Frequently Asked Questions

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER BEING ROLFED?

Most people who come to Rolfing are aware that their minor injuries, aches and pains are interfering with the comfort of their daily life. Many have tried other therapies and perhaps found temporary relief but no lasting effect. Rolfing is particularly effective for musculoskeletal problems (back pain, scoliosis, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.) and the majority of such people find a deeper and more long lasting relief from this treatment.

Other people come to Rolfing because they are on a path of personal growth and recognise the holistic benefits Rolfing offers: namely, in significantly affecting the structure of the body there can be corresponding shifts in attitude and emotional balance which are ultimately beneficial.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROLFING AND MASSAGE?

There are perhaps two main differences. First, the quality of touch is experienced as much deeper than most massage forms which focus on a muscular level. Rolfing works on a myofascial level, including tendons and ligaments; consequently the pace of contact is usually slower. Second, Rolfing differs even from deep tissue massage forms such as myofascial release or Tui Na because of the structure of the Rolfing Series.

The system of ten sessions progressing sequentially from feet to neck is extremely well designed to effect long-term change in the body. As the genius of Ida Rolf's legacy becomes more widely acknowledged within the field of complementary therapy, this ten-series approach is likely to become more common.

IS ROLFING PAINFUL?

Rolfing seems to have a reputation for being painful, based on sessions performed in the early 70s by some Rolfers. The standard of the Rolfing training is high and the methods taught are constantly being modified in favour of gentler techniques to produce the same results. In my experience as a Rolfing practitioner clients sometimes experience Rolfing as intense but rarely painful.

In fact pain is counter- productive because it activates the body’s defence mechanisms and “kicks out” the Rolfer’s pressure. Rolfing is frequently a co-operative venture between practitioner and client.

WHAT ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ROLFING?

It is important to remember that the primary goal of Rolfing is to realign the body in gravity. Rolfers are somatic practitioners not psychotherapists. It is believed that emotions can be repressed within the body’s connective tissues, the medium of Rolfing, so emotional aspects clearly have direct relevance. An example of trapped emotions is a child being told not to cry and suppressing this natural emotion by wilfully contracting certain muscles (e.g. the pelvic floor, shoulders or jaw), an action which, if repeated over time becomes an unconscious holding pattern.

When the chronically tight connective tissue finally releases during Rolfing treatment emotionally charged material can be resolved. In this sense Rolfing can act as a catalyst for emotional growth and change and Rolfers are trained to contain this process safely. This aspect is partly what makes Rolfing potentially such a profound experience.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TEN SERIES?

In my experience it is extremely unusual for a client to regress significantly back to unfavourable patterns, especially if they have conscientiously practiced the exercises I recommend between sessions. After the Ten Series the general tendency of the body is to integrate the Rolfing work and consolidate the postural improvements. Wear and tear is inevitable, however, and it is advisable to receive maintenance from time to time. The good news is that the body tissue seems to remember the Rolfing work (somatic recall). This means that if there has been any regression it is very easy to get back to the body state you felt at the end of the tenth session. Any fascial thickening can be easily smoothed and muscles rebalanced as the whole body is “reminded” of the optimal alignment of which it is capable. After allowing a significant amount of time for the body to self-integrate without Rolfing intervention (at least 6 months) it becomes extremely beneficial to do a tune-up of three sessions, which can be repeated after further significant intervals. After a tune-up clients tend to feel similar to the end of their tenth session and actually enjoy better alignment and grounding because the Rolfing can go further after the slow self-integration of the post-ten rest period.

ARE TEN SESSIONS ENOUGH?

I often get asked this.  Some people find it hard to believe that only ten sessions of Rolfing can achieve the kind of postural realignment that we are claiming.  Actually the Ten Series can achieve significant and often dramatic improvement with long-lasting effect.  Nevertheless I do advise my clients to return for a 3-session tune-up no sooner than six months after their tenth session.  This is to stop any slippage that may have happened owing to negative influences such as repetitive daily tasks.  Six months is a good amount of time to allow the body to assimilate the change set in motion by the Ten Series, before receiving more work. We can usually achieve an even finer level of integration after the tune-up.  Also, if a particularly recalcitrant issue was not resolved in the Ten Series, it usually gets resolved in the tune-up.

WHY DID YOU BECOME A ROLFER?

Please see my biography listed as qualifications and biography in the Homepage.

"So many therapists are striking at the pattern of disease instead of supporting the pattern of health. Rolfers are not practitioners curing disease; they are specialists in health. They are giving attention to the better working of people's minds and bodies." Ida P Rolf

For more about Rolfing contact www.rolf.org