I was twenty-two years old when I got Rolfed. My lower back gave me trouble, but mostly I felt ungrounded, uncentered, and unsettled. My life changed forever during those ten remarkable sessions.
Now, forty-five years into my own Rolfing practice, I am still amazed at the results my clients achieve during their ten-session series. It seems nothing short of magic, and I am a witness to the miracles!
I have seen people get rid of chronic neck and back pain, headaches, discomfort when sitting, and many other chronic issues. I have seen older people in their eighties shift into being more comfortable, happier, looser, and more stable. I have seen teenagers grow into their bodies and feel strong, safe, and ready for their futures. I have seen babies start to walk a day after some work to help them feel their heels.
How Does Rolfing Work?
Rolfing is hands-on, direct manipulation of the body’s connective tissue or soft tissue – everything but the bone. It is not a deep massage. We concentrate on the alignment of the entire body, on the premise that pain or discomfort occurs when some body part is not supported by other body parts. Think of a bunch of blocks that need to be stacked properly. Like the game of Jenga, the blocks below need to support the blocks above.
Fascia, the connective tissue that binds the entire body together, is the primary focus of this work. When the body is injured, the fascia releases a gelatinous fluid that helps keep everything moving. Over time, that liquid dries out and begins to act like glue. If you’ve ever seen someone who just had a car accident, on the first day or two, they’re moving normally. Seeing them a month or two later, their necks are now attached to their torsos and stiff, so movement comes from their waists. Everything has gotten glued down and stuck.
Layer by layer, body part by body part, we release the stuck, thickened fascia, allowing the body to resume more natural movement. Turning the neck musculature with ease, rather than from compensatory lower-torso twisting, is the goal of the work after that car accident.
What makes Rolfing unique is not just the physical changes, but the profound sense of embodiment that often follows. People report feeling more present in their lives, more connected to themselves, and more resilient in the face of daily stress. As the body reorganizes, the nervous system follows, creating a deeper sense of calm and stability. It is as though, by aligning the structure, we also align the person’s experience of being in the world.
The Miracle of Rolfing
Years ago, I worked with a woman in her mid-sixties who had very serious scoliosis – curvature of the spine. It was so bad that her doctor wanted to remove two of her lower ribs because the pressure of her curvature was causing her ribs to curl upward and inward. Her doctor was afraid her lung could be punctured if that condition persisted. She learned about Rolfing, and we completed the 10-session series. I would hear from her every Christmas for several years – she never needed that surgery. We created enough space and de-rotation that she was saved from extreme surgical and quite painful measures.
I was pleasantly surprised by the results of another client who showed up about two years after having had a Harrington rod put into her spine to correct very severe scoliosis. After finishing graduate school, she had an intensive surgery to straighten her spine and have a metal rod implanted. She healed well and took a full-time job across the country to begin her adult life. About a year later, she began to feel twisted.
When they put in the Harrington rod, the connective tissue was not addressed. She was twisting around her straight spine. Bones don’t move themselves – all the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia move the skeletal system. We had to release the soft tissue to stop her body from rotating.
Her Rolfing series stopped the spiraling cycle and allowed more symmetry and mobility to emerge. Two years later, she was pregnant. During and after her pregnancy, she had no further Rolfing and was doing great! She credited her Rolfing experience with straightening her out and allowing her to live a pain-free life.
I am in awe of how many people have been helped over the years of my practice. I learned a trade, a sort of recipe. This is the work of Dr. Ida Rolf, a pioneer who developed this process over fifty years. Because getting Rolfed was so powerful for me, I approach my work with a miracle mindset – anything is possible when chaos and disorganization are replaced by balance and order.
We come out of whack with those car accidents, bad falls, stress, years of bad posture, and even childbirth. We must pay attention to those aches and pains because that’s the signal that something is off. In a Rolfing consultation, I ask the prospective client to come in with their medical history written down so we can discuss each incident. Our bodies tell a story, and we all want that happy ending. I’ve seen miracles and magic. Are you ready to shift into your easier, more pain-free life?
Sharon Sklar is in her 45th year of private practice as a Certified Advanced Rolfer. She has been voted one of Natural Nutmeg’s 10BEST Bodyworkers for the last seven years and is very grateful for that confidence and support. Sharon works with direct manipulation of the body’s soft tissues and movement re-education over a 10-session series to help her clients feel freer, become more balanced, and reduce chronic pain. Great for athletes, children, and adults recovering from the stress, injuries, or traumas of life. Inquiries are encouraged! State Licensed. Call 860.561.4337 for more info or to schedule a consultation.
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