Does Rolfing Hurt?
Simply: no. But it is still one of the most heard misconceptions of Rolfing I hear in my practice! Historically, Rolfing had a (often justified) reputation for being extremely painful for clients. Over the last 50+ years Rolfers have learned more about the mechanisms of change and with this knowledge we’ve discovered more, non painful options in which to explore Rolfing—a welcomed change in the community.
In my Rolfing practice, it is never my goal to put clients into pain. It is my priority to find and work with you at your layer of availability—an access point to your nervous system that allows for long lasting change. At this layer of work, your system is challenged enough to stay interested and feels safe enough to integrate change. While I recognize and make space for moments of discomfort throughout a series, I never seek to put you, the client, into pain.
What Do I Wear to My Session?
There is a wide range for what constitutes a “Rolfing uniform.” The most important thing is that you wear something that is comfortable! Examples of Rolfing uniforms include exercise shorts, a sports bra, a t-shirt, tank top, your underwear, etc. Being nude is not an option for a Rolfing session—we’ll have you walking around the room, sitting on the Rolfing bench, and doing varied integrative movement work in addition to soft tissue manual therapy (table work).
Do I Have to Sign Up for a Ten Series?
No, you do not have to sign up for a Ten Series but you may find yourself wanting to for long lasting change.
One Rolfing session may invite:
temporary relief or improved movement for acute pain (example: tight shoulders, low back pain)
a quick tune-up after a stressful experience or travel
a sense of restoration and relaxation
an opening to your interoceptive and proprioceptive sense of self.
Though some clients may experience this type of relief after one session, Rolfing navigates and dialogues with the experience of your whole system. Lasting change is usually unearthed through a series of sessions. Depending on your goals, we will work together to figure out the right amount of sessions for you. To know more about the possible benefits of completing a Ten Series, please see the Rolfing Structural Integration page.
The traditional Rolfing Ten Series is designed to systemically address a client’s whole system. If you are interested in the specifics of what we’ll explore in each session, click here.
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Hope directly!