, including a senior Rolfing instructor. This clinic of massage therapists, Rolfers, nutritionists and physicians treated a full range of clients throughout Arizona.

Sport Rolfing SI

At the clinic I developed Sports Rolfing while working with Olympic and professional athletes. This work with elite athletes led me to do the first research on Rolfing and performance enhancement (conducted through Arizona State University). During this time, I also became the first Rolfer for Ballet Arizona, the professional ballet company for the state of Arizona.

During the 1980s and 1990s, I worked with business and legal professionals as I developed my holistic/Rolfing SI clinic. During this period, I designed and taught courses for companies such as IBM and GE. These courses included team building, communication skills and public speaking. Using my skills in body-centered psychotherapy, I was able to offer a unique perspective to these traditional institutions.

Out of an interest to explore the traditions of other treatment methods, I also began the study of indigenous medicine in 1982. During this time, I learned how to use aspects of the Natural World to assist in healing. Integrating the subtle knowledge of body-centered psychotherapy and traditional healing allows me to understand an individual’s needs and how to communicate a comprehensive plan for his or her full renewal.

Expanding in scope of practice

After a year’s sabbatical in northern California, I moved to Sandpoint in 1997. I chose Sandpoint in part because it reminded me of my hometown in Vermont. Also, after 17 years in a large city developing a leading holistic health clinic, I was ready for a more relaxed life-style .

I created the Healing Journey™, a unique group and individual process that allows a client to heal the causes of an old problem. Through gently accessing the physiological as well as the psychological patterns created by trauma, a person consciously and unconsciously releases the trauma. When the restrictive patterns are no longer present, the body/mind naturally learns more productive behavior for achieving what the person desires.

While in Arizona, I went on to co-found the Scottsdale Institute for Health and Medicine, Inc. One of our ventures was conducting Mindfulness Stress Reduction programs for the public, corporations and hospital networks. At the time, we were the largest company providing Mindfulness Stress Reduction classes in the nation. (Don’t be too impressed, though–this was much more a labor of love than a money making proposition.) Teaching the body how to not recreate stress is the key to both stress reduction and Rolfing. My passion about educating others how to reduce their stress inspired me to create a blog on introverted stress reduction techniques – www.StressedOut.org.

Ever since I started seeing clients, I saw the powerful effects of Rolfing creating a level of change that my clients had never seen before.. Explaining the depth of what is happening is one of the most enjoyable parts of Rolfing for me. Yet, I felt there was a need for more support, so I created a blog for all Rolfers and their clients – www.Rolfhub.com.

A few of my women clients inspired me to do a study on Rolfing’s effect on reducing cellulite. Although I never promoted these effects, a good percentage of my practice in Scottsdale came to me because of how women’s bodies transform from Rolfing. To coordinate the study and its results, I created www.RolfCellulite.com.

Natural Walking and Natural Running

Out of my history of working with runners I started teaching Running Flow™, the application of Natural Walking™ to running. Even the Olympic marathon runners I had as clients were not using gravity to aid their running. Not only does the wrong form produce many of the running injuries I saw – it just takes the fun out or running. Learning how to run like our ancestors ran is like setting a caged animal free.

Educating the community

Throughout my career in health care, I have led classes and groups that focus on educating the participants on how to be self-sustaining. It is my belief that good health and a more enjoyable life can be learned and maintained.

In the mid 90’s I began studying how to lead men’s groups. Since then, I have created and led men’s groups in Arizona and California. Currently I am leading weekly groups here in Sandpoint where I’m also teaching other men to be group leaders. I created a blog for the Sandpoint Men’s Group to help the group members share with the community their experiences with the group. In attempt to expand my support of men I created the blog – www.owenmarcus.com.

As one of the founding member of the Sandpoint Wellness Council I developed a blog to post the articles the Council members publish in the local papers and magazines. This Council is the hub of Sandpoint being a Holistic Town.

I had the honor to be asked to apprentice with traditional shamans, one a Hawaiian Kahuna the other Native American Medicine Man. All this lead to being invited to be a pipe carrier in the Métis (mixed blood) lineages. As part of these lineages, I Sun Danced in North Dakota with Grandfather Eagleheart of Turtle Mountains, and in Arizona with the Deer Tribe. In accordance with these traditions, I lead Sweat Lodges for the men’s group.

I still consult and coach on personal stress management and performance enhancement. Much of this work is conducted over the phone. On occasion, clients fly in to work with me in person.

I love learning new ways to help others. After 30-plus years of working with clients, I am more convinced than ever that we are capable of healing virtually anything. If I feel your time and money will get you better results some other place, I will send you to the person I feel can help you best. Good Rolfing is amazing at its ability to deal with conditions based on stress, soft tissue and structure. Outside that rubric, our effectiveness declines significantly.