People leave their Rolfing® sessions feeling free from system wide tension, movement improves, pain can be reduced or eliminated, a sense of balance, length and feeling more upright emerges, and generally feeling freedom in one's body where there was once discomfort and restriction.
First, every Rolfing® session takes place in a treatment room or office prepared by the Rolfer™, either in a home office or a business space. The length of Rolfing session varies with individual Rolfers from 60 minutes to 90 minutes and prices vary from $120 to $200 per session, depending on the region and the experience of the practitioner. Clients also may need to read and sign a consent form. It is important that both the client and the Rolfer agrees to the terms of the session (price, length, goals for the work). All relevant medical background needs to be reported to the Rolfer for the safety of the client. This information is reported when a client schedules their first session which takes place with a 10–30-minute phone consultation. Rolfing is not intended as a replacement for medical treatment; Rolfing is intended to complement medical care.
Clients will be asked to dress down to underwear, swimsuit, or exercise gear so the Rolfer can observe them standing and walking. The Rolfer will use their expertise to see the patterns of anatomy and form that contribute to the person’s structural experience. Once the Rolfer has a clear idea about what touch interventions will be best for the session, the client will be asked to lay down on a treatment table or sit on a Rolfing bench or do some movement interventions while standing.
Rolfing work is a dynamic form of manual therapy and movement education. Clients are encouraged to ask questions, and to talk with their Rolfer while the touch work is taking place. While the touch experience may feel intense at times, it is temporary and decreases while structural restrictions are released. Rolfers and clients work together to realize the structural goals of the client.
At the end of a Rolfing session, clients have a variety of experiences. It is often recommended to schedule some free time for self-care after a Rolfing session. Some people feel temporary stiffness like after a workout, some people feel like they’d like a nap, and some report feeling energized. Those who have experienced a Rolfing session with me know that at the end of a session, I ask for one word to describe what the new feeling and experience of their body is. Clients have described their feeling as, "Natural, Freedom, Open, Balanced, Easier, Relaxed, Light, Amazing, Fluid, Connected, Alive, Aware, Comfortable, Speechless, Complete" and many more. These are very powerful and often dramatic experiences.
Some clients choose to have a single bodywork or Rolfing session to care for their body as needed. Typically, a Rolfing session is delivered in the context of a series of sessions which can be the first 3 sessions of the Rolfing Ten Series or the traditional Rolfing Ten Series. The Ten Series was developed as a series of sessions to systematically balance the structure and optimize the function of the entire body. Sessions are generally spaced 1-2 weeks apart however it depends on the client's goals and availability. I encourage you to reach out and schedule a phone consultation to see if a bodywork or Rolfing session would be good for you. To your health.
Elias Limberopoulos, Certified Rolfer®