Rolfing, Cryotherapy, DNA testing: four new wellbeing trends
Move over massage, it’s time to welcome Rolfing. Developed in the 1950s this is a hands-on process used for the treatment of injuries and chronic pain.
Move over massage, it’s time to welcome Rolfing. Developed in the 1950s this is a hands-on process used for the treatment of injuries and chronic pain.
Rolfing is slightly different from each of these methods, in that a practitioner can actually lift up and move the myofascial layer back into its correct place, as well as helping to flush out waste products, as any tough massage might.
The Seattle Seahawks Golden Tate praises Rolfing in this video testimonial. Rolfing, good training and diet keep him healthy and feeling fresh throughout the football season.
I've gotten my hopes up so many times that I look on anyone with a massage table and a face donut with intense skepticism. But Rolfing could be different? Right?
One of the strangest and most meaningful experiences of my life occurred when I going through Rolfing (10 brilliant sessions of deep-tissue bodywork) in my early 20s.
Before this article I had no idea relief was possible with Structural Integration for a person with Lyme disease. But apparently for John it has certainly helped with managing his pain. Perhaps one day I will get to give it a go. Here's his story.
Working on Rio has taught me about the non-verbal signals all animals (including humans) give when receiving work.
Rolfing is like a massage on steroids, in a good way.
When you experience chronic pain (from an accident, overuse, poor posture, etc.), you may elect to take, or be advised to take, painkillers.
Athletes put their bodies through rigorous, repetitive motions that can pull the web of fascia out of alignment causing joints (knees, ankles, back, neck, shoulders) to gradually tighten and build up scar tissue. This increased tension and strain can lead to pain, stiffness, tendonitis, lack of flexibility, increased injury and deceased performance. Rolfing® combats these effects by releasing the fascia surrounding tight muscles, lengthening tight tendons, breaking down scar tissue and increasing flexibility and range of motion.
You’ve been seeing me for Rolfing sessions and we’ve gotten rid of your pain, so you’re done seeing me right? Well, maybe not. Just because you’re not feeling any pain currently doesn’t mean that your body is functioning in a healthy way.
A montage of a client being worked on set to music. It gives a good feel for what is happening in a typical session.
My personal data point is that rolfing absolutely cured my foot pain, and that was after many years of trying everything conventional medicine had to offer. (Yes, I had custom orthotics made. Twice.) I do think rolfing is absolutely worth a try if you have chronic foot pain, particularly if you’re getting no relief from conventional medicine.
In the 1960s, Dr. Ida P. Rolf said, “If you can imagine how it feels to live in a fluid, light, balanced body, free of pain, stiffness and chronic stress, at ease with yourself and Earth’s gravitational field, then you will understand the goals of Rolfing Structural Integration.”
“In the first session, my Rolfer worked on the upper part of my arms. The contact was slow and specific. The therapist went to the exact places that were stuck, and then the looseness went into my hands. I could feel my arms slowly changing. I could breathe easier and my range of motion was different.” Sheldon continued with Rolfing, which became a life-changing experience for him.
"When I describe a specific position in the high jump, my Rolfer will work on and discuss key areas that can improve my body mechanics. The insights I gain from the Rolfing work help me picture where I might be able to extract a little more power and length in the act of high jumping. I notice that I feel more stable and long throughout my body after the sessions."
Around Monday or so, I was feeling a bit down about the Rolfing I’m going through; not because of our Rolfer, but I felt like I was failing my homework assignment: to pay attention to my feet.
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“Are you sure my spine is aligned?” I always ask once he puts me into this position. “Because this doesn’t feel natural to me. I feel like I’m about to fall forward.” He then laughs and tells me that eventually, once he’s worked over the fascia in my body, this position will feel less awkward.
Kitzerow tried acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic care with little success. Finally, through a friend's encouragement and a bit of research, she decided to try Rolfing.