Choosing a Bodyworker - Rolfing

I know this is OT here, but there doesn't seem to be any place where it is
on topic and I'm pretty sure some of you would have good ideas.

As part of the "Me, only better" tour, I've decided to be Rolfed. Feel
free to talk me out of it if you want. g

Living in a metropolitan area, I can find tons of certified Rolfers who
are sufficiently local that that isn't a selection criterion. Therein lies
the problem. How do I choose? When I was just looking for a massage
therapist, it was easy to make an appt., see if I liked the person and
enjoyed and felt I benefited from the work and then carry on, or not, from
there. However, since Rolfing is a process, I don't think it's so easy to
try someone out, decide you're not enjoying it and then move on. This
seems to be especially so since "enjoying" isn't a word people seem to
apply to Rolfing. I'd feel weird calling up someone and asking to
interview them.

So, what should I look for? The only criterion I could come up with was to
find the person who had the highest level of training, but I'm not sure
that necessarily correlates to the best in practice.

While we're on the subject, any thoughts about rolfing? Life changing
experiences? Horror stories?

Thanks,
Martha

--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.

Okay, what is Rolfing???? I do not think I like the sound of this Rolfing
business so please do not do it.

Thoroughly confused.



"Martha Gallagher" wrote in message
...
I know this is OT here, but there doesn't seem to be any place where it is
on topic and I'm pretty sure some of you would have good ideas.

As part of the "Me, only better" tour, I've decided to be Rolfed. Feel
free to talk me out of it if you want. g

Living in a metropolitan area, I can find tons of certified Rolfers who
are sufficiently local that that isn't a selection criterion. Therein lies
the problem. How do I choose? When I was just looking for a massage
therapist, it was easy to make an appt., see if I liked the person and
enjoyed and felt I benefited from the work and then carry on, or not, from
there. However, since Rolfing is a process, I don't think it's so easy to
try someone out, decide you're not enjoying it and then move on. This
seems to be especially so since "enjoying" isn't a word people seem to
apply to Rolfing. I'd feel weird calling up someone and asking to
interview them.

So, what should I look for? The only criterion I could come up with was to
find the person who had the highest level of training, but I'm not sure
that necessarily correlates to the best in practice.

While we're on the subject, any thoughts about rolfing? Life changing
experiences? Horror stories?

Thanks,
Martha

--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.

"Martha Gallagher" wrote in message
...
I know this is OT here, but there doesn't seem to be any place where it is
on topic and I'm pretty sure some of you would have good ideas.

As part of the "Me, only better" tour, I've decided to be Rolfed. Feel
free to talk me out of it if you want. g

Living in a metropolitan area, I can find tons of certified Rolfers who
are sufficiently local that that isn't a selection criterion. Therein lies
the problem. How do I choose? When I was just looking for a massage
therapist, it was easy to make an appt., see if I liked the person and
enjoyed and felt I benefited from the work and then carry on, or not, from
there. However, since Rolfing is a process, I don't think it's so easy to
try someone out, decide you're not enjoying it and then move on. This
seems to be especially so since "enjoying" isn't a word people seem to
apply to Rolfing. I'd feel weird calling up someone and asking to
interview them.

So, what should I look for? The only criterion I could come up with was to
find the person who had the highest level of training, but I'm not sure
that necessarily correlates to the best in practice.

While we're on the subject, any thoughts about rolfing? Life changing
experiences? Horror stories?

Thanks,
Martha

--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.

I had 12 Rolfing sessions about a year ago and it was an incredible
experience. I was referred to my rolfer by an old boyfriend, and I
immediately liked her right off. We chatted for a bit about bodywork
philosophies before I agreed to become her patient.

I would recommend you contact some rolfers that look good and ask them for
references. Then call those people. Since I have a lot of tension/trigger
points in my back and neck it was important to me to find a rolfer who was
not afraid to exercise a lot of pressure. My rolfer listened to me and
consequently I benefitted tremendously from the whole process.

I would also add that I absolutely LOVED the rolfing process. It's better
than chiropractic or massage, at least for my needs. I heard that some
people have some strange reactions, but the only thing that happened to me
was that after the second session I trembled for about an hour afterwards.
The remaining sessions were very relaxing and therapeutic. If you can
afford it, go for it.

Onoma

Okay, this is driving me made... What is ROLFING??????? As it does not
sound pleasant.

Desi
"onoma" wrote in message
news:5Nfjc.105$fE.19@fed1read02...

"Martha Gallagher" wrote in message
...
I know this is OT here, but there doesn't seem to be any place where it
is
on topic and I'm pretty sure some of you would have good ideas.

As part of the "Me, only better" tour, I've decided to be Rolfed. Feel
free to talk me out of it if you want. g

Living in a metropolitan area, I can find tons of certified Rolfers who
are sufficiently local that that isn't a selection criterion. Therein
lies
the problem. How do I choose? When I was just looking for a massage
therapist, it was easy to make an appt., see if I liked the person and
enjoyed and felt I benefited from the work and then carry on, or not,
from
there. However, since Rolfing is a process, I don't think it's so easy
to
try someone out, decide you're not enjoying it and then move on. This
seems to be especially so since "enjoying" isn't a word people seem to
apply to Rolfing. I'd feel weird calling up someone and asking to
interview them.

So, what should I look for? The only criterion I could come up with was
to
find the person who had the highest level of training, but I'm not sure
that necessarily correlates to the best in practice.

While we're on the subject, any thoughts about rolfing? Life changing
experiences? Horror stories?

Thanks,
Martha

--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.

I had 12 Rolfing sessions about a year ago and it was an incredible
experience. I was referred to my rolfer by an old boyfriend, and I
immediately liked her right off. We chatted for a bit about bodywork
philosophies before I agreed to become her patient.

I would recommend you contact some rolfers that look good and ask them for
references. Then call those people. Since I have a lot of
tension/trigger
points in my back and neck it was important to me to find a rolfer who was
not afraid to exercise a lot of pressure. My rolfer listened to me and
consequently I benefitted tremendously from the whole process.

I would also add that I absolutely LOVED the rolfing process. It's better
than chiropractic or massage, at least for my needs. I heard that some
people have some strange reactions, but the only thing that happened to me
was that after the second session I trembled for about an hour afterwards.
The remaining sessions were very relaxing and therapeutic. If you can
afford it, go for it.

Onoma

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004, 2-Fat wrote:

Okay, what is Rolfing???? I do not think I like the sound of this Rolfing
business so please do not do it.


Rolfing is a form of bodywork that works to break up "stuck" areas that
we've developed in our bodies. From what I've heard, it can be rather
painful, but then change frequently is. For more information about
rolfing, you could go to http://idaprolf.org/

Thoroughly confused.


Maybe it's a stuck place.

Martha


"Martha Gallagher" wrote in message
...
I know this is OT here, but there doesn't seem to be any place where it is
on topic and I'm pretty sure some of you would have good ideas.

As part of the "Me, only better" tour, I've decided to be Rolfed. Feel
free to talk me out of it if you want. g

Living in a metropolitan area, I can find tons of certified Rolfers who
are sufficiently local that that isn't a selection criterion. Therein lies
the problem. How do I choose? When I was just looking for a massage
therapist, it was easy to make an appt., see if I liked the person and
enjoyed and felt I benefited from the work and then carry on, or not, from
there. However, since Rolfing is a process, I don't think it's so easy to
try someone out, decide you're not enjoying it and then move on. This
seems to be especially so since "enjoying" isn't a word people seem to
apply to Rolfing. I'd feel weird calling up someone and asking to
interview them.

So, what should I look for? The only criterion I could come up with was to
find the person who had the highest level of training, but I'm not sure
that necessarily correlates to the best in practice.

While we're on the subject, any thoughts about rolfing? Life changing
experiences? Horror stories?

Thanks,
Martha

--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.





--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.

"2-Fat" wrote in message ...
Okay, this is driving me made... What is ROLFING??????? As it does not
sound pleasant.


Ever use Google before?

http://www.rolf.org/

Thank you BillieDee. I've used google 1000's of times. When asking a
question to a group, it's usually for feedback and conversation, to interact
with ones peers and community. Yes I could mindless and solemnly search in
google
but no interaction from the community that is ASDLC.

Thank you
Desiree

"billydee" wrote in message
om...
"2-Fat" wrote in message
...
Okay, this is driving me made... What is ROLFING??????? As it does not
sound pleasant.


Ever use Google before?

http://www.rolf.org/

On 27 Apr 2004 10:31:44 -0700, (billydee) wrote:

"2-Fat" wrote in message ...
Okay, this is driving me made... What is ROLFING??????? As it does not
sound pleasant.


Ever use Google before?

http://www.rolf.org/

There are two:
The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration - www.rolf.org
The Guild for Structural Integration - www.rolfguild.org

Last I knew (1992) the situation with the name was kind of like with
Atkins. The founder, Ida Rolf, died and the name went to one group. Some
of the original people then split and formed their own.

I had the ten session course from the Guild and loved every minute of
it. Well, I began with a few sessions from a graduate, which were
wonderful, then decided I wanted more exposure and theory so took the
rest as a guinea pig in a class at a discount.

There used to be two philosophies: one is gentle and one is "no pain no
gain". The Guild was gentle: dunno about the Institute.

Imo the OP should try to find friends who have used it and ask their
opinions of various practitioners. There's so much emotional factor
that imo the main thing is to find a practitioner who is emotionally
compatible with you.

Or search Google Groups for 'Rolfing'. This thread in
misc.health.alternative looks useful:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...oogle%2BSearch

Also try to do this in a peaceful period, where between sessions you can
pay attention to your sensations, let the new habits get established,
without having to stress and hurry. Also there may be memories to
process that deserve peaceful attention.

I think the benefits have stayed with me for 10 years, tho I've got very
sloppy and should have a tune up, or at least some hatha yoga. Hm,
low-carb connection here. When I've been lower carbing with mostly raw
veg, my digestion improves and things happen in the lower abdomen that
bring back the posture and balance I got from Rolfing....

Skinny

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004, Skinny wrote:


There are two:
The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration - www.rolf.org
The Guild for Structural Integration - www.rolfguild.org

Last I knew (1992) the situation with the name was kind of like with
Atkins. The founder, Ida Rolf, died and the name went to one group. Some
of the original people then split and formed their own.

Good to know. I sort of remember hearing about this, but it's so common
that I couldn't remember whether it had been a factor in the Rolf lineage.


I had the ten session course from the Guild and loved every minute of
it. Well, I began with a few sessions from a graduate, which were
wonderful, then decided I wanted more exposure and theory so took the
rest as a guinea pig in a class at a discount.

There used to be two philosophies: one is gentle and one is "no pain no
gain". The Guild was gentle: dunno about the Institute.


That's helpful. All things being equal, I'd prefer to have it done in such
a way that it doesn't hurt, although I'm willing to put up with some
discomfort if it actually improves things.

Imo the OP should try to find friends who have used it and ask their
opinions of various practitioners. There's so much emotional factor
that imo the main thing is to find a practitioner who is emotionally
compatible with you.

Yeah, therein lies the rub. When I used to live in Western Mass., I
probably knew a number of people who had been rolfed or knew someone who
did it or had had it done. Now that I'm in DC, I don't think I know anyone
who has gone through it.

I guess the closest approximation is to see if I can make an appt. with
the Rolfer before I actually start treatments.

Or search Google Groups for 'Rolfing'. This thread in
misc.health.alternative looks useful:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...oogle%2BSearch

Also try to do this in a peaceful period, where between sessions you can
pay attention to your sensations, let the new habits get established,
without having to stress and hurry. Also there may be memories to
process that deserve peaceful attention.

Yes, I was just thinking of the logistics of it, and I'm going to see if I
can schedule for a time when I can then just go home and relax afterwards
if that seems appropriate.

I used not to be a believer in the idea that mental/emotional stuff is
bound up in the body. Then, one day I had a shiatsu treatment at a time
when I was having a disagreement with someone I knew (not right at that
moment, of course), I kept saying that I wasn't angry with him. But, as
the bodyworker was manipulating my hip, I came to the realization that I
absolutely was angry with him, but I'd been holding it back for various
reasons.


I think the benefits have stayed with me for 10 years, tho I've got very
sloppy and should have a tune up, or at least some hatha yoga. Hm,
low-carb connection here. When I've been lower carbing with mostly raw
veg, my digestion improves and things happen in the lower abdomen that
bring back the posture and balance I got from Rolfing....

It's all connected. :-)

Checking out the websites myself has reminded me of what will probably be
my biggest obstacle in actually going ahead with this - having the before
pictures taken in my underwear.


Martha


--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.