Guide to Rolfing

If you have poor posture or are in chronic pain, you may have heard of the benefits of Rolfing massage. Also known as Structural Integration, Rolfing is a massage technique that serves to realign the muscles, skeletal structure and flow of energy through the body.

Origins of Rolfing
Rolfing therapy was developed by Dr. Ida Rolf who was interested in holistic methods of healing the body and an avid yoga and chiropractic enthusiast. She was intrigued by the idea that the individual parts of the body needed to work together as it was originally intended, and she came to believe that proper alignment was essential for optimal health.

While she saw the benefits of yoga (because the stretching, strengthening and lengthening resulting from the postures were so beneficial for her patients) and the benefits of chiropractic work, she was repeatedly drawn to the benefits of deep tissue massage. Frustrated by the short term results of many types of massage, Dr. Rolf experimented with different massage techniques until she came up with what is now referred to as Rolfing. Dr. Rolf established the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, which has continued to explore the possibilities initiated by Dr. Rolf's teachings.

Rolfing Basics
What makes Rolfing different from other forms of massage is the fact that the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body is done in such a way as to promote the realigning of bone and muscle so that it promotes better posture in relation to the effects of gravity on the body.

Rolfing involves both the manipulation of the deeper muscle tissues and the soft tissue, resulting in both immediate tension relief and long term realignment. Dr. Rolf believed the body must be both taken apart and put back together-meaning the massage technique must both release the tension and tightness of the muscle tissue, then realign the muscles in the proper manner. Proper posture, walking and sitting techniques are taught to the patients, since self-care is as important in Rolfing as is the actual massage session.

Rolfing works because the casings that enclose all muscles (called fascia) are manipulated and stimulated so that the nervous system knows to release tension, allowing the muscles to be manipulated back into alignment. It is believed that this manipulation resets the muscles, allowing the muscles to respond as intended to stimuli after the Rolfing session. 

As a result, you will feel more relaxed, aligned and in balance when you leave a Rolfing massage session. Many people also report feeling more emotionally balanced as well. Dr. Rolf believed that any time you touch the body, you also nurture the emotional side of a person, which is why she believed Rolfing had benefits beyond the physical.

Rolfing is believed to also release energy forces inside the body (which are related to proper alignment and gravity), instigating healing, and placing Rolfing in the energy healing field as well as the field of massage.

Benefits of Rolfing
Most people seek Rolfing therapy because they are in chronic pain, have postural problems or want to counteract the effects of aging on the spine. Rolfing is touted to also promote a feeling of well-being and calm, and to help with basic bodily functions.

After completing the ten session Rolfing series, you should stand up straighter, have better posture, know more about how to keep your body aligned properly and have reduced pain and tension. If you have suffered from a chronic pain condition, you should experience less pain and more relief. You should also have an improved self of well-being and feel more capable of handling stressful events, both physically and emotionally.

The Ten Sessions in the Rolfing Series
Rolfing is not a one time event like a typical massage might be. If you decide to try Rolfing, you'll sign up for ten sessions, which progress through a predictable pattern. The sessions work on specific muscle groups, loosening and realigning the muscles in such a way that the skeletal system is brought into proper alignment.

The work is deep tissue work, so it can be quite painful, though the degree of pain or discomfort varies according to how extensive the work needs to be and how aligned or unaligned your body is. Each session is tailored to meet your individual needs. The sessions build upon one another and are not recommended alone. The practice depends on the integration of the process in order to produce the best posture and alignment results.

What Do Rolfing Skeptics Say?
Skeptics say Rolfing is not energy work, but is just one more method of massage-and a painful method, at that. Critics claim Rolfing does not provide any additional benefits beyond those of typical deep tissue massage, but many proponents swear the emotional and physical benefits of the treatments are worth the possible discomfort.