Work on the body
Work with the body
In tune with gravity
Rolfing®, also known as Structural Integration, was developed in the 1950s by biochemist Dr. Ida P. Rolf in the United States. Since then, there has been much research and lasting advances have been made; many respected studies have been published and the term “fascia” has gained currency.
Our connective tissue – the network of fascia – links together all the body’s internal structures and gives the body its shape. This is why Dr. Ida Rolf also described it as the “organ of form”. It reacts to external influences such as accidents, but also to stress or psychological trauma, by becoming sticky or producing additional material in order to protect and stabilise the body. Protective postures enhance this effect. In time, this causes one-sided contractions. The body is increasingly restricted and the posture is also altered.
Rolfing® loosens such adhesions and compressions, and the tissue once again becomes elastic and regains sliding capacity. Unlike other fascia treatments, Rolfing® involves the whole body, which is brought into balance with gravity. An imbalance at any point becomes compensated at other points, and this can have serious effects on other parts of the body. If the stresses are balanced, a person needs much less active muscle power to stand upright.
Where does Rolfing® help?
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Grinding and clenching the teeth or biting them together are common, and often stress-related. However, as a rule, this is not simply caused by the cramped muscles of the jaw and neck. Rather, it arises from compensation for blockages in other structures that have gone out of balance.
When only the symptoms are relieved, this does indeed prevent or resolve the tension in the jaw for a certain time; but the cause remains, and the body must compensate elsewhere.
Within the holistic approach of Rolfing®, not only are the jaw and possibly the neck muscles treated, but all structures are taken into account, so that the body’s balance can be restored. This generally takes longer than just two or three sessions, but achieves sustained relief of the pain as well as reduced stress – and so automatically leads to a feeling of revitalisation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tingling in the hand, painful and swollen fingers in the morning: these are signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by narrowing of the median nerve.
Rolfing® resolves adhesions, creating space and flexibility so that the body’s balance is restored.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, too, is not just a localised problem: it requires holistic treatment.
Overloaded joints
Joint pains can have a variety of causes, such as overloading from sporting activities or from a person being overweight, but sometimes they can just occur for no apparent reason. They are a sign that the body is not in equilibrium: joints become worn through excessive or irregular pressure.
The aim of Rolfing (structural integration) is to help the body realign itself in the best possible way, thereby removing the pressure on the joints; this in turn facilitates correct posture and movement, which results in a smooth rhythmic gait.
Bunions (hallux valgus)
If the big toe is turned inwards and the metatarsophalangeal joint is visibly laterally enlarged, this is known as a bunion, or hallux valgus. The condition is not simply caused by shoes that are too narrow, but also by the type of loading on the joint, the rolling motion of the foot, and the swing of the legs. The hips, the upper body, the shoulders, and so on, are also involved.
In Rolfing®, we consider the whole body and how its parts interact:
when balance has been restored to the body, the posture improves, the gait becomes smoother and walking becomes easier. The feet can once again bear the weight of the body without suffering.
Pain. Tension. Headaches. Tension in the jaw. Tooth grinding (bruxism). “Text neck”. Neck pain. Tension in the neck. Shoulder pain. Impingement. Tennis elbow. Golfer’s elbow. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Back pain. Menstrual pain. Knee pain. Inflamed Achilles tendon. Foot pain. Bunions (hallux valgus).
