What to Expect in a Rolfing Session
If you’ve never experienced Rolfing before, it’s natural to be curious about how it’s done and what the etiquette might be.
As a Rolfer, I am trained to listen to your body’s nervous system and your needs throughout the process. This involves verbal communication, so I may ask you to perform a specific movement, or I may ask you to be aware of a certain sensation and to provide feedback.
Sessions are 75 minutes long. For approximately 60 minutes you can expect to be lying on the table. To assess balance, alignment, mobility and movement patterns, we will spend a few minutes before and after the treatment evaluating your alignment and structure. Clients usually wear underwear during sessions to enable clear observation. However, gym attire is acceptable if it makes you feel more comfortable.
Rolfing involves applying pressure to the body to encourage release of tension from the connective tissue. The pressure I apply to different areas of your body will vary, but it should never hurt. You will likely experience a variety of sensations during your session, ranging from warm and pleasant to intense. I will apply appropriate pressure during the session based on what your body needs at the time and your feedback. In that way, the pace of the session is under your control.
As tissue is released and balanced, you may experience the release of emotions, memories or traumas that have been stored in the fascia. Such releases can create the opportunity for change and resolution surrounding the issues that surface.
Typically, Rolfing is done in a series of ten sessions (called the Ten Series) to systematically release the restrictions in the tissue.
