QualityLife
What to expect
The initial full process of Rolfing is usually split into a series of ten sessions that are 1-2 weeks apart. Each session tends to last between 60 and 75 minutes. Under your Rolfer's skillful assessment and hands on work, each session builds on the results of the previous ones. Rolfing is most effective in the context of a 10 session series, but it is not always necessary. A series of at least ten sessions gives us the best opportunity to fully address the entire body and how it works as a whole unit. Bodies do not shape into their patterns overnight so naturally it takes some time to reverse 20, 30, 40 years of bumps, bruises, poor posture and body usage.
The number of sessions required to meet your goals depends on a number of factors such as health history, response to the work, daily activities, etc. After completing your initial process, periodic tune-up sessions can refresh the feeling of integration and remind your body of its most efficient balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rolfing hurt?
No. One of the first things people hear about Rolfing is its age old reputation for being painful. Rolfing has evolved quite a lot over the years and that myth is no longer true. Clients typically report that it feels like satisfying deep pressure. There are many times, especially when working with inflamed tissue, the work will feel very gentle. Your level of comfort during the sessions is always respected and the work should never feel anything more than intensely pleasurable.
Do the changes from Rolfing last?
Yes. Modifiying our alignment and usage patterns, such as sitting, standing, and walking, helps the body maintain its new structure. The nature of Rolfing is to work with the body, not on it; this allows clients to take ownership of the body’s new structure. Since Rolfing address the body as a whole (posture, joint function, coordination, movement, etc) old patterns are replaced by new, healthier and more efficient ones which become easier and more natural for the body to maintain.
How is Rolfing different than chiropractic and massage?
Chiropractic therapy tends to focus on bone alignment and individual joints, and typically uses high velocity thrusting methods. However, unless the tension and strain in the soft tissue (fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments) is addressed, the bones will continue to be pulled out of alignment. The Rolfing method uses gentle soft tissue techniques to treat boney restrictions that are a part of the overall body pattern. The goal is to achieve balanced tension which allows the bones to fall back into their proper relationships naturally.
Massage is a broad term that refers to many styles of bodywork. The goals of most types of massage focus on relaxing individual muscles whereas Rolfing looks to realign and re-sculpt the entire body into a better working (and feeling) unit. Some "deep tissue" massage works to release local patterns of structural strain, but this is not usually done as part of a strategy to balance the whole body. The goals of Rolfing require clients to be more actively involved than during massage sessions by performing specific movements, noticing sensations, and even getting off of the table to sit, stand, or walk.
What should I wear?
During your process we will be assessing the balance of your body while standing, sitting and while functioning in motion. Your comfort is paramount. However, to make sure the information that we gather with our assessments is as accurate as possible, it is encouraged that you wear some kind of gym clothes, like running shorts and a sports bra so that it is easy to evaluate what is going on in your specific body.
Can children receive Rolfing?
Absolutely. In addition to correcting structural patterns, Rolfing can serve as a preventative measure to reverse potentially problematic patterns in the young. One of the things children learn from watching us is how we carry ourselves and they will naturally imitate their parent's language, movement and other modes of expression. From newborns to rebellious teenagers, children will almost always benefit from Rolfing. 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. Work with children is always gentle, comfortable and playful. Children under 16 are seen at half price.