What you can expect when you work with me.
I work to create a safe, comfortable, and professional environment for my clients. In our first session together we will discuss your goals for your sessions, as well as spend time assessing your structure and movement. This will help in framing our sessions. Additionally, we will take time in our sessions to discuss habits of movement, posture, and activities of daily living so dysfunctional patterns can be identified and replaced with better functional patterns and bring further progress and sustainability to the work we do in our sessions.
Rolfing sessions generally last 60 minutes. Prior to the work, I will observe how you stand and move, giving a better indication of key areas of focus for the session. Through the session, clients may feel electrical sensations in their bodies, deep pressure or a variety of other sensations during the process; however, these usually pass shortly after the pressure is released. Most clients report a sense of dramatic ease, connection, and lightness as the session progresses.
Individual sessions intended for help during the recuperation period of an injury to minimize the long term effects on structure and balance.
Maintenance is work that is spaced at appropriate intervals designed to maintain the level of balance achieved in the basic series.
Most often the benefits of Rolfing last many years after the initial 10 Series. Some people continue to improve without any further work. However, bodies change, injuries and accidents occur and additional work can be beneficial.
Because I need to see your structure before, during and after a session, most clients, both men and women go through the sessions wearing the following:
Children can greatly benefit from Rolfing. Rolfing can correct childhood structural patterns. Rolfing can help with pigeon toes, knocked-knees, rounded shoulders, and scoliosis. Rolfing has also been beneficial in relief of adolescent growing pains. Sessions with children are gentle, and do not require as much time, since the patterns are not yet ingrained in their bodies. A full 10 Series usually doesn’t take place until the teenage years.
The basic series is designed to make significant changes in the form and balance of the body, but realistically it is not intended to be a one-time cure-all for body dysfunction. After a period of adjustment, three months to one year or longer, it is possible to continue the process.
Contrary to popular misconception, Rolfing is not always painful. Any discomfort in response to Rolfing pressure is an indication of the amount of chronic tension stored in the tissues of the body. It is the responsibility of the Rolfer to work within the level of tolerance of each client to accomplish the goals of the work. Most clients are not concerned about discomfort during the sessions. When the client’s level of tolerance is respected, the Rolfer and client can work together to achieve better results.
Rolfing is a process, not a product. Human bodies are in a constant state of change, due to external forces acting upon it and the internal forces governing it. During the process of Rolfing, your body becomes balanced, and many negative forces are minimized. The closer to balance your body is, the more it strives for higher symmetry and balance.
Whatever work you receive is complete in itself. Your body will continue to adjust in response to that amount of work. Even when there are significant time gaps between the beginning and end of a series, there is little regression in the body.
Rolfing is usually done in a series of 10 sessions (known as the Rolfing 10-Series) in order for the Rolfer to address the entire body, but clients can come in for fewer sessions. A series of 3 sessions generally provides the Rolfer and client with enough information to determine if Rolfing is right for the client and address concerns. The 10 Series format is designed to work on the whole body systematically. Each Rolfing session builds upon the results of the previous session, so the process is cumulative. When the 10 Series is completed, the full potential of Rolfing is realized.
The first few days after a session are usually the time of greatest change. Somewhat like the first day after heavy exercise, you may feel a bit sore the next day. After that you may experience ongoing shifts in balance and awareness. Most people experience feelings of lightness, improved comfort and ease of movement, and feeling more at home in their body.
Chiropractic differs from Rolfing in that it focuses on the bones and skeletal system. Chiropractic techniques often involve thrust to alleviate symptoms of pain or tension within the body.
The practice and goal of massage is to relax muscles, improve range of motion, and improve circulation. While “deep tissue” massage may influence releasing specific patterns of structural strain, the overall goal and intent of the work is not in bringing better balance to the entire body.
In contrast, Rolfing works with the soft tissues of the entire body – fascia, muscles, ligaments and tendons using sustained pressure and asking for client movement to release chronic patterns. Rolfing considers the relationships within the body with the intention of bringing greater balance, adaptability, and integration to the body, allowing for greater support and function. Rolfing is a partnership between practitioner and client–working together to achieve the goals. Chiropractic, massage therapy and Rolfing are complementary practices.
The time between sessions is based on your body’s rate of adaptation to the work. People usually schedule sessions once a week or every two weeks. Some wait up to four weeks between sessions. It’s important to note your response to the work and schedule according to what feels right for your body.