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People come to Rolfing® for many reasons.
Some seek relief from chronic pain and stiffness. Others want better performance from their bodies in sports, dance, yoga, and other endeavors. Many desire better posture, increased awareness of their bodies, or more flexibility. Still others come to Rolfing® wishing to grow emotionally or to advance their psychotherapy. Men, women, children, and seniors all benefit from Rolfing®.
Why is Rolfing® important?
THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL has let his or her body weight slip out from the vertical axis, that is, he or she has shortened the body. His head has slumped forward and his buttocks are probably carried up and back: Most likely the body has twisted as it has slumped; one shoulder or one hip may lead the other as the person walks. Knees may track out or in and misaligned ankles may throw his weight to the outside of his feet. One foot probably carries more weight than the other.
Patterns of imbalance tend to reinforce themselves. They feel comfortable and natural – balanced, in fact. Over the years they deepen by repetition, and the weight centers more progressively further from die vertical axis. Gravity becomes an increasingly destructive force resulting in chronic pain and emotional malaise.
RESEARCH on Rolfing® has begun to give objective quantitative data about its effects. Dr. Valerie Hunt, Director of. the Movement Behavior-Laboratory at UCLA and Dr. Julian Silverman, Research Specialist of the California Department of Mental Hygiene have conducted experiments at Agnews State Hospital in which subjects were tested before and after Rolfing® for changes in neurological control of the muscles for variation in responses to stimuli and for biochemical changes. Their findings indicate that after Rolfing® there is more efficient use of the muscles, conserved energy, increased refinement of response and a tendency for motor control to shift toward the more reflexive spinal centers.
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