FAQs

What does Rolfing address?

Rolfing is for anyone who wants to feel better in their body.

  • Chronic pain sufferers often find relief from

    • Back Pain

    • Foot pain

    • Car Accidents or Whiplash

    • Headaches

    • Neck Pain

    • Frozen Shoulder

    • TMJ

    • Carpal Tunnel

    • Scoliosis

    • Tendonitis

    • Compartment Syndrome

    • Computer-Use Pain

    • Tennis Elbow

    • Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

    • Connective Tissue injuries or dysfunctions

    • and more.  

  • Mamas

    • Prenatal work can help your body accommodate to your growing baby and labor preparation can be done at the end of pregnancy.  I do not do ten series work at any time throughout pregnancy, because your body is changing enough as is.

    • Postnatal Recovery work can help you reintegrate your body after the tremendous changes it has undergone.  This is an especially fruitful time to work on rebalancing. Post birth and through breastfeeding you will still have the hormone Relaxin moving though your system and keeping things pliable.  This gives you a great opportunity to accomodate  structural changes and to rediscover it's core support.  Sessions may focus on freeing of birth related scar tissue, reengament of abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, support for the closure of diastasis recti, neck/back pain relief, support for de quervain's tenosynovitis (thumb pain), and much needed TLC.

  • Athletes use Rolfing to address

    • scar tissue

    • rehabilitate and prevent repetitive strain injuries

    • optimize performance.

    • Rolfing increases body awareness, helping to prevent future re-injury.

  • Aging Adults often use Rolfing to maintain their ability to move with more stability

Rolfing is NOT Appropriate for:

  • Acute injuries/surgeries (Take a few weeks before coming in for Rolfing if that is the issue you want to address.)

  • Degenerative conditions (If your hip pain is caused by deterioration of the joint capsule itself, Rolfing may be able to reduce surrounding pain and prepare you for surgery, but it can't prevent a hip replacement.)

  • Psychosis (Rolfing is highly stimulating to the nervous system and clients with a history psychosis may be overstimulated by the work.)

***If you are experiencing an unlisted issue, feel free to ask if Rolfing might be appropriate.

What happens in a Rolfing Session?

I will be looking at restrictions to your bodies ability to move or have comfortable posture. The way we address those restrictions will look a little different for everyone.

 In general though, we start out with diagnostics.  I might ask you to walk or turn your head, so that I can start to get an idea of where you move and what movement patterns you use. 

Next we will probably start to do work on the table.   I work in long, slow, specific strokes.  As I go along, I am locating the muscle, bone, or nerve that is disfunctioning, but I also looking at how your body is organized overall.  I might ask you to move as I work on you, or notice specific sensations, or I might jump from one part of your body to another.  I do all of this in order for your whole posture to change.  

After the table, you will often receive work sitting up or even standing/moving.  This is used to make sure changes in your body are still happening in "real time".

Even though you are an active participant in the Rolfing process, people find it relaxing, relieving, and sometimes quite energizing.  

What does Rolfing feel like?

Often times, the first thing people hear about Rolfing is that it hurts. 50 years ago, Rolfing was much more heavy handed than it is today.  Over the years, Rolfing has refined its approach and found that working in a less painful way actually has better results and avoids putting your nervous system into shock.  

At moments Rolfing can feel like a light burning sensation as long held adhesions in the fascia break free.  But clients generally report feeling a deep release after such sensations pass.

During a session, you will explore sensations throughout your body and notice if change happens there.  Because we don't usually put so much mental focus into the details of our body, sessions can be mentally stimulating and exploratory.

Is Rolfing the same as deep tissue massage?

No.    While both Rolfers and Massage Therapists primarily use our hands, our therapies are quite different experiences.  Obviously there is quite a range of massage therapy techniques, so I'll stick with explaining what Rolfing IS rather than what it ISN"T.  Rolfing looks to change the underlying structure of the body to produce lasting change.  You will be an active participant, giving feedback to your Rolfer and getting on and off the table to assess changes made.  Rolfers look at you and your body.  For that reason, every session is unique to you, like a big jigsaw puzzle that we are piecing back together.

On the same note, I find that receiving both Rolfing and massage at the same time can be great.  My one caution is to spread out sessions a bit so you don't overwhelm your body.  This is especially true if you have any inflammation related issues.

Does it last?

Yes. One of the highlights of the Rolfing series is that it produces lasting change throughout the body. The most effective way to have these results is to consider a Ten Series.

Do I have to do ten sessions?

The Ten Series is the most powerful way I work, but not the only way.  There are natural stopping points in the series that leave you at a safer more balanced state. If you are just curious, trying the first three sessions would be a good idea. If you have a very specific goal or have gone through a Ten-Series in the past, it may be ideal to break out of the series. 

Does it help chronic pain?

Yes, it certainly can. The overall goal of Rolfing is to bring the body back into its natural alignment, allowing tension which commonly shows up as pain to naturally dissipate. 

How long is each session?

On average sessions last 75 minutes.  

What should I wear?

For Women: Underwear and bra or a two-piece swimsuit, loose running shorts, or loose fitting  clothing that can be moved around.

For Men: Briefs boxer briefs,  athletic shorts or loose fitting clothing.

The most important thing is for you to be comfortable. Traditional massage draping is not done in Rolfing, but there are always sheets and blankets available.