WHAT IS ROLFING®??
“Gravity is the therapist.”
— Dr. Ida P. Rolf
Rolfing® Structural Integration is a form of wholistic, manual therapy that aims to organize and balance the body by manipulation of the fascia. Fascia is an interconnected web of connective tissue. The connective tissues surround and support all the muscles, bones, nerves and organs. Rolfing® Structural Integration targets this web-like complex of connective tissues to release, realign, and balance the body within the field of gravity. Rolfers™ view the body as being a network of seamless tissues, rather than a collection of separate parts.
We live and operate within the field of gravity. We can see the effects that gravity has on buildings, for instance. Over time, gravity begins to pull the building downward. It is much the same with our bodies, our human structures. Dr. Rolf recognized that, while we were not powerful enough to change the gravitational force of the earth, maybe we could aim to organize the body to have a healthier relationship WITH gravity.
In the 1940’s, Dr. Ida P. Rolf began creating the 10-Series of Rolfing®, also known as “The Recipe.” The 10-Series is an educational process that takes place over ten sessions. During each session, we invite change into the body by manipulating the connective tissues (fascia). Each session has a specific goal and targets a specific region of the body. Between sessions, the body integrates the change. So, the time between sessions is just as important as the session itself. It is recommended to allow one to three weeks between sessions, as this gives the body adequate time to integrate the changes. Essentially, this process allows the body to regain the natural integrity of its form and creates space for the body to heal itself.
THE 10-SERIES
Sessions 1-3 are known as the “superficial” sessions. These “Sleeve Sessions” target the superficial wrappings of fascia that surround the body.
Session 1: Breath and the Ribcage
Session 2: Support through the Feet
Session 3: Length up the Sides
Sessions 4-7 target the deeper structures in the body that influence the spine. These “Core Sessions” affect the deep structures that support the spine and determine the midline of the body.
Session 4: Opening the Bottom of the Core
Session 5: Continuing through the Pelvis
Session 6: Giving Space to the Sacrum
Session 7: How the Head Balances It All
Sessions 8-10 are “Integrative Sessions,” bringing the whole body into a functional, balanced being. A Rolfer™ doesn’t just work with connective tissue; we work with the nervous system, rhythms of respiration, and other responses of the body.
Session 8: Integration Begins
Session 9: Integration Across the Body
Session 10: Balance the Horizontals