Frequently Asked questions
DOES IT HURT?
The short answer is no. Rolfing® Structural Integration can hurt, but it does not have to.
Jazmine uses a multitude of techniques, including verbally directing the client's awareness, offering movement cues, light touch, and slow deep tissue work. Moving slowly allows Rolfers® to work at a deep level without causing pain.
Since the Rolfing® process is collaborative, it is important for the client to let the Rolfer know if any boundary, especially a pain threshold, is approached. Jazmine has worked with people who believe, "no pain, no gain" and who love deep tissue massage. None have walked away describing the work as too light. She has also worked with very sensitive people who are injured easily by light touch, who were surprised and delighted by how relaxing Rolfing could be. Although every client has a unique experience of the Rolfing process, and although some moments may be intense, Rolfing Structural Integration does not have to hurt.
Jazmine uses a multitude of techniques, including verbally directing the client's awareness, offering movement cues, light touch, and slow deep tissue work. Moving slowly allows Rolfers® to work at a deep level without causing pain.
Since the Rolfing® process is collaborative, it is important for the client to let the Rolfer know if any boundary, especially a pain threshold, is approached. Jazmine has worked with people who believe, "no pain, no gain" and who love deep tissue massage. None have walked away describing the work as too light. She has also worked with very sensitive people who are injured easily by light touch, who were surprised and delighted by how relaxing Rolfing could be. Although every client has a unique experience of the Rolfing process, and although some moments may be intense, Rolfing Structural Integration does not have to hurt.
WHY HAVE I HEARD THAT ROLFING® S.I. HURTS?
Rolfing® Structural Integration was popularized at a time when people felt that the more intense the experience, the more therapeutic it was. People described the Rolfing experience as painful to differentiate it from a soothing massage, and to emphasize how profoundly impactful it was.
Since that time, Rolfers® have gotten better at achieving their therapeutic goals with more grace and less force. Slowing down helps to get to the same depth of tissue with less discomfort. Greater change is possible when a client is not busy cringing with pain.
Since that time, Rolfers® have gotten better at achieving their therapeutic goals with more grace and less force. Slowing down helps to get to the same depth of tissue with less discomfort. Greater change is possible when a client is not busy cringing with pain.
what do i wear?
Clients enter the office fully clothed for a pre-session discussion. The Rolfer™ will then leave the room to allow the client to change into appropriate Rolfing® attire.
Rolfing attire, for most people, is underwear (for some, this includes a bra). If you are not comfortable wearing modest underwear while being visually assessed and while receiving hands-on bodywork, wear whatever makes you comfortable. Some people wear running shorts and tank tops, or a two piece bathing suit. Please try to minimize pockets and bulky fabric.
It is not appropriate to be naked since, unlike a massage, you will not be covered at all times with a sheet.
If acceptable, please remove watches, bracelets, necklaces, and bulky rings
Rolfing attire, for most people, is underwear (for some, this includes a bra). If you are not comfortable wearing modest underwear while being visually assessed and while receiving hands-on bodywork, wear whatever makes you comfortable. Some people wear running shorts and tank tops, or a two piece bathing suit. Please try to minimize pockets and bulky fabric.
It is not appropriate to be naked since, unlike a massage, you will not be covered at all times with a sheet.
If acceptable, please remove watches, bracelets, necklaces, and bulky rings
will rolfing® s.i. fix me and cure my pain?
Although many people experience lasting pain relief and other dramatic benefits from receiving Rolfing S.I. every person's response is different. Rolfing S.I. is a collaborative process between the client and the practitioner, and there are no guarantees about the results.
how will i feel when I leave?
Each person's Rolfing® experience is unique, but most people leave feeling more relaxed and effortlessly-upright. Those who come to an appointment in pain often feel noticeable relief. It is also common to feel lighter, taller, more loose and mobile, balanced and grounded. Many people leave feeling energized, but some feel spacey and tired as their habitual tension begins to let go.
how long will the benefits last?
Since Rolfing Structural Integration changes the postural and movement habits that shape your body, a series of Rolfing sessions generates momentum for positive change. It is common for clients to look and feel even better a year after their last appointment. Many of the benefits last a lifetime.
do i have to sign up for 10 sessions?
No, you do not have to sign up for ten sessions.
Although some people experience significant benefits from just one Rolfing® session, most lasting change is accomplished through a series of three to thirteen appointments. It is important to discuss your individual situation, your goals, time frame and limitations with your Rolfer®, so that a plan can be formed that works for you.
It is not a good idea to tell your Rolfer that you will complete the Ten Series and then quit part way through. Rolfing is a process of reorganizing the body, and closure is needed to help the changes last as your new normal. Better to be honest about your commitment level, so that your Rolfer can make the best use of your time together.
The most common schedule for receiving the Rolfing Ten Series is once a week. Depending on your circumstances, it might make sense to receive two sessions a week, or only once a month. Discuss your time frame with your Rolfer to ensure that you will receive the maximum benefits of the work.
Although some people experience significant benefits from just one Rolfing® session, most lasting change is accomplished through a series of three to thirteen appointments. It is important to discuss your individual situation, your goals, time frame and limitations with your Rolfer®, so that a plan can be formed that works for you.
It is not a good idea to tell your Rolfer that you will complete the Ten Series and then quit part way through. Rolfing is a process of reorganizing the body, and closure is needed to help the changes last as your new normal. Better to be honest about your commitment level, so that your Rolfer can make the best use of your time together.
The most common schedule for receiving the Rolfing Ten Series is once a week. Depending on your circumstances, it might make sense to receive two sessions a week, or only once a month. Discuss your time frame with your Rolfer to ensure that you will receive the maximum benefits of the work.
is rolfing® structural integration a type of massage?
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Rolfing S.I. does involve touch, but the techniques, goals, and results are different from massage. The primary goals of massage are relaxation and increased blood and flow. Although many people find receiving Rolfing S.I. to be extremely relaxing, this is not the goal. Rolfers® intend to make lasting changes in the way your body is organized, making good posture effortless and movement easier. Although many people find the relaxation they receive from massage to be highly beneficial, few would claim lasting effects. Many Rolfing clients continue to notice improvements in their physical functioning months and even years after receiving the Ten Series. |
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For most forms of massage, the client is passive, lying down on a table, partially covered by a sheet. In Rolfing Structural Integration, the client plays a more active role. It is common for a Rolfing client to be positioned in several different poses, directed to move in specific ways, and asked to pay attention to specific sensations. Another important part of the Rolfing process is the visual assessment of the client, which helps to determine how best to work with the client at that moment. Unlike most massage therapists, Rolfers usually ask their clients to stand, walk, or perform other simple movements while the Rolfer watches carefully.
Rolfers, unlike most massage therapists, do not use massage oil, since sliding over the skin is rarely a valuable technique for structural integration.
Rolfers, unlike most massage therapists, do not use massage oil, since sliding over the skin is rarely a valuable technique for structural integration.
will i have an emotional release during my rolfing® s.I. session?
Although some people have experienced an emotional catharsis while receiving Rolfing S.I. this is not something Rolfers® seek. If a client becomes upset during an appointment, the Rolfer will encourage the client to pay attention to her or his currently embodied sensations, rather than to explore the history of the feelings, as one might do in psychotherapy. Through guided mindfulness of the present moment, clients soon find a calmer state of mind.
Rolfing clients can trust that their experiences will be kept confidential and that their Rolfer has witnessed other intense emotional expressions.
Rolfing clients can trust that their experiences will be kept confidential and that their Rolfer has witnessed other intense emotional expressions.
how does rolfing® S.I. work?
The original story about Rolfing S.I. is that it works with the body’s network of connective tissue (fascia, tendons and ligaments) to rebalance the body so that it takes less effort to withstand the force of gravity. Using a combination of slow, manual pressure in conjunction with simple client movements, the fascia is mobilized, allowing the pieces of the body to more effectively work together.
More current research has helped us to understand that we Rolfers® are not simply molding fascia like a sculptor does with clay. We are also working with the nervous system to establish more functional neuro-muscular-fascial coordinative patterns.
More current research has helped us to understand that we Rolfers® are not simply molding fascia like a sculptor does with clay. We are also working with the nervous system to establish more functional neuro-muscular-fascial coordinative patterns.
what is fascia?
Fascia is a continuous web of connective tissue that surrounds our muscles, bones, joints, nerves, blood vessels and organs. The fascial web is both strong and stretchy, helping to distribute force across adjacent muscles as well as helping tissues to slide past each other for smooth and easy movement.
What's important to know about fascia is that it can change shape and texture, get more rigid or more flexible depending on how the body is used. It is now well known that lifting weights makes our bones grow denser. Fascia responds the same way, getting denser in response to mechanical stress. Layers of fascia adhere to one another, making the fascia better able to resist force in one direction, but limiting movement in other directions. Sometimes these adhesions interfere with functional joint movement, or impinge upon nerves, causing pain.
What's important to know about fascia is that it can change shape and texture, get more rigid or more flexible depending on how the body is used. It is now well known that lifting weights makes our bones grow denser. Fascia responds the same way, getting denser in response to mechanical stress. Layers of fascia adhere to one another, making the fascia better able to resist force in one direction, but limiting movement in other directions. Sometimes these adhesions interfere with functional joint movement, or impinge upon nerves, causing pain.
How was Rolfing® structural integration developed?
Dr. Ida P. Rolf was born in 1896 in New York, and grew up in the Bronx. She earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in 1920 while working at the Rockefeller Institute (now named Rockefeller University). It was through her research at the Rockefeller Institute that Dr. Rolf first became familiar with the impressive resilience of fascia.
Passionately inquisitive, Dr. Rolf broadened her understanding of the human body through an extensive study of yoga, osteopathy, homeopathy, Alexander technique, and other approaches to wellness. Dr. Rolf analyzed her eclectic studies, as well as her own experiences, so that she could distill principles of those techniques which were effective at changing human bodies and improving human functioning.
In 1940, Dr. Rolf met a piano teacher whose arms and hands had been severely injured in an accident, so much so that she could no longer teach. Dr. Rolf told her, "I'll make a bargain with you. If I can get you to the place where you can teach music, will you teach my children?" The music teacher accepted the bet, and after about four sessions, she began to teach Dr. Rolf's kids.
From that point on, Dr. Rolf continued her rigorous studies, refined her approach to the body, and developed the Ten Series as an effective method of teaching structural integration (which was later nicknamed "Rolfing"). In 1971, Dr. Rolf and some of her students founded The Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration in Boulder, Colorado so that her work would continue after her lifetime.
Much of the beauty of Rolfing® Structural Integration is that it is an adaptable method of observing, analyzing, and intervening, rather than a static technique applied to all clients. This allows the Rolfing community to continue to adapt to new information, new contexts, and new clients, without diluting the brilliance of Dr. Rolf's insights into the human body. Even after Dr. Rolf's death in 1979, her work is continued, expanded, and clarified by a diverse community of structural integrators.
Passionately inquisitive, Dr. Rolf broadened her understanding of the human body through an extensive study of yoga, osteopathy, homeopathy, Alexander technique, and other approaches to wellness. Dr. Rolf analyzed her eclectic studies, as well as her own experiences, so that she could distill principles of those techniques which were effective at changing human bodies and improving human functioning.
In 1940, Dr. Rolf met a piano teacher whose arms and hands had been severely injured in an accident, so much so that she could no longer teach. Dr. Rolf told her, "I'll make a bargain with you. If I can get you to the place where you can teach music, will you teach my children?" The music teacher accepted the bet, and after about four sessions, she began to teach Dr. Rolf's kids.
From that point on, Dr. Rolf continued her rigorous studies, refined her approach to the body, and developed the Ten Series as an effective method of teaching structural integration (which was later nicknamed "Rolfing"). In 1971, Dr. Rolf and some of her students founded The Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration in Boulder, Colorado so that her work would continue after her lifetime.
Much of the beauty of Rolfing® Structural Integration is that it is an adaptable method of observing, analyzing, and intervening, rather than a static technique applied to all clients. This allows the Rolfing community to continue to adapt to new information, new contexts, and new clients, without diluting the brilliance of Dr. Rolf's insights into the human body. Even after Dr. Rolf's death in 1979, her work is continued, expanded, and clarified by a diverse community of structural integrators.
what's the difference between structural integration and the Rolfing® process?
Rolfing® Structural Integration, nicknamed Rolfing, is the original structural integration method. Dr. Ida P. Rolf created the field of structural integration and founded the Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration, which has recently been rebranded as the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute (DIRI). Graduates of DIRI who complete sufficient ongoing education requirements and remain in good standing with DIRI can become certified Rolfers®. Other structural integration schools were founded based upon the work of Dr. Rolf, but due to trademarking laws, they must use the generic term, structural integration, to describe their work.
how can I get the most out of my rolfing® series?
The Rolfing Ten Series is a project of realigning your body, reprogramming your habitual movements, increasing your awareness, and rediscovering your body’s inherent vitality. The more you participate in this process, the more you are likely to get out of it.
Consider the following suggestions, then use only what suits your project with your unique body.
• Arrive hydrated and nourished. Drink extra water for day or two after each session.
• Take time to walk before and after each session. Walking will give you a chance to feel the ‘before’ and ‘after’ in your body, as well as help you integrate the changes from the session. The ideal situation would be to allow 20 minutes of walking after each session, with nothing in your hands or over your shoulders. You could, however, simply park your car several blocks from your Rolfer®’s office. (Please note that in this case, running is not as good as walking.)
• During the session practice relaxing. If the pressure is so much that you have to hold your breath, grit your teeth or mentally ‘leave’, speak up. More pain does not necessarily bring more gain, since bodies resist change when they fear injury. Let your Rolfer know if something hurts or makes you uneasy so that the technique can be better customized to you.
• Although many clients feel better immediately, you may notice odd sensations, strains, or unexpected emotions in the days following a session as your body adjusts to a new organization. This is a normal, temporary part of the process of change. Tell your Rolfer about anything that lasts more than a day, as well as anything severe or worrying. Feel free to contact your Rolfer with any questions or concerns.
• We are accustomed to using our will power to control our bodies, forcing what we ‘should’ be doing and ignoring what our bodies want so that we can accomplish our goals. During the Ten Series, listen to your body: move when you feel restless and rest when you feel tired.
• Don’t hold yourself in what you think of as ‘proper’ posture. The sessions are designed to bring you toward balance without effort. There is no such thing as good, but uncomfortable posture. Pinning your shoulders back or tucking your tail under to where you think it ‘should’ be will only get in the way of graceful posture and efficient movement.
• On the day of a Rolfing session, as well as between sessions 4 and 7, be cautious about introducing a challenging new physical activity or significantly increasing the intensity of your exercise regime. You may feel great, strong and adventurous, but your body is still adjusting to a new organization so be gentle with yourself when taking on new challenges.
• To reduce any residual soreness, try icing heavily worked areas for 15 to 20 minutes or taking a bath with Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) on the evenings after a session.
• Don’t worry when old tension patterns creep back into your body. You may feel that you have ‘lost’ the length and ease you noticed after your session, but what took an hour to accomplish the first time may take only five minutes the next.
• Your Rolfer may suggest homework to help you create new habits. Explore the suggested movements and postures gently and frequently, but don’t try to maintain them for long periods of time. Alternating between old and new postures is part of the process of lasting change. Your job is to notice your old habit and relax into the new suggestion. After a period of watching the old tendency come and go, it will fade and the new pattern will feel normal. Forcing any idea of ‘good’ posture will only substitute a new set of strains for the old ones you left behind.
• If you keep a journal during the Ten Series, you may be surprised at the changes in your sensations, dreams, attitudes, and experiences. Start by standing in front of a mirror, and writing down everything that you can see, think of, or feel about your body. Be as honest as you can, noting the areas that give you pleasure, and any chronic discomfort. Think back to the things that have affected your body image, shape, and function – accidents and surgeries, incidents and imitations, your parents and your heroes. Try to make an entry just after and just before each of the sessions in the series, as well as any other time you are so moved. This journal is a good place to write down descriptions of your homework. You may want a reminder of the guidelines in between sessions, or much later if an old pattern starts bothering you again.
• You might wish to measure your height before and after the Ten Series, take pictures of yourself standing, or videos of you walking. This can be useful feedback for developing body awareness. However, these sort of objective measurements can also get in the way of you listening to your body and trusting what it tells you. Although many clients’ transformations are noticeable to the untrained eye, others are harder to see, even if the change of comfort levels and functioning are dramatic. Often times, the biggest changes take place in the months that follow the completion of the Ten Series.
• Finally, enjoy yourself! Find moments where you can give yourself permission to be curious and playful. If this doesn’t suit your personality, you can always go back to your solemn experience of having a rigidly controlled and miserable body later.
Consider the following suggestions, then use only what suits your project with your unique body.
• Arrive hydrated and nourished. Drink extra water for day or two after each session.
• Take time to walk before and after each session. Walking will give you a chance to feel the ‘before’ and ‘after’ in your body, as well as help you integrate the changes from the session. The ideal situation would be to allow 20 minutes of walking after each session, with nothing in your hands or over your shoulders. You could, however, simply park your car several blocks from your Rolfer®’s office. (Please note that in this case, running is not as good as walking.)
• During the session practice relaxing. If the pressure is so much that you have to hold your breath, grit your teeth or mentally ‘leave’, speak up. More pain does not necessarily bring more gain, since bodies resist change when they fear injury. Let your Rolfer know if something hurts or makes you uneasy so that the technique can be better customized to you.
• Although many clients feel better immediately, you may notice odd sensations, strains, or unexpected emotions in the days following a session as your body adjusts to a new organization. This is a normal, temporary part of the process of change. Tell your Rolfer about anything that lasts more than a day, as well as anything severe or worrying. Feel free to contact your Rolfer with any questions or concerns.
• We are accustomed to using our will power to control our bodies, forcing what we ‘should’ be doing and ignoring what our bodies want so that we can accomplish our goals. During the Ten Series, listen to your body: move when you feel restless and rest when you feel tired.
• Don’t hold yourself in what you think of as ‘proper’ posture. The sessions are designed to bring you toward balance without effort. There is no such thing as good, but uncomfortable posture. Pinning your shoulders back or tucking your tail under to where you think it ‘should’ be will only get in the way of graceful posture and efficient movement.
• On the day of a Rolfing session, as well as between sessions 4 and 7, be cautious about introducing a challenging new physical activity or significantly increasing the intensity of your exercise regime. You may feel great, strong and adventurous, but your body is still adjusting to a new organization so be gentle with yourself when taking on new challenges.
• To reduce any residual soreness, try icing heavily worked areas for 15 to 20 minutes or taking a bath with Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) on the evenings after a session.
• Don’t worry when old tension patterns creep back into your body. You may feel that you have ‘lost’ the length and ease you noticed after your session, but what took an hour to accomplish the first time may take only five minutes the next.
• Your Rolfer may suggest homework to help you create new habits. Explore the suggested movements and postures gently and frequently, but don’t try to maintain them for long periods of time. Alternating between old and new postures is part of the process of lasting change. Your job is to notice your old habit and relax into the new suggestion. After a period of watching the old tendency come and go, it will fade and the new pattern will feel normal. Forcing any idea of ‘good’ posture will only substitute a new set of strains for the old ones you left behind.
• If you keep a journal during the Ten Series, you may be surprised at the changes in your sensations, dreams, attitudes, and experiences. Start by standing in front of a mirror, and writing down everything that you can see, think of, or feel about your body. Be as honest as you can, noting the areas that give you pleasure, and any chronic discomfort. Think back to the things that have affected your body image, shape, and function – accidents and surgeries, incidents and imitations, your parents and your heroes. Try to make an entry just after and just before each of the sessions in the series, as well as any other time you are so moved. This journal is a good place to write down descriptions of your homework. You may want a reminder of the guidelines in between sessions, or much later if an old pattern starts bothering you again.
• You might wish to measure your height before and after the Ten Series, take pictures of yourself standing, or videos of you walking. This can be useful feedback for developing body awareness. However, these sort of objective measurements can also get in the way of you listening to your body and trusting what it tells you. Although many clients’ transformations are noticeable to the untrained eye, others are harder to see, even if the change of comfort levels and functioning are dramatic. Often times, the biggest changes take place in the months that follow the completion of the Ten Series.
• Finally, enjoy yourself! Find moments where you can give yourself permission to be curious and playful. If this doesn’t suit your personality, you can always go back to your solemn experience of having a rigidly controlled and miserable body later.
Other questions...
If you have a question that wasn't answered by this website or want some clarification about something that was mentioned here, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 360-559-5680 or schedule a free consultation online.
If I can't answer your question, I will do my best to refer you to someone who can.
If I can't answer your question, I will do my best to refer you to someone who can.