So many people have tried massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, even yoga and Pilates to address their physical issues with varied results. Many clients ask me if any of the above would be good for them. My answer is often- it depends on the practitioner. I believe all of these disciplines can have great results, and can positively contribute to a better quality of life, but there is something that is a key difference between Rolfing and all these other approaches, Rolfing ultimately focuses on transformation to a higher degree of order in the individual's structure, and does not really focus on maintenance, pain management, or even fitness, it works with the intelligence of the body.
With every other discipline mentioned above, it is generally expected that you will pursue it regularly and often indefinitely, and many times when you stop getting adjustments or doing your PT exercises, the problems come back. Rolfing is different, at least when doing series work, we try to help an individual reach a state where their body can maintain balance, and generally they should be good to go after that. As nothing in the world is permanent, how is this possible? The body, including the nervous system, is a self correcting organism. We are constantly being broken down and reconstructed on a micro and macro level, and the organism strives for balance, it has its own intelligence. Disorder can be perpetuated for a variety of reasons, stress, repetitive strain, injury, disease, but order can also be perpetuated if balance is restored.
The Rolfer seeks to establish a greater ease of finding balance by improving posture and movement. This is done through myofascial (muscle and connective tissue) manipulation and movement exploration. At first we seek to differentiate soft tissue that is glued together, to get more independence of movement. We work to build support for the changes being made so that these changes are more likely to be retained. Neck and shoulder issues can not really be addressed meaningfully before support from below is established. We consider how the individual functions in gravity, sitting, and in movement. When more independence of movement is gained, and the individual's posture is more aligned with gravity, a greater sense of ease is gained. One no longer has to try so hard to stand up straight, and problems can sort themselves out because there is less continual strain on problem areas.
With a higher degree of order and alignment, one expresses better posture and movement because it feels good to do so, not because we have to keep telling ourselves to do it. Good posture and movement feel better because our bodies are functioning the way that nature intended, instead of functioning the way life and unnatural activities have randomly shaped us. To do this the Rolfer needs a number of sessions, commonly a series of 10, with the intention that the client will be good to go after that. Some people may choose to come in periodically down the road, as seeing a Rolfer with some degree of regularity makes them feel more balanced, but the purpose of a Rolfing series is to find a sense of well being and autonomy, and not be bound to the idea that you need help weekly for the rest of your life. Rolfing works with the intelligence of the body, and as the body/mind/nervous systems learn, they take that understand with them into the world.