Improve posture, reduce pain & stubborn tensions, and optimize athletic performance with Rolfing.

What does Rolfing help with?

Integrative Homework

One aspect that makes my approach uniquely effective is the inclusion of homework that helps you integrate the changes from each session. I will include this in most of your sessions, especially if you express a keen interest in taking on this kind of agency in your process. Homework may range from corrective exercises to simple awareness and adjustment of how you move through life. Your awareness and proactivity is what makes the work “stick.”

The Benefits of a Rolfing Ten Series

Ten sessions to align, reset and balance the entire body

If you are new to Rolfing, this is the place to begin. The Ten Series is like a recipe, but each person’s Series is as unique as they are.

INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS

Session 1: First and foremost, the client and practitioner establish mutual trust and communication. Session 1 usually focuses on freeing restrictions in the shoulders, hips, and rib basket and spine. The breath is one of our most important physiological functions. Suboptimal breathing patterns are extremely common and the effects are far-reaching throughout the body and mind. Session 1 begins to offer the client fuller, easier, omni-directional breathing.

Session 2: Modern living has stolen functionality from our feet. This session primarily works from the knees down to tune up the arches, restore function to the ankles and knees, and mobilize the bones of the feet. Tissue restrictions in the muscular compartments of the calves will also be addressed. Session 2 finishes with seated work on the back to connect the support of the feet to the length of the spine.

Session 3: This “lateral line” session looks at the client’s plumb-line - from ear to ankle bone - and sees where there are deviations from the vertical line. This session is excellent for addressing overhead mobility, tight hips and lower back pain. Expansion, freedom and lightness are feelings often reported from session 3.

CORE SESSIONS 

Session 4: Here we begin building the midline from the ground up. We’ll work from the inner arches of the feet up the inner leg to the bottom bones of the pelvis and spine(ramus/ischial tuberosities/tailbone).We’ll also focus on pelvic floor education - the ability to feel, contract and relax these muscles, and how they relate to the breath. This session often helps with balance and alignment in the lower limb/pelvis. We’ll then work on the back to connect the support of the legs to the spine.

Session 5: The Psoas Session! Work is usually on the front of the legs and pelvis up to the front side of the lower spine where the iliopsoas muscles live. This will be integrated with mobility in the thoracic spine. Old patterning around poor posture and inefficient walking can be addressed and replaced with something new and uplifted. Because of its placement deep within the core of the body, the psoas is sometimes linked to stored trauma/emotions and we’ll safely work through whatever comes up for you.

Session 6: The Deep Back Line. Here is where we address the fascial relationships of the soles of the feet, calves, hamstrings, sacrum, and spine. Getting the back line long, free and awake may make this one a fan favorite.

Session 7: “Putting the head on top” We have worked up the midline from the ground, up the front and back of the spine, and now we need to balance that heavy noggin on top. The body is now ready to integrate a fully aligned posture from head to toe. This session is particularly excellent for jaw and neck issues and “head forward” posture.

INTEGRATION SESSIONS

Sessions 8 & 9: These sessions focus on larger, more complex relationships across multiple joints. Highly individualized, these are the “jazz improv” of the Series which seek to establish integration of the new pattern as graceful movement that creates length throughout the entire body.

Session 10: Traditionally, this is a whole body, energetic session that looks to leave the client feeling light and balanced. At this point, the mind may be comfortable inhabiting those previously shadowed parts of our physical body. Ida Rolf used the term “Uniform Brilliance” to describe the energetic field that a body exudes after its Tenth session. This is also a time to decide if we’ll be wrapping up our work together or if more sessions are needed/desired.