Posts by simon
What is Rolfing?
Rolfing is a scientific and intuitive system of balancing the physical structure in gravity. Its fundamental and unique idea is that this omnipresent force will be received optimally by a body which is organized around a truly vertical principle of support.
Read MoreWhy does Rolfing work?
Your body organizes itself in a more upright, more functional alignment. With vertical order, the true support of feet, knees, pelvis, and spine becomes realized. Every structure above is endowed with support from below, and on an instinctive level, the body understands it can relax.
Read MoreMore About Fascia
Fascia is a tough, opaque, membranous protein called collagen, functioning in the body like fabric and cables: fabric in the sense that it wraps and contains every part of the body. All the muscles, bones, and organs are clothed in and supported by fascia. Fascia also organizes into cables, able to resist strain in a specific direction. This is what tendons (connecting muscles to bones) and ligaments (connecting bones to bones) are fashioned from. Fascial planes are continuous throughout the body, intimately uniting all its parts into one comprehensive, integrated whole. Fascial tissue is a network of long strands composed of a protein called collagen. This, in turn, is bathed in “ground substance” which can be in a more fluid or more gelled state, depending on factors such as temperature. When you feel stiff and then, through movement “limber up”, it is not so much your muscles tissue which has changed, but your fascia, and more exactly still, your ground substance, which has become more fluid. The fluctuation of the ground substance constitutes a short-term alteration in the nature of the fascia which we daily affect ourselves, knowingly or otherwise. However, there is a mechanism for much more significant and enduring change in the form of another fascial constituent– metabolically active cells, called fibroblasts and fibroclasts. Fibroblasts are activated by tension in their associated fascia. Fibroblasts are at work in your body right now, manufacturing strands of collagen, thickening and strengthening their surrounding fascia. For instance, if you begin a weight-lifting program, as your muscles work, the tension in their tendons would rouse the local fibroblasts. Over time, as your muscles grow, so will their tendons. Conversely, in the absence of strain, cells called fibroclasts dissolve fascia, assuming that these areas do not require as much reinforcement. The way we live in our bodies shapes our bodies, inside and out. Identifying the habits and lifestyles that can cause a backslide is an important component of the educational nature of...
Read MoreDo the changes last?
A great deal of muscular tension exists due to what is inaccurately labeled as “poor posture”. I say this because the word posture implies a choice, but the underlying cause is actually poor structure.
Read MoreDo I have to have ten sessions for it to be beneficial?
The traditional Rolfing Series is a 10 session model that comprehensively balances your body’s fascial network to reduce strain on your joints, reducing or eliminating pain. Fascia, also known as connective tissue, is a tough, fibrous tissue which wraps and connects every muscle, bone and organ in our bodies. Falls, trauma, surgeries, and repetitive movements can disorganize this protean tissue, and create facial strains which manifest as stiffness, aches, and pain. The 10 series can be thought of as a progression of lenses, looking at your body’s fascial continuum along particular lines of transmission so that each session catalyses the following work. The 10 series allows Rolfing’s holistic paradigm to be fulfilled, giving you the maximum benefit of this powerful modality. That said, it is not necessary to do a full 10 sessions. You can opt to come for what is called “fix-it” Rolfing (eg. “My shoulder hurts, please fix it!”). Quite often 1 session can provide substantial and lasting relief for chronic discomforts and pains residing in any part of your body. Mini series can also be designed to work with a larger “territory” of your body—for instance a series of 3 is a very good way to establish an easier, more expansive way of breathing. The best choice for each individual will depend on several variables. We can talk about your goals, and discuss what approach will be the best for...
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