Rolfing® is for people of all ages and all walks of life. Different clients come to Rolfing® for different reasons. Many initially come because of physical pain or discomforts that arise due to injuries, bad postural habits from sitting or standing and/or activities that include repetitive motions or unilateral use of the body. Rolfing® can help alleviate many common discomforts and aches such as back, neck, shoulder, hip and knee pain, as well as stress related pain such as tension in the neck and headaches/migraines.

Rolfing® can also help improve performance in sports, dance or music. It can also be beneficial for women after pregnancy, those who want to improve their range of motion or posture, and those that just want to maintain their overall health. When the body is well aligned and gravity can flow through easily, it can perform in more economical and effortless ways.

The length of session varies by service ranging from 75-90 minutes. Initially, in a consultation, we will discuss your needs, how we can meet and potentially exceed them, and our goals of the work. An intake form will have been completed, and we will consider medical information and past injuries or other issues of relevance. For clients under 18, parents or guardians will be present for the inital intake and duration of the session.

After the intake, clients will be observed sitting, standing and walking to see the patterns of anatomy. We will discuss how you feel, what you notice, and what I notice. Once the session’s goals have been decided and what touch or movement interventions will take place, clients will be asked to lie down on a treatment table, sit or stand at different points in the session. Rolfing® is a dynamic form of manual therapy and movement education. You are encouraged to ask questions and communicate throughout the entire process. While the touch work may feel intense at times, it is temporary and decreases as structural restrictions are released.

At the end of a session, clients have a variety of experiences. It is often recommended to schedule free time for self care after a session. Some people report stiffness like after a workout, some people wish to take a nap, and others feel strong and energized.

People leave Rolfing® sessions feeling free from systemic tension, movement improves, pain can be reduced or eliminated, a sense of balance, length and feeling more upright emerges and generally feeling freedom in one's body where there was once discomfort and restriction. Clients use different words to describe how they feel and some include light, straight, natural, freedom, open, balanced, easier, relaxed, amazing, fluid, connected, alive, aware, comfortable, speechless and complete.

Fascia is the connective tissue that envelops, supports and separates all muscles, bones, nerves and organs. It weaves through our body in a complex, web-like fashion, holding all body parts in their place while at the same time allowing for the connection to different, more distant body parts. It mostly consists of collagen fibres, which makes it very flexible and resilient.

Due to different forces, such as bad postural habits, repetitive motions or injuries, fascia can become less flexible, shorter and/or thicker in certain parts of the body. This can lead to discomforts or pain directly in the affected area. Often, however, this shortening or thickening of connective tissue in one part of the body leads to discomfort or pain in a more distant area of the body. This is because the affected fascia pulls another area out of place, which in turn leads to an imbalance in the body. This is a very common phenomenon in lower back pain, for example.

Through the systematic manipulation of fascia, Rolfing® can help loosen and redirect the connective tissue, restoring its flexibility and resilience. Consequently, imbalances in the body are reduced and symptoms can be alleviated. By working in this holistic way, Rolfing® can help clients find longer-lasting alleviation of discomfort or pain and a greater sense of overall wellbeing.

Rolfing® should not hurt. You might feel discomfort when the Rolfer™ works on body parts that are tight. Still, you should always be able to breathe comfortably. I check with my clients on a regular basis how they are feeling and encourage them to tell me when they feel pain or any other discomfort.

The body gives signs to me when the fascia is being released, and i do not go beyond what the body can handle. It is also important to keep the nervous system from activation during this process, and I maintain awareness and ask for your feedback.

It is best for the Rolfer™ to work directly on the skin. This way, it is easier to feel and work on the different layers of connective tissue (fascia). Therefore, clients normally wear their regular underwear. Alternatively, a two-piece swimsuit or short swimming trunks, as well running/gym shorts and sports bras can be worn. While working on the table, we can use a sheet or a blanket so you feel more comfortable and warm.

The hallmark of Rolfing® Structural Integration is the Ten Series, the goal of which is to systematically balance and optimize both the structure and function of the entire body over the course of ten Rolfing® sessions.

Each session focuses on freeing restrictions or holdings trapped in a particular region of the body.

The Ten Series/10 Series, also known as “Grandma’s Recipe”, or simply “the recipe”, is a collection of “hour” long interventions that Dr. Ida P. Rolf developed as a means to helping people heal themselves. It is highly beneficial!

Dr. Rolf dubbed the process of going though this series “Structural Integration.” Her students called it Rolfing.

These progressive and systematic sessions of manual intervention contain specific goals, cover specific territory, and address specific purposes. The hours describe structural relationships to reestablish, movement functionality to restore, and an order in which to proceed.

The first 3 sessions address the superficial fascia to improve adaptability, support, and front/back balance. We consider these “sleeve” sessions.

The following 4 through 7 sessions follow the core of your body from your plantar fascia up through the deeper structures of head and neck. We consider those as core sessions.

Sessions 8, 9, and 10 focus on integrating the work more deliberately by establishing movement and interaction from the core through the sleeve, and into the world.

One session sets up the next two sessions. Those sessions complete the work that came before, and begin a new phase simultaneously. In essence the 10 Series could be considered one large 10 hour treatment.