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 ROLFING (STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION)

What is it?
DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION OF ROLFING
Rolfing (or Structural Integration) is a system of soft tissue manipulation with the objective of realigning the body structurally and harmonizing its fundamental movement patterns in efficient opposition to gravity.  Though Rolfing is a trademarked name belonging to The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, the term "rolfing" is generally used to apply to a range of systems based on the teachings of Dr. Ida P.Rolf who originated the techniques.

Rolfers assert that it improves energy and overall health.  Recipients can sometime stand straighter, gain in height, and correct body asymmetries. Rolfing has similarities to forms of deep tissue massage such as Myofascial Release; however, Rolfing is distinguished by its focus on the body’s balance in gravity.

What is it used for?
CONDITIONS ROLFING MAY BE HELPFUL FOR
- Chronic pain conditions
- Acute injuries or trauma
- Poor posture
- Carpal tunnel
- High stress
- Improving performance
- Reducing risk of injury

Where did it come from?
HISTORY OF ROLFING
Ida P. Rolf was the founder of Rolfing.  A native of New York, she attained her undergraduate degree from Barnard college in 1916 and a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from Columbia University in 1920.  She was then employed at the Rockefeller Institute in the departments of Organic Chemistry and Chemotherapy for the next 12 years.

During this time she requested a leave of absence from Rockefeller Institute to attend the Swiss Technical University in Zurich and study mathematics and atomic physics.  During this time she also studied homeopathic medicine in Geneva.

Rolf went on to spend the 1930s seeking solutions for personal and family health problems, since existing treatments were insufficient. Her son had fallen ill and doctors could not properly diagnose his condition. Ida took matters into her own hands, literally. Utilizing techniques she had learned while exploring osteopathy, chiropractic, yoga, the Alexander technique and Korzybski's work on states of consciousness, she began to work on her son's body herself.  She noticed that he had pressure on his internal organs from a compressed physical structure. Following her intuition, she massaged and manipulated his body until the pressure was released.  As she worked on him, his problems disappeared.

The 1940s found her practicing out of a Manhattan apartment working with those who had heard of her and sought her assistance.  While Rolf was a trained scientist and remained committed to scientific processes, many of her discoveries resulted from utilizing her intuitive abilities, particularly through her work with the disabled.  This work, along with the breakthroughs with her son, would eventually be known as Structural Integration (SI), the work she would spend the next 30 years developing.

In 1971, Rolf founded The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. The Institute as well as other schools such as the Guild for Structural Integration, the Institute for Psycho-Structural Balancing, and Hellerwork Structural Integration continue to teach Rolf’s methods.  Ida Rolf also clearly influenced the later development of deep tissue bodywork through her work in understanding the fascia.

What is it based upon?
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ROLFING
Rolfing employs a series of systematic techniques that attempts to restore equilibrium to every aspect of the body. Their medium is the connective tissue (or fascia) which forms a continuous web throughout the body. It is integrated in every tissue of the body, bones, muscles, nerves, organs and skin. As an individual’s body suffers the continual insult of stress, injuries, gravity, poor posture, and emotional problems, the connective tissue is reduced, rotated, tightened, and dehydrated.  The poor state of the connective tissue negatively influences bones, muscles, nerves, and organs, and as a result all aspects of the physical body are out of balance.

Dr. Rolf believed that this tightened, knotted fascia negatively impacts the ability of opposing muscles to work separately from one another, causing tightness.  Her techniques endeavor to free the bound fascia by parting the fibers manually.  As this technique requires deep access to the tissues Rolf required practitioners to have sufficient knowledge of human anatomy as well as specific, hands-on education and training.

Dr. Rolf contended that once the body was balanced all aspects could operate more effectively.  She also worked to correct posture, starting from the feet and continuing to the head.  This requires the standard technique of tissue manipulation accompanied by client education to ensure ease of movement was preserved.

An additional tenet of Dr. Rolf’s work is the idea that a balanced human body allows gravity to openly move through, promoting healing.  Because of this, repressed emotions may emerge during or after a treatment.   It is not uncommon for the release created by Rolfing to help clients connect with their true selves, their Core, often for the first time in their lives. Like unpeeling the layers of an onion, as freedom and ease returns, it may unlock one's spiritual self, free repressed body memories, and create long lasting comfort in the body.

How is it done?
CLINICAL PRACTICE OF ROLFING
A series of ten treatments is frequently suggested to slowly “unlock” the body, and the first session generally addresses respiratory muscles.  During a Rolfing session, a client is draped, and/or partially clothed. While lying prone the therapist moves the client through particular movements, and at the same time moves and massages the fascia until they are back to an original length.  This process continues over the sequence of sessions, and includes a specific objective for each session as well as a final goal for the overall results.

After completing the standard ten sessions formulated by Dr. Rolf, the client may choose to participate in a more advance sequence consisting of five treatments.  Clients may also choose to periodically return for a few sessions to ensure their bodies remain in proper balance.

Who does it?
PRACTITIONER STATUS
Depending on the state, performing Rolfing professionally may require the practitioner to already hold licensure in a related area. Certification as a practitioner may be done through the Rolf Institute, or it may be taught under the title “structural integration” and taught by other organizations.  Massage therapists, bodyworkers, chiropractors, etc can bring rolfing into their practice under their license or certification.