Rolfing® Structural Ingratiation

Rolfing is a form of therapeutic bodywork that releases and balances unhealthy lines of tension and stress trapped in the body’s connective tissue. This tissue, also known as fascia, surrounds, supports, and penetrates muscles, bones, nerves, and organs.

Having these lines of tension addressed improves posture and alignment. Moving more easily with increased balance and body awareness are other common benefits. The body-refinement gained through Rolfing strengthens one’s natural integrity and promotes health and well-being.

For many, experiencing this higher level of well being allows them to express more of who they truly are. It is this combination of tissue release, alignment, ease of movement, and the possibility for personal growth that makes Rolfing so unique and transformative.

If you are dealing with a chronic complaint or simply curious, know that you are a candidate for Rolfing.

People see me for:

• Neck and back pain
• Traumatic injury sustained during car accidents or falls
• Stress reduction
• Posture concerns
• Alignment issues
• Joint discomfort
• Energetic unease

Others come to:

• Integrate major life events
• Clear energetic blocks
• Move with more ease
• Enhance body awareness
• Be more comfortable in their own skin
• Deepen mind, body, and spirit connection
• Increase energy levels
• Feel younger
• Improve self-confidence
• Improve coordination and balance

Throughout a session, the contact can range anywhere from very light to comfortably deep. My training allows me to combine Rolfing’s unique combination of depth, speed, and pressure to contact the different layers and structures of a body with great exactness. Most people find the work to be relaxing and enjoyable. At times, you may feel intense sensations, but I am careful to ensure that we stay within your personal comfort zone. When the contact is uncomfortable, the work becomes much less effective. After a session, it’s not surprising to hear people say they feel “lighter,” “more spacious,” “taller,” and “can breathe deeper” or “move more easily.”

When stress or trauma manifests in the body, connective tissue may become increasingly solid, rigid and sore or hold onto non-optimal experiences. These internal constrictions and lines of tension can restrict joint and spine range of motion, thereby causing pain.

Rolfing works by comfortably “melting” tight or constricted areas of the body’s soft tissue. This internal release generally results in increased freedom of movement and enhanced range of motion. And although every individual has a unique experience, it is very common to feel relief from pain and tension, move more easily with greater flexibility, and have an enhanced sense of feeling “at home” in your body.

The Ten Series is a ten session recipe or protocol that systematically eases connective tissue strain in a balanced and holistic manor. Every session has its own theme and goals, and upon completion, the entire body had been carefully addressed. Changes can be felt in posture, movement, emotion, and in relationship to self and other. The work supports physical and emotional health, life transitions and personal development. (Some people receive the first three sessions to gain an understanding of how their bodies respond to the work before committing to an entire series).

I also offer a Thirteen Series in which three Cranial Sacral and SourcePoint based session are incorporated into a Ten Series. These gentle sessions help the nervous system absorb or integrate changes the body is making and typically deepen a client’s Rolfing experience. Please be sure to ask me more about this during our first meeting or phone conversation.

How the Ten Series progresses:

Sessions 1-3: These initial treatments strive to enhance the quality of breath, give the body a stable foundation from which to stand and walk on, and start to consider how the body’s major segments (hips, shoulder girdle, head) are aligned and move in relation to one another.

Sessions 4-7: The main focus is the core, or, the internal components that support the body much like a frame supports a house. Structures like the spine, back, legs, neck, and hips are addressed while considering how the body holds itself up and moves.

Sessions 8-10: Here, advancements made in the previous sessions, and ones still to come, are integrated in such a way that allows for smooth, natural coordination and movement. To facilitate this, I may ask a client to perform subtle movements in coordination with the Rolfing strokes. The resulting combination educates the nervous system and helps a person to better “own” and understand the transformations made during the series.

Yes! Please come in. You do not have to do a Ten Series.

When the goal is to alleviate a complaint, I ask all my clients to consider three sessions, spaced a week or two apart. Three sessions gives me the chance to begin to address how the entire body is working in relation to the pain or discomfort. However, I realize that the experience of the first session will inform the decision to re-schedule so I don’t expect anyone to schedule more than one session at a time. After three sessions, we can discuss if and how much more work may be appropriate.

The Advanced Series consists of three to five sessions that are designed for people who have completed a Ten Series. Advanced Series are an excellent time to revisit past goals, create and address new ones, and enrich the advancements made during previous Rolfing appointments. It allows for recently accumulated stress or injury to be addressed, and holds the potential for a deeper and more profound level of transformation and change.

It is best to wait at least three months between the conclusion of a Ten Series and the start of an Advanced Series.