ABOUT ROLFING
JOHN A. WILSON
- Certified Advanced Rolfer - Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration.
Rolfing is an alternative manual therapy that focuses on myofascial work. I am a Certified Advanced Rolfer who has decades of experience in helping people improve their posture, movement, and eliminate pain. This holistic approach to is designed to transform your posture, movement, and improve your overall sense of well-being. Rolfers, we believe in addressing the whole person and not just symptoms.
History
Rolfing was developed by Ida Rolf in the 1950s and 60s, and is based on principles similar to those found in Eastern and Osteopathic medicine. Dr. Rolf, PHD in biochemistry, was influenced by her work with Osteopaths, yoga and the ideas of G.I Gurdjieff via John G. Bennett. My practice is rooted in the idea that the body is an integrated system that needs to be addressed as a whole in order to maintain balance. By working with muscle, connective tissue, and movement, I aim to improve posture and balance.
As an experienced practitioner, I take the time to understand your unique strain patterns, so that I can provide a comprehensive approach to addressing unnecessary tension and promoting balance. With each session, you'll feel more connected to your body and experience a newfound sense of freedom in your movement. Body awarness is the goal.
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Good posture and movement come as a natural expression of a balanced body, not from trying to micromanage the way we sit, stand, and move with the mind, not through force. We work to build support for the changes we are trying to make, and aim to integrate these changes into our structure, and our daily lives. Rolfing has a reputation of being painful, but time has shown that working carefully with muscle tissue should not be painful, but mostly pleasant, with its challenging moments of course.
The Rolfing Series
The most fundamental approach to Rolfing is the 10 series. During these 10 sessions the Rolfer will work to differentiate muscle and connective tissue that are adhered together. In addition we use movement coaching to encourage a better use of deep core muscles, and less use of the bigger powerful muscles known as the sleeve. We loosen up the sleeve in order to find greater ease of movement.
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In the core sessions we address the deeper muscles of posture, trying to bring awareness into these areas, so they can become active again. Posture starts to become easier and more natural. We find new ways of standing and moving, or old ways that we have lost. A fuller expression of the body becomes possible, when we can allow it.
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The end of a 10 series focuses on integrating the changes we have made so that the individual can function more harmoniously and take these changes with them into life. When we are done with a 10 series we are typically done with this way of working, at least for a while. After this, Rolfing sessions may be less formulaic, and revolve around the issues at hand. For a more detailed guide to the 10 series, click on the link below.
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Rolfers can work out of a traditional series framework and often do, but to be clear, this is not just maintenance or pain management, it is a process of transformation. This is a transformation that lies at the heart of your inner potential, the intelligence and the wisdom of the body. Lets try to listen to the wisdom of the body, as it is an inner voice that knows best.
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To find a Rolfer in your area, or to check if a Rolfer is certified, go to the Find A Rolfer page on the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute's Website.