Extracted from The Back Pain Sourcebook by Stephanie Levin-Gervasi

Rolf's theory postulates that when the body's structure is corrected, basic chemical changes take place within the body that improve over all health.

Rolfing straightens the body by correcting the relationship between major body segments, such as the head, shoulders, thorax, pelvis and legs, toward vertical alignment. I've been rolfed once, and it was no pleasure trip. It was, however, very effective.

Rolfers perform deep manipulation of the connective tissue called collagen. The collagen changes from hands on energy applied, and becomes more pliable.

In a sequence of hands-on manipulation, the Rolfers move the tissue back toward symmetry and balance that the body demands. Sufficient force is used to stretch and move the tissue. Pain may be momentarily intense.

Rolfers speculate that pain frequently masks an emotional release. Rolfing is not as subtle as other types of body work with its movements. Sometimes people being rolfed recalls a traumatic episode associated with the body.

Often emotion is released after or during a rolfing session. Rolfing takes place in a series of ten weekly sessions. Sessions last approximately an hour.