Evolve with Rolfing

Although each client's experience of Rolfing is unique, the most common outcomes are;

When a person's structure is unbalanced and gravity is pulling them down, conscious muscular effort is required for that person to hold 'good posture'. As the various segments of the body realign with the Rolfing process, maintaining good posture becomes effortless and unconscious.

Shortening and binding in the fascial planes that cross joints will result in their compression and subsequent loss of mobility. In addition, unaligned body segments will result in inappropriate articulation of the joint surfaces, further contributing to awkwardness in motion. The Rolfing process decompresses binding across joints and reinstates appropriate relationship of the articulating surfaces. The result is experienced as pleasure and grace in movement.

"In a balanced body, when flexors flex, extensors extend" Ida Rolf

In other words, when a muscle contracts, its opposing muscle, or antagonist, should be free to lengthen. Chronic shortening and binding across the fascial wrappings will prevent this phenomenon occurring. This will manifest in the body as inflexibility, discouraging movement, leading to further shortening and binding as the cycle perpetuates.

"Although relief from muscular discomfort is not the primary focus of the Rolfing process, almost without exception it presents as a secondary benefit. As the Rolfing process removes strain from the fascial network and structural alignment improves, many clients find long lasting relief from chronic aches and pains.

As an unbalanced body succumbs to the pull of gravity, excessive energy will be utilised by the body's owner as they struggle against this force to maintain good posture. After Rolfing, this excess energy is often experienced as greater vitality and alertness.

Before/after photos courtesy of The Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration