I hope you find this site informative as to the merits of Rolfing© or Structural Integration.

 

Rolfing© or Structural Integration is a systemized form of manual manipulation of the body's soft tissue (fascia).  This gives length to the body, therefore providing space in which its internal structures (a core), can organize and upon which the extremities can move freely.

The Basic Ten Series

The Basic Ten Series consists of ten sessions, each one building on the last.  Each session lasts approximately one hour and can be scheduled anywhere from once a week to once a month.  During a typical session, a client lies on the table, while I proceed with the fascial work.  Applying pressure to the myofascial tissue, I use my hands, arms and sometimes elbows to carefully move the tissue.  The relationship between the tissue, the rhythms of respiration, nervous system responses, and organization in gravity are all part of the work.  Clients are participants, often being asked to breathe into the area being worked on, to make small movements through the joint, and to discuss patterns of movement and the use of gravity through that movement.

 

 

With this approach, the body will be worked on layer by layer to restore dense fascia to its original gel-like state.  Starting with surface layers and working to the deeper layers, the fascial web is freed so that the muscles can function independently while using fascia as a lubricant.

Most bodies have a history of some sort of trauma, whether from childhood or later in life.  Sometimes the trauma has not been identified as a major problem but creates dense fascial tissue that later makes the body vulnerable to injury and compromised function.  In this situation structural integration clears out the old injury and allows repatterning of old movement habits.  Also, when the fascia is dense, it will compress the joints because bands of fascia surround all of them.  By loosening the fascia, this can be avoided.

Yes.  Photographs taken of clients years after the Basic Ten Series show that changes were still present and structure often improved.  Keep in mind however, as life changes, bodies change in response.  All injuries, accidents, lengthy illnesses and emotional stress may necessitate additional work.

 

There is Post Ten or Advanced Work once the Basic Ten Series is completed.  Clients may return for more advanced work, dealing again with balance, movement and awareness.