Structural Integration was given the nickname "Rolfing" in response to the successful work of its creator Dr. Ida P. Rolf. Rolfing utilizes a variety of hands-on and perceptual interventions directed towards improving an individual's posture and relationship to gravity. In involves a systematically direct and indirect application of pressure to the body's fascial web which surrounds muscles, bones, joints, and ligaments. It also involves movement education intended to help someone further break out of patterns of restriction in daily activities. Due to its holistic approach Rolf sessions cover a lot of territory in order to get to the issues in the tissues and many sessions are organized into a series of ten separate sessions, commonly referred to as "The Ten Series". This approach helps reorganize, realign, and reintegrate the body so that it will be able to move with minimal pain and optimal efficiency.
How have people benefited from Rolfing?
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Improved posture and alignment
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Improved movement efficiency
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Improved athletic performance
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Improved balance and coordination
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Increased bodily awareness and education
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Reduced symptoms of chronic aches and pains
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Increased embodiment of self
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Increased awareness and presence
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Improved sense of well-being
Noel's Bodywork Training and Experience
750 Hour Massage Therapy Certificate Program at TCL, 2007
600 Hour Accelerated Certified Rolfer Basic Training at DIRI, 2016
200 Hour Certified Advanced Rolfer Certification at DIRI, 2018
180 Hour Certified Rolf Movement Practitioner Certification at DIRI, 2020
175 Hours Hands-On Dissection Study of Human Anatomy with Dr. Gil Hedley
Worked and held workshops at a variety of locations including:
Sattva Center for Yoga and Massage, OMNI Health and Fitness, Beaufort Salon and Spa, Blue Fish Fitness Club, Long Training Studios, Studio 33 Kiawah, Trident Technical College, Drake Fitness, Exemplar Fitness, Merle Norman, Earthling Day Spa, Urban Nirvana, and the Healing Gallery.
Want to learn more about Rolfing? Check out these helpful links and articles below. Still have questions about what to expect from a session? Visit the FAQ page.
Organizations:
International Association of Structural Integrators
Articles:
Fascial Plasticity: A Neurobiological Explanation by Robert Schleip, 2003
Variations in Ida Rolf's Recipe by Thomas Myers, 2004
Grounding Structural Concepts in Physical Reality by Hans Flury, 2004
Structural Integration: The Journal of the Rolf Institute Vol 45 No. 1, 2017 (Features Noel Poff's article "Closure")
Rolfing Structural Integration 10 Series Overview by Matt Hsu, Upright Health, 2016
Rolfing: Structural Integration by Noel Poff, Oblique Magazine, May 2018
Structure, Function, Integration: Journal of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, November 2019 (Features Noel Poff's Article "Movement Integration Through Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation")
Official logo fo the Rolf Institute (est. 1971) (left).
Noel before and after 10 sessions (2016) (right).
