Rolfing: “The Body is the way we get our hands on the soul”
I heard a mentor once say that the two things that had affected his life most profoundly were God and Rolfing. This caused me to raise my eyebrows a bit and wonder what I was missing. I vaguely recalled being introduced to the practice in physical therapy school but had, at that point, never experienced it. I made a mental note to try it as soon as I could. Here’s my philosophy…my body performs and shows up for me every day. It works hard and goes long and gets done what I ask it to get done. If there is a fabulous effective way for me to support and keep my body moving elegantly why the heck wouldn’t I try it?
Yes, hamstrings are expected to perform … so I show them some love by rolfing.
Rolfing is a way to look at the body as a whole. There are spaces between muscles and bones that should be fluid and flowing. A rolfer watches you walk and stand and he places his hands on you and senses how the parts are working together in relationship together. Often people go to see a rolfer just for the sheer joy of inhabiting a body that is moving well. Other times, as was the case with myself, I had a tight hip flexor muscle injury that no amount of stretching would impact. So whether you go for an injury or just for a tune up, rolfing is an experience like none else.
You know I tried it and I’m hooked. I have tried several rolfers and frankly they are all as different in style as they are in person and I loved them all. My current favorite is Zachary Frank in Santa Barbara, CA. If you’ve heard anything about rolfing you may be skeptical and think it might be too painful for you. Rolfing is NOT massage. The difference is massage focuses on the muscles and rolfing is more focused on the spaces or fascia between bundles of muscle.
In answer to those who believe it will be too painful I asked my rolfer this question. His response was the body holds trauma naturally and there is no productive point in causing it more trauma to achieve a result. It doesn’t work that way. Yes, rolfing employs FIRM slow nuancing pressure along the muscles and spaces between… but at all times the client and the rolfer communicate clearly about what is going on in the body. If someone says ouch, the work is slowed or stopped or adjusted. It’s a unique way of going very deeply into the body tissues without any trauma or invasive procedure.
Each session is around 60-90 minutes typically and I find it the most valuable body work I can do for my body. Upon arising from the table after a session, I usually have an out-of-body sort of feeling where I do not recognize any of the normal sensations in my body. In other words I look down and wonder “Whose body is this?” It doesn’t feel like mine. I can’t quite explain if it feels younger or what. It just feels foreign (in a VERY good way). In the case when I went to see my rolfer for an injury, the problem wasn’t solved in one session. I believe that particular injury literally gave way and released on the third session. Sessions to heal an injury do not need to be back to back and can be spaced out as needed for time or money constraints. I suffered for 3 months before going to see him for my hip flexor and it took three sessions a couple weeks apart and it was gone as if I’d never had it, and never returned.
Today I had a session to work on a hamstring that has just been shortened and tight and bothering me. I am a bit sore and looser this evening but I can tell I will need another session or two to get full fluidity back. Sessions run anywhere from $150-200 for 90 minutes or so. It’s best to dress in or bring a pair of shorts and tee shirt or tank top so your rolfer can access what is needed easily.
I have committed to doing everything in my power to have a regular monthly session (more often if I’m able) to keep my body in tune and injury free. Check out Zachary Frank, certified rolfer on State street, Santa Barbara, Ca or find a rolfer in you location.