Dr. Rolf’s death ushered in a new era of bodywork modalities and tools for what would soon be called deep tissue massage therapists to use in a practice of freeing up their clients musculoskeletal discomfort. It was a time of adaptation and the dissemination of deeply held methods and perceptions that were discovered and developed by Dr. Rolf and the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. Certified Rolfing is the science of assessing and addressing a clients’ structural disposition along a spectrum of possibilities that range from functionaly-dysfunctionaly asymmetric.
Asymmetry begins in the nervous system of the body and manifests in the fascia that envelopes each individual bone, muscle fiber, fasical, and bundle that supports the structure of the body. Deep Tissue Massage, as its name says, focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It is designed to reach the deep sections of thick muscles, specifically the individual muscle fibres. Using deep muscle compression and friction along the grain of the muscle, the purpose of Deep Tissue Massage is to un-stick the fibres of the muscles and release both toxins and deeply held tension points. While deep tissue massage was developed as a response to address the symmetrical needs of the human body by releasing specific areas the human body it is not possible to achieve the same results of Structural Integration. The science dictates that structural pain and discomfort or musculoskeletal issues are by products of a system wide compression that is held in the asymmetrical pattern of the body stocking of fascia.
It is the collective methods and tools of a Certified Rolfer that release, realign and balance the entire body. With deep tissue massage specific hand positions and strokes are used to respond to various tissues while breath and movement techniques are employed to release muscular congestion. It helps to loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles and get blood and oxygen circulating properly. It is beneficial for many physical problems, including sports injuries and chronic pain. Because it works very deeply, emotional issues can also be addressed when these have been stored in the body. Deep tissue treatments take place on a massage table with no clothing, and Rolfing sessions are performed on a table with partial clothing of underwear, swimsuit, or exercise apparel.
Deep Tissue Massage usually focuses on specific areas and may cause some soreness during or after the session. If the massage is done correctly however, you should feel better within a day or two. Water helps to eliminate toxins from the body so it is important to drink plenty of water after a Deep Tissue Massage to help this process along.
Since Rolfing changes the structural disposition of a clients structure and proprioception mechanisms, a client can feel light and balanced immediately after standing up if the sessions are performed correctly. As a LMT and a Certified Rolfer my intention is to describe the way the two methods are similar and yet dramatically different in each methods intention, though both methods are adequate ways to live more freely in a body experiencing pain and discomfort.
John Barton, Certified Rolfer® and Rolfing® Therapist Fort Worth/Dallas-TX.
www.certifiedrolfing.com/Kalispell
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