Rolfing and Deep Tissue Massage, What’s the Diff?

See that before/after photo to the left? Based on my experience, that’s not an exaggeration! Rolfing was designed to improve structural alignment. I was Rolfed several years ago and saw first hand the changes in my body. The cool thing about my experience was that my therapist had (and continues to have) a bit of the performer in her. What Althea Orr did was to Rolf one side of my body, say, the right, and then got me up and in front of a mirror to show me her handy work.

I couldn’t believe what I was looking at: My right side was inches taller, the arm was longer, my shoulder was no longer creeping up to my ear but was down and unhunched. The most amazing part was my torso. The right-side ribs were equally spread and separated as opposed to the left’s, which were compressed and pinched. It was the closest I’d ever come to looking half human, half ape. When she completed the other side, I was once again symmetrical.

At the time I had the treatment, those practitioners who were not specifically trained by Dr. Ida Rolf—the founder of the technique in the mid 20th century—or her acolytes, were not supposed to use the term Rolfing. And since Rolf remains controversial, not least because her treatments were known to be particularly painful—or at most because of claims that energy healing is at work— therapists who believed in the core principles but not necessarily how or the extend to which they were implemented, began to call the treatment deep-tissue massage. Over the ensuing years, there continues to be a growing misconception that Rolfing is nothing more than a very deep-tissue massage.

Both soft-tissue manipulations have in common effects such as loosening tissue, stress relief and detoxification. Rolfing is said to go a step further and actually reshapes, or structurally reintegrates, the effects of gravity on the body. Hence the postural improvements. Rolfing’s theory is rooted in separating the fascia, or connective tissue, manually so as to restore and loosen movement patterns.

If you’re thinking about being Rolfed (it usually comes as a 10-pack of treatments, it would behoove you to ask some questions and do a little homework to see exactly what you’ll be getting. I think there are lots of good practitioners, but some that call their treatment Rolfing when it’s really not, and others who are Rolfing fanatics.

The Rise of the Mega Spas

Will we soon be calling them big-box spas alà Wal-Mart? Spas such as Bliss, Exhale and the Ruby Room, which for now is only in Chicago, all have a reach that is wide and far. I've been to them all. Remarkable works of bigness.

My attraction to spas is the spiritually rooted intimacy they provide. Since mega spas are cash cows, surely they have a more-than adequate budget earmarked to create the illusion of intimacy, like Buddhas strewn about in all shapes and sizes like party favors.

But services are all over the place in mega spas— from 'beauty bars' for make-up applications and a cut and color and ecstatic shopping boutique expeditions to gear shifting healing lounges and chakra and crystal journeys—my experience has been that the vibe is a bit spread out, too.

With a shiver I recall checking out Exhale when it first opened its Chicago location a couple of years ago. They weren't quite open yet but they gave me a tour. Yes, it was really beautiful, but the staff was running around like a bunch of coke-hoovering board of traders as the floor is about to open. (Not saying they were doing drugs; just alluding to the buzz in the air.) The manager who was showing me around stopped in his tracks to announce one of the owners was on the premises. I turned around and saw a beautifully tan, perfectly manicured and exquisitely dressed mid-forties female. All was well until I looked at her face. Her mouth was set in a deeply disturbing frozen smile. When I looked further down I realized she was in Tree Pose, foot inching higher and higher up the side of her thigh. She looked the part but didn't feel the part. I was. a bit shaken by that image. I recall I didn't want to talk to her; I probably couldn't anyway because she was busy busy.

I returned and had a pretty great Thai massage from one of Exhale's therapist. But it didn't get quiet until we were in the treatment room. Entering, I had the same shot-of-espresso buzz as the previous recent visit, which I didn't like at all, being a chameleon as I am.

Wonder how others feel? I have a friend who loves Bliss, asked if I wanted to go for a girlfriend outing. I took a pass.

Lazy bones

Spa spa spa spa spa spa spa spa. Spaaaah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.

Temporary brain drain . . .