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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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