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How does Rolfing work?
Fascia or connective tissue completely surrounds
every joint, muscle, bone and organ and it gives
shape and strength to our body. Hardened or
shortened areas in this fascial web are caused by
repeated patterns of use such as the way we walk,
sit, stand or sleep as well as deep seated emotional
patterns. When fascia is healthy, its smooth coating
permits neighboring structures to slide over one
another. However, following inflammatory illnesses
or traumatic illness, poor posture or emotional
stress, layers adhere to one another and become
‘glued’ together. They will no longer slide and work
as they should, making the body work a lot harder to
function, contributing to weariness and tension.
Imbalances in the fascia occur where the stress is
greatest, negatively affecting our body’s shape and
movement patterns. You may begin to feel less
flexible and less able to move freely as you once
did. Pain is often the result. Rolfing works to
release these holding patterns and to restore
movement and alignment.
<Return to Top> How often do I come for Rolfing?
Rolfing is usually done in a series of 10 sessions
(Additional sessions are sometimes recommended when
chronic problems exist) in order for the Rolfer to
fully address the entire body, but clients can come
for fewer sessions. A series of 3 sessions will
generally provide the Rolfer and client with enough
information to determine if Rolfing is right for the
client, but they are welcome to try a session as
well.
<Return to Top> How often should I come?
Most people find once a week to be a beneficial and
convenient time frame. However, others may find that
they need more time between sessions. It is
recommended that the client not receive more than 2
sessions per week.
<Return to Top> Does Rolfing last?
Yes. changes from the basic series are still present
many years after the series is complete. On the
other hand, as bodies change, and people have
further injuries, accidents or stressful times,
additional work may be useful.
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Does Rolfing hurt?
Rolfing had a reputation of being painful years ago,
but over the years it has been modified to work
within the client’s comfort zone. Most clients
report the majority of the sensations during a
typical session to be either pleasurable or neutral.
If a client is experiencing discomfort, the Rolfer
will simply slow the work down to enable the client
to receive the work in a more comfortable manner.
The ultimate goal is for the muscles to release and
relax.
<Return to Top> Can children receive Rolfing?
Absolutely. In addition to correcting structural
patterns, Rolfing can serve as a preventative
measure to reverse potentially problematic patterns
in children. Some of the childhood structural
patterns that respond well to Rolfing are scoliosis,
pigeon toes, knocked-knees, rounded legs, poor
posture, and even general adolescent growing pains.
The work will usually be very effective since
children won’t have as many years of “poor bodily
patterns” to work against. The sessions with
children are always gentle and comfortable and
rarely require as much time as an adult body might
require.
<Return to Top> How is Rolfing different than chiropractic?
Traditional chiropractic has had its focus on bones
and the skeletal system and typically uses high
velocity thrusting methods. However, unless the
tension and strain in the soft tissue (fascia,
muscles, tendons, and ligaments) is addressed, the
bones will continue to be pulled out of alignment.
Rolfing, on the other hand, involves slower
sustained pressures and addresses the entire bed of
soft tissue in which the bones are embedded. The
goal is to achieve balanced tension which allows the
bones to fall back into their proper relationships
naturally. Our experience is that chiropractic and
Rolfing can work well together and are complementary
disciplines.
<Return to Top> How is Rolfing Different than Massage?
Although at times Rolfing and Massage may feel
similar they differ in both the goals and the
results. The Rolfer will create a strategy for the
sessions to permanently change the client’s
structure to function better within gravity and
educate the client to use their bodies in a more
efficient manner. The client will also be much more
active in a Rolfing session, as they will be asked
to perform specific movements to assist with the
Rolfing process. Generally, there will be less
strategy in a massage session and more emphasis on
releasing individual muscles opposed to re-balancing
the body as a whole.
<Return to Top> What should I wear?
Women can wear either a bra and shorts, 2 piece
bathing suit, or bra and underwear. Men can wear
their regular underwear. The sessions are usually
started with a brief structural analysis, as long as
the client is comfortable with that.
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