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now. He's bending easier, and now he can sit down, lean over, and get his socks off and do whatever he has to do." The truly telling sign, Mark says, is what happens when they leave their sessions with Toporek. "When we leave Robert's, dad lasts five minutes and he's out cold. I know how relaxing it is for him; it's totally different than massage, but it releases a lot of stress in the body. I know what a difference it makes." On Gordie's first visit, Toporek Toporek shares a pre- session moment with hockey legend Gordie Howe before starting their 10th session together earlier this summer. Gordie's son Mark says the bodywork has had tremendous results for his father, allowing him greater, pain-free flexibility in doing everyday things. Lindy Powers Photography. did what he does with all first-time clients: videotaped him in movement and shot photographs of his posture and verticality, or lack thereof. The process not only tracks the progression of the work for Toporek, but also shows clients the significant changes that happen in the body during the course of the 10-session Rolfing protocol. Admitting a little nervousness in working with this larger-than-life presence, Toporek says the two men shared a welcoming moment, then together set to work to correct a lifetime of physical punishment and injury inflicted on Gordie's body. "Mark wanted Gordie to come to me because his body is all bent out of shape," Toporek says. "He believes I'm the one person who he trusts with his father's body and that I can make a difference." That's because once upon a time, Toporek made a significant difference in Mark's life as well. "I CAN FIX THIS GUY'S BACK" Toporek's relationship with the Howes began in 1991 when he reached out to the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team and told them he could help one of their star players, Mark Howe. "I read in the newspaper about Mark hurting his back and the possibility it would end his career," Toporek remembers. "No, I'm not a doctor, and yes, some people think I'm a little crazy, but having survived two years in Vietnam as a combat infantry paratrooper, I've learned to live life with a risk. I had been Rolfing for about eight or nine years and something made me say, 'I can fix this guy's back.'" The Flyers agreed to have Mark try Rolfing, Toporek says, "not because they thought I could really do anything, but because they had run out of options and the only other choice was for him to retire." Mark, who today serves as the head professional Mark Howe and a friend watch as Gordie completes his 10th Rolfing session with Toporek, the one person Mark knew could help his father's battered body. Lindy Powers Photography. scout for the Detroit Red Wings, says he had back problems for years when he played professionally, and even suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in hockey history when he was impaled on the metal projection of an older-style net. Not until he had a CAT scan many years later did doctors finally find a herniated disk that had been causing the years of pain. He underwent a microdiscectomy, which helped tremendously, but the relief was short-lived. "Postsurgery, I was doing extremely well, and was within four to five days of playing." Mark says he was back to skating and was pushing himself pretty hard. He had worked out with the team that particular day and felt great skating, but during his work in the weight room, something popped in his back. "All my muscles—everything— shortened up," Mark recalls. "My body got so tight that no matter what treatment anybody did, no www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 87