Rolfing ® Structural Integration Returning freedom to your body

RolfingRolfing®® Structural IntegrationStructural Integration

Returning freedom to your body.

What is Rolfing?What is Rolfing?

Rolfing is a system of body Rolfing is a system of body restructuring and education, restructuring and education, developed by Dr. Ida P Rolf, developed by Dr. Ida P Rolf, which balances the body in which balances the body in gravity.gravity.

It releases patterns of fascial It releases patterns of fascial tension and bracing, tension and bracing, allowing gravity to re-align allowing gravity to re-align the body towards more the body towards more vertical integrity.vertical integrity. Dr. Ida P. Rolf


Rolfing returns “Rolfing returns “adaptive capacityadaptive capacity” ” to the body, allowing freer, pain to the body, allowing freer, pain free movement.free movement.

A free swinging suspension bridge A free swinging suspension bridge is a good example of a structure is a good example of a structure that has to adapt to strain and that has to adapt to strain and then return to it’s starting shape. then return to it’s starting shape.

If this capacity to adapt diminishes If this capacity to adapt diminishes the bridge will eventually fail.the bridge will eventually fail.


Adaptive CapacityAdaptive Capacity is simply the body’s is simply the body’s ability to adapt to a changing ability to adapt to a changing environment. Falling off bicycles, environment. Falling off bicycles, stepping off a curb…stepping off a curb…

Throughout our life, as we use our body, Throughout our life, as we use our body, there are times were the body’s ability there are times were the body’s ability to adapt becomes frozen in an event. to adapt becomes frozen in an event.

Rolfing releases the tissue that is frozen to Rolfing releases the tissue that is frozen to allow a return of adaptive capacity.allow a return of adaptive capacity.

The body once again moves as it used to.The body once again moves as it used to.


Gravity is the most powerful force Gravity is the most powerful force affecting structures. In aligned affecting structures. In aligned structures gravity flows through it structures gravity flows through it providing “providing “liftlift”.”.

The Geodesic dome is very similar to The Geodesic dome is very similar to the human body, it is made up of the human body, it is made up of support structures (bones) and support structures (bones) and tensile structures (soft tissue).tensile structures (soft tissue).

The correct alignment of these two The correct alignment of these two elements creates lift.elements creates lift.


In the misaligned structure In the misaligned structure gravity acts to pull it down, gravity acts to pull it down, causing causing strainstrain. .

Support and energy is consumed Support and energy is consumed from structures not designed to from structures not designed to provide it. (like neck muscles provide it. (like neck muscles holding up shoulders).holding up shoulders).

This consumption of resources This consumption of resources does not allow them to be used in does not allow them to be used in other areas where they’re other areas where they’re needed.needed.


The human body is a structure that The human body is a structure that moves within the earth’s gravitational moves within the earth’s gravitational field. As such, it is either aligned with field. As such, it is either aligned with gravity or not.gravity or not.

A body misaligned with gravity A body misaligned with gravity experiences strain from the experiences strain from the gravitational pull. This strain will gravitational pull. This strain will eventually lead to pain.eventually lead to pain.


A body aligned with gravity experiences support and lift.

Before 1 After 10


Chronic body misalignment results Chronic body misalignment results in strain to the supporting in strain to the supporting structures, bones, muscles, structures, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, organs and tendons, ligaments, organs and especially the fascia which especially the fascia which surrounds and defines each of surrounds and defines each of these. these.

This chronic strain results in a This chronic strain results in a body which is sub-optimal in its body which is sub-optimal in its performance. This will performance. This will eventually lead to pain and eventually lead to pain and possible breakdown.possible breakdown. Before 1 After 10


People of all ages come to People of all ages come to Rolfing for help with neck Rolfing for help with neck and back pain, repetitive and back pain, repetitive strain problems (carpal strain problems (carpal tunnel, tmj..), impaired tunnel, tmj..), impaired movement and other movement and other body alignment issues.body alignment issues.

Some people come to better Some people come to better their body image or their body image or improve their athletic improve their athletic performance. performance.


Because the body is better balanced Because the body is better balanced after Rolfing, it expends less energy. It after Rolfing, it expends less energy. It is lifted by gravity rather than fighting is lifted by gravity rather than fighting

against gravity.against gravity.

Movement becomes easier, more fluid Movement becomes easier, more fluid and graceful.and graceful.

Old movement patterns start to dissolve Old movement patterns start to dissolve and can be replaced with new more and can be replaced with new more

efficient ones.efficient ones.


Rolfing results in a body that Rolfing results in a body that moves easier, with greater moves easier, with greater efficiency and grace.efficiency and grace.

How does Rolfing How does Rolfing Align the Body?Align the Body?

To align the body the Rolfer systematically To align the body the Rolfer systematically releases restrictions in the body’s soft releases restrictions in the body’s soft tissue fascial network.tissue fascial network.

This network is known as the “organ of This network is known as the “organ of form”.form”.

For instance, the “fascia” of an Orange For instance, the “fascia” of an Orange allows us to define it’s parts into slices. allows us to define it’s parts into slices.

Within these slices are fascial bags of juice Within these slices are fascial bags of juice and so on…and so on…


The fascia of the human The fascia of the human body is organized in a body is organized in a similar manner. Fascial bag similar manner. Fascial bag over bag over bag…over bag over bag…

Layer on layer of fascia. Layer on layer of fascia.

Every organ, blood vessel, Every organ, blood vessel, nerve, bone and muscle is nerve, bone and muscle is encased in fascia.encased in fascia.

The fascia of the body is an The fascia of the body is an Endless Web.Endless Web.


Just as the fabric in a sweater is contiguous and defines the sweater, so to the fascia of the body is contiguous and defines the body.

And like a sweater, a strain in one part of the “fascial net” can and will cause strain in another portion of the fascial net.


The Rolfer frees the strain patterns in the body allowing the body to assume it’s natural uprightness.

The skill of the Rolfer is in knowing The skill of the Rolfer is in knowing where strain patterns can be found where strain patterns can be found and in releasing them in a manner to and in releasing them in a manner to support continuous improvement.support continuous improvement.

This systematic manner in which the This systematic manner in which the patterns are released is called the 10 patterns are released is called the 10 Series.Series.

Before 1 After 10

The 10 SeriesThe 10 Series

The 10 series, consisting of 10 The 10 series, consisting of 10 sessions each 1-1.5 hours long, is sessions each 1-1.5 hours long, is divided into 3 segments which allow divided into 3 segments which allow the client to evaluate the efficacy of the client to evaluate the efficacy of the work:the work:

Sessions 1- 3, superficial fascia. Sessions 1- 3, superficial fascia.

Sessions 4 - 7, balancing the body.Sessions 4 - 7, balancing the body.

Sessions 8 – 10, re-alignment and Sessions 8 – 10, re-alignment and education.education.


Rolfing is unique in the body Rolfing is unique in the body therapy world in that the work of therapy world in that the work of Rolfing does not stop during the Rolfing does not stop during the session, in fact it continues once session, in fact it continues once the body is moving in the the body is moving in the gravitational field. Dr. Rolf said gravitational field. Dr. Rolf said “… “… gravity is the therapistgravity is the therapist…”.…”.

Because of this continued benefit, Because of this continued benefit, as well as the grouping of the as well as the grouping of the sessions, the 10 series can sessions, the 10 series can completed over a period of time. completed over a period of time.


Each session of the 10 series builds on the Each session of the 10 series builds on the progress of the previous sessions. progress of the previous sessions.

Benefits of RolfingBenefits of Rolfing

Better Posture and AlignmentBetter Posture and Alignment

Increased flexibility, range of motion.Increased flexibility, range of motion.

Increased movement efficiency. Increased movement efficiency.

More energy.More energy.

Pain reduction.Pain reduction.

Better self image.Better self image.

Benefits of RolfingBenefits of Rolfing

Let’s discuss the particular benefits this person received:

1. Notice that his weight has moved further back over his feet rather than over his toes.

2. His head has come back, this relieves the strain on his upper back and the compression in his AO joint.

3. His pelvis is more horizontal giving him a more stable lumbar spine and more spinal movement. There’s still more to do here.

4. When his shoulders came back his arms came up, this can be addressed with more work. But he’s much better now.

More Info and Contact InfoMore Info and Contact Info

That’s the end of this presentation. I hope that it That’s the end of this presentation. I hope that it helped you better understand Rolfing. helped you better understand Rolfing.

If you’d like more information or to make an If you’d like more information or to make an appointment you can contact me at:appointment you can contact me at:

Boulder 303-581-0530 Loveland 970-495-3407Boulder 303-581-0530 Loveland 970-495-3407

Denver 303-581-0530 Bermuda 441-239-0336Denver 303-581-0530 Bermuda 441-239-0336

www.JimTheRolfer.comwww.JimTheRolfer.com

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Rolfing ® Structural Integration Returning freedom to your body