Does Rolfing hurt?
The area being worked will vary in sensation and feeling depending upon the severity of chronic stress, injuries, and other factors specific to your body. Feelings can range from pleasurable release to discomfort. Fortunately, the work proceeds at your level and pace. Nothing is forced, and skillful Rolfing never feels sharply painful or invasive. When discomfort occurs, many clients describe it as a “good hurt” that the body wants and needs. Others say Rolfing significantly reduces the pain experienced in their daily lives or increases athletic functioning to such an extent, that discomfort on the table is worth the trade.
Unlike massage, Rolfing is a participatory process. You may be asked to “breath” into tissue to help it release, to make small movements under the practitioner’s hands, or to “stretch out of a place” being worked. Participating in the movement feels very different than having work “done to you.” Additionally, Rolfing proceeds slowly and deliberately; there is ample time to relax into the pressure.
After the first session, clients often comment that the work was nothing like they’d heard it would be, and are surprised at how good it feels.