Frequently Asked Questions About Rolfing:

How did Rolfing get its name?
What is Rolfing?
What is Fascia, Myofacial tissue?
What does the Rolfer do?
Who Benefits from Rolfing?
Why do people get Rolfed?
What are some specific reasons (symptoms) people choose Rolfing?
Is Rolfing painful and what is it like to get Rolfed?
How is Rolfing different from Massage, Chiropractic, and Physical Therapy?
How much does Rolfing Cost?
Will Insurance pay for Rolfing?
What do I wear in a Rolfing Session?
Will I continue to feel good after I've finished my Rolfing series?
Do I have to keep coming back for more sessions?
Is it a good idea to receive treatment from more than one type of healing modality?

Rolfing is named after the creator Dr. Ida P. Rolf.

After earning her Ph.D. in biochemistry and physiology from Columbia University in 1920, Dr. Rolf (1896-1979) worked in the chemotherapy and organic chemistry departments at Rockefeller Institute.

Her interest in family health problems led her to the idea of Structural Integration, now called Rolfing.

Dr. Rolf’s pursuit of optimal health and human evolution led her to investigate the effects of structure on function and the role gravity played. Some of her early experiences with working with the body came from an Osteopath Doctor. In addition to teaching Rolfing worldwide for more than four decades, she established The Rolf Institute in Boulder, Colorado in 1972. Rolfing is now taught internationally.

Rolfing is Structural Integration. Rolfing puts your body back together.

Rolfing is a highly intelligent system of deep tissue bodywork. It is a system of myofacial (connective tissue) manipulation that allows the body to align itself so it is vertical in the field of gravity. The process organizes and balances the whole person by softening and lengthening the brittle and contracted tissue that has been made less flexible and tight by age, accidents, surgery or psychological trauma. The goal of the work is structural change, which in turn changes one’s. Rolfing, Structural Integration, puts the body back into functional shape.

Gravity is the primary principle of Rolfing. To illustrate this let’s use the following analogy: If you were to take a brand-new spring and put a kink in it and then push down on it the force of your push will send the spring sideways. However, if you take this brand-new spring with no kink in it and apply the same force, you will receive a wonderful resonance back and the spring will remain upright and strong.

Fascia is the connective tissue of the body.

As flour is the main ingredient that makes up and holds together bread, fascia is the primary material that makes up and holds the body together. It makes up the blood and the bone of our body and all the densities in-between.

Fascia is a four-dimensional web-like elastic tissue that gives our bodies shape. It surrounds and permeates muscles, bones, organs and blood vessels. When healthy, it is pliable and slippery. This allows the tissues to slide easily when we move. When fascia thickens or hardens it puts tension on joints and other muscles that leads to compensation, imbalance and less freedom in movement.

Rolfers logically and sequentially move fascia (connective tissue).

The Rolfer performs two major functions:

One is to physically, manually, and tactfully soften, and move hardened fascia, connective tissue. This technique is called myofacial release. The Rolfer, in a 10-session recipe, uses the hands and elbows to order, manipulate and soften the hardened and stuck facial areas. Each session has a different focus and addresses the whole body from the ground up. The purpose is to soften the old inhibited habitual patterns of the body and introduce the client to a new order that creates better posture and ease of movement.

The other major function a Rolfer performs is to educate the client about proper body use. This is movement education is called Rolfing Movement. This can include re-learning how to sit, stand, walk, run and do daily activities / exercise in new, more efficient and less destructive ways.

People of all walks of life benefit from Rolfing:

Athletes, Rock Climbers, Weightlifters, Bodybuilders, Runners, Bikers, Swimmers, Dancers, and Musicians seek Rolfing to recover from injuries and to improve performance.

Receptionists, Secretaries, Business people, Engineers, Scientists, Carpenters, Plumbers, Mechanics, Body workers, and Artists, who perform repetitive tasks or motions such as answering phones, computer work, desk work, physical labor, assembling parts, and creating fine-art find relief from chronic pain.

Women after giving birth.

People who enjoy such activates such as Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi.

Men, Women, Children, & Seniors.

Horses and such pets as cats and dogs!

People get Rolfed for one of five major reasons:

To rid themselves of chronic pain.

To improve flexibility, performance, posture, and alignment.

To recover from an injury or accident, known as rehabilitation.

To release physical or emotional trauma that is stuck or being held in the body.

To deepen the awareness in their body, life and to strengthen the body/mind connection.

People choose Rolfing because they are ready to heal, transform, or create ease in their body / life.

These are people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired of pain and discomfort in their body/life. They are also people who are just very curious.

As you read this list imagine what the results would be if your were to squeeze or compact a hollow tube or spring:

Pinched nerves cover a wide spectrum of symptoms such as Whiplash, Temporal Mandible Joint Syndrome (TMJ), Carpal Tunnel, Tendonitis, Thoracic-outlet syndrome, Low back pain, Migraines and chronic Headaches.

Aches and pains in the joints such as in the head, neck, shoulders, elbows, spine, hips, knees, ankles and feet.

People also come in for better posture in their rounded shoulders, Scoliosis and for emotional concerns such as Depression.

Others may come in for such things as Osteoarthritis or a Sinus blockage.

Rolfers work with you to stay within your comfort zone.

The experiences of being Rolfed (releasing unwanted stuck facial tissue - myofacial release) are sensations that range from a pleasurable warmth to momentary discomfort, like a burning, biting or tingling sensation.

It is often described as a "good pain" and is felt as a release. The sensation only lasts while the tightened tissue is being released. Afterwards, you feel warmth, length, and lighter, as well as balance and stability.

Let’s use the analogy of going to a potluck. At this potluck you will experience a wide a variety of tastes including ones that are indescribable. In Rolfing it is the same. There will be sensations that range from hot and sharp to warm, relieving and indescribable.

Rolfing is a highly interactive process. The Rolfer is trained to work with you to stay within your comfort level. As the client you will be asked to bringing focus and breath into the area being worked on. In addition, you will be asked to make synchronized movements while the Rolfer is applying pressure. This helps bring about the necessary releases of the held fascia (connective tissue) in a synchronistic manner.

Rolfing works with fascia (connective tissue) and principles of gravity.

In a general sense, the goal of Massage is to relieve tension and to create relaxation while the goal of Rolfing is to create permanent structural change. Massage primarily addresses muscles while Rolfing works to release the tension held in the fascia web (connective tissue web) of the body. Rolfing also considers and addresses how the effect of gravity pulls the body down and out of alignment.

Chiropractors adjust the bones and joints of the body, especially in the spine, to create lasting change. Rolfers move the stuck fascia (connective tissue) of the body to create lasting change.

This includes tendons, ligaments, septums, aponeurosis, facial sheaths, and muscles. Rolfing aims to move stuck tissue in order to correct the sources of tension.

In general, Physical Therapists free the part of the body that is immobile (not moving or functioning well), making it mobile again, while Rolfing releases the holding patterns in the entire body and treats the body as a whole integrated system. Rolfing is a holistic approach: top to bottom, back and front, inside and out, body, mind, spirit.

A Rolfing session will last from 1 to 1 ½ hours long and range from $80 to $125 per session. Factors affecting rates include geography and experience.

For automobile accidents, in most cases the answer is yes.

At this time it is unusual and difficult for major insurance companies to cover Rolfing directly.

However, there are a couple of ways to potentially get coverage:

One is if you have been in an auto accident. In this case most insurance companies will cover a wide variety of treatments including Rolfing for a decent length of time.

Two, in some cases a Chiropractor or a physician is willing to write a prescription for Rolfing. In the insurance language Rolfing is labeled Structural Integration or Myofacial Release.

You can wear underclothes or a bathing suit.

Women: underwear and a bra. A two-piece bathing suit or jogging apparel.

Men: Boxers or briefs are fine.

Yes, the changes from Rolfing not only last, they last a lifetime, and they are progressive.

Giving Rolfing a timeout is like letting a fine wine become finer and more refined. During this interim period your body has a chance to integrate the new changes into your everyday life.

This is up to you.

It is usually determined by the degree of work that has to be accomplished (severity of your case), and how well you body responds to the treatments, and how motivated / interested you are to change on a scale from a-little to a-lot. Classically a client waits 4 to 6 months to a year before receiving more Rolfing sessions. After this time many people want refresher sessions (usually 3 to five) or "tuneup" every 6 months to a year. Tune-ups help you adjust to the changes and to get deeper into areas that were not accessible during the ten session series.

The work only gets better and better, as your body becomes more and more refined.

Yes, this is called multi-tasking. You can optimize your healing through multitasking.

Multitasking is a healing strategy where you address your problem from more than one angle and use more than one healing modality. It is also about education. Through working with others you will discover what treatments /modalities work best for you and what it means to heal.

Simply, multi-tasking is a powerful method to heal / recover / rejuvenate. It is like keeping all aspects your car in good shape for smooth and long lasting performance. And the same is true for you when all of your systems are running smoothly, efficiently.

Rolfing, like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, is an important piece in your health care plan. As with any form of treatment Rolfing is not considered a be-all end-all treatment. Your Rolfer will be happy to discuss other forms of complementary treatment with you.

Consider the vast varieties of modalities that are available (examples given in each group are a very small sample).

Western Medicine such as Osteopathy, Physical Therapy, Naturopathy, Biofeedback, or an M.D.

Constitutional Medicine such as Ayurvedic Medicine, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, or Chinese Med.

Nutrition such as Ayurvedic or Western Nutrition, or an Herbalist.

Bodywork such as Rolfing, Chiropractic, or Massage.

Energetic Bodywork such as Polarity or Cranial Sacral.

Movement Therapies such as Rolfing Movement, Yoga, Pilates, Marshal-Arts or a Personal Trainer.

Psychotherapy such as Traditional, Jungian, or Body-mind (Body Center) Therapy.

Personal Development Programs such as motivational seminars or Landmark Education.

Spirituality such as Prayer, visiting a Pastor, Rabbi, or learning how to Meditate.

Energy and System Readers such as a Psychic, Medical Intuitive, or Astrologer.

Music / Sound Healing Sound therapies.

New Diets, Supplements, and Devices such as Magnets.

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