About Rolfing

Thousands of people have experienced relief from pain and stress through Rolfing® Structural Integration. Even with this excellent record it remains a mystery to many, and I am frequently asked, “What is Rolfing?”

Named after its founder, Dr. Ida P. Rolf, Rolfing Structural Integration is a form of bodywork that releases and balances unhealthy lines of tension and stress trapped in the body’s connective tissues, called fascia.

More than fifty years ago, Dr. Rolf recognized that the body is inherently a seamless network of connective tissue, rather than a collection of separate parts. This system of connective tissue surrounds, supports, and penetrates all of the muscles, bones, nerves, and organs. Rolfing works on this web-like complex to release, realign, and balance the whole body.

After the internal lines of tension are released and balanced, a person gains a more finely tuned shape and posture. Freedom and ease of movement are also enhanced. And with the body’s natural integrity strengthened, so too is one’s health and well being.

For many, experiencing this higher level of well being allows them to express more of who they truly are. It is this combination of tissue release, alignment, ease of movement, and the possibility for personal growth that makes Rolfing so unique and transformative.

When stress or trauma manifests in the body, connective tissue may become increasingly solid, rigid and sore, or, hold onto non-optimal experiences. These internal constrictions and lines of tension can restrict joint and spine range of motion, thereby causing pain.

Rolfing works by comfortably “melting” tight or constricted areas of the body’s soft tissue. This internal release generally results in increased freedom of movement and enhanced range of motion. And although every individual has a unique experience, it is very common to feel relief from pain and tension, move more easily with greater flexibility, and have an enhanced sense of feeling “at home” in your body.

Everyone should experience Rolfing® Structural Integration! I see people of all ages and backgrounds in my practice, as everyone, at some level, can benefit from experiencing Rolfing. So, if you are dealing with a chronic complaint, or even if you’re simply curious about the work, please know that you are a candidate for Rolfing.

Although everyone experiences something different from Rolfing, common benefits reported by clients include relief from:

• Chronic pain
• Traumatic injury sustained during car accidents or falls
• Poor posture
• Shoulder and neck tension
• High stress levels

Others come to:

• Speed healing after injury or surgery
• Increase energy levels
• Feel more at home in their bodies
• Move with more ease and grace
• Gain more body awareness
• Improve self-confidence
• Increase athletic performance
• Improve coordination and balance
• Deepen mind, body, and spirit connection
• Feel younger

The hallmark of Rolfing is the Ten Series, a group of ten sessions that each focus on a particular region of connective tissue and structure. Each session builds upon the last and prepares the body for the next.

(Not everyone is ready for a Ten Series or needs one. I discuss all options with my clients to ensure they have the Rolfing experience that best matches their goals.)

Receiving a Ten Series is different from coming in for a few sessions to address a complaint, as the entire body is systematically balanced. Due to this holistic approach, receiving a Ten Series with an emphasis on a particular injury can offer a profound “fix.” A good strategy is to try a single Rolfing® session or two, see how your body responds, and then decide whether a Ten Series is for you. Some of the typical results reported by clients include: relief from chronic pain, improved posture and ease of movement, a stronger mind/body/spirit connection, and enhanced athletic performance.

How the Ten Series progresses:

Sessions 1-3: These initial treatments strive to enhance the quality of breath, give the body a stable foundation from which to stand and walk on, and start to consider how the body’s major segments (hips, shoulder girdle, head) are aligned and move in relation to one another.

Sessions 4-7: The main focus is the core, or, the internal components that support the body much like a frame supports a house. Structures like the spine, back, legs, neck, and hips are addressed while considering how the body holds itself up and moves.

Sessions 8-10: Here, advancements made in the previous sessions, and ones still to come, are integrated in such a way that allows for smooth, natural coordination and movement. To facilitate this, I may ask a client to perform subtle movements in coordination with the Rolfing strokes. The resulting combination educates the nervous system and helps a person to better “own” and understand the transformations made during the series.

The Advanced Series consists of three to five sessions that are designed for people who have completed a Ten Series. Advanced Series are an excellent time to revisit past goals, create and address new ones, and enrich the advancements made during previous Rolfing appointments. It allows for recently accumulated stress or injury to be addressed, and holds the potential for a deeper and more profound level of transformation and change.

It is best to wait at least three months between the conclusion of a Ten Series and the start of an Advanced Series.