My first ten series began in the spring of 2001. The work affected me deeply and I was soon enrolled in Rolf school, excited to share what I had experienced, hoping others would be equally transformed. I would receive two more ten series as part of my training. And although I have taken many of my clients through the 10 series journey, the idea of going through the process again had not come up for me since school.
(For those of you who don’t know, the classic Rolfing Ten Series is a ten session recipe or protocol that systematically eases connective tissue strain in a balanced and holistic manner. Every session has its own theme and goals, and upon completion, the entire body had been carefully addressed. Changes can be felt in posture, movement, emotion, and in relationship to self and other. The work supports physical and emotional health, life transitions and personal development).
Then, after returning from a two month camping and rock climbing trip to Mexico in early 2016, I had a strong sensation of disconnection. It was as if my physical body was not synced up to the changes my emotional and energetic-self had experienced while being immersed in the natural world for eight weeks. A session or two had always worked to smooth out this sort of imbalance in the past, but this time, I had a definite craving for a longer round of systematic work. A call to my go-to Rolfer in Denver, the wonderful Theresa Zordan, revealed that she too was ready for a round of sessions. We decided to trade out a Ten Series. She would be my practitioner and I hers.
Currently, we are about half-way through the series, having just completed session five. One thing I’ve noted is how revealing this work is. A piece of session one is addressing the outside of the hips to make sure the lower center of gravity can accommodate changes to the shoulder girdle and torso. I’ve always known my hips were tight, but I had no real idea! And during the footwork of session two, I could feel the strain in my tissue caused by tight rock climbing shoes resisting, and then slowly transforming, while Theresa worked. It was like the bound fascia was such a part of my identity that it had to be coaxed into letting go. I’ve also stood up after receiving a session feeling lighter and moving with more flow to my joints and thinking, “Ahh, this is why Rolfing is so amazing!” And then there’s the way the work sneaks up on me when I’m not expected it. Like how I can react with more emotion to the events of my day to day world, either with more joy or sadness, like the available range of my emotional body has become wider.
Stay tuned, there’s more to come!