Professionals
Chiro Products
Seminars
Philadelphia PA
Springfield IL
Norfolk VA
Pittsburgh PA
Long Island NY
Detroit MI
Phoenix AZ
Nashville TN
Charlotte NC
Join Directory
SOAP Notes
Certificates
Massage Schools
|
 |
Rolfing Frequently Asked Questions
1. What
is Rolfing?
2. How does Rolfing work?
3. What will happen in my first session?
4. Is a Rolfing session painful?
5. Does Rolfing also provide an emotional release?
1. What is Rolfing?
This seemingly simple question is actually one of the most difficult, so let's
tackle it first. This is what Rolfing is not: 1) a very painful deep massage; 2)
all about pain and catharsis; 3) the brutal invasive procedure satirically
portrayed the 1979 Burt Reynolds film, Semi-Tough and the more recent film, Safe
Guys (1998). Rather, Rolfing is a theory about how bodies are put together, a
uniquely personal experience which involves balancing the body and altering its
relationship in the gravitational field. Structural Integration, Ida's original
term for Rolfing, involves manipulation of the connective tissue network, a
vibrant mutable communication system which can be reshaped through touch and
movement. Once this task has been accomplished, clients experience a type of
euphoria, an "incredible lightness of being," less pain and a new
appreciation and awareness of their bodies. For me, Rolfing is not just a
sequence of manipulation techniques, it is a philosophy, and, like the Socratic
method as explained by John Housemann in the film, The Paper Chase, a series of
questions, each of which leads to greater understanding and inevitably to other
questions. Each session provides new insights and brings the body closer to
equipose. At the same time, new possibilities and deeper patterns emerge,
suggesting themes for future sessions. My job is to read the body's messages,
reorient harmful patterns and suggest to the system new ways of self-expression
and integration. For me, Rolfing requires a unique blend of sophisticated
technical knowledge and intuition. It is precisely this synthesis that makes the
work so interesting and yet so difficult to describe in a meaningful way. It
simply must be experienced to be appreciated.
[top
of page]
2. How does Rolfing work?
Here is another tough question. When I asked Tom Myers, the former head of the
anatomy faculty at the Rolf Institute this question, his reply mirrored Rolf's
familiar explanation. It went something like this! By better balancing the body,
front to back, side to side, and inside to outside (particularly inside to
outside), Rolfers alter the body's relationship to the gravitational field,
promoting a more harmonious structure which interacts with greater ease in the
gravitational field. This is accomplished by manipulating connective tissue,
fascial layers and muscular structures in a carefully orchestrated manner to
correct imbalances which, if left uncorrected, will increasingly randomize the
body, creating greater levels of strain and discomfort, further restricting
movement. Exactly how this is accomplished is a matter of considerable debate
among Rolfers. The traditional view is called the gel-sol-gel theory or
thixotropic effect. You can find a good discussion of this topic in Dean Juhan's
Job's Body. According to this theory, external pressure (touch) warms and
loosens connective tissue turning it from a gel to a more liquid state (sol).
When in this state, the tissue can be more easily manipulated. After the
pressure is removed, the connective tissue cools and returns to the gel state,
but in an altered relationship to surrounding fascial layers and myofascial
structures. Many Rolfers question the viability of this theory, preferring the
neurological model which links changes in the fascial net to neurological
impulses in stretch receptors in the muscles. The chief proponent of this
theory, Robert Schleip, has written several interesting articles on his ideas.
Although the debate continues, there seems to be much merit for both views. For
an interesting summary of this controversy and some recent work on the nature of
connective tissue, I highly recommend Liz Gaggini's recent article in the
Connective Tissue issue of Rolf Lines and Peter Levine's open letter (January
1999) in Rolf Forum on his role in the gel-sol controversy.
[top
of page]
3. What will happen in my first Rolfing session?
In the first session, which often lasts two hours, we will talk about your
medical history, accidents, surgeries, injuries and how these have impacted you
in every day life. We will also discuss what your specific goals are for the
series. I like to help the client come up with a "wish list" of things
she or he would like to see happen when we are done. Formulating this list helps
me stay on track and suggests ways that I might adapt the series to a client's
specific needs. We will then, with your permission, take a set of photos. They
allow us to better evaluate strain patterns in your body. We will review these
photos at the end of the first session. At the completion of the series, we will
take another set of photos and compare them with the first set. This comparison
provides a concrete record of your progress in the series. Both sets will be
given to you when you complete your series. We will also have you stand and walk
around the room so I can observe how your body interacts with gravity. I will
share my insights with you and ask you questions about how you experience your
body. We will then do some work, focusing on your ribs, upper legs, head, neck
and spine. You will be asked to stand up during and at the end of the session
and describe any differences you might feel. We will then discuss specific
exercises or images you should play with during the week to reinforce what we
have done.
[top of page]
4. I have heard that Rolfing is extremely painful, how worried should I be about
this?
This is a real "hot button" for Rolfers. One of the major obstacles we
Rolfers encounter is the proliferation of horror stories out there about how
painful the work can be. I have heard health care professionals actually say
things like: "I am interested in Rolfing, but, frankly, I'm scared to death
of it. I've heard you tear muscle away from the bone." My reply to remarks
like this run along the lines of: "I must have missed that day of
class." This distorted perception is an anachronistic notion which evolved
in the 1960s and 70s. At that time, the work tended to be very aggressive and
intense. One likely reason for this is that Ida was reported to have told her
students to go deeper. This they interpreted as meaning, work harder. Actually,
it is more likely that her intention was for the students to work on deeper
layers of tissue not necessarily to apply greater force. It's clear to me that
deeper does not mean harder!!
Over the past 30 years, Rolfers have learned that bodies often change more
effectively with less pressure. We now use a wider range of more subtle
techniques which allow the body to change at a more appropriate rate. However,
when Rolfers work in areas where the tissue is particularly resistant for
physical or emotional reasons, you can expect some transitory discomfort. For
most individuals, the work I do in these areas is experienced as appropriate and
very manageable. The thing to remember is that the client is in control of
everything that happens in the session and that her or his ability to provide
honest feedback about the intensity of the work is critical at all stages of the
session. Another thing to understand is that releasing deeply held physical
trauma in heavily muscled bodies will certainly prove challenging for the
client. This issue is always discussed, particularly when dealing with
long-standing serious chronic injury.
An Ida koan (or mantra, in part, if you prefer) that I repeat during sessions
is: "If it ain't moving, get out!" By this she meant, that resistant
areas may not release when we first touch them. Digging away like a drill press
on resistant tissue may prove more harmful than useful. Rather, when this
occurs, I move to another area, easing often distantly related structures and
later, when it seems appropriate, I return to the resistant area. Without
failure, subsequent exploration of a highly charged area seems much easier, as
is proven by the frequent remark from clients that I am certainly working a lot
easier than I was initially. In fact, I am often able to work deeper than
before.
[top of page]
5. I have heard a lot about Rolfing causing big emotional releases, is that
true? Will it happen to me?
There is clearly a connection between psyche and soma (mind and body). Every
memory is stored not only in the brain and nervous system but also in the
connective tissue. These memories are often associated with biochemical and
electromagnetic alterations in the tissue at a cellular level. Accessing the
traumatized region can release memories and elicit strong sensations both
positive and negative. On rare occasion, these memories are quite powerful and
can cause perceptible emotional and physical reactions. When this happens, there
are simple techniques I use to help my client's body decompress.
My attitude towards activating and releasing trauma may be expressed by the
phrase "titrating the trauma". By that I mean that, when trauma is
released, it should be in a gentle manner, eliciting a series of mild sensations
over a period of a few days rather than a single powerful physiological response
while my client is on the table. Some systems are much more susceptible and
fragile than others and sensitivity to the client's emotional resiliency is
critical to avoid compromising the client's emotional integrity during the
Rolfing series.
I have never seen a client who specifically stated that he or she was afraid of
having a major release during a Rolfing session experience such a release during
a session. This process is nothing to be anxious about and if you truly do not
wish it to occur, you will surely prevent it. Also, understand that failure to
have such a release should in no way suggest that you somehow failed to work
hard enough during the series to "face your demons". This is patent
nonsense. Quite frankly, for most clients such a catharsis is not only
inappropriate but may actually prove injurious.
[top of page]
Rolfing FAQ's
were provided courtesy of Ray Bishop, Ph.D. and IdaRolfsBrahms.com.
|
|
|
 Quote of
the Day
"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." Confucius
 LifeHabits
Newsletter Sign
up to receive "LifeHabits" a free monthly e-newsletter for BodyZone.com members.
Referral Directory Listings
Visitors are logging on to BodyZone looking for a professional in your area. Listings are easy to submit, what are you waiting for? Submit your information to our nationwide directory!
Stress
and Aging
Our
bodies were designed for short-term stress responses. The longer the stress
response, the greater the risk to our health.
Balance
and Exercise
Just as we exercise a muscle to strengthen it, we
can strengthen our sense of balance.
Don't
Sit So Much!
Did you exercise today? There is one truth for
everyone with a body, man or woman, "Use it or lose it."
You
Are What You Eat
Getting the nutrients you need makes a difference
in how you feel now, and how your body wears for tomorrow.
|
|
