Why Do People Get Rolfed®?

    Stress of any kind shortens and tightens the body. Over time, that tightness will lock into connective tissue and diminish flexibility and cause chronic pain until it is released. People who suffer from all kinds of chronic muscular pain will seek out Rolfing®. Athletes and performers of all kinds use Rolfing® to enhance their overall balance and body awareness as part of a lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, exercise and a holistic understanding of health.
    Rolfing® offers great benefits to  computer users whose posture, shoulders,arms,and wrists become uncomfortable from long hours of use.
 

How Does Rolfing® Work?

    The Rolfer slowly uses his hands to release adhesions, strains and sprains in the connective tissue, which is the fibrous web which binds muscles, bones and organs together. The relative flexibility of connective tissues determines how easily muscles will move, therefore Rolfers work on the connective tissue to help free the muscles.

How Is It Set Up?

    The basic Rolfing® is a series of ten sessions, each of which is about 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours long. Most people come once a week, although the scheduling is flexible. When you come in for your appointment, your Rolfer will spend some time taking a medical history and talking to you about your body and what goals you have for the work. Rolfing® clients wear their underwear or a bathing suit while they are getting worked on, whichever is more comfortable.

How Does Rolfing® Improve Posture,

Alignment or Structure?

    Rolfers look at the body and ask themselves, "Is this body balanced in the gravity field?"  Rolfers realign the structure of the body so standing is comfortable and movement is efficient. While most people talk about "good posture," i.e. working to hold themselves upright, Rolfers talk about "good structure," or resting comfortably in alignment with gravity.

Who Was Ida Rolf?

    Ida Rolf was an American biochemist who studied the flexibility of proteins in connective tissue in the 1930's and 1940's. During that period she had a son who was ill and she could not find a doctor who could properly diagnose her child. She finally realized that her son's problems were due to pressure on his internal organs from a compressed physical structure. She began to massage and manipulate her son's body until the pressure was released and his problems disappeared. She went on to develop Rolfing® over a 30 year period. Ida Rolf created the Rolf® Institute in the late 1960's after many years of writing and lecturing.

What About the Emotional or

Psychological Element in Rolfing®?

    Any time we have an emotion of any kind it is felt by and takes place in the soft tissue of the body. Over time, chronic and emotional states like stress, fear or sadness get recorded in the muscles and connective tissue of the body. Sometimes a specific trauma or event will be held or recorded in a particular part of the body. When that part of the body gets worked on in Rolfing, the Rolfing client may remember the incident, trauma or accident that occurred in that area. Rolfers sometimes call this "muscle memory." As the Rolfing® client's body becomes freer and more liberated, often that person's emotions will feel unburdened and his mind will feel clearer.

Does Rolfing® Hurt?

I Have Heard Rumors.

    Generally speaking, when chronic aches and pains are released, people feel much better. Rolfers use pressure and stretching to change and release the connective tissue. Often people will remember or "feel" an old injury or pain as it is released and that is followed by the feeling of relief and well-being as flexibility and balance is restored to those areas.

If I Get Rolfed, Will the

Changes Last?

    The changes will not only last, but they even continue to improve! Here is how it works: The body's shape and condition is constantly being maintained and recreated by it's movement patterns. If the movement pattern are imbalanced and stressful they will continue to break down the structure. After Rolfing®, the movement patterns begin to improve or recreate a balanced structure. Through the improved movement patterns made possible by a more flexible structure, the Rolfing® continues after the 10 sessions have been completed.

What About my Bad Habits

Won't They Pull My Body

Back Out of Alignment?

    Firstly, your Rolfer will give you guidance on how to move and hold yourself in a way that will maintain and enhance the changes. Secondly, the body naturally will want to do what is more balanced and efficient because it will be more comfortable.

What Is Advanced Rolfing®?

    After the basic Rolfing® is completed, the body evolves and changes and in time deeper, more subtle work becomes possible. The advanced Rolfing® is designed for the Rolfing® client who has already had the basic 10 session series.

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