There are many times in life when we feel disconnected from the inside out; We feel like there is something missing, so we search for something to make us feel centered and complete. But where do we search? Perhaps places that make us feel at peace, places that make us feel happy, secure, even safe. Although those places might make us feel centered, it is only for a short period of time before we start that search again. Expanding that centered feeling from places to actions can also help us fill that void. The most obvious way in which one can feel centered is through the act of meditation and channeling our breath. However, meditation focuses on channeling our breath to a calm place of our choosing, ultimately lacking the stretch and space we want to breathe into. So we try yoga and feel the space between our muscles and organs, allowing us to breathe in deeply and fill that space, filling our body with fresh, new, and calming breath. Along with our breath, the stretch we feel expands from the tip of our head to tip of our toes, allowing more space and a wave of a centering force to come over us. Although we feel calm and centered, our posture, alignment of our body with connection with the earth, and the harmony our body has with gravity is still not quite centered. To fill these connections, a Rolfer seems to be the answer to a complete centered self. But what is a Rolfer? What does it do for us?

To get some background, founder, Dr. Ida P. Rolf, “recognized that the body is inherently a system of seamless networks of tissues rather than a collection of separate parts. These connective tissues surround, support and penetrate all of the muscles, bones, nerves and organs. With this knowledge, she developed Rolfing Structural Integration, which works on this web-like complex of connective tissues to release, realign and balance the whole body, thus potentially resolving discomfort, reducing compensations and alleviating pain. Essentially, the Rolfing process enables the body to regain the natural integrity of its form, thus enhancing postural efficiency and your freedom of movement. So what are the benefits of rolfing? By applying sensitive and precise pressure to specific areas of the body, stretching and creating space in areas that are inhibiting us from feeling grounded, yet lifted internally, we are able to feel taller, balance, and calming. By aiming to restore flexibility, revitalize your energy and leave you feeling more comfortable in your body, we will feel more balanced in gravity. It is recommended that clients chose to begin rolfing in sessions of three, the first focusing on creating space between your ribs and back to give you a fuller, deeper breath, the second, focusing on grounding the feet, straightening the legs, and creating a straight line from your hip to your feet, and the third, focusing on stacking the ribs, shoulder, and pelvis, again freeing your breath and creating space internally. Ultimately, each session builds upon the results of the previous one so that the results are cumulative. The first seven sessions remove strain from the lower back, neck, knees, legs, etc. The remaining sessions focus on aligning the body as a whole, resulting in better balance, freedom of movement, and higher energy.

Here at Viva, our goal is to promote optimal living through a variety of holistic approaches, even rolfing. Our personal Rolfer, Terence Ollivierra is a Licensed Massage Therapist, a certified Rolfer™ and a certified Iyengar instructor who has practiced yoga for more than half his life and has been teaching since 1999. His yoga practice began as a teenager with a seven year Svadhyaya (self study) with B.K.S. Iyengar’s book, Light on Yoga, as his only guide. He was initially certified to teach the Sivananda System of Hatha Yoga, but is now a certified Iyengar instructor and a certified Rolfer™. With this keen eye for subtle imbalances and their effects on structural integrity he continues to develop more sophisticated ways to adjust misalignments. If you are interested in becoming more centered, grounded, and balanced, you can contact Terrence at 248-979-7653 or findt73@gmail.com

Cited From:

http://www.rolf.org/about

http://www.vilain.com/wp/what-is-rolfing/rolfing-series

http://www.rolfing.org/index.php?id=135