I’ve heard that Rolfing hurts. True?
In my work with adults and children of all ages, I emphasize the importance of the client’s role as your own “expert”. Whenever a client is on the table receiving bodywork, the client has the final say about whether the pressure is “too much”. There is a common misperception, often heard from people who have not experienced Rolfing, that a Rolfing session is necessarily painful and exhausting. Quite the contrary, I “err on the side of caution” with you and your family. Thanks to the influences of a wide range of cranial therapies, nerve-release modalities, and many types of massage therapy, Rolfing practices in the 21st Century encompass a broad skill set from very light touch to the good old-fashioned elbow.
Some clients have a nap or a “super sleep” during their session, then wake up to a whole new sense of themselves in gravity.
What motivates people to visit a Rolfer?
I’ve worked with clients whose concerns include fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, ankle equinus, scoliosis, and other structural challenges, as well as those clients who want to run or golf or lift weights or dance more easily. Also whiplash, slip-and-fall, and other accidents that leave you feeling “not quite right” can be addressed through connective tissue release in Rolfing sessions. Pre- or post-surgery, Rolfing can help you have optimal alignment of bones and joints. People who experience headaches, migraines, whiplash, extensive dental work or other head and neck strain, report feeling considerably relieved after a session. While Rolfing is not a “treatment” for acute injuries, those who are in long-term recovery from all sorts of accidents, physical trauma, and chronic illness consider Rolfing to be an important resource.
Is Rolfing suitable for children?
Children can benefit from Rolfing from a very early age. As a parent of now grown-up daughters, I know how parents will look far and wide to find help for their children. In working with teens, kids, toddlers and babies, my top priority is to keep them informed about the work we’re doing, and most important I want young clients – and their parents - to understand that they are always The Boss when they are receiving bodywork. Children of all ages enjoy the work and like to feel the differences they notice at the end of the session. My fees for working with children are discounted, generally until about the time when they can drive their Mom's car to a Rolfing session and hand me their Mom's credit card. And even then, if their Mom is still sending them to me for a Rolfing Session, it's still discounted. Sessions for babies and toddlers, with their unpredictable attention spans, are free, so Mom and Dad don’t have to worry about the “meter running” if their toddler is distracted during the session.
Is Rolfing suitable for seniors?
Seniors benefit from Rolfing as much as, or more than, their grown children and grandchildren. I disagree with the all too common thread that aging is an inevitable decline. However, realistically speaking there are some predictable issues that concern us all after five or six decades in gravity. I prefer to describe these concerns more as the consequences of experience than age: it’s not just the years, it’s the miles and the maintenance. Rolfing is on your list of anti-aging resources: keep your balance, keep your elasticity, keep the spring in your step.
Pets?
Yes, the whole family: Rolfing dogs & cats
I’m happy to work on the pets of my human clients at no charge. Dogs seem more prone to wear and tear injuries, but even kitties can tighten up after injuries or trauma. In my limited experience Rolfing cats, I’ve been surprised at how readily some battle-hardened felines can feel better and behave more cheerfully, after some Rolfing. Rolfing cats generally requires a house call, so they're on home turf.
Scheduling
Your initial consultation is free, and includes a 20~30 minute sample of Rolfing technique, so you can decide if this method of soft-tissue organization is what you’re looking for. There is absolutely no obligation on your part, so you need not worry about any pressure to schedule afterward. I just want you to know about your options.
A full session lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. Session times generally start at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:00pm, weekdays.