Rolfing is a massage therapy that is used to reduce pain and align the whole body. Rolfing techniques utilize energy work as well as intense physical manipulation of many different body parts in an attempt to get the entire body back in gravitational alignment. Being in alignment allows a body to operate more efficiently and with less pain.
Aligning the body back to it's natural gravitational position involves smoothing of fascial adhesions that are created during muscular injury. When these adhesions are broken down the skeletal structure is allowed to go back into it's natural alignment. These adhesions can have a drastic impact on bone alignment, poster and a host of other conditions.
Many clients of rolfing swear by its rejuvinative processes. Increased range of periferal motion along with strength increases and reduction in pain make rolfing a gift of mobility for many. With the skeleton in it's naturally aligned state, movement becomes painless and takes less effort.
Rolfing can be broken down into 3 areas. First the therapist will palpate body with their hands feeling for any imbalances in the tissue surface, changes in skin temperature or mis alignment of limbs. Next the therapist will separate the fascial muscle layers that are adhering together as a result of the injury or tissue build up. Finally the therapist will integrate the whole body back into gravitational alignment making sure that the skeletal system is free of any muscle adhesions that could could still be throughing the body out of alignment.
This type of massage is not pain free and is most effective when a series of 10 or more treatments are undergone. It can work wonders for those in cronic pain who can take a little pain.
