How does Rolfing work?

Every muscle fibre, joint and organ is surrounded by a layer of connective tissue (fascia) which holds, separates and supports the various segments of the body. Fascia runs throughout the body in varying degrees of strength and thickness. This structure constantly changes to meet the demands put on it by having to support the body. If an area of fascia is tight or misaligned, the

excess tension may appear as nagging joint pain, muscle soreness or postural shift. Rolfing aims to release these patterns of tension and rebalance the body in ways that produce lasting results. Just as the fascia can thicken, become hard and pull, so it can be relaxed, softened and reintegrated. Rolfing uses direct pressure to melt or release fascial holdings which allows the body to find health through reestablishment of balance.

What is Rolfing good for?

Rolfing is useful for clients of all ages and backgrounds. The primary goal is to reestablish balance and ease of movement in order to resolve chronic pains and discomforts related to causes such as postural habit, trauma, repetitive strain injury, ageing and others. Better mobility and function throughout the body help prevent sports injuries, improve appearanceand give an increased sense of vitality.

The Rolfing Sessions

The hallmark of Rolfing is a series of ten sessions which systematically balance and optimise the body function. As a holistic treatment, it is necessary to balance the whole structure in order to produce lasting changes. Each session works with a different region and goal for the body. The first three sessions work with the more superficial layers of the body. The aim is to begin freeing the breath, establishing good support through the feet, releasing tension in shoulders, ribcage, pelvis and legs. Sessions four to seven work with the core of the body, the deeper structures between the pelvis and the head, in order to find support from within. Sessions eight to ten work to integrate the core and the surface areas to improve co-ordination of movement and posture. While session ten completes the process, the body will continue to integrate the work over the following months and years.
The client can decide during the first few sessions whether or not to continue with the process. The length of time between each session is a personal choice, although it is recommended that there should be between one and four weeks wait between sessions.