My short answer to this question is NO. At least that is not how I choose to work. The idea of “no pain no gain” does not apply to a Rolfing session. The communication during the session is highly important so as a practitioner I can adjust the pressure of my touch to my client’s level of comfort. The goal is to trigger the client’s sensory system in a safe and controlled environment, that way, we can treat the injured area without shocking the client’s nervous system. Pain is very subjective, the amount of input varies depending on the body part, day of treatment and from person to person. I like to call it an “inviting touch”, that’s when the client can feel, get curious about what they are feeling, breath through it and let go of the tension, so movement can be restored in the body. Dr. Ida Rolf said, “it’s not how deep you go, it’s how you go deep”.

Ideally weekly or biweekly. Rolfing is a progressive bodywork, each session is a continuation of the previous one, for that reason keeping pace in between each session is important to track progress and results. If we space out too much, the client goes back to their regular routine and old habitual pattern, making it difficult to keep lasting results.

YES! Movement is highly important to deepen the mind and body connection after a Rolfing session, that is when neuroplasticity happens in the brain, which helps to improve body awareness and how we interact with the space around us. I usually recommend going for a walk right after the session. Some people will feel a little tired after a session, in that case, go easy. The most important thing is to learn to listen to your body.