Today's New York Times has a good article about Rolfing® Structural Integration entitled "Rolfing, Excruciatingly Helpful". The article accurately describes how Rolfing SI works on the fascia (not the bones like chiropractic, or the muscles like massage), which is one reason Rolfers™ can get such good results with people's pain and posture issues.
The article does have the old saw about Rolfing® work being painful, so I want to point out that while the work can be intense, a good Rolfer works within your comfort threshold, so don't be scared away from trying it. My clients would generally agree with the author and interviewees that the intensity is worth it when it relieves chronic pain and stress.
Interestingly, the article also discusses how many New Yorkers in their 20s (a demographic already way into yoga) are seeking Rolfing sessions as a way to deal with stress and get more into their bodies. My practice has always had people from the 20s-30s age group, as well as many clients 40s+ dealing with the pain and tension ramifications of injuries and poor posture. What I find exciting about the 20-30 age group is that while they work hard and play hard – whether waiting tables, in corporate careers, or mountain biking and snowboarding – they balance this with a commitment to caring for their bodies that will help them in the long haul.
I also want to let local readers know that in Seattle Rolfing sessions do not generally cost $150 per hour, as they apparently do in New York City!
