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Rolfing, developed in America in the 1940s and 1950s, is a therapeutic massage of the connective tissue of the body. Rolfing’s purpose is to improve balance, the range of movement, and of posture.
In history, rolfing was first developed by Dr. Ida P. Rolf. She believed that the earth’s gravity influences human structure, and that the body’s the connective tissues hold the key to its structural reorganization because they were the matrix for all other components of the body.
People with stiffness, structural aches and pains, and other types of physical stress and discomfort benefit greatly from Rolfing. The benefits of a Rolfing massage session are greater vitality, greater physical stability, relief of aches and pains, and an enhanced capacity for self-healing. And clients often enjoy great phsycological effects as well.
In Rolfing, the connective tissue of the body is called the organ of structure. The sheet-like web that wraps around and positions every part of the body is the fascia. It is the fascia that is in trouble when there is chronic stiffness, soreness, or aching. Rolfing massage stretches tissue that has contracted, leaving more space for other structures of the body. And it is the space that determines our organs, bone or joints proper functioning.
A Rolfer uses the fingers during massage and sometimes an elbow to move the fascia, causing it to stretch and resume its elastic tone and full range of movement. Rolfing is always a ten-session series of treatments, with sessions a week apart. Rolfing, although beneficial to people in all walks of life, is especially popular with athletes, dancers, musicians, and others who lead strenuous lifestyles, for it greatly enhances their skills. And clients most often feel that the benefits of Rolfing last a lifetime.
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