What is Rolfing® and what can it do for you?
Rolfing is a holistic system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education that organizes the whole body in gravity. This “realignment” of posture helps the body feel and work better.
Rolfing affects the body’s structure and alignment by manipulating the myofascial system (connective tissue, or fascia). The movement aspects of Rolfing help to repattern how the nervous system controls our movement, coordination and posture.
“ When the body gets working appropriately, the force of gravity can flow through. Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself.”
Ida P. Rolf PhD
Rolfing has also been shown to significantly reduce chronic stress, relieve pain (both chronic & acute), and enhance neurological functioning. The goal of Rolfing is to balance your body’s structure in gravity. To do that, a Rolfer looks at how your body has compensated over time, both in how you move (walking) and while you are stationary (standing, sitting, etc.)
The Process
Rolfing is generally performed over a series of ten sessions. This approach allows the Rolfer to affect the client’s structure in a methodical manner. This includes loosening superficial fascia before working deeper areas, improving support in feet and legs before affecting higher structures, and helping clients find ways to benefit from freer movement in their daily activities.
Single sessions and/or mini-series consisting of 3 sessions can also be very beneficial. It can also be noted that while some people like to have weekly/fortnightly sessions until the series is complete, many more opt for a longer term approach and complete the series over several months.
See the Questions & Answers for a more in-depth description of the Rolfing Ten-Series.
