Dr Ida P. Rolf developed the art of Structural Integration (S.I.) or Rolfing. After earning a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Columbia University she worked for 13 years at The Rockerfeller Institute. She then spent 50 years researching, developing and teaching S.I.

The basis for Rolfing lies in the connective tissue (fascia) that connects and binds all the structure inside the body.

Fascia comes in the form of a single tough sheet that connects everything from head to toe. The thin whitish stuff that seen around a piece of steak is the easiest way to explain what fascia looks like. In some areas of the body, the fascia gets thick or tense and pulls on the muscles, bones and nerves elsewhere in the body. Rolf believed that injury, chronic stress or emotional trauma could make fascia thicker or stickier. Structural Integration balances and aligns the body along a natural vertical axis by gradually stretching, lengthening and repositioning the fascia, restoring it to its normal length and

On the question of whether the effects of Rolfing last, Rolfers claim that the effects are not only permanent but ongoing and progressive. It creates the potential for new patterns of movement which reinforce further integration.

This realigning or being Rolfed actually does hurt quite a lot as it involves moving deep tissue. In the long run Rolfing seems to have helped many people relax and move their joints more comfortably.

Usually Rolfing involves 10 sessions which last 1 to 2 hours and therefore can be fairly expensive.

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