Structural Integration - Deep Tissue Bodywork, Posture and Movement Education

Why Doesn’t My Back Hurt? I GOT ROLFED!

July 27, 2013 : Blog

This testimonial from a first time Rolfing Structural Integration client describes an experience that I think is fairly typical. I appreciate her honesty and an occasional curse word to drive a point home. A well written testimonial without a lot of apparent bias. She seemed to really appreciate getting Rolfed, even if just for one session. Take a look:

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First she asked me to stand as straight as I could, and really try to sink into the ground with my feet, all the while telling me to let go and keep breathing.

Have you noticed how when someone tells you to “relax and let go” you start thinking about it and JUST CAN’T?

My Rolfer stood in front of me, then to my side and scrutinized how I was standing. Then she asked me to hold onto the wall in front of me and lift my right leg, and then my left. She quietly mentioned something about how my left side appeared weaker than my right then asked me to lie down, face up on the massage table.

She proceeded to look at my prone body  how I imagine a chef decides to quarter a pheasant, before putting her hands under my neck and head.

With every inhale and exhale she manipulated my neck and head, like she was coaxing it longer. It was not painful, but persistent. Unlike a massage, there was no really closing my eyes and drifting off into bliss. She kept a quiet, but open line of communication, telling me where to “place my breath,” and continually asking me to surrender more into her hands.

I really did feel like my neck was pulling out of my body. There was a sort of deep release in the connection between my neck and skull that I had never felt. I went from feeling like a scared turtle to an ostrich. (Does that make sense? Or does that just sound like a penis joke?)

As she continued, I started to wonder where the pain was. I had heard that Rolfing could be terribly painful, almost unbearable. But aside from the continuous pressure, it was not painful. I was even a little disappointed that it didn’t hurt more, as I’m the kind of person who really likes “the good pain.” However, I just mentally shrugged it off, and kept “surrendering,” as I’d read that modern Rolfing was no longer as painful as it was in Ida Rolf’s day.

Oh, I was not to be disappointed…”

Read the rest of the article here.