What is the Rolf Method?
"Structural Integration" was the name Dr. Ida P. Rolf gave to her series of 10 sessions designed to integrate the human structure to the force of gravity. She was led to this alternative medicine discovery by the physical problems of her friends and family that were not being addressed by conventional treatments. She realized the plasticity of something called fascia would allow manual adjustment to release strains between muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Fascia is a tissue like a spider’s web that runs throughout the entire body giving shape to everything inside us including the muscles and bones. Dr. Rolf discovered that the body had 10 entry points that had to be approached in a systematic manner. This would allow a dynamic balance to occur between its many moving parts. The work she developed, the Rolf Method, balances the human body much like a contractor would readjust the sagging foundation and walls of a house to straighten the roof. The result would be structural strength.
For example, a body’s balance is thrown off when an ankle is injured. Even after the injury heals, other parts of the body that have compensated continue to hold some of their compensatory shape in the fascia. Although the limp may be gone, the structure has adapted to the stress of the injury in subtle ways that are still present. Car mechanics know that even the slightest misalignment over time wears one brake pad more than the other. So, too, small discrepancies in the body can lead to a lot of wear and tear in the joint system. Brake pads can be replaced. Trying to replace knees, ankles, hips, and backs is not so easy, and the quality is not like the original parts that mother nature provided! Practitioners of Rolf Structural Integration are taught to “see” these imbalances. They apply the 10-series to re-balance the human structure for optimal performance in the gravitational field.
In a very real sense the human body can be considered a system of springs. A Rolfing practitioner's job is to coordinate the springs to obtain maximum efficiency in the absorption and discharge of energy. Two good examples of these springs are the feet and the spine.
The arches of the feet are designed like leaf springs that flatten as the foot comes down on the ground when taking a step. Just as the natural recoil of a flattened leaf spring pushes it back to its arch, the foot's arch works much the same as the person continues stepping forward. When the weight is transferring from the heel to the ball of the foot, the spring is flattening and loading. When the weight of the body transfers over the spring via the leg, the energy of the spring is released propelling the body forward. As the body's weight travels correctly over a balanced foot, gravity has the effect of “lift” rather than drag.
When rigid arches of the feet lack a spring's ability to absorb energy, the force of the foot hitting the earth creates an erosive quality which can lead to future problems. In such an example, gravity would be experienced by the rigid arch as destructive while the healthy arch would experience gravity as something giving support and lift. People who have been told they have low arches or high arches, and have developed problems related to this, are often pleasantly surprised when the natural ability of whatever spring mother nature gave their body is aligned through Rolfing.
Likewise, the vertebrae of the spine are aligned not as a straight pole, but with curves that give and bounce back acting like a giant spring. The spinal spring comes into play in walking, breathing, and many other activities. Dr Rolf's work was groundbreaking due to her discovery that through working with the fascia and the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes of any three dimensional structure such as the human body, strain could be minimized and gravity's apparent destructive effect reduced. Alignment in these planes of legs, arms, torso, head and neck with gravity promotes strength whereas misalignment causes gravity to be experienced as weakness and stress points are multiplied. When the springs are compromised, the force of the foot hitting the ground becomes concussive and points of strain and injury will absorb more than they are capable of handling. The structures above the feet such as the knees, hips and spine compensate as best they can. Deterioration in the discs of the spine or where the bones meet in the knees are two examples of common problem areas that are affected by misalignment over time.
Another example of the health benefits of the Rolf Method is that during movement the springs of the body utilize the energy of gravity to promote healthy fluid flow. The lymph system recycles cellular waste material but lacks any pumping system like the heart and lungs. Anyone who has watched the flow of water after a heavy rain knows that all liquid follows the path of least resistance. When the springs of the body are aligned thanks to Rolfing, the pathways throughout it are more open. The cardiovascular system and lymph system are responsible for the all-important transfer of blood and water so the fewer obstructions to these systems the better.
Dr. Rolf's method differs from other modalities in that it strives to use the gravitational field as an organizing force. Due to the systematic nature of Rolf Structural Integration, the human body continues to change and improve through the work of gravity in the following 6-12 months after the Rolfing 10-series is complete. The original Rolfing 10-series is never repeated. However, a client can return for a three or five series to continue the body's integration process and to help deal with the normal wear and tear of aging. A period of 6 to 12 months is recommended from the end of the initial Rolfing 10-series before any advanced work is done so as to allow the body time to assimilate the changes.
By integrating the springs of the body to gravity, experiences in movement as basic as walking can be transformed from something painful to something invigorating. How would your life be different if you had less stiffness and more energy? To learn how Rolf Structural Integration might benefit you, please contact me today. I am happy to offer sessions in both Ann Arbor and Saline, MI for your convenience.
