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Ready to take the next step in your wellness journey? Reach out to get on the schedule and begin experiencing the benefits of Rolfing for improved alignment and overall well-being. Whether you’re new to Rolfing or continuing your series, we look forward to helping you get physically centered through the integration process. Returning to a stable and grounded state by focusing on the body’s connection to gravity which involves finding a balanced position and developing awareness of the subtle movement patterns within your body. Pictured you can see my client is positionally biased with too much weight going down her right side and after there is much better weight distribution into the ground with greater overall balance. Clients often report feeling more grounded, lighter, and aware of their bodies after sessions, which facilitates greater ease of motion.

My long-term client has been coming to Rolfing Iowa for sessions for many years and has experienced the ongoing benefits of the work even when changes are subtle yet perceptible, as shown in this example. During this appointment improvements included a more horizontal positioning of his pelvis, and a better balance in his back with movement left to right up his body with a longer posterior neck. My client maintains a disciplined fitness routine and is in excellent shape. Most of us have structures that would benefit from Rolfing where the shifts would be easier to see and can be significant. Most people are not familiar with style of bodywork and be sure to forward this e mail to a friend you think might benefit.

I have been working with my client to get better balance in her structure from a past injury where she fractured her right ankle and had a plate implanted eight years ago. You can see the strain pattern clearly in the right lower leg and right medial knee. We have made good progress in realigning her right leg, working into the adductor compartment allowing the right leg to shift and in the new position provide much better balance in her structure. In the Rolfing process we are very interested in getting more equal weight distribution down each leg.

Since we are all on this journey toward greater uprightness, where gravity becomes a primary support mechanism, the topic of vertical alignment remains central. My client is progressing toward a more vertical posture, an ongoing process that occurs both in the background and foreground throughout the series of Rolfing sessions. With less flexion in the thighs, there is increased lift in the upper body as the shoulders move back, and the head aligns over the shoulders. Improved movement patterns and reduced discomfort in problem areas are welcomed outcomes for clients undergoing this bodywork process.

This month, we continue to focus on the concept of "line" due to its central role in the Rolfing paradigm. In this session, my client is progressing toward a more vertical alignment, with reduced flexion facilitating improved positioning of the head atop the shoulder girdles. Our aim is to enable gravity to function as a supportive force for the body's structure, recognizing its pervasive influence. A significant aspect of the Rolfing experience involves developing awareness of subtle postural changes, learning to identify misalignments, and actively adjusting one's structure to achieve a more optimal and supportive position.

Staying on the “line” topic another week. Here my client’s movement is toward better vertical alignment. The goal is to get the most verticality that one can support without undue effort or strain.  Less flexion and less locked leg presentation after the session creating more length in her torso and less rounding in her shoulder girdles with a more natural anterior tilt in the pelvis and she is taller. While not all clients experience such immediate changes post-session, those who do not will nevertheless notice a positive somatic response, which will contribute to enhanced movement and greater overall comfort in their bodies.

Following last week’s focus of “Moving Toward the Vertical,” my client here demonstrates substantial progress in achieving a more vertical alignment, with a marked reduction in thigh flexion post-session. Utilizing gravity as a supportive mechanism enhances structural integrity.  In the Rolfing framework, the concept of the “line” represents an ideal that promotes increased length within the body, supporting both expansion and refinement toward the pursuit of structural balance—outcomes that are evident both visually and experientially.

We are all on a journey toward becoming more upright. When vertical alignment is achieved, gravity can serve as a supportive mechanism. The aim is to distribute body mass efficiently along an imaginary vertical line, minimizing effort or strain, while accommodating structural differences unique to each person. In this example, my client demonstrates reduced thigh flexion after the session, which allows for improved alignment that translates to enhanced physical comfort due to a more balanced structure.

Continuing from last week’s focus on achieving balance, this client demonstrates notable improvements in overall structural alignment following her session. Her left foot has adjusted to a parallel position, facilitating repositioning of the left leg to provide greater support beneath the pelvis. This adjustment allows for elongation along the entire left side up through the shoulder girdle. As a result, there is increased lift and significantly reduced rounding in the shoulder girdles, permitting the arms to rest more naturally at the sides of the body. Additionally, her neck and head move from right to left, with the head aligning along the centerline of the body. These adjustments result in different movement patterns that are observable and perceptible changes in your structure helping you feel better in your body.

Looking again at how we balance the weight of our structure into the ground. After the session, my client shows a more equal weight distribution through each leg. Her right leg moves medially and aligns with her right foot, which moves to a more parallel position with less supination. Similarly, her left foot moves to a parallel position with her right foot, also with less supination.   With her right leg more supportive this shifts her weight more evenly down each leg and her right side including her shoulder girdle moves superiorly and allows her head to shift down the centerline of her body with her weight now much more equally distributed. As a result, these kinds of shifts can help you feel better and move more fluidly in all your activities outside of the studio.