In addition to postural changes, Rolfing® also helps people recover quickly from injuries sustained in auto accidents, sports injuries, and from repetitive use. For targeted Rolfing® sessions for pain relief or injury recover, that are NOT part of the Series, we offer “stand alone sessions.” Once you’ve completed the Series, if you find that you want more sessions to work on specific issues, we call those “Tune-Ups.”

Originally Rolfing® was a Series of 10 ses  sions, but over time some of the Advanced Rolfers™ have modified a few sessions to accommodate the many changes in our lives. So now we have 10-13 sessions for the Series, depending on your particular needs.

• Rolfing® stems from Osteopathic medicine, not from massage therapy.  Rolfing® is a “method” of bodywork, not a “style of massage” or a “type of touch.”

 Rolfing® repositions structures of the body via the intricate and deep fascial network.  Since the fascia controls where all of the structures in the body are positioned, addressing fascial restrictions and rotations actually addresses ALL of the structures of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, organs).

• Certified Rolfers™ perform assessments before, during, and after each session.  This is done in the privacy of the treatment room where we observe your body in movement and gravity.  
• Rolfing® sessions are asymmetrical, since the goal is to balance the body. Only areas of imbalance are addressed, so right/left side treatment will likely not be identical.
• Rolfing® is an active technique, where the person receiving the work is just as involved in the process as the practitioner.   It is common for us to have you move with us while we work, in order to reach deeper structures with less discomfort to you. 
  

Rolfing® can help decrease pain, increase range of motion, and give you a more fluid sense of movement throughout your entire body.  Rolfing® leads to long-term and/or permanent changes in the body. If we do a good job, you won’t need many sessions.

For a detailed outline, please use this button:

What to do after a Session:

1. Walk – Walking is probably the best integrative activity for you to do after a session. Sometimes the word “strolling” fits better than walking. A nice leisurely walk with mindfulness. A walking meditation. Give yourself time to notice what is different and what is new in your body as you walk. How do your legs feel? How do your feet feel on the ground? Are there differences between left and right? How does it feel to breathe? How do these shoes feel? Does your clothing fit differently? Pay attention to the things we talked about in your session. Practice moving into your body — all of it.
2. Pay attention to yourself throughout the day – Just let yourself become more aware of your body. Take a deep breathe when you think of it or give yourself a cue to do it (when I stop at a red light I will take a deep breath). Scan through your body before going to sleep and upon waking. Start at your feet and move up to your head just checking in and being aware of what you feel in the different parts of your body. Don’t try to judge, just accept what is there.
3. Drink lots of water – Some suggest taking your weight in pounds and dividing it in half. This is the number of ounces of water you should drink a day.
4. Soak in an Epsom salt bath – While soaking in a hot tub is lovely, it’s the Epsom salt that helps pull the toxins out of the body though a process called “facilitated diffusion.” So any time you’re feeling sore, try it….. you’ll like it. (Good post-exercise or cold prevention as well.)
5. Physical Activity – Moderation is the key. Keep up your regular exercise pattern if you have one, don’t overdo it just because you feel better. Pay attention to how your body feels as you work out. Is it asking for you to do something differently? What can you change
6. Journal – Some find it useful to journal about a session and what came up for them. Images, memories, emotions, and ideas are some of the things that may come up during and after a session that people find useful to journal about. It is also a rich time to look at your dreams and add them to your journal. Also, everyday activities that seem to spark something in you, that seem to raise your level of awareness, are also good to add to the journal.
7. Homework – It’s likely that your Rolfer® gave you some suggestions for what you can do to help your body moving forward.  This could include stretches, exercises, heat, ice, changing footwear, changing pillows, and things like that.  Please know that the homework we give is tailored to you specifically.  We want you living your best life, not stuck in patterns that don’t serve you.   So, do your homework!

Most massage temporarily reduces pain, eliminates muscle spasms, soothes sore muscles, and promotes relaxation. However, Rolfing® has enduring effects since it addresses the underlying causes of pain, imbalance, and restricted range of motion. The Rolfer™ does this by assessing each person in movement and gravity prior to each treatment (and frequently during and after, too). Rolfing® improves the overall functioning of the body through structural changes that tend to last for years. Additionally, Rolfing® sets into motion many changes that will continue long after your Series is completed.

To be clear, both have intrinsic value, it just depends on what you need at the time. Here’s a table that compares the differences between massage and Rolfing® in summary form. We can discuss what your goals are so we will know what you need. Also, please keep in mind that there are about 100 different types of massage, so they each have different therapeutic value as well.

If you are interested in the Series, think of it as a full body reboot. It’s ideal to do this if you ar relatively stable in your body. That means that you didn’t just sprain your ankle, are recovering from (or about to have) a surgery. It’s also good if you’re not training for a marathon. 

However, you can also experience great benefit from a handful of sessions that are targeting the area of concern. Some people even notice a huge change after one session.

It’s best to discuss this with Jenny or Michael.