Rolfing is a strategic system of integrating and re-aligning the structure of the body through manipulating the myofascial tissue and with movement education, developed in the 1940's and 50's by Dr. Ida Rolf. Dr. Rolf had a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, who merged her interests and knowledge in osteopathy, chiropractic, yoga and Alexander Technique, to create Rolfing, Structural Integration. Rolfing first became popular in the 60's when Dr. Rolf taught her structural integration techniques at Easlen Institute in California.

Rolfing Goals and Benefits

If you can imagine how it feels to live in a fluid, light, balanced body, free of pain, stiffness and chronic stress, at ease with itself and the earth's gravitational field; then you will understand the goals of Rolfing Structural Integration. Athletes, dancers, students of yoga and meditation, musicians, business people from all walks of life and all ages, come to rolfing not only for relief from their pain and stress, but also for improved range of motion, increased vitality and energy, better posture, and improved performance in their professions and daily activities. Rolfing does not diagnose or claim to heal any conditions, but can have a positive affect on your health.

Structural Integration 10 Session Series

Rolfing then is a series of bodywork and movement education sessions (10 and sometimes more) designed to bring an unbalanced body, back into balance with gravity. Whether from genetics, poor posture, injury, illness or emotional distress, an unbalanced body is at constant odds with gravity.

We experience gravity as poor posture, pain, stress, and depleted energy. When the body loses its architectural integrity, fascia shortens and thickens in characteristic patterns of strain and tightness, in order to shore us up against gravity's ever-present influence. The Rolfer then works with the accumulated life history of the client's characteristic patterns, to strategically soften and lengthen built up strained fascia and soft tissue in the body, allowing the body to right and align itself effortlessly in gravity.

Also the Rolfer and client work together to understand the client's present movement patterns. They explore the possibilities for freer, more balanced movement in breathing, walking, standing, sitting and whatever special or daily activities the person is involved in, such as running, desk work, housework, yoga, carpentry, and the like. Attending to the whole person, they together work to release specific holding patterns in the body, through the bodywork and awareness techniques, and then re-integrate those parts through movement, with the rest of the body in gravity. Over time the client's body use and awareness allow for the possibility of conscious centering movements that can be taken into everyday life to ease pain and stress and to enhance all activities from the work place to the playing field. These sessions are interspersed within the series, and/or added to the series if necessary.

Experiencing a Rolfing Session

Rolfing sessions usually begin with a verbal and physical evaluation of the client's his/her story. An agreement is come to on what the client should expect from the series and what the client would like achieve as a goal from the series. Optional: clients will be photographed before the first session and after each session to track the progress of the structural changes, for the Rolfer and clients benefit.