How does Rolfing® Structural Integration work?
Rolfing® SI works with the body’s network of connective tissue (fascia, tendons and ligaments) to rebalance the body. 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.
My friend and colleague, Sharalee Hoelscher, explains the Rolfing® approach to the body in a way that is easy to understand:
"To better grasp the concept, imagine a two-ply garbage bag. If the two layers were pulled apart in various places, the result would be something that looks rather like bubble wrap. The body has a continuous sheet of connective tissue from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet, sort of like a body-sized garbage bag. This tissue encloses all our muscles, organs and other structures. In other words, each bubble of our two-ply garbage bag encloses a muscle or an organ...
"Consider taking one of these ‘bubbles’ out for a moment, imagining it as a Ziploc bag filled with sand. Think of the Ziploc bag as the fascia, or connective tissue, and the sand as muscle. With the bag packed full of sand it should be smooth, rounded, and even on both sides. If you punched one side of it, that side would be puckered in, while the other side would be stretched, strained and tight. This is what can happen to fascia as the result of an accident, injury, surgery, years of poor posture, or uneven repetitive use of the body. Imagine the result if connective tissue is puckered in and shortened on one side, and stretched and tight on the other side. It would not be able to do its job of organizing, moving and supporting what it surrounds and is attached to. It may not be able to function as well, and may be pulling on other muscles or bones or not providing support in the way it should. This may cause misalignment, restriction of movement, pain or other symptoms. Remembering that connective tissue is one continuous sheet through the entire body, it affects not just the immediate area, but can cause problems elsewhere. This is somewhat like the collar of your shirt moving if you tug on the end of the sleeve. The job of the Rolfer™ is to restore function to the connective tissue just as if you were to use your hands to smooth out the puckered Ziploc bag. As she works in one area, she is coordinating the work in that location with how it is affecting the entire body."
My friend and colleague, Sharalee Hoelscher, explains the Rolfing® approach to the body in a way that is easy to understand:
"To better grasp the concept, imagine a two-ply garbage bag. If the two layers were pulled apart in various places, the result would be something that looks rather like bubble wrap. The body has a continuous sheet of connective tissue from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet, sort of like a body-sized garbage bag. This tissue encloses all our muscles, organs and other structures. In other words, each bubble of our two-ply garbage bag encloses a muscle or an organ...
"Consider taking one of these ‘bubbles’ out for a moment, imagining it as a Ziploc bag filled with sand. Think of the Ziploc bag as the fascia, or connective tissue, and the sand as muscle. With the bag packed full of sand it should be smooth, rounded, and even on both sides. If you punched one side of it, that side would be puckered in, while the other side would be stretched, strained and tight. This is what can happen to fascia as the result of an accident, injury, surgery, years of poor posture, or uneven repetitive use of the body. Imagine the result if connective tissue is puckered in and shortened on one side, and stretched and tight on the other side. It would not be able to do its job of organizing, moving and supporting what it surrounds and is attached to. It may not be able to function as well, and may be pulling on other muscles or bones or not providing support in the way it should. This may cause misalignment, restriction of movement, pain or other symptoms. Remembering that connective tissue is one continuous sheet through the entire body, it affects not just the immediate area, but can cause problems elsewhere. This is somewhat like the collar of your shirt moving if you tug on the end of the sleeve. The job of the Rolfer™ is to restore function to the connective tissue just as if you were to use your hands to smooth out the puckered Ziploc bag. As she works in one area, she is coordinating the work in that location with how it is affecting the entire body."