Rolfing. To some the word connotes an unpleasant experience after a night of drinking. But according to Paul and Susanna Reynolds of Lakeside Rolfing Associates, Rolfing includes structural rebalancing treatments involving deep-tissue manipulation designed to bring the major body segments into a better alignment.
It is considered a massage technique that involves realigning the fascia, the body's connective tissue that wraps the muscles and organs. The goal is to make sure that all of the body's bones and tissues are properly positioned.
The practice takes its name from founder Ida Rolf, a biochemist who sustained major injuries while playing soccer. Advised by her doctors to discontinue the sport, she began to study, and put into practice, the concepts of fluidity and plasticity and how they could benefit the human body. The end result is a therapy that has brought pain relief, enhanced youthfulness, and provided freedom for millions of people.
Seward Park resident Paul Reynolds knows what he's talking about. His story and that of his wife, Susanna, speaks volumes of the benefits of Rolfing. A native of Ireland and former structural engineer, Paul was his country's national kickboxing champion at 17. In addition, he played Gallic football and hurling, an Irish game similar to lacrosse, but he developed a limp and couldn't run anymore. Rolfing cured him. Susanna shares a similar tale.
"I had majored in anthropology, theater, and dance. I was always really athletic; hiking the Appalachian Trail, kayaking, and doing other sports. Then I suffered a spinal injury and found myself limited," Susanna remembered. "I looked at all sorts of things: chiropractic, acupuncture, body working, you name it. Then someone introduced me to Rolfing and I was completely restored."
According to Paul, most people seek out Rolfing to overcome pain and injury.
"The injury may be a current one, or an old one, or even one the person isn't aware that they have, but the result of the injury is the same. There is compression in the tissue," said Paul. "When the person is Rolfed there is a significant improvement immediately."
According to the Reynolds, Rolfing, because it involves deep tissue manipulation, removes this compression by aiming to restore balance to the body through the realignment techniques.
"Rolfing takes the work out of sitting, standing, and walking," Paul asserted . "By working the muscle closer to the bone, this helps to alleviate the stickiness that occurs with tissue and injuries. Then, by balancing the layers of tissues, all muscles share the load. This is especially true with posture. People have a tendency to lead with one part of their bodies such as their head or belly. But really, to be properly aligned, one should not lead with anything. Rolfing helps make this happen."
Susanna was quick to add that, "once people are Rolfed they have a much quicker recovery. Even if they were Rolfed years ago the organization of the muscle layers is retained and the memory of this organization is still there."
Unlike other therapies that can continue for years, Rolfing generally involves 10-12 sessions of 65-90 minutes each. In the Seattle area these sessions average between $100 and $150 each. Rolfing is intensive individualized bodywork involving trust and intensive effort on the part of both client and practitioner, with reeducation an intregal part of the process.
With this in mind, the Reynolds cringed when discussing how they saw their clients finish a session and then put on their street shoes, which quickly undid some of the therapy.
Some crazy shoes
"My mum called me up one day, and she said, 'sonny, get rid of all of your shoes. Throw them all out! You've got to get these shoes. They are the most fantastic shoes,'" Paul remembered.
After trying the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) footwear for themselves and their three school-age children, and seeing the benefit their patients received from wearing them, both Paul and Susanna were converts.
They became local MBT retailers and trainers. Yes, that's right, wearers must be trained how to walk in them, which is fortunately not a lengthy process.
"These shoes are dynamic," Reynolds noted . "They allow your back to stretch out 1,000 times a day. They help build ankle strength, improve alignment, and improve posture. They augment the work we do with Rolfing and reinforce the changes on a daily basis."
MBTs were invented by retired soccer players and engineers. Specifically, Karl Muller, a Swiss engineer, observed Africa's Masai tribal members suffered no joint problems or back pain and could walk barefoot over huge distances. The MBT design encourages a more natural way of walking, modeled after the Masai.
MBT shoes enable the wearer to walk more naturally by realigning the whole body while lengthening and strengthening it, improving core stability, and encouraging a more active gait. The end result is a shoe that mimics walking on soft uneven ground, requiring more work for the wearer but with exceptional results.
The Reynolds noted that the MBT shoes are widely known in Europe with 2 million pairs sold. According to the couple, major-league soccer players, dancers, models, and people with post-operative conditions wear MBTs. Traditional street shoes , with their flat base, cause the foot to slam the heel into the ground approximately 10,000 times a day. However, the MBT's rocker bottom, made up of more than 5 different layers of rubber with a stiff fiberglass layer in the sole, rolls the foot in a more fluid, natural motion.
"When the patient puts on their old shoes, these reinforce the old patterns of walking, standing, and moving. The feet go back to their old places," said Paul. "MBTs really aid people in continuing the progress they've made with Rolfing. The shoes really work."
For the Reynolds, seeing their clients earn back years of physical and mental capacity is incredibly rewarding.
" We love watching people regain hope for themselves," Paul stated with Susanna concuring. "Rolfing and MBT enable people to transform themselves backwards in the aging process. The end result is that they become a whole new person."
Lakeside Rolfing Associates is located at 121 Lakeside Avenue. For more information, phone ( 206) 721- 7779. For additional information on MBT shoes, visit, www.mbt-uk. com.
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