1. WHAT
IS ROLFING®?
Rolfing® is the physical manipulation of
the body's soft tissues (myofascia) with the intent of
causing change in the body's structure to balance it in gravity.
Think of a tent whose supporting poles are not evenly balanced. The tent
does stand but not straight. Rolfing® moves the soft tissue, changing the lines
of support so that the body becomes more efficient in gravity. In simple terms,
the body works (muscle contracting) less, and the result is the release of
blocks and holding patterns.
2. IS IT
REALLY LIKE DEEP MASSAGE?
Rolfing® is not like massage because it is structural,
that is its goal is to change the relationships between the various segments of
the body. Its vision is Wholistic. You may complain about a neck problem to a
Rolfer® and he may, in turn,
begin looking at your legs to examine how well your legs contribute to
supporting your body as it stands and moves in space. He may then come to the
conclusion that improved support from below might result in less holding from above.
Though some massage therapists may use elbows and strong pressure when doing deep
tissue work, the Rolfer’s® vision is unique in his
ability to relate all the parts to the whole in a structural way. The aim is
not just amelioration, the aim is transformation.
A second difference is that Rolfing®
requires a high level of engagement on the part of the client in terms of
understanding what patterns exist, how they work, and how they can be changed.
It is for this reason that Ida Rolf, the founder of Rolfing® Structural
Integration, called the process educational rather than therapeutic. The
process is thus a partnership between Rolfer® and client and communication is
integral to the process.
3. IS
ROLFING® LIKE CHIROPRATIC?
While Rolfing® aims at structural changes,
it is not chiropractic. The Rolfer® works primarily with soft tissue because
fascia, ligament, tendon, and muscle change shape and form as the body goes
through its dynamic movements. The idea of alignment for the Rolfer® is optimal
balance between all these elements, including bone so that the load that is
created in gravity is shared equally throughout the body. The Rolfer® never
makes high velocity, high amplitude adjustments. When there happens to be a
“pop” during a session, it is usually due to the bone following soft tissue
into its proper place.
4. WHAT
IS THE TEN SESSION SERIES AND IS ROLFING® PAINFUL?
Rolfing® traditionally is done in a "series" of ten sessions but
it doesn’t have to be. A client may come for even one session and notice
considerable improvement of specific problems and overall function. The reason
for the 10 session series is that local changes will have difficulty
maintaining unless there is a total reorganization how the parts of the body
relate to one another locally and
globally. There is also a considerable amount of movement and awareness
training and repatterning that occurs during the 10 session process. When a new client calls me with a
particular problem and does not want to
do the 10 session series, I usually tell them that 1-3 sessions will be
required. Of course, I also have clients that have completed the 10 session
series that come in for tune ups. The 10 session series is usually divided into
three parts: sleeve 1-3, core 4-7, and integration 8-10.
The
legendary “pain” of Rolfing® is much romanticized often by people who have
never received a session or who have not received a session from a certified
practitioner. Since each session
requires a high level of client involvement and dialogue, pain and discomfort
are limited. As Ida Rolf once said, “Show me a body without pain, and I’ll show
you a body that does not feel pain when it gets Rolfed®.” It is not unusual for
clients becoming extremely relaxed or even falling asleep during Rolfing®
sessions.
5. HOW MUCH DO YOU
CHARGE AND HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO SEE YOU?
I charge $160 per Rolfing® session for a 90
minute session. The first session is usually longer due to paperwork and
interview. Sessions should be spaced far enough apart to allow the body time to
"integrate" the changes that took place in the previous session.
Optimally, that is every 1-2 weeks for most but can be as long as a month.
6. WHERE
ARE YOU LOCATED?
I work in in San Luis Obispo and also have
a schedule of working in Ventura four days per month, Wednesday and Thursday
every two weeks.
7. WHAT
GOT YOU STARTED DOING THIS WORK?
I suffered from
back problems for many years and, in 1978, got Rolfed® which helped me, not
only physically but also transformed me emotionally and spiritually. It led to
dramatic changes in my life from being intellectually to physically based. I
soon after became a sculptor for the next twenty years. I began doing body work
in the early 90’s beginning with my massage certification in 1990 and became a
Rolfer® in 2001. I received my advanced certification in 2008.