Rolfing: Ten Hours That Will Change Your Life

I don't remember when the sciatica started, but I know that I had suffered from it for at least ten years by 1999. By that time it was almost nightly and painful. Every night I put pillows under my knees, or between my legs. I tried not to take Ibuprofin every night, but was having to do it more and more. I had a great chiropractor, but even his work wasn't helping.

One day Marsha, a local Rolfer, came to do a talk about Rolfing at my psychiatric practice. I was intrigued and gave it a try, not knowing what to expect. Well, among other things the sciatica went! Its nine years later, I have had a major car accident that resulted in a broken neck, but the sciatica is gone. And that isn't even talking about the lengthening in my arms, the easiness of movement.

I am sure there are other benefits and results, but that is the big one and it was worth every minute of Rolfing and every dime I spent. I remember Marsha explaining a lot of the work to me as she did it. But I still really didn't know what it was about.

I do know that I have been singing the praises of Rolfing since I had mine. I have recommended it to dozens of people. My goals here are

1. to learn more about the process myself

2. to help others learn about it

3. to encourage people to try Rolfing for themselves and their health.

"Rolfing, also known as structural integration, is a form of bodywork named after Dr. Ida Rolf, a biochemist who was influenced by osteopathy, physical therapy, and yoga.

The goal of Rolfing is to improve health by bringing segments of the body (e.g. pelvis, legs) into proper alignment.

Rolfing is based on the idea that fascia--the fibrous layers covering muscles--stiffens, shortens, and loses its elasticity after prolonged poor posture and mental and emotional stress."

Rolfing uses gravity. By not fighting gravity, it actually helps gravity support your body with ease. We are so used to thinking of gravity as the enemy of our continued youthfulness, that it is difficult to conceive of it as something that could be helpful. However, that is exactly what it happens. See the quote from Ida Rolf below, and definitely call a local practitioner and talk with that person about this. You won't be sorry.

I remember walking around in my underwear before, during and after a session. Marsha would study me copiously, deciding how to handle what a needed during a particular session.

Session 1. Opens up the lungs for fuller breathe. The tissues that affect breathing are manipulated and retrained. Neck and body work continues in other sessions, but this is the foundation.

Session 2. Aligns the foundation. The work focuses on feet, lower legs and knees. Foot problems are tackled. A sense of better balance is usually the result of this session.

Session 3. This session concentrates on the sides and bringing the upper and lower parts of the body into better co-operation. .

At one of the sessions, after she had done some work, on my left side, it must have been session 3, Marsha had me walk around. She asked me how I felt. I said, "This sounds

crazy, but it feels like by left arm is longer than my right". She had be stand in front of a mirror, and sure enough...it works!

Session 4. This goes back to the legs, working on the insides to give the feeling that that the legs are truly supporting the core and lifting the upper body.

Session 5. This continues the work is donein 4 by working the front of the hips as well as the abdomen, diaphragm, and ribs. This session opens the front of the body and provides a new dimension of lift up the core.

Session 6. This session works on the back to balance the work done on the front.

One of the questions that people ask is, "Does Rolfing hurt?" Well, it can, but remember that that is temporary. Marsha used exercise balls that helped ease the discomfort.

Session 7. The next session is about shoulders, neck, jaw and related areas. It covers those areas that collect tension. This helps people feel that 'their head is attached'.

I was finished after 10 sessions. As you can see the sessions are structured and set. There are no ongoing forever sessions. One can get brush up sessions, it was recommended to me that that might be appropriate in 10 years. Some people get them more often.

Session 8. works with the legs to get it integrated with the whole body.

Session 9 concentrates on the upper body integration with the entire body.

Session 10. The final integration. This is about smoothing the facial tissues and bringing the body together.

Ida Rolf was a highly educated woman, especially for her time. By 1920 she had a PhD. in biological chemistry from Columbia. The stamina, drive and determination that it took for anyone, let alone a woman at that time, foretold the kind of life that could develop something as powerful and innovative as Rolfing.

She also studied math and atomic physics in Zurich. She managed to learn the basics of homeopathic medicine in Geneva.

After she returned from Europe she spent much of the 30's working on solutions to personal and family medical problems. She was not happy with the medicine of the day and used her education and experience to search for alternatives. She threw herself into learning other methods of healing from osteopathy to chiropractic to yoga and the Alexander technique as well as Korzybski's states of consciousness work.

She had developed a following by the 40's. Although committed scientist, she realized that much of her progress came from intuition. Her spent a lot of time working with chronically disabled people. Through this she came to Structural Integration, her prime contribution to health. She spent the rest of her life perfecting and further developing her methods and techniques.

She was invited to England to work there and eventually to Esalen Institute in California at the suggestion of Fritz Perls the founder of Gestalt Therapy It was there that she Structural Integration.

The demand for the training increased. A Guild from formed in 1967 that was headquartered in Bolder, Colorado.

Her first book was Rolfing: The Integration of Human Structures (Harper and Row, Publishers). and she continued to dedicate herself to training those who would continue her work after her death. Thes book is the major written statement of Ida P. Rolf's scholastic and experiential investigation into the direct intervention with the evolution of the human species.

Some people like to just jump into things. That is what I did when I signed up for Rolfing. However, others like to study about it first, so here is a list of great books on the subject. Get one or two and start reading.

But do think about Rolfing. Talk to your doctor about it, but unless there is a health reason for you to not do it, really think hard about Rolfing.

The following famous people have undergone Rolfing:

Professional athletes

* Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers coach says, “I’m the kind of person that likes to physically challenge myself. I think (Rolfing) is a valuable resource…for keeping myself together.”

* Charles Barkley, former basketball star

* Chris Carter, ex-Minnesota Viking football star

* Qadry Ismail, Baltimore Ravens football star

* The Phoenix Suns basketball team has players work with a Rolfer

* Mario Lemieux, hockey legend

* Bob Tewksbury, ex-pitcher for the Minnesota Twins

* Ivan Lendl, former tennis champion

* Craig Swan, former N.Y. Mets pitcher, and Certified Rolfer, whose career ended from a sports injury. “Bodywork can extend athletic careers,” says Swan. “I truly believe if I had received Rolfing in the early part of my career, I would still be pitching today.”

* Bret Saberhagen, former Kansas City Royals Pitcher

* Tom Seaver, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher

* Jeff Linder, competitive cyclist

Olympic athletes

* Michelle Kwan, 2002 U.S. Olympic figure skater, 98 Olympic Silver Medallist

* Elvis Stojko, 2002 Canadian Olympic figure skater, 98 Olympic Silver

* Medallist says, “Rolfing helped me to find my center of balance for competition.”

* Wendy Wagner, 2002 U.S. Olympic Nordic Ski team

* Iginia Boccalandro, 2002 and ‘98 Venezuelan Olympic luge team and Certified Rolfer

* Ben Hindle, 2002 Canadian Olympic bobsleigh team

* John Bauer, 2002, ‘98 & ‘92 U.S. Olympic Nordic Ski team, 8x National Champion

* Sarah Will, five times U.S. Paralympic Gold Medal Skier, credits her gold medal to Rolfing. She says, “Rolfing increased my performance time 100%.”

* Isabelle Brasseur & Lloyd Eisler, 2x Canadian Olympic bronze medal pairs figure skaters

* Brian Orser, Olympic Silver Medallist and World Champion figure skater

* Sharon Sander, ranked #2 on the U.S. Pentathlon team

* Lance Deal, 2000 U.S. Olympic hammer thrower, 96 Olympic Silver Medal

* Erin Aldrich, 2000 U.S .Olympic high jumper and 2x All-American

* Joe Greene, 1996 U.S. Olympic Bronze Medal winner of the long jump, now training to win the Olympic gold medal, says “Rolfing has made a huge difference.”

* Kristen Ulmer, former World Champion Extreme skier

* John Egan, world renowned Extreme skier

* Mickey Egan, Rumanian Olympic Skier

* Grant Ernhardt, a U.S. Biathlon team member, 2002 Olympic hopeful

Other Celebrities

* Leon Fleisher, virtuoso concert pianist

* Levar Burton, actor (Reading Rainbow, Star Trek: The Next Generation)

* Sean Young, who has starred in the movies “Bladerunner”, “No Way Out”, “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”, “Wall Street”, “Fatal Instinct”, “Once Upon a Crime”, and a few dozen others receives Rolfing”®” from Certified Rolfer Bob Brill.

* Willie Nelson, songwriter: “My wife recommended (Rolfing) highly”, says Willie Nelson, “…The first of ten sessions fixed (my back pain),” reported the New York Times, on Feb. 23, 1995.

* Sam Keen, best-selling writer, is a former Psychology Today editor and co-producer of award winning PBS documentary “Faces Of The Enemy”.

* Courtney Love, actress/singer

* Denis Leary, actor/comedian

* Diane Ladd, actress

* Georgia O’Keefe, artist

* Miro, modern artist

* Fritz Perl, psychotherapist

* Mary Elizabeth Mastontonio, Broadway/movie actress

* Maria Benitez, Flamenco Dancer

* Steve Turre, jazz trombonist