|
Rolfing sessions
are done with the client lying or sitting of a table.
Clients will sometimes sit on a bench while I work with
them. I gradually press on very specific spots on the client’s
body until their tissues release.
Another part of a session can be movement coaching,
where we explore new patterns of movement that become
available as a result of the table work we have done.
Clients sometimes have assignments between sessions to
develop their awareness of their patterns of movement and
relaxation and to practice the new patterns we have developed.
How
does it feel?
Each
of us will experience our body and the Rolfing® work a little
differently. Many
people say that they feel some discomfort and that they can
tell a part of them is being relieved at the same time.
People want to know, “Isn’t Rolfing very
painful?” Rolfing
has gotten a reputation for being extremely uncomfortable
dating from the days when Rolfers trained by Dr. Rolf applied
her instruction in formulaic and inflexible ways that stressed
and over-worked many of their clients.
The bottom line in my work is that you, the client, are
always in control of the session.
This means that, comfortable or uncomfortable, we only
proceed when you say so.
If
you decide to have a Rolfing session, you will feel like you
are working with me, using your breath and other specific
motions to enable and enhance the releases that happen in your
tissue. Best
results are gotten through the combined efforts of your
attention, relaxation and movement synchronized with the
specific pressure that I will apply.
The
Rolfing Series.
People
starting the Rolfing process can elect to work in the series
of Basic Rolfing or can have sessions focused on addressing a
specific problem or issue.
In either case, we start with discussion of your
history and your goals. We
need to be sure that I understand your wishes and that your
wishes are realistic goals for Rolfing.
I may take photos before and after your sessions as a
way to document the visible patterns of strain that we discuss
in your history and to observe progress that we make session
to session.
When
Dr. Rolf began training others in her work, she designed a
10-session series that is now known as Basic Rolfing.
This series is designed to systematically restore
balance and fluidity to the body, working with different body
segments and depths with each session.
With the series, clients usually find that they make
steady progress without disruption or sliding back between
sessions.
Given
the development of this series over the past 30 years, I tell
people to plan on 10 to 12 sessions for the Basic Rolfing
series. Sessions
last between 1 hour and 1¼ hours.
People usually come for Rolfing every week or two,
however, over the years, I have had many clients who have had
sessions spaced as much as a month apart.
When
clients are unsure about whether they want to go through the
entire Basic Rolfing series, I suggest that they go through 3
sessions to find out how they will experience this work, and
then decide whether to continue with a longer series of
sessions.
Advanced
Rolfing.
People who have completed a Basic series often return
for additional sessions.
This is often done in a series of 3 to 5 sessions that
I design in collaboration with the client.
The Advanced Series can be started after a waiting
period of several months or longer after the Basic Series is
completed. Clients
come for Advanced sessions to continue the work that is
started in the Basic Series and to work with any new traumas
that may have occurred since the Basic work was completed.
What
to wear to a session.
I
want you to feel comfortable while you are in my office.
Most people, men and women, go through sessions wearing
their regular underwear. With men, it is easier for me to work with you if you
wear brief style underwear rather than boxer style, which
usually do not stretch.
Women can also wear a 2-piece bathing suit instead of
underwear. Sports
bras with fabric covering much of the back surface are hard to
work around.
Anyone who wishes to can be covered or draped while they are
on my table. There
are usually times during a session when we will want to look
at you standing to understand your balance in gravity.
|
