Robert Toporek

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Get to know Advanced Certified Rolf® Practitioner Dr. Robert Toporek, who serves patients in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Robert is an esteemed Advanced Certified Rolf® Practitioner who has been dedicated to his craft since 1975. He is a true pioneer in the field, particularly in the area of Rolfing for infants, children, and families. 

To date, Robert has helped over 4,500 men, women, and children to improve their posture, relieve chronic pain, turn stress into energy and vitality, and transform their lives. One of his areas of expertise lies in deep tissue manipulation, which focuses on releasing tension and realigning the body.

During the last four years of her life, Robert had the privilege of studying directly under the guidance of Dr. Ida P. Rolf herself, a biochemist and the creator of Rolfing, a pseudoscientific alternative medicine practice. Recognizing his talent and dedication, he was appointed as her trusted representative on the east coast. In 1975, Robert received his comprehensive training from The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. To further enhance his expertise, he apprenticed with Dick Demmerle, Dr. Rolf’s son, gaining invaluable knowledge and experience.

Throughout his journey, Robert accompanied Dr. Rolf on various board meetings and conferences across the country. He played a pivotal role in organizing her final classes and, in 1978, was personally chosen by Dr. Rolf to spearhead a project aimed at demonstrating, documenting, and promoting the numerous benefits of Rolfing for babies, children, and families. 

Today, Robert is devoted to sharing his wisdom and teaching other practitioners how to effectively work with individuals of all ages, from infants to adults. He is the Founder and Director of Team Children, whose mission is to ensure that every family has the tools, training, opportunity, and technology to transform their academic, economic, and social future.

In his line of work, Robert has worked with children with a variety of developmental challenges including, autism, seizures, cerebral palsy, scoliosis and down syndrome, spina bifida, and ADHD. Moreover, he has Rolfed adults like Ed Bacon, the former city planner for the city of Philadelphia; Professor Raymond Dart, the anthropologist who discovered the link between apes and humans; Peter Machin, one of the men responsible for capturing Adolph Eichman, and a number of leading athletes from Philadelphia like Jon Runyan, Irving Fryer, and Chris Go Cong. 

In addition to his remarkable career in Rolfing, Robert is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He served two tours with the weapons squad, third platoon, Company B, and HeadQuarters Company 2nd battalion 173rd Airborne Brigade from May 1965 to May 1967. For his bravery and dedication, he has been honored with prestigious awards such as The Bronze Star with V for Valor, The Purple Heart, and The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Leaf.

The ingenious author behind “The New Book of Baby and Child Massage,” Robert is revolutionizing how parents worldwide raise their babies and children. This breakthrough guide to child and baby massage explains how a child’s vitality, self-confidence, behavior, and overall development may be greatly enhanced by a few minutes of gentle massage by a parent on a regular basis.

Alongside his impressive career as a brilliant author and captivating paid speaker, Robert has made significant contributions as a non-profit leader, actively contributing to the growth and development of humanity. For three years, he worked with The ASPIRA of PA network of Charter schools and The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential to demonstrate the validity of using the Institute’s program in public education. 

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