WHAT IS ROLFING?

THE LAW OF GRAVITY If you can imagine how it feels to have a fluid, light, balanced body, free of pain, stiffness and chronic stress, at ease with itself and the earth's gravitational field, then you understand the goals of Structural Integration" — Dr. Ida Rolf

Rolfing is a system of bodywork which utilizes connective tissue (fascial) manipulation and movement education to integrate the human structure. It is the product of 50 years of practice and study by Dr. Ida P. Rolf, and is based on the premise that the body is “plastic” or changeable. This quality of plasticity enables the human body to be anatomically ordered, thus lengthened and centered along its vertical axis.

The relationship between various body segments can be impaired through both physical and emotional injury. When this happens the rest of your body must compensate to maintain balance. The job of a rolfer is to disengage restrictions between fascial layers, allow the muscles to return to a more balanced relationship, and help your body to release compensations. This is accomplished by systematically organizing the body’s connective tissue network. This connective tissue network of ligaments, tendons and coverings of the bones, muscles, and organs is called the myofascial system. Fascia is the “organ of structure” in your body. It supports the skeleton and soft tissues, stabilizes the position of the bones, determines how you move, and gives the body its shape.

Rolfing’s basic premise is that by changing the structure of the body, the functioning of the entire human being is enhanced. By gently rebalancing, realigning, and reshaping the body, unresolved chronic pain can be relieved or eliminated, posture is improved, flexibility is increased and there is an overall sense of well being.