45 Newbury Street, Boston
Rolfing Structural Integration® combines manual therapy & movement awareness to improve your body's alignment & function. It leads to improved posture, better joint mobility, & enhanced energy!
For appointments, please use the BOOK ONLINE button above. For questions, please send a message from the Contact Section below.
Open Monday-Saturday by appointment.
The Ida P. Rolf Method of Structural Integration
The Ida P. Rolf Method of Structural Integration (aka “Rolfing”) is a process of bodywork that aligns & balances major body segments (head, shoulders, ribcage, pelvis, legs, feet) by lengthening the connective tissue called fascia. Fascia encases your muscles, bones, & organs. Over time this wrapping can become short, adhered, & dense from injury, poor posture, emotional stress, & overuse. When fascial restrictions are released, your body is free to return to its structurally optimal position.
Dr. Ida P. Rolf
The art of Structural Integration represents the life work of Dr. Ida P. Rolf (1896-1979). After earning her Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1920, she worked as a research scientist for the Rockefeller Institute in New York for 13 years. She spent 50 years studying, developing, & teaching her system of creating a more upright human structure; a body with greater verticality & balance.
She determined that the body is a plastic medium, & by applying pressure, energy, & intention, the structure can be altered & freed from long held dysfunctional patterns - the result of physical &/or emotional traumas. The body can return to its natural organization & accordingly function in a more efficient, graceful, & comfortable way. She observed that when the human structure becomes more vertical, balanced, & upright, a whole series of other significant beneficial changes occur.
The 10 Session Process of Rolf Structural Integration
The goal of the entire process is to create a more vertically aligned body that's balanced, mobile, & resilient to the downward pull of gravity. Fascial restrictions are released in the following areas:
- Session 1: Ribcage, pelvis, & lateral thighs. Improves breathing capacity & starts to create a more mobile, horizontal pelvis.
- Session 2: Lower legs, feet, & back. Continues goals of first session by continuing to release superficial fascial layers.
- Session 3: Lateral torso. Begins to free the deeper core layers of fascia.
- Session 4: Medial thighs. Helps free the legs from the lower pelvis.
- Session 5: Abdominal wall. Helps free the thorax from the anterior pelvis.
- Session 6: Posterior thighs & pelvis. Creates more mobility for the posterior pelvis.
- Session 7: Neck & head. Releases fascial restrictions in the neck & creates a more horizontal cranium.
- Session 8: Remaining restrictions between the lower body & the core. Creates more fluid movement.
- Session 9: Remaining restrictions between the upper body & the core. Creates more fluid movement.
- Session 10: Putting it all together. Creates open balance across the torso & between the limbs.
FAQs & Resources
- Do I have to commit to 10 sessions? Although Structural Integration is frequently received as a 10-session process, you're not required to commit to multiple sessions to benefit.
- How does receiving Rolfing differ from Massage Therapy? 1) The session begins with a visual assessment to look for imbalances that could be the root cause of a problem. 2) Women wear a bra & shorts. Men typically wear boxer briefs or running shorts. 3) The session can be intense at times; however, the pressure can be adjusted to your comfort level. 4) The emphasis is on improving alignment & function. 5) No massage oils are used. This helps the practitioner grip & stretch the tissue more effectively.
- Do you sell Gift Certificates? Yes! Please use the BUY NOW button below.
- Should I include a gratuity with payment? No thanks. You're not expected to leave a tip.
- Low Back Health: The Back Mechanic Book & Lumbar Support Cushion
- Personal Training: Chris Carriero
- Acupuncture: Christina Dea, Fannie Koa, & Philip Barlow
- Visceral Manipulation & Craniosacral Therapy: Dorinda Galbraith
David Cobb, Certified Advanced Rolfer™
I enjoy helping people feel better! My clients see me to improve posture, enhance athletic performance, recover from injuries, & improve overall wellness. People consistently leave my office feeling better, looking better, & moving better!
After graduating from college with a degree in psychology, I attended the Bancroft School of Massage in 1995, & the Guild for Structural Integration in 2007. I'm a member of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, the International Association of Structural Integrators, & Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. I'm also certified in Neuromuscular Therapy, Orthopedic Massage, and Primal Health Coaching.
2024 Price List
90-minute sessions: $200
For all appointments, please use the "Book Online" button above. Thank you!
Contact
45 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, United States
Text: (617) 721-5534
Hours
Open Mon-Sat by appointment. Please click the Book Online button above.